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SDSU Expands Course List To Offer Secular Studies

Monday, August 29, 2011

By Maureen Cavanaugh, Nathan John

Aired 8/29/11 on KPBS Midday Edition.

Southern California colleges are ahead of the curve as more universities offer courses in the study of secularism and unbelief.

Transcript

Southern California colleges are leading the country in the field of secular studies. Claremont college recently announced their latest bachelor's program devoted to secular studies, UC Irvine now offers courses on Atheism and Secularism, and San Diego State University is debuting its first course on Atheism, Humanism and Secularism this Fall. We will be speaking with the SDSU professor who is instructing the course to discuss this recent trend in higher education and the field of religious studies.

Guest:

Professor Roy Whitaker, SDSU religious studies professor and expert in the history of religion and irreligion; and African American religious thought.

Comments

Avatar for user 'tvdockum'

tvdockum | August 29, 2011 at 12:12 p.m. ― 2 years, 11 months ago

Very discouraging...especially when our country and world need God and prayer more than ever.

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Avatar for user 'emilyd'

emilyd | August 29, 2011 at 12:54 p.m. ― 2 years, 11 months ago

Actually tvdockum's comment is very discouraging. It's just another example of the bigotry faced by non-believers. Our country needs people who believe in making others' lives better in the here and now, which is just what Humanists do. I applaud this professor in beginning a dialogue on this subject.

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Avatar for user 'maryanabhak'

maryanabhak | August 29, 2011 at 1:16 p.m. ― 2 years, 11 months ago

I agree, Emily. Our country needs more informed and open-minded people. It is
based on freedom of (and from) religion, freedom of speech, separation of state and church, not superstition and fear.

Thank you for the story, Ms. Cavanaugh. Thank you for offering this course, Prof. Whitaker. Bravo.

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Avatar for user 'Missionaccomplished'

Missionaccomplished | August 30, 2011 at 10:23 a.m. ― 2 years, 11 months ago

I thought any courses outside of church-run universities would be secular? EVen when they study the "Bible as Literature," they do only that--as literature. So these classes seem puzzling . . .

Employer: What is your degree in?

Interviewee: Secular Studies.

Employer: O-kay . . .

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Avatar for user 'Silethe'

Silethe | August 31, 2011 at 4:05 a.m. ― 2 years, 11 months ago

Missionaccomplished your observations are on point. If the world of secularism really wants to impress they should offer a course in comparative belief systems with the Bible as part of the studies since the Bible is thorn in the proverbial sides.

In His Service

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Avatar for user 'randolphslinky'

randolphslinky | September 1, 2011 at 9:33 a.m. ― 2 years, 11 months ago

The Bible teaches man not to question - "Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

And thus this is why so much ignorance abounds, why science, rational and logical thought is attacked by religion, progress is slowed, and our world literally hangs in the balance. Religious people are simply not amenable to facts - if the facts don't fit the frame they throw out the facts.

If you are "Not of this World" then please go back to the world you think you came from so the rest of us can fix this one before it's too late, please.

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