Till Schroeter
5/11/13
Seminar Reflection
1. Reflection- Describe your experience exhibiting a seminar. Reflect on the outcome. Consider
your own participation and the seminar overall.
At first, I was kind of nervous because we would be the first class ever to exhibit a seminar which
also means that it would be our first time. It was different from other exhibitions because the
audience was able to easily see what you and the others thought how you felt- it as somewhat
revealing. The seminar itself was a little slow in flow, possible because of the fact that it was out first
public seminar, and then on such big, controversial topic. I sometimes was afraid that I could be a
little too radical and offend someone in the audience. Overall, I think that I did a decent job in the
seminar. I wish people in the audience would have participated though.
2. Reaction- React to your peers’ ideas (be specific) and the ideas you all constructed together.
Was there anything that enlightened you? Something you particularly disagree with? Give at
least one specific example of something that was said in seminar that impacted you and explain
your reaction.
It was interesting that we, for almost all the topics, came to the same conclusion: That the answer
was dependent on the very individual and that there are many answers out there but that the
individual had to decide on what it right or what to believe in. There was nothing that I really
disagreed with and the only thing that enlightened me was the conclusion we came to.
3. Changes in Thinking- Explain how the seminar influenced or changed your thinking about any of
the questions or topics. How is your thinking now different than it was before the seminar?
The seminar didn’t really change my view on any of the questions or the whole topic but I now
admit the fact that there are many different opinions out there and that we have to respect and
tolerate them. They are not right or wrong, and neither are my opinions.
4. Connections- Make a connection between the issues discussed in this seminar and another topic
or idea that wasn’t mentioned. Be sure to explain your connections thoroughly.
One of the issues we discussed was “Does a God have to exist in order for religion to be
meaningful?” We all agreed that the answer was no, Buddhism or nature religions are good
examples of that. I can connect this issue to pretty much everything that is happening in the world. I
believe that things don’t have to exist or be real. As long as it keeps people, who believe in it, going,
it is fine. People should also calm down about this topic. What if we, one day, found specific
evidence that there is no God, the believe in it still kept people going and everybody should respect
that instead of trying to prove them wrong and laugh at them.
5. Project Conclusions- How has this project changed your perspective in general? What are your
general take-aways concerning religion and spirituality?
The project has not really changed my views, it just, as above- mentioned, gave me a new
perspective on how to look at things. Different people believe in different things and they mostlikely have good reasons to believe in whatever they believe, so we should respect their opinions
and beliefs. The things I take away from this project are values that Nick taught us in the very first
lesson we had on religion: Respect, tolerance and understanding. We should always remember an
use these values.