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RE: PhD in History at LSU, your opinion is requested
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slvoel
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Sep 26, 2007 17:39 PDT
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You requested opinion but I'm not sure if this is any help:
First, it might be helpful to try to tease out areas that you yourself would
like to explore.
Second, I would definitely have about five areas of interest, with a bit of
early exploration and help to see whether the search will be so arduous that
you might be stuck with a search in a field that will likely be so
unproductive for a given amount of time and effort, that the thesis will run
on endlessly without your getting it finished.
Third, my personal bias is that religion, and the bull that passes for help,
is primarily a crutch that passes for a solution. What causes religion?
Does membership increase in times of flood, famine, wars, hardship ,etc ? On
a personal basis, does the evolution of the brain include a refinement to
block out problem analysis in favor of blind platitudes or "soothing"
altered mental states "until the storm clouds recede"? Do the various
cultures vary in their ability to withstand uncertainty and is that
correlated with religious participation? In extended periods of war/facing
death, do soldiers turn more to god or their fellow soldiers? To what
degree do famous/successful "preachers" have a psychological need to
control? On what particular areas of life do religions tend to splinter?
To what degree do individuals need reaffirmations of their own religious
beliefs? Is there a negative correlation between religious extremism and
everyday social and psychological problem-solving capacity? Have various
religions been evaluated as to their psychological profiles? Which
religions seem to have breakaway elements and on what patterns of
disagreement? How many of the religions have been begun by governmental or
conqueror fiat? What religions have sprung primarily with an anti-government
aim? How/does the building of churches correlate with the need to group into
similar human clusters? Why/how did the pagan Gods diminish in relation to
their successors? For each religion, why/how does each consider itself
superior to other religions and non-believers, and/or why/how does each
consider others inferior? What answers/positions do Atheists hold which
allows them to feel that a religious answer is not necessary?
This is a lot of mud to consider but I thought their might be some useful
tags or structure that might trigger something of interest.
Good luck,
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: Farrar Hudkins [mailto:fhud-@uno.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:43 AM
To: nos-@topica.com
Subject: Re: NOSHA: PhD in History at LSU, your opinion is requested
Unfortunately it's already been done by Jeremy Morris, but I always
thought the history of atheism would be a good subject.
Religious syncretism is also an interesting subject; I think you could
find enough material on that to put together an interesting paper or two.
Regards,
Farrar Hudkins
Robert Carver wrote:
| | Greetings Fellow Freethinkers:
I drove down to LSU yesterday to visit with some members of the faculty
in the Department of History. I want to return to graduate school to
work on my PhD so I met with three professors in the area of Modern
European History since my MA was in that subject. I went to eat some
lunch and out in the open area in front of the student center I ran into
a group of local fundamentalists preachers who were shouting at the kids
about god's wrath for their sinful ways. So naturally I had to join in
the ruckus and soon had the head pastor cornered with my constant
inquiries regarding the history of his myth & the sources & evolution of
modern protestant faith. I gladly announced to the large group of
students that I was an avowed Atheist & that the pastor had the burden
of proof to his claims since he said that his deity was supernatural. I
annoyed this poor pastor to the point he finally started moving away
from me to try to get to students out of the range of my voice. For
those of you who know me, that is a very long distance outside. I
received a lot of positive feedback from a plethora of the assembled
students who enjoyed having me stand up for Reason & Freethought. I had
a great time and I felt like i was doing something very valuable with my
effort.
Why this vignette? I realize now that I should pursue my PhD on some
aspect of Atheism and Reason as it has impacted our culture. I would
appreciate your feedback on ideas and subjects I should investigate if I
want to make this the subject of my dissertation. I value your opinion
& experience.
Thanks to all,
Robert
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