The God Squad: More questions from kids about God

Rabbi Marc Gellman, Tribune Content Agency on Nov 12, 2020

So, that is why I never get sick of saying prayers. Prayers make me better for God. Prayers make me better for my family. Prayers make me better for my friends. Prayers make me better for the world.

Q: How many buildings are there in the world?

A: Lots. Listen to me. You clearly have a future in real estate. In theology, not so much.

Q: How did God create humans?

A: God made us somehow. Maybe God made us by making evolution that turned bugs into monkeys and monkeys into us. Maybe the Bible is right that God made us by making the first people out of red clay and then breathing life into them. You can pick which maybe you think is right. It does not matter because however God made us, we are made special by God, which means we are holy. We are holy because we are made in the image of God. Every one of us is holy. No person is more holy than anyone else. There is a little piece of God inside each and every one of us. That part of God inside us is called our soul. Our bodies plus our souls is all we are, but it is enough.

Q: Why was the world started?

A: God was lonely and needed partners.

And then in the midst of these deep theological questions from little kids, there were these questions that helped me to remember that kids are not little theologians. Kids are just kids and that is just fine by me:

Q: Who invented candy?

Q: Who invented mashed potatoes?

Q: Can I meet Taylor Swift?

Q: Who invented homework?

And then there is my favorite. Both my assistant rabbis are women and the cantor in my synagogue is also a woman. A little girl asked,

Q: Can a man be a rabbi?

God bless the little children.

(Send ALL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS to The God Squad via email at godsquadquestion@aol.com. Rabbi Gellman is the author of several books, including “Religion for Dummies,” co-written with Fr. Tom Hartman.)