Muslim and Jewish Mumsnetters - please advise

[Smithagain]

I am a Christian children's worker and I'm doing a KS1 assembly on Monday. It's a church school, but there are several Muslim children and a Jewish teacher.

There's an illustration I'd like to use, which involves demonstrating how sin creates a gulf between God and His people, but God builds a bridge over the gulf, because he loves us so much. (Christians believe the cross made the bridge, but I will acknowledge that other faiths see it differently.)

The question is - if I act this out, with one child standing in the place of "mankind" and one standing in the place of "God", so that we can build a bridge between them, will I seriously offend anyone? In other words, would it be seen as idolatrous or otherwise offensive to have a child "playing" God? If so, I'll think about another way to present it!

I am not sure how a more observant Jew will react, but personally it would not offend me. But I personally believe God is in everyone, even a child! Really not sure what the Jewish 'party' line is on that thought, though!

Thanks Tee. Bumping in case anyone else is listening!

As an RS teacher I wouldn't let any child represent God just in case.

Maybe use willing members of staff so everyone can have a giggle. Pick the Head (they often do think they are gods )

Thanks faeriefruitcake. I will err on the side of caution.

I think I'll use the children to be mankind and have a designated place where we imagine God it. That should work, without getting into dangerous territory.

As an RE teacher I would, although not in a class where i had a majority of Islamic or Jewish students. But I would make it clear what I was asking the child to do before taking volunteers.

As an RS Teacher, I don't think I would have someone acting in the role of God, particularly not if there were lots of muslim children there. Some might find that offensive (I know at least one former student who would have done!!). Maybe have someone hold up the word 'God' or something, so that they are not 'being' God, but merely representing that position iyswim! HTH

Muslim here. Best to avoid someone acting in the role of God.

Thank you. The last thing I want to do is cause offence and I hope I haven't, by raising the idea.

We will have a chair with a sign saying "God" on it, representing the place where God is, without anything actually representing Him.

I hate to be a pain, but that's still kind of tricky from an islamic point of view, as we believe God isn't just in one place, but everywhere by his knowledge.

However, we do believe that sin makes God distant from our hearts (I think Christians think that too).

I'm sorry if this is making things a headache. I do really appreciate you trying to be inclusive.

You're not being a pain!

Actually, you are quite right, since Christians believe God is everywhere as well - except we talk about the Holy Spirit.

The idea of sin making God distant is the key one and I want a physical way of helping the children understand that. How about if I make a big point about God being everywhere, before going on to say that the bad things we do make it hard for us to "find" him, because it puts up a barrier between us and him. Then hopefully I can still use the bridge-building illustration without implying that God sits on a plastic chair in the assembly hall!

Not a problem from a Jewish point of view, sounds lovely

That would be brilliant and spot on from a Muslim point of view too.

The children are lucky to have a teacher who explains God in such a thoughtful way. So many are growing up with out any knowledge of God at all, which is very sad IMO.

Thanks for your help Goth ... and everyone else.