Solomon's book presents different proofs for the existence of God Term Paper

Solomon's book presents different proofs for the existence of God. Discuss the one that you think is most persuasive, and comp - Term Paper Example All three major religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam share a similar view about God’s existence which is that there is only one God or supreme force in the world. The Greek and Roman gods and goddesses, on the other hand, had some great supernatural powers but they also often behaved like average humans in reference to how they got vengeful when denied something or acted unimpressively at times. In this paper, I will focus on one proof for the existence of God in particular that I consider most persuasive and then compare it to others which do not seem as powerful and appealing as the one discussed at length. There is no scientific evidence supporting the existence of God, so the only notions supporting this idea are related to manmade explanations like there has to some force starting the universe which is so perfect that no human can be held responsible for it. Also, we have to believe in God as suggested by the biblical teachings because of this faith that there is a supernatural power which is omnipotent. There is no concrete evidence really which could either prove or disprove the existence of God, but it is still healthy to accept by faith this existence as without it people would consider themselves free to act in whichever way they like without the fear of facing results at the end like in the form of Day of Judgment of afterlife. According to the Bible, people have to judge from things around them if God exists or not and there is plenty of evidence, not concrete but symbolic, which speaks of God’s presence like the skies and the sun which are so perfect and identify the g lory of God. All the mystic and enthralling wonders of nature point to God’s presence denying which is plain adamancy. Pascal’s proof for God’s existence is a different kind of argument in itself and differs from the explanation provided by Christianity and Islam on multiple levels. While the Bible and Qur’an stress that there is no option but to believe that God exists because of many stupendous works of nature, Pascal argues that believing in God irrespective of whether he exists or not exists is a win-win situation. The tendency of not agreeing to God’s existence, in contrast, is prone to many losses. This is because if we believe in God and he actually does exist, then there is no doubt that we will be rewarded and if we believe so and he does not exist actually, even then it is beneficial because people tend to give up many sinful pleasures in respect of this belief that God exists. Many great scientists like Freud plainly refuse the idea of G od’s existence characterizing it as very irrational. Freud does not believe thinking irrationally in terms of God is actually a bad thing and if not believing in God is irrational, then believing in God is also irrational. This is because irrationality is only defying what cannot be considered rational and second, it is also about believing in what cannot be proved. Freud characterized the existence of God to be harmful in certain instances especially when people tend to rationalize their evil actions by believing they were intended by God to happen or he would have stopped them. So, the proof for the existence of God really comes down to the marvels of nature and a person’s innate disposition to believe in God. In conclusion, not every proof for believing in God identified by Islam, Judaism, and Christianity is rational because

International Law, the Vienna convention on the law of treaties 1969 Essay

International Law, the Vienna convention on the law of treaties 1969 - Essay Example recognized as such by the British expert Lord McNair, who recalled the MOU as "an informal but nevertheless legal agreement" between two or more parties. The State Sovereignty has the attributes of entering into agreements and treaties with foreign powers. No state can protect itself from the rest of the countries of the world on matters of foreign affairs or relations, international trade, environmental issues, communications or finance. This was strongly implemented after World War II. The great advances made in the field of communications and information technology and the arrival of globalization has made independent States inter-dependent on each other. Treaties can have a significant impact upon the economy and social and political situation of the country and to its people. Nowadays every State has either entered or in the course of entering into treaties be it multilateral or bilateral. Treaties need to have a proper set of laws after a comprehensive study of a particular matter and its perverse effects it can have on food security, indigenous knowledge, health care, the security and the life and livelihood of the citizens – whether beneficial or prejudicial. The treaty-making power is highly potent and can also have some serious harmful effects if not revised carefully. The parliament of a country’s government is competent to make a law and so treaty-making power is not within the exclusive competence of the Executive. it is obvious that the Parliament is competent to make a law with respect to the several matters mentioned in the above entries. In other words, treaty-making is not within the exclusive competence of the Executive. In theory, it is always open to the Parliament to condemn a treaty entered into by the Executive where the treaty will have to affect whatever. Moreover, if any treaty or agreement violates any of the provisions of the Cons titution, it would be totally incompetent and ineffective and even the Vienna Convention would not

Compare and Contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 13

Compare and Contrast - Essay Example Just like in the most art works by Annie lee, the blue Monday painting is faceless, thusi9s done with intention that the audience of the work feel the comfort, humor and the joy of a piece of work. The visual element of the art work shows a woman who seems to be moody and reluctant to get out of bed, this is the typical African American who has woken up felling lazy to catch a bus and head to work. This is makes her work realistic and full of humor. The character in the painting blue Monday has face, in fact most of her works other than this has no faces, she does this so as to bring these part work into life via the body language and the movement of the characters, she thinks that the face might interfere with the intended message, in this painting she knew that each and every person has a personal connection to the experience of a blue Monday upon viewing the painting. The above piece of art is done by Annibale Carracci (1560–1609), thus was during the feminism era in the western countries, the above panting tries to show what make the females different from

Both obsessive-compulsive disorder and post traumatic stress disorder Essay

Both obsessive-compulsive disorder and post traumatic stress disorder are linked under the umbrella of anxiety disorders. What a - Essay Example OCD is characterized by repetitive obsessions with a particular kind of phenomenon. One of the aspects of this disorder is through the use of rituals. For example, someone who is OCD about bacteria might was their hands an obsessive amount of times in order to make sure they have gotten rid of the bacteria. It is the fourth most commonly diagnosed psychological disorder. There is strong evidence to support that this condition not only has environmental and behavioral triggers, but also that there is a biological component involved in the neurochemistry of behavior. The most common forms of treatment for this disorder is through the use of behavioral therapy in which a therapist tries to make the ritualistic behavior, obsessions and compulsions extinct through classical and operant conditioning. Also, in some cases psychopharmacology is used in order to help supplement the counseling therapy. PTSD is a condition which often is the result of some sort of traumatic incident in a personà ¢â‚¬â„¢s life. This can range anywhere from military combat to sexual abuse.

How Ethnic Groups Can Be Unified Essay Example for Free

How Ethnic Groups Can Be Unified Essay I would like to believe that I grew up very diversely. I attend an all foreign language program that was housed in my elementary / middle school and my mom allowed me to attend the Japanese classes up until the three grade when the program received funding for their own school. However, while I was in the program I was able to interact with a many different ethnic groups and because of my age and the fact that my mother raised me to be open-minded and well rounded I didn’t see a difference between myself and the other children in the class, in fact at the time I remember having a Mexican boyfriend and an Asian best friend. Because of my past I believe all ethnic groups can be unified if everyone can accept the fact that everyone is different and embrace everyone for their difference. The act of not liking someone because they are different is a learned behavior and children typical are learning this behavior from the adults around them and society views on that group of people. A simple and easy to understand example of how people are taught now to like each other is showed in most movies that make any reference to slavery. There is always a part of the movie where two little children, one being white and the other black, start out great friends but as time goes on they learn that they can’t be friends or date because one person is black and the other is white. I’d be naà ¯ve to think that in my generation ethnic group unity will happen. 9-11 the US unified as a nation but we still had a negative view on one ethnic group for the actions of a individuals of that group. To this day I still know people who don’t care for Muslims as a whole because of 9-11. I do believe that things have gotten better over the year but only in some regions of the world. All I can do is raise my children the way that I was raised and hope that they treat everyone with respect no matter their ethnic background.

Examining The Major Functions Of Online Banking Information Technology Essay

Examining The Major Functions Of Online Banking Information Technology Essay Online banking is the practice of making bank dealings via the Internet. It will give you an outstanding chance to bypass the time-consuming, paper-based aspects of usual banking in order to manage your finances more competently.   By switching to electronic bills, statements, and payments, the average American family can save 6.6 pounds of paper in one year! And you can grab any fake (scam) transactions faster than if you received a statement by snail post. Thanks to pioneering technology and the Internet in particular, we no longer have to leave the house to make payments. Online banking is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can do it anytime, anywhere.   Online banking allows us to do various services with the click of a mouse. You can: 1.      Pay a bill. Electronic bill payment service allows a depositor to transfer money from his or her online account  to a creditor or merchant, for example to a public utility or a outlet. There is no need to stand in a long queue on a weekend morning to handle your transactions! The payment  is practically instant, though some financial institutions can wait until the next business day to send out the payment. If it is necessary, the bank can publish and mail a paper cheque or bankers draft to a creditor who is not set up to receive electronic payments.    2.      Schedule payments in advance. Most banks recommend clients the ability to schedule a payment on a particular date. Once the amount is entered and the payee is checked off, the funds are automatically deducted from your online bank account.   It is mainly useful if you constantly forget due dates. For example, you can schedule credit card or mortgage payments to make sure that you will not incur late fees and damage your FICO score. 3.      Transfer funds. Do you want to transfer money rapidly and securely? With online banking, you can  make money  transfers between your own  accounts, or send money to a third party account as well. All you need is recipient/payee information and enough funds in your account. Quite often, the operations are performed in real time. 4.      Manage all your accounts in one place. Online banking is an enormous time saver because it provides a chance to handle a number of bank accounts (checking, savings, CDs, IRAs, etc.) from a single site. Most new accounts you open will be automatically added to OB (Online Banking). 5.      View images of your checks online. Do you need a copy of a paid check? With online banking, you can see and print scanned images of the front and back of all checks you have written. It is easy and convenient. 6.      Apply for a loan or credit card.   By using an account online, you can apply for a credit card or a loan (a car loan, a student loan, a mortgage, a home equity loan, etc.) from the same bank. If you have a good credit score and long relationship history with your bank, your application is likely to be accepted.    7.      Purchase and manage CD accounts. You can purchase a certificate of  deposit from your bank If you have money you want to invest,. Online banking lets you compare all available offers as well as the terms, for example APY or maturity periods. When you confirm the purchase, the funds will be automatically deducted from your account.   8.      Order travelers checks. You can order American Express Travelers Cheques online. The bank will typically charge your online account for the sum of the cheques you bought and an express delivery cost.   9.      Increase your overdraft. Log in to online banking and click on Overdraft in the menu You can increase your overdraft online. 10.      Order a cheque book. Save your time by ordering cheque book online. You will need to visit your bank once when you get a confirmation letter that your cheque book is ready for collection.   11.      View up-to-the-minute account statements and balance. There is no need to wait for the bank statement to get to your P.O.Box to check account balances. You can view all transactions and withdrawals every day just by logging in to your online account. Additionally, you can immediately report errors or unauthorized transactions in your statement.   12.      View automatically updated spending report. All of your purchases are sorted into common categories automatically no receipts to keep, no expenses to enter. It is straightforward to see where your money goes! 13.      Track your payment history. Online banking provides an opportunity to look for your payments by transaction type, date, description or amount. When did you last pay Company X? When did you buy your computer? To whom did you make your most recent payment? Your bank knows the answers.   14.      Integrate the data with personal  finance  programs. Online banking lets you bring in electronic payment data in personal finance software such as Quicken or Microsoft Money. You will be able to enter into your online accounts directly from your personal finance program. An Internet connection and online account log in information is all that needed. 15.      Change contact details.   Have you moved to a new house? Changed your telephone number? You can log in to your online account and change contact information (e-mail address, telephone number, password, etc.). It is more secure than to send this information by e-mail.   16.      Utilize investment research.   You can receive real-time quotes, analytics, news and stock market information to make a more relevant and profitable decision. 17.      Take advantage of online brokerage. Internet banking lets you invest online. You can place and confirm  trades 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Most banks offer a wide range of money market instruments from various issuers. 18.      Get alerts. This service lets you to get timely e-mail messages from your bank about any critical changes related to your Internet accounts. For instance, you can get alerts when you make a withdrawal or change your contact information.   19.      Verify terms and conditions. You can verify all information about your account online whenever you forget your interest rates or payment due date. 20.      Chat with your customer assistant department. If you need help, you can send message to your banks customer assistant department. They will be in touch with you and try their best to help you solve your problem.   Now that I described various functions of Online banking it is the time to discuss Citibank functions and how they do them and what is the purpose of doing such functions. Here is the Citigroup Mission Statement: Citigroup Inc. (Citi) recognizes that foreclosures affect the individual, the family and the community. We also understand that early intervention and a full understanding of the available options are important for mitigating or minimizing the impact of foreclosures. Citis Office of Homeownership Preservation (OHP) is dedicated to finding solutions that preserve homeownership and help mitigate the challenges faced by borrowers. We work directly with borrowers at risk of losing their homes. We also work with any and all stakeholders who advocate on behalf of borrowers, including non-profit organizations, elected officials, government agencies, regulators and others. Our strong partnerships with these stakeholders help us to develop and implement homeownership preservation solutions and enable us to magnify our outreach and assistance to borrowers. For example, OHPs hotline for housing counselors greatly enhances their ability to work with us on behalf of our borrowers. And our borrower and counselor outreach programs, which we conduct in collaboration with partners in numerous locations around the U.S., bring help directly to at-risk communities. First I will explain the definition of e-banking. e-banking is defined as the automated delivery of new and traditional banking products and services directly to customers through electronic, interactive communication channels. E-banking includes the systems that enable  financial institution  customers, individuals or businesses, to access accounts, transact business, or obtain information on financial products and services through a public or private network, including the Internet. Customers access e-banking services using an intelligent electronic device, such as a personal computer (PC), personal digital assistant (PDA), automated teller machine (ATM), kiosk, or Touch Tone telephone. While the risks and controls are similar for the various e-banking access channels, this booklet focuses specifically on Internet-based services due to the Internets widely accessible public network. Accordingly, this booklet begins with a discussion of the two primary types of Internet websites : informational and transactional. Citibank offers vast amount of electronic banking products and services which enables customers fast and secure access to banking through Citibanks portfolio of bank. CitiDirect Online Banking business bankings new direction and is defined as a powerful new way to bank that puts customers banking functions all in one place at your fingertips and within reach of your entire organization.   For small companies, it means accessing global capabilities from your desktop and for multinationals its about getting a handle on your world. CitiDirect is the cornerstone of Citibanks vision of the future of banking. CitiDirect lets you access your accounts-real-time -and an ever-expanding portfolio of industry-leading products and services through the Web, so you can be more efficient, more flexible and more in control of your banking. Customers can access their information on bank balances, initiate both local and foreign currency payments and would shortly be able to initiate trade transactions and customer service requests. Benefits: Banking that changes as you change Customer Banking Services Leading Edge Security Online Support Fast, Efficient and Easy to Use Easy Access, Total Control Citibank Paylink is Citibanks premier payment product, enabling an absolute outsourcing of the payment route to Citibank for efficiency, time and cost savings to our customers. Citibank Paylink needs data creation, approval at customers offices and diffusion via on-line modem to Citibank where payment is authenticated and securely practiced either as cheques or Electronic Funds Transfers to receiver at Citibank or other banks. Citibank Paylink can also be edged with accounting systems to be given payment data prior to transmission on-line to Citibank. SAP R/3, JD Edwards, SUN and most major accounting systems have been successfully interfaced with Citibank Paylink. Citibank Paylink also incorporates a perform at library, which can be used for regular payment instructions of dealers, and beneficiaries. Citibank Paylink suggests a fast, suitable, consistent and secure way to effect payments, including: Foreign Currency/ Money Market Deal initiation Mass Payments Processing for Dividends, etc Accounts Payable Process Management Regional Payments Services Electronic Payroll Processing Customs and Duty Payments Benefits of Citibank Paylink: Security and control. Facilitates straight through processing Enhanced reconciliation Convenient, Flexible and adaptable system Elimination of check order, printing and signing process Time and cost savings Citibanking Online deals with cash management which is an progressively more important factor in overall business performance. Information on your bank accounts must be exact, up-to-date and instantly reachable. Citibanking Online is Citibanks Windows based electronic banking display place providing integrated access to account information. This system allows you to see, in a matter of seconds, the very latest of information on accounts you hold worldwide via a computer terminal in your office. Citibanking Online s competence and power provide a clear competitive edge wherever whenever you do business. Benefits:   Historical Data Simple Access and User Friendly Software Comprehensive Data Provides Instant Information Real-time Online Information Citibanking is considered as a product that offers admission to all Citibank branches around the globe. You can easily and from your own office, you can get connected to Citibanks network in a few seconds. You can also view the very latest information on accounts held globally. You can also transmit or transfer instructions to any Citibank location or branch in the world. Citibanking performs in either a single workstation or multi-user surroundings providing features and attributes adapted to meet your specific needs. Benefits: Security. Rapid, cost effective communications. Reliable, accurate records. Enhanced productivity. Citibanking is well-matched to financial institutions and global corporations; It is also well suited to trade transactions and works well with cash management.

Market Composition Essay -- Global Finance, Investments

Over the past two decades, a panoply of behavioral finance research has been devoted to exploring the trading patterns of behavior and trading performance of individual and institutional investor categories over time and across exchanges. In fact, this intriguing research topic is of considerable interest to academic scholars and market practitioners alike, because it has great academic value and practical implications for industry. Specifically, capturing the trading pattern and investment performance of each investor group within a particular country can cast light on some worthwhile issues such as market composition, information transmission, asset price formation, and market efficiency and liquidity. Due, in part, to the information asymmetry evidenced between institutional investors and individual investors (e.g., Alangar et al., 1999; Lin et al., 2007; Duong et al., 2009), each group is more likely to have its unique characteristics. In their 2008 study, Kaniel et al. point out that institutional investors are by and large perceived to be better-informed rational traders, and to have a rather long-term investment perspective. In contrast, individual investors are generally viewed as unsophisticated traders, who prefer short-term investment horizons and are deeply involved in making sentiment-driven investment decisions based on their own cognitive biases. On the other hand, researchers working in the area of behavioral finance distinguish between two acknowledged trading patterns premised on investors' reactions to the past price movements of stocks. The first pattern of behavior is labeled as momentum investing or positive feedback trading, in which investors purchase (sell) a stock in anticipation of a further rise (d... ...kes (2011) report significant evidence that all three investor types – especially insurers – are more contrarian when selling than buying, which suggests that investors are reluctant to realize losses, in conformity with the evidence presented by Grinblatt and Keloharju (2001) and Odean (1998). More recently, Phansatan et al. (2012) examine the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and find that individual and institutional investors appear to be contrarian traders as opposed to foreign investors who are shown to be positive feedback traders. Interestingly, the trading strategies of institutions in the Thai stock market lead to very inferior security section, and thus very poor overall trading performance. On the other hand, the trading behavior of individual investors brings about gains from security section, but their poor market timing counterbalances these gains.