The Humanities at Maryville College
Do you think about the big questions – What is the nature of ultimate reality? What is the meaning of human existence? What is our role in the world? How have other people past and present addressed these questions?
Why and why did things happen the way they did? Could history have taken a different course? Can things be different in the future?
The Division of Humanities, which includes the study of Religion, Philosophy and History, encourages students to explore the very basic questions underlying the human experience. Whether it is in interpreting the Biblical traditions in relation to their Ancient context, or reflecting on the metaphysical musings of Enlightenment philosophers, or examining the great social and political struggles at the heart of Colonial India, the Humanities Division at Maryville College provides a rich intellectual space to explore a world of faiths, ideas, and historical traditions.
Like most MC students, C.J. Burtner ’12, a major in religion, engages in active classroom discussions.
Class Favorites
Comparative Philosophy (PHL 348): “By showing that there are many more valuable and legitimate approaches to trying to answer the 'big questions' than I had previously realized, comparative philosophy opened my eyes to the importance of studying the philosophical traditions of cultures outside one's own,” Austin Newsome ’09.
Latin American History (HIS 334): Taught by Dr. Doug Sofer, assistant professor of history, this survey of Latin American History is related to his professional specialty and is therefore one of his favorite courses to teach. “Students are usually surprised,” Sofer notes,”to learn how diverse and complex this region of the world is.”
Medieval Love (HIS 342): Not every professor is ready to embrace the topic of love, and its many complexities, with her students, but Dr. Nancy Locklin-Sofer, associate professor of history and chair of the Maryville Curriculum, developed a course to do just that. With Locklin-Sofer, students explored the courtly love tradition, friendship, marriage, and mystical religious experience as it was described by Europeans of the thirteenth century.
Quick Fact
In addition to being the oldest building on campus (1870), the icon of the College (the Tower), and named for the College’s founder (Isaac Anderson), Anderson Hall is home to the Humanities Division. Oh the stories Anderson can tell.
Humanities @ MC
News
- Dr. Andrew Irvine co-edited the recent publication Postcolonial Philosophy of Religion with Purushottama Bilimoria and contributed the essay "Cultural Participation and Postcoloniality: A U.S. Case Study" to the book.
- Dr. Peggy Cowan recently completed a sabbatical, resulting in the publication of the article “Teaching an Introductory Hebrew Bible Course Without a Textbook” in Teaching Theology and Religion and acceptance of a paper for presentation at the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature in November 2009.
-
Dr. Doug Sofer presented "Ethno-Symbolism and the Search for an Inclusive Nationalism in Colombia, 1946-1958" at the Congreso de Colombianistas (Conference of Colombianists) in Charlottesville, Virginia.
In the summer of 2009, Dr. Doug Sofer presented "From Anti-American Fascists to Pro-American Anti-Communists: The Transformation of the Religious Right in Colombia, 1930s-1950s." at the Latin American Studies Association's annual meeting, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
According to Dr. Sofer, “In both cases, was great to touch base with a large international group of scholars who work in the same area as I do.”
- Dr. Aaron Astor is developing a digital history website that examines the Civil War and Reconstruction experience in East Tennessee. This state-of-the-art, GIS-based project will involve both MC students and members of the community.
- “Many Faiths, One World” is topic of MC’s fall Community Conversations
- Applying to Maryville College easier thanks to Common Application
- MC students experience "real world" through summer internships