Over at the blog for the Bulletin for the Study of Religion, Stacie Swain has done the important work of interrogating the construction of the syllabus.
The Syllabus–Getting Back to Basics
On J. Z. Smith and the Remarkable
A start of a new year, the ominous weather forecast, the beginning of yet another semester...if this moment is anything, it is one where we can signify our resolve by any number of means. And in that unremarkable fact, we might ask how and why such moments become remarkable. Currently many students of religion are … Continue reading On J. Z. Smith and the Remarkable
#SyrRelBodies: US Religions and the Regulation of Bodies of Color
Learn more about Dr. Goodwin’s amazing class here and follow the hashtag #SyrRelBodies on Twitter for a well-curated discussion of US religions and the regulation of bodies of color.
Teaching Starter: Milking Classification
NPR and WBUR's Here and Now featured a fascinating example of the power of classification. Dairy farmers say makers of plant-based milks — like almond milk and soy milk — are stealing away their customers. As Harvest Public Media's Luke Runyon (@LukeRunyon) reports, the fight boils down to the definition of a single word. If … Continue reading Teaching Starter: Milking Classification
Whither the Study of Religion and Culture?
By definition, students are committed to forming an awareness of these constructions. Do they have to abandon using the term? No. But they should think carefully about what they intend by doing so, especially when trying to convey their observations, questions, and arguments to others.
