Supernatural Skeptics, Am I Wrong For Questioning My "Critical Thinking" Professor?

I would absolutely have concerns. You can't teach critical thinking if you can not put yourself outside of your beliefs and superstitions. That is what critical thinking is about.

You're right, she's not a critical thinker. She's dogmatic in her belief of the supernatural and paranormal...she shouldn't be teaching critical thinking.

What she claims is not proof. For it to be proof, she would need to have witnesses there, and them actually see him appear, get him on camera, etc... Saying it is not evidence. I could easily say I went outside last night and saw a unicorn fly by in the sky, so that's evidence. No it isn't, because I haven't provided the evidence to anyone else. Anyone can lie. Not saying she is, but going by testimony is about as polar opposite of evidence as one can go.

What you say is correct. She is encouraging her students to agree with her, and if they don't, "they're wrong." She's not a critical thinker, she's pushing her beliefs onto her students, and without REAL evidence to support it.

Edit: I'm not making this up, but she legitimately believes shows like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures provide proof of the paranormal. EVP's are also proof. When I try to give her a natural explanation for such phenomenon, I am told that I can't prove it by my own Professor. I told her that facts are based on observable, measurable, and testable data and she said, "Maybe according to you it is". - Ghost Hunters (along with TAPS) have been debunked before. She should not go by those...they can easily stage ANYTHING for ratings. Otherwise, no ghost findings means no ratings. As for your description of "facts" you are again correct and her incorrect. It sounds like she's saying such things to avoid facing the fact that your statement is right, because it could disprove her belief system. You may want to finish this class out first so she doesn't affect your grade (she sounds emotional enough to do so), then report it to the head of the school afterwards, and explain the concerns you have.

If you have a serious issue with this, it's probably best to take it to someone above you and her at the college.

In any case, I agree with you, but not only for a critical thinking class, but all education should be provided without strong bias or forcing any type of opinion of students. The very idea of education is to provide facts and safe observations of life and particular subjects, allowing learners to expand these ideas through discussion, further education and/or participating in these areas of learning through experiments or experience.

To force upon a student a particular belief or ideology (whether it be belief in supernatural entities, religion, atheism or political stance), is not education in its purest forms. It is indoctrination and goes against the very basic tenets of education and its benefits.

So, in short, I agree with you. I question her fitness to teach any class, let alone one that is on critical thinking.

However, always keep in mind that people are allowed to hold their own opinions and forcing her to disbelieve or refute the belief of the supernatural is a hypocritical action of forcing her to believe in what you do.

Good luck and all the best.

One's experiences and critical thinking are not mutually exclusive. It's a mistake - on both your part and hers - to conclude those two are linked.

If I told you a friend of mine - a renown world-class cardiac surgeon based in Tokyo - and seven of his staff members watched an elderly woman walk straight out of an operating room wall, turn around, then walk right back into it, what would you say?

He called me at 3am, audibly rattled (not knowing to whom he could turn) fearing that to speak about it openly would jeopardize his professional credibility. He said "...this challenges everything I know about the physical world. If it weren't for the fact that my staff saw it too, I'd check myself into my own hospital. What exactly was it?" He now has his head in books about "phenomena"

(and yes, he's still a critical thinker)

'sn't the very definition of critical thinking to be skeptical and gather evidence to sustain a belief or fact?' Yes, she sounds deluded. You cannot accept her claims on the basis on an anecdote, It's too unreliable.

I'm assuming it's a high school class. In college, you will often hear teachers teach their own opinions or theories about subjects. It is the universities obligation to hire people that make valid or reasonable proclamations. Talking about ghosts is a little much.

You are right to challenge her. Believing in something without evidence is the opposite of critical thinking. I wouldn't press her too hard though because she ultimately controls what grade you end up with in the class.

The red flags that have signaled in your head are well considered. Sometimes it is difficult for people to realize when they are not being rational or skeptical when there is such a heavy emotional weight involved.

"Am I just over thinking this?"

No, your concerns are absolutely valid.

It's is extremely unlikely to find a competent teacher in a public school. And somewhat unusual anyplace else. It is so bad that teachers will tell you with a straight face "You shouldn't expect much from your teachers because we didn't get our jobs by being good teachers." Yes, a teacher actually told me that.

Anyone who has any religious or spiritual affiliation should not teach a critical thinking course.

It's as simple as that.