Cary's advice is unusually facile on this one. I am reminded of the molecular biology professor who successfully demonstrated evolution to his fundamentalist student, then left her hanging with no further suggestions for spiritual advice.

There are many theologians who could help a person in such a situation. A "lapsed catholic" is a start, but is also just as likely biased as the church group from which this student needs a little distance.

Find a good theologian to help--if there is a semanary on campus or nearby, that is the place to start. Agnosticism or some vague deism is not the only alternative here. An academic in the field of theology could probably help a lot more.

Cary,

You never fail to astonish. Your decision to publish this consultation over a potential crisis of faith is a good one,

My son has been through this, tho perhaps not with the buffering and midwifing he should have had. His mother is a virulently anti-introspective (sorry if that seems hyperbolic; I assure you it's actually a fairly close characterization) fundamentalist "Christian," and we've been divorced for four years. My ties to my son have been largely though email correspondence, and while they've been good--I've tried to be gentle, humorous, open-minded, and mindful of the necessity of him making his own discoveries--I could tell it was a rocky road for him; and in a way it's not like it's ever really over.

There was one thing that occurred to me as I read your response. I recently finished Jennifer Hecht's _Doubt_, and was particularly taken with a core given to her thesis; that true doubt and true faith are two sides of the same coin. Doubt is an important part of man's search for the truly sacred. Only in the Dim World is doubt the scourge or bane of faith. The writer of the letter to whom you respond may not be well-versed in the Bible, but there is a powerful call to doubt therein. I'm not just talking about Ecclesiastes or Job. The words of Christ and even the epistle writers encourage "followers" to follow only within a context of a broad understanding and perception, and I think this larger understanding encompasses a kind of sacred doubt bourn of a sincere search for what's true and real; hence Christ's dove/serpent simile, and calls by the epistle writers to practice discernment.

The implication is that the real world is a minefield (as you know) that will chew you up and spit you out if you let it, and a humorous and finely-honed doubt is indispensable. We can see the results of a widespread failure to address this side of the coin in much fundamentalist Christianity as practiced in the U.S. today; the letter-writer tactfully hints at this.

OK, enough. Thanks again, and keep up the good work.

I think Cary's response was right on. The student specifically approached the LW, she says, knowing something of her background. Perhaps the student wants to understand more about how the LW can be happy without faith, or how she came to choose such a different path. These are difficult questions that many of us have grappled with, and if she is careful, I think it is possible for the LW to be very helpful to the student.

If I were in her position, I would try to focus as much on the student as possible during the discussion. I would allow him to ask me questions, and answer honestly and thoughtfully. I would ask him questions about what he loves about his faith, and what drew him to it. I would try to follow the guideline I learned as a hotline counselor, of letting him speak about 80% of the time, while speaking only 20% of the time myself. I would also ask the student why he approached me specifically, and what he hoped to gain from the discussion. I would encourage him to speak to other people as well--to as many people as possible, and to read. This is how we learn, and form our opinions and beliefs. I agree with Cary that it would run counter to the tradition of academic inquiry to support the student's religous beliefs in an unqualified way. It is a complex situation, but there are ways of handling it, and of being a support to the student's development of a true personal faith and philosophy of life.

I sympathize with the letter writer's desire to forge close personal relationships with students, but as a former grad student (got my PhD in 1995 in chemistry), I would caution her be extremely careful with this student. Particularly with the religion/faith stuff--remember, the Accuracy in Academia folks are back in the news again, trying to ferret out "godless/atheist/pagan/feminist/etc" academics, to further their arguments that universities are nothing more than bastions of liberal, American-hating commies. yeah, it sucks to have to think this way, but unfortunately, just like herpes, these guys never really go away. (Come to think of it, both herpes and Accuracy in Academia surfaced in the 1980s...hmm.)

Anyway, maybe it's just the paranoia talking, but I'd avoid any discussion of one's personal religious, political, or ethical views. It may be that this young student is really having a crisis and the LW is the only person to whom he can turn, not being a member of his inner circle. Of course, he may have targeted her as a convert, or heck, even as a potential victim to expose and ruin professionally by posting to the A in A site about your views--these folks really want to shut down open discussion, tape your lectures, etc. And they WILL hound a professor to death. With a dearth of tenure-track positions to begin with, this isn't how you want to start a career.

Counsel him objectively to consider his background, his current views, what HE wants out of his university experience, etc. Ultimately, as an adult, he is the one who has to make this decision. And Cary's right--get some guidance from your department (or the School of Arts or whatever level is above this)

Final bit of advice: why give students your email/phone number/IM? They can approach you during or after class, during office hours, etc. The LW needs to set limits on her and her boyfriend's personal time. If she does meet this kid, do it in a public place like a library or common study area--NOT a coffee shop, NOT her office after hours. And for God's sake, DON'T suggest he needs professional mental health services--you're talking lawsuit (after all, this is the English department, not the Psych department; and even then, it would be inappropriate to volunteer that opinion).