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The Devil in Mr. S mith: A Conversation with J onathan Z . S mith
Author(s) -
Smith Jonathan Z.,
Pearson Thomas,
Gallagher Eugene V.,
Jensen Tim,
Fujiwara Satoko
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
teaching theology and religion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.165
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 1467-9647
pISSN - 1368-4868
DOI - 10.1111/teth.12160
Subject(s) - faith , conversation , theology , art , visual arts , psychology , philosophy , communication
This interview was recorded in N ovember 2012 in J onathan Z . S mith's H yde P ark graystone. Professor S mith offers insights into how he thinks about his classroom teaching and his students' learning through descriptions of various assignments and classroom activities he has developed over more than forty years of teaching. The discussion ranges broadly over such topics as: how students read, the failure to adequately prepare graduate students as teachers, students' faith commitments, the use of newspapers (and humor) in the classroom, and the role of definition, de‐familiarization, and critique of the study of religion in introductory classes. The discussion presents vivid glimpses into J onathan S mith's teaching practice and his teaching persona, including the time a student brought a minister to class to do an exorcism because she thought he was the D evil.