Teaching Religion in the Secular Classroom: Tools from the New York Public Library

In fact, the American Academy of Religion recently published its Guidelines for Teaching about Religion because religion is embedded in curriculum standards across disciplines, and religious illiteracy fuels prejudice and antagonism, hindering efforts at promoting respect for diversity, peaceful coexistence and global citizenship. Further, the U.S. Supreme Court has stated: “It might well be said that one’s education is not complete without a study of comparative religion, or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization.”

 

That's why we feel it is heartening to see how many students have participated in The New York Public Library's "Faith on the Street" photography project, which is an off-shoot of its current exhibition, Three Faiths: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, now on display at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street.

Inviting the public to submit photographs of contemporary expressions of faith and religion in New York City to the "Faith on the Street" gallery helps to normalize the inclusion of religion in how we view ourselves and society. It is just this kind of practical application that we at Tanenbaum believe is necessary to work toward the vision that people of all beliefs, from the most religiously devout to the most committed atheist, can live, learn, and work peacefully together in a spirit of true respect.

“Faith on the Street” is a fantastic example of how religion and faith can be brought into the secular classroom. As a class assignment, the project can act as a catalyst to valuable classroom conversations and stimulating curiosity, by allowing the students to personalize the experience as they are the artist and witness to whatever they choose to photograph.

"Faith on the Street" is also a useful tool for teachers even if students don't go out to take their own photographs. Whether or not students submit their own work, it is certainly worth it for young people to view the gallery to spur conversations about the ways that religion and faith−broadly defined– appear all around us.

 

What’s wonderful about the gallery is that faith is interpreted in many ways. A couple of entrants submitted photos of their siblings and friends with moving captions explaining where the student saw faith in this. There is also a photo of Halloween as well as many traditional images of religion. Questions educators could consider asking after viewing the gallery could be: How do you see faith represented in this picture? What do people consider faith to be? What is considered religion? What faiths and religions were represented in these photos? Which weren’t? How do we see atheism and agnosticism represented in contemporary society?

It is imperative that educators and students are able to have conversations that include religion as an aspect of culture. The New York Public Library, through the Three Faiths exhibit and the “Faith on the Street” project, has provided a wonderful lens through which to explore these topics.

A version of this post has appeared on the NYPL website.