Shocking My Religious Teacher

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

The following is a true story.

All semester I've sat in this class and listened to others recite literature, while also reciting when my turn comes around. That's what we do in this class--learn how to recite literature in a way that's intriguing for the listener--not literature we've written, mind you, but already published literature. It's as exciting as it sounds.

The teacher in this class is an unabashed Jesus freak. She started the semester by saying she hates cursing, that it physically hurts her. Why she decided to teach this ****ing class is beyond me. She must be an idiot. Someone who read earlier in the semester decided to use a piece that used the word "c-nt," which elicited an audible gasp from the professor. I'm hoping to achieve the same response.

Our class has several other Jesus freaks, who throughout the semester have been using bible verses and religious based materials to pander to our teacher. It also seems several other students have converted to this type of outspoken Christianity, as now about half the class uses religious bull**** for their readings. I'm sick of the pandering, and I don't pander. I've decided to do the opposite.

That's why I chose what I'm about to read. I get up and walk to the podium, nervous as always. I don't usually get nervous over public speaking, but I am this time, but it's a good nervousness. I put the paper before me, and I begin to read the lyrics to the song "Judith" by A Perfect Circle:

You're such an inspiration for the ways
that I'll never ever choose to be.
Oh so many ways for me to show you
how the savior has abandoned you.
F-ck your God,
your Lord, your Christ.

I got my gasp. I'm still proud of it.

[KCurtis]

The following is a true story.

All semester I've sat in this class and listened to others recite literature, while also reciting when my turn comes around. That's what we do in this class--learn how to recite literature in a way that's intriguing for the listener--not literature we've written, mind you, but already published literature. It's as exciting as it sounds.

The teacher in this class is an unabashed Jesus freak. She started the semester by saying she hates cursing, that it physically hurts her. Why she decided to teach this ****ing class is beyond me. She must be an idiot. Someone who read earlier in the semester decided to use a piece that used the word "c-nt," which elicited an audible gasp from the professor. I'm hoping to achieve the same response.

Our class has several other Jesus freaks, who throughout the semester have been using bible verses and religious based materials to pander to our teacher. It also seems several other students have converted to this type of outspoken Christianity, as now about half the class uses religious bull**** for their readings. I'm sick of the pandering, and I don't pander. I've decided to do the opposite.

That's why I chose what I'm about to read. I get up and walk to the podium, nervous as always. I don't usually get nervous over public speaking, but I am this time, but it's a good nervousness. I put the paper before me, and I begin to read the lyrics to the song "Judith" by A Perfect Circle:

You're such an inspiration for the ways
that I'll never ever choose to be.
Oh so many ways for me to show you
how the savior has abandoned you.
F-ck your God,
your Lord, your Christ.

I got my gasp. I'm still proud of it.

Oh what fun to be young!!:willy_nilly:

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

It was fun, that's for sure.

[iamnobody]

Good for you. It's very frustrating when people think it's fine to push their mythologies on others, but when someone pushes back the response is always, "How dare you!"
Keep pushing.

[Charles Darnay]

Taking the opportunity, as a professor or student, to thrust religious beliefs upon students in the name of education doesn't surprise me at all, especially coming from the US. A class solely devoted to the recitation of literature - that's a new one. I am a believer of proper rhetoric sure, but a whole class on it? At least when rhetoric was a class, part of it included the memorizing of essential texts (Homer for example) - but your class seems quite pointless.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

It was a class within the theater/drama department. I guess it was required for potential teachers so we knew how to read to students more effectively. It was pretty pointless . . . but a lot of college is.

I'm not sure what the class being in the US has to do with the likelihood of having a professor push a religious beliefe on students. In 20 years of schooling, it was the only professor who did so.

[BookBeauty]

This is more like a blog than a short story, really. I was a bit disappointed, to be honest.

I've heard of many making similar statements that only truly serve to upset others, and little else. Stirring the pot without changing the stew.

And I'm not a religious person. :)

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Yeah. Story wise it's pretty weak, I admit. It's nothing I'd ever put in a portfolio or anything. It just suddenly struck me as something some might find mildly humorous. It room all of 20-30 minutes ro write.

This religous people started it, though. :nod:

[Charles Darnay]

It was a class within the theater/drama department. I guess it was required for potential teachers so we knew how to read to students more effectively. It was pretty pointless . . . but a lot of college is.

I'm not sure what the class being in the US has to do with the likelihood of having a professor push a religious beliefe on students. In 20 years of schooling, it was the only professor who did so.

It just seems to be a very US THING TO DO. THe fundamentalists seem to be of a different breed than in the rest of the Western world

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Well, as long as you recognize you're making a completely baseless broad generalization, I guess it's okay. Just to clarify, though, religious fundamentalists don't make up the majority of America--not even close. They're just the loudest. I didn't know the rest of the Western works didn't have any religious fundamentalists. You do learn something new every day.

[Charles Darnay]

Well, as long as you recognize you're making a completely baseless broad generalization, I guess it's okay. Just to clarify, though, religious fundamentalists don't make up the majority of America--not even close. They're just the loudest. I didn't know the rest of the Western works didn't have any religious fundamentalists. You do learn something new every day.

didn't say that. They are just, as you say, not as loud, and not as pushy in the education system - but it does happen.

[Darcy88]

I'm sure you got more than just that gasp. What did she do? Bravo for having the chutzpah to do that.

And I'm pretty sure America actually does have an unusually large number of religious fundamentalists. Not in all areas of course, and still not a majority, but nonetheless large, partly to do with the former frontier culture. Only 38 percent of Americans consider themselves evangelical Christians and I'm sure not all of them are crazy.

Cool story though.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

She still gave me an A because I explained the context of the lyrics--how they're really about the singer's anger and misunderstanding when his mother, after suffering a paralyzing stroke at a young age, continues to worship God--ans she knew it was a good reading. She also knew I'm the kind if person that would not have our up with a bad grade. She dis write that she thought the lyrics were "horrible," though, which actually angered a few of my classmates because they didn't feel it was her place to from such judgments. It just made me laugh.

I did notice though, throughout the reading, she never once looked me in the eye, and she did shake her head a couple times. I don't think she was exagerrating when she said that curse words actually make her feel physical pain. It was probably the only time in my life that j actually "hurt" someone.

[BookBeauty]

I think that it was gutsy of the teacher to give you an 'A' despite her beliefs.

Shows it was a good teacher, who can be objective and appreciate hard work and other people's opinions, even when it may violently oppose her own views and values.

What she said about the lyrics, being 'horrible', was again, just an opinion.

That being said, I think that you could expand on this story based upon your teacher's reaction. This could actually become a story and not just a statement. You could flesh this out in so many ways. :D

[Jassy Melson]

She was a good teacher, you were a bad student

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

She was a good teacher, you were a bad student

:lol: oh yes, because there is definitely enough here for you to make that judgment.

She was a horrible teacher. For one, she was lazy. She cancelled at least four classes, giving no warning ahead of time. She constantly promoted her own religious beliefs. She was incredibly biased toward the religious and black students (she was black)--the double standards were quite amazing. I don't think we ever had a full class unless we were doing readings. She would NEVER lecture for more than 20 minutes, and non-reading classes were never more than 30 minutes.

So, in summary, you're wrong, Jassy, and maybe you should think before making hasty comments. Or, maybe actually contribute something.

[JuniperWoolf]

Great choice, I love how it's got the ****, the god aspect and the "stop shoving your crap down my throat" all in one succinct snippet.


Taking the opportunity, as a professor or student, to thrust religious beliefs upon students in the name of education doesn't surprise me at all, especially coming from the US.

I agree, that's actually illegal in Canada (or at least it is in Alberta, according to my highschool teachers - I haven't bothered to learn if the same law extends to the rest of the country). My teachers couldn't even tell me what religion they belonged to, and I think it was the same for my profs because one of them once got very uncomfortable when the discussion started to veer in that direction and I've never heard it mentioned once besides.

[Buh4Bee]

very funny story.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Great choice, I love how it's got the ****, the god aspect and the "stop shoving your crap down my throat" all in one succinct snippet.



I agree, that's actually illegal in Canada (or at least it is in Alberta, according to my highschool teachers - I haven't bothered to learn if the same law extends to the rest of the country). My teachers couldn't even tell me what religion they belonged to, and I think it was the same for my profs because one of them once got very uncomfortable when the discussion started to veer in that direction and I've never heard it mentioned once besides.
It's also illegal in the US, but not for college. It's still considered unethical by most, though.

[KCurtis]

Great choice, I love how it's got the ****, the god aspect and the "stop shoving your crap down my throat" all in one succinct snippet.



I agree, that's actually illegal in Canada (or at least it is in Alberta, according to my highschool teachers - I haven't bothered to learn if the same law extends to the rest of the country). My teachers couldn't even tell me what religion they belonged to, and I think it was the same for my profs because one of them once got very uncomfortable when the discussion started to veer in that direction and I've never heard it mentioned once besides.

It's not illegal in the U.S. All you can do is complain. What is pushed at many of the Universities here is a very liberal political bias. That is also perfectly legal. Pushing a liberal bias is just as bad as pushing religion. When I was in college about 15 years ago I did not dare raise my hand or express my opposing views in some cases, because I knew my grade would be lowered, and it was in one class. I am a centrist, not liberal nor conservative, I am right in the middle. While I'm glad to live in a country where I can have these views, it is certainly not to my advantage in a college or university-they are extremely PC. At the same time I do not want these things to be against the law- because that could open up a can of worms regarding legality, where professors would be policed, I don't see how that could be enforced in a classroom.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I majored in secondary education. It's illegal for you to push your religious beliefs onto a class, and pushing your political bias is a fast track to getting fired.

[KCurtis]

I majored in secondary education. It's illegal for you to push your religious beliefs onto a class, and pushing your political bias is a fast track to getting fired.

In elementary,middle school, and high school, in the state of Massachusetts, a teacher would be fired for
pushing religious views in a classroom, depending on professional status-that opens a can of worms!!!
But political views is a whole different story-it happens all the time in college, and it happens in high school too.
I work in a middle school, and we do not have teachers who do this-most teachers at this level are ethical.
High School is iffy, and I have known it to happen, probably because teachers think the students are older, so it's more okay.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

That's why j clarified my statement:


It's also illegal in the US, but not for college. It's still considered unethical by most, though.

[Jassy Melson]

You were a bad student--by being foul-mouthed in class. You should have been suspended.

[breathtest]

Jassy - The foul language was in the reading. It's not the same as just swearing at a teacher.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Jassy's just being a troll.

[Darcy88]

Funny thing is my favorite teaching through all my years of school was a pious Christian. Mr Demerse. I would show up to every class stoned, sleep half the time, say provocative things whenever I did speak, but he was the only teacher who didn't write me off. He was genuinely interested in what I had to say and he gave me great marks on whatever work I handed in. I remember writing a highly politicized essay on the Iraq War and he wound up writing several paragraphs of it onto the board for all to read. Not all Christians are narrow-minded douches.

[Charles Darnay]

Of course not. One of my best high school teachers was also a "hard-core Christian" - but he knew well enough not to thrust his ideals upon us unless specifically asked. I don't believe in that "you must be completely removed from who you are" form of teaching - I think one problem with the education system is that teachers are afraid to voice their beliefs and discourage students from voicing theirs - this is a problem. But there is a difference between voicing your beliefs and preaching/forcing them on your students.

[AuntShecky]

Everybody --at least just about every LitNutter-- thoroughly believes in free expression, opposes censorship, realizes the need to allow others to hold
dissenting religious beliefs while respectfully not imposing his beliefs upon others.

Where the dissent comes from and the voices get louder, then, is not in the
"what" but the "how." For instance, this is an amusing anecdote, but really not a short story. You could develop it into such, with a character modeled after the devout professor and the irreverent though equally passionate student.

If this is, as I take it, a "true" story, why wasn't it in a more appropriate forum? And when the incident occurred in real life, wasn't there an on-campus ombudsman to whom you could take your complaint? A Dean willing to listen to you?

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Funny thing is my favorite teaching through all my years of school was a pious Christian. Mr Demerse. I would show up to every class stoned, sleep half the time, say provocative things whenever I did speak, but he was the only teacher who didn't write me off. He was genuinely interested in what I had to say and he gave me great marks on whatever work I handed in. I remember writing a highly politicized essay on the Iraq War and he wound up writing several paragraphs of it onto the board for all to read. Not all Christians are narrow-minded douches.
I don't think that at all. Quite the contrary.

Everybody --at least just about every LitNutter-- thoroughly believes in free expression, opposes censorship, realizes the need to allow others to hold
dissenting religious beliefs while respectfully not imposing his beliefs upon others.

Where the dissent comes from and the voices get louder, then, is not in the
"what" but the "how." For instance, this is an amusing anecdote, but really not a short story. You could develop it into such, with a character modeled after the devout professor and the irreverent though equally passionate student.

If this is, as I take it, a "true" story, why wasn't it in a more appropriate forum? And when the incident occurred in real life, wasn't there an on-campus ombudsman to whom you could take your complaint? A Dean willing to listen to you?
How is this not a short story? Because it doesn't have a distinct middle, beginning, and end? I wrote it in the present tense to give the narrative a more story-like feel. I didn't develop it more because I felt if it was any longer, it would be drawn out for the sake of length alone and bore the reader. I made a conscious decision to write it the way I did. The definition of what constitutes a short story by some seems unreasonably specific. It's such an open form that can be played with.

Also, why do you question he truth of it?

And, finally, I could have complained, but what would it have gotten me? A lot of time spent on something that would most likely not yield any results. Although she liked to talk and talk about her religion in class, she wasn't dumb enough to grade people bases on those beliefs. I had/have enough crap in my life to deal with, so I wasn't going to add anything that wasn't needed.

[Darcy88]

I don't think that at all. Quite the contrary.


I didn't mean to imply that you yourself think all Christians are narrow-minded douches. I just encounter that bias among many atheists, and your story about a teacher who gives preferential treatment based on religion and race indirectly affirms that stereotype.

[KCurtis]

I didn't mean to imply that you yourself think all Christians are narrow-minded douches. I just encounter that bias among many atheists, and your story about a teacher who gives preferential treatment based on religion and race indirectly affirms that stereotype.

No it doesn't. He has a right to be thoroughly annoyed with that teacher-if what he says is true. I used to keep my mouth shut about my athiest beliefs, especially at work around the lunch table. I am completely outnumbered there. My co-workers think they can talk about religion and they assume everyone at the table has one.
I finally spoke up- if they can speak, so can I. I won't go so far as to call myself an athiest in front of them, that could spark a debate, which I don't want because I can and would win it. I don't want to offend anyone, I have to work with them.
There is nothing more annoying than people assuming everyone in the group has the same beliefs and/or opinions.

[Darcy88]

No it doesn't. He has a right to be thoroughly annoyed with that teacher-if what he says is true. I used to keep my mouth shut about my athiest beliefs, especially at work around the lunch table. I am completely outnumbered there. My co-workers think they can talk about religion and they assume everyone at the table has one.
I finally spoke up- if they can speak, so can I. I won't go so far as to call myself an athiest in front of them, that could spark a debate, which I don't want because I can and would win it. I don't want to offend anyone, I have to work with them.
There is nothing more annoying than people assuming everyone in the group has the same beliefs and/or opinions.

I said "indirectly" affirms, meaning that Mutatis wasn't writing in order to intentionally criticize Christianity, but just by virtue of the facts of his actual experience his story in a way does exactly that.

I don't even know how such a response could follow from my post.

[KCurtis]

I said "indirectly" affirms, meaning that Mutatis wasn't writing in order to intentionally criticize Christianity, but just by virtue of the facts of his actual experience his story in a way does exactly that.

I don't even know how such a response could follow from my post.

Well, it did. Read it again. And besides, who cares? It's just a post.

[Delta40]

The whole point of posting in the short story section is to get the story and writing skill of the story evaluated. While the content is certainly interesting, as short stories go, it could have been fleshed out and developed much better for the reader's interest. I get the impression that the N has taken an actual event and written it as happened - the famous tell, tell, tell.

As a creative writer, we all have the ability to employ our imaginations and take it to a higher level and introduce more detail. The N could have developed the characters (As a creative writer, you're allowed to 'know' more about the teacher) the setting, the atmosphere, hell even the location. You can say the story is based on a true event without taking away the essence of what happened.

My suggestion is to take the event and transform it into an interesting short story.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Thanks for your suggestion . . . but I'm not really planning an reworking this one. This was really a spur-of-the-moment thing. Anything I'm really serious about I probably would hesitate to post here.

[Varenne Rodin]

I liked it. It reminded me, though there is only a vague connection, of the essay "Salvation" by Langston Hughes. You have inspired me to make a thread and post it, but I'm not sure where to post a short story by a famous author. Which thread category would such a thing fall under?

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Since there's no forum for Hughes, I'd think the general literature section.

[Varenne Rodin]

Thank you. :)

[KCurtis]

I liked it. It reminded me, though there is only a vague connection, of the essay "Salvation" by Langston Hughes. You have inspired me to make a thread and post it, but I'm not sure where to post a short story by a famous author. Which thread category would such a thing fall under?

I really like Langston Hughes. I wish he had written a novel, or two.

[Charles Darnay]

I really like Langston Hughes. I wish he had written a novel, or two.

I agree. He has a very enjoyable writing style.

[AuntShecky]

I really like Langston Hughes. I wish he had written a novel, or two.

He did! Not Without Laughter.

[KCurtis]

He did! Not Without Laughter.

REALLY?? I feel ignorant now. I will HAVE to read it! Thankyou!!!!

[Bewlay Brother]

She still gave me an A because I explained the context of the lyrics--how they're really about the singer's anger and misunderstanding when his mother, after suffering a paralyzing stroke at a young age, continues to worship God--ans she knew it was a good reading. She also knew I'm the kind if person that would not have our up with a bad grade. She dis write that she thought the lyrics were "horrible," though, which actually angered a few of my classmates because they didn't feel it was her place to from such judgments. It just made me laugh.

I did notice though, throughout the reading, she never once looked me in the eye, and she did shake her head a couple times. I don't think she was exagerrating when she said that curse words actually make her feel physical pain. It was probably the only time in my life that j actually "hurt" someone.

The lyrics are horrible though. Not because of content, but they are as artless and unoriginal and uninspired as they come.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

The lyrics are horrible though. Not because of content, but they are as artless and unoriginal and uninspired as they come.

I disagree.