Posts: 2501
Threads: 158
Joined: April 19, 2013
Reputation:
19
RE: Ethnographic Research (Help please!)
March 1, 2018 at 6:38 am
(This post was last modified: March 1, 2018 at 6:47 am by purplepurpose.)
Preliminary Background:
What is your age?
My answer: Jesus
What is your current academic status (student, former student, alumnus, etc.)?
Jesus
(If applicable) How far along in your studies are you?
Jesus
What is (was) your major?
Jesus
Why are (were) you in college?
Jesus
What are your future plans/goals?
Holy Crusade in the name of Jesus Christ to save rotten souls of blasphemers.
Briefly describe your family background.
Jesus
Social Structures
Describe your current relationship with your family.
Jesus
Describe your social life.
Jesus
Are close relationships with friends/family important? Why or why not?
Jesus
Which is more important: the personal life or the professional life?
Jesus Christ
Ontological
What is the source of power and success?
Jesus Christ
What is the origin of the universe?
Jesus Christ
What is the origin and destiny of humanity?
Holy Crusade.
Is there any form of spiritual dimension of reality? If so, briefly describe it.
Jesus Christ
Do incorporeal beings exist?
Jesus Christ
How do you define ‘God’?
Jesus Christ
How do you define ‘truth’?
Jesus Christ
Epistemological
How do you know what is true?
Jesus Christ
Is there an objective standard by virtue of which one can distinguish truth and falsity, and if so, why is it a reliable standard?
Jesus Christ
Assuming no objective truth exists, how can you correctly form and evaluate truth claims?
Jesus Christ
Axiology
Are morals and ethics subjective or objective?
Jesus Christ
How do you know right from wrong?
Jesus Christ
Can science explain the origin of moral values and concerns? How so?
Jesus Christ
How would you describe a “good person”? A “bad person”?
Jesus Christ
What would an “ideal society” look like?
Jesus Christ
Do people act purely out of self-interest?
Jesus Christ
What is the most important moral attribute (i.e. love, justice, equality, selflessness, etc.)? How do you define it?
Jesus Christ
What is mankind’s single biggest problem?
Jesus Christ
Is there a solution to this problem, and if so, what is it?
Jesus Christ
Posts: 28327
Threads: 524
Joined: June 16, 2015
Reputation:
90
RE: Ethnographic Research (Help please!)
March 1, 2018 at 7:28 am
Does anyone else feel like a bug under a magnifying glass?
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.
Posts: 536
Threads: 4
Joined: October 15, 2013
Reputation:
27
RE: Ethnographic Research (Help please!)
March 1, 2018 at 7:32 am
(March 1, 2018 at 7:28 am)mh.brewer Wrote: Does anyone else feel like a bug under a magnifying glass?
Thanks for the offer but I've already eaten.
The PURPOSE of life is to replicate our DNA ................. (from Darwin)
The MEANING of life is the experience of living ... (from Frank Herbert)
The VALUE of life is the legacy we leave behind ..... (from observation)
Posts: 2412
Threads: 5
Joined: January 3, 2018
Reputation:
22
RE: Ethnographic Research (Help please!)
March 1, 2018 at 8:20 am
(This post was last modified: March 1, 2018 at 8:21 am by polymath257.)
(February 28, 2018 at 11:41 pm)stretch3172 Wrote: Greetings!
I'm a master's seminary student currently writing an ethnography focusing on the worldviews of atheists and agnostics in the 18-26 age range. I must interview a number of atheists and agnostics to complete this assignment, so I would be extremely grateful to anyone who would be willing to answer some questions for me.
If you are interested, please respond to the following list of questions (or as many as you can!) in a single post. Thank you in advance for your time and willingness to help me out with this project!
Preliminary Background:
What is your age? A bit older than my teeth and as old as my tongue.
What is your current academic status (student, former student, alumnus, etc.)? Professor.
(If applicable) How far along in your studies are you? PhD
What is (was) your major? Mathematics
Why are (were) you in college? Because I wanted an education.
What are your future plans/goals? Retire
Briefly describe your family background. Can't be done: too complicated
Social Structures
Describe your current relationship with your family. Well, the relationship with my wife is quite good.
Describe your social life. Happy.
Are close relationships with friends/family important? Why or why not? Friendship is quite important.
Which is more important: the personal life or the professional life? Both are of value and need respect.
Ontological
What is the source of power and success? My brain.
What is the origin of the universe? I'm not sure it is a meaningful question.
What is the origin and destiny of humanity? Origin? We evolved. Destiny? We have to decide that.
Is there any form of spiritual dimension of reality? If so, briefly describe it. NONE
Do incorporeal beings exist? NO.
How do you define ‘God’? I don't. I let the believers do that.
How do you define ‘truth’? Correspondence with observation.
Epistemological
How do you know what is true? By observation.
Is there an objective standard by virtue of which one can distinguish truth and falsity, and if so, why is it a reliable standard? No such thing.
Assuming no objective truth exists, how can you correctly form and evaluate truth claims? By observation and testing.
Axiology
Are morals and ethics subjective or objective? Well, they are specific to humans. But most humans agree on the basics.
How do you know right from wrong? It is a social construct.
Can science explain the origin of moral values and concerns? How so? It can show how social species adopt rules of behavior.
How would you describe a “good person”? A “bad person”? Good: thoughtful and caring. Bad: unthoughtful and uncaring.
What would an “ideal society” look like? One where the maximum number of people are healthy, happy, and fulfilled.
Do people act purely out of self-interest? No. There is altruism.
What is the most important moral attribute (i.e. love, justice, equality, selflessness, etc.)? How do you define it? Morality: Think and Care. Both crucial.
What is mankind’s single biggest problem? Religion.
Is there a solution to this problem, and if so, what is it? Education and elimination of the superstitious mindset.
Ooops, outside of your age range. You might still want to read the responses.
Posts: 1013
Threads: 10
Joined: January 20, 2014
Reputation:
26
RE: Ethnographic Research (Help please!)
March 1, 2018 at 8:30 am
I got a few questions in and the questions started getting a little too thinky and I quit.
Posts: 2412
Threads: 5
Joined: January 3, 2018
Reputation:
22
RE: Ethnographic Research (Help please!)
March 1, 2018 at 8:36 am
(March 1, 2018 at 1:27 am)stretch3172 Wrote: (March 1, 2018 at 1:01 am)Grandizer Wrote: I'm really curious about what the real purpose behind these surveys of atheists is. What are you students of Christian apologetics trying to accomplish exactly? Do you like discuss the answers in class and then find clever ways to "refute" them?
The purpose of this particular project is to describe the worldview of atheists and agnostics in their own words, such that any atheist or agnostic could read it for themselves and honestly say that it does their view justice.
Are you going to submit your work here so we can critique it? You know, just to be sure it gives views in our own words?
Posts: 29107
Threads: 218
Joined: August 9, 2014
Reputation:
155
RE: Ethnographic Research (Help please!)
March 1, 2018 at 8:55 am
At best you're going to be able to note trends here. There's no possible blanket statement about atheists, except that they are atheists.
Posts: 43162
Threads: 720
Joined: September 21, 2008
Reputation:
133
RE: Ethnographic Research (Help please!)
March 1, 2018 at 9:36 am
(This post was last modified: March 1, 2018 at 9:37 am by Edwardo Piet.)
(February 28, 2018 at 11:43 pm)LadyForCamus Wrote: Why do we always end up as homework?!
Because how else are the theists going to raise their intelligent levels?
(February 28, 2018 at 11:47 pm)J a c k Wrote: Do you want a pee sample, too?
I haven't drank enough fluids today.
@OP will a mayo jar do as a sorry? Don't worry, I make my own.
Posts: 28327
Threads: 524
Joined: June 16, 2015
Reputation:
90
RE: Ethnographic Research (Help please!)
March 1, 2018 at 11:06 am
(This post was last modified: March 1, 2018 at 11:09 am by brewer.)
Sanctimony is good.
(March 1, 2018 at 8:55 am)robvalue Wrote: At best you're going to be able to note trends here. There's no possible blanket statement about atheists, except that they are atheists.
The biggest trend is that these were poorly conceived and biased questions.
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.
Posts: 69
Threads: 3
Joined: February 28, 2018
Reputation:
6
RE: Ethnographic Research (Help please!)
March 1, 2018 at 11:52 am
(March 1, 2018 at 6:27 am)robvalue Wrote: Preliminary Background:
What is your age? 40
What is your current academic status (student, former student, alumnus, etc.)? Former student
(If applicable) How far along in your studies are you?
What is (was) your major? Mathematics
Why are (were) you in college? Love of mathematics, to get a better job
What are your future plans/goals? Getting back into work (currently long term sick)
Briefly describe your family background. Normal, raised with no mention of religion/atheism
Social Structures
Describe your current relationship with your family. Dysfunctional
Describe your social life. Limited (due to illness)
Are close relationships with friends/family important? Why or why not? Yes. Mental wellbeing, mutual support, sharing experiences
Which is more important: the personal life or the professional life? To me, personal
Ontological
What is the source of power and success? Don't understand
What is the origin of the universe? Don't know
What is the origin and destiny of humanity? Origin is we evolved, I don't know our future
Is there any form of spiritual dimension of reality? If so, briefly describe it. I find that term meaningless
Do incorporeal beings exist? Again meaningless
How do you define ‘God’? Intelligent creator
How do you define ‘truth’? With regard to reality, a statement which stands up to rigorous scrutiny. Absolute truth is always out of our reach, so I won't refer to that
Epistemological
How do you know what is true? I use evidence
Is there an objective standard by virtue of which one can distinguish truth and falsity, and if so, why is it a reliable standard? Evidence. Anyone can examine evidence to check what is true, giving the best chance of avoiding errors.
Assuming no objective truth exists, how can you correctly form and evaluate truth claims? Hypothesis testing with evidence
Axiology
Are morals and ethics subjective or objective? Subjective
How do you know right from wrong? Emotions and reason
Can science explain the origin of moral values and concerns? How so? During our evolution, those who cooperated fared better than those who went solo. This created a natural selection criteria by which caring about others was an advantage.
How would you describe a “good person”? A “bad person”? Someone who values the wellbeing of others / someone who doesn't
What would an “ideal society” look like? Everyone is happy, free and has access to everything they need
Do people act purely out of self-interest? No
What is the most important moral attribute (i.e. love, justice, equality, selflessness, etc.)? How do you define it? Selflessness, putting a high value on the wellbeing of others compared to your own
What is mankind’s single biggest problem? Superstition
Is there a solution to this problem, and if so, what is it? Education
Thanks! I appreciate your time.
|
