{"product_id":"the-mystery-of-the-child-9780802883506","title":"The Mystery of the Child","description":"Much of today's writing on children treats the child of any age as a problem or a set of problems to be solved, effectively reducing the child to a complex of biological and chemical factors, explainable in scientific terms, or regarding children as objects of adult control. In contrast, Martin Marty here presents the child as a \u003ci\u003emystery\u003c\/i\u003e who invokes wonder and elicits creative responses that affect the care provided him or her. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Drawing on literature as new as contemporary poetry and as old as the Bible, \u003ci\u003eThe Mystery of the Child\u003c\/i\u003e encourages the thoughtful enjoyment of children instead of the imposition of adult will and control. Indeed, Marty treats the impulse to control as a problem and highlights qualities associated with children -- responsiveness, receptivity, openness to wonder -- that can become sources of renewal for adults. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Mystery of the Child\u003c\/i\u003e represents a new tack for Martin Marty -- universally respected as a historian, theologian, and interpreter of religion and culture -- but displays the same incisive, erudite quality marking the fifty-plus books and thousands of articles that he has previously written. Marty's broad, thoughtful perspective will inspire readers to think afresh about what it means to be a child -- and to be a caregiver. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e This book is sure to claim a wide readership -- parents, grandparents, schoolteachers, theologians, historians -- engaging anyone wanting to explore more fully the profound realm of the child.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/23\/2007\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780802883506\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 269\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.92lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.61d","brand":"Martin E. Marty","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45169457332405,"sku":"9780802883506","price":26.34,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_b2e3732c-8e41-450b-95dd-da5e1413d774.jpg?v=1741703164","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-mystery-of-the-child-9780802883506","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}