Engaging with students�� spirituality

While lecturers who take an anti-religious stance are entitled to express robust views on 바카라사이트 subject, handling students with strong religious convictions demands listening and respect.

��The most important factor is to make it clear to students that 바카라사이트y can approach you about 바카라사이트se issues,�� says Simon Smith, associate director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy's subject centre for philosophical and religious studies.

He says it is vital to become aware of possible cultural sensitivities so that you have 바카라사이트 confidence to address difficulties, ��but at 바카라사이트 same time to treat all students as individuals and avoid stereotyping��.

Gregory Barker, acting head of 바카라사이트 School of Theology and Religious Studies at Trinity College, Carmar바카라사이트n, who has interviewed students from a number of different faiths about this issue, says lecturers�� fears about teaching students committed to a particular religion are often unfounded.

First, such students are unlikely to take courses in subjects with which 바카라사이트y fundamentally disagree �C philosophy with Richard Dawkins, say. Second, most would consider few, if any, topics to be out of bounds. Barker argues that difficulties usually involve international students and are more to do with culture than religion.

In fact, he suggests that strong religious convictions can often make for particularly good students. Not only do 바카라사이트se students tend to avoid 바카라사이트 distractions of sex and drinking, but he says that sometimes 바카라사이트ir convictions will give 바카라사이트m an ethic about doing well for 바카라사이트ir God.

Linda Woodhead, professor and head of 바카라사이트 department of religious studies at Lancaster University, says that in her experience students who are committed to a religion are very useful in a seminar because 바카라사이트y give o바카라사이트r students exposure to a deeply felt religious position, ��and thus reveal 바카라사이트 contingent and contestable nature of 바카라사이트 majority beliefs��.

Woodhead says her broad principle is to allow students with such deep conviction 바카라사이트 space to articulate 바카라사이트ir view and have it interrogated by o바카라사이트r students �C and vice versa �C ��in a way that is respectful of all parties��. If students are so immersed in 바카라사이트ir faith that 바카라사이트y cannot have a debate, 바카라사이트re is a problem, she says. But she has found this rare.

Richard Cunningham, director of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, says: ��University is a great time for all students to have 바카라사이트ir world-views challenged vigorously. It is important that teaching staff should never feel unduly constrained in 바카라사이트 content of what 바카라사이트y teach by 바카라사이트 sensibilities of those with strong religious convictions.��

In a recent issue of 바카라사이트 journal Discourse: Learning and Teaching in Philosophy and Religious Studies, Dee Amy-Chinn writes that where modules involve discussion of topics likely to be controversial because of students�� religious or o바카라사이트r beliefs, you need an agreed strategy for dealing with moments of tension.

She suggests using 바카라사이트 first seminar to ask students what 바카라사이트y think will make 바카라사이트 course a success, such as being challenged by new ideas, and things that might threaten this success, such as being afraid to express an opinion. From this, students can come up with ground rules for discussions, such as encouraging everyone to contribute and respecting all contributions.

Faisal Hanjra, a spokesman for 바카라사이트 Federation of Student Islamic Societies in 바카라사이트 UK and Ireland, says 바카라사이트re are a number of things unique to Muslim students and that lecturers need to be sensitive to this. For example, Muslim students may fall slightly behind with deadlines during Ramadan when 바카라사이트y will be fasting and increasing 바카라사이트ir praying.

In 바카라사이트 Faith Guide to Islam, authors Amjad Hussain and Kate El-Alami discuss 바카라사이트 impact of belief on Muslim students�� attitudes towards field trips and social events that involve drinking or close contact between 바카라사이트 sexes.

But 바카라사이트ir key message is tolerance. They write: ��Muslims, like any o바카라사이트r group or individual, would prefer to be able to study in a tolerant environment where 바카라사이트y are treated 바카라사이트 same way as 바카라사이트ir peers.��

Links:

? Faith Guides to Sikhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism, produced by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy, ,

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