BOOK LIST (to print) -- ARABIA / ISLAM / CRUSADES
PODCASTS:
The connecting link to the American history topic for this month isn't as obvious or direct as some of the other months. The connection I'm making is that of two expanding frontiers. Once Islam took hold, you can see on this map how quickly and how far it spread. If you studied the story of Abraham in Month 6, you would have read how Ishmael was also promised blessings through Abraham. The Arab people were the descendants of Ishmael and laid claim to those Abrahamic promises. You will recognize at the heart of their religion--their Five Pillars--teachings that are not unlike our Christian beliefs: Faith in One God, Charity by helping the poor, Fasting for Forgiveness, Prayer, and a Pilgrimage to Mecca wherein all are on equal standing before God. I included a brief introduction to the Muslim faith and of Mohammed, their prophet, in Stories of Great Spiritual Leaders, but you can also read it here.
As you would expect, there weren't a lot of books written a hundred years ago for children about Arabia and the Muslims, yet the importance of learning their story and understanding their faith is critical for today's generation. This is definitely a subject that will require much weaving together of stories.
I suggest for your young children to start with the stories of The Arabian Nights. There are several options available in the online library. Compare the versions and see which one you think will fit the ages of your children. Or I'm sure you can find some illustrated versions at the library. I suggest you read the section in this month's Mother's Learning Library on The Arabian Nights and you'll see how they are filled with the customs and culture of the Muslim people. As I have read the biographies of many of the great men and women of the past, they shared a love of The Arabian Nights in their childhoods. The tales are pure imagination.
Introduce your children to Rimsky-Korsakov's Sheherazade which is the musical version of these tales of fantasy. I've provided a link in the Enrichment section..
You might also check out this little book that offers tales from the Moors and their days in Spain:
Tales from the Alhambra
We have Muslim mothers in our group and I hope they will feel safe in sharing their insights and perspective in our Facebook group and that we will maintain a spirit of civility and understanding within this group. In Enrichment, I have included crafts and activities, some of which relate to Muslim holy-days. Some Christian parents are against allowing their children to participate in any sort of activity such as that. I am not. I believe it helps us teach our children to respect our differences and to understand one another's faith. There have been times where Muslim could be found guarding Christian holy sites, and Christians respected Muslim holy-days. In some areas of the world, it is still happening.
The Saracens have contributed much to our world and you can read about some of their contributions in this book, which is also included in Stories of Arabia/Islam.
As the Crusades were all about the conflicts between Christian and Muslim, you can start introducing the stories of the Crusades. You may want to to start your 8 and olders with Our Little Crusader Cousin or other books in the online library. If you're not opposed to Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, it could start to peak the interest in your Middle Schoolers as it brings in the story of Richard the Lionheart who is away fighting in the Crusades. This is one of the books I included in Stories of Arabia/Islam that brings the story of the Crusades to life. I talk about it in the Bundles section of this newsletter. I don't recommend it to children under 12 as it's bloody and sad, as you would expect. But it begins to paint the pictures of those days--of faith, but also greed; of nobility, but also barbarism. And it ends on a positive note of the good things that came out of the bad.
The conflict between Muslim and Christian -East and West - continues today. While there is a danger posed by radical Islam, I don't believe it represents Muslims at large. Remember, cruel acts were performed by so-called Christians during the Crusade years, the Inquisition and other horrible events such as the St. Bartholomew's Massacre. Many of you share my LDS faith, but even if you don't, I think you'll appreciate the wisdom and the appeal made in this article of what our attitude towards the Muslims should be. Further insights can be gained in this 2000 Ensign article. If a bridge is to be built between the Christian and the Muslim world, the bridge can only be built by love, respect and understanding.
For your older children (high school) and for you, you may want to read My Name Used to Be Muhammed by Tito Momen. Here you will read a first hand account of radical views in today's world by one who broke free of his Muslim faith and became a Christian.
As you would expect, there weren't a lot of books written a hundred years ago for children about Arabia and the Muslims, yet the importance of learning their story and understanding their faith is critical for today's generation. This is definitely a subject that will require much weaving together of stories.
I suggest for your young children to start with the stories of The Arabian Nights. There are several options available in the online library. Compare the versions and see which one you think will fit the ages of your children. Or I'm sure you can find some illustrated versions at the library. I suggest you read the section in this month's Mother's Learning Library on The Arabian Nights and you'll see how they are filled with the customs and culture of the Muslim people. As I have read the biographies of many of the great men and women of the past, they shared a love of The Arabian Nights in their childhoods. The tales are pure imagination.
Introduce your children to Rimsky-Korsakov's Sheherazade which is the musical version of these tales of fantasy. I've provided a link in the Enrichment section..
You might also check out this little book that offers tales from the Moors and their days in Spain:
Tales from the Alhambra
We have Muslim mothers in our group and I hope they will feel safe in sharing their insights and perspective in our Facebook group and that we will maintain a spirit of civility and understanding within this group. In Enrichment, I have included crafts and activities, some of which relate to Muslim holy-days. Some Christian parents are against allowing their children to participate in any sort of activity such as that. I am not. I believe it helps us teach our children to respect our differences and to understand one another's faith. There have been times where Muslim could be found guarding Christian holy sites, and Christians respected Muslim holy-days. In some areas of the world, it is still happening.
The Saracens have contributed much to our world and you can read about some of their contributions in this book, which is also included in Stories of Arabia/Islam.
As the Crusades were all about the conflicts between Christian and Muslim, you can start introducing the stories of the Crusades. You may want to to start your 8 and olders with Our Little Crusader Cousin or other books in the online library. If you're not opposed to Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, it could start to peak the interest in your Middle Schoolers as it brings in the story of Richard the Lionheart who is away fighting in the Crusades. This is one of the books I included in Stories of Arabia/Islam that brings the story of the Crusades to life. I talk about it in the Bundles section of this newsletter. I don't recommend it to children under 12 as it's bloody and sad, as you would expect. But it begins to paint the pictures of those days--of faith, but also greed; of nobility, but also barbarism. And it ends on a positive note of the good things that came out of the bad.
The conflict between Muslim and Christian -East and West - continues today. While there is a danger posed by radical Islam, I don't believe it represents Muslims at large. Remember, cruel acts were performed by so-called Christians during the Crusade years, the Inquisition and other horrible events such as the St. Bartholomew's Massacre. Many of you share my LDS faith, but even if you don't, I think you'll appreciate the wisdom and the appeal made in this article of what our attitude towards the Muslims should be. Further insights can be gained in this 2000 Ensign article. If a bridge is to be built between the Christian and the Muslim world, the bridge can only be built by love, respect and understanding.
For your older children (high school) and for you, you may want to read My Name Used to Be Muhammed by Tito Momen. Here you will read a first hand account of radical views in today's world by one who broke free of his Muslim faith and became a Christian.
Art credit: The Messenger by Frederick Arthur Bridgman