Religious Dimensions of Child and Family Life examines the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child from the perspectives of eight of the world’s most-practised religions—Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, North American Native spiritual belief, Judaism, popular Chinese religious practice and Bahá’í. The authors of each article pay special attention to religious moral codes of conduct governing parental behaviour, child-rearing norms and the role of children in spiritual practice. They pinpoint where positive support is provided, but also where the religions criticize or disagree with the ideas of the Convention. When considered in relation to the UN Convention, these ideas provoke a lively discussion.
Harold Coward is a professor of history and director of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria.
Philip Cook is a professor of Psychology and Child Development at the University of Victoria. In addition to his many academic qualifications, he is very active with UNICEF in promoting programs of child development with First Nations and in Third World countries.