Bible stories for kids, teaching morals not necessarily belief in a god.

[SugarPlumLairy]

Hi all,

Bit of an odd question, I know! But I'm trying to find stories from the bible that show a child a good way to live without pushing these things could only happen because of a god.

I'll try to explain...
So, my child has ASD and the school best placed to provide for her additional needs is a catholic school. It truly is the best place for her but my husband is staunch atheist, I was raised Catholic but had my own issues/doubts and I in fact lean towards atheism too and my DD is very logical and questions everything so "having faith" is a big ask of her.

The school assure me that none of this is a problem, they have offered her a place and say their syllabus is varied and inclusive and not heavy on religious matters. Nevertheless, I want to introduce her to stories that are affirming, positive, offer guidance in life WITHOUT being overly "God exists, there is a hell, creation V evolution etc."

I've already tried to explain/discuss the various religions with her as part of what her primary school teach as I do think it's important to understand/respect these beliefs and to emphasis that for many they are a source of positivity and comfort.

Can anyone suggest any good bible stories to introduce her to the bible? Any advice would be much appreciated. TIA

"It's Catholic dogma that hell exists, not that there is anyone in it" - can't remember who said that but it's stuck with me!

I would suggest starting with the Parables. The OT tends towards the judgement-heavy (Noah's flood, Jonah & the Whale etc). You don't say how old your DD is but there are any number of books of the parables for various ages available.

How about Aesop’s Fables? Or Jainism Fables? Most anthropomorphic fables?
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphism

Thank you, my child is 11 and will be starting secondary in September. As it is a catholic school I really wanted them to gave a better understanding of the faith. I'm afraid my own catholic upbringing (taught by very strict nuns and at least one dodgy priest) was quite heavily based on OT so I'm struggling now decades later, to work out where the 'light' side is.

Many thanks for suggesting the parables, that will def work and I think it would be great to use fables, we did Aesops years ago, a revisit (and a look at the Jainism too, not one I was aware of but loving the non violence aspects😃👍) would be an excellent example of how the stories don't have to be considered factual to have value.

Thank you, sometimes I can't see the wood for the trees, both your ideas have helped greatly 👍

If you want stories outside the Christian tradition, Madhur Jaffrey's Seasons of Splendour is lovely and would be perfect for an 11 year old.

Thank you I actually want stories from the Christian tradition in this instance as will be attending a catholic school, but always nice to have other ideas for future dialogue. It's good to have a varied input 👍

creation V evolution
As an aside, many of the practising Catholics I know (including me) believe that the two creation stories in Genesis 1 and 2 shouldn't be taken literally (we believe in evolution etc), but is something that we can learn from morally and spiritually. The Hebrew word for "day" in the creation story is also used to mean "age" elsewhere, thus God didn't create the world in six days, buy more probably six metaphorical ages.

The first thing to say is that the Bible is not a book of ethics so you won't find what you are looking for other than perhaps the story of the Good Samaritan or the ten commandments. The Good Samaritan story can be read to say that we should treat everyone well and not just our friends and family. The ten commandments are a set of laws from the ancient near east which are pretty basic. The are an example of deontological ethics ie ethics based on laws but Christians argue about whether that is the only basis for ethical decision making.

Simon Jenkin's book 'The Bible from Scratch' is an excellent introduction and that might help your daughter begin to make sense of the world of faith. It has cartoons but don't be put off as it goes into who wrote the books and why and places them in their historical context.

The school will not be teaching creationism and there is no conflict between faith and science. Does your daughter understand the concepts of story and myth? If she does then that should sort out the book of Genesis.

There will be praying in the new school. There is a book called 'The Teenage Prayer Experiment' by Noah and Miranda Thredfall Holmes which may help to understand what people are doing in prayer as Noah is on the ASD spectrum I think.

I hope it works out.

This is wonderful thank you!
Kiddo is very fact based, her ASD means she doesn't often get things like sarcasm, reading between the lines, make believe etc. But we're working on it all the time! 👍

I think I will look into the teenage prayer experiment as prayer/mass etc will be a challenge.

Mongertruffle, thank you for that titbits about the Hebrew word for day, I did not know that and it's a relief to know that creationism isn't has widely believed as some would like to think (Ken Ham comes to mind!)

Thank you all again for taking the time to help, I very much want my child to attend school with a respectful understanding of the faith their community has without blurting out something hurtful or harmful to someone else's position so your suggestions are very much appreciated.

I don’t know any Christians who take Genesis literally. I think that’s quite an American / fundamentalist view.

As WiggyPig says the literal reading of Genesis is very much an American thing. I have come across it in the UK where it has been in very, very conservative independent churches. No school that is teaching the national curriculum will be able to teach creationism except in RE where it should be taught as some Christians believe that.....

The culture change into the new school is going to be interesting so maybe your daughter could have a notebook to write questions in so that you can work through them together. In any group that have been together for a while there are all sorts of assumptions and expectations that are not meant to be hurtful but will be confusing to start with.

It isn't that people with autism can't be people of faith. I know a number who are. Their faith will be unique to them just as mine is unique to me, I suspect you find more people on the spectrum in highly structured liturgical churches than in free flowing following where the spirit leads style places. I've worked with a number of sacristans and vergers (people who keep the fabric of the building and things you need for worship going) who are strongly ASD and clergy all over the country bless them for their attention to detail and ability to spot when something is off.

As I say. I hope it works and keep asking questions.

Unfortunately, my nan (Spanish) had quite a literal view of the bible, and I went to a very strict catholic school where some of the nuns/priests shared quite "interesting" personal opinions quite freely, so whilst I recognise it's mainly an American/fundamentalist viewpoint, I guess I'm still a bit wary 😔

I hope it didn't come across as though I thought ASD and religion were incompatible, I meant purely that for my kid part of her ASD is very rigid and she doesn't like what she perceives to be illogical. So no Disney, fiction, etc. Though I continue to explain and expose her to fiction books/films and try to show her how they can help her understand emotional range, cause/effect etc. It might sound odd, she is very loving but sometimes is like a mini Spock 😄

I know she WILL ask lots of questions, I'm worried they'll come across as combative or dismissive of the faith as she rather lacks tact/empathy. (Which we are soooooooo working on, hence the films etc👍)

I'll def keep asking questions, you've all been so kind and helpful. Thank you xx

This book and this book could be interesting...

The Sermon on the Mount.

There are several stories that show the moral compass of Christianity. The best one for non-believers in The Good Samaritan whioch shows holy men ignoring a man who's been beaten up, but a Samaritan (not the right religion) stopping and helping him. Jesus's lesson here is that it's not what you say you are but what you do that proves your humanity.

Another good one is The Widow's Mite. All the rich people put lots of gold into the offerings box at church, then an elderly widow comes by and puts in a penny. People sneer at her meanness. But jesus points out she has nothing. She's broke, and giving her last penny means she's far more generous than the rich who gives loads but don't feel the pinch.

Another one is the labourers in the marketplace. Men waiting to be hired for work on a scorching day. Some are picked up and taken to work the fields in the morning. Another isn't. he stays in the marketplace and is finally hired at midday. When they get paid, the farmer pays them all the same amount and the other men complain. But the farmer says his family's needs are as great as yours and his willingness was as strong as yours. He waited with no guarantee of reward, when you were assured a day's pay. He deserves the pay I've given him. (See also: The Prodigal Son)

There are loads more. Basically, take a good look at Jesus's parables and find some rewritten for children. Jesus was a real socialist philosopher in modern terminology. Lots to discuss and appreciate in his ethos, whatever your faith or lack of it.

You could also look at Veggie Tales which is a barking mad but good fun cartoon version of bible stories retold by vegetables. My DC adored it when they were little. It's very old now but it's still around.