Educating the Elite

As y'all may imagine, I'm all for it.
Reason and Faith at Harvard
By John I. Jenkins and Thomas Burish
Monday, October 23, 2006; Page A21

What should a properly educated college graduate of the early 21st century know?

A Harvard curriculum committee proposed an answer to that question this month, stating that, among other things, such a graduate should know "the role of religion in contemporary, historical, or future events -- personal, cultural, national, or international."

To that end, the committee recommended that every Harvard student be required, as part of his or her general education, to take one course in an area that the committee styled "Reason and Faith."

Whether that becomes policy remains to be seen, but the significance of the recommendation should not be understated. Harvard is the drum major of American higher education: Where it leads, others follow. And if Harvard says taking a course in religion is necessary to be an educated person, it's a good bet that many other colleges and universities will soon make the same discovery. We hope they will.

[The rest of the story...]
Whilst there are certainly folks who'll have a bigger appreciation for the good religious belief can and has done, I've found that the more one learns of religion, the more one can see where its entire premise is a mere replacement for surety in the Reasoning Process.

When folks allow for possibilities which are literally and demonstrably impossible, they allow for actions which make no sense in the context of the complexities of modern life. It's not "Faith" that freaks me out. It's faith in things which are empirically disproven or, at best, incredibly unlikely and historically shown to be unproductive for our civilizational evolution.


Agnosticism towards the unknown origins of existence makes for a much more efficacious and realistic approach to the problems our species faces at this time in our history on the planet.


Personally though, I just can't let go o' my belief that one of C-Town's Pro Sports franchises is gonna get its act together enough to bring home a Championship. I'm fairly certain that that delusion is only hurting those of us who maintain it. {-;

I hope this concept takes root and flourishes.

Comments

  1. Personally though, I just can't let go o' my belief that one of C-Town's Pro Sports franchises is gonna get its act together enough to bring home a Championship.

    At best, incredibly unlikely.

    :)

    But, you hold on to that faith, MB! You keep believin'.!

    I'm assuming you're talking about the Cavs.

    C'mon Cavs...gotta make it happen. C'mon Cavs!

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree with you, Michael. Obviously, a well-educated person has to be familiar with religion, why it exists, the pros and the many cons.

    Imagine not knowing anything at all about the Bible? The allusions made to it everyday, which you then wouldn't understand, would alone have you completely confused as to what people were talking about.

    BTW, this shouldn't surprise people. Despite the right's stereotyping of all academia as anti-religion, Harvard has a Divinity School.

    ReplyDelete
  3. At best, incredibly unlikely.

    You've believe in the OIC curse too, do you Blue? (Only In Cleveland. {sighhh})

    Ahhh... I'm keepin' believin', BG. Gots ta Keep Hope Alive, at any rate, donthcyaknow... {-;

    Great point, Kevin. Regardless of the quality of so many of the stories or the "virtues" extolled there-in, the cultural history and reasoning exhibited in ancient religious texts does certainly form an uncouncious background of many many many peoples worldviews. Awareness of those subtle suggestions can help folks to better escape their use, or even give themselves more ability to rationally consider their options as individuals within wider civilizations.

    Unless they're Newt Gingrich, in which case it's just hints on how to better manipulate groups by hittin' on their soft-spots.

    Of course, the more people who know, the fewet the numbers in groups to be manipulated.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your name in lights...well, almost.
    your anme and a link to your site as you were mentioned as the writing muse of the day.
    http://www.thepeacetrain.org/

    ReplyDelete
  5. Imagine not knowing anything at all about the Bible? The allusions made to it everyday, which you then wouldn't understand, would alone have you completely confused as to what people were talking about.

    I'm somewhat embarassed to say, this is me. I do know *some* but not a lot. Did not grow up going to church, with parents who never did either.

    I feel bad about it, from many angles. Especially after diving into the blogosphere where people have such passionate opinions, one way or the other.

    I have to say I'm not *completely* confused by it, though. I have many of my own ideas that I've formed, and they just keep evolving.

    Keep living and keep learning. That's my motto.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ...I feel bad about it, from many angles.

    No worries, BG. Maybe that's just a "Grass is always greener" dealio. I've frequently wished I'd grown up knowin' nuthin' 'tall about religion.

    I gotta ditto your motto too! Good stuff Lady.

    ReplyDelete
  7. bains,
    There's a "college" not too far from me that actually makes all students sign a profession of faith. I mean, I understand if you are a private college or whatever. I even attended one of those briefly. But they never made me sign a declaration of faith in anything...they just took my tuition money happily.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I notice Harvard calls it Faith and Reason and that leads me to believe it has to do with viewing Faith with an intellectual mindset rather than as a believer. I was required to take a course in World Religions and it has helped me understand the different players in today's actions. So, if that is what they are up to, sounds ok.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Agnosticism towards the unknown origins of existence makes for a much more efficacious and realistic approach to the problems our species faces at this time in our history on the planet.


    I've alwasy said that I'm an agnostic because it's the only logically defensible position.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've alwasy said that I'm an agnostic because it's the only logically defensible position. Kvatch...that's not what the thumpers want to hear.

    ReplyDelete
  11. ...they just took my tuition money happily.

    HA! 'Tis cuz das Capital IS da God in 'Murica, don'tchyaknow. errr.. Alright. So that was a little too much snark. ;) Least you gained some useful knowledge from 'em, Bird. 'Tis the real reason for spending our money there, ain't it.

    Agreed, Mary. And is one o' the reason I really dig Danny Dennett. Whe'er or not one's a believer, should not negate one's ability to study belief is perhaps the most relevant and historically important part of his wonderful schtick.

    Hola Kvatch! I call m'self atheist because I Know that all here-to-for proposed Gawds are bunk and bullshit. I know I can't know empirically if there's a True Creator®, so acknowledge my agnosticism as the anchor, or root, of my atheistic approach to life.

    And perhaps I happily flaunt it because, at least in part, as Sumo says, that's not what teh thumpers want to hear.

    {-;

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think the more people are educated about religion (all religions, and the concept of religion and what it is) the better. Gotta have knowledge! Gotta engage the brain! Believing something is OK as long as you know WHY you believe it, and have given it a lot of thought. So, good on Harvard!

    I get a kick out of people praying that their sports team will win, or for a smiting of the other team! ha!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts