FAITH

Religion, Belief and Faith identities UAL website

So far religion, belief and faith have not been a specific embedded discussion point or a compulsory topic in any of our projects or units. However, it has been suggested as a starting point for our 3^rd year students choosing an area of interest to research and develop their project idea around. I feel sometimes as a topic religion or belief gets shadowed by larger focused areas such as inclusion, race, gender, and disability, or maybe is a part of them all?
Therefore, I personally feel that this area is more linked to a broader discussion around culture. As a tutor and project designer I know we are trying to cover this topic maybe less directly by embedding non-Eurocentric references in our practices and research. As previously mentioned in my Blog 1, we have based projects around Chinese, African and Japanese texts or references which then, as part of the cultural research, naturally touches on the religion, belief and faith around the culture.

Religion in Britain: Challenges for Higher Education.’ Stimulus paper (Modood & Calhoun, 2015)

‘The place of religion in the public sphere is an issue for universities because they run public programmes. It is an issue because it shapes the relations of students to each other. It is an issue because many students make religion important to their personal lives and wellbeing on campuses. It is an issue because it either is or isn’t well-represented in what we teach’.

I have learnt that this might be a big issue for religious students (and staff) and that it is clearly linked to students wellbeing. We have a strong mental health support network offered through the student support, however maybe some of these issues being brought to the general mental health team, could be reduced by offering a better religious community and support network.

Kwame Anthony Appiah Reith lecture on Creed

I must admit I found the talk quite long and often got myself lost in the topic. However, I found it interesting he wasn’t shy to talk about contradictive religious interpretations and used a broad example of religions. I found this inspiring listening to someone talking openly religious beliefs and interpretations.

Having lived in Hong Kong myself as a Westerner atheist, I found it fascinating being surrounded by a mixture of Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and atheism and referring to what Kwame touched on, started to create my own little bubble of interpretations and religious traditions that I found drawn to such as Chinese zodiac signs, visiting Buddhist and Taoist temples and festivals and food / eating traditions. Some that we have brought back here to the UK and is part of my daughters upbringing. Latest small notice was this weekend at the Jubilee celebration where she wanted to buy a snake soft toy, as she knew this was her Chinese zodiac animal.

Interview with Rahul Patel

There are two quotes below that I choose to reflect on as they felt linked to my own thinking, practice or questioning. The first one;
‘No I’m an Atheist. But what I understand is the importance that religion plays in peoples lives. It cannot be disregarded or ignored or to be distorted.’
I strongly felt I could relate to this comment as being an atheist myself, I have often come across a bias perception that I might not be caring for or understanding someone that is religious not being religious myself. However, I have always thought myself as the opposite, by not being attached to a specific belief or religion, that I was more open and understanding to anyone. I have just realised, this might be just my own perception and even though I ‘understand is the importance that religion plays in peoples lives’ maybe other people don’t think I don’t. Interesting…
The second quote;
‘It’s odd that one of the most internationally renowned universities, University of the Arts London, it is not talked about. It is not debated, it is not theorised, it is not understood in any shape and form.’

Referring to a safe space where students (and staff) can be in a spiritual environment and the lack of these environments within the UAL. I am aware of Chaplains being available through the student support. However, I never really thought about it before, this is a very one-way Christianity support offered, and there are actually no other spaces, environments or, mentoring support for any other religions within UAL… or is there?