Ensights Magazine

Observe: Grade 7 Religious Studies in Human Geography

Tiffany Townsend, Director of Marketing & Communications
A well-known idiom states, “Seeing is believing.” For seventh grade students at Ensworth, seeing religious centers firsthand helps them better understand different beliefs.
According to Ruby Cortner, Lower/Middle School History Department Chair, one of her favorite aspects of teaching is observing the students while they learn about other cultures, especially other religions. “They have so many questions,” she says, “and the ones they ask are fascinating.” Although Hinduism is the oldest religion still practiced today, the comparative study does not progress chronologically. Instead, students begin with Judaism, followed by Christianity and then Islam. All of these religions are Abrahamic (from Abraham), which makes it easier for students to discern connections and discover similarities. After Abrahamic religions, students learn about Hinduism and Buddhism. Studying the history of these religions helps students become well-versed in the terminology that religious leaders use, preparing them to ask informed questions during their site visits and to feel like they have ownership in the learning process.
 
The first trip the students take is to Congregation Micah, a Reform Jewish synagogue, where Rabbi Laurie Rice hosts the group. Many of the students have attended a bar or bat mitzvah, so they are familiar with the environment of a Jewish synagogue, but the trip allows them to dig deeper and observe the religious rituals more closely. They see a Torah scroll from the temple’s ark and l isten as Rabbi Rice reads from the Torah in Hebrew. Cantor Lisa plays guitar and leads the students in songs, both in English and Hebrew. As Ms. Cortner notes, “They are all quite mesmerized by the experience. They think they won’t join in, that they’re too cool, but Cantor Lisa has mad guitar skills and despite themselves, they are drawn in by her magical guitar!”
 
During the study of Christianity, students delve into the history of the religion. Many are surprised by what they learn, as they often don’t know about the origins of Protestantism. The only “Martin Luther” most students have ever known is Martin Luther King who led the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, so when they discover that the Protestant Movement was started by a man with the same name and with comparable ideals, the students see the similarities fairly easily. To establish a further connection, the group travels to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Since most of the students are not familiar with Eastern Orthodox Christianity, it is a new experience for them to see the religious iconography. Father Gregory Hohnholt hosts and talks about the liturgical use of the icons and the split between the Eastern and Western churches during the Great Schism. He possesses a quiet presence, patiently fielding questions about each and every saint.
 
For the study of Islam, students visit the Islamic Center of Nashville, where they are hosted by Ensworth alumnus Rashed Fakhruddin ’ 83. They visitduring noon-time prayers, observing Muslims coming in for this ritual. The group is welcomed by both Muslim men and women, who share punch and cookies with them. Mr. Fakhruddin discusses the importance of the Five Pillars of Islam and the misconceptions about Islam as well as his time at Ensworth. “Students see that what the media has portrayed about Islam is not always accurate. They observe that it is a welcoming environment, very peaceful and family oriented. They also observe that the Koran, which is the holy book for Muslims, shares much with the Christian Bible and the Jewish Torah. Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mary—they’re all in the Koran. They are called Adan, Eva, Ibrihim, Musa, Isa, and Mariam,” says Ms. Cortner. “Mr. Fakhruddin loves to show his Ensworth yearbook photos and talk fondly of Mr. Inman and other faculty before heading on to more serious matters of religion.”
 
After Islam, students learn about India and Hinduism. They travel to the Sri Ganesha temple in Bellevue, where they are hosted by Monica Cooley, the daughter of a Christian missionary who spent significant time in South Asia and married a Hindu man. She understands what it is like being an observer and wanting to know more, so she anticipates the students’ questions. During the visit, students see a great deal of Hindu statuary and learn that the statues are not idols—a common misconception— but a way of bringing Hindus closer to their god, Brahmin. Because Hinduism has no single founder or cohesive set of scriptures, it can be difficult to conceptualize, but the trip does a great job of helping the students gain an awareness. Ms. Cortner says that she is always amazed by the respectfulness of the students and the thoughtfulness of the questions they pose.
 
The study of Buddhism is tackled solely in class. Through professional development opportunities, Ms. Cortner has been able to travel through Asia to observe Buddhist centers and learn more about the religion in different regions, such as Tibet, Vietnam, Japan, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka. Her personal experience helps her answer most of the students’ questions about the religion, although she is hoping to make a connection with a local Buddhist center that the group can visit. Because the students have been exposed to Hinduism, the path to understanding Buddhism’s roots has become easier.
 
Ms. Cortner notes, “These visits help students open up and inspire them to continue asking questions, many of which don’t always have answers. If they can become comfortable with questions that don’t have answers, then they are ready for an interesting life.”
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Red Gables Campus (K–8)

Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 383-0661

Frist Campus (9–12)

Nashville, TN 37221
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Ensworth is a coeducational, kindergarten through twelfth grade, independent day school.