My Anthropology of Religion Teacher in Catholic High school

Who studies Anthropology of Religion in high school, you might wonder? Well, when your school is located in Fátima, it kinda of makes sense.

To set the scene, Fátima is considered a holy place within the Catholic faith, particularly tied to the Virgin Mary. She is believed to have appeared there.

My school was semi-private, run by a principal and a priest. We had a chapel on the premises, crucifixes in every classroom (mandatory), confessionals with priests available, and on May 13th, everyone was excused due to the worldwide pilgrimage to Fátima. Needless to say, it was a very Catholic environment.

From seventh grade onward, everyone had Religion and Morality class, which was, frankly, quite boring. It was best described as a mix of basic civics education and general etiquette.

Everything was polished, structured, and seemingly perfect.

So, when I found out that Anthropology of Religion was mandatory, I assumed it would be another dull class, just like the others.

Fortunately, I was mistaken.

The teacher was a breath of fresh air. Thought-provoking fellow, and he instilled critical thinking in me.

Since childhood, I had always been told: “Don’t talk, listen to your elders. Don’t question, just do. “

This teacher, however, encouraged me to question everything, especially religion. He opened my eyes to the deconstruction of not only religious beliefs but also the world around me.

We often accept rituals, beliefs, ideas, structures, and even language without ever questioning them.

His class taught us to deconstruct these things, find their roots, understand the “why” behind them, and ultimately, make our own informed choices.

This is true freedom of choice. And I’m immensely grateful.

,abreijos