Week 1 Discussion: Is Religion Good or Bad?
While we certainly will be looking at the various religions in the world here, I am hoping that you will find a deeper message this term above and beyond just learning the names of everyones God or higher power and what their favorite holiday is. So I would like you to start by asking yourself these questions (and writing them down here to share with us, of course:
First Introduce yourself to the class. Tell us a little about yourself and tell us what you hope to gain from taking this course.
THEN tell us:
What do I think religion is?
What do you feel religion or spirituality can or does do for you?
What role does religion or spirituality play in your life?
How do you view other religions?
After watching this video, do you have a different view of what religion is?
Are you more confused?
What are you surprised to learn about different views on religion?
AFTER you have answered those questions, watch this video.
https://www.ted.com/talks/kwame_anthony_appiah_is_religion_good_or_bad_this_is_a_trick_question?utm_campaign=tedspread–b&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare (Links to an external site.)
Is religion good or bad? (This is a trick question) (14:40) Kwame Anthony Appiah at TEDSalon NY2014 Plenty of good things are done in the name of religion, and plenty of bad things too. But what is religion, exactly is it good or bad, in and of itself? Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah offers a generous, surprising view.
Has watching this video caused you to rethink what you just wrote?
What are your thoughts on what Kwame Appiah states here?
Does it lead you to want to learn more about the religions he discusses?
If religion is about so much, should we teach EVERYONE about religion so that they can learn more?
Should we teach our children facts about religions, just as we teach them reading, writing and arithmetic?
AFTER you have answered that, watch this video and tell us if you still agree. Explain!
https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_dennett_s_response_to_rick_warren?utm_campaign=tedspread–b&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare (Links to an external site.)
Philosopher Dan Dennett calls for religion — all religion — to be taught in schools, so we can understand its nature as a natural phenomenon. Then he takes on The Purpose-Driven Life, disputing its claim that, to be moral, one must deny evolution.
Want to know the exact breakdown of how you are graded? It is in the Grading Policies download , but you can see them here as well if you click on the “mouse droppings” above mouse droppings.JPG and select SHOW RUBRIC.
Each week you must post four (4) discussion comments.
One (1) must be a top level response: this should be your direct answer to the questions asked each week. You should post this response by clicking the REPLY button in the discussion for the week. This comment will be worth a total of 70 points. (Only 1 top level response will be accepted each week.)
Your other three (3) comments will be replies to classmates (do NOT add a new thread). Each will be worth 10 points each.
Additional (over the 4) comments will be accepted and graded, but will not significantly raise your total score.
Points will be deducted for: Misplaced postings, Spelling errors (use spell-check!!! ), Serious grammatical errors , Patently offensive responses
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