Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” Genesis 4:1-2

The central scientific concept Apprenticeship Parenting uses comes from attachment research. Attachment research describes in great detail how children use their primary caregivers to develop emotional and behavioral self-control and competence. We are even beginning to see and understand how different brain regions are shaped by these interactions. The role a parent plays in this developmental process was first described by Dr. John Bowlby as being a Secure Base. At Apprenticeship Parenting, we have adopted the term Safe Harbor.

We believe that the two core instincts of exploration and refuge seeking described by attachment researchers are biological echoes of our spiritual design as described by the Judeo-Christian creation story. This story tells us that God intimately formed us and then placed us in a world that we were to explore and master. And so, it is no wonder that science has declared that, at our core, we are creatures of intimacy (taking refuge in one another) and exploration (seeking understanding and mastery over our physical world).

Furthermore, the Judeo-Christian scriptures are full of imagery which mirrors the science of Safe Harbor, except in terms that describe God’s parent-child relationship with us.  Consider the words of King David who wrote these words, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge…In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears…He reached down on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters…He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” (Psalm 18, selected verses). These words emphasize God’s delight and protection. 

Or consider these words, also from David, “Oh LORD, you have searched me and you know me…You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me…If I go to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast…For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139, selected verses).  These words not only highlight God’s delight (“I am wonderfully made…I know that full well”) and protection (“You hem me in”), but also his support (“your hand will guide me”) and comfort (“your right hand will hold me fast”) as we make our way in the world.  They also proclaim that God’s nature as a Safe Harbor (“my rock, in whom I take refuge”) is unchanged by our circumstances or the decisions we make for ourselves, even if we find ourselves “in the depths.”

These scriptural references do not represent the sum basis for our assertion that Apprenticeship Parenting concepts are biblically sound, but instead are presented as a general glimpse for such a basis. Rather than confined to a few short passages, we see Scripture as overflowing with images of God as a loving parent and affirmations of scientific findings on what children need to develop into secure, compassionate and competent adults. We hope that for those who have struggled to integrate their biblical faith with scientifically sound parenting practices, the above references are an encouragement and an affirmation. For others who, perhaps, have never considered the intersection between faith and parenting, we hope they are an invitation to take seriously the possibility that there is a God who is accessible through Scripture and worth seeking after in terms of both faith and parenting.