KIDS’ PAGE

By Colleen McDonald

The Seven Principles                             October 16, 2002

One of the things that makes Unitarian Universalism different from other religions is our seven Principles-- We believe that: 

1) Each and every person is important. 

2) All people should be treated fairly. 

3) Our churches are places where all people are accepted and where we keep on learning together. 

4) Everyone should be free to search for what is true and right in life. 

5) Everyone should have a voice and a vote about things that concern them. 

6) We should work for a peaceful, fair, and free world. 

7) We should care for our planet earth. 

These Principles can help us make decisions about what is true and right.  See if you can figure out which Principle goes with each of the situations described below.  (Hint: You will end up using all seven.)

Your teacher assigns a project and tells your class you can work in groups of two or three. You want Chris and Pat to be your partners.  Pat says s/he will work with you but only if you don’t let Chris be part of the group.  You decide to work with Chris and to ask Pat to find a different partner.

Your parents say you can invite two friends over to your house for a sleep-over.  Right away, you call your best friend; but who else are you going to ask?  You think of several possible guests then decide to ask the new student in your class (who seems nice and hasn’t had much time to make friends in your town).

You notice several empty pop cans on your neighbor’s yard.  You pick them up, rinse them out, and put them in your family’s recycling bin.

The father of one of your friends stole some money at work and had to go to jail.  After he gets out, you talk with your parents about inviting your friend’s family to Bring A Friend Sunday at church.

You have lots of ideas about how to make your school a better place.  You decide to run for Student Council.

When a friend invites you to attend a session of Vacation Bible School, you say yes, because you are curious about what they teach kids there.

Because there have been a lot of fights on the playground and in the cafeteria, the principal at your school decides to set up a student mediator program.  You volunteer to take the training so you can help kids at your school solve their disagreements peacefully.

Love, Colleen