Gods and Monsters: Understanding our Hopes and Fears - Thicket
Thicket
Gods and Monsters: Understanding our Hopes and Fears

Gods and Monsters: Understanding our Hopes and Fears

Welcome to an exploration of the divine and the monstrous. Gods and Monsters is an interdisciplinary journey through the myths, literature, and films that define the boundaries of humanity. This course examines how different eras and cultures "construct" their deities and their monsters and treat them as both windows and mirrors of our self-knowledge.
TBD

Your Instructor

Greg Salyer
Greg Salyer

PhD in Humanities
Emory University

A teacher, scholar, and administrator in higher education for over thirty years, my odyssey begins in the Appalachian Mountains and now finds me at home in the City of Angels. In between I have encountered a number of gods and monsters but have always looked for ways to wisdom for myself and others. Trained in interdisciplinary humanities, I have taught courses in literature, philosophy, and religious studies in small liberal arts colleges, regional universities, and Research I institutions. Since 2000 I have created and taught courses online at several universities, including Rutgers, Maryland, and Walden. Publications include articles and books on Native American literature, postmodernism, literature and theology, and other interdisciplinary topics. Currently, I write and teach a few courses and am especially excited about Thicket.

Interdisciplinary humanities: literaturephilosophyreligious studieswisdom studies
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$144

What you'll learn

Analyze the Origins of Divinity and Monstrosity

Evaluate the Cultural and Historical Processes Involved in "making" a God or a Monster

Compare Ancient Cosmologies

Deconstruct Gendered Archetypes

Course Schedule

We begin by exploring the cognitive science of religion, specifically investigating how human mental processes give rise to belief in the divine. Central to this discussion is anthropomorphism, the tendency to project human traits and agency onto the non-human world as an evolutionary survival mechanism. By utilizing concepts like the hyperactive agency detection device, we can see that humans are biologically predisposed to interpret uncertain environments as containing purposeful beings. This "best bet" strategy for survival eventually scales into religious frameworks that organize chaos into meaningful patterns. The lecture also contrasts these scientific theories with mystical traditions that view God as fundamentally unknowable and beyond human likeness. Ultimately, religion serves as a symbolic tool for creating meaning, allowing humanity to project internal values onto the universe and read them back.

What You Get

Live interactive sessions

Engage in real-time discussions with expert instructors

Small discussion groups

Maximum 15 students for personalized attention

Session recordings

Review and revisit class content anytime

Dedicated platform

Track progress and organize your schedule