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Author Topic: The College Of Your Thing  (Read 4216 times)

Darkhawk

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The College Of Your Thing
« on: May 19, 2016, 03:41:16 pm »
Inspired by the "Curriculum Drafting" thread over in the teens SIG!

So, lots of people if they actually try to talk about their religious stuff in great detail and as a whole have something immensely complicated going on, more than seven class periods worth of stuff.  So: what if there were a whole college, departments and everything, that was dedicated to Your Thing?  What would the departments be?  What would some of the classes be?  What would be the required classes that everyone has to take?  Would there be distribution requirements ('you have to take at least two classes in each of the following departments', etc.)?

(I am currently seriously going through course catalogues at a couple of schools I've attended pulling stuff out to add to the imaginary course catalaogue for my answer to this thing, to go along with the things that I made up.  So, uh.  Watch this space for my totally ridiculous answer.)
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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2016, 05:38:30 pm »
Quote from: Darkhawk;191385
(I am currently seriously going through course catalogues at a couple of schools I've attended pulling stuff out to add to the imaginary course catalaogue for my answer to this thing, to go along with the things that I made up.)


Totally doing the same, except I haven't actually attended the seminaries in question. This sounds almost as much fun as designing houses from scratch in the old Sims! :D:
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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2016, 05:46:06 pm »
Quote from: Chatelaine;191392
Totally doing the same, except I haven't actually attended the seminaries in question. This sounds almost as much fun as designing houses from scratch in the old Sims! :D:

 
Well, to be fair, the local state university I dug through I haven't actually gone to, I'm just intending to apply there in the someday future when I'm not buried in children so I can actually complete an undergrad. ;)

But yes, totally simulator fun.  It is absorbing my brain pleasantly.
as the water grinds the stone
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we shine like stars    - Covenant, "Bullet"

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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2016, 06:04:32 pm »
Quote from: Darkhawk;191394
Well, to be fair, the local state university I dug through I haven't actually gone to, I'm just intending to apply there in the someday future when I'm not buried in children so I can actually complete an undergrad. ;)


I'm totally doing this once done with my BSc. :whis:
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Whole blog o' nonsense: Are We There Yet?

Darkhawk

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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2016, 06:43:14 pm »
Quote from: Chatelaine;191395
I'm totally doing this once done with my BSc. :whis:

 
(I'm hoping for the University of Wales course in archaeoastronomy for a master's, myself....)
as the water grinds the stone
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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2016, 09:33:38 pm »
Quote from: Darkhawk;191385


 
I am totally answering this, and I cannot wait to see what other people come up with!

Didn't we have a thread like this on the old board? (I seem to recall, when looking back through the archive board, that the question was less specific and it got more jumbled as it went on, so I'm super excited about this)!

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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2016, 12:47:46 pm »
Quote from: Darkhawk;191385

 what if there were a whole college, departments and everything, that was dedicated to Your Thing?  What would the departments be?  What would some of the classes be?  What would be the required classes that everyone has to take?  Would there be distribution requirements ('you have to take at least two classes in each of the following departments', etc.)?


 
Fascinating topic!

Many years ago, when I was still more steeped in the idea of Covens and Traditions, I had started coming up with lessons and topics of learning for my own Tradition...but so much has changed over the years, I definitely would alter quite a lot of it.  I'll have to think on this, and jot some stuff down, but really nifty thing to set my brain onto!
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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #7 on: May 20, 2016, 05:59:04 pm »
Quote from: Darkhawk;191385
Inspired by the "Curriculum Drafting" thread over in the teens SIG!

So, lots of people if they actually try to talk about their religious stuff in great detail and as a whole have something immensely complicated going on, more than seven class periods worth of stuff.  So: what if there were a whole college, departments and everything, that was dedicated to Your Thing?  What would the departments be?  What would some of the classes be?  What would be the required classes that everyone has to take?  Would there be distribution requirements ('you have to take at least two classes in each of the following departments', etc.)?

(I am currently seriously going through course catalogues at a couple of schools I've attended pulling stuff out to add to the imaginary course catalaogue for my answer to this thing, to go along with the things that I made up.  So, uh.  Watch this space for my totally ridiculous answer.)

 
Can I ask for some clarification? When you say 'College' do you mean a specific institute which is licensed to give accreditation for study of the religion, or perhaps as a required qualification to become a priest, or do you mean a course at a University, aka, Degree in (insert faith) theology, which would be composed of several subjects including a few units on theology.

Darkhawk

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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #8 on: May 21, 2016, 12:42:16 am »
Quote from: Yei;191484
Can I ask for some clarification? When you say 'College' do you mean a specific institute which is licensed to give accreditation for study of the religion, or perhaps as a required qualification to become a priest, or do you mean a course at a University, aka, Degree in (insert faith) theology, which would be composed of several subjects including a few units on theology.

 
I don't even mean something that specific, honestly.  (I was sitting there drafting how it works and went, "You know, I really can't get away with not having a math department."  Which is, y'know, completely oblique of the theological stuff, but if you want to get your degree in Temple Architecture Design or River Ecology whatever like that ya need the math classes.)

Basically, I had the problem answering Hawke's thread that if I wanted to talk about what I do religiously speaking - rather than trim something down to basically a 101 of one of the specific paths I deal with - the field is huge.  Because to talk about My Thing in full means the Egyptology stuff, sure, it means the Polish and Baltic heathenism stuff which is notably not straight-up, it means a deep dive into a couple of literary canons and a familiarity with '60s protest rock and the singer/songwriter tradition, it means at least knowing intellectually about apiculture and viticulture (in practice would be better, but I'm still working on that), it requires astronomy, it requires music theory, it requires fairy lore, it requires local history and ecology, and so on.

So I figured, what if I scrap the single track plan entirely, and think about the whole shape: the College/University Of My Thing.  The theoretical structure of what's available is all about My Thing; the core course requirements would enable someone to practice My Thing (Exoteric version) adequately.  Focusing on the religious stuff would probably make someone qualified to be a priest of My Thing (Exoteric Version), which is a hilarious concept to me now that I've thought of it.

The idea is sort of like a religious college (done reasonably well, not those asstastic "Christian colleges" that don't have any sort of accreditation).  The philosophy of the College Of My Thing is set by My Thing and the values of My Thing inform what's available, but the hypothetical student may be looking for a political science degree (or whatever) from the College Of My Thing, not to become a priest.

But it raises questions about what's essential to My Thing, and requires me to think through them, which is making it an interesting thought exercise.  For example: My Thing requires a second language.  It doesn't matter which one, though there are specific ones that I know tCoMT would definitely offer.  But there's practical, experiential stuff that I believe one can only learn from gaining some knowledge of an additional language.  Someone could practice something very close to my religion without having any sort of second language knowledge, but they would not be successfully doing My Thing.  My Thing requires that people know how to do something practical, crafting-wise, build something, make something - dinner, if nothing else - for several important theological reasons; thus, one doesn't get to graduate from tCoMT without taking a class or two in Making Things.  And so on.

... distribution requirements: the Mystery initiations of college education.  Okay, that is so funny right now that it's proof I need to go to BED.  Oy.
as the water grinds the stone
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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #9 on: May 21, 2016, 09:02:27 pm »
Quote from: Darkhawk;191385
So: what if there were a whole college, departments and everything, that was dedicated to Your Thing?  What would the departments be?  What would some of the classes be?  What would be the required classes that everyone has to take?  Would there be distribution requirements ('you have to take at least two classes in each of the following departments', etc.)?

 
This is quite interesting for me to think about right now, as I'm shaping My Thing. Some of these I'd like to teach someday; some of them I'd like to take right now.

Probably my college would have four basic departments (because four is My Thing's number): 1] Human Psychological Reality; 2] History, Linguistics, and Related Subjects; 3] Religion and Mythology; and 4] Pop Culture.

(The problem is that some of these would bleed into each other; there'd probably be bitter arguments over duplicated courses and programs, just like at the rather nice community college I attended back east...)

#1 above would include the science that provides a background for My Thing: a hefty number of psychology courses, especially. "Applied Psychology: Real Self-Care 101" would be a popular course. But there would also be, incongruously, a "Basics and Philosophy of Astrophysics" course. You can't say your Mother goddess is the black hole at the center of the Milky Way if you don't know what the latter is, after all.

#2 addresses the historical and societal underpinnings of My Thing. There'd be a lot of courses on Jewish history (and arguments with the Pop Culture department over who hosts the "Jewish Art in the 20th Century: Broadway and Superheroes" course) and some courses on ancient Greek and Hebrew.

#3 is the gods themselves and the mythos surrounding them. This one's simple enough. Lots of comparative mythology, with professors that are much more scrupulous and focused than usual in my experience with the field. An entire small program on the concept of the dying-and-rising god. Tons of Kabbalah. Another program about chaos and trickster gods. Most or all courses here would have a focus on the geographical area of My Thing--the Ancient Near East and surrounding regions--but they'd touch on other stuff too.

#4 may just be the most eclectic department here, covering topics as wide-ranging as Broadway musicals and Japanese video games. All the fictional media that have heavily affected me wind up here in the end.
"The peacock can show its whole tail at once, but I can only tell you a story."
--JAMES ALAN GARDNER

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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #10 on: May 22, 2016, 05:25:23 am »
Quote from: Darkhawk;191501
I don't even mean something that specific, honestly.  (I was sitting there drafting how it works and went, "You know, I really can't get away with not having a math department."  Which is, y'know, completely oblique of the theological stuff, but if you want to get your degree in Temple Architecture Design or River Ecology whatever like that ya need the math classes.)


Hmm ... interesting. The question is, are subjects like 'Temple Architecture Design' a part of an Architecture degree (but with a religious bent), or would it be part of a Religious degree, that could be combined with Architecture on the side. And of course, this would vary depending on if the course was run at a University, or more of a TAFE/College set-up.

I think this is a topic that deserves some in depth thought. I may play around with some ideas for a while.

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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #11 on: May 22, 2016, 06:40:51 am »
Quote from: Darkhawk;191385
So: what if there were a whole college, departments and everything, that was dedicated to Your Thing?  What would the departments be?  What would some of the classes be?  What would be the required classes that everyone has to take?  Would there be distribution requirements ('you have to take at least two classes in each of the following departments', etc.)?

Nice topic! It's fun to ponder.

In broad strokes, Metamythos University (MMU) would have 5 required areas of study:

1) Ethics--I imagine this would be progressive over the 4 years, beginning with interior self-perception and moving out to exterior action. The first year might consider "OK, so you're divine, with no separation between you and the gods; what does that entail?"; second year could explore how complicated "If you harm none, do what you will" is in actual practice; third year could be "Failures and Triumphs," studying major historical lapses like the Holocaust, slavery, Japanese internment vs. the individuals who stood up against such lapses; and fourth year devoted to hands-on community service or social/environmental action projects (though those would be encouraged throughout all 4 years)

2) Science--This could be structured as many high schools do it, devoting a different year to a different discipline; or one could focus in depth on a single discipline for all 4 years. At first I thought biology would be the most important discipline, but then I thought bio AND earth science, and then I thought bio AND earth science AND astronomy/astrophysics, but then I realized quantum mechanics is just as important...so yeah. Science.

3) Math--Yup. The language of the gods. Naturally, sacred geometry would figure prominently.

4) Comparative Mythology--I say "comparative mythology" instead of "comparative religion" because I'd want to see this approached from the perspective of the stories each religion tells, though that invariably would draw in questions of the culture those stories spring from and the values embodied.

5) Creative Arts and Literature--Creating these works much more so than studying them, though that would inevitably would be involved. Music would hold pride of place here.

While all 5 areas of study would be required, the focus of one's activities could fall under any one, though more likely (and highly encouraged) would be cross-pollination across two or more areas of study: for example, a project getting high school kids in a cash-strapped school without a music department creating a work of music (Ethics + Creative)...or exploring connections between myths and science.

MMU, recognizing that if you're divine, you have to take care of the temple, would require some sort of physical activity, even though it's not an area of study--yoga, running, weightlifting, squash, ballet, whatever. And a period set aside for morning meditation would be a must.

Welome to MMU! Your four years with us will be a (metaphysical) blast!
« Last Edit: May 22, 2016, 06:42:12 am by Altair »
The first song sets the wheel in motion / The second is a song of love / The third song tells of Her devotion / The fourth cries joy from the sky above
The fifth song binds our fate to silence / and bids us live each moment well / The sixth unleashes rage and violence / The seventh song has truth to tell
The last song echoes through the ages / to ask its question all night long / And close the circle on these pages / These, the metamythos songs

Altair

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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #12 on: May 22, 2016, 06:54:51 am »
Quote from: Altair;191645

In broad strokes, Metamythos University (MMU) would have 5 required areas of study:


Those strokes may be broad, but I can tell you *exactly* where I'd want MMU to be located: Governor's Island, acres of isolation without motor vehicles in New York harbor just a 5-minute ferry ride away from Manhattan, with spectacular views of downtown and the Statue of Liberty. It was most recently an abandoned Coast Guard facility, complete with housing and parade grounds, quadrangles ringed by ivy-covered classroom buildings, and monumental structures (incl. a castle and a fort!). They're slowly converting it into a city park; when it first opened to the public several years ago, but before it was discovered by the masses, I went and got that inexplicable "yes, here" feeling you get sometimes with a place you connect to. I thought: "This is where I'd want my Hogwarts to be."

Now, like anything else in NYC, it gets swarmed with visitors on a summer weekend, but it's still a marvelous place.
« Last Edit: May 22, 2016, 06:58:47 am by Altair »
The first song sets the wheel in motion / The second is a song of love / The third song tells of Her devotion / The fourth cries joy from the sky above
The fifth song binds our fate to silence / and bids us live each moment well / The sixth unleashes rage and violence / The seventh song has truth to tell
The last song echoes through the ages / to ask its question all night long / And close the circle on these pages / These, the metamythos songs

Chatelaine

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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #13 on: May 22, 2016, 06:49:31 pm »
Quote from: Altair;191646
Now, like anything else in NYC, it gets swarmed with visitors on a summer weekend, but it's still a marvelous place.


When school's out for summer, the tourists can bring in the dosh for its maintenance. ;)
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Re: The College Of Your Thing
« Reply #14 on: May 22, 2016, 08:32:04 pm »
Quote from: Darkhawk;191385
So: what if there were a whole college, departments and everything, that was dedicated to Your Thing?  What would the departments be?  What would some of the classes be?  What would be the required classes that everyone has to take?  Would there be distribution requirements ('you have to take at least two classes in each of the following departments', etc.)?

 
I actually made the terrible life choice to enroll in a Master of Divinity program at a high church Anglican seminary that also has Eastern Orthodox programs. Putting faith in a school setting kind of drains the life out of it when it becomes about essays and deadlines, but maybe that's just me.

One thing that I would highly recommend to your hypothetical programs is practical liturgy experience. Something I like about my program is that we are responsible for the daily services in the chapel, both the prayer offices and the Eucharist services. It's a great learning experience, and weird people like me think it's a lot of fun. Then again, there aren't many "normal" people in Divinity programs. I always liked being thurifer the best, swinging around the incense.

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