Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Stressful Conditions at the Workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Stressful Conditions at the Workplace - Essay Example The other measure to relieve stress in the workplace is accessing training needs and conduct of training to augment effectiveness in job performance including time management and assertiveness training. This can be done through attending short workshops for training purposes and participating in training aimed at improving understanding of stress management practices. Other measures to relieve job-related stress include talking to other employees at the workplace on a stressing situation to gain their support especially human resource managers, colleagues, managers, and trade union representatives (Murray, 5). Talking can also be with people outside of work, for example, family and friends to gain their insight and get their views on the stressful situation. When the issue is excessive workload, the employee should ensure this gets the attention of the manager to allow (Murray, 5)for a better and convenient work allocation fitting the needs of the employees and solve the stress from the job. Maintaining a balance between play and work allows for the use of leisure time to prepare the employee for work and relieve job-related stress. This includes regular exercising, taking holidays, maintenance of a healthy diet, and maintaining support networks. Learning to think positively about a job-related stress, counseling, and seeking medical intervention are the other measures of relieving job-related stress.   Ã‚  

Monday, October 28, 2019

Australian Paper Manufacturers Essay Example for Free

Australian Paper Manufacturers Essay Introduction The case deals with the Australian Paper industry in 1990, the major players operating in it and how the environment is throwing up challenges to its major players and shaping the future growth of the industry. The paper industry in Australia can be separated into three categories Newsprint, Paperboards and Fine paper. The industry is dominated by two big players namely the PCA and Australian Paper Manufacturer (APM) and the rest catered to by imports. PCA operates in the fine paper market enjoying a 75% market share, while APM is a leading player in the paperboards segment. Both the companies are part of a huge diversified parent organization. Environment regulations from the government, green peace activists have been recently posing threats to PCA on organochloride emissions. APM is proactively seeking to strive ahead of the environmental issues facing the industry. Ken McRae, the GM of APM has to decide on three alternatives to choose upon for utilizing the A$ 50 million allocated by the parent company Amcor, keeping in view the Financial, Strategic, Ethical and Environmental issues. Case Facts Before 1987, the Australian paper industry was divided into three companies. Australian Newsprint Mills supplied newsprint, Australian Paper Manufacturers produced paperboard, and Paper Company of Australia produced coated and uncoated fine-papers. All three of those companies were subsidiaries of major Australian corporations. Maitland sales, which owned Paper Company of Australia (PCA), recorded $495 million in net sales. Amcor Limited, which owned Australian Paper Manufacturers (APM), grossed $2.4 billion in net sales. APM decided to enter another aspect of the paper industry and dive into uncoated fine papers. They figured that they could draw on their strength in paperboard manufacturing. The making of fine paper or paper in general requires close attention to detail. The first step in making paper requires the wood to be pulped. This process refined the wood so that only the fibers remained. During pulping, the cellulose fibers were separated from the other components so it could be processed further. This process can be done in two different ways, mechanically or chemically. The chemical process produces much sturdier pulp, but unlike mechanical pulping, which uses 90-95% of the wood, chemical pulping uses 45-50%. Chemical pulping is also the least environmentally friendly of the two. When the fibers are made into fine paper, it goes through an immediate step called bleaching, where as chlorine gas and chlorine dioxide are applied to the pulp. After bleaching, chemicals such as, rosin, aluminium sulphate, or synthetics to reduce absorbency for writing papers. The annual consumption of fine paper in Australia rose to nearly 358,000 tonnes in 1987. Uncoated fine paper, such as photocopy paper, stationary, and offset printing paper, comprised 52% of that market, while coated fine paper, the type used in an annual report, comprised of the rest. In 1984 APM completed a a $163 million modernization of its kraft pulp plant in Maryvale, Victoria. The improvement added 140000 tonnes per year of kraft pulp capacity, bringing the Maryvale plant’s total output to 350000 tonnes per year. The Maryvale plant had four paper machines and in 1986 APM turned its attention to Paper Machine 3.Originally built in 1972 to produce brown shopping bags Machine 3 had a capacity of 31,000 tonnes per year. By the mid 1980s, though people had stopped using these checkout bags and between Machines 1 and 2 the company could cover demand. This left Machine 3 ripe for transformation. APM seized the opportunity, upgraded machine 3 and used it to take them into the heart of PCAs fine-papers market. People in the plant were convinced that it could be done and that their years of experience in making bag paper could be adapted to such a closely allied process. A number of trial runs were made in order to determine the general viability of the idea. Once it was proven feasible, APM sanctioned the investment. Between May 1986 and July 1987 APM spent A$50 million to rebuild Maryvale’s Machine 3, converting it from making bag paper to producing white wood free paper. The upgrading of Machine 3 had not only put APM next to PCA as the second domestic supplier of uncoated fine paper. It also made APM the owner of Australia’s largest and most technologically advanced fine paper machine. The 70,000 tonnes per year of Machine 3 capacity gave APM the product it needed to steal from imports-the company’s primary goal in entering the fine paper market. Customers had been accustomed to buying some of their paper from PCA and some from overseas but PCA had not kept pace with the growth in demand. Although aiming to replace imports, McRae, director marketing for APM papers group at the time, knew his toughest job lay in establishing APM’s fine papers amid a market dominated by PCA. In August 1987, APM inaugurated its move into the fine papers market. McRae developed a careful paln for ramping up to full capacity on Maryvale 3.APM intended to be producing at 40,000 tonnes annual rate by august 1988, starting with three crews working Monday through Friday and eventually moving to four and then five crews. Like all of Maryvale’s other paper machines, Machine 3 would eventually operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. By August 1988, Maryvale Machine 3 was producing at a rate of 50,000 tonnes per year and by March 1989 it had reached its capacity of 70,000 tonnes per year. In May 1989 APM introduced its newest entry in the fine papers market, ReRight. It was Australia’s first stationery paper made from 100% recycled paper- post- recycled paper that was produced without chemicals and was neither de-inked nor bleached. The World Wildlife endorsed ReRight and the product generated significant interest and publicity. Despite ReRight’s higher cost it grabbed a 3% market share (7,000 tonnes per year) of the uncoated fine papers market. To recoup its research and development expense, APM charged 20% more for ReRight than for comparable, non recycled paper. ReRight’s immediate acceptance inspired APM to introduce ReRight-Form in the spring of 1990, a recycled computer paper. While APM expanded its recycling efforts PCA suffered yet another blow on the environmental front. Greenpeace released a surprise report on PCA’s Kayser soda pulp mill on the coast of Tasmania, declaring it the dirtiest mill of its type in Australia. It found Kayser discharging 11.5 tonnes of organochlorides per day into the sea, at times reaching a level 80% above government standards. It also decried the presence of chloroform a cancer causing agent, in the effluent and cited it as a health risk to PCA’s workers. The environmental group called upon the government to monitor the mill’s effluent levels more closely and demanded that the company reduce its discharge of organochlorines to a maximum of one kilogram per tonne of pulp. It also recommended complete elimination of organochlorine discharges by 1993 and asked the government to review employees’ medical records to search for abnormal incidence of cancers attributable to oraganochlorines such as chloroform. Future Scenario Encouraged by APM’s success Amcor had provided A$50 million to APM to consolidate yhe investment that had carried it into fine papers, though a pre-tax return of at least 20% was expected. While larger sums could always be requested, it was understood that larger sums required more attractive returns-as had been the case when APM originally entered the market by upgrading Machine 3. Further expansion into fine papers loomed as a possibility. Copier paper alone promised 10% annual growth and recycled paper continued to grow in popularity. The uncoated fine papers market as whole was projected to grow at a rate of 6.5% annually through the year 2000. Now, McRae had the following options for the capital budget: 1) The capacity of Machine 3 at Maryvale could be expanded upto 100,000 tonnes. Initial estimates put the cost of increasing from the existing capacity of 70,000 tonnes at A$35 million. McRae would have to decide how he would use this extra capacity. Analysis of option 1- 2) APM was producing 7,000 tonnes of recycled paper at its Fairfield plant and increasing capacity would cost A$18 million. Analysis of option 2- 3) In addition to APM’s recycling efforts, McRae focused on ways to reduce APM’s discharge of organochlorines. APM could reduce its dependence on chlorine by substituting oxygen in one of two ways: a) To replace chlorine through oxygen pre-bleaching, APM would have to spend A$15 million in development and implantation. Oxygen pre-bleaching would reduce chlorine use by 50%. Pulp output at Maryvale would drop by 5% from 350,000 tonnes to 332,500 tonnes, but many engineers at the plant had expressed keen interest in learning about the technology. Pulp contribution at Maryvale was A$200 per tonne of pulp. Analysis of option (a)- b) Alternatively, APM could intensify the use of oxygen during bleaching, which would reduce the level of chlorine by 15% and cost approximately A$8 million. Pulp output would be unaffected. Analysis of option (b)-

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Sat Scores Vs. Acceptance Rates :: essays research papers

SAT Scores vs. Acceptance Rates The experiment must fulfill two goals: (1) to produce a professional report of your experiment, and (2) to show your understanding of the topics related to least squares regression as described in Moore & McCabe, Chapter 2. In this experiment, I will determine whether or not there is a relationship between average SAT scores of incoming freshmen versus the acceptance rate of applicants at top universities in the country. The cases being used are 12 of the very best universities in the country according to US News & World Report. The average SAT scores of incoming freshmen are the explanatory variables. The response variable is the acceptance rate of the universities. I used September 16, 1996 issue of US News & World Report as my source. I started out by choosing the top fourteen "Best National Universities". Next, I graphed the fourteen schools using a scatterplot and decided to cut it down to 12 universities by throwing out odd data. A scatterplot of the 12 universities data is on the following page (page 2) The linear regression equation is: ACCEPTANCE = 212.5 + -.134 * SAT_SCORE R= -.632 R^2=.399 I plugged in the data into my calculator, and did the various regressions. I saw that the power regression had the best correlation of the non-linear transformations. A scatterplot of the transformation can be seen on page 4. The Power Regression Equation is ACCEPTANCE RATE=(2.475x10^23)(SAT SCORE)^-7.002 R= -.683 R^2=.466 The power regression seems to be the better model for the experiment that I have chosen. There is a higher correlation in the power transformation than there is in the linear regression model. The R for the linear model is -.632 and the R in the power transformation is -.683. Based on R^2 which measures the fraction of the variation in the values of y that is explained by the least-squares regression of y on x, the power transformation model has a higher R^2 which is . 466 compared to .399. The residual plot for the linear regression is on page 5 and the residual plot for the power regression is on page 6. The two residuals plots seem very similar to one another and no helpful observations can be seen from them. The outliers in both models was not a factor in choosing the best model. In both models, there was one distinct outlier which appeared in the graphs. The one outlier in both models was University of Chicago. It had an unusually high acceptance rate among the universities in this experiment. This school is a very good school academically which means the average SAT scores of

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Whistle Man Essay

Brian Ridden, is an entertaining book for teens that reflects the Australian identity In several ways. This is because It recaps real events, through the eyes of an ordinary orphan named Garret Clan. Garrett does this by revealing how the characters, setting and plot during the sass's In Australia, represents the Australian Identity. In this fabulous book, Ned Is shown as a hero due to Garrett, though It doesn't give enough evidence about the other side of him. Firstly, the characters exemplify what Australia was like back in the day, with its main focus Ewing on Ned Kelly.Ned Kelly who is the most likely story hero from Australia's history is known by Garrett to have many terrific values. This is shown in the book when Garrett quoted, â€Å"Ned has a good heart as all he wants to do is to help the Irish poor. † Although Whistle Man is really Garret's story. The two extreme ways of Kelly (the local murderer and the uncontrolled bush ranger), are the choices that also face Garr ett over the years as he grows to maturity. â€Å"Should he work Joyfully to build his own farm and life, or should he follow in the footsteps of End's crusade? ‘ quoted on age 112.Secondly, the setting of this book Is In Victoria which was at a time when most of the Australian population lived In the farming towns and most people had an Irish background. This was quoted after Garrett was tired of doing chores and said â€Å"Most of us are living on farms and are Irish-born, but no other people has to do as much work as what I have to do on the farms†. The setting during the sass's in Australia was considerably different to what it is like now. This is because now when you look around the streets you see most people living in the city with a mix of diverse backgrounds.Though in sass's, all the people who you would see were â€Å"white† Australians who lived in country towns. Thirdly, the plot demonstrates the Australian identity in a number of ways. Brian Riddle 's new story, Whistle Man, achieves this by highlighting the choices that shape a person's life. This is shown from Garrett Clan, who encounters Ned Kelly in 1874. â€Å"Ned was four years older than me and was the tough bushman who I wanted to be†, said Garrett. Garrett, an orphan raised by an old family friend, worships the courteous and untroubled Ned. Ned, In return, helps find him work and his own horse.But he also tries to steer Garrett clear of the local land politics that would soon create a phenomenal bush ranging story. Lastly, Whistle Man is an excellent addition to the many stories about Ned Kelly and embodies the Australia identity through several themes. The first theme is to choose your own destinies in what you desirably believe in. This was shown as it presents Ned as a believable person, who despite what anyone else thought, was determined to help the Irish poor. This was also quoted by Garrett who said â€Å"Ned is very determined to help the Irish poor an d I am going to help him achieve this†.The second theme is that we must all make our own admiration but In return respect others. This was shown in the book after Garrett was about to leave and Magnums said â€Å"l noticed before you didn't respect yourself so you disrespected others, but now you have found that respect In your heart and I am beginning to see the major transformation. † To conclude, Whistle man Is an Incredible book that showcases the Australian identity through the characters. Setting, plot and themes. The reader sees the choices made that lead to some tragedies.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Original Marriage Polygamy Essay

Once referred to as the â€Å"original marriage† Polygamy is now an alternative lifestyle lived by many, but is it right? There are multiple countries around the world that believe that this is in fact an applicable way of living. The Origins of polygamy are extremely vast and are practiced all over the world. However, in the United States it is illegal, yet there are many knowing individuals who still partake in this style of living. It is reported that â€Å"there are 40,000 people living in polygamous families or communities across the Western region of the U. S† (Scharnberg &Brachear, 2006). Should these people be prosecuted? Or are we as Americans pre judging a lifestyle that we know nothing about? In this paper, I will discuss what polygamy is, the controversies surrounding polygamy in the United States, and how polygamy emerged and extended through various cultures and religions globally. In addition, I will further explain if it is still practiced, and if so, is it accepted and acknowledged by their creed. Polygamy consists of three forms; they are polygyny, polyandry, and group marriage. Polygyny is the practice of having more than one wife at the same time. This was the original name for polygamy during the ninetieth century, it later became known as polygamy. The second form is polyandry which is the act of having many husbands at more than one time. Of the three, this practice is rare; it was traditionally practiced among Tibetans in Nepal and parts of China. The final form is group marriage (also referred to as circle marriage) this is the act of multiple women and men forming a single family. All members of the marriage share parental duties of any children they may have or will be created within their circle. Many practitioners feel that they are misunderstood and misjudged and feel that a monogamous relationship is ultimately impossible to maintain and that polygamy is a culture that is honest and upfront with each other. Amy Kaufman believes that â€Å"The most prevalent objection to polygamy is that it demeans women†. (Kaufman, 2005) It is also argued to be another form of slavery where children are at risk every day because in many cases they are conditioned to embrace a life of servitude. In any event, Polygamy still exists and is practiced around the world. All though there aren’t many cases surrounding polygamy it is a severely controversial topic. In the United States it is difficult to prove that polygamy is of existence. Even though polygamy is considered a crime, Individuals are rarely charged because it is extremely difficult to encourage polygamist or ex polygamist to come forth. Many of them are scared of being barred from their community or even prosecuted for admitting that they’ve partaken in polygamy. Unfortunately, without any choices of their own, children are born in to polygamy and the mental damaged is already done. They see nothing wrong with underage marriage, pregnancy and incest. There are several controversies surrounding this topic one of which is organized under aged marriages. In the case of the State of Utah vs. Holm’s Suzie Stubbs was married to her husband Rodney H. Holm in 1986. Holms a member of the fundamentalist church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints participated in a marriage ceremony (while still married to his first wife) with 16-year old Ruth Stubbs. Ruth claimed that she was forced into marrying her sister’s husband. Suzie Stubbs was later arrested; all though she wasn’t charged for polygamy she was charged with abetting bigamy and illegal sex. One of the largest custody cases in the United States history was the Texas polygamist custody case. It initiated with a 16-year old girl repeatedly calling an abuse hotline, claiming to be beaten and forced to become a â€Å"spiritual wife† to an adult man. Acting on her calls Texas Child welfare services removed all 439 (ranging in ages from infants to teenagers, and teenage mothers) children from the Yearning for Zion Ranch. The children were placed in foster care until the state Supreme Court ruled. It was later detected that the phone calls were fake. The children were later returned to the ranch. Arguably one of the most controversial polygamy cases in the United States was Warren Jeff’s. Warren Jeff was the president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints (FLDS) from 2002- 2007. Separating themselves from mainstream Mormonism, the FLDS group decided to continue monogamy since Utah denounced Polygamy in 1890. They began building residential structures in El Dorado, Texas, Colorado City and Arizona. Unlike Islamic belief, In Africa women are not given the authority to decide whether they’re husbands can have multiple wives. In Africa, polygamy is used to show a man’s wealth and it is also utilized to display a man’s virility and need for sexual satisfaction. Men can also accumulate wives as a result through inheritance. In the unfortunate event of a husband’s passing his brother would take over his household which includes his wife. In instances where there are multiple wives, they would be distributed among the remaining brothers. There is a lot of resentment between the wives. With hopes to eliminate one another many of the wives performed witch craft on each other. The children are put against each other, and in some severe cases, are encouraged to kill their father with the hopes of inheriting his wealth and status. In ancient India, Polygamy was mainly among warrior’s castes and rich merchants, while the sages and seers were strictly monogamous or completely celibate. Although it was never a popular practice in ancient India, It was accepted for the procreation and continuation of family lineage. Polygamy in ancient India was considered a matter of personal choice. Several Hindu gods were often depicted as polygamous. It was noted that lord Krishna had 16,108 wives. It was tradition that the women in Hinduism never be left alone with males. Similar to African polygamy, in the event of her husband’s death she must marry her husband’s brother. The Hindu law books later made provisions on polygamy. Present day Hindus consider both polygamy and polyandry archaic and inadequate and no longer practice the belief. In conclusion, whether your views on polygamy are positive or negative, it appears to be a lifestyle that will always exist. Polygamy is a culture that is practiced globally. Initially the reasoning was solely for procreation. It has later become a religious tenet, and a matter of choice. It is arguably compared and associated with gay and lesbian marriage rights. Many polygamists feel that they are being stripped from their right to live freely. However if â€Å"living freely† involves sexual assaulting minors, and secluding their young from civilization, then maybe polygamy should stay illegal in the United States.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

An Ecological Model of the Trinity Essays

An Ecological Model of the Trinity Essays An Ecological Model of the Trinity Essay An Ecological Model of the Trinity Essay An Ecological Model of the Trinity Within The New Cosmology Advancement of modern technology and scientific discovery, as well as the sociological developments of the past century, has changed the way humanity relates to the world. Human culture, particularly American culture, has developed a predominant world-view of earth’s resources and human relationships as things to be used and manipulated for personal gain. Scientists are warning with increasing urgency that the survival of the planet is at risk. Global warming caused by depletion of the ozone layer is negatively affecting climate change and the polar ice caps are melting at previously unimagined rates. Pollution, deforestation, manipulation and indiscriminate consumption of the planet’s natural resources have also contributed to an ecological crisis. Much of the environmental destruction can be directly connected to exploitation of people and cultures by business and industry for purposes of economic gain. Science alone cannot persuade the human community to make the swift and pervasive changes needed to begin repairing damage done to the earth. Human consciousness must begin to understand the interrelatedness of people and ecological systems that sustain life on the planet. The injury done in the name of scientific and economic progress can begin to be mitigated by a response from communities of faith. Contemporary ecological theology establishing creation as a revelation of the divine is a starting point for promoting the need for reconstruction of environmental and cultural systems. Humanity needs more than ever to discover the direct relationship of God’s intimate relationship with the universe as well as God’s being in intimate relationship with the individuals. Collaboration of current theological and scientific philosophies can help reveal a God â€Å"so intimately present in the world that the world can be regarded as an incarnate expression of the Trinity, as creative, as expansive, as conscious, as self realizing and self-sharing. † An ecological theology based on a relational model of the Trinity creates a paradigm allowing the contemporary Christian a way of relating and responding ethically to the world and to each other. Scientific theories of the universe Basic scientific descriptions of prominent contemporary theories of the origin and composition of the universe are helpful in beginning to construct an ecological theology. A foundational description of differentiated life forms existing within larger organic systems illustrates aspects of a trinitarian model of mutual relations found in the physical universe. Current theories of the scientific origination of the universe rely heavily upon what has been called â€Å"the Big Bang theory. This theory, credited to Edward Hubble posits that approximately fifteen million years ago, a tremendous explosion occurred from which all matter and energy originated. As a result of this explosion the universe, galaxies, stars and planets were created and the universe continues to develop and expand. The earth is the result the cooling process of a minute amount of matter from this explosion over the millennia enabling a process of evolution in which the rich diversity of plants and animals emerged and grew. Unanswered questions in regard to the Big Bang remain as development of theories in quantam physics progresses. Science continues to discover and revise its hypotheses and theories about the origin and organization of the universe. However, from the Big Bang theory, two basic conceptualizations of matter appear. The first idea is that all created matter is derived from the same source and therefore interrelated. The second is that from the same particles and energy, a multitude of specific and differentiated life forms occur. Both sameness and difference play major roles. Like the One and the Many, they will be with us through the whole development. Protons are all alike, but put different numbers of them together, and you get completely different substances. Or, take a certain number of carbon atoms, a number of hydrogens, oxygens, and nitrogens, and, without varying the numbers of each, just put them together n different arrangements, and again you’ll get very different subs tances. † The organization of substances at the atomic level created conditions in which biological ecosystems have evolved. Scientific work in biology, microbiology and genetics support the seminal work of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution as the basis for life in its ongoing transformation and diversification in nature. But science cannot and does not presume to answer questions of why the universe came into being or how and why we exist. That is the work of philosophy and specifically for this paper, the discipline of theology. The place of human beings in the history of this evolving universe, as it has been charted by modern sciences, can only be seen in its complete reality in the light of faith, as a personal history of the engagement of the triune God with creaturely persons (art. 62). † Traditionally, the Christian begins by seeking answers about the origin of the universe and nature of God in the written word of scripture. â€Å"And God saw that it was good† Ge n 1:12 NRSV- A Biblical interpretation of creation The story of Genesis provides a rich description of the creation of the universe by God. Judaeo-Christian creation accounts, actually two separate stories interwoven in the book of Genesis, describe an ordered process initiated by God. A reading of the creation stories in fact reflects the same process of development that modern science proposes; from light energy to the formation of galaxies and solar systems to the creation of the earth and from it plant, animal life and finally the human species. But the task of these original creation narratives was not so much to tell how and when the universe was created. The purpose of the authors of Genesis was to attempt to respond to questions about the meaning of existence and the nature of God. These are concepts beyond the realm of science. In the Genesis account, God speaks and the universe, whose origin is love, comes into being. The origin of the substance of the cosmos is not what but who. Then, desiring reciprocity of love, God creates the human being. Out of loving desire for relationship the universe and humanity are born. In biblical terms, â€Å"God’s being cannot be sought in a rudimentary divine â€Å"stuff† of some sort, but rather in the hunger for relationship to which the doctrine of the Trinity witnesses. † Relevance of the Trinity for Contemporary Christianity One of the first things a Catholic child is taught to pray is the sign of the cross. â€Å"In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit;† the Trinity is invoked at the beginning and conclusion of almost every experience of prayer from childhood through adult life. Liturgical sacramental celebrations and the Liturgy of the Hours are filled with trinitarian formulas and doxologies. Christians proclaim their faith in the Trinity each time the creed is recited. Yet most people asked to define the Trinity cannot explain anything more than, â€Å"The Trinity is one God, in three persons. † More than one priest asked to preach a homily on the Trinity has been known to quip, â€Å"It’s a mystery of faith. What more is there to say? † Yet the theology of the trinity has been one of the core doctrines of Christian faith since its early history. Although the theology of the Trinity remains a central doctrine of faith, the average person remains unaware of any real impact of the Trinity upon their lives. What difference does the doctrine of the Trinity make in the lived experience of twenty-first century Christians? In an attempt to answer this question, theologians of the twenty and twenty-first centuries have begun renewed interpretations of the doctrine of the trinity and its relevance in contemporary Christian life. History and Development of Trinitarian Theology In order for create a foundation for contemporary scholarship to construct a relevant ecological theology of the Trinity grounded in mutual relationship between the Creator and creation, it is helpful to provide a brief overview of the development of trinitarian theology in the course of Church history. Trinitarian theology appeared early in the life of the Church. The patristic Church first addressed controversies concerning the nature and exact relationship between the three persons of the Trinity the Arian controversy. The resolution of the debate was to proclaim the Jesus as being of the same substance or homoousios, with the Father at the Council of Nicea in 325 C. E. and that the Holy Spirit was coequal with the Father and the Son at the Council Constantinople in 381 C. E. This cemented an orthodox Trinitarian doctrine of the Church. However, understanding and explaining these concepts remained a challenge. Augustine of Hippo in the fifth century developed a detailed Trinitarian theology explaining the unity of the three divine persons of the trinity. Augustine then describes separate consciousnesses between the three persons and the process of interaction between them. In this model known as a psychological analogy, â€Å"God is fully conscious and knows and loves God-self and creation. † The psychological analogy was reinterpreted and expanded by Thomas Aquinas one thousand years later. Thomas refined the theology of Augustine, adding a technical systematic approach with specific terminology describing the â€Å"processions and relationships between the three persons, ad intra, and then to the ivine missions, ad extra,† which dealt with the external mission of each person of the Trinity. This organized comprehensive definition of the mystery of the Trinity seemed to articulate a thorough treatment that left little need for further investigation until the twentieth century. The great twentieth century theologian, Karl Rahner is often quoted as saying, â€Å"one could dispense with the doctrine of the Trinity as fal se and the major part of religious literature could well remain virtually unchanged. Yet Rahner’s work, along with other modern theologians such as Jurgen Moltmann, began exploring deeper dimensions and modern implications for a revitalized Trinitarian theology. Modern Trinitarian scholarship reaches beyond simple debates between immanent or economic models and addresses a relational theology that implies ethical behavioral praxis for the Christian community. Two Contemporary Relational Interpretations of the Trinity Two contemporary theologians who have made significant contribututions to a revived relational model of Trinitarian theology are Leonardo Boff and Elizabeth Johnson. Emphasizing cultural anthropology and the documents of the Second Vatican Council, directing the Church to live in greater relationship with the wider world, liberation theology developed in the Church of Latin America. Liberationist theologian Leonardo Boff develops a distinctively perichoretic model of the Trinity in which â€Å"Each divine Person permeates the other and allows itself to be permeated by that person. This interpenetration expresses the love and life that constitutes the divine nature. It is the very nature of love to be self-communicating; life naturally expands and seeks to multiply itself. Boff accentuates the equality of persons within the immanent trinity and uses the concept of the Trinity as Perfect Community to criticize unjust social and political structures which subjugate and oppress people based upon class, race and economic status. Elizabeth Johnson has constructed a Trinitarian theology within a feminist theological framework. Johnson, approaches the p roblem of patriarchal language and imagery of the Trinity by presenting language based upon the study of Wisdom literature imaging the persons of the Trinity as Spirit Sophia, Jesus-Sophia and Mother-Sophia. Johnson reclaims the translation of Thomas Aquinas to translate YHWH, the name God gave Moses at the burning bush as â€Å"Qui est† or The One Who Is. â€Å"Johnson argues that, if God is not intrinsically male, if women are truly created in the image of God, then there is cogent reason to name Sophia-God â€Å"the one who is,† the one whose very nature is sheer and exuberant aliveness, the profoundly relational source of being, wellspring of life, dynamic act, She Who Is. In this way Elizabeth Johnson attempts to present a vocabulary that images God and the Trinity without the masculine biases implicit in past theologies and scriptural interpretations. The feminist theological model for a Trinitarian theology presented by Elizabeth Johnson expands the Christian imagination and helps to lay a foundation for exploring dimensions of the imago Dei, and the persons of the Trinity that surpass an understanding of God that is exclusively male. â€Å"Many theologians, and pa rticularly feminist theologians, have identified the power of language for naming God as a critical issue. Johnson’s question concerning the right way to speak about God can be situated within the rising concern of all people who have begun to recognize the profound implications of speech about God both for the future of life on this planet and for the human person‘s capacity to know and relate to God. † Johnson’s Trinitarian model is that of a God of mutual relations who is not a removed observer of human suffering but in the person of Jesus-Sophia becomes vulnerable and able to share in the suffering of humanity. This compassionate God suffers with creation and wishes to draw all humanity and creation into loving union and to heal the world of suffering and evil. Both Boff and Johnson emphasize the imago Dei, the face of God, reflected in the faces of God’s people. God that bears the image of the suffering and oppressed demands a response of compassion and restoration of just social systems from God’s people. The Universe as the Imago Dei Similar to the theologies of Boff and Johnson, Denis Edwards further explores the ecological model of the Trinity in light of Christology. Christianity is par excellence the religion of the incarnation and, in one sense, is about nothing but embodiment. † Jesus, the Word made flesh is the ultimate expression of the imago Dei. In the person of Jesus Christ, the Christian, experiences the incarnate presence of God seeking loving union with humanity. An ecological theology expands the Christological metaphor of imago Dei, to include a cosmic Christology. â€Å"Joining in the creative work is really central to the whole contemplative enterprise. Cosmogenesis – the generation of the cosmos – can be seen, as Teilhard de Chardin saw it, as â€Å"Christogenesis,† the growth of the â€Å"ever greater Christ. † This Christ has been â€Å"growing in stature and wisdom† (Luke 2:52; read â€Å"complexity and consciousness†) these last dozen or so billion years and is nowhere near finished yet. † The Universe as God’s Body Another ecological theologian, Sallie McFague also constructs a model of God based upon an ecological theology. McFague’s concept of the universe as the body of God is accentuates an incarnational Christology stating, â€Å"We know God – we have some intimation of the invisible face of God – through divine incarnation in nature and in the paradigmatic Jesus of Nazareth, in the universe as God’s body and in the cosmic Christ. † McFague distinguishes this image of the universe as God’s body as metaphorical. It is intended as a vehicle to expand and explore contemporary understanding of the nature of God. This paradigm is not to be understood literally as a reinterpretation of pantheistic theology. Since we now know that our bodies and spirits (or minds, souls) are on a continuum, is it so odd to think of God as embodied? Remember that we are thinking analogically or metaphorically. † McFague emphasizes the presence of God in the universe existing as a communion of diversity. â€Å"To contemplate divine transcendence as radically and concretely em bodied means, of course, that it is not one thing: divine transcendence, in this model would be in the differences, in the concrete embodiments, that constitute the universe. For McFague, knowledge of God is found in understanding the diversity and specificity of life-forms existing within the body of the universe. Using the language of the body enables us to re-imagine the human encounter with the Divine as experienced in and through all creation. In God â€Å"we live and move and have our being,† Acts 17:28 NRSV. The presence of God sacralizes all created matter and establishes the entirety of the material world as the imago Dei. Accepting the universe as the embodiment of God necessitates our intimate relationship with ecology. As we treat the universe, we treat the real presence of God. An Ecological Trinitarian Theology The ecological crisis has increased universal human consciousness about the fragile balance that exists in the worlds environmental communities. Because of this theologians have begun to ask questions about the nature of God embodied in creation and humanity’s relationship with the universe. Many scientists and theologians are beginning to find areas of commonality between the two disciplines rather than seeing one as exclusive of the other. Australian eco-theologian, Denis Edwards has created an ecological theological conceptualization of Christian cosmology for the twenty first century using Christian revelation in conjunction with current theories in physics and evolution. Denis Edwards builds this model upon a trinitarian God as â€Å"Persons-in-Mutual-Relations† beginning with the creation stories of Genesis and from Christian scripture, particularly in the Gospel of John. In The God of Evolution: A Trinitarian Theology, Edwards illustrates John’s use of the word abiding or â€Å"indwelling† over forty times in the gospel and twenty-seven times in the Johannine letters referring to the relationship between the persons of the trinity or God’s relationship within human beings. â€Å"According to John, the love of Jesus and the Father in the Spirit, is a dynamic relational life of mutual indwelling, which reaches out to embrace us, catching us up in the open circle of divine love. In addition, Edwards is heavily influenced by the Wisdom Christology of Elizabeth Johnson connecting Wisdom literature with God at work in creation. â€Å"Wisdom is clearly concerned with the whole of creation and with the interrelationships among human beings, the rest of creation and God. † Rather than relying only on classical Trinitarian categories and definitions, Edwards retrieves the work of Richard of St. Victor (d. 1173) as well as the Trini tarian theories of St. Bonaventure. Edwards, in describing the theology of Richard of St. Victor of the twelfth century â€Å"suggests that it is friendship which is at the heart of things. I find this a fruitful way to approach an understanding of the God of evolution. † The friendship described by Richard of St. Victor is the friendship built upon an Augustinian â€Å"social approach to the Trinity, the trinitarian model of the lover, the beloved, and their love. † Richard describes the self-transcendant loving union of human friendship as the human model for understanding the relationship between the persons of the Trinity. The fullness of love shared between the Father and the Son â€Å"ecstatically breaking out beyond the two to include a third. † Edwards also revives some elements of the trinitarian theology of Bonaventure â€Å"in which the world is a vast symbol of the Trinity and the economy is ontologically grounded in the immanent trinitarian mystery of God. † For Bonaventure creation is the self-expression of God. Edwards states, â€Å"It is divine community that constitutes reality as it is and as it becomes. It is divine love that enfolds all creatures and enables them to be. It is this sheer relationality, this communion in diversity, which sustains and empowers biological evolution. † The ecological theology constructed by Edwards, recognizes the permeation of Divine Love in the presence of every particle of created matter, emanating from the source of the Creator’s love and infused with life by the power of the Holy Spirit. Denis Edwards writes, â€Å"the foundation for a theology that takes evolution seriously can be found in the trinitarian vision of God as a God of mutual relations, a God who is communion in love, a God who is friendship beyond all comprehension. This community of self-transcending donation of love is a paradigm illustrating the nature of the Trinity, a conceptualization of the universe, as well as a paradigm for Christian living. Yet these abstract concepts are sometimes difficult for the average Christian to grasp. Edwards suggests, If it is accepted that God is communion and that the universe itself is a created com munion existing from the divine communion, then this raises the question of how we think about the relationship between the divine communion and the community of creatures. We cannot think about this relationship without some kind of imaginative picture of God’s interaction with the universe. A Story of Trinity and the Universe Long ago in a small village lived a woman. She became known far and wide as the finest cook in the land. An invitation to her home for dinner was coveted by all. Her pastries and main courses were culinary delights but she was best known for her soup. When asked by aspiring chefs for her recipe, she simply smiled and said, â€Å"I put love into everything I make and that’s what makes the difference. Every night lucky visitors were treated to an experience they would savor for a lifetime. The woman was very happy. One night a young girl longing to possess the ability to recreate the recipe for the woman’s famous soup secretly hid in the old woman’s cupboard and watched through a knot hole in the door as the next day’s soup was prepared. The girl took careful note as the old woman selected each i ngredient, measuring, chopping, mixing with such great reverence and skill it seemed as though if the girl was watching a ballet. Then the young girl was startled as the chef kissed each ingredient just before adding it to the soup. Next even more alarmingly, the young girl watched in amazement as the woman carefully selected and sharpened one of her knives. She proceeded with great care to place a small slice in her finger and hold it above the soup. Slowly, a few bright red drops fell into the cooking liquid among the rest of the ingredients. Finally, the old woman singing quietly, it seemed to the pot, leaned over the soup and breathed deliberately as she stirred the mixture. The novice cook stole out of the cupboard and ran home. She immediately repeated the steps she had just witnessed. One: carefully choreograph preparation and kiss ingredients. Two: prick the finger and add a few drops of blood. Three: blow into soup while stirring. The young girl was giddy with delight. She could now make the exact recipe that had made the old woman both famous and loved. Now with such a valuable recipe she could sell her soup and become rich and famous throughout the countryside! However, the next day as she set up shop and sold her soup to passersby, the young girl’s soup met with limited approval. Her soup hardly left the taster yearning for more. Those who tasted the soup did not express the same praise and satisfaction that the old woman daily received. No one pleaded for permission to return the next day for more. What could she have left out or done wrong? It simply did not make sense. Plagued by her inability to recreate the woman’s soup, the girl decided to go to the old cook and confess her attempt to steal the recipe in order to coax the woman to tell her what went wrong. After the wise old woman listened to the story of the greedy girl, she simply smiled and with a sigh, agreed to share her secret. â€Å"You see,† she said, â€Å"I have no magic recipe. But the three steps you thought you saw were not what they seemed. The first step is that I love what I am creating. The second step is that I summon the love within myself and physically insert it into my creation. Finally, I share all my energy and love with those who eat my soup. † The young woman went away still perplexed by the crazy old cook. God As Loving Communion The story presents a possible image of God’s body as the universe. Within this paradigm, the physical substance of the universe is important and even holy because the Creator has willed it and loved it into being. The substance of the created world and its differentiated life-forms may be interpreted as the ingredients lovingly used by the old cook. Each ingredient measured and added precisely is necessary to the recipe. Yet, their true value does not reside in the substance of the ingredients. Their real value resides in the fact that each ingredient reflects God’s intentional self-gift of love. God As Incarnate Being Using a metaphor of the universe as God’s body, all of creation assumes an incarnational identity. Just as the Christian experiences Jesus as the Word made flesh, the Christian also believes that creation came into being from the expressed will of the Creator. If the first person of the Trinity, is the Giver of life and the Creator of the Word, the second person, Jesus, is the personification of Gift and Creation. â€Å"Through the Incarnation of God’s Word in Jesus Christ, the gift of God’s love, God’s very life is immutably turned toward us creatures with whom God has freely and irrevocably entered into the covenant. † The old chef was not satisfied in merely creating a perfectly delicious soup, she desired to share her very life-blood with those who would partake in her creation. Jesus, the Word made flesh joins God and humanity in intimate union. In the Incarnation, God takes part in the pain and sorrow, joy and love present in our lives. Jesus is the ultimate gift, God’s self-giving love. The second person of the Trinity, the Gift is the â€Å"piece de resistance† of God’s creation. Not set apart from the universe but fully immersed, part and parcel of creation. The spirituality of the Christian is defined, nourished and empowered by Jesus Christ. The Spirit, The Giver of Life The Incarnation is possible through the power of the Spirit, the ongoing presence of love at work in the world and within the deepest core of the human being. Witin the human soul exists the indwelling of God, the Holy Spirit. The third person of the Trinity completes the circle of God’s love. Expressed in three divine persons within one being, the Trinity can be defined as the Creator, the Incarnation and the Spirit. Trinitarian spirituality espouses that God’s self-gift of love is incarnated in Jesus Christ that comes to the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. Denis Edwards states, â€Å"the distinctive work of the Spirit in the ongoing creation of all things can be understood in terms of the power of becoming and the gift of divine communion with each creature. The Holy Spirit is the energizing force within the Trinity. It is the regenerative power of God’s love that enables life to be maintained and proliferated throughout the universe, in the human community and even at the core of the individual human soul. God’s greatest gifts to the human spirit; faith, hope and charity through the prompting of the Holy Spirit are called into human consciousness. The Holy Spirit works in and through the Word. â€Å"In the Son and the Holy Spirit, God is speaking and breathing the divine life in the world. Indeed, throughout Christian history the Holy Spirit has been referred to as the Breath of God. This is a metaphor with which we can easily identify. For in the human organism without breath there is no life. When we are breathless, we are unable to speak. In imagining God, we can extend this metaphor in saying that without God’s Breath, the Word could not have become present. In further contemplation of cosmic reality, we understand that the breath of the Holy Spirit â€Å"empowers all life and ? gives direction to the teeming life of creation. Returning to our story, the cook breathed into her soup (which we can now explain allegorically as the universe) because she longed to share her life-giving energy with her friends. The final product of the soup was made of love with the desire to share intimately with those in relationship with the cook around her table. And finally, the old woman gave her energy born of love to those sharing her meal in order that they could be sustained and energized after being fed. Communion of Loving Relationship This story imagines the Trinitarian concept of God’s loving self-communication, expressed distinctly in the three Divine persons. The Trinity is an inextricable unity of loving relationship found in the God we call three and one. Each person of the Trinity exists in a unique individual reality, yet are united within one God. Greek Orthodox theologian, John Zizioulas asserts, â€Å"There is no other model for the proper relation between communion and otherness either for the Church or for the human being than the Trinitarian God. If the Church wants to be faithful to her true self, she must try to mirror the communion and otherness that exists in the Triune God. The same is true of the human being as the â€Å"image of God. † Being as Communion Denis Edwards states, a â€Å"foundational concept is that God is a relational God, a God of equal and mutual friendship, and that all of created reality is to be understood as relational. To be is to be in communion. At the most fundamental level, being is communion. † The human being exists as unified combination of the organism and soul. The two are inextricable. The human being â€Å"is not a creature composed of two elements but is a single being in whom matter and spirit are essentially united. † Human beings seem to have an on-going struggle with integration. Separation of body and mind, assigning evil to things of the body and goodness to the spiritual realm is prevalent in past and present history. This duality has been the struggle of theological controversy over the church’s history. The church has continually held that the essence of the human person is not matter versus spirit, the fully human person exists as matter in cooperation with spirit. In other words, we ought to love and honor the body, our own bodies, and the bodies of all the life-forms on the Planet. The body is not a discardable garent cloaking the real self or essence of the person; rather, it is the shape of form of who we are. † It is complete interdependence of both body and soul that makes us fully human. Beatrice Bruteau uses scientific method ology in the areas of physics, biology, chemistry and mathematics in combination with philosophy and theology to explain the nature of cosmic being and reality and applies these theories to the individual. Bruteau uses complex scientific and mathematic formulas in conjunction with theological analogies to create a unified picture of the reality and being within God that is reflected in a Trinitarian communion of persons and in the cosmos. The personhood is reflected in the ability to transcend the self. The unseen untouchable energy of pure love that works in and through the world Judeo-Christianity calls God. As we read in the Gospel of John, â€Å"God is love. † John : , NRSV Christianity defines love (God) as the source of all creative life-giving energy. Each person experiences the origin of creative love as God at work within their being. The presence of God within the human soul imparts Divine love that allows human beings to function in loving relationship with each other, with God and with all of God’s created universe. Practical Application Of A Relational Trinitarian Model In contemporary theological discussion, relationality and communion in diversity are the essence of the Trinity within the economy of salvation. The Christian of modern times is able to comprehend the concept of the tripersonal God as persons in mutual-relationship with each other and the universe. A this model of God impacts all interpersonal relationships between human beings, relationships between entire cultures and our relationships with the entirety of the created universe. For, if all things exist in communion with God, we are inextricably related to each other and all creation. Therefore, the Christian is expected to act responsibly within these communal relationships. This communio is what the human being is called to image and participate in ecclesially, extending to participation in the Body of the Church and beyond to the wider community. The person seeking authentic conversion and deepening union with God must take a new approach toward all relationships. A truly Trinitarian spirituality demands recognition of being in relationship with God in every aspect of existence. Trinitarian spirituality is relational and inclusive of all people and creation. â€Å"It is also inclusive of all forms of non-human life and all of creation, indeed the whole world. This communion of the Trinity, in relationship with the human being, the church and the entirety of creation demand an expanded definition of relationship for the Christian. Beatrice Bruteau asserts, â€Å"If the world is the Body of God, then it must be both honored as God and also dealt with in worldly terms. If we are members of the incarnate Deity whose essential nature is to be sharing comm unity, then we must express this reality in appropriate community-sharing arrangements. † The theologies of liberationist and feminist theologians consider the socio-cultural dimensions of an understanding of Trinitarian theology. Gaudium et spes, The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, called upon the people of God to read the â€Å"signs of the times. † This anthropological perspective â€Å"called for critical reflection on people’s lived realty in the light of faith and its contemporary experience of society and culture. † As part of the human community, Bruteau asserts that all people share in God’s ecstatic reality and so the human community must be fully immersed and participative in social, scientific, artistic and religious aspects of life. As Bruteau puts it, â€Å"If what we discover by such culture is our membership in the Incarnate Transcendent Community, then we must live this out in terms of deep appreciation of ourselves, of our social communities, of our material, technical, informational, aesthetic, and meaningful world. † The Trinitarian theologies of Elizabeth Johnson and John Zizioulas are different in their approach yet each arrives at a communal model of Trinity. Orthodox Patriarch John Zizioulas’ work recalls the patristic concepts of the trinity and the psychological model of Augustine and defines the Trinitarian formula as â€Å"three Person’s in equal relation [he] recovers a key understanding that the being of God is communion. † Zizioulas’ trinity accentuates ecclesial communion and is most perfectly celebrated in the liturgy. â€Å"At the table of the eucharistic liturgy the many- the gathered community joined with the rich diversity of the whole of creation- are constituted by the Spirit into the one Person of Christ. It is as the body of Christ that the many-become-one are offered to God the Source of all being, and are drawn into the communion of the triune God. † Although these two theologians have very different perspectives both arrive at a conceptualization of the trinity as God in intimate loving communion with humanity which presents a way of being and a model for Christian life. â€Å"They point to how this central symbol of Christian faith can work to facilitate the participation of believers within God’s life, within the human community, and with non-human creation. Relational understanding of an immanent, yet transcendent God in relationship with all of creation and all people demands a radical response from the Christian. Theologians such as Denis Edwards, Beatrice Bruteau and Sallie McFague have expanded our perception and understanding of the Trinity as relational and communal. If God exists not only within the human soul but also throughout every particle of creation, humanity then must begin to view itself in individual relationship with God and also in a communal relationship with all humanity. Christians that fully embrace the immanent presence of God within and moving through a sacral universe, must now begin to make judgments and act in loving just relationship with the ecological systems in which we live. Elizabeth Johnson’s Trinitarian model presents the idea that â€Å"to contemplate the mystery of the one Trinitarian God as a living mystery of personal relations at the heart of the universe is to come to know Holy Wisdom, the triune God. This one-God-who-is-three suffers with us and prompts us to ethical action. The movement to ethical action is the dimension that modern theology contributes to a revitalized understanding of the theology of the Trinity pertaining to individual and societal praxis. The Vatican Document, â€Å"Communion and Stewardship: Human Persons Created in the Image of God† states, â€Å"The triune God has revealed his plan to share the communion of Trinitarian life with persons created in his image†¦Created in the image of Go d, human beings are by nature bodily and spiritual, men and women made for one another, persons oriented towards communion with God and with one another. †(art. 5) And, â€Å"In effect, no person is as such alone in the universe, but is always constituted with others and is summoned to form a community with them. † (art. 41) The human person does not live independently but exists within social ecological communities. The document calls the human person to responsibility within these communities â€Å"by gaining scientific understanding of the universe, by caring responsibly for the natural world (including animals and the environment), and by guarding their own biological integrity. (art. 61)† The place of humanity in the created universe is â€Å"front and center. Not because the human being is placed in charge of creation as some older cosmological explanations might assert, but because we are intimately related both in matter and being with the universe. â₠¬Å"Human persons are one with the universe because they and the universe are held through the ongoing act of creation, not merely in the abstraction â€Å"in being†; they exist in a universe â€Å"located† in the secret recesses of the mystery of Trinitarian communion. Human persons and the universe are one, since together they are eschatologically â€Å"one body† in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. † In Conclusion In the age of the Industrial Revolution at the turn of the twentieth century, humanity had come to view our natural resources and ecological systems as being at the service of humankind. Indiscriminate consumption and depletion of the earth’s resources without regard for long-term consequences to the environment or the moral implications of the misuse of natural resources has placed the planet and the future of humanity in great jeopardy. Belief in human supremacy on the planet and unchecked attempts to dominate and dissect our habitats and ecological systems has produced catastrophic results. Moltmann believes that â€Å"the ecological crisis has reached nothing less than apocalyptic proportions. † In viewing the universe as a community in which we live and participate, humanity can begin to relate to creation with regard to maintaining integrity of persons and systems. Aldo Leopold, the famous conservationist once said, â€Å"We abuse the land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect. Retrieving a Trinitarian theology based upon the economy of salvation and within the framework of an ecological cosmology, will allow â€Å"the restoration of communion among persons and all creatures living together in a common household. The articulation of this vision is the triumph of the doctrine of the Trinity. † God’s divine self-giving love expressed in creation, revealed within the human through the power of the Holy Spirit and embodied in the Incarnate Word allows us to see a way of being persons in complete communion with other humans, with creation and with God. The Trinity is no longer an irrelevant exercise in scholastic theological debate but a living reality that communicates God-self to us and empowers us to image that communion of being, sacramentally, ecclesially, socially and ecologically. The essence of the Trinity is all about relationship. Love poured out freely and shared unconditionally. â€Å"At this time of â€Å"taking stock† at the beginning of the new millennium, there is a challenge to recover the delicate ecology of the human soul along with the fragile ecosystems of the earth. † What is the greater mystery, the Creator or the Creation? They are in fact inextricable. We only can begin to imagine the immensity of the mystery of God revealing God-self to us. But this mystery continues to unfold in time and space. Reflecting on the contemplative implications of this new understanding of cosmology, the human being and the nature of God, Beatrice Bruteau concludes in her book God’s Ecstasy, â€Å"You are a participant in the Trinitarian Life Cycle, for you are doing the incarnating and the creating and the realizing and the rejoicing. God’s ecstasy creates the world, and the world’s ecstasy realizes God. And you are right in the midst of it all. † Bibliography Boff, Leonardo. Holy Trinity, Perfect Community. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2000. Bruteau, Beatrice. God’s Ecstasy: The Creation of a Self-Creating World. New York: The Crossroads Publishing Company, 1997. Christiansen, Drew, S. J. and Graze, Walter, ed.. â€Å"And God Saw That It Was Good†: Catholic Theology And The Environment. Washington, D. C. : United States Catholic Conference, 1996. Downey, Michael. Altogether Gift: A Trinitarian Spirituality. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2000. Edwards, Denis, ed. Earth Revealing, Earth Healing: Ecology and Christian Theology. Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 2002. ______. The God Of Evolution. New York: Paulist Press, 1999. Fatula, Mary Ann, OP. The Triune God of Christian Faith. Collegeville, Minnesota: Herder and Herder, 1970. ________. The Holy Spirit: Unbounded Gift of Joy. Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1998. Foley, Edward and Schreiter, Robert, ed. The Wisdom Of Creation. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2004. Gottlieb, Roger S. ed. , This Sacred Earth: Religion, Culture, Environment. New York: Routledge, 1996. Hunt, Ann. What Are They Saying About The Trinity? New York: Paulist Press, 1998. Johnson, Elizabeth A. She Who Is. New York: Crossroad, 1992. LaCugna, Catherine Mowry, ed. Freeing Theology: The Essentials of Theology In Feminist Perspective. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1993. ________. God For Us: The Trinity Christian Life. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1973. McFague, Sallie. The Body Of God. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993. Metzger, Bruce M. and Murphy, Roland E. editors. The New Oxford Annotated Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. O’Collins, Gerald, S. J. The Tripersonal God: Understanding and Interpreting the Trinity. New York: Paulist Press, 1999. Rahner, Karl, S. J. The Trinity. Translated by Joseph Donceel. New York: Herder And The Liturgical Press, 1990. ________. Opportunities For Faith: Elements of a Modern Spirituality. Translated by Edward Quinn. New York: The Seabury Press, 1970. ________. The Christian Commitment: Essays in Pastoral Theology. Translated by Cecily Hastings. New York: Sheed And Ward, 1963. Ratzinger, Joseph, ed. International Theological Commission, â€Å"Communion and Stewardship: Human Persons Created in the Image of God. † Rome: 20002 vatican. va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cit_documents/rc_con_cfaith_docu/ Streeter, Carla Mae. Foundations in Spirituality: A Systematic Approach. Preliminary Text, 2003 Zizioulas, John. â€Å"Communion and Otherness† (a lecture given at the European Orthodox Congress given in October, 1993. ) Reprinted from Orthodox Peace Fellowship’s Occasional Paper nr. 19, summer 1994. incommunion. org/Met-john. html/

Monday, October 21, 2019

Munch Biography essays

Munch Biography essays Edvard Munch is regarded as a pioneer in the Expressionist movement in modern painting. At an early stage Munch was recognized in Germany and central Europe as one of the creators of a new movement in art. Munch and many artists of the time needed to express their feelings about all the change that was happening around. Edvard Munch was born in Norway in 1863; he knew how a person's emotional pain feels. He was the son of an Army Medical Corp doctor who brought patients at home all the time. His mother died when he was only five years of age. His oldest sister died of disease at the age of fifteen. Edvard himself was often ill. One of his youngest sisters was also diagnosed with a mental illness at an early age. With death and illness as a major factor in his life he turned that into his own work. After a year at Technical school to study engineering, Munch became dedicated to his artwork. He left Technical school and entered into a school of design. Sometime in 1886 he produced the painting titled The Sick Child. In this painting his thoughts of the death of his older sister were let out and they were rather haunting. Around this same year Munch finished a series of paintings title The Sick Child. In this same year when all this occurred another catastrophe happened in Munch's life, the death of his father. After having a one-man exhibition at Oslo, he managed to gain state scholarships, which enabled him to move to France. He had a way with French Impressionist techniques and while living in Paris he explored a way of painting that would focus on the art symbolism and expressing of emotions through applications of paint and certain techniques. Munch had a series of paintings that were exhibited in a major art show in Berlin. The series was entitled The Frieze of Life, all six of these paintings caused such shock that the show was forced to shut down. Munch had so much feelings, passions, an ...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

How to Treat Names of Groups and Organizations

How to Treat Names of Groups and Organizations How to Treat Names of Groups and Organizations How to Treat Names of Groups and Organizations By Mark Nichol Proper names create challenges for writers and editors trying to identify an organizational entity in a way that is both accurate and graceful. For example, in general, if you would precede the name of an entity with the article the in speech, do so in writing, and if not, don’t. This rule applies to organizations: â€Å"Your charitable donation to the March of Dimes helps fund our mission,† not â€Å"Your charitable donation to March of Dimes helps fund our mission.† (The organization’s Web site lists the copyright holder as â€Å"March of Dimes Foundation,† with no article, but refers to itself throughout the site as â€Å"the March of Dimes.†) â€Å"Save the Children has instituted rigorous standards in the communities it supports,† not â€Å"The Save the Children has instituted rigorous standards in the communities it supports.† (â€Å"One could write â€Å"the Save the Children philanthropic organization† to provide context, but â€Å"the philanthropic organization Save the Children† is more elegant.) It is also relevant to corporations: â€Å"GlaxoSmithKline PLC is headquartered in London,† not â€Å"The GlaxoSmithKline PLC is headquartered in London.† â€Å"The Dow Chemical Company is headquartered in Midland, Michigan,† not â€Å"Dow Chemical Company is headquartered in Midland, Michigan.† (But a short form of the name would not be preceded by the article: â€Å"Dow is headquartered in Midland, Michigan.† Usage in corporation names complicates matters somewhat, however. Some firms that include company in their name precede the name with the, and others don’t. (Careful writers and editors will check company literature for proper usage, or delegate the task to a fact-checker.) The same problem occurs when corporation is part of the name: For example, Microsoft Corporation omits the in its official corporate name, but many other such entities include it, as in the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Number agreement of proper nouns and verbs is also a significant issue. For example, in American English, names of music ensembles, whether orchestras or pop groups, are matched with singular or plural verbs depending on the name: â€Å"Led Zeppelin was an English rock band,† not â€Å"Led Zeppelin were an English rock band.† â€Å"The Beatles were an English rock band,† â€Å"Not the Beatles was an English rock band.† (Note, also, that the, when it precedes a band name, is not capitalized, even if band documentation uses a capitalized the.) However, British English employs plural verbs regardless of the form of the band name: â€Å"Led Zeppelin were an English rock band,† and â€Å"The Beatles were an English rock band.† In the United States, names of athletic teams are always treated as plural, regardless of whether the name is a singular or plural term: â€Å"The Magic are headquartered in Orlando, Florida,† not â€Å"The Magic is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.† (Note that the house style of the New York Times is an exception.) â€Å"The Giants are headquartered in San Francisco,† not â€Å"The Giants is headquartered in San Francisco.† (But â€Å"The San Francisco Giants baseball team is in the National League of Major League Baseball,† and â€Å"The team is headquartered in San Francisco.†) In American English usage, metonymic team references, in which a team is referred to by the place name rather than the mascot name, are in singular form: â€Å"Orlando is on its way to the playoffs,† and â€Å"San Francisco is in a slump.† In the United Kingdom and other countries where British English is standard, a distinction is made between the organization and the athletes as a group: In the former case, the singular form is used (â€Å"The Manchester United Football Club is the most successful football club in England†), but the plural form prevails in the latter case (â€Å"Manchester United are ahead by one point†). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:16 Substitutes for â€Å"Because† or â€Å"Because Of†How Long Should a Paragraph Be?5 Examples of Insufficient Hyphenation

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Discussion 3 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Discussion 3 - Assignment Example She entrusted her son’s life to that hospital for her to bring him in it the first place; only to come and be treated so unfairly. I think what the nurse should have done was speak nicely to the lady, be attentive, and have the courtesy to update her during the long wait. Making patients feel like unique individuals and giving them updates from time to time helps increase their satisfaction and might influence their healing (Diane 363). In this video, a worker is asked by his colleague to help her with medical coding. He later responds sarcastically that he does not remember when he last dealt on that area and even goes further to tell her that it is somebody else’s job and not his. The colleague then walks out of the room angry. My thoughts about this video are that the worker practically is not responsible, and it is like he does not know the reason he’s there in the first place. For him to refuse to help with the coding means that he has no interest in knowing how it is done because I feel he should have asked the lady for assistance instead of dismissing her like that. It is, therefore, important for a worker to understand his or her role within an organization to be able to perform well and

Friday, October 18, 2019

The Role Of Systems And Simulation Research Paper

The Role Of Systems And Simulation - Research Paper Example The process management is recognized to be one of the most important tools for developing better operational management as well as a performance of a company.   In order to maintain the business process in a smooth manner, every company has developed its own process. Most of the companies have built their own process charts such as producing the widget, paying vendor administering payroll and much more. Contextually, it is evident that Wal-Mart has also played a vital role in preparing its own process management. The process name six sigma has been regarded as a more critical organizational process that includes a large number of operational activities of the organizations has been implemented within the operations of Wal-Mart (Grewal, 1-3).   It is notable that the concept of process management is recognized to be one of the most important concepts of managing the operations of the business in the most efficient manner. Through the implication of six sigma techniques of process management, the company has been able to reduce its additional cost within the business. It will be worth mentioning that the strategy of sig sigma is recognized to be more efficient in reducing extra cost of the company. In this regard, the company has decided to implement the six sigma process within the logistics department.   Apparently, it can be stated that Wal-Mart is recognized to be successful in establishing sustainable supply chain management with the help of a new concept name six sigma (Cengage Learning 1-2).  

Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Biology - Essay Example Adaptation, is the accommodation of a living organism to its present or to a new environment, is fundamental to the process of evolution and is determined by the individuals heredity. The division of one cell to form two new cells is reproduction; usually the term is applied to the production of a new individual (either asexually, from a single parent organism, or sexually, from two differing parent organisms.) Taxonomy1 may refer to either a hierarchical classification of things, or the principles underlying the classification. The root is the Organism (as this applies to all living things, it is implied rather than stated explicitly). Below this are the Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species, with various other ranks sometimes inserted. The atom consists of a central, positively charged core, the nucleus, and negatively charged particles called electrons that are found in orbits around the nucleus. Molecules are made up of two or more atoms, either of the same element or of two or more different elements, joined by one or more covalent chemical bonds. In biology, it is the unit of structure and function of which all plants and animals are composed. The cell is the smallest unit in the living organism that is capable of integrating the essential life processes. Cells can be separated into two major groups—prokaryotes, cells whose DNA is not segregated within a well-defined nucleus surrounded by a membranous nuclear envelope, and eukaryotes, those with a membrane-enveloped nucleus. Within cells there is an intricate network of organelles ( nucleus, nucleolus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, golgi apparatus etc.) that all have unique functions. These organelles allow the cell to function properly. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or deoxyribose nucleic acid1 is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions specifying the biological development of all cellular forms of life (and many viruses). DNA is often

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Companies analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Companies analysis - Essay Example The company offers Kangaroo -TV, a medium for targeted advertising, merchandising, market surveying, and branding1. The recent history of the company shows that it has continued making losses and its share prices have dipped to CAD 0.49 (January 11, 2008: close) - an all time low. The 52 week high is recorded at $3.86 as recently as on December 2, 2007 - a drop of 87% in 17 trading sessions. The plunge thereafter is not surprising, as the stock has found its rational floor from an all time high of $7.65 on May 12, 2006. The rapid fall is despite the news emanating from the company in recent times: The share price movement indicates no connection with stock market indices; with a beta of -0.17 compared with the S&P Index. None of the other indicators like PE, Ask-Bid gap throw up any relevant numbers for analysis. Any investment in this share can only be based on a gut-feel. Technology employed by the company is unique and has good market potential. The only reason for holding this stock is the likelihood of a takeover by a larger and financially stronger company - then too the new company is not likely to offer a very high price to shareholders in case of an aggressive takeover. This stock is useless for prudent portfolio management. Any stocks held should be sold at the best possible price. World Point Terminals, Inc. ... They provide storage, blending, and transportation of crude oil, refined petroleum products, and other liquids to their customers. The company's center point terminals store residual oils, such as liquid asphalt and heavy fuels; and lights oils, such as gasoline, diesel, and heating oil. It also provides crude oil storage services through its south riding point terminal facility. In addition, the company, through a joint venture, operates a fleet of tugs providing marine services5. The company was founded in 1942. The company's stock performance has been good. Some of the key performance indicators are: PE ratio of 21.2, EPS $7.80; 52-week high $26.50; 52-week low $13.68 and present price $15.00 (January 9, 2008 close). We observe that the movement of the stock take place in a narrow band and is mostly linked to the S&P Index as indicate by a beta of 0.966. Some of the key developments announced by the company in recent times are: Financial Reports for the third quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2007 reported7. World Point Terminals Inc. Announces Earnings Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2007 World Point Terminals Declares Extraordinary Dividend Payable on December 15, 2006 The latest financial report is heartening for the investor and performance on all fronts has been good. Net profit margin is up to 30.51% for the quarter and 28.65% for the first nine months as compared to 24.41 for 2006. Return on equity is up from 10.07% in 2006 to 25.35% for the quarter; the year to date return of 11.98% reflects the temporary setbacks the company had in the first six months and it appears to be emerging out of its troubles. The extraordinary dividend (the

Analysis of the financial statements of three leading supermarkets in Research Paper

Analysis of the financial statements of three leading supermarkets in UK - Research Paper Example Reporting financial results in a transparent and straightforward fashion is a means to an end (Fridson & Alvarez, 2002). The financial performance of a company can be discerned by the different financial ratios in accounting that tries to evaluate the overall financial condition of a company. The different financial ratios can be categorised into liquidity ratios, activity ratios, debt ratios and profitability ratios. Liquidity ratios measure the company's availability of cash to pay its obligations and debts. Activity ratios measure the ability of the company to convert non-cash assets into cash. Debt ratios measure the company's capability to repay long term obligations. Profitability ratios measures how the company controls its expenses and uses its assets in order to generate an acceptable rate of return. Based on the financial statements and financial ratios calculated, Tesco is more liquid than Sainsbury and Morrison. The liquidity of the company is measured by the current assets ratio as well as the acid test ratio. An asset is liquid if can be readily converted to cash, while a liability is liquid if it must be repaid in the near future. The current assets ratio compares the assets that will turn into cash within the year to the liabilities that must be paid within the year. The acid test ratio is a more conservative liquidity measure where the numerator of the current ratio is reduced by the value of its inventory. (Higgins, 1995) The trends of Tesco's liquidity ratios are increasing from 2007 to 2009. This means that the company has

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Companies analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Companies analysis - Essay Example The company offers Kangaroo -TV, a medium for targeted advertising, merchandising, market surveying, and branding1. The recent history of the company shows that it has continued making losses and its share prices have dipped to CAD 0.49 (January 11, 2008: close) - an all time low. The 52 week high is recorded at $3.86 as recently as on December 2, 2007 - a drop of 87% in 17 trading sessions. The plunge thereafter is not surprising, as the stock has found its rational floor from an all time high of $7.65 on May 12, 2006. The rapid fall is despite the news emanating from the company in recent times: The share price movement indicates no connection with stock market indices; with a beta of -0.17 compared with the S&P Index. None of the other indicators like PE, Ask-Bid gap throw up any relevant numbers for analysis. Any investment in this share can only be based on a gut-feel. Technology employed by the company is unique and has good market potential. The only reason for holding this stock is the likelihood of a takeover by a larger and financially stronger company - then too the new company is not likely to offer a very high price to shareholders in case of an aggressive takeover. This stock is useless for prudent portfolio management. Any stocks held should be sold at the best possible price. World Point Terminals, Inc. ... They provide storage, blending, and transportation of crude oil, refined petroleum products, and other liquids to their customers. The company's center point terminals store residual oils, such as liquid asphalt and heavy fuels; and lights oils, such as gasoline, diesel, and heating oil. It also provides crude oil storage services through its south riding point terminal facility. In addition, the company, through a joint venture, operates a fleet of tugs providing marine services5. The company was founded in 1942. The company's stock performance has been good. Some of the key performance indicators are: PE ratio of 21.2, EPS $7.80; 52-week high $26.50; 52-week low $13.68 and present price $15.00 (January 9, 2008 close). We observe that the movement of the stock take place in a narrow band and is mostly linked to the S&P Index as indicate by a beta of 0.966. Some of the key developments announced by the company in recent times are: Financial Reports for the third quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2007 reported7. World Point Terminals Inc. Announces Earnings Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2007 World Point Terminals Declares Extraordinary Dividend Payable on December 15, 2006 The latest financial report is heartening for the investor and performance on all fronts has been good. Net profit margin is up to 30.51% for the quarter and 28.65% for the first nine months as compared to 24.41 for 2006. Return on equity is up from 10.07% in 2006 to 25.35% for the quarter; the year to date return of 11.98% reflects the temporary setbacks the company had in the first six months and it appears to be emerging out of its troubles. The extraordinary dividend (the

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Cover letter (business letter format or block style) Essay - 1

Cover letter (business letter format or block style) - Essay Example Besides that, my tutor advised me to look for additional help through the reading and writing centers. Following this class, I can now review the overall effort that I have put throughout the learning period. I learnt the most from analyzing a friend’s essay entitled, â€Å"Food Stamp and Millions People Rely on† in several ways. Since it was my first time to encounter this type of an essay, I had to undertake significant research on the topic and post my work in the class forum. However, I made several mistakes such as providing personal opinion instead of analyzing the content. In addition, my mind opened up when we were learning about ethos, pathos and logos as I am now able to identify different types of appeals and understand an article’s deeper meaning. One of my easiest essays was â€Å"Forgiveness and Generosity†. The main reason why I found the essay easy was the fact that it was a reflective essay where I had the permission to give my experiences, which is one of the easiest things for me to do. This is because most of the information incorporated my own life events and it is considerably easy for me to remember it. In addition, I did not have to apply many writing skills. One of the essays that I struggled most to complete was titled, â€Å"Effects of Tsunami on Japan’s Economy†. I was not conversant with citations but my instructor showed me how to use a simplified website that generates automatic citations easily. I still made the mistake of not arranging the citations in alphabetical order. I had to read very many sources, which was tedious. I had difficulties when writing the outline and my essay had many grammatical mistakes. However, my tutor rendered her assistance on how to fix most mistakes and my final draft had improved substantially as there were fewer mistakes. Through reading many articles, I was able to learn many words that I can now apply easily in my essays. I also learnt several writing

Monday, October 14, 2019

Evaluating a Torsional Pendulum Experiment Essay Example for Free

Evaluating a Torsional Pendulum Experiment Essay I will firstly work out the overall experimental error and how far it was from the true value, using the same formula used in the preliminary. =2? = 10.36 Therefore the total error from what the true value should be is [(11.368-10.36)/11.368] x 100= 8.89% This shows that my experimental results had an overall 8.89% error, where as in my preliminary I had an error of 15.89%, therefore I believe my improvements have improved the accuracy of my results. From the 2 graphs above I can see that the result for 0. 1 meter length seems to be the furthest away from the line of best fit, and may be considered as an anomalous result, however I dont think its necessary to remove this result. The reason for this error could be any of the ones stated below, or possibly as it was the first reading I took, there could have been an initial fault in my experiment set up. Even though I have improved the accuracy of my experiment there are still many errors which will have decreased the accuracy of my results. I will now state each one and estimate percentage errors for the reading error and also experimental error if possible. * The meter ruler is accurate to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½0.5mm, therefore error on the smallest length would be (0.5/100)x100=0.5% and largest length (0.5/500)x100=0.1% . Therefore the error here can be no greater than 0.5%, so this is not a very significant error. However there is also a large span for experimental error, the length of string may not have been fully straight due to not being stretched fully, and also every time I change the length of the wire there will be a new random error generated. These cant be avoided but overall these experimental errors may have been about à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½0.3cm , meaning the maximum error would be (3/100)x100=3% error, which is therefore very significant. * The micrometer is accurate to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½0.005mm, therefore the error on my diameter of 0.49mm was (0.005/0.49)x100=1.02%, this shows a reduced error that of the preliminary, however a 1% error on the diameter can still be a major factor. This is due to the fact that the diameter is raised to the power of 4 in the equation. Therefore a very small change in the diameter may cause a larger than expected change in time period. Therefore I think the error of the diameter may have been the most significant error. If the diameter had been 0.48mm then the percentage error calculated above would have been only 5%, this shows how significant it was. The experimental error is also a factor due to the fact I had to twist two wires together to make a larger diameter. After taking 5 readings of the diameter, which were 0.49, 0.49, 0.48,0.49,0.47mm. I decided to use 0.49 as my value being the mode, however the fact that the diameter varied slightly meant there was an error. The range was 0.02mm, this could therefore have caused an error (0.02/0.49)x100=4.08%, therefore also very significant. Also the fact that I twisted two wires together, after some use, parts of the wire may have untwisted meaning the diameter would change again, this again contributes to the error above. One of the major improvements was the recording of the time period. Using the light gate and an interval of 0.01seconds, the error was only to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½0.005seconds therefore the maximum error was (0.005/4.15)x100=0.12% and smallest error (0.005/8.40)x100=0.060%, this shows the improvement in recording the time period, where the human error is eliminated. However one small difficulty in taking the actual reading was knowing where to take the intervals. However there was also an experimental error where I had to estimate where the middle of the peak was, and this was slightly different for each run. However the peak was never longer than about 0.1 seconds, therefore the largest error would only have been (0.1/4.15)x100=2.4%. Again the experimental error is greater than the reading error, but the overall error was much lower than the preliminary. * The value for shear modulus I used was 44.7x109GPa, however when doing research for this value, there were more than one of the same value, so there is no guarantee that the value I used was the value of my copper wire. The following website gave me a range of 40-47GPa. http://www.efunda.com/materials/common_matl/common_matl.cfm?MatlPhase=SolidMatlProp=Mechanical However, as the shear modulus is so large the error will be so small. Its difficult to work out the percentage error, therefore my error is just a range of 40-47GPa * The scale is accurate to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½0.05 grams so error on my bar was (0.05/196.3)=0.0254% error, there is no real experimental error in this reading. The percentage errors above show that the overall error should have decreased, where time period is now a very small error, reduced from about 8% in the preliminary. From my log log graph I got 0.4532 as my gradient. However theoretically it should have been 0.5. I also found that if I exclude the 0.1meter length and time period from the log log graph then my gradient would change from 0.4532 to 0.4963, which is very close to 0.5. This again shows that the 0.1m length may be considered as an anomalous result. To work out the percentage error for the gradient, I have to consider the error on the time period and the length, by adding these errors. Therefore the error on the gradient is approximately [{(0.5+3)/2}+{(0.12+2.4)/2}]=3.01%, this was using the average of the reading and experimental errors. From the percentage errors above I believe the main source of error was the diameter of the wire, this had the highest total percentage error and as seen from the equation any error in the diameter will cause a major difference due to being raised to power 4. Reliability of results Time Period(seconds) Experiment Results T=11.368 x l^0.4532 T=2?(I/K)^0.5 Difference1 Difference 2 4.20 4.00 3.27 0.19 0.92 4.65 4.81 4.01 -0.16 0.64 5.23 5.48 4.63 -0.25 0.60 6.16 6.06 5.18 0.10 0.99 6.51 6.59 5.67 -0.07 0.84 7.10 7.06 6.13 0.04 0.98 7.50 7.50 6.55 0.00 0.95 8.04 7.92 6.95 0.12 1.09 8.38 8.30 7.32 0.07 1.05 The table above shows my actual experimental results in the first column. Then the expected experimental result using the relationship I found in the second column. The third column is the theoretical result using the equation derived in my research. The forth column shows the difference between the values I obtained in my experiment and the expected values from the relationship I determined through experiment. And as you can see the maximum difference is only 0.25 seconds away. Therefore this relationship has very strong correlation, as shown on the previous graphs. However, in the fifth column, which shows the difference between my experimental value and the theoretical value according to the equations I noticed that I was constantly above the expected value. Also I was constantly about 1 second above for almost every length measured. From this I came to the conclusion that there must clearly have been some sort of systematic error. This will have increased the time period by approximately a constant amount each time. From my error analysis earlier I believe this may have been the diameter of the wire, as even being 0.1mm away from the true value will cause a large change in time period, which is what may have happened. Improvements to final method If I was to perform this experiment again I would try to further decrease the reading and experimental errors in the following ways. * As I found diameter to be the largest error I would ensure that the wire I am using has a constant diameter, by using only one wire and ensuring it has not been stretched in any way before using it. I would then also measure the diameter of the wire at least 5 times for each length, as when the length is decreased the weight will be pulling down on a wire of shorter length, and may stretch the wire more. Therefore I will record the diameter for each length I do and if it changes take these new diameters into consideration. * The shear modulus of copper ranged from 40-47GPa, therefore I was unable to even come up with an actual error for this. Therefore to reduce the error to almost zero I would measure the actual shear modulus of the copper wire I am using to do the experiment. This can be done using the following formulae G = E / [2(1+?)] where G is the shear modulus, E is the tensile modulus, and ? is the Poissons ratio of the material.