Peter Kirby

Perhaps the surprising thing is, why haven't I resolved on this course already? I wish to become a professor of religion.

My plan is as follows: to obtain a B.A. of Religious Studies from CSU Fullerton by 2008. Then to obtain a Ph.D. of Religious Studies from Claremont Theological School by 2012. Then to apply myself assiduously to the difficult task of getting a post teaching in the humanities.

Any thoughts for me as I embark on this purpose?

--
Peter Kirby

spin

Posts for such professorships are usually in religious institutions, be they traditional/serious or modern/cowboy. Getting an ass on a seat in such an institution means profuse sessions of brown-tonguing whenever possible to edge your little booty that extra millimetre closer to that seat.

Have you ever thought of becoming a comfort worker by day and pursuing interest in religion by candlelight? It might be a more remunerative.


spin

Clivedurdle

Why a religious studies first degree? Why not history or classics or archaeology?

Peter Kirby

I've been told that you bachelor's (and its emphasis) becomes irrelevant once you obtain a higher degree.

I'm about seven courses from a degree in Religious Studies.

--
Peter Kirby

Johnny Skeptic

If you get a Ph.D., would you use it to try to get people to accept a worldview of your choice, or does a person's worldview matter to you? In other words, if you get a Ph.D., what would your agenda be?

Peter Kirby

I laughed at this. Is a Ph.D. a blunt weapon for ideological battles? I never knew. I thought it meant that the person had the ability to teach the subject. Have you ever had a good teacher who saw her/his mission as inculcating a particular 'worldview'? I haven't.

--
Peter Kirby

spin

Only if you can get your rump on the stump, umm seat, umm chair, you know what I mean....


npis

jakejonesiv

Wow, five more years as a student. :notworthy: I say go for it; it is obvously what you like best.

Good luck,
Jake

Malachi151

Agreed, though he says he is close to the other. Though the bachelors may become mostly irrelevant once you get your PhD, there is also the fact that you might actually learn something at the lower levels as well, plus, I don't think that it becomes totally irrelevant.

I would think that a bachelors and masters in either history, cultural anthropology, philosophy, classics, etc., would be a great benefit and then getting the PhD in religious studies.

My bachelors is in Biology, and I plan to get a dual masters in Anthropology and Business Administration (so I can continue doing the candle light thing mentioned by spin for a while (I am a software developer/project manager)) and then a PhD in either History or Economics, depending on what I decide to focus on most later, possibly both, but I'll get to that later.

I think that the variety of degrees is a definite strength, and increases the range of topics you can persuasively address. Whether I go down the road of history/anthropology or economics, I will be applying evolutionary theory and addressing issues related to evolution in either field, and thus I think my biology degree is going to be a help there, especially since I took courses specifically on evolution in college.

Cross-disciplinary research and applications are the big thing now, I wouldn't want to be pigeonholed.

WishboneDawn

And non-religious institutions don't require heaps of exactly the same thing?

It sounds like something perfect for you Peter. You have a passion for the subject and a generous way of communicating your ideas.