REL 3000 Faith Over Fear: Countering Anti-Muslim Discrimination
Faith Over Fear: Countering Anti-Muslim Discrimination
Since 2018, the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign has worked with national and local partners and leading experts to develop and offer the “Faith Over Fear” training programs.
Faith Over Fear reduces and counters anti-Muslim bias, discrimination, and violence in the United States by working with faith and community leaders to:
- Improve skills (and confidence) to speak against anti-Muslim rhetoric and discrimination
- Increase community discussions to effectively counter anti-Muslim discrimination
- Build stronger local multi-religious networks
Faith Over Fear includes the following topics:
- Analyze Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry in the United States by examining the historical context and understanding the contemporary challenges;
- Communicate for Change by learning how to transform a demeaning culture filled with untruthful and harmful notions by empowering communities to make meaning of their shared values based on accurate and generative language; and
- Implement Engagement Strategies by utilizing proven tactics to dilute anti-Muslim bigotry while promoting peaceful coexistence.
adult education, high school, college, graduate, professional development
Civic Education for a Common Good
We apply the U.S. Department of Education’s Consensus Statements about Constitutional Approaches for Teaching about Religion
▸ Our approach to religion is academic, not devotional;
▸ We strive for student awareness of religions, but do not press for student acceptance of any religion;
▸ We sponsor the study about religion, not the practice of religion;
▸ We expose students to a diversity of religious views, but may not impose any particular view;
▸ We educate about all religions, we do not promote or denigrate any religion;
▸ We inform students about religious beliefs and practices, it does not seek to conform students to any particular belief or practice.
We apply the American Academy of Religion’s “Religious Literacy Guidelines”
▸ “Religious Literacy Guidelines for College Students.” American Academy of Religion, 2019.
▸ “Teaching About Religion: AAR Guidelines for K-12 Public Schools.” American Academy of Religion, April 2010.
We apply the National Council for the Social Studies C3 Frameworks for Religious Studies
▸ College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards, “Religious Studies Companion Document for the C3 Framework.” Silver Spring, MD: National Council for the Social Studies, 2017.
