Thursday, December 26, 2019

The Artist Who I Am - 1660 Words

The artist who I will be focusing on for this assignment is Eminem. I find him interesting because he became really famous around 27 (my current age) just before the new millennium but is still considered highly popular, relevant and on top of the hip-hop world. His albums consistently go multi-platinum, even though some were panned by critics and fans alike. I find him to be an interesting story from what I have heard in general. His personality, drug use, controversies, near-death, and his continued relevance as an artist that appears to value youth into his forties are all points of interest. Although in today’s society, he is viewed as mainstream and widely accepted it wasn’t always that way. As a white/Caucasian artist in a predominately black music culture in the 1990’s (Allison, 2002), and following the exposure of Vanilla Ices street life as little more than fabrications and lies, people were always quick to embrace his music. Early radio interviews that Eminem did with radio DJ’s often questioned his legitimacy as a rapper and his upbringing (Molden, 2005), and with some even going as far as to straight up say he was â€Å"acting black†. He was apparently often ridiculed as an early emcee trying to get into the Detroit hip-hop scene as well, struggling to find acceptance. In turn, I would like to address essay question two because I feel that there are some parallels with my artist. Although it is arguable that Eminem’s skin color may have added to his eventualShow MoreRelatedWho is the former lead singer, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter of the rock band Three Days1000 Words   |  4 PagesWho is the former  lead singer,  rhythm guitarist  and  main songwriter  of the rock band  Three Days Grace? Who was the  runner-up on the  eighth season  of  American Idol? Who is the lead vocalist of  pop rock  band  Maroon 5? I received the  Brit Awards  Critics Choice award and won the  BBC  Sound of 2008. Who I am? I sang this famous song La coppia piu bella del mondo? Who I am?   I am known as  founding member and lead singer of  both  3LW  and  The Cheetah  girls. Who I am? The studio album  And the StoryRead MoreI Am A Great Scholar868 Words   |  4 PagesI am I have excelled in academics since I was a child. I was that girl who graded papers, tutored, took attendance, took names, and was obsessed with making an â€Å"A† on everything. I would cry immensely if I received â€Å"C’† on my report card. My definition of a great scholar was rooted solely in my grades. My intense hunger for academic excellence, was firmly embedded in my belief in phantom expectations. These phantoms followed me everywhere. They sunk their claws into my mind and seized me. I alwaysRead MoreWhat I Knew About Being An Artist1141 Words   |  5 PagesWhat I knew about being an Artist Growing up in a family full of creative minds it wasn’t hard to find my own talent. I became obsessed with art at a young age, drawing anything that caught my fancy whether it be cats, dogs, or power puff girls. I loved to draw. I found that with my drawing I had a natural desire to get better and build upon my talent. In the later years of middle school when the time came that we were deciding our future careers I didn’t want to be an artist. I wanted to just quitRead MoreThe Importance Of A Musician And A Fine Artist849 Words   |  4 Pagessatisfactory fit for me include a musician and a fine artist. For both of these occupations, I would be more than willing to deliberate about taking up either of them in the future, taking into consideration that I am currently a performing musician. I also have plentiful experience in the visual arts as well, so I could imagine being a fine artist as well. Both jobs include doing things I enjoy to a great extent. A musician is an individual who typically plays an instrument, but numerous musiciansRead MoreArt, But Only If You Say So1339 Words   |  6 Pagesguise of artists (or vice versa) who intend to evoke such emotions and shake the political pot, those who purposefully try to get people thinking; people like the famous, yet totally anonymous, french artist/activist Princess Hijab and british artist/activist Banksy. The names of these gifted anonymities are no doubt one’s you have heard before, thrown over NPR or shoved into your newsfeed by a friend. Artists like these, subversive vigilantes who work in the periods of night when you and I (more deliberatelyRead MoreWhy I Don t Have A Home1534 Words   |  7 Pagestheir home. But for me? I don’t have a home. The year is 750 AD and I live in the capital of The Tang Dynasty(618-907), Chang’an; the cultural center where you can thrive as a person; making me part of Ancient China’s â€Å"Golden Age(â€Å"Anc ient China For Kids† 6).† However, I don’t feel my sense of belonging here. I’m in a place I didn’t ask to be in: being a young orphan girl, trying to make a living on my own. I have no relation with the top class imperial family, nor am I involved with any sort ofRead MoreFinding Oneself1248 Words   |  5 Pages---Oscar Wilde When I was a small child, I was extremely shy. I had to be coaxed to raise my voice in the presence of others. The only time I felt confident was when I was by myself with a handful of crayons in my hand, bent over a piece of paper. While all children love to create art, for me art was more than a way to pass the time. It was a form of self-expression. When I was happy, I could fill the piece of paper with bright oranges and brilliant reds. When I was sad, I preferred solemn bluesRead MoreFor My Project, I Decide To Focus On My Own Music Project,1336 Words   |  6 PagesFor my project, I decide to focus on my own music project, Opaque Eyes. Opaque Eyes is a indie, dream pop and ambient music project that started in spring of 2016, and has a few small releases, and one EP release. The project also has a nice visual aspect to it – where I make all my own cover art and visuals to go along with releases. I have many goals for this project and where I would like to take it. I hav e a few releases planned for the end of the summer and am planning on many collaborationRead MoreMy Passion For Music And The Music Industry1232 Words   |  5 Pages I have always had a passion for music and the music industry, and my parents and I both knew that I was not going for school, unless it was for something music related. The music industry is such a broad category and there are so many moving parts within this sector. I chose music promotion for my career project, because it would allow me to go in and out of different departments within the music industry, along being able to work alongside creative individuals for artists. Pursuing a career inRead MoreThe, A Independent Label Executive Essay1297 Words   |  6 PagesAs a Independent label Executive; I am in a constant game of playing the sheep in a padded room surrounded by Elephants. I prepare for the abuse of being trampled upon, but hope that my coyness will somehow make me invisible. I for one can honestly sa y that I receive thousands of phone calls during a typical week from independent label owners and execs with the same sentiments. How can I avoid being Robbed, I ponder? I understand the position of the Majors and furthermore realize that the consumers

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Essay on governmental accounting - 7205 Words

J. of Acc. Ed. 31 (2013) 350–362 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect J. of Acc. Ed. journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jaccedu Teaching and educational notes The budgetary interview: Intentional learning for students in governmental and non-proï ¬ t accounting Larita Killian ⇑ Division of Business, Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC), 4601 Central Avenue, Columbus, IN 47203, USA a r t i c l e i n f o Article history: Available online 30 April 2013 Keywords: Intentional learning Self-directed learning Governmental and non-proï ¬ t accounting Learning-to-learn a b s t r a c t Learning-to-learn skills are critical to the future success of accounting students. This paper†¦show more content†¦Section 6 contains conclusions and recommendations. The Appendices contain materials that can be used by faculty in adapting and implementing this exercise. 2. Background and exercise development 2.1. Review of literature The Accounting Education Change Commission (AECC, 1990) stressed that undergraduate education should help students prepare for life-long learning, enabling them to renew their skills throughout their careers. According to the AECC, accounting courses should focus on how basic concepts are applied in real-world settings. Activities should draw from multiple information sources, and students should be required to search for desired information and be active participants in learning. Students must develop the ability to receive and transmit concepts and information; to locate, obtain and organize information; and to communicate in unstructured and unfamiliar settings. Further, students need an understanding of work environments and the internal workings of organizations. The AECC called on educators to help students develop a professional orientation, including an appreciation for the values of the profession and the ability to address issues with concern for the public interest. Like the AECC, the American Institute of Certiï ¬ ed Public Accountants (AICPA) stresses the acquisition of skills rather than memorization of content. The AICPA’s core competency framework (AICPA, 2003)Show MoreRelatedGovernmental Accounting1465 Words   |  6 Pages16.  Which of the following federal officials is a principal of the Joint Financial Management Improvement Program who considers and approves or disapproves accounting and reporting standards recommended by the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board?   A.  Chair of the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board. B.  Secretary of the Interior. C.  Comptroller General. D.  All of the above.    Content: Concept Level: Easy Wilson - Chapter 12 #16    17.  FASAB has identified four majorRead MoreDifferences Between The Governmental Accounting Standard Board1300 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween goods or services, accountancy has been the language of which business transactions are speaking (Salem, 2013). Accounting keeps track of and explains how money is used by non-profit organizations, for-profit businesses, governments and other individuals. Sounds simple enough right? Well, in all reality it is not that simple. Nowadays, there are many different forms of accounting let alone different set of standards that certain, and sometimes all, organizations must follow. Today there are twoRead MoreGovernmental Non for Profit Accounting Chapter 2 Quiz Essay755 Words   |  4 PagesChapter 02 - Principles of Accounting and Financial Reporting for State and Local 11. The accounting system used by a state or local government must make it possible A. To present fairly the financial position and results of financial operations of the governme nt as a whole, as well as fund financial activity in conformity with GAAP, and to demonstrate compliance with finance-related legal and contractual provisions. 12. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a fund as defined by GASBRead MoreEssay about Chapter 1 Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting: Answer Key2552 Words   |  11 PagesCHAPTER 1 Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting: ENVIRONMENT AND CHARACTERISTICS ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS QUESTION 1-1 a. The similarities of accounting for profit-seeking and GNP organizations include: 1. Double-entry system of accounts. 2. Most accounting mechanics, e.g., basic transaction documents, journals, ledgers, charts of accounts. 3. Where a GNP organization has a business-type activity, e.g., a municipal electric utility, the accounting largely parallels thatRead MoreGovernmental Accounting Test Bank - Chapter 14666 Words   |  19 PagesChapter 1 The Government and Not-For-Profit Environment TRUE/FALSE (CHAPTER 1) 1. The main objective of a typical governmental or not-for-profit entity is to earn a profit. 2. A government’s budget may be backed by the force of law. 3. Governmental entities have no need for an accounting system. 4. A government’s internal managers rely on general purpose financial statements for a considerable amount of information about their government. 5. Governments and not-for-profitsRead MoreComparitive Paper621 Words   |  3 Pagesmaintenance responsibilities Security information Support of the information system 4. Governmental entities use external services of organizations executing and recording transactions such as payroll processing. 5. Final analysis integral part of management responsibilities. Maintaining internal control environment Relating control procedures 6. Governmental accounting and reporting with direct impact on entities ability to collect financial information accurately, Read MoreHomework Week 1 Accounting984 Words   |  4 Pages1-2. Identify and describe the five environmental differences between governments and for-profit business enterprises as identified in the Governmental Accounting Standards Boards Why Governmental Accounting and Financial Reporting Is—and Should Be—Different. The five environmental differences include mission/purpose, source of revenue, potential longevity, relationship with stakeholders, and role of budget. The mission/purpose is defined by the goals of the organization. The purpose of aRead MoreGlobal Governance: Globalization and Non-State Actors2026 Words   |  9 Pagesglobal governance. However, whether this change undermines states is debatable. In one sense, states’ roles have somewhat diminished: Non-governmental entities – namely transnational corporations (TNC), but also global non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others – have an increasing voice in global policy debates, which may lessen states’ influence in governmental affairs. But in several other key ways, states’ retain their powerful role. For example, states remain the key negotiators and entitiesRead MoreTheoretical Framework on- Non Governmental Organisations and International Non Governmental Organisations (Support Base, Funding Pattern and Relation with State)9266 Words   |  38 PagesTheoretical Framework on- Non Governmental Organisations and International Non Governmental Organisations (Support base, Funding pattern and Relation with State) Introduction It would serve well to remember at the outset what is now a well-known and widely accepted fact of social reality that, the rise of the phenomenon of development including sustainable development has brought about integration, synthesis and unity of all social sciences into a single Social Science (Seymour Martin Lipset, 1972Read MoreRole of Voluntary Organisation in Promoting Participation in Development2326 Words   |  10 PagesRole of Voluntary Organisation in Promoting Participation in Development Introduction Non-Governmental organisations or NGOs in brief, have been engaged in many social development activities. They are organised by a group of people who feel that they have a moral duty to serve the community. They are organised on a voluntary basis on the principle of service to the socially disadvantaged classes. Their efforts supplement those of the government. Also, they can take up many activities, like organising

Monday, December 9, 2019

People In The Government Essay Example For Students

People In The Government Essay Approval of the Journal1. The Speaker shall take the Chair on every legislative day precisely at the hour to which the House last adjourned and immediately call the House to order. Having examined and approved the Journal of the last days proceedings, the Speaker shall announce to the House his approval thereof. The Speakers approval of the Journal shall be deemed agreed to unless a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner demands a vote thereon. If such a vote is decided in the affirmative, it shall not be subject to a motion to reconsider. If such a vote is decided in the negative, then one motion that the Journal be read shall be privileged, shall be decided without debate, and shall not be subject to a motion to reconsider. Preservation of order2. The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum and, in case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in the galleries or in the lobby, may cause the same to be cleared. Control of Capitol facilities3. Except as otherwise provided by rule or law, the Speaker shall have general control of the Hall of the House, the corridors and passages in the part of the Capitol assigned to the use of the House, and the disposal of unappropriated rooms in that part of the Capitol. Signature of documents4. The Speaker shall sign all acts and joint resolutions passed by the two Houses and all writs, warrants, and subpoenas of, or issued by order of, the House. The Speaker may sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions whether or not the House is in session. Questions of order5. The Speaker shall decide all questions of order, subject to appeal by a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner. On such an appeal a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may not speak more than once without permission of the House. Form of a question6. The Speaker shall rise to put a question but may state it sitting. The Speaker shall put a question in this form: Those in favor (of the question), say Aye. ; and after the affirmative voice is expressed, Those opposed, say No. . After a vote by voice under this clause, the Speaker may use such voting procedures as may be invoked under rule XX. Discretion to vote7. The Speaker is not required to vote in ordinary legislative proceedings, except when his vote would be decisive or when the House is engaged in voting by ballot. Speaker pro tempore8. (a) The Speaker may appoint a Member to perform the duties of the Chair. Except as specified in paragraph (b), such an appointment may not extend beyond three legislative days. (b)(1) In the case of his illness, the Speaker may appoint a Member to perform the duties of the Chair for a period not exceeding 10 days, subject to the approval of the House. If the Speaker is absent and has omitted to make such an appointment, then the House shall elect a Speaker pro tempore to act during the absence of the Speaker. (2) With the approval of the House, the Speaker may appoint a Member to act as Speaker pro tempore only to sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions for a specified period of time. Term limit9. A person may not serve as Speaker for more than four consecutive Congresses (disregarding for this purpose any service for less than a full session in any Congress). Designation of travel10. The Speaker may designate a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House to travel on the business of the House within or without the United States, whether the House is meeting, has recessed, or has adjourned. Expenses for such travel may be paid from applicable accounts of the House described in clause 1(i)(1) of rule X on vouchers approved and signed solely by the Speaker. Committee appointment11. The Speaker shall appoint all select, joint, and conference committees ordered by the House. At any time after an original appointment, the Speaker may remove Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner from, or appoint additional Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner to, a select or conference committee. In appointing Members, Delegates, or the Resident Commissioner to conference committees, the Speaker shall appoint no less than a majority who generally supported the House position as determined by the Speaker, shall name those who are primarily responsible for the legislation, and shall, to the fullest extent feasible, include the principal proponents of the major provisions of the bill or resolution passed or adopted by the House. Declaration of recess12. To suspend the business of the House for a short time when no question is pending before the House, the Speaker may declare a recess subject to the call of the Chair. Other responsibilities13. The Speaker, in consultation with the Minority Leader, shall develop through an appropriate entity of the House a system for drug testing in the House. The system may provide for the testing of a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House, and otherwise shall be comparable in scope to the system for drug testing in the executive branch pursuant to Executive Order 12564 (Sept. 15, 1986). The expenses of the system may be paid from applicable accounts of the House for official expenses. Each state has two Senators while membership in the House of Representatives is apportioned according to a states population. Leaders Lecture SeriesOutstanding former Senate leaders and other distinguished Americans share their insights about the Senates recent history and long-term practices. The Constitution assigns the Senate and House equal responsibility for declaring war, maintaining the armed forces, assessing taxes, borrowing money, minting currency, regulating commerce, and making all laws necessary for the operation of the government. The Senate holds exclusive authority to advise and consent on treaties and nominations. How the Senate Works The Constitution prescribes that the Senate will be composed of two Senators from each State (therefore, the Senate currently has 100 Members) and that a Senator must be at least 30 years of age, have been a citizen of the United States for 9 years, and, when elected, be a resident of the State from which the he or she is chosen. A Senators term of office is 6 years and approximately one-third of the total membership of the Senate is elected every second year. Senate committees are appointed by resolution at the beginning of each Congress, with power to continue to act until their successors are appointed. All Senate committees are created by the Senate. At present, Senate committees include 16 standing committees, 3 select committees, and 2 special committees. Who are all those people on the Senate Floor?You will see several officials on the floor of the Senate when it convenes, including the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms, the Legislative Clerk, the Journal Clerk, the Parliamentarian of the Senate, the Secretaries for the Majority and the Minority, the Official Reporters of Debate, and the Pages. The Secretary of the Senate is the elected official of the Senate responsible for management of many legislative and administr ative services. The Secretary is the disbursing officer for the Senate. The official seal of the Senate is in the custody of, and its use is prescribed by, the Secretary. In the absence of the Vice President, and pending the election of a President pro tempore, the Secretary performs the duties of the chair. The Assistant Secretary is the chief assistant to the Secretary of the Senate. The Assistant Secretary performs the functions of the Secretary in the latters absence, and in the event of the death or resignation of the Secretary would act as Secretary in all matters except those duties as disbursing officer of the Senate. On the day after the first organization of the Senate, a Doorkeeper was chosen whose title was eventually changed to Sergeant at Arms. His duties are to execute the Senates orders as to decorum on the floor and in the galleries. He is responsible for the enforcement of all rules made for the regulation of the Senate wing of the Capitol. He also is the custodian of all properties under the dominion of the Senate and supervises the messengers, pages and other workers who serve the Senate. If the Senate decides to issue warrants of arrest for its absent Members, it is the duty of the Sergeant of Arms to bring those Senators into custody. Article 1, section 5, paragraph 3 of the Constitution provides that Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House and any question shall, at the Desire of one-fifth of those Present be entered on the Journal. The Journal Clerk is charged with maintaining the Senate Journal under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate. The Legislative Clerk is responsible for reporting all bills, messages from the House, conference reports, and amendments to the Senate. All record votes are taken by the Legislative Clerk and his assistants. An appointed officia l of the Senate, the Parliamentarian functions under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate. The Parliamentarians chief duty and responsibility is to advise the Presiding Officer on parliamentary aspects of Senate activity. The Parliamentarian advises Senators and senatorial committee staffs, and is called upon by other branches of Government, the press, and the public for information regarding procedural aspects of Senate activity. The Official Reporters of Debates prepare the material concerning business of the Senate for inclusion in the Congressional Record. All proceedings in the Senate Chamber are reported verbatim by a staff of Official Reporters, who are under the supervision of the Editor in Chief. The Editor in Chief is the editor of all matter contained in the Senate proceedings. In addition to the verbatim proceedings in the Senate Chamber, the office of the Official Reporters processes for inclusion in the Congressional Record a description of the morning business conducted by the Senate (measures introduced, messages from the President and the House of Representatives, co-sponsors, communications received, and notices of hearings), and additional or unspoken statements of Senators. The Official Reporters of Debates are appointed by the Secretary of the Senate. The Secretary for the Majority is an elected officer of the Senate who is responsible for providing many support services to the majority party leaders and members of the Senate. The floor-related duties of the Secretary include supervising the cloakroom, briefing Senators on votes and issues that are under consideration on the floor, obtaining pairs for Senators, and polling Senators when the Leadership so desires. Additionally, the Secretary is responsible for assigning Senate Chamber seats to the majority party Members; maintaining a file of committee assignment requests; staffing the committee which arranges majority party committee assignments; recommending to the Leadership majo rity party candidates for appointment to boards, commissions, and international conferences; maintaining records of such appointments; providing a repository for official minutes of majority party conferences and meetings of the Policy Committee, Steering Committee, and committee chairmen; monitoring the nominations on the Executive Calendar; and other duties as directed by the Leadership. The Secretary for the Minority also is an elected officer of the Senate, and performs corresponding duties for the minority party leaders and other Senators. There are three different kinds of courts that make up the federal court system; the district courts, the courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court was created by the Constitution to make sure that a citizens rights werent violated, to assure that they would get a fair trial, and to establish justice. The lower federal courts were created in 1789 by Congress because the Supreme Court couldnt handle all of the cases by itself . These three kinds of courts make up the Judicial Branch of the government. The federal court system of the United States was created to protect the rights of U.S. citizens, to establish justice, and to make sure that all of the laws in the United States were constitutional. The district courts are the entry level courts. It is the only federal court that conducts a trial by jury. It has original jurisdiction on all of the cases it hears. The district courts hears crimes related to the federal law. It also hears civil suits that are over $10,000 and are between people of different states or when a foreign party is involved. Certain cases involving income taxes, copyright laws, trademark laws, and patent laws are other cases the district courts hears. There are about ninety-four district courts in the U.S. plus one in Washington D.C.. There is at least one district courts in every state. California has four district courts. The judges for the district courts are appointed by the Pre sident and must be approved by the Senate. There are no qualifications for becoming a judge, except that one must be an American citizen. Most judges are lawyers who are able to understand the law. Judges serve lifetime terms. There are approximately 565 judges that serve the district courts, with at lest one judge in every court. The District Court is only the first of three federal courts. The courts of appeals is the second level in the federal court system. All of its cases come from the district courts, but only certain cases are heard. Usually it is a case where a mistake was made in the process of the trial. Both oral and written arguments are heard at the courts of appeals. The courts of appeals has the option to affirm, reverse, modify, or remand a decision made in the district courts. Judges in the courts of appeals must be American citizens. The judges in the courts of appeals are chosen on the same basis as in the district courts. There are at least six judges per court and there are about 167 judges total. There is one chief judge. He or she must have served the most years as a judge and must be under sixty-five. The chief judges term lasts seven years. The chief judge still hears cases, but he also has administrative duties. There are thirteen courts of appeals spread out through the United States including one in San Diego, California. The highest federal court is the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is primarily an appellate court. It hears cases from the district courts, the courts of appeals, and state supreme courts. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction on all cases involving foreign ambassadors and when a state sues another state. These cases form ten percent of all its cases. Of the 4,500 cases appealed to the Supreme Court each year only 200 are heard. One of the reasons the Supreme Court is so powerful is the power of Judicial Review. This gives the Supreme Court the right to overturn state laws and laws passed by Congress. It als o gives the Supreme Court the power to declare the presidentOs actions unconstitutional. This power was first exercised in 1803 by Chief Justice John Marshall in the case of Marbury versus Madison. By using this power, John Marshall set a precedent. There are nine justices that serve the Supreme Court. There is one Chief Justice and 8 associate justices. They all serve lifetime terms unless they retire, die, or are impeached. The justices meet from October to June. The Supreme Court is located in Washington D.C. It is the only court created by the Constitution. The federal court system is a very important part of the federal government. Not only does it check other parts of government through Judicial Review, but it also helps everyday American citizens. It makes sure that citizens receive due process from the law. The courts also make sure that the Constitution is followed. Greece was an ancient form of democracy. The United States adapted this to fit the needs of today. At the fun eral oration of Pericles it was said, Our government is named a democracy, because it is in the hands not of the few but of the many. But our laws secure equal justice for all in their private disputes. This today has an important meaning to Americans everywhere. History

Monday, December 2, 2019

Skepticism in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code Essay Example

Skepticism in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code Essay Christianity is a solid institution in most societies of the world which had impose its’ heavy influence on socio-cultural facets and beliefs of almost any monotheistic groups and genres. Whereas, in the past two centuries, the so-called ‘Faith’, had been an indomitable and unquestionable Force, albeit opposed by few discrete groups, evolution in the society marked by the proliferation of science and technological penetration of culture, has opened the solid unquestionable faith precluded by Christianity to the attacks of veritable critics and skeptics. The twentieth century attack on Christianity exist in non-random, semi-open attack patterns; ‘media’ and ‘literature’ has become an easier route to thwart the Christian Doctrine which replaces that of the anti-Jesus parallel movement of the following: (1) the atheist movement during the Socratic Classical Period, (2) the ‘docta ignorantia’ of the Middle Ages, and (3) the rise of the Calvinist and the Cult of Reason during the Revolution and the rise of free-thinkers. As a result of the combined effect of anti-Jesus parallel movement throughout the history following the knowledge conveyed by Science, the Church has lost its grasp in politics. Still, it cannot be denied that ‘Christianity’s power’ although not fully expressed in politics, held the most number of followers with an estimate of one-fourth of the world’s population. We will write a custom essay sample on Skepticism in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Skepticism in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Skepticism in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Media and literature movement in the contemporary times may decapitate the power of the Church in terms of decreasing the potential number of followers thru enlightening them. The most stunning attack so far to Church the allusion of Power is Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. In the following paper, there is a general aim to elucidate the skeptic or the anti-Christianity faith demonstrated by the aforementioned conspiracy-detective story of Dan Brown. Alongside, the following queries will be questioned: (1) the reliability of the ‘evidences’ in the detective story, (2) the factual and fictional entities of the Da Vinci Code, (3) the implications on the biblical reality, (4) and finally, the general ‘eye-opening’ effect of the book on the faith [or the lack of it] of readers. II. Da Vinci Code: Factual   or Not? The Da Vinci Code with its non-Christian/Catholic allegory sparked the general interest of the crowd in Christianity and history. Whereas the professorial character in the book, Robert Langdon, tried to save the world by masking the secrets of Jesus Christ’s genealogy, Dan Brown was apparently doing the exact opposite by suggesting innuendo’s against the teachings of the Church and the ‘falsified history’ supporting the Godly wisdom. As detailed by the book, the famous Last Supper drawn by Leonardo Da Vinci, suggested that Mary Magdalene was actually the wife of Jesus Christ and was the famous ‘Holy Grail’. Mary Magdalene took the place of John, and the discrete V formation between her and Jesus signifies the ‘sacred feminine’ and her symbol as the grail. The color inverts may also suggest the characteristic marital bonding between the two characters. Additionally the geometry of her head fits exactly with the curve of Jesus Christ’s shoulder. The book reveals the following: (1) non-physical identity of the Holy Grail, (2) the chalice is Mary Magdalene and the carrier of the bloodline of Christ, (3) old French term for the chalice San grà ©al/Sang rà ©al, which translates to Royal Blood in Old French, (4) there are actually documents that would testify to the bloodline which were hidden by the Priory of Sion beneath the Rosslyn Chapel, (5) the Church was behind the conspiracy to hid the ‘Royal Blood Line’   (6) Mary Magdalene is not a prostitute but a descent of the Jewish House of Benjamin, (7) she was pregnant during time of Crucifixion, fled to Gaul, and sheltered by the Jewish people,   (8) she gave birth to Sarah and the descents became the Merovingian Dynasty of France, (9) the Priory of Sion and the Knights Templar were organized to keep the secret of the royal lineage and (10) Mona Lisa   denotes the is an androgyny for sacred union of Jesus-Mary Magdalene. Is the The Vinci Code, a morass of factual or non-factual allegations? Many groups have sparked the interest of the Dan Brown’s claims, and most of them are religious organizations. The novel is actually a slap to the face of the Church, branding them as a liar and undermining the faith of millions of Christians in general. Dan Brown demonstrates pseudo-skepticism and what is worse is that he insinuates that the Catholic Church is a sinister and misogynist institution, and that theological Truth is merely a pre-fabricated knowledge of each person. According to Ivan Ivereigh, press secretary to Britain’s top Catholic prelate Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, there are many who took Dan Brown’ s anti-Church claims seriously and not just a fictional entertainment. Opus Dei, an organization of the Roman Catholic Church that presumably teaches Catholics to assume personal responsibility in sanctifying the secular world from within, plays a dubious role in the The Da Vinci Code novel, with its devout members, specifically Silas, resorting to multiple murder to protect the Church. Opus Dei, since the release of the book, has been branded as a murderous sect, dedicated to do the ‘dirty deeds’ of the Church. This does not do well to the reputation of the group since they were generally known as good flocks and disseminators of faith within the locality that they served. Dan Brown claimed that all illustrations of art, architecture, archaological documents, and secret rituals in the novel are 100 % accurate. Recent investigations, by the clergy and other interested historians, however, disputed the claims. Dan Brown’s writings are in fact, not an original but an adaptation of the Michael Baigent and Richard Leighs earlier work, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. How can he attest to the credibility of the claims of his work when he himself did not originally construct it? Findings of 50 ancient texts near the Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi in 1945, were not actually scrolls, as the book identifies, but rather, leather bound books known as the Gnostic Gospels, which paints Mary Magdalene as the head apostle and a feminist-advocate of the primary teachings of the Church.   Dr. Ben Witherington, III of the Asbury Theological Seminary, clarified that Mary Magdalene was indeed not a prostitute, but the name was actually an allusion to her by the Po pe Gregory the Great. Here is a text derived by Brown from the Book of Peter of the Gnostic Gospels: And the companion of the Saviour is Mary Magdalene. Christ loved her more than all the disciples and used to kiss her often on her mouth. The rest of the disciples were offended by it and expressed disapproval. They said to him, Why do you love her more than all of us? Her â€Å"kissing Jesus† and the â€Å"John 20: 17 clinging† may not be a spouse’s greeting but traditional ones for the Jews (e.g. Judas’ kiss). Additionally, most scripts have missing words which may be filled in ‘incorrectly’; blanks may be substituted for the term mouth instead of the hand. The Book of Phillip also expresses extreme dislike to ‘sexual relations’ and ‘marriage’ so how can it allude to the marriage of Jesus to Mary? Many authors and biblical scholars agree that the relation between the Jesus and Magdalene was hardly intimate. Vargas, in their quests to discover the truth revealed that Mary Magdalene was closed to Jesus but that the relationship was not marital as what Brown has led the people to believe. Also, the oldest writings that would refer to Jesus — The New Testament of the Bible, the writings of historians who were born during the first century, including Josephus, Tacitus, Suetonius and Pliny the Younger, Talmud, and the First Epistle from St. Clement contained no allegation on the celibacy of Jesus Christ. Even the Israel Museum does not admit to the connection between Jesus and the so-called scrolls. The Gnostic writings is also not consistent with the writings of the Old Testament and the authors were unknown, which were the reason why the Church does not exactly acknowledge them. Additionally, Brown indicated that Jesus must be married because during their time, men were required by the law to get married. This is not true given that the prophet Jeremiah was a certified celibate throughout his life and Moses became a celibate for 40 years. Dan Brown says that the ‘marriage’ was painted in Da Vinci’s Last Supper. Art historians do recognized that the right-handed person is not Mary Magdalene but the youthful Apostle John. Additionally, the painting does not present an overwhelming evidence of the ‘truth’ since Da Vinci was not present during the ‘Last Supper’ and it does not explain why John was excluded from the painting. Matthew 10:34 clearly identifies the twelve disciples participating in the Supper and not one of them is Mary Magdalene.   Additionally, the contested ‘figure’ is not a female but a young male since the figure has ‘no breast’. Scholars in Medieval History and Grail mythology assessed that the Knights Templar have no connection with Mary Magdalene and all of them were singular about the idea that Holy Grail is merely a literary fiction and that Priory of Sion is a non-existent group. Up to now, the Nag Hammadi Gnostics scripts have not been verified as an authentic theological document. The document, were dated to be written two centuries later and was thus written much after Jesus and his disciples had died. The Nag Hammadi actually focused not on deism of God but his marginalized humanity. The Council of Nicea, convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in 325, did not actually debated on the deity of Christ but rather on his co-existance with the Father. Dan Brown also committed the error of misrepresenting small historical facts. Take for instance, that Christianity was merely a copycat of Mithraism; in reality Mithraic studies reveals that it does not have anything to do with the terms ‘Son of God’, offering of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and death resurrection motif. Also, the sacred name of Jesus, has no paganistic origin, [as Dan Brown claims] but it is merely a melding of the consonants to the original form by the rabbis to indicate respect. The five-million-massacre [in Dan Brown’s book] was exaggerated and in fact, most historians would agree that the counts only range in thousands and that most of them were conducted in non-catholic countries. Dan Brown also thwarted the facts on the Vatican paganizing the worship, Constantine shaping the New Testament, subjugation of women by the Vatican, the anti-Christian Leonardo da Vinci, and on paganizing the worship day. III. Conclusion Apparently, Dan Brown’s work mimics that of skepticism, radical feminism and anti-Christian faith. He decorated his ‘fictional’ book with terms from archeology, theology and history to the point of exploiting them. His claims on the Catholic Church in general, were not sound and yet, to unknowledgeable readers, this may present factual scope. This is the saddest thing of all since it adds up to the decreasing rate of Christian flocks around the world. The next question, would be, would there ever be a literature in the future which would actually denigrate the Church with sound evidences or proofs? The question remains to be seen.