When structuring the World Religions class, Dr. Anita Gaul believes the use of guest speakers is a great way to get students to understand various faiths.

“That’s why I invite speakers,” Dr. Gaul said. “Not only to promote a better understanding but…I think it’s helpful to encounter someone who actually lives this and believes this.”

On Dec. 9, Mohammad Noor, imam of the Islamic Society of Marshall, spoke to the class with the help of a translator. He acted as the final speaker of the semester.

Noor, originally from Somalia, spent time in a South African refugee camp before coming to Marshall a little over a year ago. This is the first time a representative of the Islamic Society of Marshall came to speak to Gaul’s World Religions class.

The imam discussed the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the Five Pillars of Islam, which is the faith’s core beliefs. Noor also noted the connections between Islam and Christianity.

This discussion occurred shortly after the events of the Paris attacks, and the shootings in San Bernardino. After a question from the audience, Noor was adamant that ISIS does not practice Islam properly, and have a faulty understanding of the faith.

The World Religions class is offered once a year in the fall. Students cover six religions in 16 weeks, learning their basic history, beliefs, and development. Dr. Gaul says that according to course evaluations, guest speakers are one of the highest rated aspects of the course.

“So far every semester I’ve tried to invite as many speakers who represent the different religions as I can,” Dr. Gaul said.

In addition to Noor, speakers over the semester were Bill Miller, a Native American lecturer; Noam Sienna, a Jewish Ph.D. student at the University of Minnesota; Pastor Greg Linscott of the First Baptist Church in Marshall; and Dr. Vinay Gonela, SMSU Assistant Professor of Management, who spoke on Hinduism.

“[Dr. Gonela] is a person who’s really looked into and asked hard questions about his faith,” Dr. Gaul said.

Dr. Gaul says that she learns something new every time a guest speaker comes to class. She explained her experience of reaching out to shake Noor’s hand, only to be turned down. His translator explained that a pious Muslim man cannot touch a woman.

“There was a moment where even I as a professor learned something where I can be more respectful to someone who has a different culture and different beliefs as I have,” Dr. Gaul said.

Dr. Gaul says she will continue to incorporate guest speakers in her future World Religions classes.

“It’s one thing to study it, but it’s another thing to see someone who practices it,” Dr. Gaul said.