Helping a young teen discover her spirituality: I need a good book to start: without "nagging" it in her face

My daughter is12 and beyond the average of intelligence: I say that so that I can find the best answer for her. She is taking her SATs in December as a part of the DUKE TIP, is in all advanced classes at school (which she still has yet to study in any of her classes and the lowest grade she has is 94), is into band and basketball. She is a wonderfully funny child, with a nic sarcastic sense of humor, and is one of the most compassionate people I know. She has been seen with a strong yellow aura that surrounds her (for those who understand our auras), and lives up to that VERY well. I really want to help her discover the wonderfulness of her spritual self: she is very stubborned on the whole "Jesus train" idea, and while I love The Lord, believe in psychic abilities, and feel great comfort in knowing God is there for me, I am no "bible beater". Regardless of what anyone says or believes--God knows our heart.She loves meditation music to relax too-- Any books to help her out? Ideas?

Helping a young teen discover her spirituality: I need a good book to start: without "nagging" it in her face
Oh good lord.





I'm afraid that your 12 year old child is already past anything you can teach her, hon. Let her find her own way, and don't try to hold her back with "psychic" or "Jesus" stuff. If she's as bright as you're suggesting, she doesn't need any of that, and she'll just grow to resent you if you suggest that she does.
Reply:I and many of my friends loved Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It is a great portrayal of Gods love for us.
Reply:A God Who Looks Like Me (Discovering a Woman-Affirming Spirituality) by Patricia Lynn Reilly
Reply:Your daughter might like Christianity without the religion website: http://www.PTM.org
Reply:I recommend:





Blue Like Jazz





Velvet Elvis (highly recommended)





You can also visit www.relevantmagazine.com for more resources or to subscribe to the magazine, which she would like.
Reply:"Mere Christianity" by CS Lewis. An excellent defense of God and the Christian faith through logics and reason, without preaching. (I think there is one Bible quote in the whole book, and it is just as a starting point to question the verse.)
Reply:Leave her alone, if she wants to find god, or her own spirituality, she'll find it. Forced religion results in resentment.
Reply:here's something to consider that others have posted, I've amended, and find it fairly enlightening....





Art Of Peace Doctrine





*** All religions basically honor the same GOD, called by different names.


*** Every human being is unique in thier own way, learn to respect such a concept, and to learn tolerance for others, as much can be learned by understanding each unique perspective.


*** Knowledge and the sharing of knowledge is the concept that binds us, always stive to learn more, and to share what you learn with others so that all may be enlightened.


*** Those that strive above all else for power and wealth are the cancer of the human race, for they do not understand that such striving destroys the spirit and empties the soul, not just of themselves, but of those around them as well.


*** We are all human, and must realize earth is truly a one world community.


*** Christ, Buddha, Muhammed were all divine men. We must realize our own inner divinity.


*** When the world lives with the Art of Peace, religions will become inconsequential, for everyone will possess understanding.


*** Art of Peace begins by dedicating yourself to peace, and being reborn with a new understanding of the world.


*** Accept others for thier faults as much as thier strengths, perfection is a unique concept to each of us, just as we are all unique.


*** Always do good to other people, train yourself not to judge others or discriminate.


*** Art of Peace says any activity can be turned into a spiritual one.


*** All major religions are superhighways. The Art of Peace is not like this. You must go alone. It's adventurous.


*** On your journey, there will be lots of things to enjoy. So live in the present and not the future or past.


*** Once a man spent his whole life climbing to the top. But there was nothing there. How foolish of him!


*** Humility will solve all the worlds problems.


*** All things should be your teachers. Holy books, wise sayings, even trees and animals.


*** We must be reborn into the Art of Peace as a new divine being.


*** The Art of Peace is a religion that is not a religion. It completes and perfects all religions.


*** Once, a Christian Minister went to see Buddha. He began to argue, quoting Jesus. But Buddha said, "Stop! Whoever said this is a Buddha!" The minister was amazed, he had come here to argue.


*** One tradition says, "I know there is a GOD." The other says, "GOD does not exist." But both know little, for neither can say "I dont know."


*** The Art of Peace favors freedom, not comformity. Therefore do not shackle or restrain anything. Let life be free.


*** Nationhood is obsolete, and we are all united by the fact that we are living beings.


*** After absorbing these sayings, go and practice it in your life. Let go of your wickedness. Do not try to convert people into the Art of Peace, for the whole idea of conversion is contrary. Absorb them and move on!


*** Apply the Art of Peace to all you do. Polish and perfect everything around you and heal all ills and sadnesses.


*** The Art of Peace i practice has room for the world's 8,000,000 gods, and I cooperate with them all.


*** The Art of Peace is medicine for a sick world.


*** Evil can be found in everyone, from the most depraved, to the most innocent, learn to recognize Evil, and you will understand how to purge such from your soul.


*** Death comes to us all, but to embrace The Art of Peace, you must let Death take those whose time has come, and never end another's life for your own or another's purposes, let Death take each of us without artificial interference.
Reply:I have an idea:


DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME TRYING TO SCREW HER UP ANY MORE THAN YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY!


From what you say, she is obviously intelligent, and she will eventually figure out for herself that everything you believe in is crap. Sorry, there's just nothing you can do about it...you should've had a dumb one instead. Oh well, lucky us.
Reply:Try "Elmer Gantry" by Sinclair Lewis. This will give her a good understanding of what it is all about.
Reply:Leave her alone. Just, don't mention religion to her any further, at all.





My wife and I are both Atheists, but we raised our children never mentioning religion in our household, and made sure to never speak for or against religion in front of our children. We wanted them to be free thinkers, and decide on their own whether or not they believed in God.





My daughter was much like your daughter at age 12, very smart, intellectual, and independent. She made her own choice about converting to Catholicism at age 14 based on her research and exposure to it, and we supported her, not letting our opinion of religion affect our respect for her beliefs. We respected her religion, and she respected our disbelief, and our relationship was never affected, negatively or positively, by this.





I have observed that intelligent children, depending on what course of study they enter, will at one point or another question their belief in God. Do you want to be blamed for instilling that belief in the first place?





Do give her your opinion of religion. Let her be exposed to it on her own terms. Let her own curiosity find her being exposed to what she wants to be exposed to.
Reply:The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, don't let her throw her education away by believing is some invisible sky-fairy.
Reply:Let her choose what she wants to read.


If she wants to read the Bible, let her read it.


If she wants to read the God Delusion, let her read it.





But let her be an individual. Make sure she thinks for herself and doesn't take someone else's word as gospel.
Reply:i think your problem is akin to so many parents out there who are a lil over enthusiastic about trying to make or 'help their kids' become something. that might work with a host of other things. but i know one thing for sure. it doesnt work when it comes to spirituality. she may follow you or end up liking what you indulge yourself with in spirituality but do not take any credit for it. for she has on her own decided to do so, not at ur behest.


spirituality is a very personal thing. i believe all those who vehemently deny being spiritual are also spiritual in many ways. so it does make a lot of sense that spirituality is a personal journey (that includes self discovery). let her grow up with what she believes, since if you try changing her beliefs u will face her wrath and nothing else. she obviously seems to be very smart and is doing very well in academics. but academics and spirituality are 2 completely different ball games. excellence in one does not necessarily mean ability or excellence in the other. separate the two in your mind to begin with.


the best you can do now is be a neutral observer to her process of self discovery, advising only when you see her going wrong and u anticipate a mess. each one is entitled to a few mistakes. but u must do ur duty of bringing her up well.


she will know the world around her with this support that you can give her. if u want u can keep suggesting her to try a few things out but let them not sound like urgings. along with meditation music u could in fact introduce her to actual meditation (meditation for relaxation is helpful, but going beyond meditation is a one of its kind tool in self discovery and problem solving, improves concentration, problem solving approach, perceptions, makes one generally happy etc etc......)


books and all come a lil later. this is the time when she must do a bit of the regular stuff too lest she becomes a mis-fit for her friends.


about auras, since you know auras, you would know they change according to your state of mind and body. a person can have a very God-like aura on one day and the next day a very sinister one.(not that it does happen, but who knows(not talking of ur daughter)) so do not depend on what ur aura tell u all the time. it is just a guide.
Reply:if your child is as intelligent as you claim, you are wasting her time with that dribble, i recommend the god delusion.
Reply:Have you tried 'The Tao of Pooh' or the 'Teh of Piglet' both by Benjamin Hoff? Don't let the fact of the name referring to Taoism turn you off. These are two of the most profound books written in a language children can understand that you could give them for a good start. The lessons in them go beyond sectarian religion and offer insights that are universal to all people. And they're fun to read, too.