Richard Plantinga - Calvin University

Professor: Richard Plantinga
Department: Theology
College: Calvin University
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: REL131
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Was very informative in class, but I found things outside class to be mildly frustrating. Two things in particular: 1) the tests I had were in "you make the questions and answer them yourself" format, which was tricky and 2) I'd ask questions via non live class channels and the responses felt randomly tepid at best. Who knows. We all have bad days.
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: REL131
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Only grades in the course were 2 exams and a paper. Never received any feedback or even a grade on 1 of my exams or the paper, even after reaching out and asking for them. Couldn't tell me what I was marked down on. Disappointed at the end of the semester because all in all he was a good professor and I feel like he did teach the material well.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: REL131
  • Grade Received: C+
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
This was the worst I have ever done/been graded in my life, and I do not think I am the only one to blame. First off, the only things that count towards your grade are the 2 exams and a couple impossibly hard quizzes, so if you do bad on those, you're screwed. Despite what Calvin says, you're gonna want to be a Christian to get an A in this course.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: REL131
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Prof Plantinga was my favorite this semester. He only lectures, so attending class is important unless you have a buddy. He really cares about his students. Even though I struggled in this class, he could tell I cared about the material and was trying my best so he gave me a better grade than I expected. 100% recommend for REL 131.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: REL131
  • Grade Received: B+
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
A great professor! A lot of reading of his own book but I find it so enjoyable. He covers several interesting topics and you learn so much about theological history and interpretations. His quizzes can be difficult and he's kinda a hard grader with essays but overall his lectures and units are awesome. Also, very Biblically based. He's no heretic
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: REL131
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Plantinga is my favorite professor at Calvin - and I didn't think I was going to like his class at all. His lectures are extremely engaging and I look forward to his Bible jokes that he tells at the beginning of class. You need to know the materials well in order to do well on the tests, but the lectures follow the book very closely.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: REL131
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
This class is graded based on weekly quizzes, three tests, a book-report style essay, and a final exam. Quizzes and tests can be very difficult as they cover a lot of material. Expect a lot of reading. Dr. Plantinga is an engaging lecturer and very intelligent, but unless you put a lot of time into studying outside of class, do not expect an A.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: REL131
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Plantinga's lectures are always very interesting and he usually finds a cheesy evangelical pick up line to make the class laugh/groan. He usually tells you what the essay question on the exam will be, so pay extra attention to that. Overall, he's a pretty great Professor.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: REL251
  • 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:
Professor Plantinga knows what he's doing! He is super insightful in everything that he teaches, and he outlines the class perfectly. It is sometimes hard to keep up with him, though, because he does not allow laptops. Amazing guy!
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: REL251
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He's absolutely hilarious, always began the class with a stupid bible joke. Yes, he is hard at grading the tests and expects detailed essays. As long as you generally know the material, it won't be that hard. Gives quizzes after each reading which aren't hard. He is a difficult grader but makes class worth it. Friendly guy too. Dry sense of humor.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: REL230
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Lectures every day, and nothing else. Happily, they are super interesting, and I walked out of class intrigued every time. It was really hard know what to take notes on, so I ended up feverishly taking notes the entire time, which was a lot of work, but was helpful. Tests and papers are hard, but I got a B on everything. I never did the readings.
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: REL251
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
At the time, it was my least favorite class of the semester, but I can't deny that I learned a lot. The class can seem a little dry, but it honestly did change the way I thought about other religions. He is a difficult prof, but if you put in the work and do the readings, you'll be fine. Also, the way he speaks reminds me of Robert California...
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: REL331
  • Grade Received: B
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Great person who's willing to help his students. However, unclear paper criteria and expectations until after you get your paper/test back. Possibly the most difficult paper grader in the Religion department and grades much differently than any other Professor. Content and originality aren't as important as a concise and mechanically perfect paper.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: REL131
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Platinga is a wonderful teacher and overall person! If you are looking to truly learn something and have a shaping experience, take his class. There's a good amount of reading and effort is necessary. But that's one reason he is a good teacher. You really do learn (which is why you're here).
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: REL131
  • Grade Received: INC
  • Overall Rating: 2.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
His classes are lecture based. There are quizzes every Monday on the chapter readings and they very specific and he expects you to take them in under 2 minutes. IDK about most but that is not enough time for me. He is super intelligent and is a funny and nice guy, but is a very hard grader. If you have no previous knowledge in the subject avoid.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: REL251
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Professor Plantinga gives clear, interesting lectures. He's a tough grader, but if you put in the work you should be fine.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: REL131
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He is extremely smart, but a really difficult grader. If you don't know have any previous knowledge about this stuff, I would avoid him.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: RELIGION131
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Plantinga is brilliant. He co-authored the book for the class, which has its ups and downs. For one, you can always look things up in the book if you missed what he said. Second, he definitely knows what he's talking about. However, he teaches almost directly from the book and his quizzes and tests are very specific.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: REL230
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
An ok class, but he really does grade very hard. It is annoying that he uses his own textbooks and quotes himself all the time. He doesn't like to be argued with and gives poor grades if you can't "fully back up your argument"--so basically if you don't have a PhD like he does.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: REL230
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
My least favorite professor here at Calvin; he doesn't allow make-ups, is not understanding, and is just very frustrating in general. His tests are not easy, and he doesn't give back the weekly quizzes, but instead throws them away. During lectures he quotes from his book and then stands gaping at his own, assumed brilliance. A very bad class.
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