Lizzy Peck has written the book we have all been waiting for. Those of us who have to do with the education of the young have heard all too often from them that religion…has been disproved by ‘science’. This is simply not the case; indeed Christianity, and especially Catholicism has played an immensely important role in the development of science; it was, of course, a Catholic priest who first drew our attention to the ‘Big Bang’, and the Church has always been in the forefront of scientific achievement, Galileo or not. This is a marvellous book, admirably directed at quite young children, with a really intelligent commentary for their long-suffering parents and teachers…and it should be widely read by those who care about this extraordinary ‘disconnect’ in our society between science and religion.
Fr Nicholas King SJ
Fellow in New Testament Studies at Campion Hall, Oxford
Following the initial success of this beautiful and innovative children’s book, we are pleased to announce and celebrate a reprint of God is Not a Man in the Sky. In fact, God is Not a Man in the Sky actually comprises two books, the children’s story book (which narrates the story of salvation history from ‘before’ the beginning of time) and the adults’ Companion Guide, written to accompany the children’s book and give parents, teachers and other adults the support they may need in explaining the theology underlying the book. With this in mind a new video file of the book is also now available, designed especially to be of use with groups of children, for example, in the school or first communion preparation classroom.
Elizabeth Peck is a highly experienced secondary school RE teacher who, in writing the book, wished to address some of the many misconceptions she found in the classroom when children arrive in Year 7. She addresses thirteen such misconceptions including the idea that science and religion are incompatible; that God is some kind of man in the sky or just one ‘giant’ thing among the many things that exist; that God is simply the First-Cause of creation; or that we create our own meaning and identities through the choices we make and that our lives have no purpose, save that which we give it.
The Companion Guide follows the text of the children’s book page by page, giving the adult as much or as little support and information as they may require. For example:
Commenting on these pages the Companion Guide states:
The Companion Guide also helpfully contains an index of themes so that these can be traced throughout the narrative. Themes include, for example, ‘the relationship between science and religion’, ‘the nature of God’, ‘human nature’, ‘the nature of redemption’ and ‘the Primacy of Christ’, which can be looked up, as well as biblical references; all helpful aids for the teacher.
God is not a Man in the Sky has a nihil obstat and imprimatur meaning that it can be confidently used by schools as well as parents, and in many respects conforms to the Religious Education Curriculum Directory (RECD). Elizabeth uses the book in her own teaching and is developing resources to accompany each page of the book as she does so. In due time these will also be available to accompany the book. An Activity Book for younger children (useful for parents and children’s liturgy groups) is also in preparation.
God is Not a Man in the Sky has also received some excellent reviews. The book was nominated by Redemptorist Publications as their feature book for World Book Day 2022, and it has received reviews in both the regional and national press. Networking: Catholic Education Today and the Catholic Herald have both run feature length reviews.[1] Elizabeth describes how the book came into being whilst she was expecting her daughter Alethea (to whom the book is dedicated), as she did not want her to grow up with the same misconceptions she meets on a daily basis in the classroom.
Her writing is underpinned by the belief that children are not only able to comprehend profound and beautiful ideas, but that they have a hunger for them.
In order to celebrate the reprint we are offering a 10% discount until 31 May, meaning there is still plenty of time to buy the perfect First Communion gift, a present which can be used, treasured and referred to for many years to come. Please use code FRANCIS10 when you order your copy.
[1] Networking: Catholic Education Today, 24.1 (2002/3), 45–47. Catholic Herald (February 2023), 56–57.