Mythology Class? Should I Take It?

[000MobianAngel000]

Hi, I'm just wondering what a standard mythology course in college is all about from those who experienced it or had a friend who took it. I need some insight to know whether or not I should be taking this course or another class.

Recently I had to drop a literature class due to the fact the teacher was very discriminating to my beliefs and my opinions on a story called "Oedipus" which led her to yell at me in class saying to leave and see sent me an email telling me I need to see a therapist.

Here are some important things to note about me:

•I don't believe in the teaching of psychology (I don't believe people can justify with "truth" of why someone does something or what kind a person someone is.) I'm not bashing on anyone who does study Psychology and/or loves it. I don't want to create an argument, sorry, but I'm very big with this and is one of the reasons I dropped my literature class.

•I don't want another teacher signalling me out and bashing on me and also sending me emails to go see a therapist because of my beliefs.

Questions:

•Is mythology about Greek beliefs? or (from what I read online) is it looking though a set of beliefs that are considered to "not be real/myths and how it effects society?"

•Is it a "touchy" subject?



I'm already beginning to think I should change it. It seems a bit touchy for me, and I am quite sensitive about certain things discussed. I rather take something "lighter" like detective literature or child literature for that matter. But I would like to know your opinions.



Here is a description of a Mythology class at my college:

ENG 230 - Mythology

Literary, cultural, psychological, and historical study of mythology including such cultures as Greek, Roman, Norse, Mid and Far Eastern, African, and mythologies of Americas. The course emphasizes creation, nature and hero myths as they shaped ancient civilizations and discusses how these myths affect global cultures today. Three class hours.

Please don't just tell me you like the class etc. I need an honest answer from any of you, from what I described myself above, if this class is right for me. Thanks.

[soarin12]

Well, I haven't personally taken a mythology course, but you said you don't believe in psychology, and in the course description, it indicates psychology will be involved.  They will be focusing on questions like--Why did these people create these stories (myths)?  What needs and desires were these stories /gods /mythical creatures fulfilling?  If you're uncomfortable with questions like that, then I would drop the course if I were you.

[000MobianAngel000]

Well, I haven't personally taken a mythology course, but you said you don't believe in psychology, and in the course description, it indicates psychology will be involved.  They will be focusing on questions like--Why did these people create these stories (myths)?  What needs and desires were these stories /gods /mythical creatures fulfilling?  If you're uncomfortable with questions like that, then I would drop the course if I were you.

Ok thanks

[000MobianAngel000]

And yeah, this always happens in my school when people ask questions about why a person believes in a religion etc. Most things I ever hear people say are that, "People believe in God because they can't have hope for themselves." Just a lot of answers like that. And when I give my opinion people just throw me down, it ends up being a debate because mostly the majority of what people agree and disagree here I don't believe in.

Like my literature teacher I had made a comment based on "Oedipus" that, "People who have hope can't think for themselves". She also made a joke about people who do astral projection and talk to Gods saying we a Schizo freaks after I told her that I believed in that stuff.

[soarin12]

Yes, colleges are not friendly environments to people who believe in anything outside of what can be proven scientifically.  It's a closed minded world out there.  Fortunately we have the forums and hopefully a few people close to us who we can be open with. 

[000MobianAngel000]

Yes, colleges are not friendly environments to people who believe in anything outside of what can be proven scientifically.  It's a closed minded world out there.  Fortunately we have the forums and hopefully a few people close to us who we can be open with. 

[Stillwater]

Hi Mobian!

As a person who attended a well-regarded university, let me be the first to say that higher education institutions don't hold the monopoly on knowledge. Picking up a book and reading it through will often get you just as far or further, and will set back your wallet three zeros less money. Mythology is one of those classes like that. Pick up Edith Hamilton or Bullfinch's mythologies and have at it! Want to get the perspective you would get in that class? Pick up Joseph Campbell's "Hero with 1000 Faces" series or any number of other psyscho-anthropology oriented authors, and you will literally be reading the ideas that are flowing through the instructor's heads. Nothing of note is usually covered in an undergraduate class that you can't get by simply reading the textbooks, for the most part. Where college is really worth the money is in the area of hands-on experience, certifications, and interacting with your field's authorities.

Now I have taken my share of liberal-arts classes because they were closely connected to my life interests. I took a Chinese philosophy class, for example, and a Russian literature class. In those examples, the instructor was clearly in a position to have more historical context for interpreting the works than I was, and to offer insights as a result that would not have occurred to me. In a situation like that... it is a maybe.

But if in your case a class like that is going to lead to confrontations, I say read the book!