We Propose Rhb Bank Marketing Essay

We Propose Rhb Bank Marketing Essay We propose RHB bank to have co-branding with Padini Concept Store and come out with a RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card to extent the RHB Platinum Card. Our target audience are workers and upper middle class who are aged at a range between 25 to 45 years old. One of the promotion strategies we propose to the RHB bank is through Sales Promotion by using various types of vouchers. And other types of promotion strategies such as Personal Selling Strategy, Advertisements and Social Media Marketing Strategy and Direct Marketing Strategy. 1. Sales Promotion Strategy Sales promotion is a short-term incentive to encourage the purchase of a sale a product or services. This may be used to help RHB bank tap into and extent the market in the Padini concept store. A cash voucher may attract customers to induce them in an instant sale and help the consumers to save more. Simultaneously, Padini Concept Store will also be able to increase their sales revenue, increase the number of RHB banks cardholder and gain loyalty from customers. This is a three wins situation to each other. The supplementary cardholders are not eligible for this Promotion. RHB bank could help the cardholders to save more money by sending Padini Concept Store a monthly 20% discount voucher to every cardholder through mail according to the applicants address. It includes seasonal promotions for example, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Halloween, and Valentines Day and so on. The cardholder will be given a Padini monthly discount voucher to get discount on the products among the brands available in Padini concept store. If the Padini is doing 10% discount on all items, by using this voucher, the customer can get another extra 20% discount. For example, if when there is Mothers Day, the cardholders are only allowed to redeem the 20% discount in the women department. However, the Padini monthly 20% discount voucher is only valid in every first week of the month. Upon the cardholder birthday, the existence RHB Platinum Credit Card will have 30% cash back during cardholder birthday month. In order to improve, RHB bank will contact that particular cardholder, to inform him or her to come over the Padini Concept Store to get a birthday gift voucher. The birthday gift voucher is worth RM 50. The cardholder may use this voucher to redeem any products sold in Padini Concept Store with the price at or below RM 50. However, if the price of the product is below RM 50, the extra balance is not refundable. Consequently, the cardholder will need to pay extra money to purchase the products if the amount exceeded RM 50 that offer in Padini store by using RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card to collect 5 times reward points. However, the voucher can only be used in Padini concept store. In the Padini Concept Store, there are several brands such as SEED, PCO, PDI, MIKI, VINCCI, and BRANDS OUTLET. The cardholders are allowed to choose to purchase any of the p roducts offered by these brands. 2. Personal Selling Strategy RHB bank may adopt the method of personal selling strategies for trying to induce potential consumer to apply for RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card in a road show inside or outside the shopping mall, because there are heavy human traffic and many potential customers. Personal selling is the selling of products and services by face-to-face contact with the customer. This can be done by having salespeople approaching the potential customers in person. If the customer is an existing RHB credit card holder, then the salespeople offer the customer the RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card as a cross selling. However, the salespeople must be well trained, because the salespeople is the person who will communicate directly and immediately to get the consumers feedback. It is a two-way communication. It can be expensive and time consuming, but also is the most effective form of promotion if compare to other mass communication because the salespeople can make adjustments to address questions or concerns to make the customer much understand about the product. Here is a relationship between personal selling and sales promotion. The first 200 applicants to apply RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card, no matter in bank or online purchase, the applicants are entitled to get a RM 200 Padini cash voucher and a free HP laptop bag that worth RM 70 for every cardholder. 3. Advertisements and Social Media Marketing Strategy Advertising is a form of mass communication that is paid for and involves the non-personal presentation of goods and ideas. It usually classified as two types, above-the-line and below-the-line. Through advertising, RHB bank can communicate and inform potential customers about products and services. Also, telling the consumers about the features and benefits and how to obtain it and finally persuade them to make a purchase. It is important for the consumers to know what are the company trying to offer and it create a position in the market place. Hence, it will enhance both the Padini Concept Store and RBH banks reputation and positive image. This is the relationship of Sales with advertising and promotions. Above-the-line advertising such as television and newspaper does not provide information regarding the promotions effectively and it can be expensive. Therefore, RHB bank can go for social media marketing strategy such as the internet. As internet are easily accessible and requires a relatively low cost, more information can be provided and easy for the consumer to obtain the information in the company website. They can just click on the particular advert in the website at everywhere in the world and 24 hours a day. This advertisement enables an organisation to reach every single potential consumer at a very low cost. Nowadays, popular social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook can be used to spread the news regarding the promotions. RHB bank may also consider creating a Facebook page and putting all the relevant information or pay an advertising fee to create a small advertisement on Facebook social network to build the awareness of the RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card am ong the Facebook users. The another method is below-the-line advertising, RHB bank may adopt direct mail to send the gift voucher together with Padini catalogues to deliver the current promotion to existing customers who already have saving account and current account or other type of RHB credit card holder to apply for RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card. This method is also known as cross selling. Because there are potential, it can lead to a higher probability of getting converted into actual sales. The more financial products and services they have, the more profitable the RHB bank is. The feedback from customers also will immediately be responded, therefore it is easier to measure the positive result. Because RHB bank is suggested to create a Facebook fan page in order to encourage more people to like the page, there must has a gift such as a recycle bag which is printed RHB bank logo to those who have like-ed the Facebook page during the road show. Some of the Padini Concept Store catalogue and any information about RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card may be printed on the recycle bag as an advertising tool. Besides, RHB bank may also distribute the company survey form during road show. For those who have completed the survey will get a free pocket umbrella that has a RHB bank logo printed on it and RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card image. Therefore, it can also be an advertising tool for RHB bank. The last advertisement tool suggests to RHB bank is advertising the RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card in a current on air movie. For example, the main character going to the RHB bank and show the RHB bank logo and the artist use the RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card to make payment in the film. For who have watched the movie no matter in cinema or home will also get the message. Because it is advertised in a movie, it will be impressive and positive positioning to the viewer therefore they will likely to apply the RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card. 4. Direct Marketing Strategy (Telemarketing and Direct Selling) Besides, RHB bank also can do direct marketing. Direct marketing is attractive because its positive results can be measured directly. Telemarketing takes the time and cost for finding new customers in the right time and right people, or generating interest in RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card by taking the information directly to the customer. Besides, it is easy to target the best customers and reach the prospects question with the most potential customer. The purpose of this method is to expand the market and increase the number of customer and sales. Telemarketing consistently outperforms all other forms of marketing and is the most powerful, cost-effective marketing tool available today. Thus, it should be part of RHB bank marketing plan. Direct selling is the marketing of products or services to consumers through sales tactics (give voucher) including presentations without go through any middle man. If the cardholder spends more than RM 300 in a single receipt, he or she will get a RM 30 Padini cash voucher. However, there is a maximum amount for the cardholder to get a RM 100 Padini cash voucher which is to spend RM 1799 or above in a single receipt on with RHB-Padini Concept Store Credit Card and obtain the voucher at the payment counter. As a conclusion, promotion strategy is a useful tool in attracting customers. Simultaneously, it can also help the Padini concept store to achieve higher profitability and strengthen their markets position in the clothing industry and also gain the customer loyalty in RHB bank. Promotional strategies are important for financial services to continual growth, because it is an intangible product, in order to increase the number of customer, there must be enough information and attractiveness to enhance the customer to make purchasing decision.

Rites of Passage Essay -- essays papers

Rites of Passage Every day someone enters into a rite of passage whether it be by starting school, a new job, marriage, a confirmation or communion rites of passage are common place. Two totally different cultures have totally different rituals and rites of passage. The Apache would most definitely have incredibly unique rituals compared to rural Maine and the catholic cultures therein. The best way to see the differences is to compare the two different cultures. Each ritual occurs in a holy place, the Apache on ritual grounds and the Confirmation rights at a specific congregation. The person who is about to participate in confirmation has gone to months of classes to prepare for this day, CCD it is titled and it is typically on a Sunday night at this particular congregation. The Apache girl has been well prepared as well, running and doing specific training exercises so that she will be ready for the grueling Sunrise Dance. In both societies the participant undergoes this ritual specifically because their parents and elders tell them to. They are too young to defy their parents or elders and submit basically because of the special knowledge that will somehow change them and prepare them for adulthood. The Apache girl has a godmother and godfather, which has no relation to her per say (blood relation), they are chosen based on their status in their society and they become a sort of guiding light for this girl during her Dance and adulthood all the way to when she is old and gray. The confirmation child has to choose his â€Å"sponsor† who is typically a relative or someone very special to him. This person also has a big part in the confirmation, guiding the child and being a big support center for the child. The reason for the Apache girl to start her Sunrise Dance is because of her first womanly cycle. She has a grueling task ahead of her when the Dance begins. She has a week of ritual ahead and much strenuous tasks. Her family, before participating must have about 10,000 dollars so that they can afford the gifts, food, etc. During the ritual the girl has absolutely no baths and isn’t allowed to touch herself except with a stick. She isn’t allowed to drink except with a straw. She is also allowed very little sleep during the week of her specific dance. During a specific part of the ritual her grandmother massages her body, which signifies a strong... ...er sees the end of the ritual as a rebirth. Both societies, the Apache and the Catholic culture definitely view this as a rebirth. The Apache seems more special because of the individuality that ensues with the Sunrise Dance. Confirmation is a rebirth into adulthood, but not alone, you are supported by all your classmates and friends. The reason that any young child submits to authority, other than fear, is because they know and realize that they can achieve great knowledge by listening to them and abiding by their practices. Because, look where it got them, at least to the age they are! Ritual changes people for better or worse, either way a change has been made and you aren’t the same after the ritual ends. The Apache girl has something she can tell her grandkids about, she has a vivid incredible memory that will never leave her. The confirmed has a memory too, a family time that brings people together, and we all know we love family time regardless of what occurs within we are happy to see that aunt uncle, and cousin we haven’t seen in so long. Rituals are times that should bring people together and change them for the better, as well as prepare them for the long roads ahead.

The Lost Handwriting :: essays research papers

The Unheard Writing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One day, in the second grade, the teacher told our class to get out their lined paper and pencils. As I made that first fancy loop, following the example on the board, I was wondering what possible situation I was getting into. Later in the year, I learned that cursive writing was time consuming and very difficult to master. In high school, I found out that we had a choice of cursive or printing. I asked myself why we needed cursive? Why are others putting aside this writing that consumed so much time? What are the pros and cons of cursive? This type of writing is established, and I never thought to evaluate its effectiveness or its need until now.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One such pro is that cursive an established form of writing. In grade school, we learned how to neatly write the cursive alphabet. The reason that so much time was spent on this area of development is because it is seen as professional writing. The teacher wanted to prepare us for the future, and without this ability we would be unable to read or write this type of writing. For example, many professional forms such as taxes, weekly paycheck and legal papers all require a signature.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Adding on to that, your signature is unique to each and ever one of us. In all the people in the world, there is only one signature that is like yours and that is your own. Yes, it is possible to forge a persons signature, but it is highly unlikely to be a precise copy of the original. For instance, most colleges require students to sign their exams. This procedure prevents the acts of cheating. Moreover, banks have convicted many people of forge checks. A unique signature prevented both of these situations. Who would of thought that personal ID’s were this important?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the other hand, one negative attribute is the fact that cursive is sloppy. It is hard for many of us to read cursive that was quickly written. It was hard for me to write it neatly in school. It was also difficult to read other kids’ handwriting because all the letters were smashed together and looked almost the same. Recently, there was a lawsuit involving a doctor and his cursive prescription slip. The patient received the wrong prescription. This mishap happened because the doctor was busy and wrote like a speeding bullet.

Poor Black Little Fellow

CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY. THESIS STATEMENT: The Pembertons neglect Arnie’s basic needs for various reasons. All along years, white people have been discriminating black ones. That is why several black people, such as Martin Luther King, have been fighting for their right to be treated as equal to any other person of any other race. And even though white people have been simulating to accept them, they have been treated as if they were of a lower social class.This is what happens with the main character of the short story entitled â€Å"Poor Little Black Fellow† by Langston Hughes, Arnie, who was adopted by The Pembertons, a white family. They neglected Arnie’s basic need for various reasons. The first reason why they disregard Arnie’s necessities is that they were used to live by their own. They had spent their marriage on loneliness. This is because they were unable to have children. And hence, they became accustomed to live alone.As a result, they were inc apable to take care of Arnie’s affective needs. For instance, they let him sleep in the garage and they allowed him to bring friends but not inside the house. All in all, these features are important to state that The Pembertons avoided Arnie’s needs. The second reason why The Pembertons paid no attention to Arnie’s requirements is that he did not belong to their family. He was son of The Pemberton’s lovely servants who had died and to whom The Pembertons loved very much. Therefore, they adopted Arnie as their â€Å"own†.Nonetheless, they were unable to completely accept him and consequently, they had many prejudices against him. On the whole, these pieces of information contribute to state that The Pembertons took no notice of Arnie’s necessities. Finally, the fact that Arnie belonged to an Afro-American culture is the last reasons for The Pembertons’ carelessness. As he was black, The Pembertonss deep inside had prejudices against h im. Apart from that, they adopted him just because they felt it was their religious duty.And as a consequence, even though it was unintended, they behaved in a rude way towards him. All things considered are significant to assure that Arnie’s needs were ignored by The Pembertonss. To sum up, the fact that The Pemberton lived alone their whole life, that Arnie was not their son and that he was black contribute to the reasons why the family uncared for Arnie’s affective needs. Summarizing, taking into account these facts it can be affirmed that there were many causes why The Pembertons avoided Arnie’s affective requirements.

An Analysis of the Eight Fold Path of Buddhism

The Eightfold Path is a way that leads to the stopping of suffering and the achievement of self awakening. This instrument was brought forth through the teachings of the Buddha, Gautama Buddha. He taught his disciples how to follow this path how he did, so they may have self awakening and liberation. The eight steps in the Eightfold Path are as follows: Right belief, Right purpose, Right speech, Right conduct, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness, and Right meditation or concentration. In Buddha’s time, if a potential Arahat strayed from the Eightfold Path or the Four Noble Truths, he would have to confess his sin or sins to the public. They followed it very strictly and took it very seriously for they wanted to be able to reach Nirvana. Nirvana is â€Å"the unconditioned state of liberation, release from the cycle of rebirth-redeath† (Noss, 2008, 2003: 185). In present time, we live in a very fast-paced, high-stress environment. I wonder if a present day Buddhist would be able to live life in accordance with the Eightfold Path. The first step in the Eightfold Path is Right belief. The Right belief can also be translated as â€Å"right perspective†, â€Å"right vision† or â€Å"right understanding†. It is the right way of looking at life, nature and the world as they really are. It acts as the reasoning for the practitioner to start practicing the path. It gives direction and efficacy to the other seven path factors (Encyclopedia, Aug. 2006). Another way of looking at the Right belief phrased in a contemporary form is: First you must see clearly what is wrong (Soccio, 2007: 51). The second step is Right purpose. In this step, the Arahat should constantly try to succeed at ridding themselves of whatever qualities that they know are wrong and immoral. Correct understanding of Right purpose will help the Arahat to distinguish the differences between right intention and wrong intention (Encyclopedia, Aug. 2006). A contemporary definition of Right purpose is: Next you must decide that you want to be cured (Soccio, 2007: 51). The third and fourth step, which are I found have been lumped together in all of my reading, Right speech and Right conduct. One must love all creatures with the right sort of love in word and deed (Noss, 2008: 182). When practicing steps three and four, Arahat’s must make good use of their words and train themselves to not bring harm to themselves or to others. You must act and speak so as to aim at being cured is a contemporary form on steps three and four (Soccio, 2007: 51). Right means of livelihood is the fifth step of the Eightfold Path. In this step, the Arahat’s are not to participate in occupations that can cause harm to human beings. This would include occupations that deal with weapons, the buying or selling of sex, killing animals to sell as food, and making or selling alcohol. Historian and philosopher, Gerald Heard, modified this step into a contemporary version meaning: Your livelihood must not conflict with your therapy (Soccio, 2007: 51). Right effort is the sixth step. In this step, the Saints should make a die hard effort to desert all the wrong and harmful thoughts, words, and deeds they might have. Instead they should be persevering in coming up with thoughts, words, and deeds that would be good and helpful to others and themselves (Encyclopedia, Aug. 2006). â€Å"That therapy must go forward at the â€Å"staying speed†, that is, the critical velocity† (Soccio, 2007: 51). The seventh and eighth final steps of the Eightfold Path are Right mindfulness and Right meditation or concentration. In these steps, the Arahat’s should constantly keep their mind alert to developments as they are affecting the body and mind. They should be aware and careful, making sure not to act or speak through the power of carelessness or forgetfulness. During the practice of right concentration, the practitioner will need to investigate and verify their right view; in the process right knowledge will arise and then followed by right liberation (Encyclopedia, Aug. 2006). The contemporary definition of these steps is: You must think about it incessantly and learn how to contemplate with the deep mind (Soccio, 2007: 51). Now having listed and clearly defined what each step is, I have concluded that it would be impossible for a present day Buddhist to live a life in accordance with the Eightfold Path. Even the most open-minded person would still fail at one or more of these steps. Following the Eightfold Path in today’s society would make it pretty much impossible for a person to be a productive member of the community. Just look at how choosing a college major would be affected by following the Path. If someone aspired to be a Police Officer, the Eightfold Path would prevent that due to the possibility of taking a human life. Or if a present day Buddhist wanted to become a lawyer, that would be halted since the Right Speech prohibits one from speaking in any sort of abusive or divisive manner. No one would be able to properly argue their point of view. In today’s electronic driven, media everywhere, fast-paced world I don’t see how the Eightfold Path could be a successful practice to a contemporary Buddhist. It is a very strict instrument to follow for the Path of Nirvana and I believe that at least one or more steps would be broken even by the most devout Buddhist.

Native American Culture Facts

SYNDICATE 7 } } Bottlenecks in the processing system at RP1 Excessive truck-waiting time and costs annoying the berry growers Excessive labour costs Poor berry grading system } } Wet Berries 58% System throughput rate : 1200 bbls/hr Wet Berries 70% System throughput rate : 1050 bbls/hr Wet Berries 70%, with a Dryer? System throughput rate : 1200 bbls/hr 3500 3000 2500 Berries (bbls) 2000 58% Wet Berries, 11am Start 70% Wet Berries, 11am Start 70% Wet Berries, 7am Start 1500 1000 70% Wet Berries, 7am Start, 1 Dryer 500 -8 8-9 9-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 17-18 18-19 19-20 20-21 21-22 22-23 23-00 00-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7 7-8 8-9 Time (24-hour) 0 Options No. Of Hours Trucks wait No. Of barrels waiting in the truck (bbls) 1 Truck Capacity (bbls) Total truck waiting time (hrs. ) Average Truck waiting time (minutes) % Change in waiting time Cost per hour/per truck/per day Harvest season truck waiting cost (106 days) % Change in peak-season Truck waiting costs 58% Wet Berries -11am Start 12 hours 16000 75 213. 34 53 – $ 100 2,260,980 – 70% Wet Berries -11am Start 15 hours 40600 75 541. 34 135 Reference level $ 100 $ 5,738,204 Reference level 70% Wet Berries -7am Start 7 hours 9500 75 127 32 -76. 3% $ 100 $ 1,346,200 -76. 5% 70% Wet Berries -7am Start, with 1 Dryer 0 hours 0 75 0 0 -100% 75 0 -100% 5000 4500 4000 3500 Berries (bbls) 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Start 11am- 70% Wet Berries Start 7am- 70% Wet Berries, 1 Dryer Start 7am- 70% Wet Berries Start 11am- 58% Wet Berries 7-8 8-9 9-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 17-18 18-19 19-20 0-21 21-22 22-23 23-00 00-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7 7-8 8-9 Time (24-hour) Savings: 70% Wet 11am Costs/ 70% Wet Berries, Berries, 11am Alternatives    7am Start, 2 shifts start v/s Start, 1 shift 7am start 70% Wet Berries, 7am Start with 1 dryer, 2 shifts Savings: 7am start with 1 Dryer over 7 am start with no dryer Equipment Truck Waiting Labour Total Costs $ 0 $57,38,204 $5,66,645. 71 $63,04,849. 7 1 $ 0 $13,46,200 $5,13,948. 57 $18,60,148. 57 77% 9% 70% $ 60,000. 00 $ 0 $4,99,229. 71 $5,59,229. 71 100% 3% 70% }Start Operations at 7am with 2 work-shifts Truck waiting time reduces to 32min on average and costs by 76. 5% Labour costs decrease by 9% } Invest in One Dryer Truck waiting goes down to zero and thus no truck waiting costs Labour costs reduce a further 3% †¢? Buy the Light Meter System Helps save $ 318,410 in the first season itself } Going forward, invest in increasing the capacity of the Drying system to 1200bbls/hr as proportion of wet berries increases. This will help avoid labour and truck waiting costs

Faith is believing what you know not Essay

â€Å"If Christ were here now, there is one thing he would not be, a Christian† (Berge, par 1). These are the words of Mark Twain as quoted by Berge in an article on Mark Twain’s View On Christianity-Changing Christian Thinking. Looking at the present day religion and in particular Christianity one is left in doubt as to whether the vision that Christ had for the society is what is happening today. Are the over 33,000 Christian Religions the kind of Christianity that Jesus expected 2,000 years ago? Mark Twain in his quotation did not mean that Jesus was a bad person that no one wanted to associate with. Looking critically at the present day Christianity, it is the other way round; Jesus was as Berge puts it â€Å"an exceptional person and believed in living a life as example towards others with kindness, forgiveness and love† (Berge, par 1-3). The true meaning of Christianity and that of religion in general has been manipulated to address the needs of man and it is currently totally opposite of what it stands for. It is not a surprise therefore that Mark Twain finds religion a huge joke. This essay looks at the negativism of religion as viewed by the great American author Mark Twain. Background information of Mark Twain To better understand the religious view of Mark Twain, it is important to first get an insight of his historical background. Mark was born in Florida on 30th November in the year 1835. He was by then called Samuel Langhorne Clemens. His father, John Marshall Clemens died when Samuel was only twelve. The mother Jane could not manage to support the large family of six and young Samuel no longer could enjoy childhood luxuries. Additionally, he could not proceed with his education and instead began working at Hannibal Printer William Ament. Division of labor was never practiced in Ament and Samuel did all sorts of work such as printing, editing, type setting, press-work, distribution of products among other tasks. Orion his elder brother was a journeyman printer in a print shop. However wanted to be a master of his own and in 1851 bought one Hannibal’s newspapers, Western Union. He took his younger brothers Henry and Samuel with him. When things did not work out well for Orion, Samuel worked his way out as a river pilot (Gradesaver, par 1-6). Samuel became one of the Staff of Virginia City Territorial Enterprise. He became a reporter or when said in the right terms a humorist and in 1863 adopted the name Mark Twain. In 1869 his first book, Innocent Abroad, was published. Due to its criticism, Mark was discouraged from pushing forth his literary call. However, he continued to publish articles and making lectures. Few years later, the Innocent Abroad made great sales and Twain was requested to produce another book. Twain composed Roughing It in 1872. He became an acknowledged writer after several other books were published such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and the Pauper, Life on the Mississippi, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn and The Gilded Age among others. He died on 21st April of 1910 as a prominent American writer (Gradesaver, par 7-12). Religious Affiliation and Activities of Mark Twain Mark Twain was a Christian by religion. His parents were Presbyterians and he was therefore introduced to church and the Christian teachings when he was very young. He grew up to become a Presbyterian. He was therefore a Presbyterian by religion, a religion of Calvinist Protestantism in the United States of America. Calvinist had a great Impact in the life of Clemen, the famous Mark Twain. As Dempsey puts it on Mark Twin’s Religion: Book Review â€Å"It was the religion of his upbringing, the religion of his wife’s family, and the religion of some of his important friends†¦many of whom were leading northern Presbyterian and Congregationalist clergy of the day† (Dempsey, par 4). Twain was brought up in a deeply Presbyterian family and as a religious obligation he had to grow up as a good Presbyterian boy (Dempsey, par 4). Twain was religious. Religion was part and parcel of his world and he could not evade it. Twain actively participated in dialogues on religion and attended religious services. From this base, it can be argued that Twain was a monotheist (Dempsey, par 9). However his criticism of religion in his literary works would make one doubt whether Twain was a true religious man. Twain was perhaps an atheist. He was not opposed to religion as such but the religion that had been manipulated to mean otherwise; a religion in which people played holy yet they are not, a religion that preached of morality when it did not uphold any moral values. Twain for this reason rejected religion. As Dempsey in the Mark Twain’s Religion: Book Review quotes the inscription on the statue of Twain, â€Å"His religion was humanity and a whole world mourned for him when he died† (Dempsey, par 1). At one time in a Holy Land expedition, one of his colleagues had introduced him as Reverend Mark Twain and a reverend he became. The author of The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calvary used to accompany psalm-singing Easterners as a way of assisting Reverend Henry Ward Beecher (The Ohio State University, pp. 1-2). He was so much into the religious activities such that he at times imagined he was a preacher, a prophet and a saint (The Ohio State University, p. 7). Mark Twain’s and Religion in his Literary Works His Huckleberry Finn The literary works of Mark Twain clearly reflects his negative views towards religion. Twain is opposed to religion and has no patience at all for either religion or for the subscribers of the religion (Example Essays. com, par 1). To him, â€Å"Religion is useless, worthless, and mindless and for those not grounded in reality† (Example Essays. com, par 1). This is a quotation picked from Huckleberry Finn by Example Essays. com in their article on Twain’s View Of Religion In Huck Finn. In this novel, the attitude of Twain towards religion is that of mockery and cynicism (Example Essays. com, par 1). Twain is at a far distance from the devoted Bible believers. He has much respect for superstitious things than he has for religion. This his clearly brought out in one of his characters Huck in Huckleberry Finn. Huck had great expectations that there would be bad luck in his wake when he killed a spider by accident and later touched the skin of a rattlesnake. Everything had come true as bad luck follows when Huck’s father returns and the snake did bite Jim. Huck makes a prayer to the Lord but nothing happens. This leaves Twain with a conclusion that religion is not helpful at all, it is worthless, more worthless in fact than what would seem to be an irrational superstation (Example Essays. com, par 2-3). As Example Essays. com points out in their essay on Twain’s View Of Religion In Huck Finn â€Å"Twain holds no punches in his merciless pounding of religion† (Example Essays. com, par 4). Twain in Huck attacks the believers of religion as well as religion itself. He has a strong distaste for religion as revealed by this book. No skepticism, no doubt, and no question can be raised regarding the aversion of religion of Twain. He neither tolerates religion nor the believers (Example Essays. com, par 4). Every religious character that Twain creates in the novel is covered with hypocrisy. It is true that religious people have a soft spot; a warm generous heart like Widow Douglas and Grangerfords. They show hospitality but they are full of hypocrisy. This of course is what makes Twain hate religion from the deepest point of his heart (Example Essays. com, par 5). Mark Twain is opposed to religion because religious people are hypocrites; they are fake and insincere so that they can impress everyone (BookRags, par 6). The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer In the book The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer, religion is a caricature. It forms an integral part in the society that the Character Tom lives in. However, Tom does not hold religion with the dignity that other people hold it with. Instead, it is a boring obligation and tiresome to him. For instance, Tom does not say his prayers before going to bed which is a powerful defiant act in regard to his forced religion (BookRags, par 1). Tom is a religious sycophant. His religious stand is for formalities. He works vey hard in trade to buy a Bible not because he is so much interested in religion but for his status in the society. Being religious is not his care but the status that the Bible will place him in is (BookRags, par 2). Tom is actually bored by the routine of going to church. He is however not alone in this but is in the company of many others. The monotonous sermons wear them out and their hearts yearn for anything that would cause interruption to the screaming preacher. They are all in stitches when the sermon is finally interrupted by such things as a yelping dog. His boredom and that of other puppet believers is a side-effect of formalities of having to go to church. Through this character, Mark Twain reveals his hate of going to church as an obligation. People go to church not because they want to but because it is an obligation (BookRags, par 3-5). Twain expresses his criticism on church revivals. In deed they are powerful tools to win people to religion and at the end leave everyone thrilled. However their effects are short lived as portrayed by the characters Huck and Joe. At the revival, they are fighting tooth and nail to seek the face of God but after a short time, they turn back to their earlier lives where they find lots of happiness. To Twain revivals and anything religious do not have any lasting effect and for this respect are worthless (BookRags, par 7). Twain sees religion as one big piece of humor. Widow Douglas is so religious and fervently prays that the sinful Tom is found. She is serious and absolutely honest in her prayers wishing for hope and miracle at a desperation time. Looking at the character of Tom, it leaves one in doubt as to whether her prayers are answered. In addition, the funeral of Injun Joe turns out to be an entertaining event rather than a religious event. Completely, it lacks real religiousness. It sounds funny that from miles and miles, people come to witness his burial. This is in the inclusion of people who had with their sincere hearts tried to plead for his crimes’ pardon. After he is buried the pardon is forgotten. He is also forgotten (BookRags, par 8-9). Twain hates religion for conflicting with people’s lifestyles. Huck does not understand anything that is religious; it never allows him to enjoy his lifestyle. Church is what the society uses to set limits for people. The widow that Tom lives with is deep down rooted in religion and wants Huck to be a very good church-going boy. Huck is however on the other side; Tom had just given him the promise of them becoming robbers. Religion in itself makes adherents caricatures to be laughed at (BookRags, par 10). A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court The greatest fear and enemy of Twain as expressed by Yankee is the Roman Catholic Church. He seems to have a strong distaste for the Roman Catholic Church for manipulating religion for the sake of politics. To Mark Twain, the church is a political machine. The Roman Catholic Church in particular is embodied in other functions other than spiritual functions that it deeply claims to advocate for. Through the character Hank, Twain accuses the overall church for upholding the 16th century ills in the society such as, social inequality, superstations, tradition, hereditary nobility, and subservience of masses. Twain is opposed to these practices and the Roman Catholic Church as portrayed in this book seems to be lenient on these vices (Gradesaver LLC, par 2). Still on religion Twain condemns the acts of those who uphold morality only at a superficial level. These people cannot take any action unless they are faced with a real experience. Hank and King Arthur fail to abolish slavery and they only come to realize the dehumanizing effects and oppression that slavery has on those in it when they themselves become slaves. The leaders claim to uphold the moral values of the society yet they fail to practice morality. This is what makes Twain suffer from a horse voice in condemnation of religion and its hypocritical moral practices. In all his literary work, Twain looks at religion from a negative point of view (Gradesaver LLC, par 2). In A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, Twain views the Catholic Church as atavistic survival that has been transported into the modern era. Hank Morgan, a Presbyterian by religion for instance introduces many denominations for the fear of unity in the church. He fears a Christian family that is united perhaps because of the damage that it would cause to a hypocrite like him (The Ohio State University, p. 24). Twain makes use of the environmental determinism to make religion humorous as depicted by his books: Adventure of Huckleberry Finn, The Prince and the Pauper, A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court, Life on Mississippi and many others. Twain in these works uses religious words that do have a negative connotation such as ‘infernal’ and ‘unchristian’. In this he suggests that there is danger in religion. The great American writer suggests that religious as well as denominations are deviant and unfair (The Ohio State University, P. 26). Twain’s religious faith was far much wide for any doctrine and too limitless for any creed. Mark was ignorant and disinterested in Christian creeds as well as doctrines. They in fact provide him with a creative spark for his literary works. His views on religious are clearly brought out by his literary works (The Ohio State University, P. 27). Conclusion Mark Twain was a realist thinking atheist. Though he was a Presbyterian by birth, he was opposed to religion. However, as depicted in his literary works, religion had been manipulated to fit the needs of the few. Religion in itself failed to stand for what it actually presents. Many of his works in literature such as The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventure of Tom Sawyer, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and many others are grounded on religious criticism. He satirizes religion in the most humorous way. Despite the fact that he was brought up in a Christian family, his negative beliefs in religion isolates him from being a Christian or a religious person. He is an atheist who does not see anything good in religion. References Berge, Gregory. Mark Twain’s View On Christianity-Changing Christian Thinking. Ezine Articles. nd 2010. Web. 5 Aug. 2010 http://ezinearticles. com/? Mark-Twains-View-on-Christianity—Changing-Christian-Thinking&id=2012922 BookRags. (2009). The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer Book Notes Summary. Bookrags. com. nd 2009. Web 4 Aug. 2010 http://www. bookrags. com/notes/ts/TOP3. html Dempsy, Terrel. Mark Twin’s Religion: Book Review. Bochynski. com. 15 Jan. 2004. Web. 5 Aug. 2010 http://www. bochynski. com/twainweb/reviews/phipps. html Gradesaver. Biography Of Mark Twain. Gradesaver. com. nd 2010. Web. 4 Aug. 2010 http://www. gradesaver. com/author/mark-twain/ Gradesaver LLC. Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court Study Guide. Gradesaver. com. nd 2010. Web. 4 Aug. 2010 http://www. gradesaver. com/connecticut-yankee-in-king-arthurs-court/study-guide/major-themes/ Example Essays. com. (2010). Twain’s View Of Religion In Huck Finn. Exampleessays. com. nd 2010. Web 4 Aug. 2010 http://www. exampleessays. com/viewpaper/81878. html The Ohio State University. The Reverend Mark Twain. The Ohiostatepress. org. nd 2006. Web. 5 Aug. 2010 http://www. ohiostatepress. org/Books/Book%20PDFs/Fulton%20Reverend. pdf