Review on Class #1 April 19th

Discussions

1.    Religion and Beliefs

2.    Authors are all American, does that make the text biased?

3. Is ICU subversive?

4.Is it possible to incorporate this textbook to present day japan?

5. Overall

1. Religion and Belief

 When you think of religion as simple as a belief then the hypothesis may make itself out to be true. However, religion is much more complex and different that we need to distinct it from other beliefs.

 For instance, the question to whether Jesus Christ actually existed is impossible to answer with logical explanation. Some people believe he did and actually worship him while some cast doubts. As Take explained during our discussion, religion is a spiritual matter and we cannot discuss a spiritual matter the same way as we discuss laws and politics. To simplify matters, lets say I killed a friend. Why is that bad? Of course we know it’s wrong to kill a person but there is no logical explanation towards it. It is because of our morals and our feelings that we cannot seem to explain in simple words.

 All in all, I do not think that Meiland is contradicting himself by being a Christian and also necessitating proof and reasons because the two are completely different matters.  

2.    Authors are all American, does that make the text biased?

 Overall, the content seemed very western. Unlike ICU, most colleges in Japan do not conduct office hours (mentioned in 1-27) nor do they have an environment where students feel free to ask questions during class (mentioned in 1-25) what with over 100 students in one classroom. In a general sense, the suggestions written in the text may be the ideal way one student should perceive college but it is not applicable to all colleges. 

3.    Is ICU subversive?

 The ideal answer would be no but at the same time I also think that it is impossible for any institution to not be subversive. Every institution has a purpose and ICU has one as well. As written in the homepage of ICU, the ICU’s purpose is ‘cultivating capable individuals, educated as internationally minded citizens, who will serve both God and people and who will contribute to lasting peace.’ Just as Rab stated, all professors who are tenured have to be Christians. This contradicts to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which we all signed, but if we think about this for a moment and imagine ICU where all tenured professors didn’t have to be Christians, then we could easily see that it is possible for every professor in ICU to become atheists. This would be a problem since ICU’s purpose is to cultivate individuals who will serve both God and people.

 ICU is an amazing university where people respect each others’ differences but even an institution like this, is subversive.

4. Is it possible to incorporate this text to present day Japan?

 It seems impossible at the moment. As Rab stated his experiences in other colleges, the educational system in Japan is being left behind other colleges around the globe. However, it is not just about the educational system but it is also about the kids as well. Say the Japanese government decided to higher the budget for colleges and improved the systems; would the kids be ready for it? These kids spent 12 years in classrooms taking very passive classes and had always perceived studying as a ‘memory challenge.’ Also, in general, Japanese college students have a low motivation towards learning at college. They think of the four years at college as a ‘summer break from their lives’ as Yuka stated. Some say college is merely the process of getting a job.

 If we are going to change the ways of colleges, then we have to change the students who will be learning there, which leads to the idea that we need to change the educational system from a young age. We need more active education in elementary schools, Junior high schools and high schools. Finally, we need a different entrance exam system for colleges.

 If we are able to achieve all of the above then it may be possible to incorporate the text to Japan but it seems unlikely that the educational systems will be changing in Japan anytime soon.

5.    Overall

Overall, the class was very thought provoking and made me think up to the point to say that ICU was subversive. It is strange to be saying that since a few months ago, I basically worshipped this school and was willing to do anything to pass the test but here I am now, calling this school subversive. However, I think this is one of the best things of the ELA classes and other classes at ICU as well. They let you be critical and actually find these contradictions externally as well as internally. I am excited to see what the rest of the classes brings to me.