An essay dealing with specific issues of child development as discussed by Plaget and Kolhberg. The author addresses the question of when a child can be considered competent to make his or her own decisions in relation to religion. This five page paper has eight sources listed in the bibliography.
Name of Research Paper File: MH11_MHChiChr.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
into his or her life. This paper integrates a review of some of the central premises, as well as the outcomes of interviews with four children, ages 3, 6,
9 and 12 years of age. Bibliography lists 8 sources. MHChiChr.rtf Child Development and Religious Beliefs Written by 11/2001
Please Religion is a construct of culture, and parental involvement in a particular religion often serves as the basis for childrens beliefs
and reactions regarding religion, belief in God and the development of a religious relationship with Christ. Inherent in this view, though, is the question of at what point is
a childs understanding of him or herself and the world sufficient so the child can make a competent decision to accept Christ into his or her life. Concepts related
to cognitive development, moral development and the autonomous sense of self are all factors relating to this process, and should be considered when attempting to answer this question. This study
incorporates assessments of theories on child development, including Piagets views of cognitive development and Kolhbergs conceptual view of moral development. In applying these to the question of religious belief
and the pursing of a relationship with Christ, it is also beneficial to integrate interviews with children at varied stages in development. By relating these interviews to factors presented
by Piaget and Kolhberg, it is possible to gain some insight into the developmental view of religious identification. The Interviews When interviewing children regarding their views on God and
Christ, it is necessary to recognize that these children are influenced by their parental and cultural viewpoints and that their decision-making processes must be assessed in addition to their perspectives.