Canadian National Unity Essay Example For Students

Canadian National Unity Essay Canadian National Unity has been a serious debate to all Canadians for close to three decadesnow. Starting with French President Charles DeGaulle, who in visiting Quebec told a large crowd in Motreal, Vivre le Quebec libre! or, Live in a free Quebec. This one event started the whole modern separtist movement in Canada, and brought us to where we are now. They went from one person with an idea then, to 2 provincial parties, and a federal one as well, now. This is a very serious issue, that could end up in the destuction of an amazing country. Its not like theyre bluffing, weve had two Referendums on this issue (one almost resulting in a Yes vote), and numerous Constitutional meetings to tweak what we live by to be in tune with the wants and needs of many Quebekers, but it hasnt worked to this point, and has been a long, stressful, but interesting affair to this point. A little background is needed in order to understand this whole ordeal. The Parti Quebecois is a provincial party in Quebec City. The party was formed by Ren Lvesque, who was its leader from 1968 to 1982. In that time, the PQ formed the government in Quebec from 1976 to 1982. The next leader was Pierre-Marc Johnson, followed in 1988 by Jacques Parizeau. Mr Parizeau was leader until 1996. During that period, the PQ formed the government from 1994-1996. There was a second referendum on sovereignty in 1995 (cost $63.5 million): 60% to 40%. The current leader of the PQ is Lucien Bouchard. The PQ currently forms the provincial government in Quebec City. The Referendum of 1995 saw one of the closest votes possible as the No side squeaked out with a 50.6% to 49.4% victory. The Bloc Quebecois is a separatist party in the federal Parliament in Ottawa. The party was formed by Lucien Bouchard, who was its leader from 1991 to early 1996. The next leader of the party was Michel Gauthier. After a convention in March, 1997, the next and current leader of the party was Gilles Duceppe.The BQ formed Her Majestys Loyal Opposition in the House of Commons during the last Parliament. However, after the 1997 federal election, after getting 37.7% of Quebecs vote, it lost second place status, and now sits as an official party in the House of Commons. Prime Minister Chrtien sits atop the Federalist side. The longer Mr Chrtien governs, the closer he seems to hold his cards. A very few advisors surround him, giving him aid and have special tasks in order to save the country as a whole. Minister Stphane Dion heads this department, and is also President of the Queens Privy Council for Canada (PCO). He is really the man hired to talk to Bouchard and Duceppe and really save our country from a federal aspect. Minister Anne McLellan handles the hottest potato of all: the Supreme Court Reference on Quebec secession, which is the hallmark of the Feds tough-love Plan B strategy. The decision sets the legal parameters for any further secession attempt a clear referendum question and a clear majority (as opposed to a simple majority of 50% +1) are now the law of the land. The Quebec Liberal Party pro Canadian with a twist of Quebec nationalism, this party went digital in early 1997. Daniel Johnson announced in March, 1998 that he would step down as leader, and Jean Charest has taken his place. The party lost the 1994 provincial election by only a couple percentage points, but actually won the last election in terms of vote percentage a big boost for unity. They currently hold 48 National Assembly seats. Vision Nationale, The new federalist party, led by Jean Briere, will take a stand against any sovereignty referendums, while promoting bilingualism in Quebec. The party opposes distinct society status for the province. Briere wants to tap into the 2.4 million French Quebecers who voted No in the last referendum, and fight a perception in the French media that wanting to stay in Canada is radical, while being a separatist is normal. Throughout the world, Canada is known as a tranquil, economically prosperous, multicultural society. Yet, in one of its provinces, Quebec, a number of people are dissatisfied with Quebecs relationship with the rest of Canada and want to seperate. The issue of seperating is not new, in fact, the Quebecois voted on this very same controversial subject in 1980, ending in a sixty-forty split in favor of the federalists; In the weeks before the 1995 vote the polls showed a fifty-fifty split, marking a clear and true division among both the Anglo phone and Francophone Canadians. To secede would create a state of paralysis leading to an economic crisis the likes of which, Canadians have never before experienced and truly cannot imagine. Therefore Quebec should not separate from Canada. Quebec should remain a part of Canada, due to the fact that the problems facing the Quebecois wouldnt diminish or be resolved. Quebec always has been and always will be a respected, distinct society within Canada, and leaving Canada now would adversely affect more than just the Quebecois. First, the problems facing Quebec would not diminish or be resolved through separation. The economic uncertainties that have plagued Quebec, such as unemployment, high taxes, high government spending, as well as high interest rates would not lessen. Businesses would pull out of Quebec due to concerns over instability, thereby causing a higher rate of unemployment. The rising number of people who would require financial assistance would rise dramatically, swamping, and maybe even surpassing, the governments ability to give aid. Quebec would have to create new bureaucracy to replace current Canadian services that are designed to help improve social pr oblems such as teen pregnancy and elevated drop out rates. Without federal funds, this would prove to be impossible, and in all likelihood such problems would grow. Without a well educated work force Quebec will flounder in the global marketplace, adding a further burden to the government and people. History has proven that, in countries where there is such instability and economic hardship crime rates skyrocket. For years the Quebecois have complained of the repression of the French language and culture, and of unfair treatment by the rest of Canada. Yet ninety percent of French Canadians agree that the French language is more secure now than ever and that English speaking Canadians believe that Quebec always has been and always will be a respected, distinct society within Canada. To prove just how much they value Quebec, the Supreme Court of Canada, in its interpretation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, has recognized Quebecs status as a distinct society, and requires the co nsent of Ottawa and any seven provinces that make up at least fifty percent of the population of Canada to make any changes. even that hasnt stopped Quebecs or rather Parizeaus and numerous others whining. To further placate Quebec, many proposals for change have been suggested, such as, 1) The restoration and formal recognition of Quebecs traditional right to a constitutional veto; 2) Jean Chretien has promised to never allow the constitution to be changed in a way that affects Quebec without their consent. It is obvious to anyone that Canadas willingness to create such changes demonstrates their desire to be a whole country, as well as how inflexible and childish Quebecs leaders really are. Third, leaving Canada would adversely affect beyond just Quebec. The United States, Canada, and Mexico would all be forced to decide whether or not they will accept Quebec into NAFTA, the North American Trade Agreement. Also, Canada would face the possibility of breaking up completely. There ar e no guarantees, predicts Gordon Gibson, author of Plan B: The Future of the Rest of Canada, that there will be only one new country. (If Quebec Goes, pg. 45). The secession of Quebec would separate the Maritime provinces from mainland Canada and a unilateral declaration of independence would most certainly result in a sharp drop in the value of the Canadian dollar, plunging Canada into a terrible recession. Alfred Tennyson was born on August 6th, 1809, at S EssayA third difficulty, expressed by western Canada, would be the feeling of alienation from and dominance by the economic power of Ontario. This feeling of dependence has been put in place by a tarrif policy that forced westerners to buy dear in Toronto and sell cheap east or west, rather than follow the more travelled and profitable lines of commerce that flow north to south. The purpose of this so-called national policy was to jump-start the industrial base in central Canada, but, in the opinion of westerners, at their expense. With the advent of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and NAFTA, the distortions of trade resulting from tariffs have disappeared, but the feelings of political and economic dependence in the west live on. For example, the federal Liberal Party of Canada has its power base in the industrial heartland of central Canada and is not well-represented west of Winnipeg. After a breakup, the English-speaking r emains of Canada would contain a lopsided distribution of power. Ontario would be like a king, the remaining provinces like slaves, not so much in terms of territory as in industrial capacity and population. Surely western Canada would demand a change of government along the lines of the United States, with an equal Senate and perhaps a more powerful House to lower the strength of the prime minister. But such a change of power within a smaller Canada, and away from Ottawa toward the western provinces, might likewise fail. It might amount to too much sacrifice for central Canada, but not enough gain for Alberta and British Columbia. Politically, an independent Quebec could survive adjustment, capital flight, and exchange-rate fluctuation in the short term and a lessened growth rate over the long term, if at a price. But could it remain whole? On the heels of Quebecs independence, English is the language in the Ottawa River valley, west Montreal, and the Eastern Townships region might attempt to create separate city-states of their own. Also, the Cree and other Indian tribes and Inuit communities reject Quebec independence, either because their lands would be divided by separation, or because they believe that Ottawa looks better than Quebec City on their eventual self-government. Only in the twentieth century was the northernmost section of Quebec, Ruperts Land, formally granted to the province by British imperial authority. Potentially resource-rich, this territory contains such assets as the James Bay hydroelectric project( If Quebec Goes, Pg. 112). If Canada is divisible, then why is Quebec indivisible? If Quebec is indivisible then on what grounds should Canada be obliged to allow Quebecs secession? In an age of mini-states like Singapore and Luxembourg, the minimum requirement for self-government, however compromised, is not very substantial. Seperation of an independent Quebec cannot be ruled out by the possibility of a minimum state size. Washington must be prepared for all possibilities. Seperationn of Canada, depending on its nature and extent, would transfer some of the cost of administration from Ottawa to Washington. Washington increasingly would take on the jobs of peacemaker, rule-maker and police officer. These are not roles that the United States should seek. Nor are they responsibilities Washington would necessarily be able to carry out better than any of the Canadian provinces or the Canadian federal government. To conclude, this issue is still a huge burden on the always awkward Canadian economy. Both the federal and Quebec governments should get down to business with this and figure it all out as best they can, so it wont hurt our country anymore then it already has. All the other Provincial governments should have representatives there, and all get their opinions heard and then come to some sort of a conclusion, so we can get on with it all. If they cant come to some sort an agreement, or theres a stalemate, then fine let them have another referendum, and if that works, great, let them leave, it cant hurt anymore then having them complaining and talking about what they want to do. Really its been a series of threats and no real serious go at seperation, its all a big thing, seeing how far the feds will go before they lose it and say fine, get out of here. All in all, this is Canadas biggest problem to this point and should be solved as soon as possible, because one of the scenarios above is going to happen, and the longer they wait the harder it gets, so someone better go out and take a stranglehold on this whole issue and get it settled, one way or the other, or you could see a great country spiral from the greatest country in the world today, to a sad story in a hurry Only the future can tell, and the politicians have got to come up with the answers, and let the people tell them what is needed, and then maybe we can get on to living, with or without Quebec, well thats what the future is going to tell Works CitedCote, Marcel, and David Johnson. If Quebec Goes Toronto: Stoddart, 1995. Encarta 97. Computer Software. Microsoft, 1996. PC, CD-Rom, 17.1 MB. Geddes, John. A New Departure. MacLeans 15 Feb. 1999: 35. If Quebec goes, Natives might stay- Dion. Chronicle-Herald Halifax, NS 24 Feb. 1998: Page Unknown. Internet Document, An Act respecting the sovereignty of Quebec. http://www.ola.bc.ca/online/cf/documents/sovereignty.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Impact of ruling uncertain. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court5.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Native leaders put spin on a few sentences. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court3.html, 2 pages. Internet Document, PQ claims victory- of a sort. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court2.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Press Release. http://www.premier.gouv.qc.ca/communiques/ca970416.htm, 1 page. Internet Document, Quebec Cant unilaterally separate, Supreme Court rules.http://www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court1.html, 5 pages. Internet Document, Ruling splits voters in the rest of Canada. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court4.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Signs of desperation in PQ ads. http://www.montrealgazette.com/PAGES/990227/2321105.html, 3 pages. Internet Document, Unity Chronology. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/archives/082198court6.html, 2 pages. Internet Document, Unity Link- 21st Century Cheat Sheet. http://www.uni.ca/cheat_sheet.html, 2 pages. Internet Document, Unity Link- Canada after UDI. http://www.uni.ca/udi2.html, 5 pages. Internet Document, Unity Link- National History and Perspective. http://www.uni.ca/history.html, 8 pages. Internet Document, Unity Link- Team Canada for Unity. http://www.uni.ca/tcu.html, 2 pages. Internet Document, Will Canada Unravel? ttp://forum.theglobeandmail.com/globenet/NUdoran.html, 5 pages. Quebec needs OK to separate. Chronicle-Herald Halifax, NS Unknown date, unknown page. The Quebec Question. Chronicle-Herald Halifax, NS 24 Feb. 1998: page unknown.

Success Essays - Motivation, Belief, Epistemology, Truth

Success The achievement of something desired or attempted. Aim for success is an independent, non-profit, educational organization that promotes a life style of excellence by encouraging the development of self-control, self-respect, and self-discipline. Through live presentations students are encouraged to develop strong, responsible characters. We learned to speak one word after another. A sequence of thoughts can "direct our brains" to a series of actions that lead to accomplishment. So how can we direct our brains and schedule ourselves for achievement? The series of thoughts that led to motivations, self-esteem, and accomplishment must be embed in the UNCONSCIOUS. I only have to mention three now: beliefs, decisions, and strategies. Beliefs are POWERFUL but they can remain "just potential." You can have powerful beliefs all your life and never bring them to fruition. Decisions are NECESSARY. They are how we take a belief and decide to "achieve prosperity." Strategies are necessary to bring beliefs and decisions to DYNAMIC achievement. SET for Success provides a self-evolutionary template that gives you step-by-step instructions for EMPOWERING beliefs, decisions, and strategies. You believe that you deserve to be more successful and you are absolutely right. That belief needs a decision, a spark. The brain evolved as our ancestors scratched, fought, and thought their way to survival and prosperity. It describes how we use five senses plus language to project images, provides floods of feelings, and creates logic in our internal dialogue. It teaches you how to use the mental tools that we all have we all have, our inheritance from our ancestors. It is easy to stagnate in life. Do the same routine things while life just whizzes by. Think back when you were a kid and you had all those dreams of your future. You may have planned on being and doing great things. Achieving success from living a totally empowered and fulfilling lifestyle. Can you feel the excitement you felt back then? The world was at your feet and you could do and be anything you chose. All the opportunity, the uncertainly and yet the unquestioning knowing that you would get exactly what you pictured and desired. So where are you now? Have you bogged down in the everyday chores of living? Are you struggling to make ends meet and thinking of embarking on that next plan to get where you think you ought to be in life or just get away from where you are. From my point of view success is achievement of one's purpose. I also found another definition of the word success that is very generous. It says that success is achievement of fame and wealth. But to be famous and rich does not mean that the person is successful in life.

Outsourceing Framework essays

Outsourceing Framework essays Intent: To provide the company and practitioners with tools and guidelines for addressing both domestic and multi-national sourcing needs. This outsourcing methodology consists of three activities covering the assessment, procurement, implementation, and ultimate maintenance of an arrangement between the company and their outsourcing vendors. A. The summary of tradeoffs to meet its business and financial goals through the next five years, the company needs to leverage technology advances, changes in the regulatory environment, cost reduction opportunities resulting from privatization of service vendors abroad and the proliferation of the information technology by transforming its photo equipment and chemical lines along with current customer service implementation into a highly responsive globally integrated configuration while using its buying power to decrease costs. Framework will mandate tactical design, provisioning, deployment, bill consolidation and payment operations and maintenance for companies photo copiers and related equipment and will be the primary focus for evaluation in order to identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve service delivery, introduce new services currently not outsourced and add the flexibility necessary to favorably position company in its competitive marketplace. The methodologies anticipate the requirements for information technology by recognizing and structuring the interplay between technology, operational and organizational factors. These tools address the challenge of developing effective solutions by balancing the consideration of the whole set of factors faced in their design, implementation, and operations. Teams will focus on analyzing how market and technology changes may impact company costs related to the products and services defined in its global marketing strategy and identified as part of the scope of the program. Among key areas to be analyzed, market deregulation, chemi...

What Is Muriatic Acid Is It Dangerous

What Is Muriatic Acid Is It Dangerous SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Acids get a bad rap- when we hear the word, we often picture some kind of vat of flesh-eating, lime-green liquid. But acids of all kinds, including muriatic acid, have tons of practical uses, and not just for super villains! Homeowners, leatherworkers, and even the pearl industry use muriatic acid on a daily basis. This guide will cover what muriatic acid is, some common uses for it, and how to handle it safely. Muriatic acid is great for heavy-duty cleaners. What Is Muriatic Acid? Muriatic acid, unsurprisingly, is a type of acid. Acids aren’t just dangerous liquids that must be handled with thick gloves (though some are!)- technically, an acid is anything with a pH of 7 or less. That includes vinegar and all citrus fruits, as well as some familiar acids you may have heard of, like hydrochloric acid or oxalic acid, which is found in baking powder and some bleaches. Acids have many practical uses, including for household cleaning or adding flavor to food or beverages. Coca Cola has a pH of about 2.5, making it far more acidic than you’d expect for something we consume on a daily basis! And though bases and acids can be used to counteract one another, consuming a base can be just as dangerous as consuming an acid; lye, drain cleaner, and ammonia are all bases that can be quite dangerous. So how about muriatic acid? Muriatic acid is a form of hydrochloric acid, which has a pH of about 1 to 2. The only differences between hydrochloric acid and muriatic acid are purity- muriatic acid is diluted to somewhere between 14.5 and 29 percent, and often contains impurities like iron. These impurities are what make muriatic acid more yellow-toned than pure hydrochloric acid. Though still highly corrosive, muriatic acid is milder than hydrochloric acid and is therefore more suitable for home use. At a pH of 1 to 2, muriatic acid can be as acidic as stomach acid (which is also in part comprised of hydrochloric acid) or lemon juice. However, pH level is not the sole determinant of its corrosiveness. Despite sometimes having the same acidity as lemon juice, putting muriatic acid on your skin is always riskier than lemon juice. Lemon juice is five to six percent citric acid, whereas muriatic acid can be anywhere between 14 and 31 percent acid. So in addition to having a lower pH and therefore more acidic composition, muriatic acid is also more concentrated than lemon juice- hence why muriatic acid can easily burn bare skin, whereas lemon juice is unlikely to. That’s why it’s always important to use safety gear if you’re working with muriatic acid, even if it’s been diluted, but not so much with lemons. You probably don't want to use muriatic acid for everyday cleaning, but it can be useful! What Are the Uses of Muriatic Acid? Muriatic acid has a variety of uses, many of them industrial. As an acid, many of its uses are for cleaning or removing one substance from another. Some common uses for muriatic acid are: Processing raw leather Removing iron or rust from steel Removing the outside of pearls Household cleaning (basements and toilets with mineral stains) Cleaning bricks Clearing clogged drains Though it might not be as concentrated as some acids, safety gear is still essential when working with muriatic acid. How to Use Muriatic Acid Safely Despite its myriad of practical applications, it’s important to remember that muriatic acid is still derived from hydrochloric acid, a potentially dangerous substance if not properly handled. Always adhere to good safety practices when using muriatic acid, such as: Wear Protective Clothing Muriatic acid may be less concentrated than hydrochloric acid, but it is still capable of causing burns to the skin and eyes. Always wear protective clothing when handling muriatic acid, including long sleeves, pants, gloves, and goggles or glasses. No matter what you’re using muriatic acid for, it’s possible for splashing or wind to cause liquid to land on your skin, so dress appropriately. Add the Acid to Water If you’re diluting your muriatic acid further, always pour the acid into water rather than vice-versa. Adding water to acid can cause a chemical reaction that makes the liquid bubble and spray in multiple directions, potentially causing injury if it lands on skin or eyes. Do Not Mix Muriatic acid is an effective cleaning agent on its own and should not be mixed with chemicals like bleach or potassium permanganate. Mixing these chemicals together produces chlorine gas, which can cause breathing problems and even death. Complete Proper Disposal Muriatic acid must be neutralized by adding baking soda to it. Don’t pour muriatic acid down drains without neutralizing it, as this can cause corrosion and environmental damage. The solution should be at a ratio of 1:50, meaning you must flush the muriatic acid and baking soda with a large amount of water to ensure that it is properly diluted. If possible, dispose of the muriatic acid by containing it in a plastic bucket and taking it to hazardous waste disposal. Use Proper Containment Muriatic acid should be stored in plastic or glass containers, never metal, which it can corrode. What’s Next? Want to enrich your knowledge of acids and bases? These high school science classes could be just the thing! There's lots of fun science you can do at home (and not all of it requires safety gear)- such as making slime! What to know what you'll be learning in AP chemistry? This guide to AP chemistry syllabi will help you plan our your academic year to be even more effective!

Film review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Film review - Essay Example In the review of this movie published in 1999, Washington Post staff writer Stephen Hunter claims that the movie is not worth all compliments it received from critics. He motivates his argument by the fact that this movie has nothing special in it. Moreover, he states that the movie is deprived of charm; it is totally empty and it is good only for those people who want to kill their time. Luckily, this opinion is not shared by mass audience and Run Lola Run is treated as a real masterpiece in cinematography. This huge popularity is achieved by the realization of most resent tendencies of postmodernism in the film. In fact, this movie is a game where the rules are known only to the director, and people discover them together with Lola. The opening scene only supports this suggestion. The movies as the beginning of the football match where the referee blows the whistle. Such a beginning can seen strange, but it explains the concept of the film. The director wants to play with people who watch the movie. Every separate episode is unique due to unexpected plot development. The director manages to depict the concept of fate and luck in all of them. In all cases, the chain of events is caused by numerous actions which took place at the same time. All people involved in the story have their specific roles. In many case, the actions are generated on the spot and nobody knows their consequences. At the same time, the change of a single action or decision cases the situation called butterfly effect. The whole chain of events becomes radically different. It shows that all events are linked together and any change bring many other changes after it. This game created by the director is very complicated. Unlike people who watch the movie, the director knows everything. All scenes contain all necessary props and start from the same actions. It is director who decides where the story goes. People who watch the movie can only guess about

Enthusiasm and Ability to Motivate People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Enthusiasm and Ability to Motivate People - Essay Example Looking back on the recent past, I find that my years in the U.S. as an undergraduate have had a profound impact on my thinking and my approach to life. I have been particularly struck by the contrast between the cultures of America and the Bahamas. While my heart will always bask in the warmth of the community life and the love of close-knit families back home, I am eternally grateful for my exposure to the ‘Great American Dream.’ The gift America has given me is the belief that change is possible and the confidence that the power to bring about this change lies within the reach of every individual. My first love is people. From being a Youth Leader in the church to throwing myself into my Sorority’s community services, such as ‘Meals on Wheels’ and workshops for children, I have learnt that there is nothing that can compare to the happiness which comes from having made a positive difference, however small, in another person’s life. I have als o become increasingly aware of the chasms which separate people of different social and economic backgrounds and have witnessed the struggle of people striving to better their lives and failing only through the lack of opportunity, or the lack of education and awareness. I consider my basic strength to be my enthusiasm and ability to motivate people and push them into giving their best. I am passionate about immigration, human rights and, above all, the empowerment of women and children. I owe this legacy to my mother who, as a single parent and self-made entrepreneur in the Bahamas, pushed me and my three siblings to excel, to be independent and never ceased to emphasize the importance of education as the path to success.

Christian Worldview and Culture Essay Example for Free

Christian Worldview and Culture Essay Today’s cultural landscape has been shaped by the likes of MTV (entertainment), Steve Jobs (technology), and Mark Zuckerberg (social networking). Society often prefers accepting the â€Å"worldviews† of these and other influential people, rather than hearing the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ which offers redemption to a â€Å"fallen† world. We cannot ignore the reality that a vast majority of cultural advancements are produced by â€Å"non-Christian culture-makers, who, as they become more self-conscious and consistent with their anti-Christian stance, will express their unbelief in their artifacts with increasing boldness. Christians cannot dismiss the impact and relevance these contributions have made on society. One of the great challenges believers are confronted with is developing an understanding of the importance of expressing and sharing our Christian worldview in the midst of various competing ideologies. One of the hidden ideologies that secular culture promotes is that we can â€Å"take care of ourselves† thus, refuting any notion that we are dependent on Christ to meet every human need, including the need for salvation. Christian disengagement from culture is contrary to Christ’s example of Incarnation. Christ did not consider human culture unworthy of his attention and love. He set aside his divinity and put on human flesh so that he could engage us on a social and cultural level. The great commission is an affirmation of Christ’s desire for his followers to â€Å"go into all the word†, engaging culture and preaching the gospel. What is â€Å"Culture†? Culture can be defined using three different approaches: agricultural, sociological, and anthropological. The agricultural approach to defining culture â€Å"is derived from the Latin cultura†¦ meaning to plow or till. † Culture is understood from a farming or agricultural perspective which entails the â€Å"practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock. † The reference to someone being â€Å"cultured† is drawn from this farming metaphor. Education in this sense is the â€Å"cultivation† of the mind. The sociological approach to defining culture deals with social class distinctions of â€Å"high† (elite) and â€Å"low† (mass) culture. This aesthetic standpoint is mainly concerned with the â€Å"intellectual and artistic achievements of a society. † High culture is associated with the highest ideals of what is (in a subjective sense) â€Å"good†. A cultured person is one who has been acquainted with and educated in the â€Å"finer things† of art, literature, music, etiquette, socialization, as so on. The anthropological perspective regarding culture is concerned with â€Å"the whole way of life of a group or society, not just its better achievements. † Unlike the sociological perspective, this approach does not make distinctions between sophisticated and primitive social groups. It simply acknowledges that all â€Å"activity† which is produced by a social group (texts, art, music, food, artifacts, philosophy, ethics, etc. is that group’s culture. H. Richard Niebuhr states, â€Å"[S]ocial life is always cultural† and culture is the product of â€Å"human achievement†. Humanity Was Created For â€Å"Good Works† Culture, as expressed by the creativity of human activity, is a reflection of God who Himself is a creative being. Human understanding of order and beauty is only possible because of God’s magnificent creation of the heavens and the earth. God validated the beauty of creation when He â€Å"saw all that he had made†¦ was very good† (Genesis 1:31). Man and woman were created in the divine image and likeness (imago dei) of God and were entrusted by God to care for and tend to His creation. Man was given the responsibility of â€Å"cultivating† the Garden of Eden and in doing so bringing glory to the Creator. Here we should take notice between the similarities of the word cultura (plow, till) and cultus which is a â€Å"veneration of the divine†. This should give us a greater insight regarding how â€Å"the human race [was] called to interact deliberately with the earth—[working, tilling, cultivating]—while at the same time lovingly serving his divine Master†¦ and worshiping his Maker. Adam â€Å"performed his culturative activities in response to and as a reflection of God’s creative acts. † Competing Worldviews All of humanity’s artistic and creative works reflect the worldview of those who created them. As a result of the Fall the imago dei has become distorted, causing humanity to shift the focus of their creative and culturative activities away from exclusive worship to God. As a result humanity has developed â€Å"unholy motives†¦ even though superficially [our creative activities] may be of some benefit. Man’s creative outlet is disoriented—seeking to glorify himself through the works of his own hands. Once we understand that all human creative efforts are a reflection of the inner beliefs and values of the mind and spirit, we can assess the intention of human activity properly. The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) was the product of human efforts to succeed, using human ability, independent of God. Today’s â€Å"pop† culture seeks to create a new Babel in which human achievement and technological advancement create the false notion that we can live independent of God, or even worse, have no need of God. Thus, culture always reflects a society’s religious and philosophical values, â€Å"[flowing] out of the heart—as it were—of the society which produces it. † A Christian worldview based on God’s Word will discern the â€Å"the ideological bias of the medium and ideological content of the message of non-Christian (and Christian) artifacts. † This is essential for the Christian because there is no neutrality in the message embedded in the works of man. We are not idle spectators, â€Å"[We] must take sides at all times in everything [we] do. † Christian Approach to Culture (Christ and Culture) There has been much debate as to the extent in which Christians are to engage the culture that we live and worship in. Should Christians adapt a Monastic approach secluding ourselves from society? Or, are we to engage the world in such manner that our Christian distinctiveness is lost? H. Richard Niebuhr, in his book Christ and Culture, suggests several â€Å"Christian answers to the problem of Christ and culture. † Niebuhr offers five approaches Christians have historically taken in an effort to understand their position in Christ and involvement with culture. These are: â€Å"Christ against culture,† â€Å"Christ of culture,† â€Å"Christ above culture,† â€Å"Christ and culture in paradox,† and â€Å"Christ the transformer of culture. † The â€Å"Christ against culture† approach proposes that loyalty to Christ is a â€Å"rejection of cultural society†. He critiques this stance as a â€Å"radically Christian answer to the problem of culture†. Indeed, it is impossible for a Christian, or any person, to totally reject and remove themselves from the influence of and involvement with culture. God has taken the opposite approach. He did not reject the world when Adam sinned, but rather engaged the world and put into motion the plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. Christ stepped into our earthly realm and became subject to the influences and temptations of human culture â€Å"yet was without sin† (Hebrews 4:15). Christ’s relationship to culture was to use the elements of culture to reveal God the Father and the Kingdom of Heaven to fallen humanity. The second model, â€Å"Christ of culture,† is the opposite of the â€Å"against culture† model. It seeks social and cultural engagement with the world. It attempts to make the gospel meaningful to society by extending its reach beyond â€Å"a selected little band of saints† and is able to engage those of â€Å"high† and â€Å"low† social strata. While the effort to make Christ a part of culture may reach those who would remain otherwise unreached, there is a susceptibility to â€Å"distort the figure of the New Testament Jesus† in an effort to accommodate a social-gospel agenda. This is done by relegating Jesus into what we need him to be in an attempt to address our social and cultural problems. Jesus is a great humanitarian if we are fighting for human rights or a great teacher if we are engaged in philosophical debate. Again, this model can be useful in reaching out to the culture, but we cannot compromise the truthfulness of the gospel for a specific social agenda. The third paradigm is â€Å"Christ above culture†. This view proposes that â€Å"the fundamental issue does not lie between Christ and the world†¦ but between God and man. † By placing Christ at the center, and not against culture, this approach avoids separating â€Å"the experience of grace from cultural activity†. There are three distinct groups in this category: â€Å"synthesists,† â€Å"dualists,† and â€Å"conversionists†. Synthesists affirm â€Å"Christ and culture† (both/and) rejecting a â€Å"Christ or culture† (either/or) approach. They maintain that Jesus â€Å"is both God and man, one person with two natures† and that the works of human nature cannot be separated from the grace of God, â€Å"for all those works are possible only by grace. † Essentially, Christ cannot be against culture because God created nature. Likewise Christ’s incarnation allowed him to actively participate nd engage with the culture of his day. One area that could lead to problems in this approach is by synthesizing Christ and culture in such a manner where Christ becomes subservient to culture. If culture assumes the dominant role in this synthesis, the Church will risk becoming more â€Å"cultural† and less Christ-like because it has elevated culture to the same status as Christ through whom all things were made and exist and â€Å"without him nothing was made that has been made† (John1:3). The dualist approach sees â€Å"Christ and culture in paradox†. This view â€Å"makes sharp distinctions between the temporal and the spiritual life, or between what is external and internal, between body and soul, between the reign of Christ and the world of human works and culture. † There is a line drawn between God and â€Å"us†. In the dualist’s view all of human culture is fallen. For dualists the works of Christians within the church and non-Christians outside of the church are equally corrupt. The dualists are in a state of paradox since they cannot reconcile the concept of â€Å"law† and â€Å"grace†. They fail to realize that Christ came to earth to remove the line of separation between man and God. As Christians we must understand that while the world is in a fallen state and under â€Å"law†, at the same time it is under â€Å"grace† and we are to â€Å"go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation† (Mark 16:15). The third group that embraces a â€Å"Christ above culture† paradigm is the conversionists. â€Å"What distinguishes conversionists from dualists is their more positive and hopeful attitude toward culture. Conversionists see Christ as the transformer of culture. They embrace the redemptive work of Christ in the here and now. They are not looking to some eschatological future where one day they all will be restored. The conversionists have a hopeful outlook regarding culture and look forward to its restoration from a corrupt state. â€Å"Christ transforms the fallen culture in that â€Å"he redirects, reinvigorates, and re generates† the life of man from a corrupted state. Once man has been regenerated, he will produce â€Å"good works†. The transformative power of Christ in the life of fallen humanity redeems us: â€Å"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them† (Eph. 2:10). It is not our works which cause us to be redeemed but rather, our works are a testimony to the world that we are no longer bound by the curse of sin and corruption. Conclusion Because we live in a period of world history that offers the greatest tools and opportunities for cultural engagement, we cannot ignore the importance of understanding Christ role, through the Church, in today’s culture. To engage with culture, theology and ecclesiology needs to be both critical and artistic†¦ such engagements require theology to be open to the insights of cultural studies and alert to the ways in which contemporary culture is shaping religion. † Social networking sites, email, iPhones, cable TV, movies, music, art, and literature are the vehicles th at are being used to promote the beliefs and values of our society. Satan has done a great job in using culture to enslave society, tempting us to sin and forfeit our relationship with God our Creator. Our fleshly appetites are satisfied by images of sexuality, greed, power, and self-assertion. The danger of a culturally advanced society is that it seeks to replace God with its achievements. It seeks salvation, joy, peace, and prosperity via its own human efforts and imaginations. Because we have been brought from â€Å"darkness to light† we must shine the light of the gospel of Christ by engaging the culture in which we live, work, play, and worship. For this reason, every Christian must â€Å"seize the opportunity that the contemporary circumstances present to us and boldly set out to transform the earth. †