Litreature Review on Banking free essay sample

It was emphasized that the use of computers changes the processing, storage, retrieval and communication of financial information and may affect the accounting and internal control systems employed by a bank. The potential for human errors in the development, maintenance and execution of computer Information Systems may be greater than in manual systems, due to level of details inherent in these activities. Through audit reviews, a thorough look and understanding of IS in bank can be seen. The audit of IS would provide us general understanding of IS in bank, managing authentication of users, access control, data security, data integrity, audit 14 2. Literature Study and Analysis logs, testing, accounting entries, data migration, network and RDBMS security, business continuity and disaster recovery plans, hacking, identification of transaction for substantative checking, use of reports generated by system and documentation. The paper titled â€Å"Application of IT in Banking† by K. S. Rajashekara (2004), talked about impact analysis of IT on banking. We will write a custom essay sample on Litreature Review on Banking or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The problem of doing proper impact analysis is due to difficulty of measuring output accurately when the quality of service is changing as a result of such factors as convenience, speed, and lower risk. Through IT, banks anticipate reduction in operating costs through such efficiencies as the streamlining back office processing and elimination of error-prone manual input of data. Owing to IT, bank can offer new products and services. Banks are able to develop and implement sophisticated risk, information management system and techniques with more powerful data storage and analysis technologies. IT has positively affected the stakeholders of bank like management, employees, and customers. Vasant Godse (2005) in paper titled â€Å"Technology: An Impact Analysis† talked about role of Information Technology in banking. Banks faced the enormous task of re-orienting their technology infrastructure towards such interactive decision support and information gathering tools, much different from transaction processing and final accounting. The impact of technology could be on relationship with information technology providers, organizational aspects, banker-customer relationship, control and supervisory aspects, new concepts and processes, which help in further gaining competitive advantage. 15 2. Literature Study and Analysis A paper titled â€Å"Information Orientation: People, Technology and the bottom line† by Donald A. Marchand, William J. Kettinger, John D. Rollins (2000), stressed upon the effective usage of information for business performance. It was stressed that IT improved business performance only if combined with competent information management and the right behaviors and values. The research was applied on banks. Banks were evaluated on three broad scales i. e. IT Practices (including IT practices for Operational support, IT for Business-process support, IT for Innovation support, IT for Managerial support); Information Management Practices (Sensing information, Collecting information, Organizing information, Processing information, Maintaining information); Information behaviours and values (Information Integrity, formality, control, sharing, transparency, proactiveness). Companies that incorporated a people-centric, rather than merely techno-centric, view of information use and that are good at all three information capabilities would improve their business performance. A paper titled â€Å"Understanding the impact of IT-based coordination on the performance of Information-intensive firms: A Gestalt approach in Banking Industry† by Yannis A. Pollalis (2003), moved towards the development of such an explanatory and predictive model of IT-based performance by distinguishing coordination) three that types impact of the organizational performance systems of integration (or nformation-intensive organizations: Technological Integration (i. e. the integration of various IT components such as data, applications telecommunications, and systems); Functional integration ( i. e. , the coordination of responsibilities and roles 16 2. Literature Study and Analysis across a firm’s value-chain activities between corporate and IT planning activities); a nd Strategic integration (i. e. effective decision-making at all levels, increased productivity and better return on investment). The organizations with coordinated elements (i. e. strategy, structure, and technology) will be more successful than uncoordinated ones. Banks were chosen as the context for the empirical phase of the study because of their high information intensity and their focus on customer service and cost management. The research indicated the existence of successful and unsuccessful patterns of integration, that is, certain combinations of technological, functional, and strategic integration might lead to better or worse performance. Strategic and Technological integration were found to be most important elements of success, which indicated the importance of consistency between echnological and strategic infrastructure. The paper titled â€Å"Learnings from Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Implementation in a Bank† by M. P. Gupta and Sonal Shukla (2004) attempted to highlight the learnings from CRM implementation in the banking sector. CRM systems were particularly relevant to ret ail financial services companies, allowing much of the management of the customer relationship to be automated with the objective of maximizing the profitability of individual customer relationships while minimizing the cost of managing those relationships. The study was supported by a case study of CRM systems in a major Japanese Bank—Bank of Mitsubishi and also a field survey of scenario in Indian banking sector. The various issues examined included organizational information, the CRM strategy, strategic changes resulting from CRM 17 2. Literature Study and Analysis implementation, implementation priorities for the banks and the factors indicating the performance after CRM implementation. The study revealed that CRM was gradually picking up and was definitely considered as a viable proposition by banks in improving services to their customers. One of the major challenges experienced during implementing CRM was resistance to change. To get CRM to work, high commitment was required in those who were implementing it. The paper titled â€Å"Impact of Information Technology on the Indian Banking Sector† by Harmeen K. Soch and H. S. Sandhu (2003) emphasized that impact of IT on banking was so radical that it would be a key determinant of success or failure in the industry, a key determinant of whether banks as a recognizable grouping continue to exist, and a key determinant of the differentiation between competitors in financial services.

Innovative Approaches to Corporate Management

Innovative Approaches to Corporate Management Free Online Research Papers Year after year the same companies find themselves on the Fortune 500 list. One common denominator has been their approach to corporate management. In order for a company to be successful in today’s market, companies have to have a clear cut vision in the form of a mission statement and create a corporate culture which moves that vision into a reality. Companies cannot fear change, but rather embrace it and view it as a way to take their companies to the next level and become a model for other companies to emulate. Innovative Approaches to Corporate Management In 2001, Enron, based in Houston, Texas, was one of the world’s leading electricity, natural gas, and communications companies. Fortune Magazine named Enron as one of America’s most innovative company for six consecutive years from 1996-2001(Enron, 2006). Enron was well positioned in the market, and there seemed to be no stopping this powerhouse corporation. By the end of 2001, Enron had declared bankruptcy and became, arguably, the biggest corporate failure in American history due to poor corporate management (Epstein, 2006). While Enron’s Chief Executive Officer, executives, and managers let corruption, dishonesty, and greed be their mantra for corporate management, successful companies such as Microsoft were flourishing by taking innovative approaches to their corporate management policies. Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico and incorporates in 1981 (Microsoft, 2007). Over 30 years later Microsoft has become the leading software company in the world today thanks to the development of a software package called Windows (Microsoft, 2007). Windows is found on virtually every home and office computer in use today. In fiscal year 2006, Microsoft generated over $44 billion dollars and returned $26 billion to its shareholders (Microsoft, 2007). Currently, Microsoft employs over 76,000 people in over 100 countries and continues to expand to new markets (Microsoft, 2007). Microsoft’s overall success can be attributed to their corporate management and corporate governance. In the 1970’s and early 1980’s companies typically held board meetings, and the executives sat in the conference room to decide the company’s fate in their morning meetings. By the end of the 1980’s and the early 1990’s, companies employed new tactics by hiring so called visionaries to help take their company into the new millennium, but had trouble implementing the vision into a working plan, or they faced resistance from the common worker who could not quite see the â€Å"big picture† because they were not privy to all the pieces of the puzzle. Companies like Microsoft were able to surpass their competition by moving that vision from the board room to the quarterly shareholder’s meeting and then to the break room so that they were able to move their vision into execution. A prime example of Microsoft moving vision into execution is the gaming system X-Box. When Bill Gates first announced the X-Box at the turn of the century, everyone thought he was mad or just plain crazy. Sony was the front runner with the Playstation, and Nintendo was running a close second with the Game Cube, while Sega was bringing up the rear in third place with the Saturn (Chang Kakuchi, 2000). The gaming market seemed impossible to penetrate given the competition producing such quality gaming systems, but Microsoft was determined to announce their presence with authority in an industry noted for its opposition to outsiders. Gates marketed his vision to produce a gaming console to over 150 developers including the likes of Activision, Konami, Capcom, Eidos, Epic, and eventually Entertainment Arts (Microsoft, 2007). Seven years later, Microsoft has claimed the number two spot, only slightly behind Sony (Ars Technia, 2007). Having a vision is one thing, however being able to effectively communicate that vision to the lowest level within the company is another approach corporate managers are taking. Corporate communication is essential in determining the success of a business. For a business to run efficiently, good lines of communication must be established between management and staff. Many companies refer to this approach as the â€Å"open door† or the â€Å"top down† policy. Innovative thinkers realized that senior leadership did not always have the answers or present the best ideas and that sometimes the best ideas came from the hourly employee out in the trenches doing the daily mundane labor. Being open and receptive to such ideas allowed employees to create their own vision and promoted a sense of collaboration. Achieving that â€Å"buy-in† from employees and allowing them to feel as if they can affect change is essential to company survival and longevity. Not only com municating vision to employees, but shareholders and customers as well, is also another innovative approach found within many successful companies. Microsoft conducts quarterly shareholder meetings to communicate the current status of the company by giving their investors and customers accurate and honest information concerning financial reports, technologies, employees, and growth plans, just to name a few (Microsoft, 2007). In addition to quarterly meetings, Microsoft also posts the information on their website for the public to view as well. The team concept is yet another approach prevalent in many of the top companies listed on the Fortune 500. Instead of a senior to subordinate relationship, successful companies are adapting to a teammate to teammate business model. The benefits of team building activities increase team motivation in a fun and relaxed environment: they boost team morale, increase communication, get teams working together, help teams to get to know each other, enhance leadership skills, help teams learn new strength and build trust within companies (Accolade, 2007). Another benefit of team building is the breakdown of traditional barriers that were often the status quo in corporate America. By moving the managers out of their private offices and allowing employees to interact with them on a more personal level, it created an environment much more conducive to collaboration. Corporate managers must be the first to step outside of their comfort zones and lead. Today, the role of corporate management is to facilitate change. One approach that Microsoft promotes is the implementation of newer technologies. A research department within Microsoft is â€Å"dedicated to conducting both basic and applied research in computer science and software engineering†(Microsoft, 2007). They openly collaborate with many colleges and universities all over the globe. With the abundance of change occurring in the corporate world, and the implementation of newer technologies, the road ahead can be unclear. It is important to create a corporate culture which allows for employees to overcome their fears: fear of the unknown and fear of being wrong. A lot can be said about a company just by taking a look at the corporate culture and the way employees are treated. According to Wong (2002), there are four healthy styles of corporate cultures: Progressive-adaptive culture, Purpose-driven culture, Community-oriented culture, and People-centered culture. Businesses are not multi-million dollar corpor ations overnight and technologies are not invented in a day. More often than not, a great deal of trial and error goes into the discovery of newer and improved ways to do business and streamlining processes. Eventually the wrongs will turn into rights, the unknown will become clearer, and the vision will become a reality. Enron, Tyco, Adelphia, and Worldcom are all examples of recent corporate failures (The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, 2007). Their failures all boil down to one common mistake, poor corporate management. Meanwhile, the same companies consistently continue to make the Fortune 500 list year after year. Looking over the course of history and the growth for each of these companies, their success can be defined by the innovations to their each and own corporate management policies. References Accolade. (2007). Team building. Retrieved June 16, 2007, from accolade-corporate- events.com/team-building.htm Ars Technia, LLC. (2007). From the news desk. Retrieved June 17, 2007, from http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060611-7030.html Chang, M., Kakuchi, S. (2000). Business: Game, set and match. Asia Week, 29, 26 Enron Creditors Recovery Corp. (2006). Press Releases 2001. Retrieved June 15, 2007, from enron.com/corp/pressroom/releases/2001 Epstein, A. (2006, July 7). The Unlearned Lesson of Ken Lay and Enron. Capitalism Magazine. Retrieved June 15, 2007, from http://capmag.com/index.asp Microsoft Corporation. (2007). Annual reportst. Retrieved June 16, 2007, from microsoft.com Microsoft Corporation. (2007). Fast facts about Microsoft. Retrieved June 16, 2007, from microsoft.com Microsoft Corporation. (2007). News archive. Retrieved June 16, 2007, from microsoft.com The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. (2007). Capital ideas. Retrieved June 17, 2007, from chicagogsb.edu/capideas/fall03/corporategovernance.html Wong, P. T. P. (2002). Creating a positive, meaningful work climate: A new challenge for management and leadership. In B. Pattanayak and V. Gupta (Eds.) Creating performing organizations: International perspectives for Indian management. New Delhi, India: Sage. Research Papers on Innovative Approaches to Corporate ManagementThe Project Managment Office SystemAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductTwilight of the UAWNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceDefinition of Export QuotasPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyOpen Architechture a white paperBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfPETSTEL analysis of India

Can I Get an Accredited High School Diploma Online

Can I Get an Accredited High School Diploma Online SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you looking into online high schools and wondering if they’re legitimate?Have you come across the word â€Å"accredited† and want to know what it means?Online high schools have been exploding in popularity in recent years, and, as more are created, it can be difficult to tell which are legitimate schools and which are little more than diploma mills. Read this guide to learn more about online high schools, what it means for a school to be accredited, where to get an accredited high school diploma online, and how to ensure that you are choosing the best school for you. Note: If you're interested in getting your GED online rather than an accredited high school diploma, read this article instead. What Is an Online School? Asyou may have guessed, an online high school is a school or program where students can earn their high school diploma by taking classes online.Some of these classes arecompletely online, while others are mostly online but require students to visit a testing center or other location to take final exams. If you enroll in an online high school, you can either take a few classes to supplement your degree at your regular high school, or you can earn your entire high school diploma online.Some of these programs are affiliated with traditional brick and mortar schools while others are solely online.Online high schools can be public, private, charter, or university/college affiliated. To learn more about why people choose to attend online high school and how it can benefit you, check out our guide to online high school, and learn how to decide if it's a good choice for you. What Does Accreditation Mean? Accreditation is a process of evaluation that schools (both online and traditional) undergo in order to ensure they meet certain quality standards for education. Accreditation is evaluated regularly, and a school can lose accreditation if a large number of students don't meet educationalstandards for their grade level, there aren't enough teachers for the students, teachers don't have necessaryeducational backgrounds, or a different reason. Before a school becomes unaccredited, it is often given a warning and probationary period first to try and improve. A school can regain its accreditation if it has shown sustainable improvement, but becoming re-accredited can often take several months or even years. For high schools, accreditation requirements vary by state. Public schools must follow guidelines set by their state government in order to be accredited, while the requirements for private and charter schools often vary widely, depending on the state. Accreditors must be approved by the US Department of Education (USDE) in order to be considered legitimate.A school that is legitimately accredited will provideinformation about who it is accredited by (such as a regional accreditor), and who accepts that accreditation, such as "Fully accredited by the State Department of Illinois." A school that simply lists "accredited" without mentioning who it is accredited by or who accepts that accreditationmay not be officiallyaccredited, which is pretty much the same as not being accredited at all. Unfortunately, fake accreditors do exist. Accreditation is important because it lets students know they are attending a school that provides them with a quality education, and, when they graduate, it lets others know that their education met certain standards. Colleges want to accept students from accredited high schools because it gives them confidence that those students were taught what they need to know to be prepared for and succeed infuture classes. For students who are younger than16, accreditation becomes even more important because you will only be considered enrolled in school (which is required until you turn 16) if the online school you attend is accredited. Are There Non-Accredited Online High Schools? What Are the Dangers of Taking Classes Through Them? As online education continues to grow in popularity, more and more online high schools have been created in order to keep up with demand.Some of these online high schools have gone through rigorous development and reviews and can provide an education equal to that of a traditional high school;however,others are nothing more than diploma mills that take your money and give you a prettyuseless piece of paper in return. Accreditation is the best way to pick out the highest quality schools and prevent yourself from getting scammed.But what if you find a really great online high school that offers great classes, but it isn’t accredited? Is it really that bad to take classes at an unaccredited school? In short, yes.The first reason taking classes from a non-accredited school is bad is that you likely won’t get a good education. For a school to not be accredited, it either didn’t put in the effort to attempt accreditation (a bad sign, considering how important it is), or it failed the accreditation process because it didn’t meet certain education standards. Simply put, this means that you will be taking classes from a school that hasn’t been found to provide a quality education. Any person canset up a website and claim to run an online high school.Some online high schools will give you a â€Å"diploma† as long as you pay their fee and take a short multiple choice exam. While that’s an extreme case (and that company was eventually shut down), there are many other non-accredited programs that claim to offer you a high school education but don’t deliver. Getting a diploma from an unaccredited school could cause problems for you in the future. Image Source: Flickr/Enokson While getting a high school diploma so easily may seem nice, if you don’t learn much before getting it, you likely won’t be prepared for whatever the reason you’re attempting to finish high school, whether that’s college classes or a more advanced job. That can lead to you feeling confused and overwhelmed, and you may end updroppingout of schoolor quitting your job because you didn’t have the knowledge you needed to do well. Another important reason to not take classes from a non-accredited school is because most other schools and people won’t accept the classes you took. This means that, if you took classes at anon-accredited online school, they probably won'ttransfer to your regular high school, and if you receive a diploma from anon-accredited high school, mostcolleges and employers won’t accept it.Colleges want students from accredited high schools because it increases the likelihood that they received a rigorous education and are prepared for college classes. For almost alljobs and colleges, having a diploma from a non-accredited high school is just about the same as not having a high school diploma at all.Taking classes at a non-accredited online high school can leave you with a poor education and an expensive piece of paper that likely don'thelp you further your education or career. Is It Ever OK to Take Classes at a Non-Accredited Online High School? Now you know the risks of studying at an unaccredited online school, but would there ever be a good reason to take classes at anon-accredited school? For almost all high school students, it's a bad idea to classes at anon-accredited school.However, there area fewtimes whenit could be OKto take classes at anon-accredited online high school. The reasons are listed below; however, for each of them, remember that there is still some risk involved if you ever change your plans and would like those classes to transfer to a school that only accepts credits from an accredited school. Whenever possible, you should still choose an accredited school. One reason you may take classes at a non-accredited school is because you don't plan on pursuing additional education afterward,so you don't need to worry about other schools accepting the classes. This may be the case if you are attending a technical school or certificate programwhere your qualifications will be based on a specialized test you need to pass and not the accreditation of your school. Another reason you may take classes at a non-accredited online school is if you are only taking a few classes for your own personal use and not looking to receive academic credit for them. This could be the case if you want to take some online classes for fun, to brush up on a particular skill, or to prepare yourself for future classes where you will receive academic credit (such as taking an online calculus class before your actual calculus class begins). This may also be true forhome-schooledstudents who want to supplement their education with online classes. A third reason is that the traditional (i.e. not online) school you are attending or will attend has agreed to accept classes from a non-accredited school. Some high schools and colleges have partnershipswith certain online class providers, and they may give you academic credit for classes you take through them, even if those online schoolsaren't accredited because your schoolstudied their syllabi and knows theymeet their standards. However, you should absolutely check on thisbefore enrolling in an unaccredited online class, and you should get confirmation, preferably in writing, that the class will be accepted. If you're going to attend an unaccredited online school, be careful, and don't jump in right away. How Can You Find OutIf an Online High School Is Accredited? So now that you know how important accreditation is, how can you find out if the online high schools you’re interested in are accredited? There are several different steps, and each isoutlined below. Step 1: Check the School Website Typically, the easiest way to see if a particular school is accredited is to check its website.If the school is accredited, it will state that somewhere on its website, often on the first page or in the â€Å"about† section. Some schools have specificpages just to show their accreditation. Once you find this information,sure the schoolalso states whoit received its accreditation from and/or who that accreditationis recognized by (such as a regional accreditationor a department of education). A school will rarely come out and state that it’s not accredited, however.If you can’t find any accreditation information on the school’s website, move on to the next step. Step 2: Check Online Resources While the US Department of Education has created a database for people to check the accreditation of colleges and universities, there is currently no such resource to check for high schools, so it can be slightly more difficult to learn if a high school is accredited.First try doing an internet search for â€Å"accreditation + [School Name]†.You can also search for online reviews to see what past students are saying about the school. Step 3: Contact the School If you are unable to find information online, contact the school itself.Look on the school’s website to find its contact information, and either call or e-mail them.Ask if the school is accredited and, if so, by whom. Be aware that many schools do not like to admit outright that they aren’t accredited, so they may give you a roundabout answer. You should be extremely wary of any answer that isn’t a plainâ€Å"Yes.† This includes â€Å"We’re almost accredited†, â€Å"No, but we’re just as good as accredited schools,† and similar responses. This is often just a way to try and convince you to enroll in the school anyway. If they are accredited, ask for more information on who accredited them. It may be a regional accreditation, national accreditation, or a state accreditation. If a school isn’t accredited, move on to another one that is. There are many options for online high school now, and more and more of these schools are becomingaccredited. Summary Online high schools can be a great way for people who can’t attend traditional schools to obtain their high school diploma. However, as online education becomes more popular, some schools have been created solely as a way to make money for their owner, with no regard to quality of education. Accreditation is a way to easily find out which schools provide a good education. If a school is accredited, that means it met certain education standards. If you enroll in an online high school that isn't accredited, you will most likely not get a good education, and your diploma and coursework won’t be accepted by almost anycolleges or employers, making it pretty much useless. You should always check to see if a school is accredited before enrolling. You can do this by looking on the school’s website or contacting them directly. What's Next? Wondering if you should earn an accreditedhigh school diploma online? Check out our guide toonline high schools and learn how to decide if they are the best choice for you. Thinking about getting a GED instead? We discuss what a GED is, how to get your GED online and the best GED practice tests to help you prepare here. Want an in-depth look at an online high school? Read our reviewof the prestigious Stanford Online High School and see if it's something you're interested in. Why is your high school transcript so important? Learn about what information a transcript includes and why it's often the most important piece of information colleges look at. Do you even need a high school diploma to get a job? Find out what careers require a high school diploma and when you can get away without one in this article. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

MISSING PET SUPPLIES Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MISSING PET SUPPLIES - Case Study Example Both Dwayne and Fred faced some ethical issues since they had to operate cooperatively with their eventual competitors; therefore they decided to start a new venture of their own. They had better access to market and suppliers and several years’ industry experience as their main competitive advantages for running a new venture. However, in my opinion, they did not have an accurate business plan at the beginning and it caused dilemma at every phase of the project development. In addition, they were not adequately leveraged with capital, and subsequently their business confronted with a sequence of crises. It seems that some assumptions they made were unreasonable. For instance, they thought that capital acquisition would be an easy process; and that misconception led them to difficulties. 2. Dwayne and Fred had to address many ethical issues while contemplating starting their business. They were to spend more in order to comply with the projected ramp up. It caused some unexpec ted financial expenditure and badly affected the balance of designed budget. In order to meet the startup costs of $87,500 and possible operational losses, the partners took a loan of $300k a large regional bank called Zinc’s. As a result of various expansion activities, their monthly operational expenses rose to $24k (including several interests).

Japanese films that depict the Japanese atomic bomb experience Essay

Japanese films that depict the Japanese atomic bomb experience - Essay Example In Japan, manga artists developed stories with sharp edges because their heroes tackled not only villains but also calamity, anguish and eventually a call for accountability. Although comic book/manga industries had different roles in their societies, post-war cartoonists on both sides spilled a great deal of ink in trying to grasp the promise and perils created by the onset of atomic age. For the Japanese, when the bomb was dropped, it marked the actual onset of the story and the horrors of Hiroshima form the dominant image of the Japanese collective memory of the war, which meant many Japanese considered themselves victims of unwarranted aggression (Szasz and Issei 729). However, the American occupation of Japan between 1945 and 19950 saw the censorship of all references to atomic themes from Japanese writers. Nevertheless, from mid 1950s onward, voices of Japanese politicians, intellectuals, cartoonists and people affected by the bomb gradually began to emerge (Szasz and Issei 730 ). The post-war culture reflected a polarized perspective because the Americans considered it a triumph while the Japanese considered it a tragedy. If the atomic power produced American animals determined to bring about justice, the Japanese writers approached the theme from very distinct perspectives. An example of radiation-powered creature rests in Japanese film Godzilla in 1954. Based on the heated atmosphere with regard to the atomic bomb, came the infamous fictional monster Godzilla where the film begins with the Godzilla attacking a fishing boat. After the monster became exposed to radiation from hydrogen bomb test, the creature emerges as a forty-five-foot monster. Godzilla acts as a powerful allegory regarding the dangers of hydrogen, which depicts their collective memory of the attack and its consequences (Szasz and Issei 744-745). In its initial form, Godzilla was an allegory and not a direct atomic statement and because of the relative silence with regard to the moral is sues involved, Barefoot Gen holds a unique position in the history of the literature (Szasz and Issei 746). The period between 1945 and 1970 witnessed few American or Japanese creative artists raise the question of responsibility for the decision of using the atomic weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This shows that although it was few years since the end of the war, the people’s memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were fresh in the minds of Japanese citizens. Barefoot Gen is truly extraordinary within manga, Atomic-bomb related films and atomic anime because of the way it deals with the issue. While other works dealing with the issue focus on lives of survivors in post-war period, Barefoot Gen offers a wide focus because it does not shy from the crucial issues regarding restriction on freedom of thought and freedom of speech in pre-war Japan. Barefoot Gen is one of the main Atomic-bomb related works developed in Japan to address the issue of residents were treated during that period; hence, offering collective memory of the war (Szasz and Issei 749). Despite the gravity of the issue and the tragedies that occurred throughout the tale of Barefoot Gen, the tale is infused with life-affirming joviality, which is not a small part because of the way Gen and other children are portrayed (Szasz and Issei 750). It clear that by living their wits, children amid the post-war confusion were far energetic and resilient compared to the adult

Analysing Sunnis And Shiites Split Religion Essay

Analysing Sunnis And Shiites Split Religion Essay The difference between Sunni and Shia sects of Islam are not to the gigantic proportions as most Western literature assume. It is true that there are minor variations in the way they take their respective religious heads and attribute meaning to the history of the family of Muhammads, however, cultural and political differences hold the most divisive power over the religious forces. It is therefore significant to note that both sects believe and put emphasis in the Five Pillars of Islam, believe in and read same Holy Quran, and furthermore consider each other Muslims. The five pillars that form the core of their spiritual sanctity are Testimony of faith (Kalima), Prayer (Salat), Almsgiving (Zakat), Fasting (Sawm), Pilgrimage (Hajj) (Huda, 2010). The split between the Sunnis and Shia can be traced back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad, and the dilemma of the successor of Muhammad as the leader of the Muslim nation. Prophet Muhammad died in the evening of June 8, 632 A.D. (the twelfth of Rabi al-Away) at the age of sixty-three. There after, the Sunni Muslims were in agreement with the stand taken by most of the Prophets companions that the new head should be chosen from among those deemed competent of the job. This is the position that was adopted and implemented. The Prophet Muhammads close acquaintance and counselor, Abu Bark, consequently became the first Caliph of the Islamic nation. It is worth noting that the word Sunni is an Arabic word meaning one who follows the traditions of the Prophet. Contrary to the Sunni belief over the succession, some Muslims hold the idea that leadership should have been from the Prophets own family, handed over to those specifically appointed by him, or amid Imams chosen by God Himself. These were the Shia Muslims. They believed that after the death of Prophet Muhammad, leadership ought to have been passed on directly to his cousin/son-in-law, Ali. Since those historical years, Shia Muslims have not acknowledged the power and authority of elected leaders. The Shia Muslims instead opted to recognize and obey the Imams they believed were chosen by the Prophet Muhammad or by God Himself. The word Shia is an Arabic word for a group or supportive party of people. It is short form of Shia-t-Ali, or the Party of Ali. Shias are also referred to as followers of Ahl-al-Bayt or People of the Household (of the Prophet) (Huda). Majority of the Muslims are the Sunni Muslims at 85% of all the Muslims allover the world. A tangible number of Shia Muslims are found in Iraq and Iran, with some large minority communities in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Bahrain etc. Having looked at the brief history of the split of the two sects and the reasons behind the split, it is fundamental therefore, to look at the differences in religious belief s, leadership, texts, and any other that may be. From the historical differences in political leadership, some spiritual life aspects were consequently changed and since diverge between the two groups. However, as note hitherto, the Shia and Sunni Muslims hold in common the fundamental articles of Islamic belief and are brethren in the Islam faith. As a matter of fact, rarely or never at all will a Muslim identify themselves as Shia or Sunni Muslim but rather as Muslim (Austine Cline). Shia Muslims believe that the Imam is naturally sinless since his authority comes directly from God. From this, the Shia Muslims revere and adore the Imams as saints and strive to perform pilgrimages for divine intervention to their shrines and tombs. Countering this is the Sunni Muslim belief that there is no foundation in Islam for a hereditary advantaged category or rank of religious leaders. They therefore have no place for the pilgrimage to the saints shrines. Sunni Muslims argue that control of the community is not hereditary or a birthright, but a trust that must be earned and therefore can be given or taken away by the people themselves. Another difference comes in the sanctity of religious texts. Shia Muslims have some resentment to some of the contemporaries of the Prophet Muhammad. This sprouts from their stands and deeds in the historical years of discord about leadership among the Muslim nations. It is said that Abu Bakr, Umar, Aisha, etc (Sunnis) narrated much about the Prophet Muhammads life and spiritual encounters, practice and journey. The Shia Muslims reject these Hadith do not take them as a basis for their religious practices. This accordingly informs divergence in religious practice between the Sunnis and Shias. The differences concern aspects of religious life: prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and so on and so forth. For instance Shiites can condense the five daily prayers into 3 or 4 yet Sunnis dont, Shiites might pay their alms (Zakat) directly to the poor, yet Sunnis pay to the state. Shiites also promotes a provisional marriage (muttah) for men travelling far from home while Sunnis dont ascribe to this (Sunnis vs. Shiites). The Shias place their forehead onto apiece of natural material while praying (clay tablet, soil or sand from Karbala(where Imam Hussain was martyred), rather than onto a prayer mat. The Sunnis however recommend that one should not prostrate on a natural surface. Shias hold their hands at their sides while praying while Sunnis on the other side their arms-right over left- and clasp their hands, though either is acceptable. Religious Shia women black like the male religious leaders. Conventional Sunni women cover around the perimeter of the face with the hijab but only to below their chin such that the chin can show in part while the Shia women will cover the perimeter of the face and the chin completely. Shias more often than not derive their name from the name or titles of saints. They often draw their lineage from to Ali and Fatimah. The three Sects of Shiites Although, through history there were several branches of Shia Muslims, currently only three are predominant. The Ashariyyah, profoundly called the Twelvers, the Ismaili and the Zaidi. Ashariyyah or Twelvers as the adherents are called believe in the twelve divinely ordained leaders, known as the Twelve Imams. These were the successors of Prophet Muhammad and were spiritual and political leaders. On average 85% of Shia are Twelvers. Ismaili is the second largest sect of the Shia Islam after the Twelvers. They derive their name from their acceptance of Ismail ibn Jafar as the divinely-appointed spiritual successor to Jafar as-sadiq, they differ from the Twelvers, who accept Musa al-Kizim, the younger brother of Ismail, as the proper Imam. Zaidi are followers of the Zaidi fiqh and they identify with the first four of the Twelve Imams but they accept Zayd ibn Ali as their Fifth Imam, in place of his brother Muhammad al-Baqir. After Zayd ibn Ali, the Zaidi recognize other descendants of Hasan ibn Ali or Husayn ibn Ali to be Imams. Among the well known Zaidi Imams are Yahya ibn Zayd, Muhammad al Nafs az-Zakiyah and Ibrahim ibn Abdullah.

Why Christians Should Watch the Big Bang Theory

Sarah Blair 10/11/12 Final Draft Lipscomb Seminar Why Christians Should Watch â€Å"The Big Bang Theory† The Big Bang Theory is a show about adult nerds who happen to be prodigies at science. In every episode something enviably goes wrong, or a conflict arises. Five main characters makeup the core cast in the Big Bang Theory. These characters are Sheldon Cooper, Leonard Hofstadter, Howard Wolowitz, Rajesh Koothrappali, and Penny. The dynamics and interactions between these characters are what helped this show win an Emmy, GoldenGlobe, and consistently attract 16 million weekly viewers.The first season aired in 2007 and has been signed to keep producing seasons through 2014. Because of the Big Bang Theory’s large following, Christians should watch the show because it will help them understand specific social groups through humor and grow a greater understanding of how Christians are perceived in the secular world. For a Christian it is important to see how outcasts are t reated. Sheldon, with all of his quirkiness, tends to be socially awkward. People within Sheldon’s group of friends are usually accepting, but the rest of the world does not seem to know how to handle him.Sheldon and his friends fit within the mold of nerds and often time’s people find it hard to relate with them because they are different from the rest of the world. This show brings to life the reality that certain groups of people might not always get along. But that no matter what social affiliation a person may belong to, Christians should seek out a relationship because Jesus called them to be all things to all people. If Christians are only interacting with people who it is easy to talk with, then they are avoiding what God has called them to do.In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Paul writes, â€Å"Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law, so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law, so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. †(Bible). Here Paul talks about being all things to all people. A Christian should read this and use it as an example of how they should live their life. That is why the Big Bang Theory is a good show for Christians to watch. The Big Bang Theory helps Christians understand nerdy people and how to connect with them, so that when they come across someone who exhibits those personality traits they will know how to be â€Å"all things† to them. In the beginning of each episode evolution is mentioned.No matter what, the show always has a prevailing message of evolution and a disbelief in God. The w ay evolution is mentioned is through the discussions on science and Big Bang Theory’s theme song. Here are the lyrics to the song called The Big Bang Theory by the Barenaked Ladies, â€Å"Our whole universe was in a hot dense state, then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started. Wait†¦? The Earth began to cool, the autotrophs began to drool,? Neanderthals developed tools,? We built a wall (we built the pyramids),? Math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries,?That all started with the big bang! † (Lyrics To Barenaked Ladies). A Christian can see the evident message of evolution and the theory of the big bang in how the producers chose the theme song. Another obvious scientific significance that the show is conveying is the name of the show, the Big Bang Theory. The name of the show serves to attract interest and to focus in on the main themes. For the show, the Big Bang Theory, the title attracts interest because believing in the theory of the big b ang has become one of the most popular views of creation.The Big Bang Theory’s title focuses on the how the shows emphasizes the theory of the big bang and the disbelief in God through any and all means of scientific methods. Christians usually do not believe in evolution, to be more specific, macroevolution. An example of Macroevolution would be a fish evolving into a land animal. Many Christians do not believe that this can happen, but do believe in microevolution. Microevolution can be seen through how there are many types of dog breeds. Dogs vary in size and traits, but at the same time their all still considered dogs.This is the type of evolution used to describe varying trait differences in dog breeds. Even Christians, who do believe in the theory of the big bang, see God as the source of life behind everything. As a whole, Christians tend not believe in the most commonly thought of term â€Å"evolution† which often times is referring to macroevolution. This whol e view of evolution is what the show and its creators are forcing on their viewers. Another reason why Christians should not watch this show is because God is the one who made everything and the show does not support this form of creation.In Genesis 1:1 the Bible says, â€Å"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth†(Bible). Here the Bible says that God made everything and not evolution. If Christians believe in God then they should also believe that He created the world. Star Trek, Star Wars, World of Warcraft, comic books, religion, relationships, jobs etc. are just a few of the many topics that this show derives humor from. In one episode Sheldon lets Amy Farrah Fowler, the girl he has been seeing, go on a date with another man. After a short while Sheldon becomes paranoid by what he just allow to happen.Sheldon then decides to crash Amy’s date to the movies. Awkwardly, Sheldon sits himself in between the couple and proceeds to tell Amy that he wants th eir relationship to become an official, exclusive thing. Amy agrees and her relationship with Sheldon then becomes official and exclusive (CBS). Humor like this is what the Big Bang Theory is built on. Often times, people go looking for a laugh in the wrong places. In the world today people’s actions have a direct correlation with their own motives. People tend to get a laugh at another persons expense.But for Christians, it is not right to shame another person like this. However, God does have a sense of humor and He wants everyone to also be filled with joy and laughter. He simply wants the source of laughter to be wholesome. In Psalm 126:2 David wrote â€Å"then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them. ’†(Bible). Here David mentions laughter and joy when referring to a change in people. God wants everyone to experience humor and that is why Christia ns should watch the Big Bang Theory.The Big Bang Theory is a good source of laughter that is light hearted and lifts ones spirits. Christians should not watch the Big Bang Theory for its evolution standpoint, but also for how it condones excessive drinking. In many episodes of the Big Bang Theory, characters drink in excess, which lead them to becoming drunk. The character Raj is a man who has a hard time talking in front of women. However, when he is intoxicated he can actually hold a conversation with women. But being drunk is not a good way to glorify God. To be specific, Christians are called to not become drunk.The Bible says in Ephesians 5:18 â€Å"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,† (Bible). Through this scripture, a Christian can see how God does not want His children to become drunk. A person can argue that any form of alcohol is a sin, but the Bible only states that drunkenness is what is wrong. As a whole, if Christians are not strong enough to stop drinking before they become drunk, they should abstain from alcohol. Christians who do not approve of drunkenness should also not approve of this show.The Big Bang Theory is filled with many things that are not glorifying God and none of them should be taken lightly. The last reason why Christians should watch the Big Bang Theory is because it paints an interesting light on Christianity. Christians are viewed many ways, and this show tends to showcase them in a negative manner. However, the Big Bang Theory does show truth in their view of Christianity. The Big Bang Theory sees Christians as uptight, close-minded, condemning, self-righteous, and hypocritical. A website called www. hetvcritic. org also views Christians very negatively, but they do feel as if the Big Bang Theory treated Christianity â€Å"inappropriately†¦ (and that it) implied a level of pushiness and insensitivity†(TheTvCritic). The sad thing is that hypocrisy a nd other negative traits like this can be found in Christians. That is why it is important for Christians to understand how secular people view them. So that they can be how Christ wanted them to be. God never said that the world would love Christians and that life would be easy.He did call Christians to stand up for what is right, but He did not call Christians to be so pervasive. God called everyone to love each other. In an episode Sheldon’s mother comes to visit and she takes everyone on a church tour with her. Sheldon’s mother is a so-called â€Å"devout† Christian(CBS). However, she bad mouths everyone and puts herself on a holier than thou pedestal. Many Christians who watched this episode were greatly offended, but Christians should rather use this secular view of Christianity as a learning tool and source of personal growth of how to not act in their own lives.Christians need to remember Matthew 7:5 â€Å"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. †(Bible). This verse is something all Christians need to remember, to keep them humble, loving, filled with grace, and gentleness. That is why watching shows like the Big Bang Theory are not always easy, or make Christians feel good, but are necessary in order to keep a realistic view of the world. Sexual immorality happens to be another common occurrence that the show is complacent on.In many Big Bang Theory episodes, sexual topics are talked about or immoral intercourse happens. Many times this sexual act is referred to as coitus. Throughout the six seasons, two characters Leonard and Penny have had an interesting relationship where they have sex. Christians should not be in favor of this type of sexual interaction since Leonard and Penny are not married. In 1 Corinthians 6:18 the Bible says, â€Å"Flee from sexual immorality and all other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body,† (Bible).Here a Christian can read that this type of behavior is not moral or uplifting to God. This is why Christians should not watch the Big Bang Theory because if they were to do so, they would be supporting such actions. These are all reasons why Christians should watch The Big Bang Theory. The choice of characters in their socially awkward nerdy lifestyles will cause Christians to think outside of themselves and grow in order to find ways to reach the outcasts. The humor will lighten their day and have them enjoy the simple things God has created. But most of all, Christians will be aware of how the world views them.That if they are going to make a bigger impact in the world they need to truly love people for who they are and where they are at. Christians should give this show a chance; they might be surprised with what new thought they come away with.