God at the Kitchen Table

Publishers Weekly

Cooper (Sticks and Stones) is to be applauded for the idea behind this book that parents can't simply sit back and benignly hope that their children will absorb their spiritual values. Drawing on his own experiences as a father of three, Cooper writes of his discovery that what his oldest son was soaking up in Sunday School could sometimes be counterproductive. "Before our very eyes, the wise and loving God of our belief system was being transformed into a mostly nice but sometimes pretty mean God," he explains. He and his wife started taking matters into their own hands observing the Sabbath, having Sunday evening devotionals, volunteering to do community service and involving the kids in decisions about charitable contributions. This book contains helpful suggestions on implementing the above changes, as well as tips on talking to kids about drugs, sex, God, prayer and other major topics. Readers will find useful material here, though there's no analysis of the difference between "religion" and "morality," which Cooper uses as more or less interchangeable terms. Although the book is ostensibly non-denominational, it is not necessarily interfaith; Cooper's model of "home-churching" (shifting responsibility for religious training to the home) is grounded in a kind of loosely articulated Christianity. Cooper's generalized approach makes his book pale in comparison to books like Circle of Grace, which focuses on family prayer, or Growing Compassionate Kids, which helps parents teach youth about community service. However, parents seeking a one-size-fits-all introduction will find this a helpful resource. (Mar.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Just as parents need to be involved in their children's intellectual education, they need to be involved in their children's moral and religious education. In fact, the home is the primary place for such instruction. This does not mean that families should not be involved with a church, synagogue, or mosque but rather that education should not be left there. A teacher, coach, and author, Cooper (Sticks and Stones) shows not only why parents need to provide religious and moral education, or "home-churching," but also how they can do it with specific examples. He even gives scripts a page or two of what to say to children regarding 20 different virtues (e.g., trust in God, reverence for life, prayer, and courage) and some specific questions to ask them about each. The book ends with a "Brief History of Family Religious Life" and a list of helpful resources (books, magazines, and web sites). An immensely readable and practical book that libraries of all kinds should consider. John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.