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Show page 18 lessons, Fail 2004 Devan Hite, Religious Studies Student Association Another challenge, according to Professor McDannell, results from the religious nature of the students themselves. "This is an unusual campus in that so many students are active, not only in the LDS church, but in many other religions." Professor McDannell noted that it is necessary in a class to explain right away that students of religion must be prepared for the fact that a study of religion is a difficult and critical task. Typically, a student must read many books, write papers with in-depth research and analysis, memorize extensive facts and information pertaining to different aspects of religion, and have a working knowledge of foreign languages. Students who undertake an academic study of religion are trained to view religion in general without a lens of faith. All of this work is necessary to force the student to approach religion from a new perspective. "You can't use the same language to describe someone else's tradition as you do to your own because that's hard." Professor McDannell explained. "It [religious studies] is a knowledge base in which, like any academic discipline, you have to master the basic language." She concedes that it is a difficult shift for many students to make, especially ones who come from homogeneous communities where one religion is predominant, like the LDS church in most of Utah, because they don't have much experience with religion outside their own. The predominance of the LDS church in Utah can account for some of the hesitation to accept religious studies as an academic field. A common fear arises among students and faculty alike that an atmosphere of neutrality would be difficult to maintain at the University of Utah. Critics of religious studies fear that classes focused on religion would quickly turn into sessions used for either bashing or promoting the LDS church and its beliefs. Faculty members and students already involved with religious studies believe that those arguments have no serious merit. "If you are trained in religion, you are going to be thinking about this issue," said Margaret Toscano, a professor in the languages and literature department. "As an academic, you want to have a balance of points of view. That is part of what an academic approach to religion is. You're trying to look at this in a scholarly, balanced, academic way. You're not trying to go to either extreme, which is what people fear." Professor Toscano argues that any professor can effectively set up a classroom atmosphere that does not degenerate into bashing or testimonials of any religious belief system, whether it be Mormonism, Catholicism, or Islam. "I think if you're trying to be open, trying to be academic, trying to be tolerant, trying to promote a balance and fairness, [this] is not as much of an issue." Professors, accordingto her, are not going to be "proselytizing or favoring a certain religious viewpoint." Currently the University of Utah has no religious studies major or minor. Any student who seeks to focus on religious studies in particular must declare a University Studies major. There are, however, many classes offered in various colleges and departments that focus on aspects of religious studies. In the history department for example, students are offered courses that deal with the Protestant Reformation, early Christian history, and American religions. Some Middle Eastern Studies courses focus on the role of Christianity and Islam in historical and societal developments in that region. Even departments from philosophy to languages and literature offer classes exploring some aspect of ancient or modern religion that correlates to their specialized field of study. Accordingto Watson, religious studies ultimately has muchtoofferasanacademicfield. In his words, students involved in religious studies will gain "a deeper understanding of society, how it works, how the structures [of society] look together, and a better appreciation of [the student's] own society." « |
