seven+key+principles

=Seven key and often overlooked principles for Christian education:=
 * 1) **We must never read purely for pleasure.** Reading aimlessly is lazy. It is a bad use of our time. It is selfish. People waste many hours reading literature that does not profit them spiritually. There is an abundance of literature available to us and we must be careful! Our time is much better spent in service to others.
 * 2) **Teaching children to make up stories without a lesson is teaching them to lie.** Making up a story that makes a moral point, such as a parable or fable profits others. These types of stories are good for children because they help them understand Christian principles that they may not otherwise be able to understand. However, our children are inundated with falsehood. Many children today do not even understand what is real and what is not because they spend so much time reading, watching television and playing video games instead of interacting with real people.
 * 3) **Whenever we read a book, we ought to be looking for the virtue that is taught in it**. This is why we read--to learn virtue, wisdom and understanding. Remember, we also need plenty of time and opportunity to practice these virtues as well.
 * 4) **It is best to turn our attention first to Christian literature--books that recount the lives and works of virtuous men**. This is especially true for younger, less discerning children because the virtues depicted in non-Christian literature may be subtle or mixed with many injurious ideas.
 * 5) **We must avoid altogether literature that promotes false religions, the love of money or the love of passions unless we are using such books to strengthen our own position**. Again, the less spiritually nature must be more cautious.
 * 6) **Music of any kind affects the soul**. We must pursue only that kind which soothes the soul and uplifts it.
 * 7) **Art teaches perseverance**. Do not underestimate the usefulness of art education. Art also teaches us to be creative, as God is creative. This is virtuous creativity, as opposed to making up stories, which is harmful creativity. Not all of what popular culture calls art is art. Children ought to be able to discern between art and non art. They must learn to love what is beautiful.