Atheists teaching religion
PZ Myers has suggested, somewhat sardonically, that having atheists teach religion classes might solve the problem of proselytizing students (actually, someone else suggested it first–he’s just fine-tuned it). Here are his ideas:
1. The person teaching the course may not at any time or in any way, even indirectly, discuss his or her own religion.
2. All discussion of any religion must be value-neutral, that is, you can’t talk about what’s "good" or "bad", just state the historical and doctrinal facts.
Well? Is it possible? Helpful?
I’ve reflected on number one myself recently. If any of my students were to Google me, they’d easily find out that I’m a Unitarian Universalist, a former Reformed Christian, a partnered lesbian, with Buddish (thanks, Will) tendancies. Is that something that they need to know? Probably not. Does it inform my approach to religion? Probably. But as a teacher in a community college, I view my goal as facilitating discussion of religion (#2) and enabling the students to talk about values. There’s just no getting around critical analysis of religious doctrines. However, that ought not to come from me, but from the students.
I’ve wondered what I’d say if any of the students asked what my religion was. Is it appropriate to disclose it? I don’t think it prevents me from being fair (as a UU, I think our pluralistic identity is a help, rather than a hindrance, in that regard). Would it make some students uncomfortable? Or would they feel that my authenticity enables them to be more honest themselves?