Comments on: The missing link in academia http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/2007/04/03/the-missing-link-in-academia/ The opinion blog of The Daily Pennsylvanian Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:56:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: adaptable atheist - To Mick Jagger. http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/2007/04/03/the-missing-link-in-academia/#comment-394 adaptable atheist - To Mick Jagger. Thu, 05 Apr 2007 01:04:23 +0000 http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/?p=208#comment-394 This article, and most of your own post, answers the question in the first sentence of your post. I've never seen a single class talk about the merits of religion or comparing them in such a way as to say "This is divine truth! That is not!" Instead, you talk about the influences and perceptions of religion across history and a number of other fields. For example, comparing and contrasting Luther's & Jean Calvin's versions of Protestant Reform isn't objectively saying one was right and the other wrong, merely what their arguments were, how their perspectives contrasted, etc. in 16th century Germany. The only time a discussion turns into "this is how it is! No this is!" would be when stupid and ignorant students incapable of separating their personal beliefs from academic discussion take over the discussion. A good professor knows how to steer them back into a scholarly discussion. This article, and most of your own post, answers the question in the first sentence of your post. I’ve never seen a single class talk about the merits of religion or comparing them in such a way as to say “This is divine truth! That is not!” Instead, you talk about the influences and perceptions of religion across history and a number of other fields. For example, comparing and contrasting Luther’s & Jean Calvin’s versions of Protestant Reform isn’t objectively saying one was right and the other wrong, merely what their arguments were, how their perspectives contrasted, etc. in 16th century Germany. The only time a discussion turns into “this is how it is! No this is!” would be when stupid and ignorant students incapable of separating their personal beliefs from academic discussion take over the discussion. A good professor knows how to steer them back into a scholarly discussion.

]]> By: ??? http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/2007/04/03/the-missing-link-in-academia/#comment-393 ??? Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:14:42 +0000 http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/?p=208#comment-393 Why are atheists scared of religion? There's no problem with them formulating their own views, but they seem to want to deprive others of an opportunity to learn about religion and are terrified that they might be exposed to it themselves. Why are atheists scared of religion? There’s no problem with them formulating their own views, but they seem to want to deprive others of an opportunity to learn about religion and are terrified that they might be exposed to it themselves.

]]> By: Mick Jagger http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/2007/04/03/the-missing-link-in-academia/#comment-392 Mick Jagger Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:43:34 +0000 http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/?p=208#comment-392 But if you think Religion is nothing more than mystical superstition, why should we have to learn about it at an Ivy League institution? I'm happy to learn how religion has shaped history and how it affects voting patterns, as well as how it plays a role in society. But I'm not prepared to spend hours debating the merits of religion and or comparing religions. It's all about context. But if you think Religion is nothing more than mystical superstition, why should we have to learn about it at an Ivy League institution? I’m happy to learn how religion has shaped history and how it affects voting patterns, as well as how it plays a role in society. But I’m not prepared to spend hours debating the merits of religion and or comparing religions. It’s all about context.

]]> By: Keith Richards http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/2007/04/03/the-missing-link-in-academia/#comment-391 Keith Richards Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:34:16 +0000 http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/?p=208#comment-391 I mixed my dad's ashes with a little blow and snorted him. I don't think my dad would've cared. I mixed my dad’s ashes with a little blow and snorted him. I don’t think my dad would’ve cared.

]]> By: an atheist with a more adaptable mind than the above one http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/2007/04/03/the-missing-link-in-academia/#comment-390 an atheist with a more adaptable mind than the above one Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:06:17 +0000 http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/?p=208#comment-390 Just because you don't believe in religion doesn't make you exempt from learning about it. Being a scholar means separating yourself from the subject matter to understand the importance it has for the world if not for you personally. Just because you don’t believe in religion doesn’t make you exempt from learning about it. Being a scholar means separating yourself from the subject matter to understand the importance it has for the world if not for you personally.

]]> By: the atheist http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/2007/04/03/the-missing-link-in-academia/#comment-389 the atheist Wed, 04 Apr 2007 07:24:35 +0000 http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/?p=208#comment-389 Atheists deserve the right to partake in an education free from religious discourse. You wouldn't want to require me to take a course in "Traditional Superstitions," so why would it be acceptable to force me to take a course on Traditional Eastern and Western Religions? Atheists deserve the right to partake in an education free from religious discourse. You wouldn’t want to require me to take a course in “Traditional Superstitions,” so why would it be acceptable to force me to take a course on Traditional Eastern and Western Religions?

]]> By: Richard Dawkins http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/2007/04/03/the-missing-link-in-academia/#comment-388 Richard Dawkins Wed, 04 Apr 2007 03:21:44 +0000 http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/?p=208#comment-388 Religion? Pah. http://youtube.com/watch?v=jDTecQ9kTdY Religion? Pah.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jDTecQ9kTdY

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