Often heroes are seen as the harbingers of crucial change in societies. While heroes may have a profound impact on society, the converse is also possible: that society alters and shapes heroes in turn. These changes may be larger than first realized, sometimes completely morphing a hero’s core ideals into something negative. Other times, heroes
KidSpirit Online is a free teen magazine & website for kids created by and for young people to tackle life’s big questions together. The Big Question section in each issue of KidSpirit Magazine contains essays on an idea central to the theme of each issue. Enjoy the “Big Questions” here and be sure to submit your poetry, artwork and writing for future issues of KidSpirit.
Does Experience Shape Our Understanding of God?
The idea of God is different for everyone and is possibly many things even to one person. We all have different ideas of what and who God is. Some people do not believe in God at all, while others believe in many gods. Others believe that God infinitely shapes their lives and their afterlives. Others look
- December 3, 2012
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- The God Issue
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Can Money Buy True Happiness?
What is true happiness? Can money buy happiness? True happiness is a volatile subject that many people debate. It is often defined as a type of feeling that a person enjoys from their heart. But can money “buy” this type of feeling? Some people might agree. Many billionaires might argue that money brings them true
- September 10, 2012
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- Money and Value
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Is Time Liberating or Oppressive?
Time is a naturally occurring phenomenon, integral to our existence from moment to moment. That being said, in many ways, it is a human construct, meant to limit, and order our world. Individual conceptions of time are indicative of a specific worldviews. In our society, time is a straight line, with a past, a present,
- June 4, 2012
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- Exploring Time
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What Is the Most Important Quality of Education?
“What are we are supposed to get out of school?” I asked one of my closest friends earlier this week. “What’s the point?” She looked at me for a moment, and then replied, “To produce a person who can form intelligent opinions on world issues, listen to other people’s ideas, and work together with
- March 5, 2012
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- A Lens on Learning
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Blank Disk or Software Included: Are We Born with Ethics and Morals?
Are we born with morality? Do we have a sense of right or wrong from day one? Or are we just blank canvases that society paints on? If put in an extreme situation, could an ordinary person grow up to be a psychopath? According to the Oxford Dictionary, ethics are “moral principles that govern a
- December 5, 2011
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- Ethics and Morality
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Mountains and Meadows and Some Kind of Wonder
As I write this, I’m looking out over a wide, vibrant meadow. There’s a huge mountain staring back at me, snow-capped even now, in the middle of the summer. Birds chirp and the air is crisp. I remember that years ago, sitting on this very bench with my legs swinging back and forth and
- September 12, 2011
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- Creativity and Imagination
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Why Do We Laugh?
Why do we laugh? As defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary, to laugh is to show emotion (as in mirth, joy, or scorn), to find amusement or pleasure in something, or to produce the sound or appearance of laughter. This basic definition of laughter will serve as a point of reference as I try to
- June 6, 2011
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- Exploring Humor
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Is Conflict Necessary for Inner Growth?
In this article, “peace among ourselves” refers to diplomatic peace between nations and ultimately humans coming together as one with no hardships that stem from their disagreements. In addition, “world peace” refers to peace and harmony between ourselves as well as the world—including nature and other external events that we have no control over. Peace
Kites, Flowers and Beats of Life
“I walk through the unknown alleys alone Drops of rain sting my skin “What is this life?” I scream out loud Death extends his arm to me I take it, grasp it tightly. I fly… Fly to the land of freedom” The poet put down his pen. He then tore the page from his notebook,
- December 1, 2010
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- The Question of Meaning
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