Those Who Wonder

What is religion? Why does religion exist?

What is this supernatural being(s) that we call God or gods? Are there really spirits in the clouds?

In this episode we break down...

the history of humanity with the lens of religion

consider the characteristics of religion

stats on the major religions of the world

Time to take a break from the scheduled curriculum and reflect on the nation, where we are at and where we are going. Sonder, the realization that everyone is living a life is vivid as you, is necessary if we are to share a culture.

Stevenson dives into empathy and ends up questioning existence, only to conclude with one thing in mind: love. Woah...

PARENTAL ADVISORY/UNCOMFORTABLE TOPICS ALERT.

There are some things you just don't do... like pick your nose... But is this true for every culture? What is considered "taboo" and does it vary around the world? If so, what does that mean about your culture's view of right and wrong? Can you say another culture's right is wrong? Woah...

Is there universal right and wrong, or just cultural differences we don't understand?

How accepting of cultural differences should we be?

BOB DYLAN CALLED IT... the times they are a changin'... always.Culture changes, yes. But what causes culture to change? Stevenson breaks it down.Ideological + Technological Inventions & Cultural Diffusion.Ideas come and go, and some stick. Those that stick change us (Ex: men and women are equal).In the end, you can either accept or resist change... which to choose? Woah...

What is normal? Who has decided this? Why do you behave the way you do? Why do you believe what you believe? How much of you is dependent on environmental variables? What part of you would stay with you in a different life? Woah... Stevenson goes DEEP on Nature vs. Nurture and Cultural Norms/Values.We dive into different norms from different cultures, such as handshakes. We dive into cultural norms and why we participate.We dive into cultural norms and whether or not we need to participate in them all.

TIME TO GET HISTORICAL! Stevenson breaks down the origins of humanity. We break down...

1) Maslow's Hierachy of Needs

2) Human migration

3) Beginnings of civilizations

4) Why culture happens

Humans get together for survival, but what keeps us together? Why does language, for instance, occur? What makes us... human... woah.

WELCOME TO BOOT CAMP!

Let's assume there are people out there who want to deceive you.

They want you to be a pawn in their game. But you are an inquisitive warrior.

In order to gain a TRUE understanding of our complex world, we need to have our heads on right. We need to think like historians.

How do we filter out the "fake news" to understand events and information truly? Contextualization and Sourcing. Check out this JUICY discussion on thinking like a historian to avoid being a pawn, and giving the power back to THE PEOPLE. Woah...

INTRODUCING A NEW SERIES/CLASS, WORLD STUDIES.

Taught by a high school teacher (Stevenson), we'll break down the way the world works through a historic and geographic perspective. The units will be 1) Culture, 2) Industrialization, 3) Liberty, and 4) Gender. The purpose of this class is to gain an understanding of the world so we can navigate the wild world today.

Interested in history? Tune in!

Culture: is there universal right and wrong, or just cultural differences we don't understand?

Industrialization: was humanity and civilization better off without machines?

Liberty: how much individual freedom should be sacrificed for the greater good of the community?

Gender: how do gender roles, and other identifiers, vary among cultures and impact one's life?

Last week Stevenson went over the Design Thinking process. What issue is occurring? Why is it occurring? How could it improve? Empathize. Define. Ideate. Prototype. Test.

WHAT IF we could apply the Design Thinking process to our personal life? Hobbies, daily routines, physical space, relationships, fitness... Ask yourself: Am I happy? What makes me happy? What is happening that is preventing or limiting my happiness? What can I do to change those things? Because if, in the end, all we have is time, why not design a life you want to live? Woah...

Pick a topic. Any topic. Then ask yourself... how could it improve? Design Thinking is a process, which seeks to define an issue, understand an issue, and propose the best possible solution. And, in the end, isn't that what humans do best? Well, maybe not the BEST solution... because there are some MAJOR problems on this planet that we have created... woah... but do you believe it can improve? Will you be someone who proposes solutions, rather than just point out problems? Tune in!