Author Archives: lovejoye

Introducing a Class-Workshop Model

REL 402. Empathy and the Religious “Enemy,” Fall 2019

In this course, students will investigate the religious beliefs and practices of radical, oppositional religious groups in the U.S., including but not limited to Westboro Baptist Church and anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews. Course modules will address their histories, approach to outsiders, social dynamics, as well as their reception in American society as an “enemy.” Students will improve and examine group datasets through qualitative data analysis (QDA). You will build the critical-empathetic skills needed to study such groups, interact with them, and engage thoughtfully in public discourse about them.

Bobbie Hall published in “Odyssey”

Be sure to check out Bobbie’s article, “I Interviewed The Westboro Baptist Church For 4 Days And Came Out A Changed Woman,” excerpted below, in which she discusses her personal experiences as an interviewer with the project, engaged in field work in Topeka, KS.

“I hope to be a psychiatrist after school, and a crucial part of that will be having the skills to listen to a person with no judgment and to truly understand them. This was my first step in gaining those skills.”

For more student content, see the “student paper” tag in the right-hand toolbar!

Empathy and the Religious “Enemy” Participants Featured in the Miami Student

The Miami Student has run a piece on our project, focusing on sophomore Alexa Lawhorn and senior Sofia Vlahakos. The article features their field work experiences through interview, and provides background on the project. To read all about it, click here!