Questions
American Pantheist Society
Frequently Asked Questions
Q -What is Pantheism?
A - Pantheism is a simple religion based upon the concept "God is the Universe and that the Universe is God". Please refer to the many excellent web sites about our religion and its practices.
Q - Why a Pantheist Church?
A - Those of you who learn more about Pantheism, Humanism and Naturalism may feel an organized church or formally structured group is not necessary and contrary to the very premises of those philosophies. You are correct however; many of us feel a strong need for those structures and formalities therefore our society has elected to provide at least a semblance of organization and trained leadership.
Q - Has the Society developed its own version of Pantheism?
A - Yes, we have modified certain traditional Pantheist principles to reflect our own special needs and beliefs. Unlike some Pantheist organizations, the American Pantheist Church Society provides a formal system of leadership and ritual for educational, administrative and social purposes. In addition, we base many of our rituals and ceremonies on those of our ancient European ancestors as frequently practiced by contemporary nature and earth religion societies.
Q - What can Pantheism and American Pantheist Church Society do for me?
A - We feel our message could change your life and that membership in our society will provide you with many valuable benefits.
Q - What kind of personal information must I give to the Society?
A - Active members may elect a personal identification code that may be used for all contact with the society. Specific personal information is not required until a member earns compensation, expenses, profit distribution, requests a diploma certificate or engages in a joint venture project. The society complies with all US tax laws and regulations. No member information is knowingly shared with any commercial organization.
Q - What qualifications are required for membership?
A - A prospective member must be over the age of 18 years, responsible for his own decisions and approved by the society's membership committee. Religious leaders must be 21 years or older. Each Society member is encouraged to participate in a minimum level of annual religious education and to remain active.
Q - Who comprises the membership committee?
A - Senior society members. Any qualified active member may advance within the organization and be elected to the committee.
Q - What am I required to do in order to maintain my active membership status?
A - All members are encouraged to participate in one of our formal religious or education programs and maintain an active status in the organization. Modest fees may apply.
Q - How is the society managed?
A - The society is managed by its senior members. Pending identification of certain key charter members, the current sponsor has assumed overall administrative duties.
Q - Are online and mail-order ordinations legal?
A - Yes. Independently chartered non-profit organizations have the same legal rights large, organized church denominations. These organizations can legally ordain ministers, issue independent church charters, and even to award honorary Doctor of Divinity Degrees in recognition of service to the church.
Q - Do you have to graduate from seminary to become ordained?
A - Yes. The American Pantheist Church assumes an ordination candidate will earn a Masters of Theology or Divinity prior to requesting ordination.
A diploma from a seminary and an ordination are two different things. A diploma shows that you successfully completed the required courses to graduate from that institute. An ordination is a certificate that shows a particular organization respects your calling into the ministry. Many organized denominations will not ordain you unless you complete training in their seminary. It is also interesting to note that many seminaries are not state accredited educational institutes.
Some people complete seminary and never fulfill the responsibilities of their ordination. Some people function in the ministry without receiving an ordination from an organized denomination or ministry. Just as there are certain jobs in the secular world that wave a college education based on experience, there are organizations and denominations who wave the necessity of certain diplomas for the same reason.
Q - In what way can I use my ordination?
A - There are many different types of ministries. Here are a few examples: marriage ministry, chaplain, relief ministry, church minister or pastor, street ministry, tract ministry, film ministry, home fellowship ministry, hospital or nursing home ministry, prison ministry, home visitation ministry, informational ministry, missionary work, music ministry, one on one ministry, radio and T.V. ministry, rescue mission ministry, or you may even want to start a ministry on the Internet!
Q - Is e-mail notification of ordination recognized as a legal document?
A - Technically, yes, e-mail is a legal document. Of course, you should print or save the e-mail letter of ordination for your own records. Make sure you print the complete header of the e-mail to show its origin.
Q - What is the legal precedence for online and mail-order ordinations?
A - In 1974, the United States government sued the Universal Life Church and challenged their right to have a tax-exempt status. The result - online and mail-order ordinations are completely legal and as respectable as an ordination from any other church. If you would like to read the complete case decision, it's filed in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, Civil No. S-1954. If you are also committed to service and ministry, you'll be respected as a minister, no matter where you received your ordination.
Q - Where is the Kirkland University - Seminary located?
A - The Kirkland University is a "Virtual" Distance Learning University offering all of its education and degree programs online. There are no physical classrooms. The University does have administrative office/headquarters in Spring Hill, Florida. Kirkland University is not a state university of Florida.
Q - Is the Kirkland University - Seminary accredited?
A - No. Please note that accreditation, or a peer review, is a voluntary process in the United States. Kirkland University has elected to not seek accreditation from non-related organizations.
Q - Will I have to travel to attend classes?
A - NO. Kirkland University is a virtual university. We offer 100% distance education via online technology. We do not have a campus or classrooms. All courses are taken totally online in a virtual classroom. You may conduct your studies from anywhere in the world where you have computer and Internet access. There are no travel requirements.
Q - When may I begin my course(s)?
A - We offer an Open Enrollment program. You may register for and begin your course(s) any time that you wish.
You may start a course on any day of the year. There is no waiting or restrictions.
Q - How much time do I have to complete a course?
A - Each course has a designated time-frame of 4 to10 weeks. We request that you complete each degree within a 6 month continious time-frame. There are some courses such as symposium and project courses, as well as doctoral dissertation courses that allow for more time. Time-frames are detailed in the syllabi. If you are not able to complete a course within the allotted time-frame, you may petition your instructor for an extension. Instructors are happy to provide time extensions for reasonable requests.
Q - How much time do I have to complete a degree program?
A - The policy for degree program completion is: Students in Associate and Bachelor degree programs are provided 1 years to complete their programs. Students in Masters and Doctoral level programs have 2 years to complete their programs. Time extensions are granted with administrative approval.
Q - I have completed college level courses in the past. Do you accept transfer credits of past courses toward my online degree requirements?
A - Yes. Kirkland University allows students to transfer past applicable credits towards online degree requirements. Students can earn up to 50% of their degree by transfer of applicable credits.
Q - May I apply for and receive job/career/life experience credits toward the requirements for my online degree?
A - Yes. Kirkland University allows students the opportunity to apply for and receive credits toward their degree requirements via job/career/life experience. Up to 50% of degree requirements can be meet via application and award of job/career/life experience credits, and/or a combination with transfer credits from other schools.
Q - Must I take general education courses in addition to the courses detailed for the degree curriculums?
A - Yes and No. You do have to take or provide certain general education courses for your degree in order to comply with certain government regulations. However,our innovative models and curriculums are designed so you take courses only in your area of concentrated study/specialty.
Q - What is the difference between a Ph.D degree and a Doctorate Degree?
A - A Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D) is a degree of research. All students in a Ph.D program are required to write a dissertation. A Doctorate Degree is a doctoral level degree, but focused more on clinical practice. Students in doctoral degree programs are required to complete a major project, but the project does not have to be focused on research.
Q: Will my degree diploma and/or transcripts say "online" or “distance education”?
A: No. Your diploma will detail the degree awarded and your transcripts will detail all courses completed, course titles and course numbers, as well as your grades and overall grade point average, and the degree earned.
Q - Must I wait for a special time or ceremony to graduate and receive my degree?
A - No. Your official date of graduation and degree award can be scheduled on any day of the year. Upon completion of all requirements for your degree program, and final payment of any outstanding fees, the administration will inform you of your official date of graduation and degree award.
Q - Can I re-take a course if I do not pass it?
A - Yes. We will allow a one-time re-admission of a student into a course that was not passed.
Q - How much is the tuition cost of the degree?
A - There are no Tuition or Instructional Costs charged by Kirkland University. However, there are different fees depending upon the degree level you are enrolling in. Please see full details of Registration, Testing and Diploma Certificate costs as published on our web site.
For the current period all Registration and Testing fees are waived for some new university applicants. Undergraduate and graduate level (masters and doctorate) fees are per course, regardless of the number of semester hours awarded. We do not charge by semester hour.
Q - Are there any costs to students other than tuition?
A - Students are not required to purchase text books for their required courses. All materials should be readily available online. Upon enrollment, students are provided with links to major WEB sites for materials. Doctoral level students may incur some costs related to their dissertation or project. However, they are in control of such costs. There is a one-time graduation fee that is due at the time of graduation. For details concerning this graduation fee, please view the page published on our web site.
Q - Do you accept any types of student loans, government loans, etc?
A - We do not accept any types of student loans. American Pantheist University is not regionally accredited, and thus we do not qualify for such student loan programs.
Q - Will my course credits and/or degree transfer or be accepted by other schools, college and universities?
A - Each school, college and university develops their own policies regarding acceptance of course credits and/or degrees. There is no simple answer to this question. It is best to contact a school that you may be interested in transferring credits to, or applying to for a higher level degree and ask them for their policy/guidelines regarding such acceptance. There tends to be a lot of variation. Some schools are more willing to accept transfer credits, and others are not. Some schools will not accept credits from a non-regionally accredited school. All degrees earned from Kirkland University will qualify students to enter a higher level degree program at Kirkland University.
Q - My state requires that I pass an exam to obtain a state license to practice my desired profession. Will a degree that is accredited by an accreditor that does not have approval by the U.S. Department of Education be acceptable as meeting the requirements for licensing or taking a licensing examination?
A - This question can only be answered individually by the States themselves. Some States do accept a degree that is not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as meeting the requirements for licensure or admittance to licensing examinations; and other States do not. It is up to each individual student or prospective student to contact their own state's licensing board and ascertain that information. We highly encourage you to seek out the full requirements for licensing in your state or country before entering one of our degree programs where licensing is required for professional practice. For example, some states will allow a non-licensed counselor to practice under the direct supervision of a licensed counselor. Again, there is much variability from state to state and country to country.
Q - Who is the society sponsor ?
A -
Q - What special services does the society provide to its members?
A - The society provides education, small payday loans, personal counseling and entertainment via the greater Internet community. Senior members may contribute specific details.
Q - How does the society use my contributions?
A - The society escrows contributions from members for purchase and development of wildlife preserves. Contributions from religious members are used for church expenses and operation. Contributions for society titles and positions are used to supplement revenues from various service fees and e-commerce activity and are budgeted for society operational expenses. In all areas, some associated sponsorship expense is anticipated.
Q - Is my contribution refundable?
A - All contributions in excess of $10 are 100% refundable for the first 30 days.
Q - How and where do I make my contribution?
A - Pending installation of a credit card processing program, members are requested to make all contributions by personal check or money order.
Q - How does the society pay its expenses?
A -The society pays it operating expenses from certain contributions and revenues from e-commerce activity.
Q - What is a Charter Member?
A - An original founding member of the Society committed to providing new membership promotion, financial assistance and organizational leadership.
Q - What is a Patriarch?
A - Originally a patriarch is a man who exercises autocratic authority over an extended family. In our society, a patriarch is a senior member who has been elected to serve the common good.
Q - Noblesse Oblige?
A - From French - The belief that the wealthy and privileged are obliged to help those less fortunate.
Q - Where can I find guidelines for chartering my congregation and related church activities?
A - An excellent source is the Universal Life Church WEB Site. Refer to the Questions and Answers from the Universal Textbook Section of "Related Pages". http://www.ulc.org/
Q - What is Ecology America USA Society?
A - Ecology America USA Society (EAUSA) is a private religious and education organization affiliated with and co-sponsor of the American Pantheist Church.
Q - What are EAUSA's objectives?
A - EAUSA's primary objectives are to protect and manage our natural environment via wildlife preserves and provide religious retreats for American Pantheist Church members.
Q - Explain wildlife preserves.
A - EAUSA's plan is to acquire inactive ranch and farm lands and convert them into protected wildlife parks or preserves for native plants and animals. As appropriate, those parks may also be used as recreational and religious retreats for society members.
Q - Who may use the society wildlife preserves?
A - All society members may use the facilities. Some fees and charges may apply as recreational amenities are developed.
Q - What kind of direct participation may members contribute to the preserves?
A - All society members may plant native trees and help restore natural features. Provision will be made for the naming of plantings and other features after society contributors. In addition, where appropriate, members may own horses or cattle breeding animals managed by the society or share in the proceeds from fruit orchards and other type agricultural areas.
Q - Where will the first wildlife preserve be located?
A -The initial preserve will be in Florida as suitable inactive ranch and farm lands are acquired with additional sites to be developed in other US state locations.
Q - Will commercial activity be allowed on preserve lands?
A - Some ranch and farm activity may be conducted as appropriate with participation by interested society members. For example, certain fruit orchard and animal breeding activity may be managed by the society provided the basic purpose of the wildlife preserve is not degraded or materially altered.
Q - What is a virtual society?
A - A virtual society is a creation of our Internet oriented culture and is designed to provide its members or citizens with a flexible vehicle for social exchange, education, entertainment and associated commercial activity.
Q- Why do you charge a registration fee?
A - We need some indication from the student that he is serious. If this is not done, almost everyone from around the world would be applying for the highest degree for which they are qualified, get the free resources from us, and end up doing nothing. We wish to be faithful stewards of resources on our side, and the one-time token registration fees is only to screen the applicants. The registration fees is very small compared to the cost of a similar course anywhere in the world, but safe enough to deter free-mongers from exploiting our free resources.
