POSITIONALITY ON FAITH

TRIGGERED by RELIGION- A REFLECTION ON MY OWN POSITIONAILITY:

I am the daughter of Ashkenazi Jewish immigrant father, and Swiss Catholic mother, growing up I was not considered to be of either religion.

Religion was a factor that both divided and united my family, caused a measure of shame and pain during my childhood, and triggered prejudice towards my older sister Natasha.  So, when I saw the YouTube resource by Kwame Anthony Appiah, Is religion good or bad? (This is a trick question), my immediate response to this title, was – ‘It is neither good or bad, its just really confusing’. Watching this amazing speaker, It felt ever more poignant to outline my own positionality on religion, and the issues it caused within my own life experience. How confusion, mis-understanding and pre-conception divided my family and caused lasting harm.

For me, growing up it was confusing not be accepted by either religion as I was born between two opposing beliefs.  My parents chose love over religious rules, and this was something that I enjoyed knowing, because in their story, our family narrative, love really did conquer all.   My father was expelled from his family on his wedding day, and it took years for my mother to be accepted by her Jewish in-laws. Religion was a great source of discussion and family narrative, we spoke at length over the dinner table about belief systems, and the merits of choice, taking the best bits from both, ‘especially the food bits’, as my dad would say.  As children of a mixed faith marriage, we were especially fascinated by our Jewish heritage, and the experience of my father’s family as fleeing Jewish immigrants at the turn of the century, arriving in the UK, changing their name at the docks, and then herded into a very deprived area of the East End, Brick Lane.  They were treated with disdain, alongside the Pakistani and Indian communities in East London.  Through handwork and community collaboration, the Jewish arrivals, thrived in business, trading with the other marginalised communities, and this was yet another re-told family story of good conquering adversity. 

My family narrative around religious experience, from within, and from outside was very much linked to love shining through dark space. I understand this was the story, but not the whole truth. Certain aspects were not discussed, difficulties faced by my older sister at Catholic school because of her appearance where never challenged, no intervention made and as a result she was bullied about her large nose, dark hair and called a ‘Jew girl bitch’. This part of the family fairy-tale was not recalled, not re-told and washed over as character building.  This sister, Natasha now lives metaphorically in a dark place, with severe mental issues, is a habitual drug user and hates her appearance.  Even thou she was not in fact Jewish, I believe her self-hatred stems from the antisemitism, she received because of her appearance throughout her formative years.

Faith linked to religion as a concept triggers many feelings both positive and confusing, and a subject I have spent much time considering.  As a family we celebrated Christmas, I attended a Catholic school, but did not take communion, and was not Jewish either and ostracized on both sides for not ‘having’ a religion.  I was aware of prejudice and a source of jokes and sneers, my dad had a big beard, drove a Volvo, and it was rumoured at school he was a Rabbi; the truth being he was not a practising Jew, he wanted a safe car for his family, and it was the 70’s, hey, everyone had beards, he was simple an original hipster! (there’s the Jewish humour). I did not experience deep wounds like my sister, as I used quick wit and jokes to mask my discomfort.  This protection tool I learned from my father, a gift bestowed on him by his, ‘humour’ a common pre-conception, and very useful in action.

I have spent years dissecting my own belief system and have chosen to follow Shamanism as a practise.  I have deep empathy for my Jewish heritage, but do not adhere to the rules, and religious laws, I have negative association with Catholic school, and the unkind nuns and unfair treatment that were ‘allowed’ to take place towards Natasha. While I respected my late mother’s belief in God, I did not agree with her choice of a religious education, these differing opinions, while later resolved, did cause conflict in our relationship, and irreparable damage to my sister. This was not her ‘fault’, not religion that caused the damge, but it was a lack of awareness, prejudice and the absence of care within the educational system that did harm to a child.  I now refer to myself as a non-religious person, who believes in LOVE, and has FAITH that quick wit and kindness will shine through the dark space. I have empathy for anyone with a belief in GOOD over adversity and seek to understand the diversity of belief without judgement.

NB: I found a few educational resources for schools below, that demonstrate a change to understanding and vocabulary; A worksheet from Reigate School for children in year 11, and an on-line resource from Open University for trainee teachers 2020, advising how to include diversity in race, ethnicity and culture in teaching. These resources are far from perfect, however, promoting conversation at key stages of education is a start. Included also below a resource shared by my teacher about talking to your pupils about Palestine-Israel.

UAL: Statement regarding UAL’s response to the ongoing war in Israel-Palestine . THE BIG PICTURE: Posted on UAL website by Communication by Director Tess Tinker – statement made on 23rd May 2024

References:

Reigate Scool, (Website): https://www.reigate-school.surrey.sch.uk/ – Religion and Prejudice, Year 11 Revision Material, 2013, https://www.reigate-school.surrey.sch.uk/MainFolder/re—revision—Q3-Prejudice.pdf (Accessed 18th May 2024)

Including diversity in race, ethnicity and culture in your teaching, The Open University, Open Learn, (on-line) 2020, https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/education/including-diversity-race-ethnicity-and-culture-your-teaching (Accessed 18th May 2024)

How To Talk About Palestine-Israel At Your School, Solutions Not Sides, 2024 https://solutionsnotsides.co.uk/sites/default/files/2023-04/GUIDE%20ON%20HOW%20AND%20WHY%20TO%20TALK%20ABOUT%20ISRAEL-PALESTINE%20AT%20YOUR%20SCHOOL.pdf (Accessed 18th May, 2024)

Appiah, K. A. (2014) Is religion good or bad? (This is a trick question). Youtube  [Online]. 16 June. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2et2KO8gcY

UAL RESOURCE: The Big Picture, Statement Regarding UAL’s Response to the on-going war with Israel-Palestine. https://canvas.arts.ac.uk/News/248692/statement-regarding-ual-s-response-to-the-ongoing-war-in-israel-palestine