From the outset, LaVahn Hoh, the Dean of the Fall 2012 voyage, suggested a course on World Religions. Such a course is typically offered on SAS voyages and that makes perfect sense for two reasons. First, such a course seems tailor made for the international experience that SAS offers. What better context for studying the world's religions than one in which students and faculty will have actual field experience in contexts where unfamiliar religions are practiced and deeply shape the culture? Secondly, students come from colleges and universities across the United States. They need to transfer their SAS credit and that is easiest where there is a nearly identical corresponding course. Almost every school as an introductory course in World Religions.
Unfortunately, I have never taught such a course! Most of my teaching at Shenandoah University is related to Christian history, theology, and ethics. Several years ago when we decided that we wanted all our majors to have a full course devoted to a single non-Christian tradition, I developed and taught a course on Islam. (After that first offering, we have had Muslim scholars teach the course, or our Dean of Arts and Sciences who is a Middle Eastern historian.) I also have some familiarity with African Traditional Religions as a result of teaching a course on Christianity in the African-American Experience. But, I have never taught anything related to Hinduism or Buddhism or Confucianism. The good news is that I will be teaching two sections of World Religions in the Spring of 2012 at Shenandoah. So my SAS students won't be getting a totally inexperienced professor. (Let me say, however, that I have often found that students enjoy and benefit when they are learning along with their Professors. That will surely be the case to an large extent with important parts of my World Religion courses.)
Because SAS courses are to be crafted to take advantage of the voyage itinerary, I proposed that I teach a course on Liberation Theologies of Africa and Latin America. I studied Latin American Liberation Theology in seminary, during my mission experience in Argentina, and in doctoral work, but I've never actually taught a course on it. I have almost no familiarity with African theology. Still, I thought this would be a great opportunity to expand my knowledge and to actually teach material that has been very important to me for a long time. Good news again: Shenandoah is providing me the opportunity to teach this course with SU students this spring. So, once again, the SAS students will benefit from my teaching this material at least once before I try to lead them into the joys and challenges of Liberation Theology.
Teaching courses I've not taught before is surely a challenge. But one of the reasons I love teaching is that it allows me to always be a student. That is never more the case than when one is teaching something for the very first time. Needless to say, I have already begun to read and learn new things in preparation for the SAS experience.
In a future post, I'll describe to you what I'm planning for each of the courses.
Barry, I am not a teacher in the same sense that you are, but in my church years did teach adult Sunday School. I was asked to do this in the very beginning of my church attendance and found that teaching was the best way for me to learn. There is nothing like studying the material to prepare for a lesson to teach you the lesson first! Peace ~ Shanti~ Melanie
ReplyDeleteHI Barry and Jane.
ReplyDeleteI am really excited about your SAS and will look forward to hearing about your experience. You know that World Religions and Liberation Theology are close to my heart so I am looking forward to your post. The best resource I have used in understanding World Religions is Huston Smith's "World Religions." It was my introduction to World Religions and I still use it often. I know you aren't leaving until the fall but I want to be the first to wish you Bon Voyage.
Terri