Teaching about teaching sexuality and religion

Stephens, Darryl W.

doi:10.1111/teth.12386

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…We intentionally limited our initial work, accomplished through this grant, to those instructors already comfortable with sexuality as a topic and who were thus more likely to effect the change from content‐based pedagogy to a perspective transformation approach. Enabling instructors to become more confident, knowledgeable, and comfortable teaching sexuality and embodiment is a follow‐up task to this initial effort (Stephens, ).…”

Section: Challenges and Strategies For Classroom Instructorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embodied learning: Teaching sexuality and religion to a changing student body

Ott¹,

Stephens

2017

Teaching Theology & Religion

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Sexuality, more so than other subject areas, magnifies the embodied nature of teaching and learning as well as conspicuously silences open dialogue given its taboo status in many religious and theological contexts. Yet, student learning about sexuality that incorporates knowledge of and about religion, in particular, may greatly improve the public discourse about sexuality through our students as responsible citizens and as leaders in their chosen professions. To bridge this gap, through a year-long collaboration, a group of professors and instructors with expertise and experience teaching sexuality and religion in a variety of disciplines and diverse institutional and religious contexts developed, tested, and refined classroom teaching strategies to shift from a content-based "subject matter"to an embodied learning experience, resulting in perspective transformation as a primary student-learning outcome. Findings in the form of "guiding questions," encourage instructors to attend to contextual, experiential, and performative aspects of the classroom environment. shame, guilt, power, and freedom. Sexuality has been at the heart of the U.S. culture wars for nearly half a century. Public debate about sexuality has reached a fever pitch in U.S. legal discourse, and divisions over sexuality are reshaping the religious landscape. Cross-cultural comparisons reveal a wide array of morals and practices, and rates of childhood and adult sexual abuse are staggering.2 Yet, open dialogue about sexuality is conspicuously silenced in many religious and theological contexts. How do we overcome this aversion in order to teach effectively, responsibly, and openly about sexuality and religion?As sexuality increasingly becomes an expected part of the explicit curriculum in religious and theological studies, classroom instructors need the knowledge and skills to handle this topic effectively -regardless of their specific research expertise. Faculty in both religious studies and theological school contexts need additional training and resources. Instructors need heightened awareness, tried and tested pedagogical strategies, and collegial support to help navigate institutional constraints, respond to student needs, model reflective awareness of sexuality and embodiment, and create space for the learner's personal and contextual discernment. For sexuality and embodiment to become an intentional part of the student's classroom learning experience in religious studies and theological education rather than a conspicuous silence, we need to integrate classroom instruction more effectively with everyday realities (Ott, 2012, 13;Stephens & Jung, 2015). Even in classrooms with a more descriptive orientation, the embodied nature of religious thought and practice are ignored at the risk of distorting the subject matter. Sexuality is no longer an optional curriculum in religious studies and theological education.This article begins with theoretical reflections on embodied learning designed to promote self-awareness and increased levels...

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Section: Challenges and Strategies For Classroom Instructorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embodied learning: Teaching sexuality and religion to a changing student body

Ott¹,

Stephens

2017

Teaching Theology & Religion

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Group agreements are invaluable to creating a learning community in any course. Stephens () describes Ott's process of initiating a ground rules conversation with the topic of confidentiality, which is vital to fostering honest dialogue about sensitive subjects. Questions I have used include: What are important guidelines for respectful dialogue and maintaining confidentiality?…”

Section: Perspective Transformationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In my experience, drawing attention to who is granted social authority to speak helps students “hear each other to speech” during small and large group discussions. Stephens () notes the importance of debriefing this activity. Additionally, periodically revisiting the ground rules throughout a term reminds participants of their commitment to one another and allows them to renegotiate the agreement.…”

Section: Perspective Transformationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Teaching sexuality and Christianity for perspective transformation: Suggested resources and strategies

Moles

2017

Teaching Theology & Religion

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Sexual activity and desire have often been seen as inimical toChristian spirituality and practice, and many people have come to view Christianity as austere and shaming regarding sexuality.However, sexuality, religion, and policy-making have become so intertwined, that to ignore how they intersect and affect particular individuals' lives does a disservice to students. This article presents resources and strategies for incorporating the topic of sexuality into liberal undergraduate and graduate theological classrooms. It provides guidance to instructors lacking research expertise in sexuality and focuses on three main pedagogical categories: perspective transformation; embodiment pedagogy; and sexual violence and trauma. One purpose of this article is to generate conversation: there is a need for further collaboration with colleagues who are experts in various disciplines to continue mining resources to offer diverse strategies and resources.

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Becoming a Christian Sexuality Educator

Ott

2021

Religious Education

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Teaching about teaching sexuality and religion

Cited by 3 publications

References 4 publications

Embodied learning: Teaching sexuality and religion to a changing student body

Embodied learning: Teaching sexuality and religion to a changing student body

Teaching sexuality and Christianity for perspective transformation: Suggested resources and strategies

Becoming a Christian Sexuality Educator

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