Teaching and Learning > DOCUMENTS
Engaged religious studies and Israel/Palestine
Lynne Scholefield (St Mary's University College, Twickenham)
‘There was an attack last night – four young men killed in a restaurant in a drive by shooting. It was probably the Israel Defence Force under cover. Still, we should be alright if we’re out of the town well before the funerals at midday’.
That was our guide for the day to Bethlehem and surrounding sites.
Ron Geaves argues for ‘engaged religious studies’ where a lecturer is, to some extent, personally, socially and morally involved in the issues and events that are part of the contemporary study of religion. I take students on a study visit to Jerusalem and the Galilee, and in this presentation I am grappling with the question of what I and they should be doing in connection with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. I explore a number of ideas and practices:
- what do you see?
- narratives;
- dialogue;
- bearing witness;
- being on the street;
- walking and bussing.
I will refer to some of the things students have said and done and I also draw on some of the ideas of Richard Long, Marc Gopin and Maria Harris to explore concerns, ideas and challenges.
This page was originally on the website of The Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies. It was transfered here following the closure of the Subject Centre at the end of 2011.
