Eric Denton is a religion instructor at Kapi‘olani Community College. He describes his goal in teaching as providing students with a solid foundation of factual information, but also the ability to approach facts with a mature, sensitive and critical mind. He uses his background in theater for the benefit of his students. A former student calls Denton’s fascination with and interpretation of religion refreshing. Denton offers detailed examples from his own experiences and travels and artifacts that can be handled by students to generate understanding at depths approaching that of actual field experiences.

His open teaching relationship allows students to ask questions and make comments without fear of prejudice or persecution. He uses challenging subject matter to increase student insight and appreciation for individual beliefs. “He has experienced so many cultures and ideologies that they ooze from his being,” a student observes. “Students appear entranced by his lecture, asking questions that spark long-winded debates, with everyone contributing and sharing their views. There were no right or wrong answers, just an open forum for thoughtful and intelligent exchange. I came away from the class feeling that I still had so much to learn from the world and its people. I was eager, as Eric Denton still is, to continue exploring.”