How can I write about religion in a secular, academic framework?
It is OK, sometimes even necessary, to start from your own perspective. As your ideas develop, you should be able to translate some or all statements about yourself to more general ones, reflecting what you think may be interests shared by your classmates, instructor, and others to whom your paper may be of interest. In writing about the central concepts of many religious traditions, remember that you personally do not have to accept the position of the religious tradition you are writing about, nor do your readers. It is important to remember that people of diverse religious traditions can differ on numerous points, especially points that are not susceptible to historic investigation. Ascribing such statements to those who actually make them is neutral and preferable. Thus, Judaism teaches that Moses received the Torah at Sinai or Islamic teaching generally asserts that the Quran is the eternal Word of God are preferable to statements like Moses received the Torah at Sinai or The Qura
