A Comparative Analysis of Behavioral Factors of Spiritual Education of Child in family (Childhood Period)

Considering the question of spiritual education of children, which is regarded as a problem of family and society today, the present research is conducted with the aim of comparing the view of Islam with that of behaviorist theory on spiritual education of children by using an analytical-descriptive method. It identifies behavioral factors which are influential in the spiritual education of children in family space in two fields of worship and morality. Then it studies these factors by using a religious-Quranic approach and compares them with the view of behaviorism in order to show their similarities and differences. Main difference between these two views lies in their anthropology, which has considerable influence on the education of children. According to behaviorism, spiritual education of children is useless, because there is no immaterial thing in children. Conversely, according to the theory of Islam, this type of education for children and taking into consideration their spiritual aspect is a necessary and crucial fact throughout their life.