By middle school, youth are ready for a deeper dive into world religions.  Crossing Paths is rooted in religious pluralism. Instead of claiming that one religion is better than others or that all religions are really different ways to the same end, religious pluralism treats religions as separate systems of belief that address distinct human challenges. Rather than seeing all religions as different paths leading to the same mountaintop, this view sees each religion as its own uniquely beautiful mountain. Crossing Paths is about exploring a new “mountain” each month, thus our tagline “Many Mountains; Many Paths.”

This metaphor of mountaineering is woven throuought the curriculm.  We will explore a different tradition each month. The 1st session will be “Map Sunday.” Here, youth learn the basics of the religion.  The 2nd session will be “Tack Sunday.”  Here we will “collect and check our tack.” i.e. pack up our gear. Having reviewed the core components of the focus religion on Map Sunday, the group now adds to their “backpack” an awareness of how that religion and Unitarian Universalism are similar and different. The goal is to begin a conversation that the group will continue the following week with their interfaith hosts.  The 3rd session is “Summit Day,”  where we visit our interfaith neighbors.  Note this may not occur on a Sunday, depending on the religion being studied that month.  And the last session is “Lake Sunday,” where we come back from our travels and “reflect” by the lake.

As the playfulness of the metaphor of mountaineering suggests, Crossing Paths is not a dry comparative religions class; it is an exploration of ourselves and other faiths through games, skits, crafts, meditation and use of the senses. Just wait until we play “Pin the Path on the Mountain” in our first session!