Microsoft vs. DOJ :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Microsoft vs. DOJ Arguments of the DoJ (the white paper) 1. Microsoft and it ´s Monopoly Power MS monopoly power is in personal computer operating systems. A PC operating system as you all know controls the interaction of the different parts of the computer. It creates files, organizes the computer ´s memory and creates a platform for applications. The operating system is indispensible to the computer for this reason. Maybe that changes as technology evolves but right now a computer without an OS is nothing but a box of inert hardware. MS today ships 97% of PC OS that are installed by computer manufacturers. Case law defines monopoly as beginning at about a 70% share of the market. But this alone isn ´t illegal in respect to superior products, service or mere luck. Nor does market share alone necessarily imply monopoly power. For example a manufacturer might make 100% of knickers on the market. But if there are other pants manufacturers who are able to turn their production into knickers, the one and only knickers producer wouldn ´t be able to charge more than a competitive price or exclude rivals from his market. Speaking of this little example it ´s now clear what monopoly power means: it is the power to control prices and exclude competition. MS has and still exercises, both form of monopoly power. It charges above competitive prices and use tactics that eliminate rivals. And not because MS are superior to others and more beneficial to the consumers. No, not at all, MS uses predatory tactics whose sole purpose is to destroy it ´s rivals. MS often has denied that it posesses monopoly power but their arguments are quite feeble. A MS spokesman stated that the market is highly dynamic and that there are only low barriers to enter the market, especially for fringe firms. But this is untrue for the means of competition. There might be a lot of new technology but the barriers MS deliberately put up made it impossible for new market entry. The result is that MS can charge higher than competitive prices without a loss of market share. Another argument of MS is that it ´s monopoly power is defeated by ist need to compete against it ´s own installed base meaning that MS has eg now to compete against win 95. But this is another partly untrue argument because most consumers think of a new OS only when they want to buy a new computer and replace their old one.

Developing a Therapeutic Counseling Relationship Essay -- Counseling

Introduction Understanding the counseling session from the client’s perspective is a very important aspect in the development of a therapeutic relationship. A clinician must be an excellent listener, while being to pay attention to the client’s body language, affect and tone. The dynamics in the counseling session that is beneficial to the client include the recognition of the pain that the client is feeling. The detrimental part of this includes a misunderstanding of the real issues, a lack of consideration of the cultural aspects of the client, and a lack of clinical experience or listening skills. In this presentation, we will discuss the positive and negative aspects of the counseling session from the client’s perspective which includes the client’s attitudes, feelings, and emotions of the counseling session. We will next examine the propensity of the client to reveal or not reveal information to the counselor, and how transference, and counter-transference can h ave an effect on the counselor-client relationship. Positive Aspects For clients who express their experiences for the first time in counseling, it can be a powerful force to help them heal. It is important for the counselor to pay close attention to the person’s body language, affect and tone. The counselor must consider the possible scenarios that may occur in the first session. Cultural aspects of the client must be considered. From the client’s perspective, the first session is an important session, even if the first session is mostly an information gathering session. The client may have experiences much trauma in their life, never being able to trust a person with their closest feelings. This is why it is very important to establish rapport and trust in... ...confidential information is shared without their permission, this situation can be detrimental to the client. The client may stop treatment or be passive-aggressive towards the therapist by being late of cancelling appointments with the clinician. References State University (2011). Retrieved from Lecture Notes Online Web site: http://angel04.gcu.edu/section/default.asp?id=551591 Sherwood, T. (2001, September). Client experience in psychotherapy: What heals and what harms? Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology, 1(2), 1-16. Retrieved August 27, 2009, from http://www.ipjp.org/index.php?option=com_jdownloads&Itemid=25&task=view. download&cid=111 Transference and Countertransference, (2011). Kathi’s Mental Health Review. Retrieved May 7, 2011 from http://www.toddlertime.com/mh/terms/countertransference-transference-3.htm#Countertransference

Free Essay - Nora in Act 1 in Ibsens A Dolls House :: Dolls House essays

The Character of Nora in Act 1 of A Doll's House The character of Nora, of Isben's A Doll's House, is particularly difficult to interpret. Her character is constructed by the combination of a number of varying traits.  Ã‚   Throughout Act 1 her ambiguity is particularly prominent. Her frivolous, playful moments are readily followed by moments of practicality and astuteness. It is not surprising that Nora is such a changeable character for she is constantly interchanging between three main roles: a supporting wife, fundamental mother and sexual being. Ibsen uses the metaphor of a doll inside a doll house to portray Nora's attempt to become an individual while confined inside a male dominated world. Her wish to become self motivated is obstructed by Torvald's power over her.   Nora's home is the realization of domestic bliss, preserved and presented like "A Doll's House." Lacking experience of life in the real world and oblivious to the outdoor hardships, Nora is vulnerable. She enters muffled in protection from the outside, portrayed symbolically through her coat, scarf etc. Immediately, Nora appears childlike and coquettish. She orders Helene in an excitable tone to hide the Christmas tree as the children "mustn't see it till tonight." Nora's secretiveness   in wanting to hide the tree, extends further, and is a constant theme. Following Torvald's light- hearted interrogation with regard to whether she has had any macaroons, she becomes nervous and lies, "No Torvald, I promise...No No...Torvald I swear." Of course, this is particularly important as the entire play rotates around Nora's "big secret."   With the entrance of Krogstad, Nora's sense of fun abandons her. Her attempt to enforce her social superiority over him is genuinely intimidated. In her ambitious attempt to be superior she states "one isn't without influence". However, within moments she is forced into pleading "Mr. Krogstad, I don't have any influence." Nora's stereotyped roll as a doll confined to a doll's house constantly being fathered by Torvald encourages her childlike manner. However an entirely different contradicting side to Nora's character is revealed when Nora explains exactly what she did "for Helmer".   Although Nora is a woman who shirks or is probably unaware of her responsibilities (particularly with regard to her children who are under permanent care of Ann- Marie) here she has, apparently, fulfilled something of her duty as a wife.   Her personal attitude to her action, which in her mind saved "Torvald's life" is very childlike.

A Review of the Role of Entrepreneurship in Stimulating Economic Growth Essay

They also further states that entrepreneurs have been responsible for growth and development over the centuries and are identified as the key role players in the economy of every country. The paper identifies the different definitions of an entrepreneur which are identified as the different channels in which entrepreneurship lead to economic growth, reduced unemployment and increased levels of income among countries. As a result of the role of entrepreneurship in any country, most countries emphasises on integrating entrepreneurial activity in its economic policy. A discussion is made on developing economies mainly South Africa, China, Brazil and Russia comparing the entrepreneurial activity within the economies. Economic growth is best defined as a long-term expansion of the productive potential of the economy. It is measured by the comparing the difference between the Gross National Product (GNP) in a year with the GNP of the previous year. A growing economy is when the difference is positive. The term simply refers to an increase in the ability to produce goods and services. It is easier to define unemployment when there is an understanding of the term economic growth. Unemployment refers to when a person who is actively searching for employment cannot find work to do. This is an instrument used to determine the healthiness of an economy. After knowing the levels of unemployment in an economy, determining the level of income distribution becomes a bit projected. The level of income in an economy refers to the way in which in money is distributed among the population in an economy. The above three defined terms has a link to each other. The level of economic growth have a direct proportional influence on the possible jobs available in the economy while a reciprocal relationship exist between the level of income in the particular economy and levels of unemployment. The level of income is directly proportional to economic growth. Also, the level of unemployment is directly proportional to the level of income in an economy. However, all the above aspects are influenced by the level of entrepreneurship in the particular economy. An economy with high activity of entrepreneurship is more likely to be characterized by high economic growth, reducing levels of unemployment and increasing levels of income while an economy with low entrepreneurial activity on the other hand can be characterized by low economic growth, high levels of unemployment and low levels of income. Entrepreneurship cannot be separated from the following terms â€Å"economic growth†, â€Å"employment† and â€Å"country income level distribution† as all the entrepreneurial activities contribute largely to economic growth, levels of employment and income distribution. Different nature of entrepreneurs stimulates the growth of an economy in different ways. In any country with high levels of entrepreneurial activities or which experienced high entrepreneurial activity, the economy tends to be of middle to high income and the unemployment levels tend to be decreasing if not low. However, economies with low income distribution are characterised by low entrepreneurial activities and mostly, there are significant levels of unemployment. Such low income economies have high records of poverty which leads them to seek donors. Different authors made contributions on this topic and this paper compares and links the information obtained into a comprehensive review. The term entrepreneurship has been defined by Schumpeter (1934) as lying in the perceptions and exploration of new opportunities in the realm of business. He further states that it always has to do with bringing about a different use of resources in that they are withdrawn from their traditional employ and subjected to new combinations. Schumpeter relates entrepreneurship to be influenced by entrepreneurs who are innovative and hese people have to be extra-ordinary as they have to come up with extra-ordinary events. They come up with new technological possibilities hence are able to establish large businesses from these. Carland etal. (1984) confirms that an entrepreneur is someone innovative and further says that he or she employs strategic management practices in the business. Timmons (2000) believes entrepreneurship as the process of creating a nd seizing an opportunity and pursuing it, regardless of resources currently controlled. Nieman and Nieuwenhuizen (2009) define an entrepreneur as the person who sees an opportunity in the market, gathers resources and creates and grows a business venture to meet these needs. They also further states that he or she bears risk of the venture and is rewarded with profit if it succeed. With different definitions of entrepreneurship defined by different authors through the way they define an entrepreneur, the researcher generally defines entrepreneurship as the act of being an entrepreneur who establishes business through the organisation of resources taking risk with the aim of realising profit. The Schumpeterian entrepreneur as defined above is innovative. In support for this, Curran and Stanworth (1989) defines entrepreneurship as the creation of new economic entity centred on a novel product or service or, or at the very least, one which differs significantly from products or services offered elsewhere in the market. Such entrepreneurs play a very crucial role in stimulating economic growth. They come up with huge organisations which can be monopolies in the economy. With the nature of big businesses, they would be more likely to produce large volumes of product increasing the GNP thereby contributing significantly to economic growth. With their capacity to produce large volumes, such organisation would take considerable number of employees hence reducing unemployment. By employing people, such entrepreneurs contribute to the increased levels of income in an economy. Another author Kirzner presents a different way in which entrepreneurship can be influenced by an entrepreneur through the way he defines an entrepreneur. According to Kirzner, the entrepreneur is someone who is alert to profitable opportunities for exchange. Such an entrepreneur believes in gathering the needed information, refining and providing it to those in need of it. Such entrepreneurs act as intermediaries for example between suppliers and customers. They are also very important in the growth of an economy as they facilitate inception, incubation of businesses through the provision of supportive information. The information they provide acts as a catalyst into venturing into business and builds confidence to emerging businesses. Emerging businesses require business support for them to have high chances of success hence the Kirzner entrepreneur makes the perfect match for such new businesses whose success lies on business support services. Such an entrepreneur can offer business support services such as business counselling, business mentoring and business incubation.

A study of existing disciplines in an organization Essay

There exists a situation that is a bit difficult to understand that is usually faced by information system management professionals. Since they are always specialized in the areas their clients seek professional advice, it becomes difficult for them to design prescriptions unlike some other professionals like doctors. Another major reason for difficulties experienced is that professionals fail to distinguish the actual needs of users from their wishes and desires. Therefore these professionals have to get prepared such that they create confidence in users in relationship to their capabilities. There is high need that there is achieved success during the period of investigating information needs. And therefore the person assigned the duties of a system identifier must be acceptable at all levels of users. They are also required to have credibility. An information system identifier has to adopt a procedural guideline for identification of needs. (Malcolm Pettu. Information resources management, 1989, Blackwell NCC) A study of existing disciplines in an organization. It is the duty of information needs identifier to find out the various departments in an organization and establish a relationship with the users. He is eligible to identify the major supporting areas within an organization’s handbook will be the output of this study that will offer guidance to further works of identifying the information needs. (E. Joel Ross. management by information system, 1970, Prentice hall. ) A study of the organization and its environment. After this exercise the identifier should be able to prepare a profile for the organization. He should be able to identify of what type the organization is in order to identify the different forms of management system and decision making processes that pose a bearing on the information needs. There is also need to analyze the environment in which the organization works. A study of the environment of the user. It is vital to identify in an orderly manner, the category of users and their respective information needs. The work of the identifier is to get a wide study of the users department before engaging in any interviews with the users. This helps him/her easily identify the needs. Several sources that need to be studied in the users department include; annual reports on the departments and their respective functions, Minutes of meetings, project reports, progress reports, and investigative reports est. It is necessary that the information identifier fully acquaints him/her of the full working of the department. This will make him fully understand the situations in which the user operates in. True needs however are identified from wide understanding of the user since they tend to place their wants and needs in fragments. Users are individuals, so the identifier should try as much as possible to address holistically perceive these needs. A user however might be playing a different role in an organization. An example is a wide variety of roles assumed by managers. It may include being. †¢ A disseminator spokesman †¢ A team leader †¢ A liaison †¢ A controller †¢ A decision maker. Resource allocator Broadly a user may form a node that pertains the following three different perspective of information flow in an organization: Communicating in a bird’s eye view perspective: †¢ Includes giving job instructions and directives to specific tasks. †¢ The basis information of the job information designated for production of good understanding of relative tasks in an organization. †¢ Organizational practices and procedures providing timely feedbacks about performance to the subordinate. †¢ Communicating upwardly: †¢ People will talk about; †¢ Their problems and their performance. †¢ Their organizational policies and practices. †¢ Others and their problems. †¢ The needs to be done. Communicating in a horizontal manner with colleagues in the same level of hierarchy. A user may interact with: his culture which sets for him policies and other influences and attitude, formal organizations such as employing organization invisible colleges, gate keepers etc, his work team which is a distinguished subsystem in an organization because of interpersonal characteristics. Users caught up in complex situations need to be studied from two different perspectives: Including direct methods which include Direct methods of user study include: A close observation of the users during discussions with their colleagues. Engagement in a dialogue with the user when offering information services to them performing a detailed survey by use of questionnaires. Visiting the various departments where the users work and observing them. Some of the indirect methods are listed below: †¢ Studying the events maintained by users which are included in diaries. †¢ Having a thorough analysis of the reference queries received from users. †¢ Analyzing responses from users after rendering services to them. †¢ Taking users designs and analyzing them. †¢ Studying the user’s job description. †¢ Taking the publications of users and studying them. †¢ Studying the documents used by users. †¢ Scanning reports and correspondences received and prepared by users. An advantage of the direct observation is that there is personal contact of the identifier with the users. This provides an excellent opportunity for observation of users in their normal environment. A downfall of the method of direct observation is that there is overdependence on the observers’ capability. It is necessary to note that there may result incidence of subjective element of the observer as a result of the observations made. The records of users’ are adequate in providing a reliable indication of the users subjects of interest. It is them subjected to extrapolation to a dynamic changing situation. Since users are developing human beings, and work in a system that is also subjected to constant change, it calls for keen study of the users. Some of the few methods of studying users are as below: Studying the work diary of users; In an organization users are always encouraged to maintain work related diaries. Recorded in the diary includes critical events and incidents, filed license applications, comments in regards to how improvement could be achieved in an organization, meetings and discussions held and their solutions etc. the consultants/ consultancy organizations preferred To some organizations it is a must for its employees to keep and maintain such diaries. It is also necessary for them to record the events in their order of occurrence such that it may act as a vital source of information to address the specific needs of the users. Sometimes it may give information about who associates with them both inside and outside the organization. Surveying the information sources used The objective here is to bring frequency and relevance of the different types of sources, their availability and accessibility and the different priorities assigned to them. There is emphasis on keeping records for respective departments. Formal interview The information need identifier after carefully analyzing the above steps should be able to design questions, set up the clarifications to be made and similar points for discussion with the users. He is to design this depending on the user’s environment, category, and specific roles he plays in performing his responsibilities among other things. An information need identifier has to design a specific document for each user before carrying out a formal interview. The document should have. Available sources and services that are not in use Required types of information and services. Present sources of information and services in the organization. A draft estimate of needs anticipated by users. The intention of the gathered information is of a greater bearing on the real information required. And therefore the information need identifier is supposed to find out by appropriate questioning the following aspects: What information is needed, in what form, for what need, when needed and to perform which role. In what digestible form, table, original document, and executive summary etc. In what media print visual presentation or audio? The kind of information facts, is it technical detailed, opinions? To what coverage extent, is it exhaustive or selective? The identifier should be able to identify favorable products of information services to the users to enable them extensively express their needs. He/she should have the capability of identifying true needs. In relation to specific functions the user should identify specific functions related to the value needs. A need has values attached to act as determinants of priorities to be assigned. For satisfaction of the need, its information cost could be correlated to its consequences Also it maybe a necessity to attend meetings in areas under areas where the functions and responsibilities of users are addressed. Occasionally it is good to invite users for group discussions to shade light on future changes and even the changes that are taking place. This ensures free exchange of ideas within a system and therefore is preferred that there is an arrangement to having appointments with the users at those times they are free from important work. When conducting interviews it is important to ensure efficiency by: providing several examples with relevant information services and aided in how he can meet his information needs. The examples should be relevant in the sense that they must be from the subject field of the user. It includes using the following criteria; By presenting the actual problems that are likely to be faced by users in their daily activities. Providing appropriate communication language that can be easily understood by users so that they will express their needs unambiguously. Help the users pinpoint his subjects precisely by using the subject profile of the organization that has been prepared by the information need identifier. Illustration of a few services that the user has already contemplated and seeking their own ideas as to which services they prefer. A show off of the different information so as to gather more sources and identify new users. Acquainting the users of present communication channels used in the organization. Refining the information needs It is an important idea of an information need identifier to periodically invite small groups of persons of the same composition e. g. all technicians for discussions. End users are also members of the information system therefore they should be asked to mention their current activities and whatever problems they are facing. They should be able to talk about the information interests of their likes. They should talk of how the current system may be improved to match their respective information needs. It may occur that if the discussion is properly done then some details from the survey could be combined. This will help in updating and modification of information needs that are of best use to the members and end users Conclusion To identify a thing is one thing and to satisfy it is another. It is my hope that the above study will be easily translated into practice. It implies that identification of information needs in this way will render the best services that will be able to satisfy the users’ needs. In the end the, users will be able to have a better outlook of the company. The creation of an information and communication technology within an organization will not only be an effective tool for communication but also ensures that an organization realizes higher productivity with low input costs. If a company is undergoing re-engineering process then it may need to employ a systems manager to work with the changed management. It calls for a well picture of the constraints and capabilities of technology. (P. R Sundarray, Joseph Sams. Implementation management of an E-commerce enabled enterprise information, 2002. ) .

Class Test on Micro Economics Essay

i) All questions in this section are compulsory ii) Marks for questions are indicated against each iii) Answers for very short answer questions carrying 1 mark must be answered in ONE sentence each iv) Answers for short answer questions carrying 3 marks each should not normally exceed 60 words v) Answers for short answer questions carrying 4 marks each should normally not exceed 70 words vi) Answers for long answer questions carrying 6 marks each should not normally exceed 100 words each. vii) Answers should be brief and to the point – The above word limits should be adhered to as far as possible. 1. Name the characteristic which make monopolistic competition different from perfect competition[1] 2. Why is demand for water inelastic?[1] 3. State one feature of oligopoly[1] 4. In which market form is the demand perfectly inelastic?[1] 5. Distinguish between increase in demand and increase in quantity demanded[3] 6. Goods X and Y are substitutes. Explain the effect of a fall in price of Y on the demand for X.[3] 7. At a price of Rs. 5 per unit of a commodity A, total revenue is Rs 800. When its price rises by 20%, total revenue increases by Rs. 400. Calculate its rice elasticity of demand[3] 8. Explain the implication of freedom to entry and exit of firms under perfect competition[3] 9. Given below is the cost schedule of a firm. Its average fixed cost is Rs 20 When it is producing 3 units. |Output |1 |2 |3 | |Average Variable cost (Rs.) |30 |28 |32 | Calculate its marginal cost and average total cost at each given level of output.[3] 10 Explain the features of â€Å"What to produce† OR Explain any two main features of centrally planned economy.[4] 12. When the price of a commodity falls by Rs. 2 per unit, its quantity demanded increases by 10 units. Its price elasticity is (-)1. Calculate its quantity demanded on its equilibrium price.[4] 13. Explain the effect of increase in income of buyers of a normal commodity on its equilibrium price.[4] 14. State whether the following statements are true or false: Give reasons for your answer (a) When total revenue is constant, average revenue will be constant. (b) Average variable cost can fall even when marginal product is rising (c) When marginal product falls, average product will also fall.[6] 15. Explain the law of variable proportions with the help of total and marginal product curves. [6] 16 Explain producers equilibrium with the help of a marginal cost and marginal revenue schedule [6]

Persecution in the Early Church

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that one of the factors that the early church grew was because of persecution. However, this was not the only factor. The faith of those who followed Jesus Christ transcended the state of Christianity and helped it grow exponentially in the first centuries. Introduction Christianity today has millions of followers. In the early stages of Christianity, this wasn't always the case. How and why did it spread? Nowadays, many convert to Christianity for various reasons. Following the death of Jesus Christ, the persecution of Christians in the early church did not hinder or eliminate the growth of Christianity, on the contrary, there is a direct correlation between the persecution and growth of Christianity in the early church. However, persecution was only one reason, of all the many reasons that helped the early church grow. It was the apostle Paul who said, â€Å"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for is the power of God unto salvation . . . to the Jew first and also to the Greek† (Rom. 1:16). There was no power or empire on earth that was going to stop the growth of Christianity. In as little as three centuries, Christianity became the religion of preference and eventually the official religion of the Roman Empire. According to K. S. Latourette, â€Å"The complete story of the spread of Christianity in the first couple of centuries cannot be entirely told, for there is not sufficient data to write it.† Moreover, what can be told is that within the first five centuries Christianity became the dominant religion. Christianity began in the Roman Empire and became one of the major systems of belief. The irony of the intolerance of Christianity was that most cultures of the time accepted all sorts of deities. When the Apostle Paul stood before the Aeropagus he makes mention that the people of Athens were religious people in the sense that they had many Gods. The author F. F. Bruce states, â€Å"Paul was brought and invited to expound his teaching.† The Apostle Paul said, â€Å"As I was walking through your city and observing your objects of worship I found an altar bearing the inscription: â€Å"to an Unknown God† (Act 17:23). The number of gods and objects that were worshiped was so vast, that the people of Athens even had an altar made to someone who was unknown, just to make sure they hadn't forgotten anyone. Even with the vastness of religions, somehow Christianity was an outcast in the middle of a plurality of religions. Century after century of persecution, which in some cases occurred in isolated areas, and other times was empire driven, the Roman Empire was bent on eradicating Christianity. How is it that Christianity continued to grow in spite of the onslaught of persecution that occurred? According to Phillip Schaff, there are at least ten major persecutions that stand out in the early church. Here are the ten Roman Emperors who initiated those persecutions:Nero (64-68) PersecutionDomitian (81-96)Trajan (112-117)Marcus Aurelius (161-180)Septimus Severus (202-210)Decius (250-251)Valerian (257-59).Maximinus (235-38)Aurelian (r. 270–275)Diocletian and Galerius (303-324)A Brief Summary of Some of the Notable Roman Emperor Driven Persecutions (Nero 64-68AD).According to Everett Ferguson, the apostles Paul, Peter, and James were all killed within five years of one another in the m id-sixties. James was killed by the Jerusalem authorities while Peter and Paul were executed in Rome under Nero (64-68 AD). After Nero's persecution of Christians (64 AD), Paul is never heard of again. James â€Å"the brother of the Lord†, as the leader of the Jerusalem church and was respected by his followers, however, in 62 AD, he was assassinated under the authority of the Jewish high priest. In the year 66, the Jews rebelled against the Roman authority and â€Å"refused to perform the daily sacrifice for the emperor.† Four years later, the Emperor Vespasian's forces, led by Titus, completely plundered and destroyed Jerusalem. At this point, the leadership of Christianity was seemingly wiped out. There would be no logical reason for Christianity to grow now that the leadership was dead. Millard J. Erickson writes that Christians knew, â€Å"one salient dimension of God's preservation is that the believer is not spared from danger or trial, but is preserved within it. There is no promise that suffering or persecution will not come, but rather that they would not prevail against them.† The Apostle Paul affirms this reasoning when he states, â€Å"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ† (Rom. 8:35). â€Å"Persecution† is assumed in his statement following this verse, and he ends with this summary, â€Å"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord† (Rom. 38-39). Approximately, five centuries before this, the same faithful stance resonated in Daniel's three friends before King Nebuchadnezzar in the face of a fiery furnace. It is here that one begins to grasp the starting point of why Christians would not compromise their faith even through persecution. Ekeke observes, â€Å"The persecution under Nero was confined to Rome, but this action set the tone for what would occur elsewhere in the Roman Empire.† Before killing the Christians, Nero would dress them in furs to be killed as animals while others were crucified. Christians were seen as mere animals in the eyes of Nero. The Letter of the Churches of Vienne and Lyons According to Ferguson, this letter is considered one of the most important letters of second-century martyr literature. â€Å"The persecution at Lyons is notable (1) for the first-hand account of the rage of the populace that resulted in exceedingly brutal experiences for Christians and (2) for a large number of martyrs, the Roman citizens beheaded and the rest condemned to the wild beast contests in the area.† Decius and Valerian The Roman empire fell on economic hard times, and in the fall of 249 A. D. Caius Messius Decius became head of the Roman Empire. Decius concluded that Roman gods had been neglected. He affirmed that the solution the Empire needed, was that all Roman temples should be reopened, and that all citizens needed to show their allegiance to the gods of Rome by worshiping at the shrines. The Christians refused to worship at the shrines, and their refusal was seen as an act of treason. Christianity, in the view of the emperor, had become a detriment to Roman society. When Valerian superseded Decius, within time it was clear that his agenda â€Å"was to destroy Christianity.† However, both Valerian and Decius true motives for wanting to get rid of Christianity were based seemingly on economic principles on the basis of trying to avoid further economic ruin. The suppression strengthened rather than weaken Christianity at the hands of Decius and Valerian. â€Å"For public opinion condemned the government's violence and applauded the passive resistance of the Christian.† Once again, the relentless efforts of the Emperors failed at destroying Christianity. At this time many Christians defied the Roman government and the bishops of Antioch, Jerusalem, and Rome were executed. Diocletian and Galerius (303-324)Diocletian is considered by historians to be one of the most brutal persecutors of Christians. Although he helped restore efficiency in government processes, such as but not limited to the economy, military, and administration, he also gave the order to eliminate Christianity from the Roman Empire (the irony of this is that his wife, Prisca, and his daughter, Valeria, were considered Christians), burn scriptures, ban Christian gatherings, and tear down church buildings. Diocletian also ordered the leaders of the church to be tortured, imprisoned and put to death. Galerius, the son-in-law of Diocletian (married to Valeria), and the Caesar who ruled the eastern part of the empire, was the one who convinced Diocletian to begin the persecution. By the year 311, Galerius came to finally realize the ineffectiveness of his attempt to wipe out Christianity. Although there were many Christians who recanted their faith in Christianity in the middle of facing martyrdom, thousands did not recant, and paid the ultimate price for the faith in Christ with their own blood. In effect, as persecution persisted, more and more Christians died for their faith. Diocletian's reign is considered one of the â€Å"last great persecution of the Christian church.† Some of the Reasons for PersecutionOne of the main reasons for hostility towards Christians was that the Christian ethic in itself was a criticism of pagan life. The Roman persecutions many times were in part, dependent on the political atmosphere. Moreover, â€Å"Out of the fifty-four emperors who ruled from 30 and 311, only about a twelve, persecuted Christians. . . It has been calculated that between the first persecution under Nero in 64 to the Edit of Milan in 313, Christians went through almost 130 years of persecution.† The Christian ethic went against all the pagan and immoral way of living propagated by the Roman Empire. Fundamental to the Christian lifestyle was the rejection of pagan gods. Both the Greeks and Romans had gods for all the natural and man-made elements. The denial of these elements â€Å"marked the followers of Jesus as â€Å"enemies of the human race.† Amongst other things, â€Å"Christians were accused of sexual sins and cannibalism.† Ferguson writes, â€Å"The presence of Christians had been the occasion of disturbance in Rome. Christian teaching threatened pagan society during the reign of Claudius. . . Under Nero, and in response to other blaming him for the great fire that destroyed much of Rome (64 AD), Nero blamed and punished Christians for the fire.† After Nero, Domitian was remembered in Christian writing as the next persecuting emperor. Correspondence between Pliny the Younger (governor of Bithynia the emperor, Trajan, states that Pliny executed those Christians who did not deny their Christian faith. In spite of all the efforts to eliminate and suppress Christianity, it remained a peaceful and powerful group in the Roman Empire. The author Alannis Nobbs states, â€Å"It is attested by the growing number of fragments of earlier Christian literary papyri, and it confirms the rapid spread of Christian activity.† One by one the persecutors of the Christians passed away, yet, Christianity kept growing. William Tabbernne writes of Eusebius, â€Å"God's restraining hand can always be replaced once God's purposes have been served, forcing evil tyrants, such as Maximinus II, to stop persecuting. More importantly, God can also raised up pro Christian Emperors, such as Constantine, who will protect, rather than persecute the church.† The push of Christianity was so powerful that its converts included Roman Emperors. Reasons why Christianity Spread in the First Couple of Centuries after Christ's DeathAgainst all logic, the spread of Christianity should have been stopped by the immoral belief systems of many Roman Emperors and the waves of persecution that bombarded the early church. Phillip Schaff writes: The chief positive cause of the rapid spread and ultimate triumph of Christianity is to be found in its own absolute intrinsic worth, as the universal religion of salvation, and in the perfect teaching and example of its divine-human Founder, who proves himself to every believing heart a Savior from sin and a giver of eternal life. Christianity is adapted to all classes, conditions, and relations among men, to all nationalities and races, to all grades of culture, to every soul that longs for redemption from sin, and for holiness of life. Its value could be seen in the truth and self-evidencing power of its doctrines; in the purity and sublimity of its precepts; in its regenerating and sanctifying effects on heart and life; in the elevation of woman and of home life over which she presides; in the amelioration of the condition of the poor and suffering; in the faith, the brotherly love, the beneficence, and the triumphant death of its confessors. With or without persecution, Christianity would have continued to spread throughout the world. Persecution either affirmed the early church in what they stood for or it drove them away. The moral teachings and power of the gospel brought hope to an empire that was on a downward spiral into immorality and economic ruin. People in general grew weary of the evil that was associated with the pagan gods, their own personal struggles, and the decline and cruelties of the Roman Emperors. What Christianity had to offer back then, as it does now, is hope. Not hope, for hope's sake, but hope in the very person for whom they were being persecuted. A hope not just for this physical life but for the eternal life offered by Christ. Christianity condemned the immoral practices of the Roman culture. The Christian appeal was one of loving your neighbor and your enemy. This ethic stood in stern contrast to the ideal or philosophy of that time. It was one of preserving not only the unity of marriage but the unity of the family. Most of the apostolic leadership lost their lives for the type of life that Christ offered. However, being a follower of Christ came at a cost. The apostle Paul wrote, â€Å"everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted† (2 Tim. 3:12). The apostle John wrote that Jesus said, if they persecuted Him, they will also persecute His followers (John 15:20). The Roman empire was one bent on the pursuit of wealth, pleasure, sensuality, and self-gain and self-interest. If truth is said, modern society has not changed much. Jesus said, â€Å"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you† (John 15:18-19). It is these types of enduring words that were etched in the hearts of those who were persecuted in the early church. Christians subscribed to a different lifestyle than what Roman society offered. What did Roman society offer? The apostle Peter says, â€Å"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do, living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you† (1 Pet. 4:3-4). Peter depicts the current state of affairs of Roman society, and the reasons why Christians were hated and persecuted. For these and many other reasons the early church grew and multiplied until Rome could no longer ignore, suppress, kill off, the faith of those who were followers of Christ. Conclusion The early church grew for many reasons. Although persecution was not a willfully invited reason but rather one that was forced upon them, it is clear that despite hostility and persecution, Christianity continued to grow exponentially across the Roman Empire. An almost unwilling fact and the irony of the persecution is that the more the early church was persecuted, it continues to multiply. Terullian, was on point in saying â€Å"the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.† This same seed is being planted today in many countries who are both tolerant and intolerant to Christianity. The modern church just like the early church can continue to grow if their faith is anchored in Christ. It was true of then as is today. Christians who are faithful did not and will not compromise their faith anyone or anything. The Roman Empire could not sustain its decline and offered no answers to the question of salvation. The intolerance of Christianity helped it spread more because every time Christians rejected what the pagan driven culture offered, they had the opportunity to proclaim their faith in the risen Savior. It is important to also not that most of the early Christian converts were not only Jews but mostly Gentiles. These Gentiles were tired of the pagan religions of Rome and did not want to convert to Judaism (mainly because of its male circumcision and various laws on personal diet). Unlike most religions, Christianity offered something most didn't at the time, and this was Salvation. Salvation was maintained through accepting and remaining faithful to Christ. The light of many shined through faithfulness and was highlighted even more during their persecution.