Environmental analysis of Nivea in Thailand

Environmental analysis of Nivea in Thailand In todays world, all businesses are facing the dynamic of world economy. In business world, there is always strong competition in the market with new business players and convergence of the industry. Companies have to adjust themselves in order to survive and to conduct good performances; even the market leader of the industry needs to be successful with improved performance, high profitability and competitive edge. To be successful, a business needs to set its overall direction for the company through business plan aiming to achieve business goals and objectives. One of the most important parts of the overall business plan is the marketing plan. In formulating an effective marketing plan, a company needs to follow segmentation, targeting and positioning (STP) steps as they are the foundation of marketing strategy (Desarbo et al., 2008). STP process is in the area of market-oriented approach, which primarily examines the external environment based on market needs so as to develop products which well respond to the market. Currently, while the overall markets are becoming more mature and customer needs are greatly diverse, the use of STP strategy is indispensable. In highly dynamic environment, most companies conduct segmentation research studying the changes in the marketplace and adapt themselves to the dynamic world. Therefore, it is very common that most businesses are increasingly segmenting markets and identifying each target market in order to explore new opportunities, develop right positioning to establish brand image and brand reputation, deliver proper communications to the target audiences, and also effectively invest resources and specific capabilities to the main marketing activities. The company will be able to create a value proposition specific to the target market by developing an effective marketing strategy, including marketing mix. By going through the STP process, a company will be likely to establish its own identity and differentiate itself from other competitors in the marketplace. This research studies the mens grooming product industry in Thailand. The methodology is to examine how the product owner develops its marketing strategy and how the STP process has vital role in formulating the strategy. In Thailand, mens grooming market is a high growth industry, with approximately 14 percent growth annually from 2005 to 2008 and the market size in 2009 expanded with the value of Bt5.5 billion. Growth of the industry in year 2008 mainly came from growth of mens skin care market, with 26% percent growth in terms of current value (Euromonitor International: Mens Grooming Products Thailand, 2009). Mens skin care market is considered not only an attractive market but also a very highly competitive market in Thailand. This paper uses a case study of NIVEA FOR MEN brand in Thailand, the line of products manufactured by Beiersdorf Thailand, as it is a good case study about mens skincare market. Moreover, it specifically concentrates on male skin care market which is segmentation method of NIVEA FOR MEN. Therefore, this case study is of interest of the author to study the whole process of STP which can lead to the formulating of marketing strategy of a leading brand in mens skin care market, NIVEA FOR MEN. Prior to this study, there have been some researches studying male consumers behaviors which claimed that men consumers are now much more a part of modern consumerism as women (Sturrock et al., 1998). In recent years, a number of researchers aim their interests at male consumers in order to study male consumption of products and styles which contributes to the production of self image (Firat, 1993), and also the construction of self concept (Thompson and Hirschman, 1995). In this paper, the qualitative approach, in-depth interview will be the main research method. The research will provide more details of the area of study and clarify the discussed concepts. 1.2 Purpose of the project Points of the authors interest in this research are the rapid growth of mens grooming product industry and the way a leading brand in this industry has employed marketing strategies. An overall purpose of the project is to study the thorough process of segmentation, targeting, and positioning (STP process) that is the main part in creating effective marketing strategy, and to examine how and to what extent the STP process can be applied to men skin care industry as well as to assess its implementation on a leading brand in men skin care market, NIVEA FOR MEN which is owned by Beiersdorf Company. 1.3 Design of the Project and Objectives This paper mainly deals with the scope of the process of segmentation, targeting, and positioning of a leading brand in men skin care market. As the stated process is the foundation and genesis of marketing strategy formulation, this research covers the linkage among these market-led marketing strategies. The paper will analyze market attractiveness in Thailand, and male consumers needs as well as Beiersdorf Thailand resources and capabilities. The investigation will be done by in-depth interview with marketers in Beiersdorf Thailand in order to gain insight information about the STP process and also the implementation of NIVEA FOR MEN marketing strategies. After all, the theory will be concluded and will also be used as a base of recommendation for the potential growth direction of NIVEA FOR MEN, a market leader in the very high growth industry. The objectives of this research are as follows to trace the origins of marketing strategy concept in real word situation in mens grooming products market and men skin care market in Thailand; to investigate the process of segmentation, targeting, and positioning of NIVEA FOR MEN brand; to examine the linkage among segmentation, targeting, and positioning as well as to study how STP process leads to the formulation of marketing strategy of NIVEA FOR MEN; to study the creation of competitive positioning and marketing plan as a market leader men facial care industry; and to make recommendation in respect of the maintenance of its market leader positioning according to consumers perspectives. 1.4 NIVEA International History and NIVEA Thailand History The case study of Beiersdorf Thailand, NIVEA FOR MEN is used in this research as it is the best case to study about the market-oriented approach with focusing on segmentation, targeting, and positioning process. Moreover, it is of interest of the author as NIVEA FOR MEN, with the various lines of products, is the leading brand in Thai rapid growth industry, mens skin care market. The history of Beiersdorf AG is briefly summarised (See Appendix [4-1]). Both NIVEA international history and NIVEA Thailand history are summerised to illustrate NIVEAs current conditions in world market and in Thailand. 1.4.1 NIVEA International History Figure [1-1]: NIVEA Worldwide Source: www.nivea.com NIVEA is one of the worlds leading international skincare industries, founded in 1911 in Germany by Oskar Troplowitz, who named the company NIVEA, from the Latin word nix or nivis, meaning snow, in reference to the colour of the product. Currently, NIVEA is claimed to be the worlds largest skincare brand with a strong international presence in around 170 countries and an enviable reputation. Also, Beiersdorf has had strong sales worldwide as during 2008 and 2009, Beiersdorfs annual sales in terms of worldwide products sales are at à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 5,971 million and à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 5,748 million, respectively. Beiersdorf had already established an international presence with a large number of products prior to World War II. Trademarks were registered in many countries in order to protect these brands. According to the Beiersdorf website (2010) after World War II, these trademarks were lost in almost all countries, particularly those for NIVEA, and the company tried in each of these countries to recover the trademarks. Beiersdorf began expanding internationally in 1952s. Among the countries involved in the first international expansion were the Netherlands, followed by Argentina, Switzerland and Brazil in 1958. The following overview shows when the rights were recovered in each country. 1961 Sweden 1963 Mexico 1966 Finland/Denmark 1968 African Commonwealth Countries (except South Africa) 1973 U.S.A 1974 France incl. former colonies, now Chad, Mali, Cameroon, The Congo, etc 1977 Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Malta, Bermuda, Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago 1985 Norway 1992 United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Israel, Australia 1993 Romania 1998 Poland Besides guaranteeing continued high quality on individual products, NIVEA expanded their product range into new cosmetic fields, such as decorative cosmetics and hairstyling and made notable innovations in skincare. Moreover, NIVEA began expanding their product line to provide complete cosmetic care for the whole family and for style-conscious singles. 1.4.2 NIVEA Thailand History In 1984, the NIVEA brand was introduced in Thailand, imported and distributed by Beiersdorf (Thailand) Co., Ltd. The brand was introduced as the first mass market skincare cream and the worlds first true cosmetic moisturizer in the famous blue tin with the white logo. NIVEAs products included NIVEA Crà ¨me, Skin Lotion and Labello Lip Care. According to the Beiersdorf (2010) website, Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chooses the NIVEA factory for shooting Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Introduction Video. Later, in 1995, NIVEA obtained the GMP certificate from the local FDA Public Health Ministry which was the first GMP certificated to a cosmetic factory in Thailand and NIVEA Research and Development (RD) presented the New Method in Non-Animal Allergy Testing, to the Dean and professors of Pharmaceuticals Science Faculty, Chulalongkorn University. (Nivea website, 2010). By 2008, NIVEA in Thailand was successfully growing and had achieved an excellent 32% market share in the Super Hypermarkets sales channel which is of strategic importance in the Thai market (Nivea website, 2010). Overall, in skin care market, Beiersdorf Thailand is market leader with 11.9 percent market shares in 2008. In this year, Beiersdorf Thailand overtook Unilever Thai Holdings to lead sector sales (Euromonitor International: Skin Care Thailand, 2009) (See Appendix [1-2]). In Thailand, NIVEA achieved market leadership in Mens grooming sectors in year 2008 with 23.4 percent market share, followed by Gillette by Procter Gamble with 14.1 percent market share (Euromonitor International: Mens grooming products Thailand, 2009) (See Appendix [1-3]). NIVEA is also number one in body care sector, with body care brand share 23 percent and 23.5 percent in 2007 and 2008, respectively. (Euromonitor International: Skin Care Thailand, 2009) (See Appendix [1-4]). The NIVEA brand is now available in Thailand in the following products: NIVEA Body NIVEA FOR MEN NIVEA Visage NIVEA Deodorant NIVEA Sun NIVEA Lip Care NIVEA Bath Care

The Holiness Of God The Fundamental Attribute Religion Essay

The Holiness Of God The Fundamental Attribute Religion Essay The attempt to quantify God so that humanity can grasp the vastness of His nature is indeed a formidable undertaking. Oftentimes, theologians speak of the attributes of God as those qualities of Gods nature that He has chosen to reveal of Himself to humanity, either through natural revelation, or through specific revelation. When we speak of the attributes of God, we are referring to those qualities of God which constitute what he is. They are the very characteristics of his nature.  [1]  Typically, Gods attributes are grouped into two classifications. In an effort to explain God according to Scripture, theologians have distinguished between his unshared attributes that belong to him alone, and Gods shared attributes, which he bestows upon us to a lesser degree than he possesses them.  [2]  First are those attributes of God which are true of Him alone. This set of attributes is known as the incommunicable attributes, which refers simply to those characteristics of God that ca nnot be shared by anyone other than God; by virtue of His divine nature, He alone exemplifies these qualities. The second set is known as Gods communicable attributes. These characteristics are those that God shares in some capacity with His creation; specifically with humanity as a part of His creation. Gods holiness falls into both classifications; first as an incommunicable attribute, holiness is elemental to Gods nature, and second, as a communicable attribute, holiness is fundamental to a right understanding of, and interaction with, God as Creator on the part of the created. This work will demonstrate the importance of holiness in both manners of qualification, in such a way as to highlight its fundamental characteristics to the nature of God, and to the nature of His interaction with His creation, as well as the reciprocal relationship between the creature and Creator. Erickson says of the attributes of God, There are two basic aspects to Gods holiness. The first is his uniqueness. He is totally separate from all of creation. . . . The other aspect of Gods holiness is his absolute purity or goodness. This means that he is untouched and unstained by the evil in the world. He does not in any sense participate in it.  [3]  Regarding holiness in particular, as a divine attribute Erickson also says, The attributes are permanent and intrinsic qualities, which cannot be gained or lost. Thus, holiness is not in this sense an attribute (a permanent, inseparable characteristic) of Adam, but it is of God. Gods attributes are essential and inherent dimensions of his very nature.  [4]  This distinction between Adam on the one hand, and God on the other, in relation to holiness is shared by other communicable attributes, but perhaps no greater gulf exists between mans ability to share in Gods attributes anywhere than at this point. For example, mankind m ay demonstrate some limited measure of love, or mercy on his own, since unbelieving men may display these characteristics under the right circumstances; albeit in pitiful fashion. However, under no circumstance imaginable is mankind capable of demonstrating even the most miniscule amount of holiness, aside from God imparting it to him as a shared attribute. With respect to any of the attributes of God, it must be stated that we know all that we know of God by virtue of His acts of revelation; those things that He has chosen to tell us of Himself. We learn much of what we know about God, from the multiplicity of references within Scripture concerning His name, and how He reveals it, as well as how He expects it to be revered. We may see that the Lords very name is holy, not just the places and things associated with him. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. (Ps 103:1).  [5]  Gods revelation to Moses at Mt. Sinai is indicative of Gods desire to make Himself known. He says, I AM WHO I AM (Ex. 3:14). This revelation of his name is also a revelation of his nature.  [6]  Along this same thought line, Edmond Jacob points out that the name is synonymous with Yahweh. So the name always expresses the essential nature of a being, manifests the totality of the divine presence. Since name, in fact, does refer to the essence of Gods being, then holiness seems to be most characteristic of his nature. In Jacobs words, the relation between holiness and the name reveals the identity of holiness with deity. Given the fact that glory is one of the manifestations of holiness (Is. 6:3), it may be that even the references to his glorious name are really only an alternate rendering of the holy name.  [7]   Scripture itself attests to the high emphasis placed by God upon His name. In the Old Testament alone, there are five references to a glorious name and four references to a great name of God, but all the others (23) refer to Gods holy name.  [8]  Since his name is so immediately bound up with his nature, the connection of holiness with the name is very significant. It seems to indicate that the holiness is the most important thing Israel needed to know about this One who was revealing himself to them.  [9]  Indeed, Gods holiness is of supreme importance in His revelation to Israel because it distinguishes Him uncompromisingly from the pagan gods surrounding Israel at that time. It is important also to remember that part of Gods holiness is his separation and transcendence. God was establishing Himself with the children of Israel as different and superior to the pagan gods simultaneously through the understanding of His holiness. Gods holiness also serves to encourage His peop le to take up His ways, and to be like He is. The command to be holy as God is holy (1 Pet. 1:16), is more than just an admonition to try to be good people. It is a command for His people to be set apart from impurity as God is set apart from it. Moving in thought, from Gods revelation regarding His name, there are several key factors worthy of consideration with respect to holiness as it is fundamental to Gods nature. In the prophet Isaiahs vision (Isa. 6:3), it is interesting to note that while Isaiah sees God as the sovereign King, his description of his essential being is not in terms of sovereignty, or even righteousness, mercy or love. Rather it is the holiness of God that stands at the very heart of his nature.  [10]  Holiness it seems, as a part of Gods being, is the driving force behind the perfection of all the other attributes of God. In fact, Gustaf Aulen, in his Faith of the Christian Church, expresses his conviction that holiness is the foundation on which the whole conception of God rests.  [11]  It is seen as the basic or fundamental attribute because there is no standard for God; He Himself is the standard of holiness. God is under no law of holiness; He Himself is the law of holiness.  [12]  Gods nature is supremely perfect; a perfection driven by His holiness, as to be without comparison. God absolutely could not be God if it were not for this supreme perfection, which is His alone. Anything less than absolute perfection, and undeniable holiness in Him would denote some fundamental flaw, which, even on the smallest scale, would preclude His being God. The underlying thought of holiness is being separate from all thats impure. This is the divine perfection by which God is absolutely distinct from all creatures and exalted above them in infinite majesty. God is distinct from His creation in that He is set apart from creation by virtue of His purity. Holiness is fundamental because in a sense all of Gods other attributes rest on this one attribute of perfection. Gods level of perfection in all His attributes must have their basis in the level of perfection that stems from His holiness. From this point, we see that His holiness is fundamental to all of his attributes. Equally as important, humanitys right understanding of God is predicated upon the absolute perfection of His holy nature. Gods holiness His very essence, as communicated to His creatures, is a derivative of absolute perfection. There is an emphasis given to this attribute above all the other attributes. There are certain attributes we prefer, because of personal benefit derived from them. We esteem Gods love, mercy, and grace before His justice, wrath, and anger. But in the Bible, the holiness of God has preeminence over all the others.  [13]  It is from this standpoint that we describe the holiness of God as being transcendent or above all the other attributes. This transcendence establishes holiness as a foundational attribute. Coppedge depicts how holiness, as a transcendent and foundational attribute, relates to other traditional characteristics below: 14It is the transcendence of Gods holiness that establishes it as the foundational attribute of God. Many see holiness as the foremost attribute of all because holiness pervades all the other attributes of God and is consistent wil all He is and does.  [15]   Having established the primacy of holiness as an attribute of God, attention may now be turned to the implications of this basic attribute as it is inherent in God; before it may be imparted to man. First, in thinking about holiness as an incommunicable attribute, there are several concepts that one must grasp to rightly understand who God is, and how the nature of His being affects His creation. Theologians may say that Gods holiness is incommunicable because there is a level of perfection in His holiness that may not rightly be ascribed to any part of the creation. Exodus 5:11 says with wonder, Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? Gods holiness has a gloriously incomparable aspect to it, which is its incommunicable component. Gods holiness also has an eternal aspect to it. John said, in commenting on the activities surrounding Gods throne . . . each of the four living creatures . . . never stop saying, Ho ly, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come  [16]  (Rev. 4:8). Holiness resides in God to the extent that it cannot be imparted to humanity in the same way. Isaiah also records the cry of the seraphim, as they say Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory! (Is. 6:3). In Isaiahs mind, the earth is full of Gods glory as an implied result of His holiness. There can be only one Being who is absolutely perfect holy Further, if perfection is thought of as moral perfection, then absolute perfection implies holiness as well. God is absolutely perfect, and what is absolutely perfect is set apart from all else. Therefore God is holy; He is perfect in and of Himself  [17]  J.L. Dagg says, God is immaculately holy. Goodness, truth and justice, are moral attributes of God. Holiness is not an attribute distinct from these; but a name which includes them all It implies the perfection of the assemblage; the absence of everythi ng in it contrary to either of the properties included.  [18]  This immaculate holiness is an element of Gods transcendence in that His holiness, a holiness of absolute, undeniable perfection, sets Him apart from all else; God alone possesses holiness to this degree. While man may aspire to some level of holiness, holiness as depicted in Scripture belongs to God alone. Holiness of this degree is fundamental; since only God possesses holiness to this level, it emanates from Him to His creatures through revelation and experience. It does so because God wills it to be this way. Because His holiness emanates from Him to humanity, mankind is drawn to God in a way that would be impossible without such emanation. Isaiah demonstrated this experience when in Gods presence he exclaimed, Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts. (Isa. 6:5). It is this perfection th at allows humanity to revel in, and marvel at, Gods holiness. That He is perfectly holy is an assurance to His creation of the perfection of His other attributes. Gods holiness is the divine perfection by which God is absolutely distinct from all creatures and exalted above them in infinite majesty.  [19]  A similar thought concerning Gods holiness as an incommunicable characteristic of His nature is one that some have called His majesty-holiness . . . this aspect of Gods holiness is the one less thought of, and it actually bears greater affinity to infinity, Aseity, and unitynon-moral divine attributes.  [20]  God has majesty as the King of kings, and Lord of lords because of His holiness. When the Creators holiness has been physically manifested to His creation, it has a brilliant effect. In Isaiahs vision from chapter six, he notes that the seraphim had to cover their faces to remain in Gods presence, (Isa. 6:2ff.) Isaiahs account of the seraphim brings to mind other encounters with Gods glory that have similar effects on the beholder, such as; Moses reaction to Gods presence at the burning bush (Ex. 3:1-6), the Israelites reaction to Moses as he descends the mountain after having been in Gods presence (Ex. 34:29-35), and the disciples reaction at the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-8). Many times, Gods holiness is likened to a consuming fire! In each example, the glory of God was such that it caused the beholder to fall before God in worship. This brilliant glory, which is the visible manifestation of Gods holiness, is so powerful that it elicits profound responses from His creation in every case. Through the incarnation, God has not only invited mankind to participate in His holiness, He has demonstrated that it can be done, and how it should be done. By his sacrificial death on the Cross, Jesus Christ enables us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to share in the holiness that he embodies and accomplishes for us. Jesus said, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matt. 5:8), indicating that the heart condition is a key component to mankinds ability to commune with the Father. It is precisely this purity of heart, which is the result of mimicking Gods purity that is pleasing to God. All too often, the idea of attaining holiness is discounted, or neglected altogether, as if it is unattainable. The enemy desires that we have this defeatist attitude. However, Mark Driscoll states with regard to communicable holiness that we mirror God when we hate sin and love holiness by repenting of our sin and fighting against sin in the world.  [21]  Certainly, it would be inaccurate to suggest that perfect holiness is within the grasp of humanity; however, since God has commanded mankind to be holy (1 Pet. 1:16), one must assume that it is attainable through repentance, at least in some acceptable degree, within the confines of this life. Humans have the ability to exhibit limited holiness, yet it is not an attribute which is innate or one which emanates from their being. In fact, a number of accounts throughout Scripture indicate that when man encounters Gods holiness it has had a profound impact. Holiness is also seen as communicable, in that God does share His holiness with humanity in some senses. The idea that God shares His attributes with humanity in any sense is an indication of His desire to have an interactive relationship with His creation; mankind in particular. It is a reflection of His character that He desires such an interaction; in no sense does God need this interaction, but Scripture is clear that He desires it and goes to great lengths to make it possible. As a result of Gods activity in making His being known, and providing a means of interaction, it is right that He alone is the object of mans worship. While Gods holiness is essential, mans holiness is derived from His nature. In some ways, we are like God. At our best, we have qualities or attributes that dimly reflect Gods.  [22]  It is this dim reflection that characterizes mankinds existence for now. One is reminded of Pauls discourse in the great love chapter of Corinthians, wherein he says For no w we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known (1 Cor. 13:12-13). It is this anticipation of seeing and knowing that encourages Paul as well as the believer today. One day, we will see as we are seen, and know as we are known; that will indeed be a glorious day. On that day, man may look upon the glorious holiness of God, and not turn away in fear, or hide his face from Gods glorious radiance. However, even in this life, some measure of holiness is surely attainable for mankind, since God commands His creatures to Be holy, for I am holy (Lev. 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7; 1 Pet. 1:16). Holiness in man is a symbol of the holiness of God, but is also a humble aspiration to be more like God. Holiness in man is seen in a relational aspect. Gods purpose for sharing His attributes with humanity is certainly to foster obedience, but also to transform humanity into His image, as depicted in 2 Cor. 3:18. Here, God speaks through the Apostle Paul to His church, and says But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image (emphasis added) from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. One remembers Isaiahs encounter, when in the presence of the Lord both he and the seraphim were overwhelmed (Is 6:2-6), and marvels at this New Testament approach to Gods presence, given by God for the edification of His saints. The noticeable contrast between the Old Testament and New Testament depictions of the workings of Gods holiness are indeed a source of blessing for those believers on this side of the cross of Christ. While this holiness is certainly limited, it remains true that God has now commanded the attempt to become in nature as He is, limited though the success of that effort will be. This holiness in man is reflected holiness. How it is that man may exhibit such an attribute of God? Creation reflects the attributes of the Creator. Quite simply, holiness in man is impossible apart from God; however, holiness in man is a reality because Gods holiness overflows into the lives of His children. Gods holiness comes from that eternal fount, just as does His love, mercy, and truth, but it comes in a unique way. Gods holiness comes through the transformation of a sanctified life; a life that is being reconfigured to be what it is not naturally, but only what it can be under the direct influence of comi ng into the presence of God. It is an alien concept, except that it is most obviously Gods plan for mankind. That such holiness comes from God alone is seen from Scripture. Moses removes any doubt, when he records Gods words in Lev. 21:8, I the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy. This clearly indicates the holiness of God, but also indicates that the process of becoming holy (sanctification) is Gods work. Further indications from Scripture are seen in Geislers observations: God chose a holy people (Israel) (Deut. 7:6; 14:2, 21; 26:19; 28:9; Col. 1:2; 1 Peter 2:9). He also picked special holy men (2 Kings 4:9). He elected a holy church (1 Cor. 1:2). He set aside a holy land (Zech. 2:12). God chose a holy city on earth (Jerusalem) (Neh. 11:1; Isa. 52:1) Gods holy city sits on a holy mountain (Ps. 15:1; 48:1; Dan. 9:20). He also has a Holy city in heaven (Rev. 21:2, 10). God ordained holy priests (in Leviticus). God even designated a holy dumpsite (Jer. 31:40), that is, a special place set apart to dispose of things. God demands a holy tithe of His people (Lev. 27:30). God had holy food (Lev. 21: 22). He expects us to live a holy life (Rom. 12:1; 1 Thess. 4:7).  [23]   Clearly, Scripture is replete with these and numerous other references to Gods holiness, and its connection to mankind. Gods holiness is always demonstrated scripturally with the express purposes of revealing more of God to mankind, and of drawing mankind closer to God. Interestingly, God is seen in His holiness as a Law-giver. A holy God gave a law that was just and holy and good.  [24]  Holiness is an essential quality of God, both in a metaphysical sense, and in a moral, or ethical sense. This realization brings to bear another aspect of Gods holiness as it is imparted to man. There is a moral or ethical component of Gods holiness that bears upon man as he strives to come into the image of God. It is this conjunction of morality with holiness that defines the ethical component of Gods nature. He is God because He is ethically (morally) superior to all else, and this is made known through His holiness. In fact, The holiness of God in Scripture is never depicted apart from its moral and rational dimensions. A holy God is always moral, and he communicates in rational language.  [25]  Coppedge notes that there are six key elements  [26]  that comprise Gods moral holiness; (1) righteousness and its corresponding standard of (2) moral purit y. The (3) truth of God is reflected in both his speech and his faithfulness in personal relationships. The (4) grace of God involves both his favor and his self-giving, and stands in close relationship to both the (5) love and the (6) goodness of God, which round out his moral image.  [27]  This moral component of Gods holiness is fundamental to the nature of God as He has made Himself known, but it goes far beyond just Gods self revelation. His holiness is also fundamental to mankinds right understanding of truth. There is no truth that man may know apart from Gods truth, which is absolutely based upon His holiness and purity. This fact comprises the moral compass of man. In fact, Erikson says, Gods perfection is the standard for our moral character and the motivation for religious practice. The whole moral code follows from his holiness.  [28]  Ericksons idea is that apart from Gods purity (holiness), it is impossible to worship Him rightly, as well as impossible to live rightly before Him. Without the ethical component of Gods holiness, humanity would be lost in a sea of relativity. Such is the danger of most of the heretical movements of religious history. We are living in a day of mental and moral and spiritual indolence, and therefore a time of superficial thinking in things relating to God and eternal matters.  [29]  These modern day religious movements amount to little more than mankinds attempt to subrogate Gods position as the ultimate authority over all creation. Almost without fail, every such attempt at heart is nothing more than a rejection of Gods holiness. The result is an attempt to replace Gods truth, which is absolute, with mans truth which is incomplete. Any such attempt can but fail because it is conceived in sin. Holiness points to Gods majestic purityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ because God is morally pure, He cannot condone evil or have any relationship to it.  [30]  Apart from the ethical component of Gods holiness, mankind can do little more than sear ch in vain for truth. 14Having established holiness as a fundamental attribute of God; a driving force behind His being as we know it, the question remains as to why this is important. There are two relational aspects of Gods holiness that must be understood. First, one must realize how Gods holiness affects His relationship with man as His creation, and conversely how mankind is to rightly respond to God because of His holiness. Only then may one understand how Gods holiness impacts a right relationship between man and men. These are sometimes referred to as vertical (God to man, and man to God), and horizontal (man to man) relationships. In each case, the success of this effort depends upon the holiness of God as it is imparted unto the believer. Humanity cannot please God apart from reflecting His holiness back to Him, and this is done through the proper relationships of love for God and for fellowman. Relationally speaking, there are considerations of Gods holiness, as a communicated attribute, that have implications for mankind as well. There is a display of Divine holiness in redemption. His holy nature will not allow Him to look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. Salvation is not at the expense of His holiness. The Redeemer must bear the wrath due the sinner, for wrath is the exercise of His holiness. Gods hatred of sin was as much manifested in redemption as it will be in judgment.  [31]  Understanding that Gods holiness is directed towards humanity for the purpose of glorifying Him through a right relationship is imperative for the development of the child of God. It is also foundational to the proper perspective of the creature, as he relates to the Creator, that man recognizes that the goal of the process of sanctification is the ultimate glorification to be found in the presence of God because of the work of Christ. Ryle states that, A man may go great length s, and yet never reach true holiness.  [32]  It is this work of God in mans life that makes him right before God, resulting in a desire to please God through the obedient life. Augustine said, When we praise God directly, we do it as we celebrate His Holiness.  [33]  In keeping with this thought, Martin Luther said, We should not be holy in order to earn or prevent something. For people who do this are hirelings, servants, and day laborers. They are not willing children and heirs who are holy for the sake of holiness that is, for the sake of God alone; for God Himself is Righteousness, Truth, Goodness, Wisdom, and Holiness.  [34]   16 Finally, because God is supremely holy, He is deserving of mankinds total adoration, love, respect, and worship. To know God aright, one must recognize above all else that He is different because of His holiness. It is this difference that at once sets Him apart, and at the same, time draws us to Him. This difference is predicated upon His absolute holiness. Gods holiness establishes His uniqueness, and not just His magnificence or grandeur. God demonstrates the vastness of the differences between His holiness and mans. Mankind is instructed to long for Gods holiness in such a way as to cause obedience and surrender in his life, yet to recognize the incomparability of Gods fire of a fierce divine love that will not rest content until God has redeemed all in a renewed heaven and a renewed earth that has become Gods dwelling place (Rev. 21-22). When our salvation is consummated we will be restored to the holiness of God. We will not have His power, nor His wisdom, but we will have H is holiness.  [35]   In conclusion, one must deduce that Gods holiness is perhaps His greatest gift to mankind, other than salvation. All His other gifts are predicated upon His holiness. Gods Holiness is foundational and all other actions emanate from His holiness. His righteousness, justice, love, grace, mercy and truth are what they are because He is holy. God is transcendent because of His holiness, yet even the desire to have a relationship with humanity is predicated upon Gods holiness. Like Isaiah, when confronted with the presence (His holiness) of Almighty God, all any man may say is Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts (Isa. 6:5). It is because of his holiness, that God is a consuming fire.  [36]  There is no right reaction apart from falling on ones face in utter humility and worship when confronted with this divine presence. However, because of the work of Chr ist for salvation, and the work of the Holy Spirit for glorification through sanctification, man may respond with great relief to Gods presence; because through these works, God has imparted a measure of His holiness to humanity, until the day comes when we stand

Revolutionary Opinion :: essays papers

Revolutionary Opinion They all say, ?Taxation without representation is tyranny.? Those revolutionary fools! Surely they jest! I am well aware that many of my fellow townspeople believe in this notion. It is rather sensible, after all. Who really likes to pay taxes? Not I! However, all those that subscribe to this train of thought are living in a dream world. In reality, it is the other way around. ?Representation without taxation is tyranny.? Revolution is futile and will only result in more taxes for the whiners to gripe and moan about. Frankly, I?ve had enough. A few days ago, I saw some protesters walking down the road chanting and marching with signs that read "Taxation Without Representation Is Tyranny.? I seem to remember that other Americans also once expressed similar views. Most people would now regard that point as a fair one. I am no great fan of democracy, as I prefer liberty, but even I can agree that people who are taxed but not allowed to vote are likely to be more than averagely oppressed by those who can vote. This then prompted me to consider the converse proposition: Representation Without Taxation Is Tyranny. It would, of course, be a fallacy to think that this is entailed by the first proposition, but surely it is just as reasonable. If we must have state services, it should at least be for those who pay for them to vote for which services they want and how much they wish to pay. To allow those providing, or living off, the services to vote is like allowing a shopkeeper to vote on what you must buy from him, or a beggar to vote on what you must give him. Naturally, I hear them say, ?but doesn't everyone pay tax, at least on goods and services?? Furthermore, is it not trivially true, insofar as morals can be ?true?? No, they do not and it is not. Not by a long shot. Lord Grenville, everyone?s favorite exchequer, has recently been parading around town saying how he realizes that the recent practices of taxation have been unfair and how he relates to the feelings of the townspeople. He even went so far as to state, or shall I say lie, about how much he strongly dislikes his job because he, like everyone else, has to pay taxes.

Essay on Chaucers Canterbury Tales - Greed in the Pardoner’s Tale

The Pardoner’s Greed    The pardoner, in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Pardoner’s Tale, is a devious character.   He is a man with a great knowledge of the Catholic Church and a great love of God. However, despite the fact that he is someone whom is looked at with respect at the time, the pardoner is nothing more than an imposter who makes his living by fooling people into thinking he forgives their sins, and in exchange for pardons, he takes their money.   His sermon-like stories and false relics fool the people of the towns he visits and make him seem as a plausible man, which is exactly what the pardoner wants.   In fact, the pardoner is an avaricious and deceitful character whose driving force in life is his motto, â€Å"Radix malorum est cupiditas,† which is Latin for â€Å"greed is the root of evil.†Ã‚   The pardoner’s entire practice is based upon his motto and is motivated entirely by greed. The pardoner is supposed to forgive sins, however, he views his position as a scheme to make money and turns it into a fraud.   His excellent speaking skills allow him to turn this profession into a scam.   He attracts the people with his storytelling and his sermons, which are pleasing to them, â€Å"By God, I hope I shal yow telle a thyng / That shal by reson been at youre liking,† (457-58).   One example of a sermon about his motto is the tale of the three rioters.   This tale gives an ironic explanation related to the rioters deaths, due to greed and the pardoners practice of his profession, which is also driven by greed (Rossignol, 267).   He tells the people what they would like to hear, so that he may pull them into his trap and later cheat them out of their money.   His technique to fooling people is to preach on the subject of   â€Å"Radix malorum est c... ...iving.   The pardoner submits himself to his theme of â€Å"Radix malorum est cupiditas.† His theme becomes a reality and he   allows avarice to take control his life.   Just as Jesus lived life living into eternal life, the pardoner lives his life dying into eternal death by committing his avaricious acts and deceiving people in the name of God.   Works Cited Brewer, Derek.  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"The Canterbury Tales.† An Introduction to Chaucer.   New York:      Longman Inc., 1984 Hussey, S. S.  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"The Canterbury Tales II.† Chaucer: An Introduction.   New York: Methuen & Co., 1981 Pichaske, David R.  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Pardoner’s Tale.† The Movement of the Canterbury Tales: Chaucer’s Literary Pilgrimage.   New York:   Norwood Editions, 1977 Rossignol, Rosalyn.  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"The Pardoner’s Tale.†Ã‚   Chaucer A to Z: The Essential Reference to His Life and Works.  Ã‚   New York:   Facts On File, Inc., 1999

Janie in Their Eyes Were Watching God and Holden Caulfield in The Catc

"Dey all useter call me Alphabet 'cause so many people had done named me different names," Janie says (Hurston 9). The nickname "Alphabet" is fitting in Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God because Janie is always changing and rearraging, never the same. Janie Crawford was constantly searching for happiness, self-realization, and her own voice. Janie dares not to fit the mold, but rather defy it to get what she wants. On the journey to find her voice, she marries three separate men and each one of these men contribute to Janie’s quest in different ways. In the beginning, the pear tree symbolizes Janie’s yearning to find within herself the sort of harmony and simplicity that nature embodies. However, that idealized view changes when Janie is forced to marry Logan Killicks, a wealthy and well-respected man whom Janie’s Nanny set her up with. Because Janie does not know anything about love, she believes that even if she does not love Logan yet, she will find it when they marry. Upon marrying Logan, she had to learn to love him for what he did, not for that infallible love every woman deserves.  After a year of pampering, Logan becomes demanding and rude, he went as far to try to force Janie to do farm work. It was when this happened that Janie decided to take a stand and run away with Joe. At this time, Janie appears to have found a part of her voice and strong will. In a way, she gains a sense of independence and realizes she has the power to walk away from an unhealthy situation and does not have to be a slave to her own husband. After moving to Eatonville and marrying Joe, Janie discovers that people are not always who they seem to be. While Joe at first seemed to be easy-going and friendly, she wa... ... stay" (Salinger 205). He is repulsed by fake people and wants to be satisfied by something real--something true he can grasp onto. Just as Janie is similar to Holden, Holden is also similar to Janie. Janie is a woman who has overcome the rules and restrictions she was given. Janie was nothing but "a rut in the road. Plenty of life beneath the surface but it was kept beaten down by the wheels" (Hurston 72). Eventually, Janie made it her purpose to rebel against this mold. By the end of the story, Janie has accomplished finding and conquering self-actualization, she has reached her enlightenment through the her marriages to Logan, Jody, and Tea Cake. It is apparant when she tells Pheoby, â€Å"You got tuh go there tuh know  there..Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves" (Hurtson 183).

Computer Architecture Essay

1. Describe Von Neumann architecture and explain why it is important. The Von Neumann architecture explains the architecture of an electronic computer. It is attributed to be root of every electronic computer that has ever been made. According to Von Neumann architecture an electronic computer has Control Unit, Arithmetic Logic Unit, Memory & Input / Output Devices. The following diagram shows this architecture:- Memory: – Memory holds both data and the instructions. Control Unit: – The Control Unit manages the movement of data and instructions in and out of the memory and also deals with sequential carrying out of the programs. Arithmetic Logic Unit: – Carries out all the calculations on the data. Apart from operations like addition, subtraction etc, ‘greater than’, ‘less than’ etc would also be provided. Input / Output: – Input/output devices to feed into the data and take out the data. This component served interaction with the human who was operating the device The most basic principle of development of Von Neumann architecture was that it not just stored the data and the computation that was involved; it also stored the set of orders and instructions that had resulted in the computation. The entire set of instructions were stored in what is called as ‘registers’ and the control unit used to process this in a sequential manner – which means one at a time. In this architecture the instructions were encoded into numeric form and the data as well as the instructions were then stored in the memory. The Von Neumann Architecture is important because it led to the development of the earliest computers. Even the computers we see today, that are fifth generation and have a drastically different architecture, draw their parallels from Von Neumann Architecture. Obviously there has been lot of improvements. However, the base of having memory, control unit, input / output devices still remains integral to all the machines. Von Neumann architecture can hence be easily regarded as mother of all computer architectural designs. 2. Explain what a system bus is and why it is needed. The system bus is the pathway over which the data travels between the CPU and the rest of the components on the motherboard. The system bus speed is defined as the capacity to move the data through the system, as it is the speed that connects the different parts of the system. The front-side bus (FSB) is that part of the bus which is responsible to carry the data between RAM and the CPU. FSB is the part that usually has the greatest effect on the performance of the system. A system with high-performance processors and components would need to have a fast front-side bus. Bus speed is quite important and can have a significant impact in the performance of the machine. The data in a system is stored, manipulated and processed in the system memory. The system needs to move this information in and out of memory, and at the same time, a track of which data is stored at which location need. This entire info travels using the system bus. If the bus speed is low, there will be a very low transmission data speed, leading to the computer working very slowly. We know that in all the modern systems that we use, the processor is running at a speed that is much faster than the memory bus. If we compute the ratio of processer speed to bus speed (something called as bus multiplier), we will find that the lower the multiplier the better it is. If the multiplier is large, it would mean that the bus speed is slow as compare to the processor speed, in which case the processor will remain idle. On the other hand, if the bus speed is higher, then more data can be fed to the processor resulting in lower latency (time to start a request). 3. Summarize the use of Boolean operators in computer-based calculations. Boolean Operators are the most popular operators used for computer based calculations. Boolean operators are simple words (AND, OR, NOT or AND NOT) which are used to carry out these calculations. Together, these keywords help in finding, joining or excluding a particular keyword in a search and hence arrive at results efficiently. These operators and their use can greatly help in saving time by doing searches for getting to ‘on-target’ results – which are more relevant and accurate to the questions/needs that are posed. Every different search engine makes use of Boolean operators in varying fashion. While doing Boolean based calculations, a lot of proximity operators can be used to combine strings which can then help with the search. A brief overview of various operators is given below:- AND This Boolean operate requires both the terms to be in each item returned. For example, if only one of the term is contained in the document and the other is absent, the item is excluded OR This Boolean operator would return either term (or even both the terms) NOT While using this Boolean operator, the first term is searched, and then any records containing the term after the operators are subtracted from the results. Using Parentheses to include different strings will help in giving more customized and accurate results for the operation. 4. Categorize the various types of memory and storage. Computers need to have a storage space and memory units to store information and to run programs. There are various types of memory and storage, with various specifications and different purposes. These different types of memory and storage are:- Random Access Memory (RAM) RAM stores the data on a temporary basis, and as such it can be quickly/promptly accessed by the processor. This information, which includes both the application data and the data related to operating system, is loaded from the hard disk of the computer. The catch however is that as soon as the system is switched off, all the stored information is lost. Read Only Memory (ROM) Unlike RAM, ROM is active, even if the system is turned off – thus making it somewhat a permanent non-volatile storage memory. The contents of ROM cannot be modified. ROM has all the data which should be present so that the computer can carry out the normal functions.. Cache Cache is a more responsive memory than RAM. The CPU, in case of Cache, for finding the required information the CPU first searches the cache memory before searching the central memory storage area Computer Hard Drive This has a set of devices that are integral components of data storage components in the CPU. This particular memory has different ranges and a particular user may chose the size of the memory. The hard disks can store a very large amount of information, including photos, videos, music, documents, programs and more and this memory remains even after your computer is turned off. External hard disks An external hard disk is a great way to store more digital photos, videos, music, and other large files. It can add huge volume to the storage space on your computer’s internal hard disk. Flash Memory Unlike the other storage and memory options, this is a portable storage and felicitates a convenient data transfer between two computers. Easy deletion and re-programming of data is possible as per the user’s requirements. References Backus, J. 1978. Can programming be liberated from the von Neumann style? A functional style and its algebra of programs. Communications of the ACM 21, 8, (August), 613-641. Myers, G. J. 1982. Advances in Computer Architecture. John Wiley & Sons, New York. von Neumann, John (1945), First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC, retrieved August 24, 2011 Linda Null; Julia Lobur (2010). The essentials of computer organization and architecture (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. pp. 36,199–203. ISBN 978-1-4496-0006-8.

How Goths Contributed to the Breakup of the Roman Empire

Today our group will discuss how the Goths contributed to the breakup of the Roman Empire. We will do this by raising some questions and providing the answers for our theory. The Goths were an ancient Germanic Tribe that conquered Europe’s Roman Empire. Each of the Germanic tribes divided into several branches, the Saxons, the Vandals, the Franks and the Goths, The Goths consisted of two branches that contributed to the fall of Europe’s Roman Empire, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths. Geographic descriptions were often used to distinguish people living north of the Roman Empire, so the Goths were known as the forest people. The Goths originated from Sweden. The Western Gothic tribe, The Visigoths, first emerged as a distinct people, during the fourth century. The Eastern tribe, The Ostrogoths, migrated to Poland and developed as a distinct people over the following 300 years. There names are geographical and were used by each tribe to describe each other. They were however, multi ethnic and cannot lay claimed to an exclusive heritage. The Goths were banished from their homeland after an attack from the Hun, and were desperate enough to camp on the Danube River, from which they crossed into the Roman Empire. They then sheltered from further attacks from the Hunnic invaders, and were offered farmland by the Valens the Emperor of Rome. Famine began to take its toll and in order to get food the Goths plundered the Roman farmlands to survive. Initially, the Ostrogoths were close allies of the Hun. During the fourth and fifth century, the Ostrogoths emerged as serious rivals to Rome for control of the Danube River, but this became untenable after the arrival of the Hun Barbarians. This is a conflict all about the competition for space, the Hunnic had very defined roles for subordinate ethnic groups, and the Ostrogoths escaped the brutal Hunnic occupation and were received as settlers on Roman soil in Yugoslavia. It was a common belief that the Roman Empire would last forever, but in the third century barbarian invasions became severe which made the Empire weaken its western and northern frontiers. The combination of other factors such as imperial It was a common belief that the Roman Empire would last forever, but in the third century barbarian invasions became severe which made the Empire weaken its western and northern frontiers. The combination of other factors such as imperial incompetence, the size of the Empire, the uncontrollable abundance of slaves, the fall of the army, corruption within the senate, poorly equipped technology, Christianity, the rise of Islam along with the barbaric attacks deposed the last Roman emperor. Rome’s fall lead to the dark ages. The Roman rulers had no practical experience in engaging with the barbarians, in a peaceful manner. By offering to settle the Ostrogoth tribes the Romans could not assimilate new soldiers into the army as easily as they had planned. Since the people stopped participating in government and didn’t join the army, the Roman army became a club for barbarians from Germany, who lead disorganised attacks so the army was no longer the super power it was before. Many of the lands that Rome had conquered, claimed independence and broke free of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire fell because it was too widespread, leaving it exposed to constant attack from external groups. Perhaps the territories could have been given greater independence and autonomy allowing the occupiers a greater level of input into government and revenue collection. The Roman Empire in the end was eventually overrun by millions of barbarians from the north and east of Europe. It is believed to have happened two or three times in history that mass migrations of Barbarians took place across Europe, where tribes moved to settle in new territories. The great migration proved too much for the Romans to stem. Their armies were designed to defeat other armies, not entire folks and people flooding toward them. The collapse of the Western European Empire in Rome was completed when Rome itself was conquered by the Visigoth Odoacer and his men in the year 476 AD. But what is generally referred to as â€Å"the fall of the Rome† doesn’t include the Eastern Europe Empire. This, with its centre Constantinople, managed to cling on for almost another thousand years until it was eventually conquered by the Turks under their leader Mohammed II in the year 1453 AD. The roman emperor Valens allowed to settle with his people on the south bank of the Danube. Here, they hoped to find refuge from the Huns. Valens permitted this, as he saw in them â€Å"a splendid recruiting opportunity for his army†. However, a famine broke out and Rome was unwilling to supply them with food they were promised nor the land; open revolt ensued leading 6 years of plundering and destruction of an entire Roman army. The Battle at Adrianople in 378AD was the decisive moment of the war. The Roman forces were slaughtered and the emperor Valens was killed during the fighting. Adrianople shocked the Roman world and eventually forced the Romans to negotiate with and settle the barbarians within the Empire’s boundaries, a development with far reaching consequences for the eventual fall of Rome. After a big battle at Vouill? , the Franks, similar to the Hunnic tribes, took over most of southern France, forcing the Visigoths to move to Spain, where they founded a new capital city, the Visigothic kingdom of Toledo. As a Roman outpost and during their long reign in Spain the Visigoths are responsible for the only new cities founded in Western Europe between the fifth and eighth centuries. They founded five new cities; Reccopolis, Victoriacum Luceo and Olite. All six of these cities were founded for military purposes and three of them in celebration of victory. By 600AD the Visigoths were the only Arians left in the Mediterranean area or anywhere else. Prolonged contact with the Roman population of the former empire ultimately led to conversion to Catholicism, in the late 6th century translating the bible into the Gothic language. In Spain the central kingdom of Visigotha still survives, but the ancient kingdom of the Visigoths continued for well over 1,400 years and has finally passed because, like the Romans the Visigoths simply did not have the resources to maintain there colonies. There were five different tribes that may have merged into one dominant group that finally brought Rome down. They were all attacking various pieces of the Western and Roman Empire. It is clear there is a common destiny, which links the rise and fall of both the Roman and VisiGothic Empires. Throughout history all human endeavour is defined by a beginning, middle and an end. In conclusion there were many factors that led to the eventual collapse of the Roman Empire, however, because of the reasons discussed previously and, because the Goths developed different types of military strategies the Romans had not previously encountered, which led to the defeat of the Empires Army, and eventually contributed to the ultimate collapse of Roman civilisation. Therefore our group strongly believes that the Goths were a major factor which finally caused the breakup of the Roman Empire. Sources: www. howstuffworks. com http://edhelper. com/ReadingComprehension_35_607. html http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Theodosius_I http://authorama. com/story-of-mankind-27. html