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Teaching Religion in a Divided Time
When I first signed up to teach this year, I expected to spend my days guiding students through math problems and science labs. Somewhere along the way, though, my assignment shifted: suddenly I was teaching religion and science… with the balance tipping heavily toward religion.
Teaching religion in today’s world isn’t a simple task. It’s not just about explaining what the textbook says or walking students through the Apostles’ Creed. It’s about navigating a cultural landscape that feels more divided by the day, while still trying to create a classroom that feels safe, welcoming, and genuinely rooted in faith.
The Tension of Living and Teaching in Two Worlds
As a parent of LGBTQ children, I bring a certain lens to the classroom that I can’t ignore. My faith teaches me about love, compassion, and dignity, and I want every student — every person — to feel that truth. At the same time, I know there are voices in the wider community (and even within church leadership) who speak loudly against LGBTQ people. That tension is real.
In a private religious school, it’s not unusual for parents to have strong opinions about what’s being taught. Lately, it feels like there’s at least one parent who seems to have made it their mission to complain about every detail — curriculum choices…
