My path to Buddhism was not without unexpected twists. Born into a family in religious flux, I often echoed my elders’ teachings, whether it was to heed the wisdom of the Buddha, honor my ancestors, or kowtow to the heavenly gods and goddesses that decorated our traditional silken red altar. While my grandparents had grown
KidSpirit Online is a free teen magazine & website for kids created by and for young people to tackle life’s big questions together. Interfaith Connections is a column for teens to dialogue about how their faith or wisdom tradition influences their view of life’s big questions. Enjoy these perspectives, and be sure to submit your poetry, artwork and writing for future issues of KidSpirit.
The Heroic Life of a Good Samaritan
Chery is a girl who lives in Poso, Indonesia, a city with about 200,000 inhabitants. For over a decade the region has suffered from intense Christian/Muslim violence. It is estimated that 60,000- 80,000 people have fled the area. Here, Chery describes what she views as the essential qualities a Christian should have. I grew up
- April 9, 2013
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- The Heroic Spirit
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My Truest Hero
Interfaith Connections is a column for teens to dialogue about how their faith or wisdom tradition influences their view of life’s big questions. In each issue, three teens from different backgrounds respond to a question posed by the Editorial Board, based on the theme. This quarter the Ed Board asks: What does your faith or
- March 4, 2013
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- The Heroic Spirit
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Reaching Across Different Faiths and Cultures
What is right and wrong? What do we, as teenagers, base our decisions upon? Lina and I are both 16-year-old high school students. We live in a predominantly white, suburban bubble just outside of San Francisco. As we’ve grown older, questions about faith, God, and internal standards have arisen and been challenged by our increasing
- January 28, 2013
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- The God Issue
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A Fresh Look
I was born into a spiritual family. My parents practiced Vaishnavism, a monotheistic sect of Hinduism based on worship of Krishna, the Supreme. As a result, I’ve grown up immersed in this rich and ancient tradition. I have woken up every morning to the sound of ringing bells and fragrant billows of incense. I’ve learned
- January 7, 2013
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- The God Issue
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The Loudness of God
Interfaith Connections is a column for teens to dialogue about how their faith or wisdom tradition influences their view of life’s big questions. In each issue, three teens from different backgrounds respond to a question posed by the Editorial Board, based on the theme. This quarter the Ed Board asks: How has your concept of
- December 3, 2012
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- The God Issue
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How Judaism Affects My View and Values of Money
I’ve spent a lot of time studying my religion and its values. My family is a member of the Conservative tradition of Judaism, which is usually thought of as the “in between” form of Judaism. Judaism is a big part of my morals and daily life. I attend synagogue frequently and I study in a
- November 5, 2012
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- Money and Value
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In Money We Trust
It’s broken up marriages, friendships, and even parent-child relationships. It’s caused people to lie, steal, and cheat. It’s the reason why some don’t have adequate access to bathrooms or electricity while others are waited on day and night. It can be the difference for that big vacation, dream college, or important surgery. It’s caused millions
- October 1, 2012
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- Money and Value
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Hinduism, Buddhism, and… Money? Everyday Enlightenment
Interfaith Connections is a column for teens to dialogue about how their faith or wisdom tradition influences their view of life’s big questions. In each issue, three teens from different backgrounds respond to a question posed by the Editorial Board, based on the theme. This quarter the Ed Board asks: How do the values of
- September 10, 2012
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- Money and Value
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