text:
van Gogh: "Man writing, facing left" (primary and secondary causality) |
Saturday, May 5, 2012
"Without me you can do nothing" - What Calvinists and Jesuits don't understand about divine providence
63 comments:
- Pedro Erik Carneiro said...
Great post. Thank you.
God bless you. - May 5, 2012 at 5:24 AM
- Jan Jorgensen said...
I do not think theology is meant to be a competition, rather we have insights gathered from many thinkers - brilliant or otherwise - and these insights often reveal our own intellectual limitations and remind us of the immense mystery of God.
Having proofread a dissertation on Calvin's Theodicy I can only say that you seem to limit Calvinist theology to "double predestination" which you then present in a rather superficial way.
It is dangerous to engaging in "proof-texting" and, excuse me, there are better ways to present your thoughts about the notion of "Freedom"
You demonstrate no real understanding of the complexity of Calvin's thought which of course arose from Calvin's life experiences which included much suffering, and training to be a lawyer, experiences which in turn influenced his reading of such texts as the Book of Job and the Psalms -
You go back to Calvin (10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564) and don't address the writings of contemporary Calvinists.... why?
(nor do you take into consideration the number of years that have passed and the changes that have influenced our world views.)
Having studied at the Ignatian Spirituality Centre in Montreal I can only say that the statements about the "classical" Jesuits
seem contrived, "In short, the classical Jesuits seek to emphasize the co-operation of the human will with divine causality -
claiming that, especially in supernatural matters, God gives grace but then it is up to man to chose to accept that grace."
You speak of "classical" Jesuits - again, why? you speak of Luis de Molina (September 1535 – October 12, 1600, among others, Why?
Because the writings of contemporary Jesuits would be more compatible with your own theology?
The reading that I've done in my course work
at the Ignatian Centre would point us to the importance of "showing up" when God calls -
(Yes, God initiates and we receive grace when we respond) and yes there is the difficulty of learning to relax into the awareness of God's love ...
"this is the work of God, to trust God, and the One whom God sent" -- our work is relational, it is to trust God ...
and yes, it is most certainly predicated on God's gracious action.
Each time we pray, using the Spiritual Exercises, we seek grace for ourselves and our fellow Christians so that we might offer our thinking, our speaking, our actions (operations)
for the praise and glory of God. (Each time we pray we acknowledge our need for divine grace.)
I haven't come across a Jesuit who wouldn't agree with this: [a person] "most certainly cannot accept grace without the assistance of God – for the acceptance of grace is itself a supernatural act, and Jesus said Without me you can do nothing."
There is so much "us and them" polarization in the world, it doesn't serve God when we Christians participate in this kind of thinking, argumentation ...
There is no doubt in my mind that St. Aquinas was brilliant .... but our thoughts are not meant to be focused on the Thomists or the Calvinists or the Jesuits, we are meant to be focused on God and Jesus Christ ...
By the grace of God we are all reaching beyond ourselves to grasp the mysteries of grace: freedom, compassion, forgiveness ...
God's peace be with you ... - May 5, 2012 at 7:43 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- May 5, 2012 at 8:32 AM
- Mick Jagger Gathers No Mosque said...
Dear Father. I think I can be of help here.
P.J. (a Calvinist) is claiming that Calvin can not be opposed because his personal struggles were the impetus for his exegesis (The sine qua non of exegesis, don'cha'know ) whereas you are simply wrong about everything and you probably are totally against the ordination of women. - May 5, 2012 at 10:01 AM
While the Calvinist and Jesuit positions (as presented) may not be satisfactory, they at least have the advantage of being intelligible. The alternative presented has the great disadvantage of being so ambiguous and equivocal that one cannot really grasp who is responsible for what (this situation is cloaked with the familiar blinder called "mystery" and allows the theologian to have his cake and eat it too: we can have the confusing situation of God being the primary cause of all without taking the blame). For example, consider the pencil and writer metaphor: the pencil may indeed be a secondary cause, but it would be of no use to the writer to say of a grammar mistake in his writing, "ah, there must be a defect in the secondary cause: attribute all the good things in my writings to me, and all the faulty things blame upon my pencil." I recognize that you mean this only as an illustrative analogy of primary and secondary causality, but it does also work as an analogy of the problems with the "mysterious" answer.
Let's make your analogy a little more fitting: let us say that the man was able, somehow, to make a pencil that had a "mind of its own," that is, he was able to make a pencil that might possibly change what he wrote. And, to make the situation even more consonant with God's position, let us say that in doing so the man knew for a fact that what he wrote would be faulty because of this power. What can this man say, when he begins to write with this pencil and it mars what he is writing? He was still primarily responsible for making the pencil (and, indeed, he made it while knowing what the effect would be of making it in the way he made it). Can he escape responsibility for the faulty writing?
So, too, the mystery you present doesn't really answer anything - if we probe the equivocations presented, and the evasions, we discover that even if God creates things with free will He cannot somehow be free of responsibility for the thing He made. We do not even have to address the far more sticky question of whether free will is even possible to discover that God's ability to "not only cause human actions, [but] can even [to] cause them to be free" does not really provide a satisfactory solution even when it is dressed up in the robes of mystery. - May 5, 2012 at 11:01 AM
- Josemaria Paulo Jeromino Martin Carvalho-Von Verster said...
Father,Do You know Personally many Jesuits that still hold the Views of Fr. Molina today?
- May 5, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Pastor Jan's comment about the modern development of Calvin's thinking would seem to merit consideration since it is contemporary Calvinism with which we deal.
- May 5, 2012 at 11:46 AM
This Thomist position doesn't strike me as different from Calvinism. The latter is explicitly compatibilist in its exposition of free-will, the former apparently so.
As the 1689 London Baptist Confessional says:
"Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently." -http://www.vor.org/truth/1689/1689bc05.html - May 5, 2012 at 12:39 PM
@ Fr Erlenbush:
Have you ever studied the theology of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Fr. Pierre de Caussade, Henri de Lubac and Luis Ladaria regarding nature and grace? If so, why not include them too? If not, you might want to. Including their teaching would provide a more complete and fair picture of Jesuit theology on this great topic. - May 5, 2012 at 12:43 PM
- Irenaeus of New York said...
Hello Pastor Jan,
I think it would be difficult to write anything about Calvin which would satisfy most critics because Calvin's own writings demonstrate a remarkable discontinuity from his earlier years to his later years. Especially in his ecclesiology. Much like Luther and Lutherism, Calvin and Calvinism represent two different sets of beliefs. Here is a well researched and well footnoted article I think you might appreciate.
http://www.calledtocommunion.com/2012/03/have-you-been-born-again-catholic-reflections-on-a-protestant-doctrine-or-how-calvins-view-of-salvation-destroyed-his-doctrine-of-the-church/ - May 5, 2012 at 12:54 PM
- Irenaeus of New York said...
Hello Fr Ryan,
I could be wrong, but when I read your post, I couldn't help but think this idea of Primary and Secondary causes also applies to how the Filioque is misunderstood. Is a primary cause the same thing as saying origination? It seems to me that the East focuses on the "origination" or primary procession of the Holy Spirit, which I think the West would agree is the Father, who is the Font of all Divinity. Yet the West is keen enough to recognize this origination or primary procession, does not detract from the reality that the Holy Spirit also proceeds from the Son, but not as origination or primary cause. As you say above with regard to the writer and the pencil, 100% both. - May 5, 2012 at 12:56 PM
I appreciate Pastor Jan's 7:43 AM post even more after reading Fr. Ryan's 8:32 AM response. Thank you both!
- May 5, 2012 at 1:46 PM
@ Fr. Erlenbush,
Granted that Pastor Jan's response lack a certain coherency, I was surprised by the ad hominem. Granted also the difficulty in following what he is saying, it seems fair to posit that he is simply disagreeing, but for reasons for which he might have considered not posting.
Be that as it may, it seems clear to me that any dialogue with the good Pastor might be difficult because he seems: [1] to be wholly unfamiliar with the Molinist controversy, [2] to be uncommitted to the idea that man can know truth, either in a natural way or in a supernatural way (by Revelation), which I say re: his very first sentence (which betrays a rather gross form of relativism), and [3] because of the second, he does not see the founders of various movements (heresies: e.g., the Calvinists; no, this is not an anti-Jesuit joke) as normative for the communities the started.
Finally, I have a question for you. Given God's primary causality, is it right to say that God's causality extends even to evil acts? Second question (forgive me), is God's primary causality sufficiently explained by his act of creating our nature (with free will) and his continuous act of holding us in existence?
Ben of the Bayou - May 5, 2012 at 2:46 PM
I think different concepts of what it means to be free also contributed to the diversion between the Thomistic and Jesuit traditions. Fr. Severus Pinckaers, OP distinguishes between "freedom of indifference" and "freedom for excellence." Freedom of indifference is what we moderns normally conceive as our freedom: being an uncaused cause. Freedom for excellency highlights St. Thomas' observation that we are free because only unlimited goodness (God) can satisfy the will. Any limited good draws the will but cannot necessitate that the will choose it. He also observes that our will is most itself and most free when it choose unlimited goodness.
If we consider freedom as freedom for excellence,there is no problem with God moving the will in justification. Moving a woman's will only makes her more free because she is moved to love God Himself, freeing her from the love of sin! In this way, both God and the woman will together and freely.
However, When we consider freedom as freedom of indifference, if God moves the will, the will is no longer uncaused and God has violated man's freedom. I think the Jesuits and the Calvinists conceived of freedom in this way which opposes God's providence and man's freedom. For the Molinist, God cannot move man's will in justification; He must respond to man's aided decision. This veiw seems to diminish God's absolute providence over the world.
Finally, a Thomistic account has a natural fit with the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. God made it impossible for Mary to sin without stripping her of her freedom. Thomism can naturally explain this because moving Mary's will in no way comprimises her freedom, but only makes her more free. We might consider how irresistably good God is. Mary encountered a lover so Beautiful and Noble that no one would want to resist His advances.
I think that's an accurate account as far as I understand. Please correct me if I'm wrong or obscure on any points.
Peace in Christ,
James - May 5, 2012 at 2:52 PM
- Howard said...
The analogy I've more often encountered is that of a character in a book. Did Edmund Pevensie freely decide to make the deal with the White Witch for the Turkish delight, or was that decision due to C.S. Lewis? Both were 100% responsible, but not in the same way. Also, although Edmund's actions were reprehensible, the role of Lewis in Edmund's betrayal is blameless.
By the way, was the Thomistic interest in the question of free will in response to Islamic fatalism? - May 5, 2012 at 3:17 PM
Dear Father,
Thank you for the elegant presentation of the once and future most important question in human civilization.
I'll bet the good Jesuits of our time have incorporated the Thomistic causality of human actions into their thought. Even in highschool, I thought the Jesuit "motto", Pray as if everything depended on God and act as if everything depended on you," was a tad weak as a summary of divine causality and our cooperation (of course we should pray as if everything depends on God, but the follow-through of our action needs your concept of the primary and secondary causality when considering a moral question and our response. If my dear Freshman Greek teacher in HS, a Jesuit Scholastic, had studied with you, he might have returned the next year to teach Sophomore Greek instead of being locked up in jail for pouring blood over draft records... His understanding of causality was a bit messed up- we would say to each-other, we better not tell our parents the kind of crazy politics he discusses during the declensions, or they'll pull us out of this school! Nobody told.) Your point and the apt analysis of the Calvinist and Jesuit positions, cogently summarized for a brief article, is as apparent as it is profound when a theologian such as yourself sets his mind to it.
You make me think of a dad and his toddler son who is just learning how to walk. The father stands his son in a spot a few feet in front of him, and he calls him. When the son accomplishes the feat the first time, how happy the little guy is, and how happy and proud is the dad. Not a direct analogy of course, but if we're attentive to God through prayer, the sacraments, and study to our level of competence, He will bid us come forth. Thank you, Father and God bless you. - May 5, 2012 at 4:20 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
Sorry, accidentally lost my previous comment to "pastor jan" ... from May 5, 8:32am ...
The gist of that comment was to ask for clarification since pastor jan's original remarks seem (to me at least) to be unintelligible ... due to incomprehensible grammar and sentence fragments.
I would be happy to engage the pastor, if the point would be re-articulated clearly and concisely. - May 5, 2012 at 4:41 PM
Father, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Jesuits traditionally have taken a more moderate view of the issue than Molina's (formulated especially by St. Robert Bellarmine) called Congruism (which runs afoul of many of the same issues, but it does seek to avoid them).
However, I think your commenters would benefit from realizing that you didn't post this to accuse all Jesuits of having this view but merely of pointing out the false dichotomy many theologians have made (many of whom were indeed Jesuits).
Thank you for the good work you do! May Our Lady, Mediatrix of all Graces, bless you for it.
Joe - May 5, 2012 at 5:11 PM
Sounds like somebody is feeling the call towards Catholicism..
- May 5, 2012 at 6:11 PM
A book by John Hardon S.J. called 'History and Theology of Grace: The Catholic Teaching on Divine Grace' is a good read for those interested in determining what makes a Catholic a Catholic and a Protestant a Protestant.
- May 5, 2012 at 6:45 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
Yes, you are certainly right to point out that Bellarmine advocated Congruism ... and so did many others besides the Jesuits (like, the great St. Alphonsus).
Still, even Congruism views human and divine causality as being in competition ... and this is the fundamental flaw.
Peace! + - May 5, 2012 at 8:49 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
@irenaeus of new york,
I think you are certainly on to something with that analogy ... of course, we would most certainly NOT speak of "causality" between the Persons of the Trinity ... but there is something of an analogy to be sure!
Peace! + - May 5, 2012 at 8:53 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
@Fr. Chris,
I knew Ladaria back when he was still teaching at the Gregorian University (before he became a bishop) ... we had a couple good conversations on the roman buses ... but, no, I do not think that his position clarifies the issue at all.
Still, he is a good man, and a good bishop! +
[of course, I never have met Loyal, Caussade, or de Lubac ... but I have certainly read their writings ... to my mind, de Molina is far more precise in his reasoning.] - May 5, 2012 at 8:57 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
But the Angel of the Schools explicitly states that there is such a thing as "chance" -- ST I, q.22, a.2, ad 1.
Though, as you say, philosophically, Calvin is closer to Thomas than are the Jesuits. + - May 5, 2012 at 9:01 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
@Dan Buckley,
Though I really have no dog in the fight ... I must say that "contemporary" Calvinism does not deserve the name of its founder. + - May 5, 2012 at 9:02 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
@Scotty Ellis,
The pencil analogy is meant to show primary and secondary causality ... it is not an analogy for free will ... so don't try to understand it as something more than it is. - May 5, 2012 at 9:04 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
@Ben of the b.
Yes, I do believe that God is the cause of even evil actions.
A good friend of mine published an article on this subject in "The Thomist" (a journal well worth purchasing) ... check for an article by Matthews Grant ... on divine causality of evil acts. + - May 5, 2012 at 9:05 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
@I am not Spartacus,
You are too funny!
You are very much on the right track (as far as I can tell). Peace to you!
If ONLY there were still Jesuits out there who held to Molina's teaching ... we would be far better off than we are now!
(likewise, I WISH that I could meet some Franciscans who were true followers of Scotus ... but, alas, we are so lost in these sad days!)
Oremus pro invicem! + - May 5, 2012 at 9:09 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
@James, I think you are very wise to consider the case of the Blessed Virgin.
She cannot be understood by either the Calvinists or the Molinists ... but the classical Dominican (and Reformed Carmelite) School can begin to direct our hearts and minds to the greatness of this mystery! + - May 5, 2012 at 9:11 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
Very interesting analogy! I don't know for sure ... but you are certainly making me think! +
Also, no, I do not thing that Thomas was reacting to Islamic Fatalism ... rather, he was responding to a certain degree of Semi-Palagianism which had crept into Scholastic thought (on account of the fact that the decrees of the third council of Orange were not available at that time). + - May 5, 2012 at 9:13 PM
Father Ryan Erlenbush,
Could you elaborate on your view that you think God is the "cause" of some evil acts...I thought this was God's Permissive Will and that he would NEVER condone Evil. Could God "cause" evil without condoning it?? Could you please give an Example of God causing evil??? - May 5, 2012 at 9:44 PM
Fr. Ryan, how do you reconcile your 9:05 PM belief that "... God is the cause of even evil actions" with the Church's teaching that "God is in no way, directly or indirectly, the cause of moral evil" (CCC#311) ?
- May 5, 2012 at 10:02 PM
- Josemaria Paulo Jeromino Martin Carvalho-Von Verster said...
What I Meant Father was:Do you Still Know Jesuits that Hold to the Flawed Theology of Fr Molina of Blessed Memory?
- May 6, 2012 at 2:41 AM
- Marko Ivančičević said...
Do you state that God is cause of our evil acts in the sense that God thinks: "You will now break my 4th commandment. Go and sin. Do this."? In the sense that God makes and forces us to do evil?
In the sense, that since God is the cause and author of our free will - because He gave us free will and He makes it possible for us to do evil? - May 6, 2012 at 4:36 AM
- fact said...
In so distorting God's sovereignty, Calvinists apparently imagine that God is not sovereign enough to create beings who can choose to respond to His love.
Jesus has supplied his own analogy: that of the lover and the beloved: It is true, a woman is powerless to become a wife without the man. But he has proposed and won us with his love.
What glory is there in winning the love of a puppet? - May 6, 2012 at 4:57 AM
You will note that I expanded the analogy. But why deal with analogies, when we can speak of the doctrine itself?
Let's assume that God creates creatures with free will whose actions He foreknows. Now if an action of mine has a known and consequent, a consequent that would not and could not happen unless I will that action, then by willing that action I also will that consequent. God foreknows His creatures actions, good or ill, and by creating those creatures it seems quite obvious that He would have to will those consequents, good or ill. I am unconvinced that it solves this dilemma to simply assert that "It is most certainly something of a mystery how God can be a primary cause of a free human act, but it will do NO GOOD for us to set man and God as opposing forces. It would be better to stand in awe of the mystery of divine providence, than to try to war against it." Instead, it seems like a willing avoidance of the question and difficulty altogether. I am left wondering, "does God indeed foreknow the actions of His creatures? If so, how can He not have responsibility for those actions (good or ill) by reason of creating those creatures in the way that He does?" - May 6, 2012 at 5:10 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
@pencil, et al - regarding "the cause of evil actions",
You will not that I did not say that God is the cause of evil, but that he is the primary cause of all ACTIONS (including even evil actions).
Insofar as an action has being, it is caused by God -- and it is good.
Insofar as an action is disordered and lacks being, it is evil and is not caused by God. This defect arises from either the human or angelic will.
For more reading on this subject, please consider St. Augustine's "De Libero Arbitrio" ... and the article I mentioned earlier by Dr. M. Grant (from the University of St. Thomas). - May 6, 2012 at 6:15 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
Regarding my response to your first comment ... please understand that I do not mean to dismiss you ... it is only that I do not have time to give lengthy responses.
Hence, I put my reply as simply and concisely as possible -- the analogies given are meant to show that secondary causes are true and real causes.
Now, if free will is conceived of as a secondary cause (as the Thomists insist), it is still a true and real cause.
If you want to read more on the subject, consider the writings of Fr. Domingo Banez, op (Teresa of Avila's one-time spiritual director) -- he offers a very good explanation of the matter by bringing in the theory of "physical pre-motion" ... but I am not sure if his writings are in english (so you would need to be fairly competent in latin).
Peace! + - May 6, 2012 at 6:18 AM
- hurrrrrrrdurrrr said...
I am so happy about the renaissance of liturgical and theological life back into the Church.
That being said, I think two of the greatest temptations of those who are traditionally minded is to slip into arrogance or nostalgia.
While Thomas' construal of grace + free will has a lot that is commendable to it, I don't think it works for a reason you seem happy to embrace, it makes God the author of evil. You should actually respond to Mr. S. Ellis as his critique is the right one here.
While I love St. Thomas and the schools, their arrogant certainties, and certain arrogance, is frustrating at times. The pillar and ground of our faith is not merely Thomas Dixit Father. - May 6, 2012 at 8:43 AM
A related post might have been "What disciples of Thomas, Augustine, and Calvin aren't willing to admit about human freedom."
Van Inwagen has pointed out that we would hold no one responsible for actions which were determined COMPLETELY by factors beyond that person's control. But for most of the schools surrounding Thomas'/Augustine's/Calvin's treatment of grace/free will, ALL our actions are determined completely by God's providential decision -- over which we ourselves exercise no control. So their accounts of the matter seem to do away with human responsibility altogether.
Now apologists for divine determinism always assert that there is no incompatibility between an act being determined and an act being free. Of course, you admit an act can't be free if it's determined by other factors, but you assure us that as long as God is the one determining the act, the act can still be free. You want to give God the one exception -- only He can determine an act while still leaving the agent responsible for it. But divine determinists provide no grounds for that assertion. They just assert it. Or, every now and then, they appeal to notions like "divine transcendence" or "the mystery of God's unique causality."But when they use words like "transcendence" or "mystery," it indicates that they've come to the end of their intellectual rope, as it were. They can't explain themselves, so they try to legitimize the unintelligibility of their position with these theological words. Better, I think, just to abandon their stance.
But one needn't turn to Molina as the only alternative.
Maritain, Pontifex, Most, Journet, Burrell, say simply that while God's grace cannot be accepted without divine aid, His grace can be resisted. The one thing a creature can do without God's help is reject Him. This makes sense of human experience, of the blessed Mother, and of the Scriptures in general -- without, by the way, having the unpleasant conclusion that God, prior to making certain people, decides that He doesn't want them in heaven. - May 6, 2012 at 11:44 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
It would be absurd to state that God is the cause of evil ... and I most certainly never said that he was/is.
Please do not claim that I have said the very thing I explicitly rejected ... namely, that God causes evil.
Rather, God (as the first Cause and unmoved Mover) is the primary cause of all actions -- even evil actions; but he does not cause them to be evil, he is the cause of whatever in them is good (the defect, which is a lack of being, is due to the human/angelic will).
To claim that God is not in any way a cause of those actions which involve sin would mean that those acts are separated from God ... which would lead to the disastrous conclusion that sinful actions are wholly outside of the divine providence and therefore that God is not truly the Lord of all, but only the Lord of the just. + - May 6, 2012 at 2:33 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
I find both Most and Journet to be very helpful in this discussion ... but, alas, in a simple blog-post I did not find it profitable to include them.
However, I must bristle against your way of lumping Sts. Augustine and Thomas in with Calvin ... as though their THREE theories on grace/freedom are identical -- truthfully, it is a bit blasphemous for you to speak of the Doctor of Grace and the Common Doctor as being forerunners of the heretical Calvinist doctrine.
Distinctions! We need distinctions!
And the point of this article is to show that Calvin (and the Jesuits) do not make the proper distinction between primary and secondary causality.
Fr. Luis de Molina explicitly states that he does not understand what Thomas means by "secondary causes".
Regarding the ability to reject grace ... this is an important point which St. Thomas makes, but which St. Augustine (occasionally) obscured. + - May 6, 2012 at 2:38 PM
- CroJesuit said...
Dear Fr Erlenbush, I find it odd enough to see that you discuss such a highly sophisticated theological topic in a homily. But what I find worrying is putting in the same context a heretical doctrine and a fully orthodox one. I am afraid an ordinary listener or reader of your homily would remember only one thing: the Jesuits are heretics as much as the Calvinists. I hope that wasn't your intention.
Anyway, this article deserves an apology to the Jesuits because, first, the ancient "Jesuit" position is fully orthodox and does not deserve to be treated as a heretical one. Second, many recent Jesuit theologians have had a different opinion (e.g. Karl Rahner considered the "Dominican" solution better). Please, find another topic to express your dislike of the Jesuits (there are more serious and more recent issues indeed).
Fr Dalibor Renic SJ (Croatia) - May 6, 2012 at 11:28 PM
Beautiful post. I could never have come very far in understanding good and evil without Jacques Maritain, personally.
As regards the discussion of God being a "cause" (or not) of evil actions, could it perhaps be put this way? Could we not return again to the Gospel reading?
He's the cause of what's good (human activity, use of faculties, etc.). But evil itself is not a thing. Evil is a deprivation. Evil is "no thing". That's exactly what we do without God: no thing! "Without God we can do nothing, we can do no thing."
It all comes back to the same line of the Gospel, in terms of both good and evil. What we do with God as first cause is good and is a thing. What we ourselves initiate by breaking God's initiated good acts is, or contains, evil and is not a thing (or contains deprivation, an "amount" of nothingness).
Just hoping this comment helps clarify and refocus again on the excellent points made in the original post. - May 7, 2012 at 4:06 AM
- Bobby Bambino said...
To expand upon Fr Ryan's comment, the problem with Van Inwagen's claim is that it indeed lumps together Thomism and Calvinism, failing to understand the Thomistic doctrine on its own terms. My understanding of the Thomistic doctrine (and please remove this post, Fr Ryan if I am in error) concerning the question you raise is that God is the primary cause of our sin in so far as before the foundation of the world, God grants us permission to choose to disobey him. That is the key distinction. Then, once we have been given permission to be allowed to choose against God, that choice becomes 100% our own. Thus, we see in the Thomistic doctrine that the reason we sin is PRECISELY because we choose to partake of that particular action 100% out of our own free will because God's part in this is granting us permission to do so. God love you. - May 7, 2012 at 4:52 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
@Fr Renic, sj (CroJesuit),
I suspect that there must be some language problem here ... for I most certainly DID NOT give this as a homily at Mass (nor did I ever indicate such).
No, I can hardly imagine a situation in which I would find if fruitful to bring up such distinctions explicitly in a sermon.
As to your claim that people who read this article will think that I present the Jesuits as heretics ... only a careless reader would come away with that conclusion:
In the opening paragraphs, I write, "Certainly, the Jesuits are not semi-Pelagian heretics"
And again, when discussing Molina: "While THE JESUITS ARE CLOSER TO THE RIGHT ANSWER (since they do not explicitly deny either free will or God's providence), their theory is much less philosophically rigorous than that proposed by John Calvin."
In any case, your claim that I have a dislike for the Jesuits (as though it is personal) is quite disingenuous -- we are brother priests, let us not make the matter so petty.
[perhaps you are unaware of the fact that I regularly cite Fr. Cornelius a Lapide, sj as the greatest Catholic biblical scholar] - May 7, 2012 at 7:01 AM
Father, you say:
God is omnipotent. He is so powerful that he can not only cause human actions, he can even cause them to be free.
Now, I must ask - can God make a triangle with four angles? Or can God make a stone so heavy that even he cannot lift it? As far as I know, the standard answer to these questions is that omnipotence of God does not cover illogical things. God being omnipotent does not mean he can do contradictory things. But here, in this passage I quoted, you say that very thing - that God's omnipotence means he can do contradictory things. For, if free will means precisely not being caused by alien will, you are saying that God can cause something in way that it is not caused. Which is equivalent of a triangle with four angles. But, as I recall reading thomists and molinists on this topic, there is not even a clear definition what a free will is. They define it differently. Which is fantastic, isn't it. I mean, having such important notion, but not really knowing what it means... - May 7, 2012 at 3:32 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
It is ridiculous for you to say that "God causing a free act" is equal to saying "a four-angled triangle" ... as though there were a logical (and even analytic) contradiction in both phrases.
Even the most adamant Molinist would have more respect for the Angelic Doctor than that!
But, your real (philosophical) problem is that you are still putting man and God on the same level of causality -- so that they are in competition.
This is why you are unable to understand divine providence. + - May 7, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Father, this is one of the best things you have written, and it is something that I sorely needed to read at the present time.
Thank you, and God bless you!
Veronica - May 7, 2012 at 5:15 PM
...double-predestination makes man to be nothing more than a donkey, ridden either by Satan into hell or by God into heaven.
Aptly put. - May 8, 2012 at 6:41 AM
Well, father, I must say I am ever more disappointed with your way of making argument. It wouldn't be so disappointing, if this weren't a blog dedicated to reasoning. But when one challenges you to an argument, the best you can do is to say 'that is ridiculous'?! And compare levels of respect between me and Molinists?! Wow. You really think this kind of 'argument' evokes respect?! No, it doesn't. It just evokes disappointment. Since it is not argument of any kind.
Trying to be serious (after this), I must say that it is not ridiculous when I say that those two phrases contain similar contradiction. On the contrary, that is the heart of the problem. Intuitively, freedom does mean not being caused by another will. So, intuitively, when you say that God is omnipotent in a way that he can cause free will, you are actually saying God is omnipotent in a way he can cause something so that it is not caused. That is precisely the same as to say he is omnipotent in a way that he can make a triangle that doesn't have three angles (but for example four) - just replace word 'cause' with 'three' and there you have it. Of course, one can challenge this intuitive definition of free will, and if I recall well, that is precisely what thomists do. Yet, molinists do define it that way, and I agree with them - that is what is intuitively considered under term 'freedom'. Thomistic definition sounded weird to me (I don't recall it, I just recall weirdness).
Which bring us to another point - would you be so kind as to define freedom of will to me? You keep saying that God and man are on different level of causality. But you illustrated that different levels of causality with the example of pen, in which example pen can never be considered free since it is moved by hand (i.e. by another will), and with the example of messenger in which example messenger does contribute with his free will so that they (as you say it) compete. Of course, you say that those examples do not serve to illustrate free will. But can you then offer examples that do? Since I don't see how it can be. The will is either moved by another or not. I don't see the third option. The first of your examples falls in first category, and the second to second. - May 8, 2012 at 8:11 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
There is no reason why an action cannot be caused to be free ... it would be a self-contradiction to say that God "forces" man to act freely ... but you should be able to recognize that an action can be "caused" without being "forced".
As far as a definition of "freedom": A man is free when he is able to do that which he wills, and when he is not compelled against his will.
Hence, if the will is drawn to something (namely, to a good), and man is able to act as his will moves him -- that man is said to be free and to exercise the freedom of his will.
However, if the will is drawn to something and man is not able to act -- that may is not free.
Now, God can draw the will to himself as the ultimate and supreme Good. If man is able to act as his will desires, then that man is free -- even if the will is inexorably directed toward God.
Thus, even the saints in heaven who cannot NOT love God (because they recognize him as the supreme Good and their wills are wholly ordered toward him) are yet perfectly free --- for they are able to do what they will, and they will to love God. Though they could not will anything else (now that they see God perfectly).
So, you asked for an example of free will -- I give you the supreme human example: the saints in heaven, who cannot do anything other than love God, but who are wholly free.
[it is a matter of dogma, by the way]
Now, if you still cannot see that "causing freedom" is not the same as "a four-angled triangle" ... then I fear that our conversation will never be fruitful. - May 8, 2012 at 9:48 AM
You introduce following definition:
As far as a definition of "freedom": A man is free when he is able to do that which he wills, and when he is not compelled against his will.
Is this supposed to be the definition of free *will*? This is good for the definition of free *action* according to the will, but not as freedom of will. The question is not what does it mean to act freely according to the will, but what does it mean to *will* freely. To illustrate the problem with this kind of definition, let us consider following statement of yours:
However, if the will is drawn to something and man is not able to act -- that may is not free.
So, let us say I am in a wheelchair unable to move. I want/will to go buy bread for my old grandma, to make life easier for her, but I am not able to act according to my will. Does that mean I don't have free will?!! Do people in wheelchair have free will according to you father?
To conclude - no, I still don't see that an action can be "caused" without being "forced", and the example of saints in heaven who must will what they will, and can't will differently, but are still free, is, as far as I am concerned, yet another problematic statement of catholic teaching regarding free will. - May 8, 2012 at 11:47 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
You are wasting our time ... if you are truly interested in the truth (rather than silly argumentation about whether a man in a wheelchair has free will with respect to rising and walking [and he does not, by the way]), take a look at St. Thomas' excellent discussion of the matter:
ST I-II, qq.8-10. Especially important is q.9, a.6 (http://www.newadvent.org/summa/2009.htm#article6)
As far as the difference between a thing being "caused" and a thing being "forced" ... a kind word from a friend can be a "cause" for my encouragement, without "forcing" me to be encouraged.
My goodness! Is it really that difficult? Why, if "cause" and "force" meant the same thing, I don't think we would have two words which are used in such different ways! - May 8, 2012 at 4:07 PM
- John-Mark said...
Good Father, I think it's important for you to understand that for many of your readers, including your faithful Catholic ones, Thomas' pronouncements are not magisterial, nor should they be treated as such. So, for instance, when you say that "you should be able to recognize that a free action can be 'caused' without being 'forced,'" and then go on to cite a line from the corpus thomisticum, it's not a very convincing method. Most of us – really, almost all of us – canNOT see how a free action which is wholly determined before the human agent even exists is intelligible. I think it's your burden – or Thomas' or Augustine's or Calvin's – to make it clear to us precisely how that happens. And remember, it's not enough just to assert it. You have to show it.
Bobby, this is precisely the point where it's very legitimate to draw attention to the relevant similarities between Aquinas and Calvin, which is that for both it seems that the "free" act has been COMPLETELY determined to be what it is by factors beyond the agent's control (namely, the divine decision from all eternity). Of course, we all know that on Calvin's view God sends certain people to hell and on Aquinas' (or, at least Banez and LaGrange's version of Aquinas) God does not supply the prerequisite conditions for certain people to get into heaven. But they're alike in that for both all the person's actions have been determined prior to (metaphysically) the person actually choosing those actions.
Another point: why need we assume that if God doesn't determine those events that such events would fall outside His providence? If a grandmaster chessplayer goes up against a novice, the former wouldn't determine the latter's moves. But we'd still know who is going to win, since the expert can turn all the beginner's move to his own advantage. - May 8, 2012 at 9:02 PM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
I do understand that many people will not accept the Angelic Doctor as an authority ... I only present him on account of the clarity of his thought -- in other words, I do not intend to say "Thomas has spoken, the matter is finished", but rather "Thomas has spoken, let's take a look at what he says, and we might learn something!"
That being said, I am sure that my enthusiasm for the Common Doctor is a bit overbearing at times (or even most times!).
Still, I did give a very simple example of the difference between a "causing" and "forcing" ... here is another: your comment "caused" me to respond, but your comment most certainly did not "force" me to respond.
"to cause" and "to force" are very clearly not the same words ... I don't know why some people think that they are identical. - May 9, 2012 at 6:46 AM
Ha! Well, if you're overly enthusiastic I'm sure most of my friends would tell you I'm overly critical of the greatest saint-scholar who ever lived. So my vice is probably the greater.
That being said, I think in philosophy it's usual to distinguish between a cause that produces the effect completely (a determining cause) and a cause which merely contributes(as one factor among many) to an effect. So my comment is not a determining effect of your response, just a contributing cause. Otherwise, your response wouldn't be a free one, would it? Again, it seems to me the question is, does God determine what our free choices will be before we make those choices ourselves?
Thanks for taking the time to respond... I really do enjoy the discussion. - May 9, 2012 at 9:38 AM
- Father Ryan Erlenbush said...
Well, this may not help much, but St. Thomas gives a very good discussion of the point you are making. [see the citation in my comment above]
Indeed, only God is able to be a total cause on the will without removing freedom ... but it is good to note that the theologians are not claiming that God "forces" the will to be free (that wold be an analyitic contradiction in terms) -- but rather that God "causes" the will to be free.
We see this most clearly in the case of the saints in heaven.
And the reason God can do this is because of the difference between primary and secondary causality ... a difference which both the Jesuits and the Calvinists failed to grasp (as Molina himself admits).
Peace! + - May 9, 2012 at 3:11 PM
- Mick Jagger Gathers No Mosque said...
Re the negative comments about Saint Thomas. Popes have repeatedly taught that he must be studied in the seminaries if the Faith is to remain to be taught and understood rightly.
I sense a lot of fear that Saint Thomas is making a comeback posy V2 and that is an excellent sign. The New Theologians and the personalists thought they had him buried for good. - May 9, 2012 at 4:51 PM
- Stomachosus said...
Father, there seems to be to many issues connected with both schools of thought (Calvinism or Molinism) for either to be fairly characterized by your post, I believe.
The Calvinists I know, who, while they may be a minority in our day, are truly rigorous and scholastic don't differ essentially on the point you are making. In either Thomism or Calvism (or for that matter most Molinists, including Suarez and Bellarmine) we do have uncondition negative reprobation ("passing over", non-election) which is unconditional and founded only on the divine will and positive reprobation which is based on foreseen sins. Calvin explicitly, following Augustine, bases positive reprobation on foreseen sins. There are Calvinists (and there are Thomists!,the 18th century Carmelite Alvarez e.g.) who attempt to ascribe a motive for negative reprobation, e.g. the positive will to exclude from eternal glory, but among the Calvinist tradition this isn't actually the norm.
And as I already said with the Molinists, there is a great number of them who held to unconditional election and negative reprobation, e.g. Suarez. (and, interestingly, this was the "official position" of the Jesuit order back in the day)
That said, even in this "Congruist view" I do think your analysis that it is a denial of analogical causality- an attempt to place God and man on a univocal level, and thus partition the space- is correct with Molinism, even in its stricter forms. But I don't think that same objection can, at least so easily, by shown of Calvinism. Within Calvinist circles it is not exactly agreed upon what is meant by irresistable grace (for that matter Tulip is not a universal among Calvinists). Many I know identify themselves within the Augustian-Thomist-Calvinist school, and there understand is like that of efficacious grace, as expounded by traditional Thomism. The crux of the difference being in the doctrine of sufficient grace (as it would be with Jansenists, and in another way with the Jesuits who reinterpreted the meaning of sufficient)
The notion that Calvinism entails such an absolute predestinarianism is, I'm afraid, a caricature that doesn't respect, at the very least, the different understandings of Calvin/Calvinism that Calvinists actually have. I certainly don't see a basis for claiming they conceive divine action on a univocal level, at least in a similar way of the Molinists - May 9, 2012 at 11:55 PM
- Stomachosus said...
john-mark wrote "why need we assume that if God doesn't determine those events that such events would fall outside His providence?"
I think that would hinge on what you mean by providence. Certainly it is Catholic dogma (cf. Vatican I) that God's providence governs and directs even the free actions of creatures. The question is understanding this.
If God knew what was to happen because He knows you so well, and all the circumstances perfectly, and everything affecting you, etc, then you have no free will. If that is how divine providence interacts with human action, by changing the circumstances, etc., then God is merely flipping different switches in a system that is deterministic, and free will is an illusion.
If we admit that what it means to have a will is that it can be otherwise, and hence is not a necessary cause, then we could say, perhaps, that God makes really good estimations. He knows you so well, and the circumstances, that He predicts action. But that wouldn't be infallible and would hardly befit God.
We could say God knows because He sees past, present and future all at once. Okay. This is true. But if God's knowledge of my action was dependent upon my choice, as something autonomous and prior in nature to His knowledge, then God becomes a creatur- His knowledge becomes caused and dependent on my choices.
As St. Augustine pointed out, the only way that a free cause can be known with certitude and without passivity to it, is to be its cause. In order to have prescience and free will, one needs to have God as agent in the picture.
On a more basic level, we recognize that God is (among other things) first mover, first agent. All that is is from Him. Hence even the act of the will must be cause by God. If any act, whether of the will or of a dog, or of the planets, did not have God as the first cause, we would be radically denying the nature of God and creation. Every act, here and now, is caused by God...both in effect and in modality. Free effects through free causes, and necessary through necessary and chance and so on. This gets into the key doctrine of Thomists of analogical causation. But even Molinists, and in fact every orthodox Catholic thinker, admits that God immediately cooperates in every act of the will, as the first agent. Molinists and Thomists debate on a smaller particular aspect, namely whether the divine motion is ad unum, but all agree that God is a first cause of every act (even the act of sin, but not of sinning) and God is the infallible author of history.
We should recognize that, at least this side of the beatific vision, we could never fully comprehend how God is "more in us than we are in ourselves", how "in him we live, and move, and are" to quote Scripture. We do not perceive the motion of grace, not even that natural causation derived from God immediately and experientially here. - May 10, 2012 at 12:14 AM
- Mick Jagger Gathers No Mosque said...
On the one hand we have write-backers bickering over the putative untoward influence of the Universal Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and on the other hand we have the teaching of this Saint-Pope:
Pope Saint Pius X: Studiorum Ducem:
We so heartily approve the magnificent tribute of praise bestowed upon this most divine genius that We consider that Thomas should be called not only the Angelic, but also the Common or Universal Doctor of the Church; for the Church has adopted his philosophy for her own.
We therefore desired that all teachers of philosophy and sacred theology should be warned that if they deviate so much as a step, in metaphysics especially, from Aquinas, they exposed themselves to grave risk."
Dear Father. Can you please help me solve my problem of whether I ought heed the demurrers or the Saint Pope? - May 10, 2012 at 6:15 AM
- Seraphim said...
Father, I do like your statement that God's causality and man's are not competing with each other. But it is not consistent with Thomism. We ought to go even farther and say that God's causality is of a completely different sort than man's causality, on a completely higher plane, which I think is implied by the "first cause"/"second cause" distinction. This is true in human relations just as much as in the physical world (where God truly does sustain and create the world, but He is not just another gear in the chain of physical causes). This means we truly are autonomously free, which I have always understood to be regarded as heresy by Thomists (and also by Fr. William Most, whose book was my introduction to the topic).
And therefore there is no predestination AT ALL. We are free to accept or reject divine grace. The notion that "sufficient grace" is not actually sufficient at all without "efficacious grace" is pure sophistry - if it's not sufficent, then it's not sufficient and we have no need for it at all. If God is the cause of our freedom, then we are truly free - He cannot physically move us to perform a free act of His choosing. Nobody is predestined to Heaven; if so then God would be a wicked God for not predestining us all to Heaven, since even those "predestined" to Heaven are still free in the same sense that anyone else is. I left the Roman Catholic Church for the Byzantine Catholic Church because I cannot accept such a bald logical contradiction. - May 14, 2012 at 5:37 PM
Post a Comment
When commenting, please leave a name or pseudonym at the end of your comment so as to facilitate communication and responses.
Comments must be approved by the moderator before being published.


text:
At Alldraft Design and Drafting, We provide quality home design services for all types of residential construction to help meet the unique needs of clients in Seven Oaks South Carolina. We can generally produce drawings that are customized to meet your individual building needs for a fraction of the costs architects and other design companies usually charge. We spend the time to get to know our clients, so we understand their vision and are able to design it exactly as they see it. Our personal touch makes designing a new home an exciting experience, which is what it should be.
Alldraft Design and Drafting provides a wide range of residential design and drafting services in Seven Oaks SC. We pride ourselves on working closely with our clients to provide fresh & innovative designs for today's homeowners in Seven Oaks South Carolina. After all, we want to design beautiful homes that are functional; homes that you can live in comfortably for years to come. We design living spaces with you in mind, and our drafting area customized just for you. Our goal is to make the design process as simple as possible with expert advice and face to face interaction. That's why we go the extra mile to help you design a house plan that meets your individual needs. We offer complete design services that include plan development, consulting, and plotting.
Everyone at Alldraft design firm works diligently on behalf of our clients. When you collaborate with us, you'll be able to take advantage of our expertise in every area of home design process. Whether you'd like assistance in developing plans for a commercial or a residential building, or you're seeking a comprehensive set of construction plans in Seven Oaks SC, you can turn to Alldraft Design and Drafting Seven Oaks South Carolina agency.
We're committed to serving any new homebuyer seeking to envision the perfect custom dream home in Seven Oaks SC.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
How to make a booking
Your selected house and dates: San Savino
Please let us know if you would like to place an option – generally valid for one week – or make a firm booking:
Guest reviews
In the overall everything was above our expectation. The reception was perfect, the place beautiful, the cook fabulous, the cleaner so nice leaving things ready and arriving after our depart, including the woods for fire ready set. I thank you all for the wonderful job and congratulations to the team that made our trip a great success!
Dear Katharina, Our recent stay at the villa was wonderful, and the villa itself was more than we imagined. We would use the service again and recommend it to others.
Dear Trust and Travel, I just wanted to write and tell you what a wonderful time we had at Vivo d'Orcia. My wife says it was the best holiday she has ever had. From the moment we arrived, it met - and exceeded - our high expectations. The house and location are beautiful, it was clean and well-stocked with food for us, and all the arrangements for our late arrival went very smoothly. We were very impressed with the way your company handled the booking, and all communications were very comprehensive and clear. Put us down as two very satisfied customers.


text:
Entec Industrial Furnaces Pvt. Ltd builds its reputation as noted manufacturers, suppliers, and exporters of the Dual Fuel Burner in Panna. We offer a wide range of industrial product, including Industrial Furnace, Industrial Burner, Lead Ingot, Oil Heating and Pumping Station, Wet Scrubber Type Air Pollution Control System, Scrap Charging Machine and many more.
Backed by strong manufacturing facility, we give 100% quality assurance to our valued clients, so, that they never think twice before trust on us. We check each and every unit on different quality levels which ensure its high efficiency, smooth performance, low maintenance and long operating life.
We offer our complete range of industrial furnaces, burners or many more in different specifications at the best price available in the market. Interested clients, who are looking for this prominent Dual Fuel Burner in Panna, feel free to send enquiries. We are just a few steps away from you and happy to help you.


text:
Wavy Ribs Blanket Pattern
Wavy Ribs Blanket Pattern is backordered and your entire order will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Click Here to see all information on our shipping.
Returns & Exchanges
Returns & Exchanges
Questioning a purchase? Take the worry out of it with up to 90 days of free returns.
*This applies to US returns only.
Click here to see all our return information and to create a return.
This is a downloadable (non paper) pattern. For questions about yarn requirements, please contact us. After your purchase, you may download the pattern from your account.
Important Information
Payment & Security
Payment methods
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.


text:
It was all about Hansel and Gretel in Soeren's class this December. They studied the story, the characters and the grand finale was going to the Weimar Theatre to watch the fairy tale as an opera. He's enjoyed the project very much and therefore, it was inevitable that when I saw what the Daring Bakers' challenge was to be this year that we incorporate the tale into it.
I have to admit though I was missing the initial motivation for the challenge. We've been making gingerbread houses for Christmas for the past two years, using a brilliant recipe from one of Tom's grandmother's old cookbooks. The old cookbook is ancient but the recipe is perfect. It incorporates orange zest and other spices for an aromatic dough. Early December though I was just coming down from the London high and not in the total Christmas spirit yet.
It's hard avoiding the Christmas spirit when one has a seven year old at home. His eyes gleaming each morning as he opened his advents calendar and counted down to Christmas. Soon enough his excitement was infectious and soon I began thinking up of ideas to realize the gingerbread house.
The December 2009 Daring Bakers' challenge was brought to you by Anna of Very Small Anna and Y of Lemonpi. They chose to challenge Daring Bakers' everywhere to bake and assemble a gingerbread house from scratch. They chose recipes from Good Housekeeping and from The Great Scandinavian Baking Book as the challenge recipes.
I decided to go with Y's Scandinavian gingerbread house recipe, simply because for those who know me a little will know that almost everything Scandinavian attracts and intrigues me, especially this! ;o)
Seriously though, the Scandinavian recipe promised to be winner using many of the similar spices from my tried and tested German recipe.
However, we did have some trouble with the dough. It was hard, very crumbly and needed to be moistened quite a bit to allow us to really work with it. We halved the recipe for a small house and our theme was Hansel and Gretel. We finally did manage to roll out the dough enough to get us some decent templates – a base, two triangles for the front and the back and two rectangles to make up the gabled walls. We made some of the royal icing but mainly used melted chocolate to stick the parts together. Dried coconut gave the snow effect and we tiled the roof with colorful chocolate disks and pink colored royal icing. My neighbor made the lovely figures for the house – thanks D!
Scandinavian Gingerbread House - Pepparkakstuga
From The Great Scandinavian Baking Book by Beatrice Ojakangas
Printable version of recipe here
1 cup (225 g) butter, room temperature
1 cup (220 g) brown sugar, well packed
2 tablespoons cinnamon
4 teaspoons ground ginger
3 teaspoons ground cloves
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ cup boiling water
5 cups (625 g) all-purpose flour, more if needed
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until blended. Add the cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Mix the baking soda with the boiling water and add to the dough along with the flour. Mix to make a stiff dough. If necessary add more water, a tablespoon at a time. Chill 2 hours or overnight.
- Draw and cut patterns for the house, making patterns for the roof, front walls, gabled walls, chimney and door out of cardboard.
- Roll the dough out on a large, ungreased baking sheet and place the patterns on the dough. Mark off the various pieces with a knife, but leave the pieces in place.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Roll out the dough a little at a time on a floured work surface to a thickness of approximately 1/8-inch. Place the templates on the dough and, using a sharp knife, cut around the templates. Transfer the pieces to cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the cookie dough feels firm. After baking, again place the pattern on top of the gingerbread and trim the shapes, cutting the edges with a straight-edged knife. Leave to cool on the baking sheet.
Royal Icing
1 large egg white
3 cups (330g) powdered sugar
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon almond extract
- Beat all ingredients until smooth, adding the powdered sugar gradually to get the desired consistency.
- Pipe on pieces and allow to dry before assembling. If you aren't using it all at once you can keep it in a small bowl, loosely covered with a damp towel for a few hours until ready to use. You may have to beat it slightly to get it an even consistency if the top sets up a bit. Piped on the house, this will set up hard over time.
We have not broken into the house yet so we cannot give the taste verdict. However, as most gingerbread houses are usually made to last instead of being delectable I presume this one will be no different. It does smell awesome though – of spices, coconut and sugar. Unlike other Scandinavian favorites this recipe was not too hot and next year we'll be using our old German "Lebkuchenhaus" recipe again.
Hope you all had a grand Christmas and are enjoying filled bellies from delicious meals.
Monthly Mingle – Winter Vegetables & Fruit
My guest hostess this month is Sudeshna of Cook Like A Bong. She has chosen a great seasonal theme for the next mingle which will take us into the new year - Winter Vegetables and Fruit.
The choice is great - avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, citrus fruit, pears, spinach or beans. The task is easy – cook up something using Winter produce and join us at the mingle.
Deadline January 11th, 2010!
You might like these past Daring Bakers' challenges from WFLH:
Caramel Cake with Caramel Butter Frosting | Danish Braid - Chocolate & Raspberries | Chocolate Caramel Tart |
All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2009 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First


text:
If you need more, please Contact us directly.
Tell us what you think about this item, share your opinion with other people. Please make sure that your review focus on this item. All the reviews are moderated and will be reviewed within two business days. Inappropriate reviews will not be posted.
Have any question or inquire for this item? Please contact Customer Service. (Our customer representative will get back shortly.)


text:
Debeer MS Hardener Standard 47-55 1 Litre
A medium speed hardener used with selected DeBeer Refinish products.
Add your favourites to cart
Select Afterpay at checkout
Log into or create your Afterpay account, with instant approval decision
Your purchase will be split into 4 payments, payable every 2 weeks
All you need to apply is to have a debit or credit card, to be over 18 years of age, and to be a resident of country offering Afterpay
Late fees and additional eligibility criteria apply. The first payment may be due at the time of purchase
For complete terms visit https://www.afterpay.com/terms


text:
A IBM Certified Architect credential is in fact a gateway to global workability and we are your true ally to bring this superb benefit to you with money back guarantee.
The best part of passing IBM Certified Architect IT certification means that you are absolutely job-ready to secure your place in the most competitive world of IT. It links you further with many rewarding and career-oriented professional qualifications and hence you get a number of opportunities for developing a secured and blooming career.
Certssafe's IBM Certified Architect certification dumps PDF is the most workable solution to prepare for the exam within a considerably short span of time. The easy to learn questions and answers in the PDF have been prepared by the high-calibre IT professionals. Hence our IBM Certified Architect braindumps are rich with information you need to answer the questions in real exam paper. We are always concerned to update our IBM Certified Architect dumps in line with the changes in IBM Certified Architect certification syllabus and exam questions format. Therefore, our clients find our products always relevant to their exam needs. The brilliant result of our clients is another evidence on the usefulness our products.
Certssafe's IT professionals are deeply concerned in developing the exam dumps perfectly accurate. For that purpose, only the recommended and the most authenticated academic resources are utilized to build up these top IBM Certified Architect dumps. You can trust them completely.
Best exam testing tool to estimate the level of your IBM Certified Architect exams preparation. No need to download IBM Certified Architect VCE files as our testing engine offers ample of opportunities to go through tests and consolidate your IBM exams preparation.
Above all, it is the money back guarantee that is enough to prove the perfection and worth of Certssafe's IBM Certified Architect PDF. Get your monye back if it does not work for you. But there is no fear of losing the exam if you establish your command on the IBM Certified Architect dumps. Taste the quality by downloading free braindumps from our webpage before buying them.


text:
Get Rs.100 cashback on opening your Environmental Savings Account
Organic herbal yarn dyed women's long kurta 3/4 sleeve vrishchikam chinese collar
₹ 2,710
Green rating (From 5 ratings)
A product created with great passion for environment and love for life. The most sensitive area of our body is skin. It needs pure material, free of all toxic chemicals, to protect it. This garment is made using 100% ORGANIC COTTON and dyed using medicinally rich herbs with ancient knowledge of AYURVEDA. Completely skin friendly. Beautiful designed, stylish and comfortable. Available in many attractive natural and herbal colours.
Herb used for colour: Madder (for red & shades), Haritaki (Cream, black, brown, coffee), Cutch, Cutechu ( Brown, Red, Maroon, Black, Coffee), Indigo (Blue all shades), Turmeric (Yellow all shaded), Onion ( Biscuit, pink, coffee, brown), Pomegranate (Yellow, Cream, black).
It only does not help human but directly helps environment by saving a lot of toxic chemicals going in land, water and air during it's process. Also saves carbon emision. Consuming this encouraging plantations of these herbs for consuming demand.
Available in different colours and sizes.
Make: Aura
Instructins of use:
· Hand Wash/Gentle wash separately
· Wash at room temperature (30° C )
· Use mild detergents only
· Do not bleach or scrub
· Dark Colour may Bleed
· Dry in shade
· Avoid all contact with citric content substances
ESVs (Environmental Saving Values)
Tree Saver : No. of Trees
CO2 Saver : Kg
Land Pollution Saver : Sq Mtrs
Water Pollution Saver : KL
Water Saver : KL
Air Pollution Saver : Kg
ESVC (Environmental Savings Value Credit)
Parameter | Saving till last order | This product if selected | Total Savings |
Tree Saver | |||
CO2 Saver | |||
LPS Saver | |||
WPS Saver | |||
WS Saver | |||
APS Saver |
You have to Login


text:
Hello friends, welcome to all of you, today we are going to give you information about a very interesting topic, today we will talk about what Google Camera Port is and how to download Google Camera for OnePlus 5T.
Friends, we all know that in today's time, the use of mobile phones has increased day by day and along with this, in recent years people have been using mobile phones to take photographs. Let us tell you one thing: this has been happening for a few years now.
The trend of taking photos with mobile phones started a few years ago when mobile phones were not as general. People used to take photos with their own cameras or someone else's. However, in today's time, there has been a big change in the way photos are taken.
Some phones have very good stock cameras on their phones, but still don't get the best results in the final photos and lack features. However, you don't have to worry about it. we are here to help you with this.
This post is important for you as it provides all the information related to GCAM APK (Google Camera) in simple and exact language. Please read it to the end and share it with your friends if you find it useful. Let's get started!
What is GCam APK or Google Camera?
Are you wondering about the Google Camera (GCam) Port for the first time on the internet? Let me tell you some facts about it. Google Camera was first installed on Nexus devices, which were developed by Google in 2014. After that, people used this app and went crazy with its features.
This Camera App can only be used in Google's Pixel Phones, but some developers have made it compatible with other brands of Smart Phones. So you can easily use Google Camera on your OnePlus 5T without any issues.
Google Camera is an app that allows you to capture and share your pictures in a more efficient manner. This app allows you to take photos with superior clarity and quality, even in low light conditions.
It also provides you with a range of options to customize your photos, such as applying filters or adjusting the brightness and contrast. With Google Camera, you can ensure that every photo you take is exactly how you want it to be.
Google Camera Vs OnePlus 5T Stock Camera
Google Camera and Stock Camera both offer various advantages and disadvantages. Google Camera provides users with superior clarity and quality even in low light conditions, as well as offering a wide range of options to Customize photos. Additionally, the app can be used to adjust the focus and exposure of the image, allowing users to get the exact shot they want.
On the other hand, Stock Camera offers basic features such as brightness and contrast adjustment and filters, which can be used to enhance the look of a photo.
It is important to note, however, that Stock Camera does not offer the same level of control and customization that Google Camera does, meaning for those who are looking for more advanced editing functions, Google Camera may be the better choice.
GCam APK For OnePlus 5T is a great choice for those who want more control over their photos and want to take better-looking photos. Stock Camera is a great choice for those who need quick and simple photos.
In summary, both the Stock camera and GCam APK have their own strengths and weaknesses. It ultimately depends on the user's preference and shooting situation as to which one they prefer to use.
Suggested GCam Version for OnePlus 5T
There are many different versions of the Google Camera app, and it can be difficult to know which one is the best for your device. If you have a OnePlus 5T phone, we recommend using the latest version of GCam port. The latest version has been specially designed for OnePlus devices and offers the best possible performance and quality.
GCAM has many developers who are providing updates on our website. You can download latest version of google camera for OnePlus 5T.
BSG GCam Port: This version of the camera app is compatible with Android 13 and earlier, as well as many other devices. It's amazing!
Arnova8G2 GCam Port: The developer's app versions are popular in the community and you'll get regular updates so you can enjoy the special features without any problems.
Greatness GCam Port: Smartphone users will get good compatibility with this version and it gives a reliable setup of RAW. So, it's a good idea to recommend it.
Requirements to run GCAM
To run GCAM successfully, it is absolutely essential that Camera2API is enabled. Fortunately, this feature is now a standard feature on most modern Smartphones. If Camera2API is not enabled, you can easily enable it by following the steps outlined in this guide.
It is highly recommended that this is done as soon as possible to ensure the best possible results when running GCAM. The guide is easy to follow and provides all the necessary information to enable Camera2API. After reading the guide and enabling Camera2API, you should be able to use GCAM with no issues.
Download Google Camera Port for OnePlus 5T
Friends, we have told you what a Google Camera is and which phones it can work on, now we will tell you how to download Google Camera For your Android device.
File Name | GCam APK |
Latest Version | v9.2 |
Requires | 13 & below |
Developer | BSG, Arnova8G2 |
Last Updated | 1 day ago |
Note: Before you can use the Google Camera app to its full potential, you need to make sure Camera2API is enabled on your device. If it's not, this guide will show you how to enable it. Watch now This Video.
How to Install Google Camera APK on OnePlus 5T?
It's really easy to download Google Camera Port For OnePlus 5T. Just search "GCAMAPK.me" on Google, and you will find it there. Otherwise, you can download the .apk file from above.
If you want to know how to install Google Camera on OnePlus 5T, just follow these easy steps:
- Open File Manager
- Navigate to the folder where the Google Camera APK file was downloaded.
- Tap on the APK file and then choose "Install".
- If asked, give necessary permissions for installing apk.
- After the installation is done, open the Google Camera app and have fun!
Steps to Load/Import XML Config Files on OnePlus 5T
- Download the XML Config files on your OnePlus 5T.
- Open the Google Camera app on your OnePlus 5T.
- Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines).
- Select "Settings" and then "Advanced".
- Scroll down and tap "XML Config files".
- Tap the "+" icon.
- Select the XML Config file from your device storage.
- Select "Apply" and then "Restart".
- The XML Config file will be loaded and the Google Camera App will restart.
How to Use GCam App on OnePlus 5T?
Friends, until now, we have discussed What is Google Camera? and How to Download Google Camera For the OnePlus 5T? in detail.
Now, in our next section, we will take a step further and explain to you how to use Google Camera On OnePlus 5T to its full potential. We will start by exploring the various features of the camera, such as the settings, modes, and more.
Additionally, we will provide tips and tricks to help you capture the perfect shot. With our detailed guide, you will be able to get the most out of your Google Camera experience!
- Open your phone's camera.
- Click on the main icon.
- Click on the lens blur.
- Take a picture of the object you want and move your phone slightly closer for a better-quality picture.
- If you want to take a 360-degree photo, click on the Photo Sphere option.
- You can also adjust the camera settings in the settings menu.
The Google Camera app is a powerful tool that can help you take better photos on your Android phone. It's packed with features that can help you improve your shots, and it's constantly being updated with new ones.
Benefits of Using the GCAM:
Improved image quality: The GCam app can help you take better photos by improving the image quality. It does this by using advanced algorithms to process the images, which results in sharper and more detailed photos.
Night Sight mode: Night Sight is a mode that's designed for taking pictures in low-light conditions. It uses multiple frames to brighten up the photo and reduce noise. This results in better-looking night shots.
HDR+ Enhanced: HDR+ Enhanced is an improved version of HDR+ mode from the Google Camera app. It takes several pictures and joins them together to make one excellent shot. This makes the photo better in terms of dynamic range and less noisy.
Portrait Mode: Portrait Mode is a great way to take photos of people or objects with a shallow depth of field (the area in front of or behind the subject that appears blurry).
The GCam app uses artificial intelligence to identify faces and then blurs the background for a professional-looking shot.
Disadvantage of GCAM
Although the Google Camera app is a powerful tool, it does have some drawbacks. The most significant is that it requires a lot of storage space. The app itself is quite large and the photos and videos it takes are usually quite large as well.
Additionally, some of the features such as Night Sight mode and HDR+ Enhanced require a lot of processing power, which can drain your battery quickly. Finally, GCam can be a bit finicky to set up and get working properly – so if you're not tech-savvy, you might find it frustrating to use.
Which GCam version should I use for OnePlus 5T?
There is no hard and fast rule for choosing a GCam version, but one thing to consider is that the Google Camera is working stably with your OnePlus 5T phone; it doesn't matter if it's an older or newer version. All that matters is compatibility with the device.
Can I use Google Camera on my OnePlus 5T to shoot videos?
Yes, Google Camera can be used to shoot videos on a OnePlus 5T, just like the stock camera app. However, the video quality and features may vary depending on the specific version of the modded app that you have installed and the device you are using.
GCam APK Can't install on OnePlus 5T?
When attempting to install the GCam APK on a OnePlus 5T device, there are several potential issues that could arise, such as incompatibility, corruption, insufficient storage space, not allowing installations from unknown sources, or having an older version of the app already installed.
Is the GCam App crashing just after being opened on OnePlus 5T?
The GCam App may be crashing just after being opened on the OnePlus 5T because the app is not compatible with the device. It is possible that the app is not designed to work on the OnePlus 5T and therefore causes the app to crash.
Can't see photos/videos from GCam on OnePlus 5T?
If you are having trouble viewing photos or videos taken with the Google Camera app (GCam) on your OnePlus 5T, it could be because the app is not compatible with the device. Try downloading a different camera app to see if that resolves the issue.
How to Use Astrophotography on OnePlus 5T?
Set your OnePlus 5T on a stable surface – tripod ideal – and select "Pro" mode in your camera app. Then swipe to "Nightscape" mode and adjust shutter speed, ISO, and other settings for a perfect shot. Experiment to find what works best, but astrophotography is easy and fun once you get the hang of it!
Is GCam better than OnePlus 5T camera?
GCam is a camera app developed by Google, while OnePlus camera is a camera app developed by OnePlus. People have different opinions on which one is better, so it depends on what you are looking for in a camera app.
The combination of Google Camera and the OnePlus 5T makes for a strong photography box. With the Google Camera App, you can take your photography to the next level and enjoy exceptional quality with the support of AI software.
Now that you understand all the information, you won't have many problems after downloading any GCam port for your OnePlus 5T.
If you have any questions, you can leave them in the comments section and we'll answer them as soon as we can.


text:
Good morning. I'm David Greene. Russian President Vladimir Putin is known for getting out and experiencing the great outdoors. All of his pursuits are meticulously documented by the media. He's ridden horseback shirtless, tranquilized a tiger, plunged into a lake in a submarine, and led migrating birds in a motorized glider.
Thanks to a new Kremlin-produced video, we also now know that he's quite the fisherman. The video is of Putin catching what the Kremlin claims is a 46-pound pike - and then kissing it. You're listening to MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
If you search for Precision Machine Shop near Lynnfield MA, you will find Dale Engineering, a local Machine shop specializing in exotic metals. Dale Engineering is a full service precision CNC machine shop specializing in small to medium size components made from Molybdenum, Tungsten, Titanium and other specialty metals.
Want the best possible job done for all of your precision machine shop needs? Then Dale Engineering is the place to go. We are a Massachusetts based precision machine shop that has been in business since 1985, helping businesses not just in New England but also around the country. At Dale Engineering we will take care of your projects needs whether they be large or small with careful precision.
At Dale Engineering, we are able to machine complex and unique components with the highest precision. For your precision machine shop needs near Lynnfield MA, Dale Engineering will make sure we take care of whatever you need. We can be successful with the material from your work-piece whether the components are made from molydenum, tungsten, titanium or other specialty materials. We are proud of our extensive capabilities and equipment that consist of:
Our wide range of capabilities and equipment give us the ability to offer a full range of services for your precision machine shop needs. Some of the industries we service include: medical, bio-tech, electronic, semi-conductor and defense industry. molybdenum, tungsten and exotic metals. We are very capable of drilling -.002 dia, boring .010 dia, burr inspection - 200x, 2 microinch surface finish and ISO 7 clean room among other things.
If you are looking for a Precision CNC Machine Shop that has experience working with Molybdenum, Tungsten and other exotic metals, call Dale Engineering for assistance at 781-541-6055. We are located at 3 Alfred Circle Bedford, MA 01730.


text:
Hospital Management Software in Naihati India
Hospital Management Software in Naihati ( MEDI-ERP ) solution is the web based ERP solution for hospitals. The solution provides centralized patient management, billing and EMR modules. Integrated with the HR module, the system provides integrated component to assess workload and assist in optimally scheduling of the workforce in hospitals. Hospital Management Software in Naihati ( MEDI-ERP ) solution provides integration with proprietary Inventory Management solution LeaneStock that provides management of hospital consumables and assets in multiple stores in the multi locational enterprise wide setup. Integrated with dashboards and other BI (Business Intelligence) capabilities, the solution helps effectively manage services complying with all necessary statutory requirements. The solution provides framework that can be extended to implement processes specific to other geographies and integrate with GIS solutions for spatial analysis of data. Custom Interfaces with DICOM viewer, Digital Signage and Other Laboratory equipments.
The solution provides add-on module for Panel and TPA Billing Management & Tracking of Payments.
The Hospital Management Software in Naihati ( MEDI-ERP ) Solution fulfills MCI and DCI compliances requirement and generates patients' records and reports for the regular compliance Audit. Integrated patient diseases and treatment information enables quality research in the Institutes and Hospitals.
Hospital Management Software in Naihati
Product Features
- User friendly, intuitive interface with practically no learning curve.
- Supports multiple branches of the hospital
- Integrated rate configuration that supports rates for various services & procedures, lab & radiology investigations, packages.
- Supports hospital specific rates, and rates for empanelled organizations and TPAs
Integrated billing module. Provides single screen for billing all hospital services. - Consolidation, generation and tracking of empanelled organization invoices.
- Easy reconciliation of payments and tracking of receivables.
- Quick & easy registration of Patients
- Integrated Online OPD appointment system & provides integration with SMS
- Maintain patient documentation electronically & access from anywhere, anytime online
- Bar code interface
- Patient work queue management
Hospital Management Software in Naihati ( Medi ERP ) Product Features
1) Integrated Patient Management Software
2) Integrated Clinical Management Software
3) Lab Information System Software
4) Radiology Information System Software
5) Integrated Pharmacy Management Software
6) Purchase and Inventory Management Software
7) Integrated Billing and Accounting Software
8) Integrated Business Referrals Management Software
9) Administration Management Software
10) Integrated Patient EMR Software
11) Integration with DICOM Viewer Software
12) Integrated with Bar Code Software
13) Integrated HMIS Reports Software
14) Enabled with MCI Compliance Software
15) Enabled with DCI Compliance Software
16) Enabled with Effective R&D Software
For More Details about


text:
Every lotto player in order to bring home millions. They use so many techniques to get winning lottery numbers. People do not just rely into any scenario that they call as chance or a little fortune. They can essentially the most of the many methods in picking lottery numbers raise their associated with winning.
Do not use the patterns pertaining to example 5, 10, 15, and 20, or 20, 30, 40. Can teach you never aid you in winning the on the internet game. Refrain also from using the number between a tip service because may possibly be rather a lot of gamers who also picked effectiveness.
In Online lottery games, the reaction to the lottery is made known towards the lottery websites. These results will change your life, when you log directly into the Togel HK Alktoto website to look for the results. You can check for the outcome by typing your lottery ticket number at actual. Through online lottery games, you are able to how include fared within the last 180 to 200 days.
Start looking for your ideal home. If you want to build it, look for property and plans. Megamillions lottery winner, Cynthia Stafford started house hunting when she didn't have money in. And she won $112 , 000, 000. This part of the process makes home real for you and revs up the winning calories.
You discover Online lottery mixed emotions when it comes to playing on the numbers. While some people accept it to be innocent fun, others take a different see. Responsible game play is important if you need to make certain you do not become endlaved by this fun game.
Play in the syndicate: By playing within a syndicate you increase the chances of you winning most lotteries which look for bonus facts. Through a syndicate you can fill all payday advance probabilities of at least two numbers which greatly increases your chance of winning a lottery. The only problem is to find players produce a syndicate.
There are other kinds of fraud and scams marketplace aside from those said. Remember the line if it is great to be true to be true it in all probability isn't? Well this is what exactly is happening ideal here. When you get an email, is actually very best call your mortgage lender or check with the Better business bureau. If extra flab to spend your money online, distinct the seller has an address and a message number therefore there are any problems, the item can be returned.


text:
Shield Shifter is featured with a 9.5 rating out of 10 inClassic Video Gamer Magazine (ClassicVGM #3)
Shield Shifter is featured inVideo Game Trader Magazine (Issue #15 Spring 2010)
Playable on the Atari Video Computer System(circa 1977)!
Game Cartridge Availablefrom GoodDealGames.com
FEATURE LIST Shoot your way through the Alien shifting shields to give yourself a clean shot at the attacking Alien Queens! You'll need to run it with a Atari 2600 emulator or install it on a writable cartridge/eprom for use on Atari 2600 console. Shield Shifter 2009 by John A. Reder - This game is a spiritual Successor to Strip-Off and answers the question where did all of those lost Shield parts go after the aliens took them away. :)
How to begin from title screens: * To start Single player Mode = press fire on Player 1 Joystick. * To start Two player Mode = press fire on Player 2 Joystick.
Player 1 Objective: * The game ends when you loose all three of your fighter ships. * You score 500 points for each alien Queen destroyed. * You score 1 point for each first level shield block destroyed. * You score 5 points for each second level shield block destroyed. * You score 10 points for each third level shield block destroyed. * The Alien Queen shoots lasers and drops sticky bombs. Sticky Bombs will block your ships path for a few moments.
Player 2 Objective (Two player mode): * Kill player 1's ship 3 times to end the game. * Prevent player 1 from obtaining a high score.


text:
From Chestnut Hill Homes: As comfortable across from High Park as it would be across from Central Park, The Address offers architecture that is at once distinctive and engaging, a seamless extension of the Bloor Street vibe. A mere 108 suites will be created. No looming high rise. No jarring tower. A classical, beautiful building that respects this unique neighbourhood, its diversity, its flavours, its connection to the city's largest urban park.
KITCHENS • A vibrant selection of kitchen cabinetry in a variety of materials and colours • Choice of hard surface counter top with breakfast bars as per plans** • Choice of ceramic backsplash** feature in areas designated by Vendor • Ceiling fixture provided • Double or single (as shown on plans) stainless steel sink in kitchen with single lever pull out faucet with integrated vegetable spray • Stainless Steel finish Energy Star® high efficiency, multi cycle dishwasher • Stainless Steel finish Energy Star® high efficiency 19 cubic foot refrigerator • Stainless Steel finish Microwave with exhaust hood fan , vented to exterior • Self cleaning 30 inch range in stainless steel ENSUITE BATHROOM • Custom vanity with cultured marble countertop and integrated rectangular basin** • Vanity mirror and decorative light fixture • Single lever polished chrome faucet • Relaxing 5 foot soaker tub in ensuite bathroom or main bathroom with polished • Single lever faucet • Separate shower stall where indicated on plans to be framed glass with framed glass door • Water conserving shower heads • Choice of ceramic or porcelain tile flooring • Ceramic wall tiles**in tub enclosure and walls of separate shower stalls (excluding ceiling) • Pressure balance mixing valve for tub/shower controls • Dual flush low consumption toilet • Exhaust fan in all bathrooms • Privacy locks on bathroom doors • White plumbing fixture LAUNDRY • Full sized front-loading energy-saving stacked white washer and dryer • White 8 x 8 ceramic tiles on floor GREEN CONNECTION • Tri-sorter permitting convenient separating and disposing of recyclables • Rainwater collection system that replenishes and restores ground water • Compact florescent and other high efficiency interior lighting designed to ensure lower electricity costs • CO monitors in parking garage to activate air handling equipment when needed (versus around-the-clock) saving money on fan operation • Paints have low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) • Exterior glazing with Low-e, argon gas provide added comfort with screens on all operating windows to limit the need for air conditioning • Pressure balance mixing valve for tub/shower controls (Not sure what this does Green-wise.) • Dual flush low consumption toilet • Hard surface counter tops from sustainable source • Energy Star ® high efficiency kitchen and laundry appliance LIGHTING AND TECHNOLOGY • Individually controlled seasonally adjusted central heating and air conditioning • Service panel with circuit breakers and copper wiring within suite • Wiring for cable and telephone in all bedrooms, living room and den or study or work • In suite smoke and heat detector • White receptacles and rocker panel switches • Capped ceiling outlets in dining room • Distinctive ceiling fixtures in foyer, kitchen, den,* study*, work and hallways* • Switch controlled split outlets in living room and master bedroom • All balconies to have one water proof receptacle MEDIA TECHNOLOGY • Structured high speed wiring infrastructure with network centre CATEGORY 5e telephone wiring to all telephone outlets • Rg-6 coaxial cable to all cable television outlets • Cable TV and telephone outlets connect directly to the network centre COMFORT AND PIECE OF MIND • Uniformed 8 hour concierge/security • Pre wired for personally encoded suite intrusion alarm system • Card access from underground parking to elevator lobby • Card access to main and secondary entrance • Surveillance cameras in lobby, main entry vestibule and garage. Locations are pre-determined by Vendor • Electronic communication system located in the secured main entry • Secure well lit underground parking garage