Contributed by David Young | CARP is having another one of these pilot seminars this weekend for Generation Peace Academy (GPA) and several more throughout the country to continue to grow the program based on student and young adult feedback especially.
Last month, CARP hosted its third “Culture Wars” pilot seminar with the slogan, “Standing for a Principled Culture.” This pilot was the first to be done online in a webinar format with over 60 people joining from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and other parts of the country via internet. The group was made up of current college students, young professionals, CARP staff, and expert presenters all attending this special one-day webinar.
The intention of the webinar was for participants to be clear about the origins and intention of contemporary culture while understanding the need for a principled, “headwing” culture. In addition, the webinar worked with participants as a focus group to receive feedback on how to develop a launch program this August.
CARP Las Vegas joined in on the webinar.
So, what are the culture wars?
Some participants expressed that the topic was intriguing and interesting and something they wanted to learn about, having never heard of such a term or seminar focus before. “A Prelude to the Culture Wars” discusses more about the essence of the culture wars.
The seminar included four 40-minute presentations, each followed by 20 minutes of discussion and ending with a Q&A session around the content of the presentations. The presenters were Dr. David Burgess, Mrs. Cheryl Wetzstein, Dr. Robert Beebe, and Tasnah Moyer.
The Importance of Having a Worldview
The program started off with a presentation from Tasnah Moyer and Miyoung Eaton on the importance of having a worldview. This allowed participants to consider the perspectives they may have on education, politics, sexuality and how they are when it comes to standing for their values on campus. This guided participants to prepare to receive the content from the next three presentations.
History & Thought Trends
Dr. David Burgess gave the second presentation on “History & Thought Trends”. An introductory session on thought trends, or the history of philosophy, allowed the participants to start off the seminar with an overview of how ideas have been shaped and adopted throughout the past 400 years especially.
These thought trends played a big part in cultivating the cultural divide in our society today. This allowed participants to understand that contemporary culture and thought trends were developed long before today.
“I like the timeline visual of the last 400 years of history on the shaping of the culture and why and how it was organized. It gave me a better understanding of history from a providential view. And it gave me more motivation to learn about it. “ – Participant
Sexuality & Media
Cheryl Weinstein spoke about sexuality, media, and went into more depth about worldview.
Navigating these topics can be daunting yet this session allowed the participants to delve into the current state of the media and sexuality and the historical background behind these issues.
By the end of the session, participants were able to identify some issues as well as some opportunities in dealing with the media on a personal level and on an industry level.
“I really got a deeper understanding of worldview, postmodernism, and the role of media. It changed my view of different things.” – Participant
The session also focused on the sexual revolution and its effect on society while making a case for marriage at a time of high divorce rates, an increase in cohabitation, and an increase of one-parent households.
In discussion, the participants explored the intended and unintended consequences of the sexual revolution as well as how this has played out in their own lives with a rampant hook-up culture.
Education & the Culture
On this foundation, Dr. Robert Beebe led a session on the deterioration of civic and moral education in schools today which have contributed to family breakdown and a deteriorating society.
One participant shared how the session shed light on his own experience on campus:
“It let me understand this is an example of being in postmodern society. I really got a better understanding of education and how to be aware of the current problems in education.” – Participant
The case was presented for a balanced two-dimensional education including career education and character education where schools need to prioritize civic and moral education in order to raise up responsible, well-adjusted, and active members of society.
Concluding Remarks
The webinar concluded with a message from the CARP co-founder, Mrs. Moon, and implored students to take ownership of their culture and to become leaders in creating the future.
Participants were left motivated by the end of the presentation.
“I got to know that True Mother has hope in us and that really motivates me to do everything I can to help out True Mother.” -Participant
What the Participants Have to Say
“I am grateful for all the presenters that presented today. I learned a lot and I want to apply it in my life and question more to search for answers so that I can be more confident and have conviction. It gave me an idea of where to start.”
“I think it’s great that this is happening. I wish it would have existed when I was a student. It would have made my experience with CARP on campus so much more relevant and empowering and tied directly into a lot of what I was studying or experiencing in my classrooms. I hope it continues.”
“I like doing the discussions and getting other people’s perspectives. Typically, I wouldn’t talk to others about these topics so it’s nice to do it here.”
“I could see CARP is really a unique place where our second generation could meet with first generation members, and we should appreciate and promote deeper exchange for unity of opinion with respect for one another to understand the culture war.”
CARP Los Angeles joined in on the webinar.
Through these seminars, CARP is offering students access to the missing perspectives often shunned on college campuses and opening a dialogue around culture trends. It strives to make a stand for a principled worldview and at the very least a safe space for students to express their viewpoints and ideas.
As a pilot seminar, the focus of this event was to garner interest in the culture wars and what this means to us as individuals and as members of society and to receive feedback on what college students want and need from a seminar like this.
CARP is having another one of these pilot seminars this weekend for graduates of the Generation Peace Academy (GPA) and several more throughout the country to continue to grow the program based on student and young adult feedback especially.
If you’re interested in hosting a Culture Wars seminar in your area, contact david@carplife.org