APELC Class Notes
Same objectives as yesterday. Second began Star Trek: The Motion Picture as did fourth, but not before we enjoyed our last two worldview presentations: Emily F. presented Epicureanism, and Meg made a special visit to tell us about feminism.
Women’s issues in various cultures have been a recurring topic of discussion in APELC because of the number of texts we’ve read where women’s roles and rights are central or relevant. Thinking about Meg’s assessment of and our brief talk about where women the world over stand in 2010, a number of recent articles came to mind that’re worth your time:
- “Has a U.S. Pediatrics Group Condoned Genital Cutting?”,
- “Lawrence Taylor bust shines spotlight on abuse of teen hookers”,
- “Georgian women seek virginity restoration”,
- “Japan sinks (even) lower on gender discrimination report”,
- “Haunted by Congo rape dilemma”,
- “We are not your weapons – we are women (This one’s quite bizarre.)
Emily’s explanation of Epicurus’s idea of an eternal universe inspired me to revisit a lecture in which theologian, philosopher, and apologist William Lane Craig recounts the history of the development of standard cosmology as a theory in the twentieth century and addresses various theories others have proposed to supplant it. Here’s the first of a six-part video version of the lecture; it’s quite technical and mathematically and philosophically dense, and in the end Craig does assert the necessity of a creator in the mold of the Judeo-Christian deity, but it’s utterly fascinating and thorough in its treatment of the subject. Do you have the patience and fortitude?
For another perspective, you might read this an article which attempts to take Craig to task, “Why Steven Hawking’s Cosmology Precludes a Creator”, from the journal Philo. And here’s a piece from Discover which explains further the (dubious, non-verifiable) idea of multiple universes, “Science’s Alternative to an Intelligent Creator: the Multiverse Theory”.
Here’re second and fourth period students my records are showing that haven’t returned The Autobiography of Malcolm X :
- Jade, Victoria, Erica, Jo, Damon, Sam, Alex, Stephanie, Kira, Rhiannon, and Alee;
- Evan, Emily F., Julia, Cassandra, and Eliana.
Please return your books as soon as possible, or let me know as soon as possible that you’ve already returned your book so I can update my gradebook.
SPECIAL THANKS.Eliana brought not one, but two cakes and fresh, homemade salsa to class today. Thanks for the victuals, Eliana. They were delicious!