For Noor, Sharon Parks model of adult faith seems to show a better progression on what the feelings of faith my voice is having and being able to define a category if needed. Like many theories, this seems contextual and it is important to understand as a young professional that needs need to be looked at with clear eyes and an open mind.
When identifying Noor's faith it is important to have an understanding of the background that she comes from. Noor's parents immigrated from the Middle East and upon settling in America, continued to follow the teachings of Muhammad and the faith of Islam. She grew up with religion as more of a routine than something that she goes to occasionally or on a weekly basis. She is a devoted Muslim, praying everyday, and trying to achieve her goals by being faithful to the teachings of the Koran.
But she cannot be categorized into a dualistic mode. She has moved away from a dependence to the forming of a community. She is comfortable with her faith and is looking to, not experiment, but try to understand others (faiths included) in order to become a better teacher and understand the inner workings of people. Though she belongs to the conventional community, she is in a category of being open to others. Though some of her community, especially in the mosque and support group, do not understand her, she insists that being an advocate for her religion can only further the breakdown in prejudices about Islam.
Class Readings:
Nash, R.J. (2001). Constructing a spirituality of teaching: A personal perspective. Religion and Education, 28 (1), 1-20.
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