Shocking as it seems, the semester is already over… One one hand, the time has totally flown by… It seems like yesterday that I was overcoming my jitters and walking into the classroom for the first time. On the other, I *have* done a lot of work during this period (preparing and delivering 60+ lectures, grading various papers and exams, and responding to hundreds of student emails (concerning projects and grading, as well as various general questions)). Though it has been stressful and time-consuming, it has also been a great learning experience…
In my last class with each section, I did a brief informal survey, asking them if they had figured out (or could guess) my own religious views/affiliation… a relevant question, given that I had tried to keep these personal elements as divorced from my teaching as possible (a process of bracketing [epoché] that is key to religious studies scholarship). I’m pleased to report that, of the 20 or so students surveyed, only two (one in each section) correctly pegged me as an atheist/agnostic, which implies a certain level of success in my bracketing. Intriguingly, one of the justifications most often put forward for the students’ guesses was that it seemed reasonable to assume that I was religious because I have dedicated so much of my time and energy to the study of religion. I found this to be an interesting statement because it implies something of a double standard… If someone studies art history or archeology or engineering or english, it is assumed that such an individual has an academic (intellectual) interest in / passion for their subject matter, but nothing is necessarily presupposed about their personal beliefs. Yet somehow the topic of religion seems to be different for most people (echoing a discussion that I’ve had countless times):
A: What do you do, dear?
B: I’m in religious studies…
A: Oh, so you’re going to be a priest?
B: [slaps his forehead and groans]
Unlike the “personal commitment” assumed by the individuals described above, my approach to religion is far more similar to the one adopted by other academics in the humanities and social sciences, in that I see religion as a viable lens through which to examine the human condition. To wit, religion is a tremendously powerful social force that has had uncountable effects (both positive and negative) on human lives and human societies throughout history. It provides a locus for the understanding of other cultures and other mindsets. That’s why I’m interested.
It’s funny that people don’t get that…
Hey! Glad to see you back in blogtown. I’m impressed with that minuscule success rate of your students. That’s awesome that you were able to keep it neutral when I know you have strong and very particular thoughts on the subject matter. Way to teach, Teach.