Teaching Your Religion or Worldview

[SalixIncendium]

**Please note that this is not a debate forum. Please express your views and feel free to engage others in discussion about theirs, but do not tell them they are wrong.**​

Do you consider yourself to be knowledgeable enough about your own religion or worldview to teach others?

Do you wait for another to solicit your teaching, or do you set out to teach others without them asking?

In what ways do you feel you are qualified?

How do you react if another of the same or similar religion or worldview tells you that you are not qualified to teach if you do feel that you are?

 

[Eddi]

Do you consider yourself to be knowledgeable enough about your own religion or worldview to teach others?

No, I don't

I would therefore never attempt to "teach" it

But I do feel equipped to answer some questions people may have about it, but teaching it is a totally different thing...

And maybe some day I will become knowledgeable enough

 

[Dawnofhope]

Do you consider yourself to be knowledgeable enough about your own religion or worldview to teach others?

Yes.

Do you wait for another to solicit your teaching, or do you set out to teach others without them asking?

If its relevant to the discussion I may raise the issue, otherwise I tend to wait. Having some understanding of who we're talking to is always useful to have a sense of whether or not someone is genuinely interested or not.

In what ways do you feel you are qualified?

I am a Baha'i. All Baha'is have a sacred obligation to teach their faith to others if someone is genuinely interested. Under such circumstances teaching means conveying something of the spirit of our faith as well as the substance.

How do you react if another of the same or similar religion or worldview tells you that you are not qualified to teach if you do feel that you are?

I've never heard or experienced one Baha'i telling a fellow Baha'i they are unqualified.

 

[atanu]

**Please note that this is not a debate forum. Please express your views and feel free to engage others in discussion about theirs, but do not tell them they are wrong.**​

Do you consider yourself to be knowledgeable enough about your own religion or worldview to teach others?

Do you wait for another to solicit your teaching, or do you set out to teach others without them asking?

In what ways do you feel you are qualified?

How do you react if another of the same or similar religion or worldview tells you that you are not qualified to teach if you do feel that you are?

I like to 'share' my understanding of Advaita and support for it from empirical data. Sometimes, I wait for others to ask me, but more often I create threads when ideas come up. I think I am competent to share but others may or may not think so. So, no big issue.

 

[Secret Chief]

Do you consider yourself to be knowledgeable enough about your own religion or worldview to teach others?

Knowledgeable enough to maybe give an answer to a question. "Teaching" isn't on the agenda!

Do you wait for another to solicit your teaching, or do you set out to teach others without them asking?

Real world: I'd never initiate a conversation about it. I think I've been asked a question about twice in forty years. Religion ain't no big topic.

On here: I might answer a question if I felt able. I've not yet felt the urge to start a thread on said subject and doubt it's going to happen.

In what ways do you feel you are qualified?

A little of what I've read and been told must have stuck. "Qualified" sounds scarily authoritative, or maybe that's just me.

How do you react if another of the same or similar religion or worldview tells you that you are not qualified to teach if you do feel that you are?

Not really appropriate, given my comments I think.

PS
Oh ****, Vinayaka's post has reminded me I delivered a couple of adult education courses on Buddhism a long time ago, rather undermining this post! I can only say in my defence that I must have been buzzing with youthful exuberance.

 

[Vinayaka]

**Please note that this is not a debate forum. Please express your views and feel free to engage others in discussion about theirs, but do not tell them they are wrong.**​

Do you consider yourself to be knowledgeable enough about your own religion or worldview to teach others?

Do you wait for another to solicit your teaching, or do you set out to teach others without them asking?

In what ways do you feel you are qualified?

How do you react if another of the same or similar religion or worldview tells you that you are not qualified to teach if you do feel that you are?

Yes, I'm qualified. I definitely would wait for solicitation.

I'm qualified, because I have nearly 30 years of teaching experience, and know the subject matter. I have never done any formal religion classes, just quick casual stuff like when hosting someone at our temple, or answering questions.

I think effective teachers must have 2 qualities. Firstly, they need to have a personality type that allows for effective teaching of any subject, and secondly, they should have a good working knowledge of the subject matter.

As a teacher, I'm against the lecture or preaching method, largely because it's been proven ineffective as a methodology.

 

[PureX]

I don't want to argue with hell-bound aduIts, who will get what they deserve. Instead, I want to forcibly detain their children, and indoctrinate them with righteousness so they maybe won't go to hell.

 

[metis]

Do you consider yourself to be knowledgeable enough about your own religion or worldview to teach others?

Somewhat, I guess.

Do you wait for another to solicit your teaching, or do you set out to teach others without them asking?

The first, and also in various venues.

IOW, no one can shut me up.

In what ways do you feel you are qualified?

I studied theology in college, plus I have read literally a couple of hundred theology books on different religions and denominations over the years, plus myriads of magazines and on-line sources.

How do you react if another of the same or similar religion or worldview tells you that you are not qualified to teach if you do feel that you are?

It's all relative. A theologian with a ph.d. may not be impressed, but I don't view this as being some sort of contest anyway.

 

[Windwalker]

I don't want to argue with hell-bound aduIts, who will get what they deserve. Instead, I want to forcibly detain their children, and indoctrinate them with righteousness so they maybe won't go to hell.

Oh no, have you been "born again"?

 

[SalixIncendium]

Oh no, have you been "born again"?

I have...

...again...​

...and again...

...and again...

...and again...

..and again...​

 

[Vinayaka]

I have...

...again...​

...and again...

...and again...

...and again...

..and again...​

Don't worry. The best is yet to come.

 

[bobhikes]

Do you consider yourself to be knowledgeable enough about your own religion or worldview to teach others?

Do you wait for another to solicit your teaching, or do you set out to teach others without them asking?

In what ways do you feel you are qualified?

How do you react if another of the same or similar religion or worldview tells you that you are not qualified to teach if you do feel that you are?

Yes I feel qualified.

Yes I wait to be solicited or we are in a conversation where a tidbit of knowledge could be helpful

Experience mostly but also study make me qualified.

Someone of my beliefs would never forcibly disagree with another's beliefs. They may phrase a question that may force you to reevaluate.

 

[Spirit of Light]

**Please note that this is not a debate forum. Please express your views and feel free to engage others in discussion about theirs, but do not tell them they are wrong.**​

Do you consider yourself to be knowledgeable enough about your own religion or worldview to teach others?

Do you wait for another to solicit your teaching, or do you set out to teach others without them asking?

In what ways do you feel you are qualified?

How do you react if another of the same or similar religion or worldview tells you that you are not qualified to teach if you do feel that you are?

I know i am not qualified to teach Falun Gong only to speak about my understanding of it.
If an other Falun Gong practitioners told i was tryining to teach others Falun Gong, i would know i had done something wrong, and i would try to stop speaking about the path in that way. And be more careful to always say it is my understanding of the teaching.

I know i failed on this in the past sometimes.

 

[sayak83]

**Please note that this is not a debate forum. Please express your views and feel free to engage others in discussion about theirs, but do not tell them they are wrong.**​

Do you consider yourself to be knowledgeable enough about your own religion or worldview to teach others?

Do you wait for another to solicit your teaching, or do you set out to teach others without them asking?

In what ways do you feel you are qualified?

How do you react if another of the same or similar religion or worldview tells you that you are not qualified to teach if you do feel that you are?

I am knowledgeable about some parts and I can share information when asked. Teaching is too big an ask.
I practice and I have read and reflected a lot on the ideas. That could be a qualification I suppose.
People may have views different from mine on the practices and the ideas. That is okay.

 

[shunyadragon]

**Please note that this is not a debate forum. Please express your views and feel free to engage others in discussion about theirs, but do not tell them they are wrong.**​

Do you consider yourself to be knowledgeable enough about your own religion or worldview to teach others?

Yes

Do you wait for another to solicit your teaching, or do you set out to teach others without them asking?

Awkward loaded question. I would answer neither.

In what ways do you feel you are qualified?

Sincerity of belief is the most important qualification, and just teach what is written in the writings, but nonetheless I have spent considerable time over the years to understand the Baha'i Faith, and what others believe.

How do you react if another of the same or similar religion or worldview tells you that you are not qualified to teach if you do feel that you are?

Start a dialogue concerning the differences in our positions.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Awkward loaded question. I would answer neither.

Please explain how that is a loaded question.

 

[Vee]

Do you consider yourself to be knowledgeable enough about your own religion or worldview to teach others? Yes, I do.

Do you wait for another to solicit your teaching, or do you set out to teach others without them asking? If I see an interest I'm happy to share what I know, if if the person is not interested I don't push.

In what ways do you feel you are qualified? I've studied a lot and I have a certain degree of knowledge, but I'm not arrogant enough to think I know everything. Sometimes I still have to do research and once in a while I come across subjects I don't know much about.

How do you react if another of the same or similar religion or worldview tells you that you are not qualified to teach if you do feel that you are? I'll listen to the argument and analyze it to see if it's valid or if it's just someone trying to annoy me.

 

[shunyadragon]

Please explain how that is a loaded question.

First it presents only two narrow perspective reasons why or why not someone would teach their belief. It presents in a negative perspective, and only either or situation.

There is no right nor wrong situation someone teaches their belief. It is more an individual situation and relationship issue.

 

[SalixIncendium]

First it presents only two narrow perspective reasons why or why not someone would teach their belief. It presents in a negative perspective, and only either or situation.

There is no right nor wrong situation someone teaches their belief. It is more an individual situation and relationship issue.

I still don't see how. Either one asks to be taught or s/he does not. How are these "narrow perspective reasons"?

For what it's worth, you are the one that is bringing the concept of 'right' and 'wrong' into this. There was no insinuation that one was favorable to the other in the OP.

So please don't inject intent into something I ask when none was intended. If you feel either one is right and one is wrong, or that my question was somehow loaded, then the onus is on your to determine why you alone have come to this conclusion, methinks.

 

[sun rise]

Do you consider yourself to be knowledgeable enough about your own religion or worldview to teach others?

No. I'm not a 'teacher'. I'll answer questions to the best of my ability if it seems useful but as just another learner, not a teacher. A true teacher needs spiritual attainment far above my extremely limited stage of learning.

Do you wait for another to solicit your teaching, or do you set out to teach others without them asking?

Wait.

In what ways do you feel you are qualified?

As someone who has read quite a bit, I know a few facts that I can quote but that's not what a true teacher does.

How do you react if another of the same or similar religion or worldview tells you that you are not qualified to teach if you do feel that you are?

I don't feel I am but if someone challenged me and said I was not qualified, I'd agree.