On Not Knowing
“The ancient Masters didn’t try to educate the people, but kindly taught them to not-know. When they think that they know the answers, people are difficult to guide. When they know that they don’t know, people can find their own way.” —Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, chapter 65; trans. Stephen Mitchell “All that…
100% that…
It is often said that, in teaching, everyone needs “someone to borrow from and someone to complain to.” Or, actually, less politely (and more honestly?), “someone to steal from and someone to bitch to.” I believe this is fair. As to the first part, I’d imagine you, dear reader, would not argue – after all,…
Teaching with World Religions: Kenosis
Kenosis is a fancy Greek word for “emptying,” and it is used in the Christian tradition to denote the self-effacing act of Christ, the second person of the divine Trinity, in taking on human form (in Jesus of Nazareth). It is part and parcel of the Incarnation, which Christians view as key to Christ’s saving…
Teaching with World Religions: Filial Piety?
Yes, there’s a question mark in this entry’s title. That’s not a mistake. But more on that later. Filial piety is a key virtue of Confucianism. Confucianism is, in some ways, a counterpoint religion to Taoism, which I wrote about earlier. Both believe in the fundamental nature of a Tao, or Way (both in the…
Teaching with World Religions: Midrash
Midrash is name for both a genre of Jewish religious texts and the practice which generates those texts; it is both a kind of literature and an activity. It is tricky to easily define. The word midrash is derived from a Hebrew root with at least as many shades of meaning as there are scholars…
Teaching with World Religions: Wu-Wei
Wu-wei is a concept essential to Taoism. It essentially means something like “acting without acting” or “non-action.” Please note at the outset that it is not to be confused with “inaction.” There is nothing especially Taoist about spending all day on the couch (there may be other good reasons to do that, but wu-wei is…
Teaching with World Religions – Introduction
I have taught religion in an academic setting in some form or another for over 20 years. But this is not a series about how to do that. Instead, this blog series explores what it might look like to use insights or practices from major world religions as approaches to or guidelines for teaching. Let…
Five things to consider about shifting to remote learning…
Much like the supernatural villain of a horror movie…”It’s baaaack!” The mid-year shift to remote learning, or, as my boys call it, “weird Zoom school.” I can hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth from here (and not just because one son is on Zoom down the hall). However, as both a (college) teacher who…
Things That Have Worked for Me: Modern-Day Examples
Part of a short series of posts discussing activities, strategies, or materials that have worked for me in my teaching. Maybe they can work for you, too… The Thing: Modern-Day Examples of a Topic This is a discussion exercise, and it starts with homework: students have to bring to the next class a current example…
Things That Have Worked for Me: Value Line Prep Day
Part of a short series of posts discussing activities, strategies, or materials that have worked for me in my teaching. Maybe they can work for you, too… The Thing: A “Value Line” set-up day The “value line” is an activity I learned in a workshop years ago. You give students statements to rank their agreement…
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Brantley Craig 