Invisible Companions

J. Bradley Wigger teaches religious education and childhood studies at Louisville Seminary. An ordained Presbyterian minister and a recent Henry Luce III Fellow in Theology, Dr. Wigger has served churches in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Mexico. His most recent publications are the picture book for children, Thank You, God (2014), and Original Knowing: How Religion, Science, and the Human Mind Point to the Irreducible Depth of Life (2012).

"Brad Wigger took the time to shed his professorial skin, entering with empathy into the world of children who trusted him enough to reveal themselves. He's now returned from their world to make the invisible visible. Read this book to open your eyes—wide!"—Jerome Berryman, Godly Play Foundation "Brad Wigger's artful mix of storytelling and new research captivates the imagination, drawing us into his own journey of discovery. One of the best reads I have enjoyed for some time, his delightful book shares valuable reflections on human uniqueness, early childhood development, and the origins of religion."—Justin Barrett, Fuller Theological Seminary "In this captivating book, Brad Wigger's intriguing research on young children's imaginary friends leads us into deep consideration of our remarkable human capacity for social imagination. Whether your primary interest is child development, the cognitive foundations of religion, or human nature itself, you will find much to think about here."—Peter Gray, author of Free to Learn "Theologian J. Bradley Wigger interviewed hundreds of children from diverse cultures and found evidence of imaginary friends wherever he looked. His wonderful book documents his quest to understand how these imaginary friends fit into the larger worlds of invisible beings."—Marjorie Taylor, author of Imaginary Companions and the Children Who Create Them "Its riveting stories of children and adults aside, this engaging book is ultimately a work of theology that poses a profound question: Is God just another imaginary friend? And, if not, what is the difference?"—Robert Wuthnow, author of The Left Behind "[A] charming, insightful, generally persuasive book....The fruits of children's relationships to their invisible friends, as Wigger convincingly presents them, are uncommonly sweet. For that sweetness alone, his book is worth the reading."—David J. Halperin, Society for Psychical Research "[Wigger's] insights about the relationship between children's invisible friends and religious experiences are thoughtful and nondogmatic. Scholars of childhood studies will find this delightful, informative book is well worth reading on many levels. Highly recommended."—S. Sugarman, CHOICE "J. Bradley Wigger challenges us to keep an open mind when it comes to friends that we cannot see. This eloquent book...poses that by having a clearer understanding the imagined world, we have a better grasp on reality."—Mike Findlay, Psychreg

• Introduction: See-through Knowing1. Life-Givers2. Flexibility3. Logic and Imagination4. Sharing5. Wild Mind6. Who Knows What?7. Ancestors and Angels8. Gods and Godsibbs9. Original Knowing10. Friends of God