Shirley K. Morgenthaler

The idea by Tertullian that Christians are made and not born informs what the authors discovered as they explored the literature, uncovering better ways to nurture the souls of the church's youngest members. The entire community, along with the Holy Spirit, serves to enculturate children into the faith, and these little ones are so precious to Jesus Christ that he reminds his followers that to enter the kingdom of God one must become like a little child. What emerged out of the literature is an intriguing association between two giants in the understanding of culture and human development: Lev Vygotsky and John Westerhoff. Connections between them include intersubjectivity and dialogical rerltionships; distancing and expanding faith; the genetic law of cultural development and enculturation' and private speech and learning. This article offers a perspective on nurturing infant souls for church practitioners based on these connections.… (altro)