Before we get properly into the Christmas period, it feels like the right time to warn you that the TrueTube film I Believed in Father Christmas is NOT a Christmas film. In fact, you probably shouldn’t show it anywhere near Christmas unless you actually want to ruin the Xmas atmos.
If you haven’t seen it, I Believed in Father Christmas is a short animation about Luke, a 12 year-old boy who has been brought up in a Christian Church, and is soon to be baptised. But he’s met young people of other faiths – and no faith – at his new school, and his interest in science has raised questions about the Bible’s creation story. For the first time in his life, he’s having doubts.
“What’s that got to do with Father Christmas?” you’re wondering. Well in the film – spoiler alert – Luke wonders if his belief in God is like his belief in Father Christmas; that is, something he’ll grow out of. Soyou can see the problem. It’s definitely not a Christmassy film, despite the Christmassy name. You have been warned.
To be honest, we probably should have thought of a better title. Too late now.
But it was an important film to make. We’ve just had Inter Faith Week, and there are plenty of films on TrueTube that celebrate different religions. Which is as it should be. We’re especially proud of our Holy Cribs series which was originally filmed in the early 2010s, and – because of its popularity – updated just a couple of years ago. Or there’s our A Day in the Life series which profiles the different religious leaders in our communities. And yet, we didn’t have many films for people who don’t have a religion, or who are struggling with their beliefs.
Adolescence is a time for questioning, and it’s natural for young people to challenge the beliefs and values of their parents, but there’s an added complication if someone comes from a religious family. Rejecting a religion can be painful for the young person, painful for the parents and painful for the wider faith community.
Because it isn’t just giving up a set of beliefs – which is painful enough on its own – it’s giving up a way of life. That might sound overly dramatic, but very often the social life of religious young peoplerevolves around a Church youth club and around the religious community, and so they lose friendships and their wider support network when they lose their faith. And it’s difficult to talk to parents who often feel that their child is rejecting them, not just their beliefs, because beliefs are so integral to a person’s sense of self.
I Believed in Father Christmas isn’t an attempt to give answers, it’s saying that you’re not alone, even if you might feel like it. It’s saying that it’s healthy to question, and to think things through for yourself. It’s healthy to realise that there is value and “goodness” in belief systems different to your own. It’s healthy to have conversations about belief (or a lack of it) with your peers to help you decide what to believe (or not to believe).
The emphasis within the Religious Education world is moving towards a “Worldviews” approach, which means students should be seeking a greater understanding of how worldviews work in the everyday lives of real people, including in their own lives.
So a teacher might use the film at the beginning of Year 7 to encourage young people to think intellectually about their personal faith, and about religion in general. It could also be used at the beginning of a scheme of work on non-religious worldviews.
Try these discussion starters in your classroom:
- What is the difference between something you “know” and something you “believe”?
- What is the difference between something that is “objectively true” and “subjectively true”?
- Is it possible to be a scientist, and have a religious faith at the same time?
- What are the main similarities that religions share?
- Why do you think religions have so much in common?
And the film could also lead your class into some creative writing…
- What do you believe? Really believe? Write your own “Statement of Belief”.
We’re very proud that I Believed in Father Christmas was nominated for a Sandford St Martin Award. The animator is called Ceiren Bell, and you might also be interested in some of the other brilliant work she’s done for TrueTube: The Bible in Ten Minutes was also nominated for a Sandford Martin Award, Church History in Ten Minutes won a Jerusalem Award, and The Demon’s Head was nominated for a Children’s BAFTA.
So please enjoy I Believed in Father Christmas, just don’t show it in the lead up to Christmas.
