One of my professors is driving me nuts..

[Madwand1]

IMO, the professor is doing his job by having you learn something about Christian literature. Christianity and references to that is a big part of English literature modern and old, and while you can continue in your ignorance, you'll miss a lot of what's been said, implied, or just associated unless you're aware of that.

So while religious tolerance and mutual consideration should always apply, there is a specific educational value in this context which should be considered.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Until the OP grows a pair and actually tells us what his assignment is, he may as well just be trolling. Anyone that posts regularly on ATOT could have guessed how this thread would turn out with the OP mewling about how unfair it is that he is supposedly required to unstick his head from his arse long enough to get a whiff of the real world and how it works. As it is, he will have his supporters and detractors, all of whom wind up sounding a bit foolish because he won't even tell us what he is supposedly expected to know. My guess is that he just wanted to whine at blog.anandtech.com and knew that if he gave all of the details he would get owned back to the Stone Age.

That being said, I volunteer to be the recipient if the OP is feeling brave enough to send out this supposed required knowledge via PM to get an opinion based on reality instead of people throwing around opinions without having the full picture. I took English Lit and some of the reading we did covered such themes in an abstract way. I also took Religion 205: Study of the Bible and History of the Early Christian Church. It was taught by an ordained minister, who said at the start, "This ain't no Sunday School, so if that's what you're looking for, you might want to leave now."

I learned a lot of fascinating things in that class, and people both with and without a background in Christianity did well in the class. There were a few requirements, however. You had to get off of your arse and do the assigned reading, do the work, participate in class discussions (Oh noes!), and maybe even do a bit if reading outside of the books assigned!

If you expect real life to be as easy as you seem to expect college to be, you're in for a rude awakening.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: musicman64
So I've got a professor this semester (it's a eng lit class), who seems to be picking stories/authors with a Christian theme. We've been assigned two papers (out of four) that have heavy religious overtones.

Normally, I wouldn't care - however, the most recent assignment seems to require a knowledge of Christianity/the Bible in order to complete it. I thought that seemed a bit ridiculous and emailed the professor - basically asking how anyone who's not religious can be expected to complete the assignment. The response I got was lackluster and about what I expected - go research it. So... I guess my options are go read the bible or get lost.....

I'd be willing to suck it up and just do the damn thing, and get a probably shitty grade - but I'm a bit worried about the rest of the semester. I've also spoken to others who have taken this professors classes, and they've also mentioned the religious stuff, great....

What now? Ride it out? Take it to a department chair? Dean?

This should be fun either way.....

FYI:

English lit is WORTHLESS without even a cursory understanding of Christianity. Deal with it, and read it as it were literature. some 80% of what was written for many centuries was done so under the pretense of faith.

Such an infintile and naive complaint, this is.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: musicman64
Let me add a bit - people in class are quoting specific passages from books of the Bible I didn't even know existed.

Jesus effing Christ.

you are worthless as a student.

<---English degree.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: dahunan
Truth... nobody should be required to read the bible ever .. anywhere unless the class was religion related.

Ask him what the purpose is .. what is his intention

what the hell is wrong with you people?

The Bible doesn't magically convert people into mindless faith whores through the simple act of reading it.

How can you disagree with something if you have no knowledge of it, anyway?

:roll:

Besides. If the course, in anyway has the word "Literature" anywhere in its title, "religion" is to be assumed.
Stop being worthless children.

 

[SnipeMasterJ13]

This should make the class easier. Just take the religious text and twist it into whatever you want it to mean. Technically speaking you can never be wrong because that's how it was designed to work. It seems to be what a lot of others do, and it works wonders.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
Drop this class. Religion is for the stupid.

So you should drop a class whenever your professor is a liberal whack job also? Liberalism is also for the stupid.

Suck it up bitch, the research isn't going to hurt you. If I had dropped every class that was taught by some kind of a whack job with weird beliefs and habits I would still be in college 20 years later. Most professors are weird, that is why they hide in academia instead of toughing it out in the real world. Piss him off....become successful.

Now I understand why so many of you are on the internet...

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: lupi
The bible is a book like any other, you open the cover and read the words from the pages.

So is Mein Kampf.

The thing is, this is college. Classes have pre-requisits. One should not be forced to read Mein Kompf, The Satanic Bible or any other material that could be deemed objectionable unless it is a pre-requisite to the course.

It's funny, I gave two blatantly obvious examples of things that people would object to. I'm sure that's not good enough for the God fearing people here. There are enough people that are not Christians or worship Jesus in the US to equate the Bible, Mein Kompf, The Satanic Bible as equivilent in terms of education.

I'm a Christian and if I had to read any of those 3 mentioned books I wouldn't mind.

Why people have a problem with researching material is beyond me.

OMG OPEN-MINDEDNESS!! NEVAR!!!one!!

:thumbsup:

Strangely, you are making the most sense so far.

:beer:

 

[ed21x]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: lupi
The bible is a book like any other, you open the cover and read the words from the pages.

So is Mein Kampf.

The thing is, this is college. Classes have pre-requisits. One should not be forced to read Mein Kompf, The Satanic Bible or any other material that could be deemed objectionable unless it is a pre-requisite to the course.

It's funny, I gave two blatantly obvious examples of things that people would object to. I'm sure that's not good enough for the God fearing people here. There are enough people that are not Christians or worship Jesus in the US to equate the Bible, Mein Kompf, The Satanic Bible as equivilent in terms of education.

I had to read the Koran in one of my classes and I am not Muslim. Not like a big deal, but it did open up my eyes to muslim culture. Mein Kompf would probably be a very good book to study as it did have a significant impact on history. Once again, exposure is good for insight as long as you can learn objectively. Nobody is forcing you to believe here. The Satanic Bible on the otherhand did NOT have that great of a cultural impact, so studying it would be of little value. If half the world was Satanic, than it would.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: FuzzyDunlop

Originally posted by: loki8481
college level english course and he's MAKING you write your papers on religious topics within the books?

sounds not right... I don't think I ever had a course where specific paper topics were forced beyond vague generalities.

so you went to a community college?

majored in english lit at penn state?

....Then how the fuck did you do any work relating to 11th-18th century English literature?

There is absolutely NO WAY to approach 98% of those texts absent an understanding of Christian theology, and with a decent understanding of the issues involving the Protestant Reformation.

I'm not very religious by the way.

 

[BigJelly]

Originally posted by: rocadelpunk
whaaaammmmbulance.

You're in college, man the f up and do the work. Quit crying about running to the department chair or the dean as they will laugh in your face.

I can't believe you've never had to read a religious text once in your life in a critical manner.

Sad that it has to happen in college for the first time, but at least it's happening.

---
If you want some actual advice - go to the professor's office hours and in a very polite manner tell him that you are confused about the assignment/lack the proper knowledge to do the assignment well and would like to know specifically what you should look at/study/consider for the assignment.

Show some initiative and it'll more than likely be rewarded. being a baby about doing some reading - won't.

---

and take this as a lesson in doing your research about a class/professor before you sign up or during the first week when you can still easily shift classes : ).

QFT

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: FuzzyDunlop

Originally posted by: loki8481
college level english course and he's MAKING you write your papers on religious topics within the books?

sounds not right... I don't think I ever had a course where specific paper topics were forced beyond vague generalities.

so you went to a community college?

majored in english lit at penn state?

....Then how the fuck did you do any work relating to 11th-18th century English literature?

There is absolutely NO WAY to approach 98% of those texts absent an understanding of Christian theology, and with a decent understanding of the issues involving the Protestant Reformation.

I'm not very religious by the way.

Exactly. It's not even about religion so much as it is the fact that you are NOT going to fully understand and appreciate most western literature (from the past few centuries or so) without an understanding of Christianity.

Whether or not the professor has overstepped his/her bounds and is espousing a particular faith in a secular class, the above statement is true.

 

[ed21x]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: lupi
The bible is a book like any other, you open the cover and read the words from the pages.

So is Mein Kampf.

The thing is, this is college. Classes have pre-requisits. One should not be forced to read Mein Kompf, The Satanic Bible or any other material that could be deemed objectionable unless it is a pre-requisite to the course.

It's funny, I gave two blatantly obvious examples of things that people would object to. I'm sure that's not good enough for the God fearing people here. There are enough people that are not Christians or worship Jesus in the US to equate the Bible, Mein Kompf, The Satanic Bible as equivilent in terms of education.

Heh. Imagine if the teacher was gay and made his students read, research, and write on pro-gay material.

how about just gay material in general? I see no problem with this. As long as I'm not being forced to believe in anything. Once again, freedom of religion does not mean absence of religion, nor does it mean equal exposure, pro-darwin, pro-christian bashing, etc. It means freedom of religion, and freedom of beliefs.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: musicman64
Holy shit this thread blew up...

Some of you are taking this way way out of context - now granted I'm not giving specifics regarding the assignment, but again, small world/public board and all...

Regardless, I would have no problem if I were told which sections to read instead of being expected to know it chapter and verse. That's absurd by any stretch.

To the earlier posters who mentioned some early American lit containing a great deal of christian/religious overtones/themes/symbolism - of course they do, and it's a very valid point. However, to require a student to know certain books/passages of the Bible out of the blue is ridiculous.

Anyhow, thanks for the comments =)

OK. So is this an advanced course with other course pre-requisites?

Did you somehow worm your way into the course, unprepared? If so, then that's on you, I guess.

If not, try to work something out with the Prof or TA. Due to the lack of details regarding this "problem" of yours makes you sound really infantile, so I'm not really sure what would spark the prof to respond with: "research" If you had explained to him your lack of prior knowledge.

If there is no syllabus that gives you a suggestion as to where you need to go, or nothing presented in class that explains such details, then you may have a point.

Are you just not going to class?

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
FYI:

English lit is WORTHLESS without even a cursory understanding of Christianity. Deal with it, and read it as it were literature. some 80% of what was written for many centuries was done so under the pretense of faith.

Such an infintile and naive complaint, this is.

Uh okay. Why isn't "cusory understanding of Christianity" listed as a pre-requisite on all English Lit courses then?

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: musicman64

Originally posted by: TheVrolok

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: FuzzyDunlop

Originally posted by: loki8481
college level english course and he's MAKING you write your papers on religious topics within the books?

sounds not right... I don't think I ever had a course where specific paper topics were forced beyond vague generalities.

so you went to a community college?

majored in english lit at penn state?

Mmmm Penn State.


I enjoy that the OP has still not mentioned what these assignments are, and I fear it's because he realizes that his argument is far from valid. Like others have said, I don't understand how you can possibly be surprised that your finding Christian undertones/themes/motifs in English lit. Honestly? You're surprised that Christianity had a major impact on hundreds of years of English lit? Maybe you should just drop out now?

Also, I find it hard to believe you've got a class of students rambling off Bible verses from memory. You'd be hard pressed to find more than one or two students, at most, per class that could quote the Bible verbatum on any college campus I've experienced. Unless a) this is actually a religious themed class or b) you attend a christian school. If either of these are the case, and you're still complaining about having to have some knowledge of the Bible. Well, maybe you should just drop out now?

Again, like others have said, you could easily review the Christian themes that you need to in a matter of an hour or so to get enough of a grasp to understand the lit. This is in no way forcing Christianity upon you, it's simply a part of culture you're being introduced to - welcome to college humanities.

I just think the OP deserves a big facepalm.

Last post I'll make.

Congrats, I'm glad your college experience is the norm. I've already admitted as much regarding your statements about Christianity's impact on "hundreds of years of English lit" - if you'd bothered to read.

Again, not the issue. This requires more than Christian "themes". Specifically other students are quoting various books that I have no knowledge of - a book is more than a theme. Out of 25 or so students, only one or two able to quote chapter and verse? Considering the number of Christians in this country - that's actually rather low. Perhaps only one or two chose to quote "verbatum" - but then again, your college experience is the norm and that's just the way the world is - my bad.

So take your facepalm and shove it up your ass?

:roll:

I went to school in the Bible Belt, and as an English major, you'd be hard-pressed to find a few undergrads in any of the English courses that I took who could randomly spout Bible verses (I took many of them, being an English major).

Those that could do this had been around for a while, and were in the advanced courses, and pretty much already had the exposure to the material. They were also English majors, more or less.

I guess I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt for a second. I've now changed my mind, again.

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: zinfamous
FYI:

English lit is WORTHLESS without even a cursory understanding of Christianity. Deal with it, and read it as it were literature. some 80% of what was written for many centuries was done so under the pretense of faith.

Such an infintile and naive complaint, this is.

Uh okay. Why isn't "cusory understanding of Christianity" listed as a pre-requisite on all English Lit courses then?

Most people taking English Lit have some sort of minimal understanding of History.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: albatross
even Dawkins,in teh God delusion,has a chapter in which laments the lack of biblical literacy among people today.

http://richarddawkins.net/print.php?id=2469

Indeed.

Those who blindly attack an institution with no prior knowledge of said institution are the biggest fools among us. Many of them can be found in these forums...

 

[zerocool1]

suck it up and deal. I'm a vegetarian and I had an exam where I had to analyze a case study for KFC for my Business Strategy/Senior project class. I had to do double the research because I didn't really know the market.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: zerocool1
suck it up and deal. I'm a vegetarian and I had an exam where I had to analyze a case study for KFC for my Business Strategy/Senior project class. I had to do double the research because I didn't really know the market.

How dare you set the bar where a future student in that class might actually be expected to get off of their arse and do some research!? It is our Gawd-given right to play the victim and demand an "A" because we don't know already know everything the professor expects us to know!

(On a serious note, good job on that. )

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: zinfamous
FYI:

English lit is WORTHLESS without even a cursory understanding of Christianity. Deal with it, and read it as it were literature. some 80% of what was written for many centuries was done so under the pretense of faith.

Such an infintile and naive complaint, this is.

Uh okay. Why isn't "cusory understanding of Christianity" listed as a pre-requisite on all English Lit courses then?

:roll:

 

[BoomerD]

I took an English class a couple of summers ago where the entire class was based on the book, "Us and Them" The History of Intolerance in America.

I'm not the most liberal person around...nor particularly tolerant...and at first, the uber-liberal teacher pissed me off.

Then, I realized that I didn't have to like or agree with the material...I just had to write on it...and could use MY point of view if I chose.

While she didn't always like what I said, (and told me so more than once) I still got an "A" for the class.

Ignore the material's religious content if that helps you, just write.

 

[Babbles]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: albatross
even Dawkins,in teh God delusion,has a chapter in which laments the lack of biblical literacy among people today.

http://richarddawkins.net/print.php?id=2469

Indeed.

Those who blindly attack an institution with no prior knowledge of said institution are the biggest fools among us. Many of them can be found in these forums...

I would have to dig up the articles, but many scholars accused of Dr. Dawkins of the exact same thing. In other words Dr. Dawkins made many arguments and statements in "The God Dillusion" without doing the background research himself.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: FuzzyDunlop

Originally posted by: loki8481
college level english course and he's MAKING you write your papers on religious topics within the books?

sounds not right... I don't think I ever had a course where specific paper topics were forced beyond vague generalities.

so you went to a community college?

majored in english lit at penn state?

you went to penn state for a non engineering degree?
might as well just enrolled at the Smeal College of Retards.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: zinfamous
FYI:

English lit is WORTHLESS without even a cursory understanding of Christianity. Deal with it, and read it as it were literature. some 80% of what was written for many centuries was done so under the pretense of faith.

Such an infintile and naive complaint, this is.

Uh okay. Why isn't "cusory understanding of Christianity" listed as a pre-requisite on all English Lit courses then?

:roll:

Yeah, I was really pissed when I went into calculus and they didn't tell me i had to have a cursory understanding of 1st grade arithmetic! :|