Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Absurd college courses

So what was the most absurd course you took in college? For me, it would have been Art Appreciation. What a waste of 3 hours of college credit. I have to admit, however, that our professor made it bearable. He was one unique guy. He even brought in and showed us his extensive collection of hangers…you know, like you would hang your clothes on and put in your closet. I felt bad for him as it had to be hard to find people to trade with.

I read recently of a report given by the Young America’s Foundation (YAF) which is based out of Herndon, VA. This study identified the nation’s most preposterous college courses being offered today in American institutions of higher education which included:

The Cultural Production of Early Modern Women” which examines prostitutes in 16th and 17th century England, France and Spain (Princeton University)

The Unbearable Whiteness of Barbie: Race and Popular Culture in the U.S.” which explores the way scientific racism has been used in the making of Barbies and an interpretation of the film The Matrix in critiquing capitalism (California Occidental College, which also offers a course in stupidity comparing the American Presidency to Beavis and Butthead).

Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll in Ancient Egypt” (John Hopkins University)

Lesbian Novels since World War II” (Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania)

Nip, Tuck, Perm, Pierce, and Tattoo: Adventures with Embodied Culture” which encourages students to think about the meaning behind teeth whitening, tanning, shaving, and hair dyeing (Alfred University).

Taking Marx Seriously: Should Marx be given another chance?” This course asks students to question if Marxism still has any credibility and encourages students to gain new insights by returning to Marx’s texts (Amherst College in Massachusetts).

There were also many others that dealt primarily with propagating the gay agenda among our college attending Americans. While there are many college courses that are of the “absurd” nature, I can’t help but remember the course that impacted my life the most in my years of higher education at Liberty University. It was called “Inductive Bible Study” and it was taught (and I believe still is being taught) by a wonderful Grace Brethren man named Paul Fink. I find value in that class every day of my life.

Of all the things we could study, nothing is more valuable than studying the Bible. Perhaps former American president William McKinley said it best when he said, “The more profoundly we study the Bible, and the more closely we observe its divine precepts, the better citizens we will become and the higher will be our destiny as a nation.” Amen!

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