Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 08-05-2011, 08:53 AM

From an email:

Quote:

SCI 233: "The Real Origins of Christianity"
September 1 – September 30, 2011

Instructor: John Shook, PhD, CFI director of education
Visiting Lecturer: Richard Carrier, PhD, philosopher, historian and author
This one-month, four-module course examines the historical origins of the Christian religion from a secular and skeptical perspective.

Course Topics:

The origins and composition of the New Testament
Sociological, cultural, and religious context and how they caused early Christian beliefs
Discerning the historical, mythical and theological Jesus
Explaining early belief in his resurrection

Readings: Not the Impossible Faith (or via: amazon.co.uk) (2009) by Richard Carrier. Students will purchase their own copies (print or Kindle edition, or PDF edition available directly from Lulu.com [for $2.50]). Additional lectures will be made available online at no cost to students.

Your instructors for SCI 233:

Richard Carrier, PhD, is the renowned author of Sense and Goodness Without God and Not the Impossible Faith, as well as numerous articles online and in print. He received his PhD in ancient history from Columbia University in 2008, and now specializes in the modern philosophy of naturalism, the origins of Christianity, and the intellectual history of Greece and Rome. For more about him and his work visit www.richardcarrier.info.

John Shook, PhD, is director of education and senior research fellow at the Center for Inquiry, and is also visiting assistant professor of science education at the University at Buffalo, teaching for its Science and the Public online program. From 2000 to 2006 he was professor of philosophy at Oklahoma State University. Shook publishes on philosophical topics regarding science, the mind, humanist ethics, democracy, secularism, and religion, and has debated the existence of God with leading theologians, including William Lane Craig. His most recent book is The God Debates.

About CFI Institute Online courses:

CFI 200-level courses are taught at an intellectual level equivalent to an introductory college course. We expect students to participate in the class discussion at their own chosen pace, and there are no other writing requirements and no grading. These classes are entirely online — everything for the course except the book is provided on a CFI website. You will read the course lectures, follow links to other webpages, ask your questions, and participate in class discussion with the instructors and other students on our website.

There is no specific time that you must be online. There is no "live" part to these courses, and you cannot miss anything even if you can only get online at 6am or 11pm — you can log in and participate anytime, day or night, 24/7. A certificate of course completion is available to students who do participate online (as opposed to only lurking and reading, which is also an unobjectionable option for some students). Completion of eight courses at the Expertise 200-level is rewarded with the Institute's Certificate of Expertise.

This course can also be taken for college credit through the University at Buffalo; contact Dr. John Shook for details.

Course Fees: $60 for general registration; $50 for Friends of the Center; and $10 for college students.

Toto · 08-05-2011, 04:14 PM

So who's in on this?

mountainman · 08-06-2011, 04:12 AM

Looks interesting.

Doug Shaver · 08-06-2011, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

So who's in on this?

I almost said that, as much as I'd love to do it, I can't justify spending 60 bucks for what would be a luxury. Then I read the notice again and saw the bit about $10 for students. I'm a student, so I'm in.

Doug Shaver · 08-06-2011, 09:39 AM

Or maybe I'm not. The registration software thinks my student e-mail address is invalid.

Toto · 08-06-2011, 11:24 AM

Contact CFI

Doug Shaver · 08-07-2011, 06:36 AM

Logically speaking, I guess the next thing I should do is contact CFI

DCHindley · 08-07-2011, 07:49 AM

I'm sorry, but Richard Carrier comes across to me as an egomaniac. He always has, even as a grad student.

Look at the language in the info page cited in the CFI course description:

Richard Carrier is a world-renowned author and speaker. As a professional historian, published philosopher, and prominent defender of the American freethought movement, Dr. Carrier has appeared across the country and on national television defending sound historical methods and the ethical worldview of secular naturalism. His books and articles have also received international attention. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University in ancient history, specializing in the intellectual history of Greece and Rome, particularly ancient philosophy, religion, and science, with emphasis on the origins of Christianity and the use and progress of science under the Roman empire. [emphasis mine]

And doesn't his photo seem so, well, phoney?

Even though he has a PhD in Ancient History (2008 Dissertation: “Attitudes Toward the Natural Philosopher in the Early Roman Empire (100 B.C. to 313 A.D.)”) and a M.Phil. in Ancient History (2000, Majors: Greco-Roman Philosophy, Religion, and Historiography) he has never published a monograph on these subjects. The closest thing are his articles for the Encyclopedia of the Ancient World (Salem Press 2002):

“Epicurus.” 2.503-04.
“Lucretius.” Ibid.: 2.738.
“Philodemus.” Ibid.: 3.897.
“Second Sophistic.” Ibid.: 3.995.
“Soranus of Ephesus.” Ibid.: 3.1025-26.

and maybe Sense and Goodness without God: A Defense of Metaphysical Naturalism (AuthorHouse 2005).

His CV is written like the resume of someone who has no bankable skills and has to cite things like "Boy Scout" or "Audio-Visual Club". He's made his living as a lecturer since leaving his job as a Librarian's Assistant at Columbia in 2003. So has Sarah Palin after resigning as Governor of Alaska, which I suppose makes her an expert on "guvernering".

Do any secular historians even cite his articles?

DCH

aa5874 · 08-07-2011, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCHindley

I'm sorry, but Richard Carrier comes across to me as an egomaniac. He always has, even as a grad student....

You statement is completely irrelevant and illogical with respect to the OP. It is expected that human beings are NOT perfect and that what you say about Richard Carrier may also be erroneous.

DCHindley · 08-07-2011, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aa5874

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCHindley

I'm sorry, but Richard Carrier comes across to me as an egomaniac. He always has, even as a grad student....

You statement is completely irrelevant and illogical with respect to the OP. It is expected that human beings are NOT perfect and that what you say about Richard Carrier may also be erroneous.

OK then,

I can't recommend the course because I don't like one of the instructors.

It's my opinion, get over it aa.

DCH

08-07-2011, 07:49 AM	#8
DCHindley Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mondcivitan Republic Posts: 2,550	I'm sorry, but Richard Carrier comes across to me as an egomaniac. He always has, even as a grad student. Look at the language in the info page cited in the CFI course description: Richard Carrier is a world-renowned author and speaker. As a professional historian, published philosopher, and prominent defender of the American freethought movement, Dr. Carrier has appeared across the country and on national television defending sound historical methods and the ethical worldview of secular naturalism. His books and articles have also received international attention. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University in ancient history, specializing in the intellectual history of Greece and Rome, particularly ancient philosophy, religion, and science, with emphasis on the origins of Christianity and the use and progress of science under the Roman empire. [emphasis mine] And doesn't his photo seem so, well, phoney? Even though he has a PhD in Ancient History (2008 Dissertation: “Attitudes Toward the Natural Philosopher in the Early Roman Empire (100 B.C. to 313 A.D.)”) and a M.Phil. in Ancient History (2000, Majors: Greco-Roman Philosophy, Religion, and Historiography) he has never published a monograph on these subjects. The closest thing are his articles for the Encyclopedia of the Ancient World (Salem Press 2002): “Epicurus.” 2.503-04. “Lucretius.” Ibid.: 2.738. “Philodemus.” Ibid.: 3.897. “Second Sophistic.” Ibid.: 3.995. “Soranus of Ephesus.” Ibid.: 3.1025-26. and maybe Sense and Goodness without God: A Defense of Metaphysical Naturalism (AuthorHouse 2005). His CV is written like the resume of someone who has no bankable skills and has to cite things like "Boy Scout" or "Audio-Visual Club". He's made his living as a lecturer since leaving his job as a Librarian's Assistant at Columbia in 2003. So has Sarah Palin after resigning as Governor of Alaska, which I suppose makes her an expert on "guvernering". Do any secular historians even cite his articles? DCH

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08-05-2011, 04:14 PM	#2
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	So who's in on this?

08-06-2011, 04:12 AM	#3
mountainman Contributor Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Falls Creek, Oz. Posts: 11,192	Looks interesting.

08-06-2011, 09:39 AM	#5
Doug Shaver Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: San Bernardino, Calif. Posts: 5,435	Or maybe I'm not. The registration software thinks my student e-mail address is invalid.

08-06-2011, 11:24 AM	#6
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	Contact CFI

08-07-2011, 06:36 AM	#7
Doug Shaver Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: San Bernardino, Calif. Posts: 5,435	Logically speaking, I guess the next thing I should do is contact CFI

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