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How to react to a student preaching his religious beliefs?
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A few weeks ago, a student asked me during my office hours whether I was religious or not. More specifically, he asked whether I believed in his religion, and was visibly disappointed when I replied negatively.
How should I react to a question such as this? Religion is a bit of a touchy subject, and even if I am a TA (i.e., not the instructor of the course - and more importantly, also a student), I don't want to be put in a similar situation again.
More generally speaking, how do I react to a situation in which I have to answer a question in a way that I know is likely to upset a student, without lying or making the situation worse?
etiquette united-states university
asked 29 mins ago
osuka_
1112
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up vote
2
down vote
favorite
A few weeks ago, a student asked me during my office hours whether I was religious or not. More specifically, he asked whether I believed in his religion, and was visibly disappointed when I replied negatively.
How should I react to a question such as this? Religion is a bit of a touchy subject, and even if I am a TA (i.e., not the instructor of the course - and more importantly, also a student), I don't want to be put in a similar situation again.
More generally speaking, how do I react to a situation in which I have to answer a question in a way that I know is likely to upset a student, without lying or making the situation worse?
etiquette united-states university
asked 29 mins ago
osuka_
1112
New contributor
osuka_ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
A few weeks ago, a student asked me during my office hours whether I was religious or not. More specifically, he asked whether I believed in his religion, and was visibly disappointed when I replied negatively.
How should I react to a question such as this? Religion is a bit of a touchy subject, and even if I am a TA (i.e., not the instructor of the course - and more importantly, also a student), I don't want to be put in a similar situation again.
More generally speaking, how do I react to a situation in which I have to answer a question in a way that I know is likely to upset a student, without lying or making the situation worse?
etiquette united-states university
asked 29 mins ago
osuka_
1112
New contributor
osuka_ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
A few weeks ago, a student asked me during my office hours whether I was religious or not. More specifically, he asked whether I believed in his religion, and was visibly disappointed when I replied negatively.
How should I react to a question such as this? Religion is a bit of a touchy subject, and even if I am a TA (i.e., not the instructor of the course - and more importantly, also a student), I don't want to be put in a similar situation again.
More generally speaking, how do I react to a situation in which I have to answer a question in a way that I know is likely to upset a student, without lying or making the situation worse?
etiquette united-states university
etiquette united-states university
asked 29 mins ago
osuka_
1112
New contributor
osuka_ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 29 mins ago
osuka_
1112
New contributor
osuka_ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 29 mins ago
osuka_
1112
New contributor
osuka_ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 29 mins ago
osuka_
1112
asked 29 mins ago
osuka_
1112
1112
New contributor
osuka_ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
osuka_ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
osuka_ is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
You address this by stating directly
"I would prefer not to discuss this topic during office hours. Can I help you with any questions you have on the homework?"
If the issue persists, I would speak with the professor and perhaps also your school's diversity office (or something similar).
answered 19 mins ago
Vladhagen
6,67012751
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
It is like a question about your political opinion or sexual preferences: It is your private matter!
If you want to tell the student, you can do so, but you'll have to face the discussions (which can be fruitful or stressful), but if you prefer not to share them (which many people will do in a professional context), tell the that this touches your private field and since this does not belong to the workplace, you do not want to answer this question.
answered 20 mins ago
OBu
10k22347
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
In the US, you have done just the right thing. Tell him the truth and leave it at that. You can't avoid such situations as they are set up by others.
Of course, you can say, and it is perfectly valid, that such questions are very personal to you and you don't feel that you want to discuss them. Reasonable people will accept that, and if they aren't reasonable, they have no right to proselytize. You don't need to be harsh ("None of your business"), but you have no obligation to answer.
There are countries, of course, that have State Sponsored Religion in which the only accepted (safe) answer is the State Religion, but not here.
answered 18 mins ago
Buffy
26.9k686143
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
and was visibly disappointed when I replied negatively
This is their problem, not yours.
How should I react to a question such as this?
If you feel uncomfortable defending your position when it comes to religion, politics or sex, or simply you don't want to discuss them with an extraneous person, cut it short and answer that you're there to just answer questions about the subject you TA. And as Misha Lavrov rightly points out in a comment, recall that you don't have any obligation to answer questions like that.
answered 17 mins ago
Massimo Ortolano
37.4k12111144
2
I don't think this is stated strongly enough; even if you feel comfortable defending your position and want to discuss it, you likely have an obligation not to (at least during office hours or otherwise as part of your job).
– Misha Lavrov
15 mins ago
@Misha Yep, I agree, I've edited the answer.
– Massimo Ortolano
14 mins ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
You address this by stating directly
"I would prefer not to discuss this topic during office hours. Can I help you with any questions you have on the homework?"
If the issue persists, I would speak with the professor and perhaps also your school's diversity office (or something similar).
answered 19 mins ago
Vladhagen
6,67012751
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
You address this by stating directly
"I would prefer not to discuss this topic during office hours. Can I help you with any questions you have on the homework?"
If the issue persists, I would speak with the professor and perhaps also your school's diversity office (or something similar).
answered 19 mins ago
Vladhagen
6,67012751
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
You address this by stating directly
"I would prefer not to discuss this topic during office hours. Can I help you with any questions you have on the homework?"
If the issue persists, I would speak with the professor and perhaps also your school's diversity office (or something similar).
answered 19 mins ago
Vladhagen
6,67012751
You address this by stating directly
"I would prefer not to discuss this topic during office hours. Can I help you with any questions you have on the homework?"
If the issue persists, I would speak with the professor and perhaps also your school's diversity office (or something similar).
answered 19 mins ago
Vladhagen
6,67012751
answered 19 mins ago
Vladhagen
6,67012751
answered 19 mins ago
Vladhagen
6,67012751
answered 19 mins ago
Vladhagen
6,67012751
6,67012751
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
It is like a question about your political opinion or sexual preferences: It is your private matter!
If you want to tell the student, you can do so, but you'll have to face the discussions (which can be fruitful or stressful), but if you prefer not to share them (which many people will do in a professional context), tell the that this touches your private field and since this does not belong to the workplace, you do not want to answer this question.
answered 20 mins ago
OBu
10k22347
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
It is like a question about your political opinion or sexual preferences: It is your private matter!
If you want to tell the student, you can do so, but you'll have to face the discussions (which can be fruitful or stressful), but if you prefer not to share them (which many people will do in a professional context), tell the that this touches your private field and since this does not belong to the workplace, you do not want to answer this question.
answered 20 mins ago
OBu
10k22347
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
It is like a question about your political opinion or sexual preferences: It is your private matter!
If you want to tell the student, you can do so, but you'll have to face the discussions (which can be fruitful or stressful), but if you prefer not to share them (which many people will do in a professional context), tell the that this touches your private field and since this does not belong to the workplace, you do not want to answer this question.
answered 20 mins ago
OBu
10k22347
It is like a question about your political opinion or sexual preferences: It is your private matter!
If you want to tell the student, you can do so, but you'll have to face the discussions (which can be fruitful or stressful), but if you prefer not to share them (which many people will do in a professional context), tell the that this touches your private field and since this does not belong to the workplace, you do not want to answer this question.
answered 20 mins ago
OBu
10k22347
answered 20 mins ago
OBu
10k22347
answered 20 mins ago
OBu
10k22347
answered 20 mins ago
OBu
10k22347
10k22347
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
In the US, you have done just the right thing. Tell him the truth and leave it at that. You can't avoid such situations as they are set up by others.
Of course, you can say, and it is perfectly valid, that such questions are very personal to you and you don't feel that you want to discuss them. Reasonable people will accept that, and if they aren't reasonable, they have no right to proselytize. You don't need to be harsh ("None of your business"), but you have no obligation to answer.
There are countries, of course, that have State Sponsored Religion in which the only accepted (safe) answer is the State Religion, but not here.
answered 18 mins ago
Buffy
26.9k686143
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
In the US, you have done just the right thing. Tell him the truth and leave it at that. You can't avoid such situations as they are set up by others.
Of course, you can say, and it is perfectly valid, that such questions are very personal to you and you don't feel that you want to discuss them. Reasonable people will accept that, and if they aren't reasonable, they have no right to proselytize. You don't need to be harsh ("None of your business"), but you have no obligation to answer.
There are countries, of course, that have State Sponsored Religion in which the only accepted (safe) answer is the State Religion, but not here.
answered 18 mins ago
Buffy
26.9k686143
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
In the US, you have done just the right thing. Tell him the truth and leave it at that. You can't avoid such situations as they are set up by others.
Of course, you can say, and it is perfectly valid, that such questions are very personal to you and you don't feel that you want to discuss them. Reasonable people will accept that, and if they aren't reasonable, they have no right to proselytize. You don't need to be harsh ("None of your business"), but you have no obligation to answer.
There are countries, of course, that have State Sponsored Religion in which the only accepted (safe) answer is the State Religion, but not here.
answered 18 mins ago
Buffy
26.9k686143
In the US, you have done just the right thing. Tell him the truth and leave it at that. You can't avoid such situations as they are set up by others.
Of course, you can say, and it is perfectly valid, that such questions are very personal to you and you don't feel that you want to discuss them. Reasonable people will accept that, and if they aren't reasonable, they have no right to proselytize. You don't need to be harsh ("None of your business"), but you have no obligation to answer.
There are countries, of course, that have State Sponsored Religion in which the only accepted (safe) answer is the State Religion, but not here.
answered 18 mins ago
Buffy
26.9k686143
answered 18 mins ago
Buffy
26.9k686143
answered 18 mins ago
Buffy
26.9k686143
answered 18 mins ago
Buffy
26.9k686143
26.9k686143
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
and was visibly disappointed when I replied negatively
This is their problem, not yours.
How should I react to a question such as this?
If you feel uncomfortable defending your position when it comes to religion, politics or sex, or simply you don't want to discuss them with an extraneous person, cut it short and answer that you're there to just answer questions about the subject you TA. And as Misha Lavrov rightly points out in a comment, recall that you don't have any obligation to answer questions like that.
answered 17 mins ago
Massimo Ortolano
37.4k12111144
2
I don't think this is stated strongly enough; even if you feel comfortable defending your position and want to discuss it, you likely have an obligation not to (at least during office hours or otherwise as part of your job).
– Misha Lavrov
15 mins ago
@Misha Yep, I agree, I've edited the answer.
– Massimo Ortolano
14 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
and was visibly disappointed when I replied negatively
This is their problem, not yours.
How should I react to a question such as this?
If you feel uncomfortable defending your position when it comes to religion, politics or sex, or simply you don't want to discuss them with an extraneous person, cut it short and answer that you're there to just answer questions about the subject you TA. And as Misha Lavrov rightly points out in a comment, recall that you don't have any obligation to answer questions like that.
answered 17 mins ago
Massimo Ortolano
37.4k12111144
2
I don't think this is stated strongly enough; even if you feel comfortable defending your position and want to discuss it, you likely have an obligation not to (at least during office hours or otherwise as part of your job).
– Misha Lavrov
15 mins ago
@Misha Yep, I agree, I've edited the answer.
– Massimo Ortolano
14 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
and was visibly disappointed when I replied negatively
This is their problem, not yours.
How should I react to a question such as this?
If you feel uncomfortable defending your position when it comes to religion, politics or sex, or simply you don't want to discuss them with an extraneous person, cut it short and answer that you're there to just answer questions about the subject you TA. And as Misha Lavrov rightly points out in a comment, recall that you don't have any obligation to answer questions like that.
answered 17 mins ago
Massimo Ortolano
37.4k12111144
and was visibly disappointed when I replied negatively
This is their problem, not yours.
How should I react to a question such as this?
If you feel uncomfortable defending your position when it comes to religion, politics or sex, or simply you don't want to discuss them with an extraneous person, cut it short and answer that you're there to just answer questions about the subject you TA. And as Misha Lavrov rightly points out in a comment, recall that you don't have any obligation to answer questions like that.
answered 17 mins ago
Massimo Ortolano
37.4k12111144
edited 11 mins ago
answered 17 mins ago
Massimo Ortolano
37.4k12111144
answered 17 mins ago
Massimo Ortolano
37.4k12111144
answered 17 mins ago
Massimo Ortolano
37.4k12111144
37.4k12111144
2
I don't think this is stated strongly enough; even if you feel comfortable defending your position and want to discuss it, you likely have an obligation not to (at least during office hours or otherwise as part of your job).
– Misha Lavrov
15 mins ago
@Misha Yep, I agree, I've edited the answer.
– Massimo Ortolano
14 mins ago
add a comment |Â
2
I don't think this is stated strongly enough; even if you feel comfortable defending your position and want to discuss it, you likely have an obligation not to (at least during office hours or otherwise as part of your job).
– Misha Lavrov
15 mins ago
@Misha Yep, I agree, I've edited the answer.
– Massimo Ortolano
14 mins ago
2
2
I don't think this is stated strongly enough; even if you feel comfortable defending your position and want to discuss it, you likely have an obligation not to (at least during office hours or otherwise as part of your job).
– Misha Lavrov
15 mins ago
I don't think this is stated strongly enough; even if you feel comfortable defending your position and want to discuss it, you likely have an obligation not to (at least during office hours or otherwise as part of your job).
– Misha Lavrov
15 mins ago
@Misha Yep, I agree, I've edited the answer.
– Massimo Ortolano
14 mins ago
@Misha Yep, I agree, I've edited the answer.
– Massimo Ortolano
14 mins ago
add a comment |Â
osuka_ is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
osuka_ is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
osuka_ is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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