Students must learn anthropology
In the present context in Mindanao, religious studies and studying ones religion is not enough for our people to work for peace and development in our communities. Some religious scholars and their students within their communities tend to be exclusive of their own faith and see the world based on their own definitions of truth. Because of this reality, I believe that we need to teach cultural anthropology to our students at the senior highschool level.
As a student of anthropology, I say this based on my experience. Studying anthropology taught me how to be resilient in dealing with social, political, and economic changes in our world today. It also taught me how to be persistent in my advocacy work and to be confident in dealing with the issues about Islam, the Muslim youth, and the threat of violent extremism.
The field of anthropology also made me see and appreciate the diversity of every culture. It gave me creative ways to manage and implement projects of Al Qalam Institute.
It also taught me to be brave when criticism strikes and pressures from different groups bashed my work and reputation as a human being. And most of all, I value seeing things based on the perspectives of others.
It is not to say that we cannot learn these values and attitudes from our own religion. But lately, there are people who build and strengthen religious identities that are more focus on the outside form of religion setting aside spiritual connection with God. They see God as a jealous and angry God who needs our love and attention. Most religious leaders tend to live in silos and isolate themselves from their own communities. Some can tolerate interreligious dialogue but not intra faith and intra religious dialogues. These problems may lead to sectarian violence and conflict.
I started appreciating the field of anthropology when I was an undergraduate student of Mindanao State University Iligan Institute of Technology. I took up AB Linguistics and the focused of my study was the language of resistance and the Moro insurgents through the use of music and songs. Outside the classrooms of MSU IIT, I lived and interact with students coming from different backgrounds and provinces in Mindanao.
My formal study of anthropology was just recently. It was with the Ateneo de Davao University’s Institute of Anthropology where I learned more about the theories of Bronislow Malinowski, Clifford Geertz, Claude Levi Strauss, Michael Taussig, Akbar Ahmed, Taal Assad, Ernest Gellner, Thomas Gibson, and Gabriele Marranci. These scholars taught me to understand my role and purpose in this world and to appreciate diversity of human experience.
Laura P. Appell- Warren, doctorate in Psychological Anthropology from Harvard University, wrote in her article in Huffpost. com, “Anthropology teaches students to take another’s perspective with empathy which contributes to the creation of a more peaceful world — free of hatred based on religious misconceptions and free of judgments based on differing cultural traditions.” This is what our youth and future generations must learn and practice in life.
She also added, “Global education, global citizenship, global competence, cross- cultural exchanges, authentic immersion and community service experiences, are major programmatic and curricular themes in schools today. The theoretical base of holistic and systems thinking, provided by the study of anthropology, will positively inform the global cross- cultural student experience.” Remember, we now live in a borderless countries. The internet has fully LIDASAN, 18
developed that social media creates a culture and tradition more than we can ever imagine.
She also mentioned the anthropological methodology of participant observation also equips students with the tools necessary to successfully navigate cross-cultural experiences. She explains that “when one participates in another culture one is forced to set aside previously held prejudices and to ask questions; it is through the asking of questions that one comes to a fuller understanding and appreciation of another person’s experience and view of the world.” Unknowingly, this is what I applied when I studied in a Catholic school from elementary to secondary school and in MSU IIT where I lived with my non Muslim friends, boardmates, and classmates.
I also realised that it is not enough for our people to learn more about the history of Muslims and Lumads in Mindanao. If this subject matter is not handled properly, it has the tendency to radicalise the students and hate the government and the Christian settlers in Mindanao. Studying history without knowing the proper context why and how it happened may divide our people and lose our sense of belongingness as a nation.
Our students and teachers must be trained to have a critical mind. To be brave enough to ask questions.
We should have a generation that are trained to ask the fundamental questions: “How does this cultural practice fit into the overall context of the culture” and “What can I learn from this different culture?”
Dr. Warren said in her article, “Finally, as schools become more multicultural and diverse and seek to create environments that are tolerant, it is, as noted anthropologist Ruth Benedict said, “the purpose of anthropology to make the world safe for human difference.” And this is what our nation needs today. Filipino people who will work to make our country safe not just for Filipinos, but for the whole humanity.