arminianism vs calvinism Essays

arminianism vs calvinism Essays arminianism vs calvinism Essay arminianism vs calvinism Essay Arminianism and Calvinism Christian Doctrine Calvinism Historically, the doctrine of Calvinism arose out of the teaching of John Calvin. Five point Calvinism as it is exposed by its followers today was not taught by Calvin, but instead implied by those who carried his teachings to what they considered to be their logical conclusions. Calvinism is often called Reformed theology, and is founded in John Calvins Institutes of the Christian Religion. The Puritans and independent Presbyterians of Great Britain were heavily influenced by Calvins writings, but some of its greatest followers were Dutch. Most Baptist, Presbyterian, and Reformed churches base their doctrine off of John Calvins teachings. Calvinism can be summarized using the acronym TULIP, which stands for the following: 1 . Total depravity, is the belief that man is dead in trespasses and sins and totally unable to save himself. Many advocates of Calvinism carry this a step further, saying that man cannot even desire a relationship with God apart from His working in their hearts. 2. Unconditional election is the belief that in eternity, God chose or elected certain people to obtain salvation. Some Calvinists (although not all) carry this belief further nd teach what is referred to as double predestination, the teaching that God selected some people to go to heaven and others to go to hell, and there is nothing anyone can do to change Gods election. John Calvin taught this, but called it a terrible doctrine. 3. Limited atonement is the Calvinist teaching that Jesus did not die for the sins of the entire world, but that He only died for those that He elected to go to heaven. The argument is that Christs work on the Cross must be efficacious, that is, it must work for all for whom He died, that He could not have shed His blood for hose who are lost. Some Calvinists have gone to great lengths to explain limited atonement, saying, for example, that Jesus died for all, but does not pray for all, or tnat HIS aeat n tneoretlcally could save everyone, out Is eTTectlve only Tor tne elect. The end result is the same in each case the belief that Jesus only died effectively for some people, not all. 4. Irresistible grace is the doctrine that teaches that God will draw to Himself those whom He elected regardless of their rebellion against Him. It is the belief that man cannot resist the drawing of God to Himself. . Perseverance of the saints, or eternal security, is the doctrine that often attracts people to Calvinism because it is the belief that a true born again Christian cannot lose or give up his salvation because salvation is entirely Gods work, not mans. Arminianism Jacobus Games) Arminius was a Dutch theologian who lived from 1560-1609. Arminius taught that man is only guilty of Adams sin when he sins voluntarily . Arminius started out as a strict Calvinist, but later modified his views, which were expressed in a document called The Remonstrance in 1610. Arminianism is the heological basis for the Methodist, Wesleyan, Nazarene, Pentecostal, Free Will Baptist, Holiness, and many charismatic churches. Arminianism teaches: 1 . Election based on knowledge, the belief that God chose those who would be saved in eternity past based on His foreknowledge of those who would respond to and receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Arminianism rejects the concept that God elected anyone for hell. 2. Unlimited atonement is the belief that Jesus died on the Cross for all people, that His blood is sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of every man, woman, and child who has ever lived. Thus, all mankind is savable. 3. Natural inability is the teaching that man cannot save Himself, but that the Holy Spirit must effect the new birth in him. Strict Arminians do not believe that man is totally depraved and condemned as a result of Adams sin. . Prevenient grace is the belief that the preparatory work of the Holy Spirit enables the believer to respond to the Gospel and to cooperate with God in the salvation of that person. 5. Conditional perseverance is the belief that man can choose to reject God, and therefore lose his salvation, even after he has been born again. Rather than the once saved always saved doctrine of the Calvinists, the Arminian believes that you must abide in Christ to be saved, and that you can ch oose to walk away from God. Arminius himself, and his early followers, stated that they were unsure of this doctrine and that it required further Biblical study. Evaluation of the Doctrines At the heart of the controversy between Calvinism and Arminianism is the emphasis on the sovereignty of God by the Calvinists and on the free will of man, or human responsibility, by the Arminians. Arminians teach that man has free will and hat God will never interrupt or take that free will away. They say that God has obligated Himself to respect the free choice with which He created us. Calvinism, on the other hand, emphasizes that God is in total control of everything, and that nothing can happen that He does not plan and direct, including mans salvation. Both positions are logical, both have Scriptures to back up each of their five points, and both have truth to them. Both are right in what they claim, but both are wrong in what they deny. If truth is pressed to the point of excluding another truth, it becomes an error. The Bible presents a theology that is more man centered than calvinists make it out to be, and theology that is more divine than arminianism present it as. Certainly, the Bible does teach that God is sovereign (Psalm 135:6; Daniel 4:35, Ephesians 1:1 1), and that Dellevers are preaestlnea ana elected Dy (Romans B) to spend eternity wltn However, the bible never associates election with damnation. Scriptures teach that God elects for salvation, but that unbelievers are in hell by their own choice. Every passage of the Bible that speaks of election deals with it in the context of salvation nd not damnation. It is simply not biblical to say someone is elect for hell. The idea of total depravity is consistent with Scripture (Ephesians 2:1, Romans 3:1 1), but the doctrine of limited atonement, that Jesus did not die for the sins of the whole world, is clearly anti-Biblical Cohn 3:16, I Timothy 2:6, II Peter 2: 1, I John 2:2). The Bible teaches that Jesus died for everyones sins and that everyone is able to be saved if they will repent and turn to Christ. Limited atonement is non-Biblical doctrine. Cohn 3:16,17; Romans 5:8, 18; II Corinthians 5:14,15; 1 Timothy 2:4; 4:10; Hebrews 2:9; 10:29; II Peter 2:1; I John 2:2; 4:14. Irresistible grace is taught by some, who do not understand the concept, to mean that God drags people to Himself contrary to their wills. Actually, the Biblical view, and the view of most Calvinists, is the belief that God works on our wills so as to make us willing to surrender to Him. In other words, He makes us willing to come to Christ for salvation. Many Scriptures teach that a true believer is safe and secure in Christ, tha t salvation doesnt depend on our ability to keep ourselves, but on Gods ability to keep s. l John 5:11-13; John 10:28; Romans 5:1 and 8: 1). The only condition for salvation is faith in Christ Cohn 3:16; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9). On the other hand, the Bible teaches us that we must abide in Christ Cohn 15; Luke 13:14; Colossians 1:29; II Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 6:4-6; I Peter 1:10) to persevere in salvation. Finding a Balance The truth of Gods Word flows between the extremes of Calvinism and Arminianism. Both Calvinism and Arminianism have truth in their argument, yet both contain error. Election and predestination are Biblical doctrines. God knows verything and therefore He cannot learn anything or be surprised by anything. He knows, and has known from eternity past, who will exercise their free will to accept Him and who will reject Him. The former are the elect, the latter are non-elect. Every person who is not saved will have only himself to blame; God doesnt send anyone to hell, people choose to go there by exercising their free will to reject Christ. On the other hand, no one who is saved will be able to take any of the credit. Our salvation is 100% Gods work, and is based entirely on the work of the Cross. We were ead in trespasses and sins, destined for hell, when God in His grace, drew us to Himself, convinced us of our sin and our need for a Savior, and allowed us to call Jesus Lord. God will do everything short of making humanity puppets in order for Him to draw us towards salvation but this does not mean that His grace is irresistible. The concept of a limited atonement, that Jesus only died for the elect, and not for the sins of all people, is clearly unbiblical. The Bible is very clear that Jesus death on the cross was for all people, and that there is sufficient power in His blood to cleanse way every sin. Whosoever will may come is meaningless if man has no free will and no ability to choose God. The question of whether or not a Christian can lose or walk away from salvation is academic. When a person who claims to be a Christian and shows some fruit of salvatlon turns nls DacK on ana llves tne IITe 0T a pagan, tne Armlnlan says ne was saved and is now not saved, while the Cal vinist would say that he was either never really saved to start with, or that he is severely backslidden, but his salvation is secure. Ultimately, no one knows the truth but God. The true believer in Christ never has to doubt his salvation. He can rest in the perfect assurance that God saved him and will keep him, and nothing will ever separate him from Gods love in time or eternity. We are secure in Christ, kept by the His loving grace. It is important to remember that both Calvinism and Arminianism are systems of theology devised by godly, devout, Bible-believing men. Both systems are based on the word of God, and both contain important elements of truth, but neither can be substituted for reading and believing the word of God. The New Testament church new nothing of either system, they simply believed what God had revealed in His word. The problem arises when it seems that some of what God has revealed contradicts something else He revealed. How can man be absolutely free and God absolutely sovereign and in control at the same time? How can salvation be entirely Gods work, yet simultaneously require the cooperation of men? These questions are ultimately unanswerable. The Bible teaches both the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. It teaches what appears to be unconditional perseverance in some places and conditional perseverance in others. The human mind can never understand the balance between these points because God is simply too big for us to understand. Both systems of theology emphasize one set of chapters or verses while ignoring or twisting another. We are not called to understand God, only to believe Him. We are free willed creations, responsible for our own sin, hopelessly lost. Jesus not only died for us, He drew us to Himself with love and grace. Jesus died for all of us and desires fellowship with all of us. Gods election excludes no one; Jesus atonement includes everyone. Its as if we are looking at two sides of the same coin. Election is Gods side, free will is our side. Rather than interpreting the Bible based on any theological or philosophical structure, we are to simply read and believe it. As we teach the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, verse by verse, in context, we will at times sound like devout Calvinists, preaching passages which emphasize Gods sovereignty, while at other times we will seem like Arminians, when we preach the passages which emphasize mans responsibility. The key is to find a balance to stay focused on the Word of God, and not become distracted by the doctrines of men.

How to Write Dialogue That Captivates Your Reader

How to Write Dialogue That Captivates Your Reader How to Write Dialogue That Captivates Your Reader And unfortunately, your first reader will be an agent or an editor. You can’t slip anything boring past them. Your job is to make every word count. That’s the way to keep your reader riveted until the final page- no small task. Making every word count is how to write compelling dialogue. Readers love dialogue because: It breaks up intimidating blocks of narrative summary. It differentiates (through dialect and word choice) and reveals characters. Done well, it can move the story without author intrusion. But, as you have likely discovered, writing great dialogue is hard. If yours is bloated or obvious or telling or is in any other way uninteresting, readers won’t stay with you long. So how about we leave them no choice? Need help writing your novel?  Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide. How to Write Dialogue in 6 Steps Cut to the Bone Reveal Backstory Reveal Character Be Subtle Read Your Dialogue Out Loud Create a Make My Day Moment Step 1. Cut to the Bone Unless you need to reveal a character as a brainiac or a blowhard pretending to be one, omit needless words. Obviously, you wouldn’t render a conversation the way a court transcript includes repetition and even um, ah, uh, etc. But even beyond that, see how much you can chop without losing the point. Like this: â€Å"What do you want to do this  Sunday?  I thought wWe could go to the amusement park.† â€Å"I was thinking about renting a rowboat,† Vladimir said.  on one of the lakes.† â€Å"Oh, Vladimir, that sounds wonderful! I’ve never gone rowing  before.† That doesn’t mean all your dialogue has to be short and choppy- just that you’ll cut the dead wood to keep to the point. You’ll be surprised by how much power it adds to your prose. Step 2. Reveal Backstory Layering in backstory through dialogue is another way to keep your reader turning pages. Hinting at some incident for the first time is an automatic setup that demands a payoff. Example: As they headed toward the house, Janet whispered, â€Å"Can we not have a repeat of Cincinnati?† Jeanie shot her a double take. â€Å"Believe me, I don’t want that any more than you do.† â€Å"Good,† Janet said. â€Å"I mean- † â€Å"Can we not talk about it, please?† What normal reader wouldn’t assume they will talk about it at some point and stay with the story until they do? As the story progresses, you can reveal more and more about your protagonist’s past and have your story come full circle. This accomplishes two things: it offers a setup that should intrigue the reader, and it helps you avoid flashbacks. Need help writing your novel?  Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide. Step 3. Reveal Character Your reader learns a lot about your characters through dialogue. You don’t have to TELL us they’re sarcastic, witty, narcissistic, kind, or anything else. You can SHOW us by how they interact and by what they say. Step 4. Be Subtle Dialogue can accomplish a number of tasks. Here are three: 1. Subtext- where people say other than what they mean. This can be fun. Example: My friend sold a short story to a general-market magazine years ago about a girl named Cindy who falls in love with the slightly older boy next door, who sees her as just a little sister type. When they get to high school, Tommy is the big man on campus, captain of the football team, dating the head cheerleader, and pretty much ignoring Cindy. She’s just his younger neighbor and friend. Tommy leaves for college and word soon gets back to Cindy during her senior year of high school that he and his girlfriend have broken up. So when he comes home after his freshman year of college and is changing a tire on his car, Cindy just happens to walk outside. She strikes up a conversation with Tommy, and he looks up, stunned. Who is this beautylittle Cindy from next door? She says, â€Å"Making a change, are you?† Tommy looks at the tire and back at her and says, â€Å"Yeah, I actually I am making a change.† Cindy says, â€Å"Well, I’ve heard that rotating can be a good thing.† And he says, â€Å"Yeah, I’ve heard that too.† That’s subtext. They’re not saying what they really mean. They’re not really talking about changing the tire, are they? 2. Sidestepping- when a character responds to a question without answering it. Instead, what the character says is so profound and unexpected that it offers a whole new understanding of what’s going on. Example: In the movie Patch Adams, the late Robin Williams played a brilliant young doctor who believes the Old Testament adage that â€Å"laughter is the best medicine.† He goes into the children’s cancer ward of a hospital wearing an inflated surgical glove on his head, making him look like a rooster. He wears bedpans for shoes and stomps about, flapping his arms and squawking. The children find it hilarious, but hospital directors consider it undignified and demand he stop. Patch Adams is trying to make one girl in particular- a hospital volunteer- laugh. But while everyone else thinks he’s funny, she never cracks a smile. Finally, Patch leaves the hospital to open a clinic in the country. Imagine his surprise when that humorless young lady appears to help him set up. At one point, she goes outside to rest, so Patch follows and sits opposite her. He says, â€Å"I’ve got to ask. Everybody thinks I’m hysterical, but you. I’ve tried everything. What is it with you? Why don’t you ever think anything I say is funny?† After several seconds of silence, she says, â€Å"Men have liked me all my lifeall my life† And we realize by the way she says it, she was abused as a child. Suddenly, we understand what this girl is all about. She doesn’t trust men, and she doesn’t laugh, because life isn’t funny. The way she responded did not answer his question. Her problem had nothing to do with him or his humor. Finally, Patch realizes that some things aren’t funny. Some things you just don’t make fun of. Sometimes, you need to quit cracking jokes and just listen. It’s a great turnaround in the story. And an example of sidestep dialogue. 3. Silence The old truism that silence can be golden rings true for our last technique. Many, including Abraham Lincoln, have been credited with the line: â€Å"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.† One of the toughest things to learn as a writer is to avoid filling silent gaps. Just like we shouldn’t tell what’s not happening in a story, neither do we need to write that someone didn’t respond or didn’t answer. If you don’t say they did, the reader will know they didn’t. Example: â€Å"Well John,† Linda said, â€Å"what do you have to say for yourself?† John set his jaw and stared out the window. â€Å"I’m waiting,† she said. He lit a cigarette. Linda shook her head. â€Å"I swear, John, honestly.† Now, too many writers feel the need to write here, â€Å"But he refused to say anything,† or â€Å"But he never responded.† Don’t! We know, we get it- and it’s loud, effective, silent dialogue. The reader knows because John is saying nothing, and yet saying everything. Silence is golden. Step 5. Read Your Dialogue Out Loud One way to be certain your dialogue flows is to read it aloud or even act it out. Anything that doesn’t sound right won’t read right either, so rewrite it until it does. Step 6. Create a â€Å"Make My Day† Moment Certain iconic lines of dialogue have become as legendary as the films and books they originate from: â€Å"Frankly my dear† â€Å"There’s no place like home.† â€Å"We’re not in Kansas anymore.† â€Å"To my big brother George, the richest man in town.† â€Å"What we have here is failure to communicate.† â€Å"Go ahead, make my day.† â€Å"May the force be with you.† â€Å"Houston, we have a problem.† â€Å"Run, Forrest, run!† â€Å"You had me at hello.† Most writers - even bestselling novelists - never create such an unforgettable line of dialogue. But striving to create one is a worthy effort. Ironically, it should fit so seamlessly it doesn’t draw attention to itself until fans begin quoting it. How to Use Dialogue Tags to Identify Speakers Dialogue attribution tags- he said, she said, etc.- indicate who is speaking. Resist the urge to get creative here. Said is almost always your best choice. Teachers who urge you to find alternatives are usually unpublished and believe agents and editors will be impressed. Trust me, they won’t be. Avoid mannerisms of attribution. People say things. They don’t wheeze, gasp, sigh, laugh, grunt or snort them. They might do any of those things while saying them, which might be worth mentioning, but the emphasis should be on what is said, and readers just need to know who is saying it. Keep it simple. All those other descriptors turn the spotlight on an intrusive writer. Sometimes people whisper or shout or mumble, but let their choice of words indicate they’re grumbling, etc. If it’s important that they sigh or laugh, separate that action from the dialogue. Jim sighed. â€Å"I can’t take this anymore.† Not: Jim sighed, â€Å"I can’t take this anymore.† Though you read them in school readers and classic fiction, attribution tags such as use of reply, retort, exclaim, and declare have become clicheÃŒ d and archaic. You’ll still see them occasionally, but I suggest not using them. Often no attribution is needed. Use dialogue tags only when the reader wouldn’t otherwise know who’s speaking. I once wrote an entire novel, The Last Operative, without attributing a single line of dialogue. Not a said, an asked, anything. I made clear through action who was speaking, and not one reader, even my editor, noticed. A common error is characters addressing each other by name too often. Real people rarely do this, and it often seems planted only to avoid a dialogue tag. Fictional dialogue should sound real. Don’t start your dialogue attribution tag with said. Rather, end with said. said Joe or said Mary, reads like a children’s book. Substitute he and she for the names and that will make it obvious. said he or said she just doesn’t sound right. Use said after the name for the best sound. Joe said or Mary said. Resist the urge to explain, and give the reader credit. The amateur writer often writes something like this: â€Å"I’m beat,† exclaimed John tiredly. Besides telling and not showing - violating a cardinal rule of writing - it uses the archaic exclaimed for said, misplaces that before the name rather than after, and adds the redundant tiredly. The pro would write: John dropped onto the couch. â€Å"I’m beat.† That shows rather than tells, and because John’s action has been described, we don’t need an attribution tag to know he’s speaking. How to Punctuate Dialogue Few things expose a beginner like incorrect punctuation, especially in dialogue. Agents and editors justifiably wonder if you read dialogue, let alone whether you can write it, if you write something like: â€Å"I don’t know.† she said. Or, â€Å"What do you think?† He said. To avoid common mistakes: Start a new paragraph for each speaker When one character’s dialogue extends to more than one paragraph, start each subsequent paragraph with a double quotation mark, and place your closing double quotation mark only at the end of the final paragraph. Place punctuation inside the quotation marks, the dialogue tag outside: â€Å"John was just here asking about you,† Jim said. The attribution tag goes after the first clause of a compound sentence: â€Å"Not tonight,† he said, â€Å"not in this weather.† When dialogue ends with a question or exclamation mark, the dialogue tag following the quotation marks should be lowercase:   Ã¢â‚¬Å"I’m glad you’re here!† she said. Action before dialogue takes a separate sentence: Anna shook her head. â€Å"I can’t believe she’s gone!† Quoting within a quote requires single quotation marks: â€Å"Lucy, Mom specifically said, ‘Do not cut your bangs,’ and you did it anyway!† When action or attribution interrupts dialogue, use lowercase as dialogue resumes: â€Å"That,† she said, â€Å"hurt bad.† Dialogue Examples If you’re old enough to remember the original Twilight Zone (hosted by Rod Serling) or Dragnet (starring and narrated by Jack Webb), you know how dialogue set the tone for their shows. Serling was sometimes whimsical, sometimes mysterious, but always provocative. â€Å"Consider one middle-aged adult, lost in space and time†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jack Webb, as L.A. police detective Sergeant Joe Friday, was always deadly serious and monotone. â€Å"Just the facts, ma’am.† Contrast those with the dialogue between Tom and his Aunt Polly in Tom Sawyer. If you’re anything like me, you were laughing from page 1. There! I mighta thought of that closet. What you been doing in there? Nothing. Nothing! Look at your hands. And look at your mouth. What IS that truck? I dont know, aunt. Well, I know. Its jam- thats what it is. Forty times Ive said if you didnt let that jam alone Id skin you. Hand me that switch. The switch hovered in the air- the peril was desperate- My! Look behind you, aunt! The old lady whirled round and snatched her skirts out of danger. The lad fled on the instant, scrambled up the highboard fence, and disappeared over it. Great dialogue can set the tone for your entire story and also differentiate characters, as we discussed earlier. In Huckleberry Finn,  Mark Twain delineates between Huck the Southern white boy and Jim the runaway slave by just hinting at their respective accents. Twain doesn’t use tags to tell who’s speaking, yet the reader never confuses the two. Huck says, â€Å"Jim, did y’all ever see a king?† Y’all is the only word in that sentence that implies a Southern accent, but it’s enough. Jim says, â€Å"I sho enough did.† Huck says, â€Å"You liar, Jim. You never seen no king.† Jim says, â€Å"I seen foh kings in a deck of cards.† Huck’s bad grammar and Jim’s sho and foh are the only hints of their dialects. Contrived phonetic spelling would slow the reading, but look what Twain accomplished with simple choices. The Cardinal Sin of Dialogue The last thing you want is to produce on-the-nose dialogue. Apply to your own work those principles and the tools I’ve outlined here, and I believe you’ll immediately see a huge difference. So will your reader. In the Comments, ask me any questions regarding how to write dialogue. Need help writing your novel?  Click here to download my ultimate 12-step guide.

Progression in Knowledge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Progression in Knowledge - Essay Example Currently, I am a student with a double major in international relations with a concentration in Europe and French. My perspective in life gradually changed and significantly broadened as I matured in age. My aspiration in life was not confined anymore to merely attain personal success in life but I came to the realization as I understand my role in society as part of the next generation. But as to be expected in life, there are many hindrances along the way. As an international student, the fluctuating currency rates contribute to the difficulty in supporting my education. We are not a wealthy family and tuition fees are arduous on my parents. With no other source of paying for a summer study abroad, it is indeed very difficult. But even though financial matters pose a hindrance to my goals, I am determined to make the extra effort as this step forms a major component of my course. This is the very reason why I appeal to the generosity of this institution to grant me a scholarship. I trust that a university such as this will esteem and recognize efforts coming from promising pupils. I am aware that there are many applicants requesting for this opportunity. Despite this, I am settled to take my chance as this will pave a way for me as an international student. I am aware that being a student in this institution carries with it a great responsibility and requires utmost devotion and determination. It is my aspiration to gain knowledge and expertise in this university to better myself, to be able to provide for my family in the future and be an asset to the community. I view this as another challenge to improve my personality.

Entrepreneurial Management and Leadership Assignment

Entrepreneurial Management and Leadership - Assignment Example We can promote corporate entrepreneurship through human resource management practices, which establish relationships among employees, promotes risk acceptance, nurtures informal entrepreneurial behaviors, and matches individual employees to the job situation (ORourke 1). Additionally, strategy can also enhance corporate entrepreneurial activities by addressing all dynamics that may hinder the success of corporate entrepreneurial activities. Moreover, structure and culture can prevent corporate entrepreneurial activities by creating cultural differences and organizational differences in corporate entrepreneurial activities. The United Food Industries Corporation addresses entrepreneurship by having a vision statement, which seeks to make UFIC one of the leading Arab and International companies in the manufacturing and marketing of food products (â€Å"Deemah† 1). Moreover, the company has a research and development department, which limits the company’s operations to advancements in design, products, and style. Indeed, the company seeks to improve existing food products, and to assess new ways of producing the food products. Indeed, the company produces and markets high quality products with competitive prices to satisfy customers’ needs and trust on UFIC products (â€Å"Deemah† 1). Notably, the United Food Industries Corporation corporate strategy is open to ideas generated from different units that are not part of the corporate strategy. Corporate entrepreneurial intensity relates to how entrepreneurship varies by degree and frequency, and how this variance affects the personal well-being and corporate performance. UFIC has recorded major expansion in manufacturing a processed cheese line and a vital processing and packaging dimension to the operation (â€Å"United Group Logistics Center† 1). Specifically, UFIC took in Lactalis as a

On the Possibility of Transcendental Materialism Essay -- Philosophy P

On the Possibility of Transcendental Materialism ABSTRACT: The purpose of this address is to argue for the following theses: (1) the concept of transcendentality can be associated not only with idealism but also with materialism; (2) such a connection was made possible by Karl Marx's theory; and (3) in the development of Marxism up to now, theory has been tied to a political movement, which is an error of principle, for what survives of it is a kind of social ethics which should more appropriately be called Marxism. Transcendence and immanence are notions of relationship. Values exist sensually above the senses: e.g., the aesthetic value of a painting is not identical with the material of the canvas and the oils on it, although it cannot exist without them. Persons who do not recognize values that are transcendent compared to the merely natural immanence or, to put it in another way, those for whom nothing is sacred are in fact not truly human. I The concept of transcendentality, as we know, was introduced by Immanuel Kant in Section VII of his Introduction to his chef d'oeuvre, Kritik der reinen Vernunft, where he said that cognition is transcendental when it is occupied not so much with objects as with the mode of our knowledge of objects. He subsequently examined the possibility of surpassing mere immanence without arriving in the sphere of an abstract transcendence. Kant's idealism is therefore neither immanent (subjective) nor transcendent (objective)-it is a transcendental idealism that seeks the potential and the limitations of cognition. This concept of transcendentality, although with certain modifications, remains unchanged in the subsequent development of German idealism, having in general preserved the formu... ...though it also supersedes it-much in the way of the Kantian idea of knowledge which always begins with apperception but then surpasses it theoretically. The assumption of at least a prevailing, if not existing, transcendence-in neo-Kantian terms: gelten-existieren-which emerges from the sphere of immanence and supersedes it, using that sphere as a basis, should be the essence of a transcendental materialism. And if Marx's thought is cleansed from the debris which the political movement has deposited on it, that is, if it takes shape as Marxianism, then from this approach Marxianism, owing to and undertaking the philosophical and cultural heritage it takes as its point of departure, may consider itself as a radical Protestant view, even a version of 'God is dead' theologies. Because, as the Czech Marxian philosopher Vità ©zslav Gardavsky said, God is not entirely dead.

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 4

â€Å"Doug!† He shrugged. â€Å"It's not a big deal. I mean, it's pretty hot, really.† â€Å"But I didn't do those things. It's not really me.† â€Å"She sounds just like you. Her name begins with a Gtoo.† â€Å"But it's not†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I swallowed, noting the similarities as well. Doug watched me appraisingly. â€Å"You can't really blame them. Description-wise, you two match, and everyone knows you and Mortensen are chummy – not to mention what a zealous fan you are and all. After they read the story, Casey even made the brilliant observation that you guys came in together yesterday. You should have seen the speculation that started.† â€Å"But†¦that was nothing.† No one at work even knew Seth and I were dating. I hadn't wanted that widely known. â€Å"We hadn't done anything.† Doug shrugged again, rising from the computer. â€Å"Too bad. I wouldn't have thought less of you if you had, you know. It's your business anyway.† I groaned. â€Å"Not when it's in print for everyone to see.† â€Å"I thought it was all fictitious,† he reminded me with a sly grin, putting on his coat. â€Å"It is! Doug, what am I going to do?† â€Å"Don't know, Kincaid. I'm sure you'll figure something out. Maybe start with asking Mortensen why he's putting his fantasies on display for everyone to see.† He tweaked my cheek, and I squirmed out of his reach. â€Å"As for me, I've got a rehearsal to get to. Big night tomorrow. Later.† My shift proceeded miserably after that. Now that I knew what the looks were for, the experience moved into a whole new realm of humiliation. I hated idle speculation, hated people thinking terrible things about me. I mean, it wasn't like I hadn't ever tied someone up before or had sex in an elevator, but come on. It wasn't the kind of thing I wanted people to consider publicly. I liked to keep my intimate affairs discreet. I therefore stayed in the office as much as possible, only going out to help when absolutely necessary, and to check if Seth had returned yet. Finally, a couple hours before closing, I saw him back at his table. I sat down opposite him in a rage, not even caring what others would think of us being together. â€Å"Why did you do it? Why did you write me in like that?† Seth looked up from his laptop, his expression clearly implying whatever writing he was working on still held his attention more than I did. For all I knew, I was at the center of an orgy in some novel now. â€Å"What?† â€Å"The story!† I threw American Mystery onto the table loudly. â€Å"You wrote me in. I'mGenevieve.† He blinked. â€Å"No you aren't.† â€Å"Oh yeah? How come both our names begin with a G? How come we look alike?† â€Å"You don't look anything like her,† he countered. â€Å"That's not what half the store thinks. They think she's me! They think you've written up a fling we had in an elevator.† Realization flashed across his face, and to my horror, he actually smiled. â€Å"Really? That's funny.† â€Å"Funny? It's terrible! They all think I'm a bondage freak.† â€Å"Thetis,† he began gently, still damnably serene, â€Å"I – â€Å" â€Å"Don't ‘Thetis' me. It won't work.† â€Å"I wrote that story, like, six months ago. Long before I met you. The publishing world doesn't move that fast.† â€Å"Well, the others don't know that.† I hovered on the verge of tears. â€Å"I'd never write in anyone so blatantly.† â€Å"Yeah? Well, they don't know that either,† I said, slouching back against my chair miserably, arms crossed. Seth sighed, his amber brown eyes compassionate as he regarded me. â€Å"Look, do you want me to say something? Tell them that it wasn't you?† â€Å"Lord, that would just convince them even more that it was me. Besides, what are you going to do, call a press conference to clear my name?† â€Å"I'm sorry,† he told me seriously. â€Å"I never thought anything like this would happen.† A hesitation. â€Å"Do†¦do you still want to go out tomorrow night? I mean†¦if you don't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The old adorable shyness fell over him, and I couldn't stay mad. â€Å"No,† I told him. â€Å"I still want to go, but†¦I think we should, you know, show up at the concert separately. Most of the staff will be there, you know.† He opened his mouth to speak but then reconsidered. I suspected he had been about to accuse me of overreacting, but apparently my radiating fury made him think better of it. Seth wasn't exactly the confrontational type. Or, considering the mood I was in, perhaps he just wasn't the stupid type. â€Å"Okay,† he finally said. â€Å"We'll meet there.† â€Å"Georgina?† Looking up, I saw Paige standing over us, disapproval all over her face. I hadn't even noticed her approach. She wore another of her beautiful power suits, this time in an electric violet that looked stunning with her dark skin. â€Å"Can I speak to you for a few minutes?† she asked, tone grim. â€Å"In private?† I followed her to her office, letting her close the door behind us. Not surprisingly, a copy of American Mystery sat on her desk. â€Å"So,† she began crisply, â€Å"I've been hearing some rumors – â€Å" â€Å"Damn it. It's not me.† I proceeded to relate to her my own recent discoveries, pointing out Seth's observation concerning how long it took for works to come out in print. When I finished, I think I had mostly convinced her of my innocence, though sordid stories flying around the workplace still obviously distressed her. Studying nothing in particular, Paige drummed her lacquered red nails against the desk as she thought about what to do. â€Å"This will get cleared up with the staff in time. That, or they'll just get over it. What I don't like is the idea of any outsiders drawing conclusions. You do sound like that character, and anyone else who reads the story could make the same mistake. I don't want rumors starting that half of Seth's reason for working here is that he gets sexual favors on the side, courtesy of our employees.† â€Å"Oh Lord.† I covered my face with my hands, wondering how celebrities dealt with truly large-scale scandals. This small one was bad enough. I wanted to disappear. It tainted the beauty of what Seth and I were trying to build. â€Å"I think the best way to approach this is – â€Å" Her words dropped off as a grimace crossed her face and one hand clutched her stomach. I started toward her. â€Å"Are you okay?† She nodded, forcing a strained smile. â€Å"It†¦it's nothing.† â€Å"The hell it is. You should call your doctor†¦or at least go home.† â€Å"No, it'll pass. Besides, I've got too much to do. I need to make the new schedule and go over some inventory stats.† â€Å"That's crazy. I can do that stuff.† She shook her head, arguing again, and I argued right back. At last, Paige yielded, which only verified something must be seriously wrong. Those who went head-to-head with her rarely won. So, I finished my shift doing her extra jobs and serving as backup. It was exhausting, but I was happy to do it, still worrying about her and her baby. When we closed, I headed straight over to the suburbs, following the directions Bastien had given me. When I pulled up to his house, I could only sit in my car and stare for a few minutes. Now, I had a few well-formed ideas about the American Dream. After all, I'd been alive in the days when the term was first coined. I'd seen it arise, seen the mythology that surrounded it, seen the white picket fences and cute, well-kept neighborhoods. I'd even watched Leave it to Beaver. Seth's brother, for example, lived north of the city and had a pretty nice chunk of it carved out. But this? This was an American Wet Dream. Bastien's house went on forever, expanding ostentatiously beyond its marble and taupe facade. Even if he'd had a wife and family, I doubted they could have filled it up, and anyway, the kind of people who lived in these places didn't have large families. After all, this was the generation that had, what, 1.75 kids? The garage had three doors, as advertised, and tasteful shrubs and ornamental trees decorated the lawn. Since it was dark now, I couldn't see the rest of the neighborhood in detail, but I suspected I'd find more of the same. One house, next door, was lit up and busy with people. It was even bigger than Bastien's and probably the location of the party. â€Å"Are you compensating for something?† I asked when the incubus opened his door. Mitch Hunter flashed me the million-dollar grin. â€Å"My sweet sister, you and I both know that's not true. Love your haircut.† I'd come as Tabitha Hunter, lean and blond, though I'd conceded to his earlier complaints and given myself shoulder-length hair. He kissed my cheek and ushered me inside for a quick tour. After a few rooms, it all started blurring together. Cherry hardwood floors. Gorgeously painted walls. Sleek black appliances. Wainscoting. A hot tub out back. Enough guest bedrooms to house a Girl Scout troop. And cute, cleverly placed knick-knacks everywhere. â€Å"Isn't this going a bit far?† I asked, pointing to a framed copy of the Lord's Prayer in the foyer. â€Å"Tabitha, my love, man cannot survive on bread alone. We can, however, survive on delicious appetizers and hamburgers, so let's head over.† We arrived considerably after the starting time, since I'd been at work, and the party was in full swing. Maybe I shouldn't have been so quick to dismiss these suburbanites after all. â€Å"Mitch!† called a loud voice as we shouldered our way through the people. Most were dressed for the barbecue theme in shorts, T-shirts, and Hawaiian prints. â€Å"Hey, Bill,† returned Bastien, extending his hand to a plain yet well-groomed man with silver-streaked black hair. I recognized him from his photos. Dana's husband. â€Å"This is my sister, Tabitha. Hope you don't mind me bringing her.† â€Å"No, no! The more the merrier, I say.† He allowed a small, artificial laugh and smiled at me, making his eyes crinkle. â€Å"Especially ones so pretty. Makes me wish I was a younger man,† he teased with a wink. Unable to resist, I looked up at him through my lashes and said demurely, â€Å"I've always thought age was kind of irrelevant, Bill.† I held onto his proffered hand. â€Å"I know I'm always happy to learn from those with more†¦experience.† His eyes widened slightly, lighting with both intrigue and alarm. â€Å"Well,† he said after an uncomfortable moment, â€Å"I should probably spread myself around.† He remembered to let go of my hand. â€Å"Feel free to find something to eat, and don't forget to try the pool.† He glanced at me and my come-hither smile consideringly, hesitated, and then reluctantly departed. â€Å"Don't ever do that again,† hissed Bastien, steering me toward the kitchen by the arm. â€Å"Do what?† â€Å"Flirt with this group! You're supposed to be bolstering my wholesome image, not leading on my target's husband.† â€Å"I wasn't leading him on. Besides, what's it matter? Scandalize them both.† â€Å"No. Dana only. My show.† I cut him a look but said nothing. He wanted me as an observer but not a participant. It figured. All the glory for himself, praise from those above. He'd always had this competitive need to make himself shine. It was one of the things that I liked about him – an eager desire to prove himself the best. I guess I'd had it once too, but not anymore. As far as I was concerned, he was welcome to all the fame and fortune of this gig. â€Å"Just play my sweet, angelic sister,† he continued in a whisper. â€Å"Possibly my sweet, angelic, and frigid sister.† Moving through the house gave me a chance to take in more of the party's theme. Faux palm trees. Glittering, decorative suns everywhere. Small appetizer tables set up here and there, laden with deviled eggs, cocktail wieners, and cubed cheese. It was silly in some ways, but someone had obviously paid a lot of attention to detail. I appreciated that. All of the guests looked like Bill – and Bastien and me, I realized. Clean-cut, with every hair in place. High quality, conservative clothes (in a tropical sort of way). Upper-class. White. They freaked me out. The kitchen proved to be the true hub of food, and I decided to simply gorge myself rather than risk more conversation that might upset Bastien. I loaded up a paper plate with a hamburger, potato salad, and some kind of weird Jell-O-fruit-whipped-cream hybrid dessert. My efforts to simply eat unnoticed proved futile, as I soon found myself surrounded by a group of women. I didn't know where they'd come from. One minute I was just eating, the next minute six perfect faces were smiling at me. They were like a pack of wild dogs, yipping nonstop, honing in on lone prey. They'd even managed to separate me from Bastien, all the better to tear me apart. The incubus now stood across the room with a similarly ravenous group of men, no doubt discussing cigars and lawn mowers. I shot him a panicked look, but he merely shrugged. â€Å"Mitch's sister,† oozed one of the women. â€Å"I should have known! You guys look exactly alike.† â€Å"Well, not exactly alike,† tittered another. She wore an appliqu? ¦ sweater vest. Yikes. â€Å"We were just talking about stamping. Do you stamp, Tabitha?† â€Å"Urn, like use stamps?† I asked with a frown. â€Å"I mean, I mail things†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The Stepford Wives giggled again at this. â€Å"Oh! That's so funny.† â€Å"We mean rubber stamps. Arts and crafts stamps,† explained one of them. She'd introduced herself as Jody – the only name I could remember among the group. Probably because she seemed to have a slightly higher IQ than the rest. And was the only one of us without blond hair. â€Å"You use them to decorate things. â€Å" She dug into her purse and produced a small invitation on beautiful ivory cardstock. Scrolling vines and flowers decorated the front. â€Å"This is the invitation Dana made for this party.† I stared. â€Å"Seriously?† Somehow I'd imagined the â€Å"Great Job!† kind of stamps that teachers used on well-written papers. This was beautifully inked and in different colors. It looked professional, like something from Hallmark. â€Å"Mitzi's having a stamp party next week,† exclaimed one of the other women. â€Å"We could show you how to do it.† â€Å"Ooh†¦that would be so fun!† â€Å"Yes! Let's!† â€Å"Gee, it looks kind of time-consuming,† I told them, wishing desperately that I was somewhere else. I was sure I could have held my own in a cigar and lawn mower conversation better than a stamping one. â€Å"I don't think I have the time.† â€Å"Oh, but it's so worth it,† one assured me earnestly. She wore earrings that spelled ALOHA in dangling letters. â€Å"Betsey and I made bridal-shower invitations for her sister all day yesterday, and the time flew by. â€Å" â€Å"Did you use those cute dove stamps?† cooed another, not unlike a dove herself. â€Å"I spent all Tuesday looking for those at the mall.† â€Å"Don't you guys work?† I asked, wondering at their frequent use of â€Å"all day.† A century ago, I wouldn't have given it a thought. But this was the age of the so-called modern woman. We weren't supposed to lounge around in parlors anymore and pass out from wearing corsets. They turned to me, mouths agape. â€Å"Well, there's so much to do around the house,† Jody finally said. â€Å"Most of us are too busy with those things.† Like stamping? â€Å"Besides,† laughed Bitsy or Muffin or whatever the hell her name was, â€Å"it's not like we need to. Do you have a job?† â€Å"Well, yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"What's your husband do?† â€Å"Oh. I'm not married.† This got more stares, and then suddenly they erupted with ideas and suggestions of â€Å"perfect single men† who worked with their husbands. I had to get out of here. Either that or render myself funconscious with the wrought-iron pig wearing an apron that sat on the kitchen table. I turned anxiously to Jody. â€Å"Didn't I hear there was a pool somewhere?† She brightened. â€Å"There sure is. I'll show you.† We extracted ourselves from the others, and she led me toward the back of the house. â€Å"Sorry if they're a little overwhelming,† she apologized. â€Å"I sort of feel responsible for their stamping frenzy. â€Å" The fact that she'd used the word â€Å"frenzy† to describe them made me laugh. â€Å"How so?† â€Å"I got them into it.† Her dark eyes twinkled. â€Å"Never thought it'd go this far, though. I used to be an elementary art teacher, and sometimes they remind me of the kids. They're all good souls, though.† â€Å"Why don't you teach anymore?† Drawing pictures with children sounded like a wicked cool job to me. If nothing else, the grading had to be easy. â€Å"Well, Jack likes me at home, and this way I get to take out my artistic urges on the house – and enable the neighbors. Every time I get hooked on a new project, our house takes the brunt of it: pottery, beading, watercolors†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"And stamping?† She laughed. â€Å"And stamping.† â€Å"Could you, like, teach part-time and still get everything done around the house?† â€Å"Maybe. But I've also got my CPFV duties, so my schedule's pretty packed.† CPFV? Damn. For a minute there, Jody had seemed like a pretty cool person. â€Å"You're a member?† Her expression registered mild surprise. â€Å"Yes, of course. We all are. You should come to a meeting someday. I know Dana would love to have you.† â€Å"Where is Dana?† I hadn't even seen the main attraction tonight. â€Å"I mean, I'm such a fan and all. When Mitch told me we were coming, I couldn't even believe it.† Pursing her lips, she glanced around with a cute frown. â€Å"I'm not really sure where she is. She's probably just mingling. Everyone wants to talk to her. But don't worry – you'll see her before you leave.† â€Å"That'd be great.† She smiled and gave my hand a quick squeeze. â€Å"I hope we get to see you around. Oh – here we are.† We arrived in a massive, glass-encased sunroom containing a crystal blue pool. It looked lovely and inviting. When Jody asked if I had a suit, I assured her I had one under my clothes and thanked her for helping me. She returned to the main party, and I slipped into a bathroom where I shape-shifted into a turquoise bikini. Some people eyed me curiously, probably wondering who I was, but they left me alone once I was in the pool. I dove under, swimming laps, enjoying the solitude water offered. It had been a long time since I'd been able to do this. I knew Seth swam at a local health club; he said it helped clear his head sometimes. He and I would have to go together one of these days. Or better yet, swim in the ocean somewhere. Yes, that was the way to go. Moonlit beaches and tropical air, away from this crummy rain. Maui. Cancun. Hell, why did we even have to constrain ourselves to North America? We could go to the French Riviera, the Greek Islands†¦ I was so caught up in my fantasies that when I climbed out of the pool, I didn't notice the woman in front of me. I sidestepped, ever quick on my feet, just barely avoiding collision. â€Å"Sorry,† I said. â€Å"I didn't see – â€Å" I froze. It was Dana. She looked exactly like her promotional pictures. Slim, average height, shoulder-length black hair, and penetrating blue eyes. Her bio placed her in her forties, but she looked a lot younger than that. The result of all that clean living, I supposed. She wore khaki shorts and a green T-shirt, modestly covered by a white button-up blouse tied in a knot over her stomach. A smooth, cool smile settled on her face, and those eyes reminded me of a hawk seeking out prey. â€Å"No harm done,† she said in that same hypnotic radio voice. â€Å"I don't think we've met. I'm Dana.† She extended a hand, and I took it. â€Å"Yes. Of course you are. I mean, I know you are. I've seen your pictures. Er, I mean, I'm a fan and all†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"And you are†¦?† â€Å"Oh. Sorry. I'm Tabitha Hunter. Mitch's sister. Though maybe you knew that. Everyone says we look alike. I guess we do. I've never really thought about it†¦much†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Ye gods, why was I rambling like this? I had worked dukes and bishops who were ten times scarier than her. They hadn't turned me into a blathering idiot. What was it about one radio bigot that should prove so unsettling? The eyes, I decided. They reflected no warmth. They were shrewd. Conniving. The kind of eyes that warned she had not risen to where she was today without hypervigilance. The kind of eyes that had an agenda. â€Å"It's nice to meet you,† she said, still maintaining that too-perfect smile. â€Å"I didn't know Mitch had a sister. You seem to be†¦enjoying the pool.† Her eyes glanced down over me and back up, suddenly making me feel self-conscious. Water dripped most unflatteringly off of me, and I uneasily wondered if this suit showed too much skin. At least it wasn't white. Bastien's warning about wholesome image came back to me for real, and I understood his concern now. Looking like a strumpet could be bad for his reputation. If he drew whispers and disdain, he might be ostracized from this group and lose access to Dana. Suddenly, Dana's frostiness didn't seem so weird. It was disapproval. She had, after all, delivered a whole spiel on the abominable state of today's fashions. Here I was embodying it. â€Å"It's very nice,† I said. â€Å"One of the, um, best pools I've swam in.† I stopped before I could say something else even more asinine, and silence fell. She looked as though she expected me to continue and could wait all night until I did. Unfortunately, I had no idea what to talk to this weird woman about. My alleged hatred of homosexuals? Ask if she had recommendations for a more modest swimsuit? â€Å"So, um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I began. â€Å"This barbecue theme†¦it's really, uh†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I was saved just then – sort of – by Bastien. He strode up to us, appearing very excited to have found Dana. A sharp look in his eyes said he was less thrilled to see me, especially in this state, but he kept it masked from the other woman, instead coming off as amiable and charming as ever. â€Å"Ah, Tabitha, I see you've met our hostess.† â€Å"Yes,† agreed Dana. â€Å"We've been having a most stimulating conversation. Your sister's quite the wordsmith.† I flushed. Bitch. When I was in my zone, I could outtalk her any day. â€Å"Glad to hear it. My Tabby Cat here is nothing if not stimulating.† Oblivious to my horror over my new nickname, Bastien steered her into some pleasant conversation about the creativity of the party and the beauty of her home. Her demeanor warmed up only a bit from what it was with me. She still came off cool and watchful. Maybe she was always chilly around people, and it wasn't just me. In fact, I thought optimistically, this slightly elevated interest in Bastien might indicate that she wanted to throw him up against a wall. They conversed a bit longer about something I lost interest in, and I tried to stay inconspicuous, though I could tell I never dropped off Dana's radar. She was studying me, trying to figure me out. Finally, Bastien said good-bye, and we began our retreat toward the front door – once I'd changed back to decent clothing, of course. Our exit proved more difficult than expected since apparently it was customary to say good-bye to every single person you passed and get continually delayed by meaningless small talk. â€Å"My God,† I exclaimed once we were safely back at his place, â€Å"that was annoying.† He turned on me, anger flashing in those movie-star blue eyes. â€Å"Are you completely out of your mind?† â€Å"Okay, you're right. I've been in more annoying situations. Remember that marquis' party back in Marseille?† â€Å"That†¦that getup! When I first saw you two together, Dana looked ready to explode. Thank goodness this body's more flat chested than your other one. It saved you from looking like a complete pinup.† â€Å"I'm sorry,† I told him. â€Å"I was just trying to escape those stamping women and headed for the pool without thinking. I have a suit just like this at home. It was stupid†¦but I don't really think it caused long-term damage.† I hoped. His expression darkened, and he threw himself into one of the living room's exquisite armchairs. It was covered in white suede. Breathing on it would probably get it dirty. â€Å"I don't know. She was distant with me – you saw it.† â€Å"I was hoping that's how she always is. And she was a bit more responsive with you than me,† I offered helpfully. â€Å"No. You should have seen her when we spoke earlier tonight. Much friendlier. She definitely clammed up with you around.† â€Å"I'm sorry,† I said again, feeling idiotic. â€Å"I guess I shouldn't take a front-row seat to this after all. I'm cramping your style. Or rather, destroying it.† His stormy expression lingered a bit longer, then disappeared like clouds swept away by wind. That was my Bastien. Quick to anger, quick to love. â€Å"No matter, Fleur .Takes a lot more than you to ‘destroy my style.'† He patted his lap and grinned. â€Å"Come here, sis, and I'll tell you the rest of my brilliant plan.† I rolled my eyes. â€Å"Are we that kind of family?† His smile broadened, and I sat down, unable to resist that goofy charm. He slung his arm around me in an old, familiar way, and I leaned into him. It was nice to have the touch and comfort of another living thing, romantic or not. â€Å"So there's another part of this wacky plan?† â€Å"Not so much another part as an entirely different plan. A backup plan, if you will.† â€Å"Oh no. Here it comes.† â€Å"Naturally, I'd much rather disgrace Dana in a horizontal kind of way, but in the very unlikely event that doesn't work, there's a much less exciting – yet effective – way to do it. And you're going to help me.† â€Å"How so?† â€Å"We're going to break into her house. â€Å"

APU Admissions - SAT Scores, Financial Aid More

The acceptance rate at Alaska Pacific University was 55% in 2016; admitted students tend to have high school GPAs in the A and B range. Standardized test scores are not required, so applicants need not worry if their ACT or SAT scores are not ideal. Be sure to check the universitys admissions website to learn about the specific admission requirements for different academic programs.. Admissions Data (2016): Percent of Applicants Admitted: 55 percentTest Scores -- 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: - / -SAT Math: - / -What these SAT numbers meanACT Composite: - / -ACT English: - / -ACT Math: - / -What these ACT numbers mean Alaska Pacific University Description: Alaska Pacific University is the only four-year college in Alaska with selective admissions. Students can choose from eleven undergraduate majors and five graduate programs. The college takes pride in the close relationship between students and faculty, the hands-on approach to learning, and the high levels of student engagement. Academics are supported by a healthy 8 to 1 student / faculty ratio. If youre worried about attending such a small school with only a few hundred undergraduates, realize that the University of Alaska Anchorage and its 18,000 students is next door. Student life is active with a wide range of clubs and activities, and Alaskas rich landscape provides students with unlimited outdoor opportunities. The university recently dedicated the Thomas Training Center on Eagle Glacier, a place where the Nordic Ski Team trains during summer months. Alaska Pacific University is a member of the Eco League with four other small colleges that focus on sustainability:  College of the Atlantic,  Green Mountain College,  Northland College, and  Prescott College. Students can easily take a semester or two at one of these other schools. High school students  from Anchorage should look into APUs Early Honors program which allows them to take all of their senior year classes at Alaska Pacific and graduate from high school with a years worth of transferable college credit. Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 541  (298 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 37  percent male / 63 percent female73  percent full-time Costs (2016 - 17): Tuition and Fees: $20,310Books: $1,220 (why so much?)Room and Board: $7,260Other Expenses: $4,900Total Cost: $33,690 Alaska Pacific University Financial Aid (2015  - 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 100 percentPercentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 97 percentLoans: 63 percentAverage Amount of AidGrants: $12,375Loans: $8,006 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Business Administration, Education, Marine Biology, Psychology Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 51 percentTransfer-out Rate: 27 percent4-Year Graduation Rate: 39 percent6-Year Graduation Rate: 48 percent Date  Source: National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like Alaska Pacific University, You May Also Like These Schools: Students looking for a small (1,000 students) school on the West Coast/Pacific Northwest should also check out  Warner Pacific University, Northwest University, and  Alaska Bible College. Even without any varsity athletic programs, students at APU can get outside and enjoy hiking and skiing around the area. Other schools with great skiing clubs or teams include Colby College, Colorado College, Reed College, and Montana State University. APU and the Common Application Alaska Pacific University uses the Common Application. These articles can help guide you: Common Application essay tips and samplesShort answer tips and samplesSupplemental essay tips and samples