In this essay, I share how my own readings and understandings of Islam brought me closer to wider concepts of literacy. I use these views to guide my own research in literacy education to situate what literacy can be for youth in and around schools, knowing that literacy is still taught, assessed, and measured in singular ways.

Decolonial scholars endeavour to evade the construction of another singularity by rejecting the allure to universalise a single definition of decoloniality and difference, which may claim narratives and praxis that would liberate all peoples but would re-enact other forms of irreflexive violence. For this rationale, we draw on our loci of…

Human dissection is an ancient pedagogical method that is still relevant in modern anatomy curricula. The body procurement process for dissection purposes has undergone significant evolution from the medieval era until now, whereby body donation has become the main source for human bodies in medical education. The appreciation ceremony for body…

Introducing students to the similarities and connections among the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and Qur'an is a means to introduce students to a shared source of humanity, beauty, wisdom, and solace. This article outlines a literature class that uses comparatist strategies to introduce these three foundational religious texts as literary works.…

The sociopolitical rhetoric that Islam promotes terrorism and that Muslims are fanatical permeates most media coverage, presidential candidates' talking points, and law-related policy domains. Since October 7, 2023, Muslim students on college campuses and other venues across the nation have been victims of hate-based attacks, such as being doxxed,…

The number of international students worldwide increased from two million in 2000 to more than five million in 2017. International students may experience one or more challenges, such as financial issues, language limitations, academic performance, social and cultural differences, discrimination and racism, and identity reconstruction. Many of…

The article acknowledges the limits of the categories of similarity and difference in undergraduate comparative religion courses. To challenge these limitations, including the potential for dualistic or "us/them" thinking, several pedagogical attempts to increase relationality in Christian-Muslim courses are explored. Relational methods…

The purpose of this article, which presents the subject with a descriptive method based on document analysis, was to reveal the importance of using shadow puppets in religious education classes as an artistic-pedagogical tool. Firstly, it was mentioned for what purposes shadow puppets were used in history. Secondly, this article discusses the…

This guide from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) provides higher education administrators with actionable strategies to foster inclusive, equitable campus environments in response to the documented rise in Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism. Framed within the context of civil rights protections, the guide offers a…

This article focuses on recent changes in Rhodes College's Foundations in the Liberal Arts curriculum that were motivated by a desire to help students become competent and engaged debaters of meaning and value in the trying times of the 21st century. I focus on how my own two foundational liberal arts classes--"The Bible* and…

What is the meaning of inclusive education in Indonesian Muslim Schools? Relatively little is known outside of the country itself about the effect of adopting international curricula such as Cambridge Assessment and their equivalents? This domestic-facing internationalisation is worth considering as a signifier of inclusive education and raises…

Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism pose a unique experience, especially when one is readily identifiable as a Muslim through hijab, a head covering worn by some Muslim women. Although frequently conflated with racial identity, Muslim women are uniquely impacted by the intersection of race, gender, and religious identity. In this paper, I explore…

This article explores my teaching experiences that informed my distinction between religious literacy and critical religious literacy, ultimately leading to the creation of the Challenge Islamophobia Project. I highlight the impacts of post-9/11 criminalization and dehumanization of Muslims, which have significantly shaped public perceptions of…