Friday, December 20, 2019

The Criminal Justice System And The Correctional...

There are many people that play an important role in maintaining safety and equality in the communities we live in. As a research topic, I got a chance to learn a little about some of the different professions in the criminal justice system. Based on individual interviews, I will discuss my findings from members of law enforcement, the court systems and the correctional department. The representatives interviewed were: a Sheriff Deputy working patrol from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, a Criminal Defense Attorney from a private practice law firm, a Deputy Probation Officer from the Sacramento Probation Department and also a sheriff’s deputy from the Sacramento County Main Jail. This paper will present a brief overview of their jobs, their personal views on their careers and department goals and a summary of what I learned. The first person contacted was Deputy Sheriff John Van Assen, a member of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. I first me t John when I was paired up with him for a Sheriff-Ride-Along. Ride-Alongs give everyday citizens the chance to see what law enforcement does on a normal work day, by riding right beside them as a passenger in their patrol car. My experience in those several hours was invaluable and one I will not soon forget. Although I was just an observer, I felt like a played a small part in â€Å"crime-fighting† as we responded to various calls and talked to numerous people throughout the shift. A Sheriff is the elected chiefShow MoreRelatedHuman Service Organization Profile : Department Of Public Safety And Correctional Services1049 Words   |  5 PagesOrganization Profile: Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services A human service organization that is interesting to me is the Department of Corrections. I chose this group because it relates closely with my major which is criminal justice. In this profession, there are various positions that can provide opportunities to work with those who struggle to obey the law. Some of these positions include admin specialists, program assistants, records analyst, correctional officers, program coordinatorsRead MoreThe Criminal Justice System Is The Law Of The Land1380 Words   |  6 PagesThe criminal justice system as a whole can be looked at in numerous ways depending on the sub category you want to approach, whether it be the federal law, law enforcement or correctional programs. In most eyes, the federal law is the law of the land and by that it provides a stable community of rules that everyone must follow with efficiency while providing public safety. With that comes the enforcement of the law, the most common being police. In essence majority of the united states looks at theRead MoreThe Goal of the United States Criminal Justice System794 Words   |  4 Pages Within the United States Criminal Justice System, it is not only goal to simply punish those who break the law, but to also reduce the level of criminal activity. In order to fulfill this important aspect of the Criminal Justice System, offenders must be rehabilitated and motivated to refrain from engaging in further criminal activity so that they do not return to prison. Since the early 1990’s, our country’s crime rate has been declining. Studies such as the Pew Safety Performance Project pointRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography On Crime And Justice1538 Words   |  7 PagesAnnotated Bibliography on Crime and Justice Crime may simply be referred to as an offense against the state or against morality and is punishable by law, while justice is the fairness practiced during judgment of cases usually in instances where crime has taken place. Crime and justice go hand in hand as commonly evident in a case whereby a criminal is apprehended and taken to a court of law, then a ruling of justice practiced on the case and fairness used in passing of judgments. In most governmentsRead MoreCorrectional Facilities and Environments1166 Words   |  5 PagesProcesses of Correctional Environments: Correctional facilities play an integral role in the criminal justice system as many individuals who are convicted of offenses are normally placed on probation rather than being sent to prison. In other cases, convicted criminals who have served their jail terms are usually released on parole. In addition to meeting other requirements, criminals are required to stay out of trouble during parole and probation periods. In order to prevent offenders from committingRead MoreThe Criminal Justice System Law Enforcement Agencies960 Words   |  4 PagesThe Criminal Justice System works to enforce laws within the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of the government. To insure the criminal justice agencies are organized and functioning, it is typically divided into three main components. The three main components are law enforcement agencies, court agencies, and correctional agencies (Siegel Worrall, 2015). Law enforcement agencies are in charge of thoroughly investigating the cr imes and detaining suspects (Siegel Worrall, 2015). CourtRead MoreEssay on The Mission of the Correctional System 1218 Words   |  5 PagesThe correctional system has three main goals: punish, protect the community and rehabilitate the offender. However, it is unclear how well the modern U.S correctional system achieves these goals and whether the money invested in the correctional system might be better spent. These are some of the points I will cover regarding what I think about the correctional system. Department of Corrections is an agency of the state that is responsible for the supervision and management of convicted felonsRead MoreThe University Of Southern Mississippi848 Words   |  4 Pagesdoctoral program in criminal justice starting the fall semester of 2016. The University of Southern Mississippi is my ideal location for the achievement of a doctoral degree. I would like to demonstrate my knowledge, experience, and research ability in the field of criminal justice and correctional studies. Having majored in the discipline as a former graduate student, I want to further my education to assist and promote future changes in criminal justice and correctional policy. I am lookingRead MorePrivatization Within The Criminal Justice System Essay1510 Words   |  7 Pagesissues throughout the entire criminal justice system. The United States, with just 5 percent of the world s population, currently holds 25 percent of the world s prisoners (Khalek). This issue runs deeper tha n just incarceration; it permeates every level of the criminal justice system, from incarceration to probation. Many states have turned to private institutions in an attempt shed operating costs, while also increasing effectiveness throughout the criminal justice system. These acts can includeRead MoreConsequences of Crime1023 Words   |  5 Pagesdiscourage criminal action. At the same time, the question of whether or not punishment, as offered from within the punitive abilities of the criminal justice system, is sufficiently adequate to achieve these goals. In bringing answers to these problems and more, the ensuing paragraphs will cover the penalties associated with crime, various behavior reinforcement techniques and the effectiveness of current correctional methods. As part of the criminal process, the American justice system offers different

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Consumer Purchasing Behavior and Management

Question: Discuss about the Consumer Purchasing Behavior and Management. Answer: Introduction Consumer buying decision is affected by various different factors like social, economic, psychological, personal etc. The report examines the consumer decision making of the Tim Tam product in Australia. The Tim Tam Chocolate biscuits are sold under the brand name of Arnott. It is known to be one of the largest suppliers of snack food in Australia. Therefore the main aim of the report is to identify the profiled consumers as well as investigates the market standing of the product. The market analysis is based on the various consumer decision making approaches. It further aims to evaluate the alternative available in the market and recognize the competitors while making a product choice (Solomon, 2014). Consumer behavior is variable in nature and hence it is recommended to the marketers to evaluate it timely in order to succeed. Knowledge about consumer is essential for the marketer as it can lead to success and failure of the product. Product research of Tim Tam will help the company to improve existing product and to understand the gap in between the actual and standard achievement. Tim Tam is a well-known brand in all over Australia with a distinguished market share (Arnotts Biscuit Limited (ABL) 2017). As per the report of IBIS World Tim Tam accommodates around 60% of the market. It has become necessary to make an estimate about the current and the upcoming consumer buying behavior which is based on the market trends. A thorough study of the consumer market behavior will provide with an overview in order to understand the consumer buying decisions (Kardes, Cronley and Cline, T2014). Profiled Consumers The profiled target market of Tim Tam majorly comprises of the Wellbeings and young adult female consumers. On the basis of the demographic segmentation, the products are famous in between the age group of 12-15 years. This particular section is targeted by the company in order to increase the revenue. However the brand is famous among people of every age group. It depends upon the individual attitude, taste and preferences while making a purchase decision. According to the psychological segmentation, the product attracts a major section comprising people of every age group due to customer emotional understanding. The product specifically focuses on children and female consumers. They form to be the major section consuming Tim Tam (Mullen and Johnson, 2013). This particular section of the society is fond of chocolates and the products made using them. However the company is consistently making changes in their product in order to grab attention of every section of the society. On the basis of the geographic segmentation the product is sold in each and every part of Australia. Tim Tam has a large outreach not only in Australia but in other part of the world. Moreover it is due to the easy accessibility, the product is highly recognizable. Consumers are more likely to buy those products which are easily accessible. The accessibility of Tim Tam makes it famous among a very large section of the society. People in Australia can easily access the product at stores situated near them. Regular availability of product helps in deciding the consumer behavior. Consumers tend to switch over to competitors goods due to unavailability of the product. In order to strengthen the position of the product it is essential to frame policies keeping in mind the variable consumer behavioral factors that are based on various assumptions in the market (Vinerean, Cetina, Dumitrescu and Tichindelean, 2013). Moreover by recognizing the designated consumer group it has become easier for a product to compete against other. Understanding the needs of profiled consumer will help in adding value to the product on a long run. This will help in achieving sustainable results within a desired time-period (Lantos, 2015). Primary consumer Profile Wellbeings This section includes younger generation consumer who enjoy and are excited about tasty food. They do not consider inclusion of excess chocolate in the product. Tim Tam is a party food and famous among every section of the society. Wellbeings enjoy food and follow products that are in trend. Chocolates are among one product liked by every individual irrespective of their age. Tim Tam is mostly liked by every section due to its exquisite taste. Tim Tam is famous among every individual for its taste. This section of the society tastes and preferences keep varying as per the trends. Young adult females Tim Tam is famous among the young woman in between the age group of 20-35 years. Tim Tam provides them with a high level of satisfaction. Health conscious people consume at least one piece of biscuit due to its taste. Tim Tam is easily available at the grocery store present in all over Australia. This is due to the fact that the company has attained a considerable recognition in all over Australia due to availability of the product. The easy availability at every store has created more awareness among the consumers. The product is not only famous in Australia but has received recognition in all over the world with a considerable number of female fans. Decision making approach Consumer buying behavior is influenced by various factors that include social, economic, cultural and psychological needs. Every individual consumer buying decision is necessary to be considered while developing marketing policies. The decision in case of Tim Tam is largely influenced by the social and demographic factors. A large section of the society is influenced by the social group they are living in. the decision of an individual completely depend upon the decisions made by their friends and families. People tend to buy those products which are consumed by their friends and families largely. The consumer decision making approach includes majorly five steps that include need recognition, searching information, evaluation of the alternatives, purchases and the post purchase behavior (Samli, 2012). These steps help in guiding the marketer to understand the consumer behavior in a diversified market. The consumer behavior is difficult for a marketer to evaluate as it does not flow i n an exact order. In case of Tim Tam it is difficult for the marketing team to decide the consumer buying decision. The decision largely depends upon the type of product, the buying stage of the consumer and the financial status of the consumer (Henry, Nigel, Linda and Kevin, 2004). Need Recognition The first step deals with the process in which the consumer realizes that they need a product. Firstly the marketer needs to understand that the needs and desire of the prospective consumer while making consumer buying decision. These decisions are largely influenced by internal craving. Marketers need to create an imbalance in between the present and the future situation. This imbalance will create a need in the mind of the consumer. Need recognition occurs when a consumer looks for the particular product in order to satisfy his/her needs. A need can occur immediately and can only be satisfied if the consumer consumes the product. This is called as internal stimulus (Reynolds and Olson, 2001). External stimulus is caused due to the external factors. In case of Tim Tam majority of decisions are influenced by the reference group especially in case of kids. External stimulus also includes influence caused due to advertisement and various other promotional techniques. These tools influe nce the customers to make purchases. Actual stage is a stage in the consumer buying decision making where a buyer wishes to buy the product. In case of desired state a consumer wishes to make purchases of the product. Desired state is caused due to internal and external stimulus. Consumers tend to satisfy themselves only when their needs are individually satisfied. Tim Tam forms to be the basic needs of a consumer and is easily available at various stores in Australia. This is however essential to recognize the basic needs and desire while assimilating the consumer decision making. Segmentation of market is essential for making purchase decision in order to understand the market (Hollensen, 2014). Consideration sets These are the subset that is being considered by the consumer while making a purchase related decision. Consumer is rational in their approach while making buying decisions. They apply a well defined set in order to understand their needs. In case of Tim Tam the customer in order to attain maximum satisfaction conducts a market research and compares the product with the other. Involvement and perceived risk These are the risk that is associated with the purchases of the product. Marketers necessarily conduct a research in order to understand the risk associated with it. Perceived risk is very low in case of Tim Tam as the product is easily available. The product can easily be purchased and available at almost every grocery shop. Perceived risk occurs only in the case when a consumer is purchasing an expensive product. The major cause in purchases is due to the heavy price associated with the product. Consumer has to think multiple times before making a buying decision. A habitual risk arises due to internal and external stimulus (Keegan and Green, 2015). The product forms to be an integral part in a consumer life. A habitual decision making is influenced by the consumer buying decision making. Consuming Tim Tam has become a habitual decision of the consumer. Most of the purchase decision is due to internal craving in the consumer. Once he/she start consuming the product it becomes an in tegral part in a consumer life (Slack, 2015). Pre-purchased search Pre purchased search is conducted by the consumer before the actual purchases. They tend to compare one product with the other in order to purchase the best product. This forms to be one of the essential parts of a consumer buying decision making. At this particular stage consumer taste the product. Decision regarding purchase of the product depends upon his prior experience. Tim Tam is famous in almost every age group and decision regarding the purchases is influenced by the pre-purchase search. At this stage consumer compares the two products in order to make purchases (Churchill and Iacobucci, 2006). Internal and external search Consideration In case when want related to a product is developed consumer tries to find information about the alternative available in the market. He looks for that product that is under his budget. This will not only help the consumer to find out the best available product but will provide with a chance to make an effective decision. An internal information search includes utilizing information from the past the decisions are influenced due to the past experiences of the customers. Purchases related to Tim Tam are influenced on the basis of internal information search. The buyers tend to make purchases if they liked it previously. Prior experience forms an important part of the purchases (Rothaermel, 2015). Whereas the external information search is a process through which information is retrieved from the external sources. The consumer tries to seek information from the friend and the family to understand their experiences in order to make further purchases. Another source of making alternative research is the marketing controlled sources like TV, Radio, Ad, Brochures etc. The level of risk associated with the product depends upon the interest level of the buyer. Tim Tam has to make further advancement by making an effective promotional plan in order to grab attention of the customer (Kotler and Keller, 2012). Evaluation of Alternatives At this stage the consumer tries to evaluate the alternatives in order to make an effective consumer buying decision. During final decision, consumer looks for the most appropriate product after considering all the options. At this stage the marketer needs to find out the most appropriate product while making a choice among the alternates. A consumer is most likely to buy a product that satisfies his/her needs. He tries to evaluate the difference in between the various products available in the market and hence chooses the one giving high level of satisfaction (Kotler and Keller, 2006). A consumer evaluates the product on different parameter based on the individual desire. The value of the product is measured on the basis of degree of satisfaction provided by the product. A consumer differentiates in between the various attributes attached with product while distinguishing in between each. This provides them with an insight to find out the most appropriate product available in the market. An evaluation technique varies from consumer to consumer and highly depends upon the degree of satisfaction provided by the product (Hutt and Speh, 2005). Product categorization depends upon the available category of the product available in the market. This will not only help in attaining high degree of satisfaction with the customer but also helps in selecting the most appropriate product out of available products in the market. Tim Tam has strategized according to the growing needs of the customers. This not only provides with attaining better result but also helps in achieving differential goals on a long run. Criteria selection is necessary while making an appropriate choices related to a product. Selecting appropriate criteria as mentioned by the customer will help in attaining sustainable result. The marketers are nowadays evaluating various techniques in order to find out the most appropriate one to implement the goals of the organization (Cravens and Piercy, 2006). Decision related to choice of retail outlet The choices related to retail outlet depends upon market research. It is necessary for a marketer to understand the importance of decision related to the choice of retail outlet. The product needs to be easily available to the customers so that he doesnt switch over to some other product. Customer tends to switch in case they find a substitute of the product. Tim Tam is easily available at every grocery store that makes it one of the most important and highly recommended products available in the market. Consumers can easily find it in the closest available grocery store. Easy availability of the product makes it one of the best available products in the market with a maximum number of consumers not only in Australia but across the border (Hollensen, 2015). Recommendation It is highly recommended that the company need to strategies their priorities in order to understand the market needs. Firstly it should build strategies according to the market needs after understanding the individual buying decision of the consumer. It is necessary to understand various factors associated with the product while considering the individual decision making. Secondly, on a long run it is recommended that the product need to keep introducing innovation into the product in order to attract maxim customers. Thirdly, the product needs to be available at every retail outlet so that consumer does not switch to any other product. This will create market stability for a long tenure. Lastly Tim Tam need to run promotional activities in order to grab attention of the customers. (Chung, 2015). Conclusion The report examines the consumer buying decision making of Tim Tam and showcases the different factors that affect the buying decision making. The product is highly famous among the wellbeings and adult female consumers. It studies the various techniques and measures used by the marketers in order to establish a relationship in between the product and the consumer buying behavior. It is necessary for an individual consumer to understand the consumer buying decision in order to create a distinguished market standing. In a highly fluctuating market it is important for a marketer to evaluate various tools in order to understand the point of view of the individual customers. Recommendations provide the necessary changes Tim Tam can bring in order to achieve desired results. References Arnotts Biscuit Limited (ABL) 2017. Available at: https://www.arnotts.com.au Accessed on: 24 January 2017 Chung, F.2015.Online. Available at: https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/the-seven-aussie-power-brands-coles-woolworths-and-aldi-cant-do-without/news-story/e0286fe3a73aa8fd4136544634721c0a Accessed on: 24 January 2017 Churchill, G.A. and Iacobucci, D., 2006.Marketing research: methodological foundations. New York: Dryden Press. Cravens, D.W. and Piercy, N., 2006.Strategic marketing(Vol. 7). New York: McGraw-Hill. Henry, A., Nigel, P., Linda, B. and Kevin, V., 2004. Consumer behavior: a strategic approach.Boston, M. A.: Houghton Mifflin Company. Hollensen, S. 2014, Marketing management: A relationship approach. Harlow, United Hollensen, S., 2015.Marketing management: A relationship approach. Pearson Education. Hutt, M.D. and Speh, T.W., 2005. Edition: Business Marketing Management. South-Western Publishing Company. Kardes, F., Cronley, M. and Cline, T., 2014.Consumer behavior. Cengage Learning. Keegan, W.J. and Green, M.C 2015, Global Marketing. Boston: Pearson. Kingdom: Pearson Education Kotler, P. and Keller, K.L 2012, Marketing management, 12th ed. United States: Prentice Hall Kotler, P. and Keller, K.L., 2006. Marketing management 12e.New Jersey. Lantos, G.P., 2015.Consumer behavior in action: Real-life applications for marketing managers. Routledge. Mullen, B. and Johnson, C., 2013.The psychology of consumer behavior. Psychology Press. Reynolds, T.J. and Olson, J.C. eds., 2001.Understanding consumer decision making: The means-end approach to marketing and advertising strategy. Psychology Press. Rothaermel, F.T., 2015.Strategic management. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Samli, A.C., 2012.International consumer behavior in the 21st century: impact on marketing strategy development. Springer Science Business Media. Slack, N., 2015.Operations strategy. John Wiley Sons, Ltd. Solomon, M.R., 2014.Consumer behavior: Buying, having, and being(Vol. 10). Engelwood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Vinerean, S., Cetina, I., Dumitrescu, L. and Tichindelean, M., 2013. The effects of social media marketing on online consumer behavior.International Journal of Business and Management,8(14), p.66.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Economics and Quantitative Effect and Analysis

Question: Discuss about the Economics and Quantitative Effect and Analysis. Answer: Introduction: The state of the economy in which the people search for jobs but they are unable to get one is known unemployment. Several reasons behind occurrence of unemployment within an economy are as follows: Lack of information: One main reason behind unemployment is the fact that the information about the existing scopes in the market is not well circulated amongst the people (Mankiw 2014 pp. 213-217). Inefficient allocation of resources: Often resources are not properly allocated or the firms, which results in unemployment, do not efficiently use them (Diamond and Rothschild 2014 p. 224). Technological up-gradation: Use of capital-intensive goods in production increases the efficiency of production but it dampens the employment generation scope of the economy and also leads to labor shirk off (Bendassolli, Gondim and Coelho-Lima 2015 pp.153-164). The following reasons are to be blamed behind the un-avoidance of unemployment in the economy. Unemployment may exist in the market as people may not get jobs in accordance with their preference and thereby has to continue their job search (Mankiw 2014 p. 215) . The government of any nation always tries to minimize the level of inflation in the economy. As inflation and unemployment are inversely, related hence reducing inflation causes an escalation of unemployment (Bendassolli, Gondim and Coelho-Lima 2015 pp.153-164). The number of people searching for jobs, the pattern of jobs available and the number of people changing their existing jobs is always changing. Hence, some people always remain unemployed in the economy (Mankiw 2014 pp. 213-217). Hence, the ideal condition for an economy is to be in its natural rate of unemployment where there is going to be subtle balance between the inflation and unemployment. Inflation according to the definition is the increase in prices of goods and services for a continuous period within an economy. It is a plague for the economy and needs to be strongly controlled by government intervention (Hansen 2016 pp.87-90). Inflation can be of two different types depending on the factors that induces the rise of prices in the economy. There is cost-push inflation that occurs as a result of increase in the production cost of the goods and services. The demand-pull inflation on other hand occurs with sudden increase in the demand within the economy, which cannot be met by the supply of that period (Blanchard and Riggi 2013 pp.1032-1052). The necessary condition for inflation is as follows: There has to be increase in the overall price level The increase must be considered over a stretch of time. As per the question, the time frame has not been stated and hence I differ from the statement in the question. The prices in the economy may rise due to several other factors and that price hike cannot be termed as inflation. Instances like natural calamities, sudden declaration of warfare and even changes in the oil price can cause the general level of price to rise (Blanchard and Riggi 2013 pp.1032-1052). It cannot be connoted as inflation unless the high price continues to exist and increase with the time. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can be defined as the monetary value of total production within the boundary of the country within a year after adjusting for the changes in price (Anderson 2014 p.121). The drawbacks of real GDP as an economic indicator are as follows: Measurement of GDP leaves out the basic components of economic well-being like the health condition of the people, the lifestyle and the level of education that the people achieve (Mankiw 2014 p. 135). Some country often shows high level of GDP but at the same time has high level of poverty. This is because the income generated is not equally distributed within the population. This indicator cannot measure the distribution of income within the people (Giannetti 2015 pp.11-25). From the economys production side, it is always better if a person works for longer hours. Nevertheless, from the labors view, it may so happen that working for a fixed hour and spending the other time for leisure brings him happiness. GDP cannot measure the peoples psychological aspect (Anderson 2014 p.121). The measurement of GDP does not take into account the impact on the environment. Establishment of new industries within the country yields more output and increases the GDP but at the same time depletes the environment and creates long-term effect on the economy (Pretty 2013 pp. 475-499). GDP is not able to focus on the distribution of income within the gender groups. Often females are exploited with low wage offerings than their male co-workers. This creates social inequality within the organization and economy (Giannetti 2015 pp.11-25). Hence, it can be said that real GDP is an unreliable indicator of peoples living standard. References: Anderson, V., 2014.Alternative Economic Indicators (Routledge Revivals). Routledge. Bendassolli, P.F., Gondim, S.M.G. and Coelho-Lima, F., 2015. Attributions of causes for unemployment by unemployed workers.Anlise Psicolgica,33(2), pp.153-164. Blanchard, O.J. and Riggi, M., 2013. Why are the 2000s so different from the 1970s? A structural interpretation of changes in the macroeconomic effects of oil prices.Journal of the European Economic Association,11(5), pp.1032-1052. Diamond, P. and Rothschild, M. eds., 2014.Uncertainty in economics: readings and exercises. Academic Press. Giannetti, B.F., Agostinho, F., Almeida, C.M.V.B. and Huisingh, D., 2015. A review of limitations of GDP and alternative indices to monitor human wellbeing and to manage eco-system functionality.Journal of Cleaner Production,87, pp.11-25. Hansen, B., 2016.A Study in the Theory of Inflation. Routledge. Mankiw, N.G., 2014.Principles of macroeconomics. Cengage Learning. Pretty, J., 2013. The consumption of a finite planet: well-being, convergence, divergence and the nascent green economy.Environmental and Resource Economics,55(4), pp.475-499.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Is it possible to say why Anglo-Saxon kings and queens (and their courts) were willing to accept Christianity Essay Example

Is it possible to say why Anglo-Saxon kings and queens (and their courts) were willing to accept Christianity Paper In 596, Englands network of small Anglo-Saxon kingdoms was universally pagan. A century later it was officially Christian. The conversion to Christianity, fronted by St. Augustines late sixth-century mission, was completely bloodless and apparently voluntary, in stark contrast with the forced conversion of the continental Saxons by Charlemagne. However, exactly how this conversion came about is, to a certain extent, shrouded in mystery. Our main source, Bedes Ecclesiastical History, was written over a hundred years after the events he is describing and is undermined as reliable historical evidence by its didactic and propagandist nature. Unfortunately, the missionaries that came to England did not write testimonies. However, we are able to look at the advice given to later continental missionaries such as Boniface. Through a combination of Bedes writings, the continental experience, archaeological evidence and intelligent guesswork, it may be possible to build up some sort of a picture of why the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy were willing to accept Christianity. With any voluntary conversion, we would expect the main reason behind it to be the success of missionary persuasion. Yet equally important is the willingness of the person who is being persuaded to be converted. As we shall see, openness to new ideas can be perceived either as a prerequisite for successful conversion or as a result of intelligent persuasion techniques. It is necessary, therefore, to look both at what was said or implied by the missionaries and at why the Anglo-Saxon kings accepted their arguments. It is important to remember that the impetus behind St. Augustines mission which resulted in the first conversion (that of King Aethelbert of Kent) came from Rome. We will write a custom essay sample on Is it possible to say why Anglo-Saxon kings and queens (and their courts) were willing to accept Christianity specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Is it possible to say why Anglo-Saxon kings and queens (and their courts) were willing to accept Christianity specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Is it possible to say why Anglo-Saxon kings and queens (and their courts) were willing to accept Christianity specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The kings of England did not ask to be converted; rather it was decided by Pope Gregory that they should be. Thus before we consider the possible attractions of Christianity, we must examine the Churchs motives behind the conversion. Bede and other Christian writers would have us believe that they were entirely spiritual. This is not far from the truth: Christianity is a proselytising faith, the followers of which believe their religion to be eminently superior to all others. However, Christianity in the early Middle Ages was also associated with the resurgence of Rome as an imperial power, albeit in barbarian hands. It was in Gregorys interest to extend his Christian empire by renewing control of a former Roman province such as England. Having the support of powerful Christian kings was important both to the spread of Christianity (mass baptism would have been impossible without the backing of a king) and to the security and prosperity of the new Christian empire. 1 Missionaries too had material as well as spiritual incentives behind their work. Augustine and others were given privileged, official status and the protection that came from operating under the aegis of a powerful patron (Gameson). The determination of the pope and individual missionaries to win the support of the Anglo-Saxon kings influenced how they put their message across. Both Gregory and his missionaries understood that their presentation of Christianity was crucial to its acceptance. The spiritual benefits from conversion would have to be explained alongside a subtle demonstration of the material benefits associated with conversion. To put it bluntly, distilling the true message of the gospels was not the sole task of the missionaries. Christianity had to be presented to the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy in a way specifically designed to appeal to them in order for them to accept it. What was important was that the Anglo-Saxon kings became nominally Christian and believed themselves to be Christian, not whether they were true Christians. Hence the conversion process was to be gradual and its methods flexible. The spiritual arguments for conversion were based on the idea of rationality. Bishop Daniel of Winchester (d. 745) writing to the Anglo-Saxon missionary Boniface (d. 754) listed various arguments the latter might use to convert pagan Germans. 2 Many were rational, in particular the logical fallacy of worshipping as gods beings who were born as humans. It is probable that missionaries wishing to convert the Anglo Saxons in the previous century will have used similar tactics. Bede tells us that Sigbert, King of Essex, was persuaded by Oswy of Northumbria that manmade idols could not possibly be gods as God was invisible and omnipresent. As Richter points out, this story is unreliable, but demonstrates the methods of persuasion that were used. An account by the Whitby Anonymous describes how Paulinus preaching to Edwin of Northumbria and his court used the shooting of a bird to demonstrate that idols were useless and could be destroyed without danger. This type of image-based persuasion would have been essential if we bear in mind that missionaries probably did n ot speak the same language as the people they were trying to convert; clearly, it could be just as powerful as oral persuasion. As well as highlighting what was claimed to be the illogical nature of paganism, the missionaries may have emphasised the potential spiritual fulfilment that could be gained from converting to Christianity. Bede describes how one of Edwins followers compared earthly existence with the flight of a sparrow through a lighted hall and suggested that if Christianity could dispel some of the darkness before and after, it was worthy to be considered. This is one situation where intelligent persuasion techniques come first; that is to say, in creating a need for adopting a new faith where there was not one before by causing people to doubt that the old faith successfully answered the most fundamental questions on existence. In addition to these theological arguments, Bede attributes the acceptance of Christianity to the fact that the Anglo-Saxons (in this case, Aethelbert) were impressed by both the pure lifestyle of the missionaries and the miracles that they performed. The second reason, explains Gameson, is a great deal more plausible. He makes the point that the emissaries came from a more sophisticated and materially advanced culture and therefore may have been able to do things that seemed extraordinary by Anglo-Saxon standards. It is not difficult to imagine the Anglo-Saxons being impressed by the prestige and superior material culture of the missionaries- something that the missionaries themselves were well aware of. St. Augustine arrived bearing a silver plate and an icon of Christ on a wooden board. Queen Etheburga (wife of Edwin) was sent a silver mirror and a comb ornamented with gold. Daniel of Winchester, perhaps drawing on the experience of the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons advised Boniface to get his audience to reflect on the circumstance that while the Christians possess fertile lands, and provinces fruitful in wine and oil and abounding in other riches, they have left to them, the pagans that is, with their gods, lands always frozen with cold. 4 David adds that Boniface must bring before [the pagans] the might of the Christian world. Similar techniques are likely to have been used to convert the Anglo-Saxons, who, bordering Gaul would have been well aware of this might and probably were slightly envious of it. B. Yorke describes how Frankish culture was very fashionable in Kent in the late sixth and early seventh centuries, the kingdom being the first area to adopt the status symbols of the Frankish royal court such as gold and garnet jewellery or the crystal balls which women worse suspended from the waist. Interestingly, she goes on to explain that other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms soon followed suit, citing the a rich female burial of the late sixth century from Chessell Down cemetery in the Isle of Wight, which includes a crystal ball and a brooch worn on the shoulder that had been imported from Gaul. Campbell mentions how pottery of a Frankish origin has even been found round the northern shores of the Irish sea. Anglo-Saxon kings must have been impressed by the wide influence of their Merovingian counterparts and may have associated the Frankish conversion Christianity (which brought with it links with Rome) with their domestic and foreign power. The missionaries, too, may have realised that they could play on the Anglo-Saxon kings pride, lust for fame and desire to augment their own power. Pope Gregory compared King Aethelbert to Constantine in advising him to convert for He whose honour you seek and maintain among the nations will also make your glorious name still more glorious even to posterity. Christianity, we must remember, was not simply a religion: it was an entire package. With it came culture, stone buildings, and, perhaps most significantly, Latin and literacy. Writing was associated with administration, in particular, codes of law. In these law codes, the king was deliberately connected with God. For example, Ine in his code of 688 styles himself by the grace of God king of the West Saxons. In Rome, the pope was becoming more imperial; perhaps the Anglo-Saxon kings hoped to follow in that mould. Higham goes so far as to assert that religious conversion was a deliberate and calculated tool designed to augment royal tradition. Certainly, conversion to Christianity led to an increase in power (and wealth in the form of tax and monasteries- something that Bede is reluctant to mention) of the Bretwalda. Claims of divine right to rule, however, were nothing new. Before the arrival of Augustine, kings were already using Woden and other gods to underpin their authority, for instance, in alleging that they were descended from them (Yorke). Furthermore, there may have already been substantial royal involvement in ritual before conversion, something which Bede chooses to ignore, presenting paganism as something controlled almost entirely by priests. However, as Yorke points out, the lack of archaeological evidence for temples and the fact that in pagan Sweden in the ninth century kings performed rituals in halls, indicate that Bede may have been mistaken. We have to admit that we know very little about Anglo-Saxon paganism. We also know next to nothing about whether there was any survival of Romano-British Christianity. A familiarity with Christianity from the survival of Romano-British Christianity could explain why the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy was so quick to accept conversion. There is some evidence for continuity. For example, near Aylesford there is a settlement called Eccles (via British, from the Latin ecclesia) which indicates that a pocket of Christians survived there long enough for the name to have been adopted into German speech. Also, Aethelbert put at his new (Frankish Christian) wife, Berthas disposal a church built in Roman times near Canterbury. This suggests that there were people in Kent who could identify a Christian church in the late sixth century. Possibly it even indicates the presence of a Christian community at Canterbury. Bertha is the first Frankish-Anglo-Saxon queen we know of (there may have been other before her) and highlights the importance of marriage in conversion. Berthas family insisted that Aethelbert let her practise her religion and bring with her a bishop, Liudhard. Edwin of Northumbria had been allowed to marry his wife, Ethelberga on the condition that he converted to Christianity (Paulinus, would-be missionary, arrived in her entourage). Having a Christian wife would have encouraged a king to be well-disposed towards Christianity. Once converted, the hierarchical nature of Anglo-Saxon kingship (the concept of over-kings and subject-kings) meant that kings could also convert each other. For example, Aethelbert persuaded Sigbert of Essex to convert. Bearing in mind how the spread of Christianity in Kent corresponded with an increase in Aethelberts power (not to mention the floundering of Christianity on his death) we could say that the Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England was advanced by kings wishing to assert hegemony over their neighbours. The importance of feud to the Anglo-Saxons is also crucial in this respect. This king-on-king conversion was made possible by the fact that there was a lot of movement and communication between kingdoms. P. Wormald describes how the situation in Beowulf (where there are always messengers and guests moving between courts) probably reflects the situation in real life. Beowulf is also significant in that it shows a continuation of some pagan beliefs and practices (such as cremation and, more broadly, a heroic tradition) alongside Christian beliefs. The Christianity that the missionaries introduced was of a deliberately flexible nature, which enabled the values and structure of Anglo-Saxon society to stay the same. Anglo-Saxon aristocrats continued to trace their lineage back to the pagan gods, while Raedwald apparently worshipped Christian and pagan gods in the same temple. An important example of assimilation is the alleged transformation of a pagan festival into Easter. Since assimilation is not inherent in Christianity in itself, the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon kings owes a great deal to how the religion was presented by the missionaries. Above all, the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy converted not simply for spiritual reasons, as Bede (whose task, we must not forget was to compile a catalogue of good examples for Christians of his own day) would want us to believe, but out of a desire to keep up with the rest of Europe, and especially Gaul, a country they had become close to in many respects. In explaining why non-spiritual reasons for conversion was so significant, the experiences of converting the continental pagans (in particular the advice given to Boniface) prove invaluable.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Unforgivable essays

Unforgivable essays In the Novel The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal, a dying S.S soldier named Karl asks Simon for forgiveness. It is difficult for me to forgive somebody I barely know. It would need to take a lot of time to gain someones trust before I can forgive a person. As Karl is dying slowly, he tells Simon about his childhood. Karl was raised as a Catholic, server in the church, and one of the favorites of the priest. He was a good kid until he joined the Hitler Youth. He then talks about his career including killing Jews and many innocent lives. Although Karl was a good kid and felt bad about what he had done, I wouldnt forgive him because he is a murderer and murderers should not be forgiven. I would not forgive Karl because I have no right to accept an apology for anybody but myself. I cannot speak for the many lives that he took away, and they obviously no longer can speak for themselves. For example, Josek says You have suffered nothing because of him, and it follows that what he has done to other people you are in no position to forgive (Wiesenthal Page 65). I strongly agree with Josek because Karl had killed many innocent people, and I cannot take responsibility on forgiving for the innocent people he killed. I wouldnt have the right to forgive for the whole community. I cant forgive because if I were fully aware of my actions knowing the consequences and still taking the actions then I must take fully responsibility. Its wrong that Karl had killed many innocent Jews. Simply asking for forgiveness would bother me because asking for forgiveness is like to fix or repair something, and his victims lives can never be repaired or fixed. If I were to forgive him then it would give him the satisfaction of dying peacefully. Why should he die peacefully while thousands of innocent people didnt? Although he shouldnt be forcibly put to death, he should not ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

A Teachers Role in the Lives of Students Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

A Teachers Role in the Lives of Students - Essay Example These qualities include being honest, patient, humble, understanding, affectionate and exhibiting an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. The teacher as a role model must have some â€Å"sterling qualities of head and heart, which the child gets impressed by† (Matthew, n.d.) A teacher is also a provider of experiences. Teachers spend a lot of time with their students, as such, they must be able to provide an environment which is free of fear but rather, one which is a â€Å"warm and protective environment but at the same time professional† (Csun.edu, n.d.). A teacher’s role goes beyond textbooks and the course syllabus. They help the child experience the challenges that go with education. The learning experiences that teachers impart are not confined to the ABCs or the 123s; they also teach how life is beyond the four walls of the classroom. Through the teacher, a child learns how to become a student, a classmate, a friend, a leader, a follower and a responsible citizen of the country. These experiences are provided through lectures, role-playing activities, and extra-curricular activities. Students are able to experience independence depending on the activities introduced by the teacher. Teachers guide students in facing the different chal lenges that life offers. The teacher as an interactor stimulates students towards classroom interactions. The interaction should not only be between student and teacher but also between the student and the other students. As interactors, teachers must act as facilitators so that students interact well with each other (Mwalim, 2011). Moreover, the students must be motivated to become creative and be critical thinkers. On the issue of time spent by children in front of the computer, there are several statements which a teacher may use to help a child expand, specify, problem solves and clarify.Â