Paul Parker - Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL

Professor: Paul Parker

Department: Theology

College: Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Parker is alright. His notes often make no sense since they don't go in order and he is all of the place. 4 chapter books with papers each week to write. 10 hours of community service and 4 worship response papers. I always fall asleep during his class and it's hard to pay attention. Grading criteria is confusing; no good feedback. Lots of work

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Parker is great! He makes understanding Christian social ethics fun and easy. We have to read 4 chapter books and write a paper each week, which isn't so bad as long as you know the material. Make sure to write down everything he says. 10 hours of service+need to visit 4 churches and write papers so that is fun! lots of great information

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

It's a lot of work, but very rewarding in the content regardless of whether or not you are Christian, or even religious. The church worship observations and service learning project seem tedious but end up being very fulfilling. Dr. Parker's lectures were interesting to listen to, he's very approachable and he's the reason I loved the class so much

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Not worth it!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This is the first and probably last religion class I will take here at Elmhurst. I took this class for the tags that it completes but I regret it. He is arrogant and his opinion is the only one that matters. I am normally an A/B student but now because of this class I am not. The books for this class are terrible. DONT TAKE THIS CLASS!!!!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This class is very hard and pointlessly so considering it is a 200 level class. Parker takes his role as a professor way too literally and is unwilling to listen to any opinion other than his own. It is his way or the highway. Personally, he has gone out of his way to make sure I do poorly in this class and I am an A/B student.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Don't take unless you have to. It's a very tough class. You're expected to do A LOT of reading each week. An essay paper every week. He's a tough grader. Besides the overload of class work, there's also out of class service learning of 10 hrs. He also makes you visit 4 churches and write about them. Over all, too much work for a 200 level class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

By far the worst class I have ever taken at Elmhurst. If you don't 100% agree with his ideologies, you won't do well. He does not create an environment that is safe for differing opinions, and if you try to disagree, you will be belittled. The books are Christian extremist propaganda, which is the general theme of the class. Horrible experience

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

makes you think critically, not just about religion. He suggested that we read most of the books with the bible and dictionary. There is an essay every week and he randomly chooses a couple that are worth 100 points each and some that are worth 10 on due date. He is a very tough grader. Very demanding for a 200 level course.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This class had me thinking in and outside of class. You have to go into Dr. Parker's class with an open mind and realize that he is there to make you think and learn. I am not religious and his class is by far the most intellectually rewarding class I've had at Elmhurst. It made me want to be a better person. Awesome professor.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HON106
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He told my friend to think more critically before she raises her hand. He'll spend half the class time lecturing on one topic and then say, "why is all of that wrong?" One of the books we had to read, he told us to read it with the Bible and a dictionary next to us. He completely shuts down all of his female students. Do not take this class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This is definitely one of the worst classes I have taken at Elmhurst. Be prepared for long lectures and a lot of writing over books that won't make sense to the average student. If you are in a major that is even somewhat difficult, rethink taking this course because you will NOT have time for all the busywork that is assigned last minute!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 23001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Parker is an amazing teacher. I am Agnostic and I still liked his class. He doesn't not give any tests and he is an easy grader. This class covered the experiential learning tag and all you had to do was volunteer for 15 hours. There is readings every week but as long as you skim the books you should be fine. His class examples are hilarious!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's great as long as you try to do something. He is clear about his expectations and is very nice and willing to help you out anytime. Don't listen to the other negative comments. You will need to do some work, but it is very manageable. He is also very accommodating.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

not sure why everyone thinks it's so "twisted"; he is teaching how christianity should effect our ethics. a lot of people were mad that it wasn't about their opinions.. hint: don't take it if you think it's about your opinion. i promise you it's not. answer the questions and take notes on lecture for the final and you're done. i love parker!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The class is just fine if you want a good grade. its a lot of work but not hard work.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Parker is self-righteous and unfair in his grading. His class is useless. He gives too much off campus work to do that is not in the course description on bluenet. The service learning project is the biggest waste of time. The class is socialist and twisted. Everthing you were taught in church will be rejected in this class His thoughts are twisted

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Some suggestions: Hand out the essay question before we start reading so we know what to look for. Also, make the essay due and discuss it on Tuesday so we have the weekend to work on it. Get rid of the service learning project or let us find our own site to do it. It was a big inconvenience and the CPE was not helpful at all. The class was hard

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The books he makes us read are nothing more than socialist propaganda. I truly can't stand Sider's Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger. It is a very Marxist self-righteous book. Parker thinks that we need to give all our possessions away and live poor to be true Chrisitans. This is absolute bullcrap. He grades papers unfairly and he is twisted.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: REL230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He has some really twisted beliefs about Christianity. He expects us to agree with him or else we'll get a bad grade. He forces us to go to several nighttime guest speaking events, even if we can't make it because of work. He is unclear what he wants in the papers, then marks them unfairly. He forces us to do a 12 hour service project, not worth it