College professors that are ignorant to religion

[romancatholic94]

Is it silly to doubt faith because a professor with a Ph.D says there is no possibility of God, or rather, if many professors with Ph.D’s say there is no possibility of God. I don’t know why a degree would intimidate me, but it does. Philosophy Doctors, Psychology Doctors, Sociology Doctors. Many have said it. Is it foolish to doubt my faith based upon the evidence given by the educated professors of my university, if professors who are just as educated tell me that there is absolutely a God. I wouldn’t say I doubt my faith because I think there is lack of evidence of a God, but rather because I am easily intimidated by those who wish to challenge my faith. For instance, last week one of my professors said “yeah saints for example. The Catholic Church made up saints to give people something to pray to”. I didn’t say anything but I was totally enraged. Then I calmed down and thought “maybe they were just made up”. I’m a practicing Catholic, i don’t want to come off as anything other than that. God Bless…oh and please feel free to answer.

 

[Marie1234]

Is it silly to doubt faith because a professor with a Ph.D says there is no possibility of God, or rather, if many professors with Ph.D’s say there is no possibility of God. I don’t know why a degree would intimidate me, but it does. Philosophy Doctors, Psychology Doctors, Sociology Doctors. Many have said it. Is it foolish to doubt my faith based upon the evidence given by the educated professors of my university, if professors who are just as educated tell me that there is absolutely a God. I wouldn’t say I doubt my faith because I think there is lack of evidence of a God, but rather because I am easily intimidated by those who wish to challenge my faith. For instance, last week one of my professors said “yeah saints for example. The Catholic Church made up saints to give people something to pray to”. I didn’t say anything but I was totally enraged. Then I calmed down and thought “maybe they were just made up”. I’m a practicing Catholic, i don’t want to come off as anything other than that. God Bless…oh and please feel free to answer.

Yes it is silly, but sadly I’ve been there too. It’s easy to be influenced by professors who act like the know everything. But I’ve come to realize that any and all of my professors that reject and attack religion are either ignorant or arrogant. Ignorant because they have been too consumed by the secular, atheistic culture to acknowledge the presence of God in the world; too ignorant to realize Truth. The arrogant ones realize it but are either scared by the concept that they aren’t in control or don’t like the idea that there is a power greater than themselves.

Don’t let them influence you. Their words are not truth. I know Truth when I see and hear it. The Truth is God and His Church.

I’ve done a lot of research in the past when I was in a similar place as you are now and I realized that there is FAR more evidence to support and even PROVE the existence of God. The logic of atheism makes no sense.

I suggest you read up on the Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas and study science–quantum physics is amazing. It really helped me

Talk to your priest about this, he can help you. I’m sure he’ll have some good books for you to read

Good luck and God Bless!

Don’t let the secular world win

 

[ilySHJ]

Take it from my physics professor, PhD, dept head at a major science university, and devout Baptist:

God wrote the laws of nature. They proceed according to His Will. No matter what man discovers, he is merely discovering God’s laws.

We weren’t required to believe in God, but if we didn’t respect his belief we were welcome to leave.

In the same department the Astronomy professor made his atheism known at least once a semester.

Read up … there are lots of devout intellectuals in the present day as well as historically.

And enjoy your studies!

 

[curlycool89]

Is it silly to doubt faith because a professor with a Ph.D says there is no possibility of God, or rather, if many professors with Ph.D’s say there is no possibility of God. I don’t know why a degree would intimidate me, but it does. Philosophy Doctors, Psychology Doctors, Sociology Doctors. Many have said it. Is it foolish to doubt my faith based upon the evidence given by the educated professors of my university, if professors who are just as educated tell me that there is absolutely a God. I wouldn’t say I doubt my faith because I think there is lack of evidence of a God, but rather because I am easily intimidated by those who wish to challenge my faith.

Well, the question you should be asking yourself is where the foundation for your faith lies.

For myself (if I may use myself as an example), my faith is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church that He established to be His Bride (which is governed by the Vicar that He Himself appointed to lead the pilgrims through life). Personally, I don’t put much credit into the so-called logical proofs for God (I’ve study a few, and they’re just not that convincing to me, nor do any of them necessitate the Christian account of God), and I don’t believe that you can logically prove or disprove God is such a way that would require you (by the very rules of logic) to outright accept the conclusion.

Faith is a personal response to God, specifically to the grace of Faith that God Himself gives to us. No amount of “evidence” can override that. There is a reason it is called Faith in the first place, you have to take a “leap of faith” to get there. As believers we don’t need to prove His existence.

I personally feel that I am certain of the existence of God, but it’s not something that I can prove to you; it’s only something I can show to you.

 

[tlimon]

The ego compels people to inflate themselves. If God is supreme, then there is nothing on earth that can supersede. If God did not exist, then people on earth can be like gods. The biggest and the best are the strongest and the smartest. Remove a super intelligence from the situation and the most intelligent become those most learned. Not all college professors are that way of course. Some professors even go on to be Pope.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI

 

[1ke]

Is it silly to doubt faith because a professor with a Ph.D says there is no possibility of God, or rather, if many professors with Ph.D’s say there is no possibility of God. I don’t know why a degree would intimidate me, but it does. Philosophy Doctors, Psychology Doctors, Sociology Doctors. Many have said it. Is it foolish to doubt my faith based upon the evidence given by the educated professors of my university, if professors who are just as educated tell me that there is absolutely a God. I wouldn’t say I doubt my faith because I think there is lack of evidence of a God, but rather because I am easily intimidated by those who wish to challenge my faith. For instance, last week one of my professors said “yeah saints for example. The Catholic Church made up saints to give people something to pray to”. I didn’t say anything but I was totally enraged. Then I calmed down and thought “maybe they were just made up”. I’m a practicing Catholic, i don’t want to come off as anything other than that. God Bless…oh and please feel free to answer.

I think you need some spiritual counseling if your faith is that weak.

Yes, it is seriously problematic if you have such a skewed view of those in pseudo-authority. If they told you to jump off a cliff because they don’t believe in gravity, would you?

 

[austenbosten]

Is it silly to doubt faith because a professor with a Ph.D says there is no possibility of God, or rather, if many professors with Ph.D’s say there is no possibility of God. I don’t know why a degree would intimidate me, but it does. Philosophy Doctors, Psychology Doctors, Sociology Doctors. Many have said it. Is it foolish to doubt my faith based upon the evidence given by the educated professors of my university, if professors who are just as educated tell me that there is absolutely a God. I wouldn’t say I doubt my faith because I think there is lack of evidence of a God, but rather because I am easily intimidated by those who wish to challenge my faith. For instance, last week one of my professors said “yeah saints for example. The Catholic Church made up saints to give people something to pray to”. I didn’t say anything but I was totally enraged. Then I calmed down and thought “maybe they were just made up”. I’m a practicing Catholic, i don’t want to come off as anything other than that. God Bless…oh and please feel free to answer.

I dunno, no professor ever influenced me…probably because I had little respect for teachers who taught things that weren’t their expertise. For one, I had a History professor who called the Tea Party racists…I called him a moron.

Maybe you should have a little more faith in Jesus and a little less faith in your professors. Jesus rose from the dead and established His Church that has over a Billion members worldwide! What have these “established” professors done? besides, never getting a real job, and sit with their protected tenured jobs spouting their mouths off that one could easily learn from reading a book or doing a Google search.

If you take off the rose-tinted glasses society has placed on you…you will see that professors are no wiser than the guy who you buy Krispie Kreme donuts and cigarettes from at the gas station.

 

[Marie1234]

If you take off the rose-tinted glasses society has placed on you…you will see that professors are no wiser than the guy who you buy Krispie Kreme donuts and cigarettes from at the gas station.

So my Chem and Bio professors aren’t any smarter than the guy taking 4 a.m. shifts at the local PigglyWiggly? haha

 

[austenbosten]

So my Chem and Bio professors aren’t any smarter than the guy taking 4 a.m. shifts at the local PigglyWiggly? haha

I said wise honey, not smart. Wisdom is having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion…Many communists are smart, but not wise…they know much that just isn’t true.

 

[SecretGarden]

As graduate student, I think it’s important for you to remember just because someone has a high degree level of education or they have a PHD means they believe in God. It doesn’t. Some of the most devoted Christian in the worlds are people who have virtually nothing to their name including a very basic education. I know some theology professors who do not not necessarily teach accurate christian doctrine. I’ve had teachers tell me all sorts of negative things about the Christian faith. A teacher is human and they are entitled to their personal beliefs just as a student you are.

If the teacher makes you uncomfortable, don’t take him again and use the advent season to spend some time exploring your faith. A great book to begin with is: “why do catholics genuflect” by Al Kresta. It is easy to read and is directed towards people who want to learn about their faith. I can suggest more books if you desire as well.

Good luck,
SG

 

[tlimon]

I said wise honey, not smart… Many communists are smart, but not wise…they know much that just isn’t true.

Simple & Elegant! Sounds southern - like something my grandma would say.

 

[Marie1234]

I said wise honey, not smart. Wisdom is having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion…Many communists are smart, but not wise…they know much that just isn’t true.

Ah WISE

I understand then, and agree with you

I’d have to say you must be a very smart AND wise man to come up with a post like that

Yeah, I had an Anthro professor and let me tell you, she’s probably one of the least wise people I know. I’d trust the wisdom of the guy @ the PigglyWiggly before I would trust her

 

[BernadetteM]

Take it from my physics professor, PhD, dept head at a major science university, and devout Baptist:

We weren’t required to believe in God, but if we didn’t respect his belief we were welcome to leave.

In the same department the Astronomy professor made his atheism known at least once a semester.

Read up … there are lots of devout intellectuals in the present day as well as historically.

And enjoy your studies!

I agree, I worked in both the Sociology and Physics/Astromomy Departments for years. The only professor who went to church (TEC) was in Sociology and in the Physics Department my first Chair was a strong Catholic who came back to faith after his son died and one more who was from China and was a Protestant. Most are very arrogant. Although my brother who has a Ph.d from Princeton belongs to TEC, he is very arrogant and we cannot talk about religion or politics as he “knows it all”. I really don’t know where his heart is although he attends church. His daughter’s father-in-law was a TEC Bishop in a very large diocese and didn’t believe in the physical Ressurection of Christ.

Universities can be the worst places to twist the minds of our young people and we can see that in the world today.

A student must agree with them when writing papers etc. about whatever subject it is or many are graded on their religious and political views, not on their academic abilities.

From what I have read it seems even from kindergarten up our children are being taught morals that are against the parents values. My youngest grandchild was taught in kindergarten that white people killed blacks and this was during the holiday for Martin Luther King. Until this was said in class my grandaughter who had black friends didn’t know there was a difference between her race and her friends. After this she and her other siblings were put in Catholic schools.

Unless parents are very watchful about what their children are taught, these beliefs are not being counteracted by their parents.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[mafh]

I’m a PhD and a lot of the people I know are also PhDs. Also, my discipline (physics) has one of the highest percentages of atheists/agnostics. For those cases where I know someone’s religion (including myself), here is the religious breakdown of the PhDs that I know: 3 Jewish, 2 Muslim, 2 Russian Orthodox, 1 Hindu, 2 Catholic, 5 evangelical Christian (one a convert from Hinduism), 1 Unitarian Universalist, 4 atheists (2 of which also follow the cultural elements of Hinduism) , 1 Buddhist, and 1 agnostic. So, as you can see, it’s quite a diverse lot. Most of these people will say that they believe in a god (or some sort of higher power).

Also, a PhD isn’t a genius certificate or some acknowledgement that this person is always right. All it really means is that the person has been acknowledged by the academic community to have attained the capability to do independent research in his or her field of study. This takes a great deal of intense study, it is difficult, and it can take a long time to get there (and a lot of people drop out), but that’s really all it comes down to. And in fact, in the academic community, a PhD is the entry-level requirement. It means you are no longer an academic apprentice, basically. So, the group of PhDs includes people who are basically just out of the apprentice phase, all the way up to people who have 40 year research careers. Also, a PhD speaking on something outside his/her field of expertise is really no different than anyone else expounding on it. Even within a particular field, there are PhDs who are well-worth listening to, and have well-considered opinions or innovative ideas, and there are others who are just full of hot air.

 

[simspt]

Is it silly to doubt faith because a professor with a Ph.D says there is no possibility of God, or rather, if many professors with Ph.D’s say there is no possibility of God. I don’t know why a degree would intimidate me, but it does. Philosophy Doctors, Psychology Doctors, Sociology Doctors. Many have said it. Is it foolish to doubt my faith based upon the evidence given by the educated professors of my university, if professors who are just as educated tell me that there is absolutely a God. I wouldn’t say I doubt my faith because I think there is lack of evidence of a God, but rather because I am easily intimidated by those who wish to challenge my faith. For instance, last week one of my professors said “yeah saints for example. The Catholic Church made up saints to give people something to pray to”. I didn’t say anything but I was totally enraged. Then I calmed down and thought “maybe they were just made up”. I’m a practicing Catholic, i don’t want to come off as anything other than that. God Bless…oh and please feel free to answer.

Hostility toward the Catholic faith among those in academia especially the liberal arts is common. The majority of these profs are “liberal”. Most students do as you did for fear of pissing off their professors or out of lack of confidence is answering their profs uneducated viewpoints. My advice is learn your faith inside and out which is admittedly challenging while studying multiple subjects in college trying to finish a degree in a non-related subject. Pray for these profs.

In Christ

 

[benjammin]

My youngest grandchild was taught in kindergarten that white people killed blacks and this was during the holiday for Martin Luther King. Until this was said in class my grandaughter who had black friends didn’t know there was a difference between her race and her friends. After this she and her other siblings were put in Catholic schools.

Bernadette

I know i’m probably taking this out of context Bernadette, but Whites did kill blacks. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries a lot of blacks were lynched, of course so were lots of other people. I understand your point that you don’t want your child to end up becoming a typical guilty white liberal but you can’t ignore facts. We can’t just ignore history. Just like we can’t ignore the Catholic Church had abuses. Now does that mean the church is bad. Definitely not, only human, and even then just because a few Churchmen have done bad things does not mean the church is bad or wrong. However, we can’t forget what sins we have committed, we can only make restitution and hope to do better

What i’m more shocked with is that this was taught in Kindergarten. Not exactly the time to talk to children about killing. Sounds like something that you’d do with older kids.To be honest, I don’t think I learned about how whites killed blacks until middle and early high school.

Lastly, college is a terrible place. Fortunately I went to a college where the profs were fairly tolerant of different views. Granted its probably because they believe in the whole idea that nothing is wrong as far as religion and ethics go. However, I did write papers that challenged my profs and argued in defense of my faith and was praised for my guts and beliefs. Granted the professor that did this was Bahai, so he at least was open to religion in a sense.

Sadly my experience is most definitely not the norm

 

[BernadetteM]

I know i’m probably taking this out of context Bernadette, but Whites did kill blacks. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries a lot of blacks were lynched, of course so were lots of other people. I understand your point that you don’t want your child to end up becoming a typical guilty white liberal but you can’t ignore facts. We can’t just ignore history. Just like we can’t ignore the Catholic Church had abuses. Now does that mean the church is bad. Definitely not, only human, and even then just because a few Churchmen have done bad things does not mean the church is bad or wrong. However, we can’t forget what sins we have committed, we can only make restitution and hope to do better

What i’m more shocked with is that this was taught in Kindergarten. Not exactly the time to talk to children about killing. Sounds like something that you’d do with older kids.To be honest, I don’t think I learned about how whites killed blacks until middle and early high school.

Lastly, college is a terrible place. Fortunately I went to a college where the profs were fairly tolerant of different views. Granted its probably because they believe in the whole idea that nothing is wrong as far as religion and ethics go. However, I did write papers that challenged my profs and argued in defense of my faith and was praised for my guts and beliefs. Granted the professor that did this was Bahai, so he at least was open to religion in a sense.

Sadly my experience is most definitely not the norm

The biggest problem with what the teacher told the children was that the white men continue to kill blacks. My children were raised with no prejudice and many of their friends were Hispanics, Asians and some Blacks. This trend seems to continue in the educational field today in subtle ways. As Christians we should not be divided by race as there are good and bad in every race and religion.

God Bless

Bernadette

 

[paul_c]

Life tests the character of people and ultimately it will lead them to follow Jesus to heaven or follow their own whims to damnation.

Those life tests can be ones of success or failure, pain or pleasure. Success is a very difficult test for many people. They can easily lead to arrogance where they feel they are better than everyone else. And then that can easily lead to a need to defend their successful position by putting others down. Many can not bear to give God credit for either giving the tools or the situation for their success because that would cheapen their own self image.

Professors and those with PHDs are successful people in the eyes of the world. And as we have seen, this can easily lead to the problems above. Simply pray for those that can’t see that God gave them the intellect, the drive, the money and the situation to arrive at their standing in life. This is not to diminish the effort they put into it but to point out that all of this can and will change at some point in the blink of an eye and despite their successes, there is nothing they can do about it. And at that point, if they have not loved, what is really left for them?

 

[benjammin]

The biggest problem with what the teacher told the children was that the white men continue to kill blacks. My children were raised with no prejudice and many of their friends were Hispanics, Asians and some Blacks. This trend seems to continue in the educational field today in subtle ways. As Christians we should not be divided by race as there are good and bad in every race and religion.

God Bless

Bernadette

True, we shouldn’t be divided by race or religion, but at the same time we just can’t be polyanna about this. We have to be fair. Now in saying this, it means tht for example when you talk about medgar evers and MLK getting killed by racists in the 60’s you shouldn’t gloss over the black panthers or the weather underground or Abbie Hoffman and the yippies. I do agree oftentimes people cherrypick out of history to suit their own needs, but also we can’t just ignore it. Also, killling does still happen today and sadly some of it is racially motivated , but I would talk to the teacher about this, first of all, tell I would say that it isn’t appropriate for kindergarten students to hear this. Second of all, tell her that she can’t just blame whites for all racism. One thing i’ve learned from being Catholic is that we are all sinners, not just one particular person or group or race. God loves us all and we are all sinners

 

[Bookcat]

Some of the most educated persons on the planet – with many degrees etc in various fields – believe in God.

Pope Benedict XVI is I would say even is one of the most intelligent intellectual around…and he very much believes in God. (and he was a Professor…)

Be sure to follow the audiences on the Year of Faith this year (they are published in English a week after they are given(at first they are a short text and then the next week is the full text) --(started in October) vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2012/index_en.htm

This book may be of interest…

shop.catholic.com/disorientation-how-to-go-to-college-without-losing-your-mind.html