How should a professor handle students disrespecting various religious traditions in a State University class?

Question

I'm taking this Religious Studies class, and most of the people in the class are Christians, and some seem to be quite Fundamentalist. This is fine, and I think it is ok, for them as students, to express their beliefs, as long as that in so doing, they do not disrespect others' beliefs.

Well in my class, one student referred to the Jehovah's Witnesses as "dabbling in a cult" and another student was less than respectful about my own Hindu beliefs, acting as if it were some sort of freaky cult.

I don't know what's with this class, but for some reason, a lot of people in there seem to assume that everyone else in there is a mainstream Protestant Christian.

There could have been a Jehovah's Witness in the classroom offended. And there definitely was a Hindu offended because it was me! I didn't say anything.

But I am asking because I'd like to be a professor of Religious Studies some day.

What can the teacher do to try to keep disrespectful comments from occurring?

Answer 1

i've dealt with the same thing in my religious studies classes on occasion. the idea of interpretation in Islam is somewhat hard to grasp. our teacher said that in Islam the Arabic Quran is the only perfect one. later that week i brought a Quran in with an English interpretation in it to show the class. a girl from my class turns and goes "well isnt that kind of hypocritical" directly to me as the teacher was speaking more about the english translation.

*along with many other incidents with myself and others

many students feel it is their right and their place to attack others religions within the classroom environment. what your teacher needs to do is keep control of the class and lay out his intentions and his expectations very clearly.

if my teacher had allowed this young lady to know that he was the teacher and that questions could be directed to him this would have helped a lot.

also, in most religious studies courses the phenomenological approach (in essence studying what people of faiths would give as their faith not what non-believers or scientists would say) is employed. if so, this should be emphasized

sorry i took up so much space. hope this helps

asalamwalaikum

Answer 2

I am a high school faith formation catechist (religious education teacher) in the catholic Church. I demand that my students respect other faiths even if they do not agree with them.

The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life

If I were this professor, I would remind the students that this is a Religious Studies class. In order to learn about other religions you must approach them with an open mind. The attitude that they are expressing indicates a closed mind and if they cannot learn about other religions and instead only criticize them from a prejudiced view point, they will fail the class.

I would recommend that if they cannot be respectful and learn about other faiths, they should drop the class and take another class that they would have a better ability of passing

Answer 3

It is very difficult for the Professor to control such things, neither you can do anything. Religion is such a sensitive issue there will always be difference of opinion, acrimonious atmosphere if the debate continues. There will be discussions with contrary statements and you have to put up with it. You should not have elected this subject to study in a collage where all the religions are talked. I feel you have taken Hinduism as your subject, if I am correct you should have gone some collage where only Hinduism is thought or preached. Or if you want Christianity you should have gone to a place accordingly. Coming to common platform your ventilating the feeling like this will not be taken note at all.

Even in Yahoo! answers - Religion and Spirituality Both Hindu Fanatics and Christan Fanatics are putting questions -and entering into unhealthy competition for their trying to spread their own religion, forgetting this place is not at all meant for such attitudes. - Here what you can do.

Answer 4

Well, at the university level, people are expected to freely debate, and are encouraged to explore controversial subjects as a way of growing. Obviously, people who are passionate about their position on a particular subject will defend it strongly, irregardless if it is religion, political science, literature, or economics that you are studying. In short, you are probably going to get your feelings hurt on occasion in university classes since people are encouraged to speak up and freely share ideas -- some of which are going to sound offensive or confusing to you since you are not used to their point of view.

Having said that, a professor should step in and stop the conversation, or at least change the subject, if the debate gets too heated before it can get out of hand. If the professor butts in too often, then learning is squelched since controversial subjects are avoided for fear of hurting the feelings of someone who might be too sensitive. You cannot learn about other people's point of view if you are not willing to get a little offended. Tolerance, as you would understand it from a Hindu point of view, is not a part of every religion (especially monotheistic ones which believe strongly in absolute, objective truth), and if you are going to study religion, you need to learn that.

In this case, perhaps the professor should have asked the student to defend his statement by asking him to define the criteria for determining what is a "cult", and whether the beliefs of the JWs really fit the definition. The random statement could have been turned into a learning opportunity for everyone. Or the student would have been embarrassed into silence, which would have solved the problem too.

Answer 5

I think that the professor would need to make it clear from the beginning that religious intolerance is not acceptable. I'm taking a Religion class too and have noticed the same thing. I stand up for all beliefs because i don't believe in disrespecting one's religion.
Next time you should say something.

Answer 6

The professor can lay down a few ground rules, like no name-calling, no physical confrontations (I've seen it happen), back up your opinions with facts, or at least popular theory, etc.

But, it's a Religious STUDIES class, not a Religious TOLERANCE class. I assume the professor isn't trying to indoctrinate anyone, so you're left with classmates offering their own opinions.

If you're offended by someone, respectfully take them to task. If it's a doctrinal stance, support it with your doctrines. If it's just opinionation, they're allowed to have their's, as are you.

Disrespect is in the eyes of the beholder. You could disrespect someone by wearing a particular outfit; you wouldn't go home & change, would you?

Answer 7

I think you should make the offender right a '# of words' paper about the religion that they disrespected.

I plan on becoming a teacher myself, and this is how I would handle it, but you migh tfind the answer you're looking for a little be longer down the road.

One thing is for sure though, you should definately make clear that any disrespect among other religions will not be tolerated and taken up with higher officials if the problem occurs on a regular bases.

Edit: They want to act like kids, treat them like one.

Answer 8

The teacher is an A** of the highest order! If he is teaching a religious studies class he needs to make it known that this type of behavior and answers that only serve to insult or humiliate will not be tolerated. I assume this is a class regarding a myriad of religions and beliefs. You need to report this 'professor'. He should be serving as a mediator and allowing everyone to express him/herself in a way in which demeans no one and in which everyone can feel comfortable in expressing him/herself!

Answer 9

Just ask the class to look at their studies in an objective and academic point of view. I don't know if it works for such class though. If the class is just providing knowledge about a particular religion, than i guess it should be ok. An educated criticism seems to be fine with many.

Answer 10

You could make them study 6 months with Jehovah's Witnesses.


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