<p>I'm trying to decide between two courses next year. I will be attending a professional school next year but will have to take some more college classes to finish up my bachelor's degree (I'm in a special program combined degree program). I have not taken many traditional college liberal-arts courses in history, philosophy, economics due to my academic requirements, so I feel somewhat of a need to take at least a few humanities classes. I'm trying to decide between this introductory political philosophy course an introduction to Christianity course. I've always wanted to take a philosophy course and have have an interest in political philosophy, but it seems that the introduction to christianity course would be richer in content. I also just started attending Catholic liturgies, so the christianity course might help me gain a broader understanding of the catholic traditions (I am originally Evangelical, so I know a bit about Christianity already and some of its history). </p>
<p>The political philosophy course basically consists of talking about the state of nature, justifying the state, utilitarianism, Rawls, Dworkin, Nozick, etc. It seems to cover fewer topics but with a lot of in-depth discussions. The Christianity course is a broad survey of the history of christianity, and includes a lot of primary source readings. It's been really hard to choose between the two courses, since they meet at the same times.</p>
<p>The question of which is more interesting is highly dependent upon personal interest. An atheist will tell you that a course on Christianity is an utter waste of time; a Christian will tell you there’s nothing better you could be studying. You seem to have a good understanding of what each course will offer; you have to make the decision of which set of offerings you’d rather have.</p>
…What? I know a number of Atheists who are religion majors. I also know a number of Christian physics majors who aspire to be theoretical physicists and couldn’t care less about religion courses. One does not have to be religious to find religion fascinating, just as one does not have to be an Atheist to aspire to solve the mysteries of the origin of our universe.</p>
<p>Wow, way to judge the entire character of a person based upon a single post. That’s far more idiotic than anything I said.</p>
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<p>I didn’t say every Christian should pursue religious studies. But I don’t see how one could be religious (and by that I mean actually care about their religion, not nominally call themselves religious) and not consider religion a worthwhile object of study, even if it’s not something to which they’ve chosen to dedicate their college career.</p>
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<p>Granted, but it’s a minority of atheists who consider the study of religion to be a truly valuable pursuit, at least in my experience. If you experience differs, fine. Next time I’ll qualify my statement.</p>
Religion courses intellectualize religion and remove the faith aspect from the values conveyed in their respective texts. Many religious persons are turned off by that aspect of religion courses.</p>
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The college I attend was (if I remember correctly) ranked number two for least religious schools in the US, yet there are still a number of religion majors here, many—if not all—of whom are Atheists. So yes, my experience seems to be quite different from yours. However, I also attend an LAC where the students recognize that there are many aspects to religion other than faith.</p>
Most Atheists just happen to not be religious; it doesn’t mean that they’re anti-religion or think that the study of religions is a waste of time. I’m not an Atheist and I’m fairly anti-religious (just in general, I feel like they tend to get corrupt so I’m not big on them, though I wouldn’t judge anyone for being religious), but even if I don’t personally take part in any religions, I find the study of religion completely fascinating, and I’m sure a lot of other people would too.</p>
<p>That’s interesting. In one of the required humanities classes at my hs we read several classical works of Christian philosophy and literature. Virtually all of the atheists in the class found themselves unable to relate to the Christian literature and considered the attempt to provide a philosophical backing for Christianity something of a joke. I suppose attitudes towards religion vary widely from atheist to atheist, and I do know some atheists who have a genuine respect for and interest in religion. Still, it’s interesting to hear that others have had such different experiences.</p>
<p>It’s up to you. Political philosophy sounds much more interesting.</p>
<p>But then in school, I chose a Philosophy class - and since all 3 teachers were Christian, it was basically theology.
As a firm atheist I found it all very pointless.
Philosophy, maybe. Theology - no.</p>
<p>I think it would depend on the professor. Maybe check out RMP and see how people feel. I am in a philosophy class this semester and the professor is awful!</p>
<p>I agree, base it on the professors. If both are good, you could take the Intro to Christianity class and another philosophy class at another time (since you just said you wanted a philosophy class).</p>
<p>Take the philosophy class. Religion classes in general are [word not suitable for a family website].</p>
<p>I’m serious.</p>
<p>EDIT: Saw this.
You don’t have to be an atheist not to relate to the Christian literature. “There’s a Biblical reference in there?! How the $^#% was I supposed to know?”</p>
<p>Do philosophy, you end up studying a lot of the same people. (Aquinas, Anselm, etc). Plus, most philosophers end up trying to prove the existence of God anyways.</p>
<p>Oh, and as an agnostic-leaning-atheist who went to Catholic school for years and years, I find religion a fascinating topic. You don’t have to be religious to study religion, just like you don’t have to be german to study germanic history.</p>