An Authentic Life 1.1 for pdf - Universalist Radha-Krishnaism

setting with wonderful old, castle-like buildings in an
upscale suburban location. Caren suggested I apply
there because she took an SFTS Old Testament course
from Marvin Chaney.
She said, “He looked so straight and formidable
when he entered the room, but then he said the
most radical things.”
We met John Irvine, Director of Admissions,
who welcomed us warmly. He didn’t care that I belonged
to a different denomination or that my degree
was unaccredited. I think he enjoyed recruiting people
like me to diversify to the student body. He arranged
a tour of the campus and a room for the night.
It was my birthday, so Geraldine took me out
to dinner at a great Italian restaurant. The next morning
before leaving, we asked John, “Is it necessary to
be married to live in student housing?” He replied, “I
think it would be a good idea.”
SFTS accepted me and gave me a tuition grant.
I got a scholarship from Eastern Star, a Masonic order
that helps seminarians, and I had student loans. I sold
Geraldine’s house rather than using a realtor, and
from the commission, I paid off my previous debts
and had a little money to start with.
SFTS had student housing in Berkeley as well
as San Anselmo since it’s part of the Graduate Theological
Union (GTU) in Berkeley, consisting of nine
seminaries from different denominations as well as
Jewish and Buddhist institutes. There was cross registration
at the schools, so I received a progressive,
ecumenical education. We decided to live in Berkeley
224