Hovering over the face of the deep: Philosophy, theology and children

'Why does everyone need to die?', 'Does my hamster have a soul?' Theologians and philosophers have always wrestled with such questions. The articles gathered in this book - which represent recent educational approaches to philosophizing and theologizing with children - are very diverse in approach and emphasis.

Nevertheless all underline the importance of supporting children and young people in their efforts to discuss questions of meaning. Quotations in the articles capture with vividness and immediacy their intense engagement with the puzzles of existence. Educators may learn better to support such processes, and by the same token be enriched by the interaction.

Such processes resemble the phenomenon of the Black Sun where starlings get together from different directions in large flocks in order to survive the night. Both, as indicated in the title of this book are hovering over the face of the deep.

This book offers a meeting place for theologians and philosophers, and although the conversation does a great deal to clarify their relationship, differences in opinion remain. Its contributors are from Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.