In my Intro to World Religions course, which includes a gen intro to the acad study of "religion"), I give a "religion in the news" assignment. Students find/summarize a news article which features religion in some way. It helps them see that, yes, this is relevant. A🧵on a few of the submissions: - ThreadSky

matthewjkuiper.bsky.social • 52 days ago

In my Intro to World Religions course, which includes a gen intro to the acad study of "religion"), I give a "religion in the news" assignment. Students find/summarize a news article which features religion in some way. It helps them see that, yes, this is relevant. A🧵on a few of the submissions:

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profclaire.bsky.social•52 days ago

What an interesting assignment!

matthewjkuiper.bsky.social•52 days ago

(The assignment indirectly benefits me by pointing me to stories I might have missed). First up, this one I missed from Nov 2024.

matthewjkuiper.bsky.social•52 days ago

Another student found this, on every Religion scholar's favorite John Kerry moment, the moment he said that diplomats need a better understanding of religion in global affairs and that he wished he had majored in Religious Studies in college. Well said, sir!

jasonbystrom.bsky.social•52 days ago

I mean, kudos to your student for connecting with the watershed Kerry moment, but surely they can find much more recent coverage of religion in the news 🤷‍♂️🙊 😂😅

matthewjkuiper.bsky.social•52 days ago

Yeah, the assignment is to find a "recent" article. And this one is about 9 years old. I did note that in my feedback to the student, but still gave credit.

matthewjkuiper.bsky.social•52 days ago

Almost every time I give this assignment, someone finds a story featuring the Pope, as in this submission...

matthewjkuiper.bsky.social•52 days ago

From another student, an article on the current violence in Israel/Gaza/West Bank and how it affected Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem.

matthewjkuiper.bsky.social•52 days ago

Here's an interesting one on efforts to legalize divorce in the Philippines, something I was not aware of. Good find, student!

matthewjkuiper.bsky.social•52 days ago

Sometimes students submit opinion pieces, which aren't technically what the assignment calls for, but they still illustrate the point of religion being discussed in the public square, as in...

suyh.bsky.social•52 days ago

Brilliant idea!

demiliopics2.bsky.social•52 days ago

Very interesting! I do an assignment I call "The Middle Ages Today" in my Jews, Christians, Muslims class. I ask students to present news, opinion pieces, or websites that connect contemporary issues in interfaith relations with the medieval past or with scriptures. They find interesting things!

matthewjkuiper.bsky.social•52 days ago

That would be interesting! I bet your students find a lot of current pieces that reference (whether accurately or not) the Crusades among other (in)famous aspects of "Medieval" times?

demiliopics2.bsky.social•52 days ago

Sure, Crusades, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Jerusalem/Palestine are the biggest ones, but there's surprising variety: shared or contested shrines, religious minorities, and issues surrounding conversions and interfaith marriages...

alessandrak.bsky.social•51 days ago

I would love to read a thread of some of the more interesting submissions you've gotten, if you happen to have the time to share.

demiliopics2.bsky.social•51 days ago

I appreciate the request! Right now, I'm getting set for this term (other courses), but I'll keep it mind and aim to send you a sample of the variety. I often select some to use as examples in a later class (and to steer students to news/opinion/public media, not "academic" or reference articles).

charlesmeeks.com•52 days ago

Is this for undergrad or grad? I guess it doesn’t matter, I’m going to steal this idea anyway! Thanks for sharing!

matthewjkuiper.bsky.social•52 days ago

You bet! It’s an undergrad assignment

quityourcult.bsky.social•52 days ago

interesting stuff. I was in a Sufi group here in Carbondale for 23 years. I'm now writing about the "cult wars" between sociologists of religion and anti-cult activists -- we would probably enjoy a conversation some time. cool assignment!

arturoviaggia.bsky.social•52 days ago

I do this too for my Jewish/Christian relations course. Students have to find an article from the past year. They're usually surprised at how many they find.

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