Why am I taking this class?

[princess_ballet]

So in my text book I come across this while reading (though I have seen even more biased and horrible thing):

In contrast, the Anglo-Protestants [compared to Catholics in Latin America] is more egalitarian, pragmatic, innovative, and adapatble to the compromise and bargaining inherent in democratic governance.

What type of cultural things stop third world countries from developing?

Merit: An emphasis on merit and achievement are extremely important for advancement in a progressive culture, while connections to family are more important in the static culture.

I hate this class.

Please pray that I don't blow a gaskit in there tonight.

 

[Paul S]

Eep.

What horrible class is this? I suppose it's too late to drop it.

 

[princess_ballet]

This is supposed to be an Issues in World Politics Class.

So far we have been taught about supporting the Taliban, supporting Saddam, being upset that the Soviet Union fell (they provided excellent health care for their Russians), and being officially integrated by our teacher into the "Blame America First!" crowd. To make matters worse I'm the only one with conservative viewpoints in the class.

I can't take it. I really hate this class. I get all worked up and stressed out before this class every week.

 

[princess_ballet]

Oh, and no it isn't to late to drop, but if I drop it then I'll be under the "full time student" limit on credit hours. Meaning I'll lose scholarships.

 

[Paul S]

Do you have to go to the class every week? I know skipping class isn't usually a good thing, but if you're not learning anything and it just makes you angry, why go through that?

Pray for the professor and the class. I'll pray, too.

 

[DJ B.K.]

Find another class before you drop it possibly. Those statements you say they are making are just stupid.

 

[marciadietrich]

If it makes you feel better I was the only conservative in my political science class. The teacher was very liberal but a nice and decent man who was happy to have someone with an alternate viewpoint in the classroom. He had open door hours and I'd go in and chat with him. So was livable, and I received a good grade that was fair based on my work in the class. Also had a class on third world economics (social anthropology dept.) and it was very interesting but also again totally opposed to basics of what I believed. You'll live thru it, just know what and why you believe it... defend your beliefs in charity and clarity.

Prayers for you ...

 

[princess_ballet]

Find another class before you drop it

We can't pick up classes in the middle of the semester. So I'm stuck.

I know skipping class isn't usually a good thing, but if you're not learning anything and it just makes you angry, why go through that?

I actually have some friends who have said they are willing to come sit in on the classes with me. LOL. These are seniors that have had this class and know what it is like (mostly people I have met through the college Republicans). We can only skip one class though before she starts marking down our grade (she takes attendence) so, since last week I didn't go, I'm pretty much stuck.

If it makes you feel better I was the only conservative in my political science class. The teacher was very liberal but a nice and decent man who was happy to have someone with an alternate viewpoint in the classroom. He had open door hours and I'd go in and chat with him. So was livable, and I received a good grade that was fair based on my work in the class. Also had a class on third world economics (social anthropology dept.) and it was very interesting but also again totally opposed to basics of what I believed. You'll live thru it, just know what and why you believe it... defend your beliefs in charity and clarity.

Yes, it does help. Thank you and God bless! I only have five real classes after tonight so with the Lord's help I know I can make it through!

 

[stray bullet]

The family remark is a compliment in my opinion. The biggest problem with our society here is the complete failure of families.
For Catholics, what is important is spiritual well-being and happiness, while this piece seems to praise wealth and technology.
I'd rather have a family and be poor than a rich single abortion doctor.

"adapatble to the compromise and bargaining inherent in democratic governance." I think this is true, read some of OBOB's political topics

 

[ps139]

In contrast, the Anglo-Protestants [compared to Catholics in Latin America] is more egalitarian, pragmatic, innovative, and adapatble to the compromise and bargaining inherent in democratic governance.

Princess, I actually agree with this statement. Actually while I was in college I wrote a long paper about how Luther and Protestantism had a ripple effect on all elements of society, and partially contributed to the rise of democracies in W. European cultures. Nascent America was individualistic, capitalistic, Protestant. The 3 go together.

On the other hand you have Catholics and the importance of family life. The world right now is trying to put that down. Families tie things together. Look at how families are breaking apart nowadays. People are willingly separated from their families for money. Its too much. Too individualistic. A good balance needs to be struck but unfortunately I think we're past that point.

 

[Carrye]

Actually while I was in college ...

... back in the day. I bet you had to walk uphill both ways in a foot of snow too. You totally set yourself up for that one.

 

[ufonium2]

I had a sociology/education (teachers and learners in society, whatever you consider that) in college that was just like this. The teacher was a raging super-liberal who had not only never taught public school, but also sent her kids to private school, yet was somehow qualified to teach us about public schools in society. Basically the whole class was about how American society is stupid for being religious and (relative to Europe, anyway) conservative, and how millions of noble poor people starve every day so rich fatcats can have another Benz. The readings were all left-wing propaganda, most of which had been discredited by actual educators years before.

Fortunately for me I was disabled at the time, making me a minority, and therefore able to do no wrong in her eyes. I'm convinced that's the only reason I even passed that stupid class, much less got an A.

Classes like yours are the reason I stay in academia. I look out into the sea of Kerry/Edwards and "Against Abortion? Don't have one." bumper stickers in the staff lot and want to quit, but I realize that if I quit that's one less Chrsitian academic. Stick with it. When the class is over (after you've gotten your grade, of course) maybe write the department about it. Do you do teacher evaluations? I would take that opportunity to voice your opinion.

 

[Carrye]

Classes like yours are the reason I stay in academia. I look out into the sea of Kerry/Edwards and "Against Abortion? Don't have one." bumper stickers in the staff lot and want to quit, but I realize that if I quit that's one less Chrsitian academic.

You aren't kidding, Ufonium! And one less Christian would be a little too easy. I've never been much for making things easy.

 

[Epiphanygirl]

I had a sociology/education (teachers and learners in society, whatever you consider that) in college that was just like this. The teacher was a raging super-liberal who had not only never taught public school, but also sent her kids to private school, yet was somehow qualified to teach us about public schools in society. Basically the whole class was about how American society is stupid for being religious and (relative to Europe, anyway) conservative, and how millions of noble poor people starve every day so rich fatcats can have another Benz. The readings were all left-wing propaganda, most of which had been discredited by actual educators years before.

Fortunately for me I was disabled at the time, making me a minority, and therefore able to do no wrong in her eyes. I'm convinced that's the only reason I even passed that stupid class, much less got an A.

Classes like yours are the reason I stay in academia. I look out into the sea of Kerry/Edwards and "Against Abortion? Don't have one." bumper stickers in the staff lot and want to quit, but I realize that if I quit that's one less Chrsitian academic. Stick with it. When the class is over (after you've gotten your grade, of course) maybe write the department about it. Do you do teacher evaluations? I would take that opportunity to voice your opinion.

Maybe the Lord wants you there to have a Catholic POV represented!
If anything, it should make your faith stronger. Hang in there please, and keep us updated too!

 

[Axion]

Princess, I actually agree with this statement. Actually while I was in college I wrote a long paper about how Luther and Protestantism had a ripple effect on all elements of society, and partially contributed to the rise of democracies in W. European cultures. Nascent America was individualistic, capitalistic, Protestant. The 3 go together.

Having heard this theory a lot, I tend to disagree. The idea of a parliament, and basic rights developed with Magna carta in 1215, 300 years before Luther. Italy was probably the first birthplace of Capitalism. Countries like Austria, Belgium and France have been traditionally Catholic but among the best economic performers. What people generally base the idea that protestantism = economic progress on is the difference between the USA and Latin America.

However this difference is probably based more on the culture of the settlers than anything else. Latin America was colonised by a heirarchical Spanish aristocratic society that wanted to recreate itself in the new world. Government was in the hands of high-ranking spaniards with no commitment to the colonies, who made as much money as possible, and then took it back to Spain. The people who lived in the colonies had no power and served absentee landlords. So no local leadership developed and resources were carried away to Europe rather than helping growth locally.

If you look at Canada where French Catholic settlement followed a more North American pattern, you find similar patterns to those in the US and protestant Canada.

 

[Lifesaver]

I had to go through the same nonsense in my highschool. My school just didn't stop at making Protestantism better than Catholicism. No, it went the step farther: refuted both for being just different forms of domination, whereas the true good is communism.

I'd like to point out that the Weberian thesis that protestantism is responsible for capitalism (I don't even know what this means; I doubt anyone does...) has some serious flaws. First of all, most historians would agree that "capitalism" began in in Venice and Florence, two very Catholic cities (especially in the 13th to 15th centuries!).
Secondly, the country which has been historically more associated with capitalism, England, persecuted the kind of "individualistic egalitarian protestant" that founded USA, and its official religion is Anglicanism, which, in the 19th century, that of British supremacy, resembled more Catholicism than any protestant group. Victorian culture, furthermore, placed a lot of importance in the family.
We also have many Catholic countries which did quite well in the past: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, etc.

Plus, one of the world's biggest economies is a Pagan country: Japan.

I think the difference here has much more to do with cultural differences between countries (Spain, England and France are all different, regardless of religion) than the religion they had.
And we must pray for the conversion of non-Catholic countries. Only then will their already very good cultures be allowed to truly flourish.

 

[princess_ballet]

I've never heard that Protestants are to be thanked for democracy (yes, thanked).

 

[princess_ballet]

Classes like yours are the reason I stay in academia. I look out into the sea of Kerry/Edwards and "Against Abortion? Don't have one." bumper stickers in the staff lot and want to quit, but I realize that if I quit that's one less Chrsitian academic. Stick with it. When the class is over (after you've gotten your grade, of course) maybe write the department about it. Do you do teacher evaluations? I would take that opportunity to voice your opinion.

Well thank you. All of us Christian conservatives appreciate it.

 

[Caedmon]

I'd like to point out that the Weberian thesis that protestantism is responsible for capitalism (I don't even know what this means; I doubt anyone does...) has some serious flaws.

I thought that Weber was all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips, until I read that he claimed that the Catholic Church's hierarchy thrives by perpetuating poverty and spiritual dependence among the poor. Oh gewalt...

 

[Lifesaver]

I've never heard that Protestants are to be thanked for democracy (yes, thanked).

Me neither. Democracy comes from Ancient Greece, which was Pagan (though it has nothing to do with Paganism).