Category: PHRS

Dearest Community!

Hello from afar! We hope you are safe and well, adjusting to the new world of social distancing, or as I’m calling it: distant socializing. In that spirit, we want to hear and see how your days are unfolding and being shaped in and by this global occurrence. This blog will have an ongoing project, the Quarantine Chronicles, where we will archive photos and short reflections or poems about your experience. We want to see where you’re having remote classes, or taking your daily outside time, hear about who you’re living with and how your relationships are affected and how you’re consuming media that makes your happy. Or not. We want to hear about small wins, see any stress baking/cooking, and of course keep a list of book/podcast/binge recommendations. You can message us on any of the social medias, or email us at humsoc@mmm.edu

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We are sending all manner of positive vibes, and want to say how proud we are of the students and faculty that are continuing to learn and grow as a community, even while adjusting to new systems and routines. New normals. Be well, stay safe, and be kind.

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In today’s tech obsessed fast paced world, what counts as political action? Senior Allie McInerney has built a site she hopes will inspire and encourage folks to send more tactile feedback, which she says stands out from online complaints. “I built the site more out of frustration than hope”, she says. The site, found here, allows constituents to enter in their address and send mail to their senate reps. Allie, who worked for Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill before transferring to MMC, says that actual mail has great weight on Capital Hill (#nopunintended). “Phone calls can go unanswered and unrecorded, but every piece of mail gets scanned and entered into a database [called VOICE], which they have to look at an engage with.” This outdated process is, Allie says, the best way for folks to be heard by their reps.

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Here’s how her site works:

The homepage allows you to pick which side of the impeachment debate you’re on. You can send mail directly to the White House, or (as shows in the above screen shots) you can enter your address and send mail to your Senators. Once you’ve selected where the postcards will go, a pre-written message appears. You can edit that message, or sign and send. Each card costs $1 #affordable, and Allie plans to send 50% of the profits to a non-profit daycare center for single moms back in Missouri called Operation Breakthrough.

Eventually Allie and her partners plan to expand this site to include other hot button issues (like taxes, campaign finance reform, healthcare, immigration, climate change, gun policy, and our education system, to name just a few.) Allie is double majoring in Politics and Human Rights, along with Philosophy, and says that despite her frustration she does still have hope. While working for Senator McCaskill she made friends with a Republican staffer, a relationship she still cherishes, and says they were able to peaceably discuss issues and still care about one another “I don’t think ideology defines us, or separates us inherently.”

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Head to Allie’s easy to use site to make sure your voice is heard during what can be an extremely confusing process, and check back for more issues to be heard on soon! Stay woke and be kind, and thanks for reading.

 

BREAKING NEWS!

The History Major is back at MMC!

Some facts: History continues to be a popular major for high achievers, and has a traditionally been a go-to for those hoping to pursue law or public service. Our program will be super innovative, and uses a modular path of study that allows students to chart their own course and choose their own areas of focus. You’ll get all the traditional skills of a history scholar- critical thinking, evaluating evidence, oral and written argument construction- all while exploring different threads and webs that only you can imagine and navigate fully.

Here are some examples modular paths, with different color blocks showing different course subjects:

These first two show examples of more traditional paths, with one or two areas of focus.

The second two examples are more complex: on the left the student’s program is called Ancient History and Medieval History and Culture, and the right shows a path called History and Performance of Race and Gender. You see how courses from across the college can be pulled in to satisfy requirements for the major, so scholars can create a program that is tailored to their interests, while developing an understanding of history with depth and nuance. History at Marymount will go beyond a timeline, showing how culture, politics, art, media, and story all combine to create what we understand as our shared past.

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#drunkhistory #extracreditviewing

 

Look back, connect the dots, and get innovative to jump start your own future! Make History a part of your history at Marymount. #thanksforreading #bekind #happyhalloween

HUMSOC is proud to present a new series to showcase the amazing course work that happens every single day on campus. Short & sweet (unlike those 3 hours classes…), and up to date, this series is meant to be your eyes inside the classroom.

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Our first featured class is tonight’s Philosophy of Religion (PHIL 322) with Prof Herling (#divisionchair). Tonight’s discussion is on the Problem of Religious Diversity; Pluralism vs. exclusivism (with inclusivism in between!)

HUH?!

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Pluralism: Despite their differences, all religions have a common core reality. So don’t judge! #JohnHick

Exclusivism: It’s completely acceptable for adherents of one religious tradition to claim that their tradition is exclusively true and right—and that the others aren’t. #AlvinPlantinga

Inclusivism: There’s something good and true in many religious traditions, but only to the extent that they point to the one that is _ultimately_ good and right! #KarlRahner

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Got it? If you’re inspired the readings are listed below. Have fun in class today folks, and remember be kind to yourself and be kind to strangers.
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Readings:

  • John Hick, “A Religious Understanding of Religion: A Model of the Relationship between Traditions”
  • Karl Rahner, “Christianity and the Non-Christian Religions”
  • Alvin Plantinga, “A Defense of Religious Exclusivism,”
  • Jerome Gellman, “In Defense of a Contented Religious Exclusivism”