Increasing expertise in a multitude of religions
Tue, 17 May 2011 12:44:00 BST
Emma Salter, Course Leader for the Religion and Education BA(Hons) course, is conducting research which increases the knowledge about how religion and education are linked and bringing that into the classroom. Her work is not only relevant to her course, but to education in general.
Her wide ranging research interests include religious literacy in education and Indian religions. As she explains, ‘It’s one thing to learn about different religions, their beliefs and practices, but it’s also important for our students to apply an understanding of religion to real situations in society and in education. On the course we examine theories of secularisation, multi-culturalism and religious pluralism to consider their impact on society and social policy, ensuring that the course responds to society.
‘It’s also important for educators today to have an awareness of and sensitivity to cultural diversity in their classrooms, and I’ve researched equalities legislation with reference to religion.
‘I’ve also been researching Jainism which is an Indian religion that originated about the same time as Buddhism – 500 BCE. Our students have found it interesting that, as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism have a different world view to the religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, their philosophical, ethical and doctrinal principals are, in many ways, different to monotheistic religions.’
An interesting aspect of her work is her study of the links between science and religious education teaching and how science classes respond to pupils’ religious beliefs. With the Course Leader for science teacher training, she’s been involved in an innovative project where postgraduate trainee science teachers and Religion and Education BA(Hons) students share a class together to consider the dialogue between science and religion and its implications in education. This is topical, as the recognition of pupils’ religious beliefs in school (for example with respect to religious dress and science lessons) has recently attracted media attention and reflects how education is responding to changing social patterns. Students benefit from the rare experience of studying alongside trainee science teachers, and discussing the relationships between science and religion.
References
Salter, E (2010) ‘Faith and religion’. In: Teaching in Lifelong Learning: A Guide to Theory and Practice. Milton Keynes: Open University Press/McGraw Hill Education. pp. 63-66. ISBN 9780335234684. This is about the benefits and barriers to interdisciplinary teaching, with particular consideration to the epistemological and methodological frameworks of science and religion
Salter, E (2005) ‘Jainism in the modern world’. In: The New Lion handbook: the world’s religions. Oxford: Lion-Hudson. pp. 186-187. ISBN 9780745951287
Current research
Interdisciplinary teaching [science and religion]. Paper to be delivered in July 2011 for The Association of University Lecturers in Religious Education (AULRE)
