August 8

The Order in the Universe​—from Where Does It Come?

TODAY many people do not believe in the existence of God. Some feel this way because they do not understand why there is wickedness and suffering. Others have been soured by the deplorable behavior and conflicting teachings of Christendom and her clergy throughout history.

For these and additional reasons, growing numbers of persons abandon belief in God and place their trust and hope in man and his accomplishments. Yet, it is becoming more evident each day that none of man’s schemes have been able to bring genuine peace and happiness. Instead, the human family sees increasing trouble in every sphere of human endeavor.

That is why some persons who study the material universe find one aspect of it so puzzling. What is that? That, while human affairs are so disorderly, the material universe is so orderly. All fields of science, such as astronomy, astrophysics, chemistry and others, disclose a marvelous harmony of design throughout the universe.

If we concentrate on the scientific data available and do not deliberately ignore the facts, universal order cannot be explained logically without referring to an intelligent, all-powerful First Cause, a Creator.

It follows that such a Creator, having the wisdom and power to create such universal orderliness, would also have the truthful and satisfying reasons as to why he has permitted disorder among humans. It would also be logical to believe that he would have the remedy.

Thus, if we consider the amazing pattern of order found in the universe, it will help us to appreciate that its Creator would not indefinitely permit disorder to exist.

Universal Order

From the infinitely small to the infinitely great, from atoms to galaxies, the universe is characterized by superb organization.

An atom is a marvel of order, a kind of miniature solar system. It is composed of a nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by revolving electrons. An atom is so small that a little toy balloon contains about 100 million million billion hydrogen atoms! If an atom were only as big as the head of a pin, all the atoms in just one grain of sand would make a box one cubic mile in size!

It has been thought that the protons, neutrons and electrons in atoms are the ultimate ‘building blocks’ of matter. But now some scientists believe that the protons and neutrons are themselves ‘solar systems.’ They may consist of a core surrounded by a fluctuating cloud of particles.

If true, this would compose another infinitesimal ‘planetary system’ within an already infinitesimal planetary system. All of this is so small that the inner core is said to occupy only a thousandth of a millionth of a millionth of the total space within the atom, according to one estimate.

The same orderly arrangement in the atom is found in the solar system​—the sun with its revolving planets and their moons. The book The World We Live In notes: “For all its complexity, the solar system also reveals an order and harmony that has ever impressed scientists contemplating the laws that govern the motions of the skies.”

On a still larger plane, there are the galaxies, those vast systems of heavenly bodies arranged as ‘island universes.’ Each galaxy is made up of millions, or hundreds of millions, of heavenly bodies such as stars and planets. This gigantic mass revolves around a central axis much the same as takes place within an atom or within the solar system.

But from where did all this amazing order come? Is superb organization ever brought about without a superb organizer?

Based on Laws

All of this universal order is based on universal laws. You may be familiar with some of them, such as the law of gravity and the law of inertia.

But there are many other laws governing physical phenomena in the universe. There are laws of heat, light, sound and others. All of these laws are likely interrelated.

In fact, in his later years Albert Einstein formulated his “Unified Field Theory.” Of it the book The Universe and Dr. Einstein says: “It promulgates a set of universal laws designed to encompass not only the boundless gravitational and electromagnetic fields of interstellar space but also the tiny, terrible field inside the atom.”

When we think of laws, we acknowledge that they came from a lawgiver. A sign “Keep Off the Grass” implies an agency that originated the law. Scientists speak of “Newton’s Law of Inertia,” associating it with its discoverer. But he did not make that physical law; he only discovered it. Who then did make it? Who made all such laws governing the material universe? Do such superior laws not demand a superior lawgiver?

Einstein wrote: “The scientist’s religious feelings take the form of rapturous amazement at the harmony of Natural law, which reveals an Intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection.”

Biologist Cecil Hamann concluded: “From the drop of water seen through the microscope to the distant star observed through the telescope I marvel at the exact orderliness that I observe​—so exact that laws have been formulated to express its consistency . . . Somewhere back of all this order must be a Supreme Being, for there can be no order and no laws without a Supreme Mind.”

Universal Mathematics

Physical laws can be expressed in mathematical equations. For instance, Einstein formulated what some have called the most famous equation in history: E=mc². This states that the energy contained in any particle of matter is equal to the mass of that body multiplied by the square of the speed of light. This formula was the basis for the building of the atomic bomb.

When knowledgeable persons see that formula, they are reminded of Einstein’s work in connection with it. When they see other formulas expressing physical laws, they know that some scientist or mathematician put them down in writing. A mathematical equation requires a mathematician.

Then what of universal mathematics? All scientists recognize the following fact noted by P. Rousseau in the book De l’atome a l’etoile (From Atom to Star): “Governed by geometry from its smallest to its largest parts, the universe really reveals itself as a mathematical structure.”

All of this mathematical precision in the universe​—could it possibly have originated without a superior mathematician?

A professor of mathematics from the University of Cambridge, P. Dirac, wrote in Scientific American: “It seems to be one of the fundamental features of nature that fundamental physical laws are described in terms of a mathematical theory of great beauty and power, needing quite a high standard of mathematics for one to understand it. . . . One could perhaps describe the situation by saying that God is a mathematician of a very high order, and He used very advanced mathematics in constructing the universe.”

Order in Living World

Not only does order appear in the inanimate material universe; it also appears in the living world on earth. Sciences such as biology and ecology testify to this.

The fundamental unit of life on earth is the living cell. It is made up of an amazing array of different parts. In his book Les origines de la vie (Life’s Origins), French cytologist Joel de Rosnay says: “The cell is a factory furnished with proteins serving as raw building materials, while enzyme-proteins are busy catalyzing and controlling the myriads of simultaneous reactions happening in the cell.”

Remarkable enough is this coordination of all the myriads of different parts within a cell. But equally remarkable is each cell’s coordination with myriads of other different cells in an organism such as the human body. What controls all of this? How does each part know precisely what to become, how large to grow, what to do?

All of this, it is believed, is made possible by the substance which is an object of great admiration on the part of scientists. It is called DNA, short for deoxyribonucleic acid. This is said to be the key chemical compound of genes. Genes are the carriers of the heredity code in living things.

DNA is like a microscopic computer with a built-in memory, located in the nucleus of the cell. Evidently this ‘computer,’ or ‘blueprint,’ issues instructions at the right time and place for all the activities of the cell. This includes its growth, duplication and harmonious work with other cells.

The DNA molecule is long and threadlike, only about one ten-millionth of an inch in diameter. Its long, slender shape gives it a capacity, like magnetic recording tape, to store a vast amount of information. It has been estimated that the DNA instructions of a single human cell would fill a 1,000-volume English encyclopedia!

We can understand, then, why those who examine the cell call it a ‘miracle factory.’ And J. de Rosnay adds: “This miracle factory is not only able, as we have seen, to keep itself in good order, but also to produce both its own machines and their operators!”

What machine never had a maker? What operator never had a father?

Balance Among Living Things

The multitudes of life-forms on earth are subject to a strict interdependence that affects even their numbers and distribution. The living world of both animal and vegetable life behaves as a whole, as one living unit.

This ‘balance of nature’ can be seen in the tight interplay between plants and animals and man. Animals and humans breathe in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. Plants take in that carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. One supplies the other with what is vital for the other’s existence.

All animals and humans are dependent on plants in another way: Plants supply them with their food. Without plants, there would be no conscious life on earth. Green plants are astonishing factories that do what no human factories can: They produce food from the air, water and elements of the soil. The energy needed for doing this they get from sunlight.

Plants accomplish these feats without having had any university training in chemistry. Is it not obvious that someone else has done their thinking for them?

Atheistic ‘Explanations’ Fail

All of this marvelous order and law found in creation had to have a cause, just as every house has a builder. Such things as law and order can originate only in a source able to conceive such things, that is, in a mind. Universal orderliness and law can have originated only in the legislative mind of a Supreme Being.

The atheistic theory according to which ‘necessity’ is responsible for universal orderliness has no value whatever. It utterly fails to explain anything satisfactorily. It is absolutely unable to account for such a stupendous organization as we observe throughout the universe. It amounts to saying: ‘It is like that because it is like that,’ which is unreasonable.

Besides, all the data of modern astrophysics indicate that the universe did have a start. Consequently it cannot have been its own cause, but needed a Causer, a Starter. Hence, the conclusion drawn by reasonable minds after examining the evidence is that of the inspired writer of the Bible book of Genesis who said: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”​—Gen. 1:1.

Questions Raised

But, some will say, if as the Bible tells us “God is a God, not of disorder,” why does disorder exist in human ranks? (1 Cor. 14:33) Why has wickedness been permitted for so long? Does God have a purpose for this earth and man on it?

Such questions are legitimate. It is quite reasonable to ask them for an enlightened belief in God. And it is equally reasonable to expect that a Creator who could so well order an entire universe would also be able to provide satisfying answers to such questions.

The right answers do exist. The truth on these matters is available, although many have erred in their search for it. Particularly in our day does the Bible promise that God will “set matters straight respecting many peoples.”​—Isa. 2:4.

One result of God’s truths flowing to sincere inquirers would be that “they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears,” “coming into an orderly arrangement with one another.

That prophecy finds fulfillment in sincere truth seekers such as Jehovah’s witnesses are. The order and harmony in their ranks world wide regardless of race or national origin reflect the order and harmony throughout God’s creation. Such order must be a mark of those who do know the truth about God’s purposes and who have his direction. (John 13:34, 35) Is this really so? Examine the evidence for yourself. The next time Jehovah’s witnesses call at your home, ask them to show you why they so strongly believe in the existence of God and why they have such a confident hope for a future in a new order of God’s making. Attend some of their meetings and see for yourself how this belief affects their lives.

“The heavens are declaring the glory of God; and of the work of his hands the expanse is telling. One day after another day causes speech to bubble forth, and one night after another night shows forth knowledge. There is no speech, and there are no words; no voice on their part is being heard. Into all the earth their measuring line has gone out, and to the extremity of the productive land their utterances.”​—Ps. 19:1-4.

[Picture on page 4]

The fantastically small atom, with its revolving electrons, is a marvel of order

[Picture on page 5]

Our solar system, the sun with its orbiting planets and their moons, reflects an impressive order and harmony

[Picture on page 6]

The DNA molecule, long and threadlike, and located in the nucleus of a cell, is like a computer, issuing instructions for all cell activities

[Picture on page 7]

Humans and animals breathe in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide; plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen​—a marvelous balance

Will This Be a Good Day?

A PLEASANT “Good day” is perhaps the most common of greetings. But when you give or get such greeting, how much does the thought behind it mean to you? For most, it is of light importance. After all, what is one day when compared with a lifetime?

True, a life expectancy of seventy years (as enjoyed in some lands) gives promise of some 25,567 days in all. But to the person who is fifty years old the 18,262 days by then spent seem to have swept swiftly by, and the 7,305 remaining hoped-for days look few indeed. He may now begin to appreciate why the prophet Moses long ago prayed to God: “Show us just how to count our days in such a way that we may bring a heart of wisdom in.”​—Ps. 90:12.

What did Moses mean? He certainly did not mean that God would reveal the exact number of days the lifetime of each Israelite would hold. To the contrary, the Bible frequently reminds us that we should not count on living a presumed period of time, but realize instead that “you do not know what your life will be tomorrow. For you are a mist appearing for a little while and then disappearing.” (Jas. 4:13-15) Jesus gave a parable of a rich and self-centered farmer who thought he had a good idea of the number of his days. He expanded his storehouses and then said to himself: “Soul, you have many good things laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, enjoy yourself.” But in reality for him there was not even a tomorrow, for God said to him: “Unreasonable one, this night they are demanding your soul from you. Who, then, is to have the things you stored up?”​—Luke 12:19, 20

Actually, Moses’ own words in Psalm 90 show that he too recognized the brevity, the transitoriness, the uncertainty of human life. (See verses 9 and 10.) So his prayer evidently expressed the desire for God’s guidance to help Moses and his people wisely to value, estimate and appraise the ‘days of their years,’ using them, not in vanity, but so as to gain God’s favor.

What of us? How much does a day mean to us? Will we spend the “days of our years” as if we had a guaranteed supply of them with no danger of ever running out? When do we begin to “count” them​—only when the normal supply is far diminished in old age? Or will we begin early to recognize the true value and preciousness of each day, ‘bringing in a heart of wisdom’ as Moses said, by seeking to spend each day in a worthwhile way?

What a Day Can Bring

When next you give or receive the greeting of a friendly “Good day,” why not stop for a moment and reflect on what a day can bring, how momentous and even life-shaping things have occurred in just one day. In one day Adam and Eve disobeyed their Creator, losing their home and eventually their lives. We still suffer from their misuse of that day. (Rom. 5:12) One evening King David looked covetously at the beautiful wife of another man as she bathed, and then proceeded to violate two more of God’s commandments. Though he repented, his life was seriously affected ever after.​—2 Sam. 12:9-12.

The angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary of the tribe of Judah was warm and genuine: “Good day, highly favored one, Jehovah is with you.” That proved to be a very “good day” indeed for this virgin of Galilee, one she long treasured in memory. She responded humbly and reverently to the opportunity set before her. Nine months later she became the mother of the promised Messiah.​—Luke 1:28-38.

In striking contrast, when Roman soldiers said to Christ Jesus, “Good day [literally, Be rejoicing], you King of the Jews!” it was in ridicule. They intended to make it as bad a day as possible for their victim. Despite their efforts, Jesus finished that day successfully, having maintained integrity to his heavenly Father. (Matt. 27:29) We owe our entire hope of everlasting life to what God’s Son did on that crucial day. He made it the finest day in human history.

This Day and You

What about today​—will this be a good day for you? Each day has its opportunities, its responsibilities, its work. Most days bring certain issues, certain decisions to which we must face up. Some days are crucial​—our hope of life in God’s favor may hang in the balance. But be sure of one thing​—each day brings its own molding and shaping of your life.

What have you done with this day so far? Did you enjoy good relationships with others, showing love for God and for neighbors, yes, even for an enemy? Did you help someone, perhaps forgive someone? Did you pray more than once, as did Daniel? (Dan. 6:10) Did you solve some problem, or overcome some obstacle? Did you accomplish something worth while?

Or did you do some of the opposite things? Make a bad mistake? Have some bad thoughts impelling you to say things you now regret? Did you plan something bad, not wholesome, not upbuilding? If so, the day is not yet lost. Bad thoughts can be dismissed, bad speech can be stopped. (Phil. 4:8) You can refuse to let the sun set while you are in a provoked state. (Eph. 4:26) Yes, one can start changing immediately for the better, and that can still make it a day that ends well.

Though some days will be pleasanter, more trouble-free than others, for the Christian every day can be good. He can daily be content with his sustenance and covering, expressing thanks to the heavenly Provider for such things as he does have. (1 Tim. 6:8) He can even be happy in time of persecution, considering it a privilege to suffer even as Jesus suffered for doing right. The mistakes he makes can be lessons of life, stepping-stones on the way to future successes. Losses can often be recovered, disappointments can be allowed for, worries can be dispelled as he recalls Jesus’ counsel: “Never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties”; but God’s care is ample to resolve them all.​—Matt. 6:25-34.

How fine it would be to be able to view each day as does our Creator. In the opening chapter of the Bible you can read about the preparation of this globe in six creative days or periods during which Jehovah’s dynamic holy spirit was active. Note how, at each day’s end, God could pronounce its work good. Thousands of years later we still enjoy the many good gifts and perfect presents that the Creator provided for the present (and future) use of obedient humankind​—yes, because of what he did on those ‘good days.’ Will anyone benefit enduringly from what we do today?

Of course, in order to be able to look forward confidently to genuinely good days, a person needs to know about God’s will for humans and conform his life to that will. That will mean a change of thinking and a change in course of action, for we were all born with sinful tendencies​—selfish, self-willed, independent in attitude. Can such a change be made? Is it possible? Yes, because the reasonable God expects it of us, and he even points clearly to the method of achieving it. “Be transformed by making your mind over” is the counsel he offers. (Rom. 12:2) This means filling our minds with God’s thoughts as recorded in the Bible, thereby displacing and ejecting the immature and inaccurate thinking of mere men.

It is our earnest wish that you may find both enjoyment and benefit from the articles presented in the magazine you are now reading. May this day indeed be a good one for you as you ‘bring in a heart of wisdom,’ counting your days from the lofty viewpoint of your Creator, the King of Eternity.

Curfew​—at Two P.M.!

By “Awake!” correspondent in Colombia

FRIDAY morning starts off like any other normal day in Cali, Colombia.

You get off the bus in downtown Cali. You walk toward your office, half conscious of the gantlet of lottery-ticket vendors. There is the usual flow of people through the Plaza de Cayzedo at the city’s commercial center.

But you notice that the signs placed in the plaza yesterday are all gone. What signs? Those put there by demonstrating university students demanding the resignation of the rector and the end of outside interference in the university.

“Stay Home!”

The morning passes normally. At noon you head for home, looking forward to your two hours to lunch and nap. Why bother to turn on the radio?

Siesta over, 1:30 p.m. arrives and you are ready to head back to work. The phone rings. A friend, his voice high-pitched with tension, cries: “Stay home this afternoon! A student has been killed! There is going to be a curfew at two!” “Two in the morning?” you ask naïvely. “No, no! at two p.m. In half an hour. Better stay home!”

You are still not too impressed, because you haven’t seen anything happen yourself. But you go to look out your apartment window overlooking a main traffic artery leading downtown. Sure enough, all the traffic is going in one direction​—away from town!

Now you turn on the radio. It is true. A city-wide curfew at two p.m. Your complacency finally shattered, you become fully alert and start to plan for your immediate future.

You know that during curfew you may not leave your home. You check the food supply, run to the neighborhood store and buy some batteries for the radio and flashlight, some candles and some food items. Now you start to think about what is happening to more than 800,000 people in the city.

As the world system now operates, a relatively few people can make a profound impact on vast numbers. The authorities are well aware of this.

With many university students and professors agitating for changes, and classes being interrupted, the police heavily patrol the areas surrounding the major university. Students challenge and bait the police. A confrontation between them takes place. Tear gas is used. A student dies!

The shedding of blood lights the flames of passion and violence. Tempers flare. Anger spreads like the waves from a rock thrown into a pool. Rumors run wild. Many persons will die before calm is restored, although possibly some of these are not the direct result of the disorders.

Getting Home, a Problem

The task of returning the population of a whole city to their homes is prodigious. Many had already begun returning to work or had not gone home during the noon hour.

To complicate the situation, the taxis and buses quite naturally head for their garages and parking areas. Only those that happen to be going in the same direction as the outflow of people are carrying passengers. These are so packed that the proverbial sardine would feel crowded.

People who cannot get inside the vehicles cling outside wherever they can get a handhold or toehold. Many truck drivers mercifully allow people to fill up their vehicles.

Many thousands must walk miles to reach home. Construction workers on projects outside of town walk ten to twelve miles. Some have to skirt the main trouble area, adding to the distance. Finally they arrive home, much to the relief of their anxious families.

Hour after hour the procession continues. In theory anyone on the street after curfew without a safe-conduct pass must be arrested. But the people have not had sufficient advance warning. They need time to get home, so the police and soldiers give them consideration.

After 6 p.m. the flow of humanity subsides. Finally the streets are deserted except for an occasional official or essential service vehicle. All seems calm and peaceful and deserted, until an ambulance and a truckload of military police speed toward town. This reminds you that somewhere in the city not all is peace and calm.

Also, many families will be reminded in another way. They will face food shortages as they approach the end of the pay period with neither food nor funds in the house.

Curfew Enforced

Now the enforcement of the curfew begins in earnest. Anyone on the streets is picked up. The first night hundreds violate curfew and are detained.

That the jails will not hold all the violators has been foreseen. The detained are taken to the football stadium or the bullfighting arena to remain until curfew is lifted. A night in the open air with only the clothing one has on against the cool and the mosquitoes is viewed as adequate persuasion against future violations.

Saturday morning. The curfew remains in effect and all are advised to remain in their homes. The center of the city remains desolate except for the patrols of the military.

Saturday, 1 p.m. Announcement comes over the radio stating that the curfew will be lifted between the hours of 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. At 1:30 there is a fever of activity as many take advantage of the brief liberty to obtain food and other supplies to tide them over until normal activity can be resumed.

As the restoration of order begins to be assured, it is announced that the curfew will be lifted Sunday at 7 a.m. and be in effect once more at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, groups in other parts of the country try to cause a general commotion. The national authorities take swift measures to maintain the stability of the nation. The public order is declared disturbed and a state of siege, or martial law, is declared.

Among aspects of martial law are censorship of radio and newspapers, prohibition of the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, prohibition of gatherings of more than five persons in the street, and requirement of a permit from the local military authorities before any public meeting can be held. Religious meetings inside buildings are tolerated by the authorities and, of course, these are held at hours not conflicting with the curfew.

Return to Normal

From Monday through Wednesday the curfew remains in effect during the hours of 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Gradually, life begins to return to normal.

Most businesses establish a straight shift, eliminating the two-hour lunch break. In this way employees can work eight hours and still get home before the curfew. Even so, there is a scramble from 6 to 7 p.m., as many who get off work at 6 p.m. struggle to make use of the dwindling public transportation whose drivers also must be home before curfew.

During the day, activity downtown is bustling as ever. The only difference is the large number of soldiers and police who are patrolling. They are largely ignored. People are mostly grateful for some assurance of tranquillity.

Sporadic attempts by university students to reignite the flames of conflict are quickly put down. Soon the squads of soldiers in the Plaza de Cayzedo, with their guns at the ready, are steadily reduced in numbers and in the length of their stay.

Finally, order and calm are restored. The curfew is removed and the city returns to normal. The fact that martial law is still in effect is scarcely noticed, as its restrictions are not applied against the normal everyday activity of the people.

Reactions Mixed

Reactions to the curfew are mixed. At first, some were grateful to have an excuse to stay home and relax in the evenings. Others felt confined and frustrated.

Initially, separated families unable to communicate with stranded members suffered great anxiety. When they were reunited, wives were delighted by their husbands’ devotion to home and family during the evening hours.

Businessmen rued the loss of income. Accountants fretted over the approaching income-tax deadline. But the relief at the lifting of the curfew was universal because it meant a return to normal and the reasonable security of one’s person and property.

Yet, these events in Cali remind one how fragile is this ‘normalcy’ and ‘security’ in today’s world. Especially is this evident when one sees how affairs involving a few people can result in upset for an entire city, yes, an entire country.

In view of all this, one can only reflect on the great need for the permanent government for all the earth about which Jesus Christ taught his followers. This is God’s kingdom. It alone can and will bring true justice, prosperity and tranquillity permanently to those who love Him.​—Ps. 37:10, 11.

I Was a Jailer of Christians

As told to “Awake!” correspondent in Korea

IN THE late nineteen-thirties I was a prison guard in the Seoul Prison. Korea was governed by the Japanese then. I was one of six Korean women assigned to the Women’s Section; we worked under six Japanese women guards. Little did I know that I was soon to be a jailer of faithful Christians.

In 1938 and 1939 I read about the Japanese government’s arresting some of the supervisory ministers of the International Bible Students, as Jehovah’s witnesses were then known in Japan and Korea. Later, when individual Witnesses were arrested, I found myself as guard over six of these women, all evangelizers of Jehovah’s witnesses, They were placed in my section.

My duties in the prison were to teach the Japanese language to prisoners, to teach them to knit or do something with their hands, to try to educate the illiterate ones and condition their minds for the time when they would be released. I also took prisoners out of their cells for exercise. Besides sharing in the guard duties, it was also my responsibility to enforce all the prison regulations.

We Are All Commanded to Bow Down

One of the prison regulations required that each morning all the prisoners (and we jailers also) bow toward Tokyo at the command of the chief guard. This was a Japanese nationalistic rite in worship of the Japanese emperor. It was part of the Shinto religion. We Koreans were forced to participate in it. I learned later that these six Witness women were imprisoned, in part because of their refusal to bow down toward the East. In prison also they refused on religious grounds to bow down toward Tokyo.

When they were reported to the prison authorities and efforts to persuade them to bow down proved fruitless, they were punished. Each was finally put in chains. These were very heavy chains that were difficult to lift up to place on their backs. The chains were kept on these Witness women for most of the twenty-four hours every day.

At the time I thought how foolish they were to maintain such a defiant attitude just over religion so as to bring that harsh punishment on themselves. Many times I tried to persuade them to bow down toward the East with the rest of us and save themselves this ordeal.

Impressed by Their Faith and Courage

But as I talked more with these women I was deeply impressed by their faith. They were always cheerful, and in all other matters were most obedient and easy to handle. I felt drawn to one of these women especially. This was because there were many parallels between Mrs. Chang’s life and mine. She had been well educated as was I. She was an only daughter as was I. Any work assigned to her she learned how to do very fast. She had an excellent general knowledge. I felt particular empathy for her because she was put in prison shortly after she had married.

Whenever I checked the cells where these six Witness women were kept, I always found these Christians reading or discussing the Bible. I could see it was the key to their faith, and I wondered how a book could inspire the faith they had.

One day when I took the Witnesses out of their cell for exercise, Mrs. Chang asked me for some news from the outside. I told her that Japan had been victorious over the United States forces in the Philippines and over the British forces in Singapore, and so forth. Mrs. Chang explained some prophecy from the Bible to me in such a way as to leave me with the impression that she thought Japan would eventually be defeated.a I was shocked that she would even intimate such a thing, and if heard by the other guards, it would mean even more severe punishment for her, including reduced food rations. I counseled her very sternly not to repeat such words to anyone.

A few days later when I was passing their food through a slot into their cell, Mrs. Chang explained more to me from her Bible. She said all governments of the world were described in the Bible as beastlike and would be destroyed by God’s kingdom. I could have moved away from that slot, but I was interested in what she said. I could have had her punished, but I had no mind to. I felt affinity for these courageous Witness women whose faith could cause them to speak so boldly even while being punished for that faith.

When I was alone with them, I would sometimes remove their chains for a short time, but that had to be done very circumspectly. Then an unforgettable incident occurred.

One of these six women became very ill. At the same time that she had been committed to prison her son had also been confined to the same prison. But he compromised his faith by bowing down to the East. For this he was given a better job in the prison but was not released. His mother was unmovable in her faith. When it appeared that she would die, she asked to see her son. I intervened for her so that her son was finally brought in from the men’s section. I was present at this meeting of mother and son. She was dying, but she encouraged her son to keep his faith. He did not listen but begged his mother to compromise so she could be taken out of the prison to die. Five days later she did die. The son was allowed to attend the funeral in prison. He sobbed bitterly and I could not help crying myself.

Despair and Lack of a Sustaining Faith

It was at this point that I decided to change my occupation. I had become a prison guard after graduating from a highly regarded school for women, a school established by the government, and I was qualified as a teacher. While I was still in school we had been taken on a tour of a prison, and I was moved by the helplessness of the inmates. By being a guard I thought that I could not only teach but somehow help these unfortunate ones. So I applied and was accepted at the prison. But having seen so many miserable humans in my years at the prison, I realized how little I could help them.

True, I had received letters now and then from former inmates telling me how much they appreciated what I had taught them, and that made me feel good. But I saw so much that I could not help them with, and from a mere humanistic viewpoint I despaired of being able really to change things to help them. After the death of this Witness woman, I realized that I had no faith to sustain me as her faith had sustained her. I left my position as guard at Seoul Prison before the end of World War II.

My own religious background had not instilled such kind of faith in me. My family had been Buddhists. I had often gone to the Buddhist temple with my mother. But as a high school girl I had enough education to know that the worship of images as practiced by my mother was only superstition so that I no longer worshiped that way when I became independent.

When 1945 came and the long Japanese occupation of Korea ended, I remembered what Mrs. Chang had told me, and I was struck that the Bible’s prophecies were indeed true. I was even moved to try to make contact with Mrs. Chang but found out at the prison that she and the other four women had been released.

In the intervening years I was busy working for the United States Occupation Government until the republic was established in 1948. Then I found other employment. A neighbor who was a deacon in one of Christendom’s churches asked me to attend services. This I did. But I could not help seeing the hypocrisy in that church, so I quit going. I still had no real faith to sustain me.

Reunion with the Faithful Christian Women

From time to time over the years Jehovah’s witnesses called at my home, and occasionally I would take their magazines. But I had no time to talk to them or discuss things with them. Then in the spring of 1969 one of the Witnesses moved in as my neighbor. She began to talk to me about the Bible. I asked if Jehovah’s witnesses were the same as the International Bible Students, as Mrs. Chang was known to me. She said they were. I learned from her that Mrs. Chang was then in Inchon, so I went to Inchon to visit her.

We had a long talk about the Bible and the beliefs of the Witnesses. On the basis of that talk I decided to study with Jehovah’s witnesses. A regular Bible study was arranged, with my new neighbor teaching me.

I progressed in Bible knowledge, and then in October 1969 I attended the “Peace on Earth” International Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses at Changchoong Gymnasium in Seoul. Here I met the other four women who had been in prison for their faith. It was a joyous reunion. They greeted me as a long-lost friend and not as their former jail keeper. What I saw at that assembly deeply impressed me.

I continued my Bible study and attended meetings regularly at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Then I made the decision: I too wanted to have the faith of those faithful Christian women. So I was baptized at the “Men of Goodwill” District Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Seoul on July 24, 1970. On that occasion I said to others, “This is the happiest day of my life.”

Our Choong Jung Ro congregation’s witnessing territory in Sodaemun-ku includes the side of a hill from which one can look down into Seoul Prison. While sharing the good news of God’s kingdom in that area along with my Christian sisters, I cannot help but think of what happened there years ago. I am truly happy to have at long last the wonderful faith that sustained those dear Christian sisters of mine for up to seven years of imprisonment during World War II.

[Footnotes]

Can Swimming Benefit You?

DURING warm weather there is a mass exodus for pools, beaches and lakes. Many seem to get enjoyment from swimming. But is there real value in knowing how to swim? Can swimming benefit you?

Swimming is obviously a pleasurable form of relaxation. But it is also a very healthful activity. Some physicians prescribe it as a treatment and prevention of many mental and physical disorders.

Numerous Benefits

One malady that swimming sometimes improves is varicose veins. Movement in the water massages and tightens them, giving veins a firmer tone. In fact, every external part of the body receives massage from the water as the swimmer moves along. Those troubled by sleeplessness often are helped by swimming, their nerves soothed by the effects of the water.

But particularly beneficial is the excellent exercise. Practically every muscle of the body is involved in the coordinated movements of a swimmer. Fine muscle tone can be developed. Circulation is often improved, and so is the function of kidneys, bowels and other internal organs.

Swimming also can be of help in improving the figure. The up and down kicking action serves to firm hips and thighs, and in time it can be a factor in trimming the waistline. The overarm movements strengthen the shoulder and back muscles, and help posture. In some cases regular swimming is even noted to improve the complexion, youngsters often having their acne disappear.

But knowing how to swim can prove of even greater value. It may save your life. Thousands of persons drown each year, some 7,000 in the United States and Canada alone. And about half of the drownings occur within only twenty feet of safety! If only persons could swim, or swim better, many could save their lives in an emergency.

Not a Natural Skill

People do not naturally know how to swim, as do fish, frogs and other animals. Humans must learn to swim. But it is a skill that can be mastered without great difficulty.

Swimming is simply moving the arms and legs in such a way as to propel the body through the water. There are various methods of doing this. Some are designed for speed, while others are better for traveling long distances without tiring. It is best to learn more than one method. Not only does this provide more enjoyment and better exercise, but it may save your life.

Dog Paddle and Crawl

Names have been given to various swimming methods or strokes. The easiest to learn is the so-called dog paddle, or human stroke. It is natural for humans, resembling the position of the body and the movement of the arms and legs of an infant crawling about on land. Breathing is not a problem, for the head can be held out of the water. Very young children often learn this stroke quickly, sometimes swimming quite a distance at two years of age.

But the dog paddle is slow and rather ungraceful. So most swimmers abandon it and try to learn the crawl, the fastest of all strokes. In about 1900 an Australian, Richard Cavill, reportedly learned it from the son of a Solomon Islands planter. Later investigations revealed that islanders had been using it for as long as natives could remember.

Old swimming records were broken with the introduction of the crawl. And with improvements in style and emphasis on better conditioning, they continue to be broken at a fantastic rate. Girls now swim the 400- to 1,500-meter distances faster than men did just fifteen years ago. The women’s world record of 17 minutes and 19.9 seconds for 1,500 meters (nearly a mile) is over 32 seconds faster than the men’s world record in 1956! The men’s record for 1,500 meters is now 16 minutes and 4.5 seconds, a fairly rapid walking speed!

But the problem is that the crawl is hard to master. Both arms are alternately brought out of the water in an overarm stroke. But many persons do not do it right. They barely bend their elbows as they bring them out of the water, and they swing their arms forward in a wide arc. This tends to throw their hips and legs out of line and cause them to wiggle, interfering with correct kicking. The legs should be held almost straight, and moved up and down from the hips in a powerful flutter kick, with the heels just coming above the water. The ankles should be relaxed.

Correct breathing is especially hard to master, and yet it is absolutely essential if one is to swim very far. As the face is regularly rotated to one side, air is quickly sucked in through the corner of the mouth. But many swimmers lift their whole head up to one side or to the front. This drops their body from a proper horizontal position in the water, creating frontal resistance and drag.

A good swimmer keeps his head in the water, and when he rotates his face to the side he actually gets his air below the normal waterline​—from the slight trough or pocket that is created as the head cuts through the water. Then, as the face is rotated below the surface, the air is expelled underwater through the nose.

When the arm and leg movements and breathing are correctly synchronized and executed, the crawl stroke is one of effortless precision. It is very graceful. But that simply is not how most persons swim. They struggle in the water. As a result, the majority of those who swim the crawl tire very quickly. The United States Coast Guard estimates that half of all Americans cannot swim fifty feet! So in emergencies they often drown.

Thus for one’s safety it is wise to know other swimming strokes. Strokes that are executed entirely below the water are easier to learn, less tiring to execute, and hence can actually be more enjoyable to swim. But they are particularly valuable because they may enable you to save your life in an emergency.

Valuable Strokes to Know

One of these strokes is the side stroke. When it is learned well, it makes swimming a really enjoyable activity for most persons. Arms need never be lifted from below the water. And because the face is never underwater, there is no breath-control problem. So the swimmer doing this stroke is helped to rest and to take it easier.

In swimming the side stroke, the swimmer lies in the water on his side, with one ear in the water. Beginning with both arms near the chin, the upper arm is pulled straight back and the lower arm is extended forward. At the same moment, the legs are snapped together with a scissors kick. The position is held momentarily for a good glide. Then the hands are brought back again into position near the chin, and the legs are opened for another scissors kick. As you learn to take advantage of the glide, and thus swim more slowly and restfully, you may travel over thirty feet with every ten strokes.

When becoming tired from swimming face down or on the side, it is restful to turn over on the back and use another stroke. The elementary back stroke is an ideal one for this. It permits a real ease of motion in the water. And another advantage is that breathing is done entirely above the surface. This stroke is perhaps the least tiring of them all. It has been used successfully to teach the least gifted nonswimmers to travel over a hundred yards after only a few hours’ instruction.

The swimmer lies on his back in the water. His arms lie along his sides, and his legs are extended straight out. The legs are alternately moved up and down from the hips in an easy flutter kick. The ankles are relaxed. During the kick the toes may just break the surface.

The arm movements are especially easy, requiring a minimum of effort. Both arms are at once brought up to about shoulder level. They are bent at the elbows. Then they are brought rather sharply to the side of the thighs, the hands at all times staying under the surface of the water. Except for this quick movement to the sides, the arms move quite slowly. No more than about six arm strokes should be completed in the space of thirty-five feet.

When persons know these more restful strokes, they not only enjoy swimming more, but are less likely to drown. They know that if they ever get tired and start to weaken, they can turn to a different position in the water and use another stroke.

Staying Afloat

The important thing if you get into trouble is NOT TO PANIC. Do not fight the water. Keep calm. Even if you become tired and are unable to swim any farther, you can still stay afloat.

Most beginning swimmers think that they must kick their legs and move their arms vigorously to keep from sinking. But this is not true. Try to relax. Most people have natural buoyancy, and will readily stay afloat if panicking is avoided.

Do this: Lie on your back in the water, with your face upward. The water will cover your ears, but your nose and mouth will be above the surface. Spread out your arms and make a slight sculling motion with your hands. Breathe normally. To keep your legs from dropping below the surface, kick them slightly from time to time.

Or another way to stay afloat is to assume a vertical position in the water, but slump forward. Let your arms hang limply from the shoulders. It may surprise you, but most people will not sink. Even without leg or arm movements, your body will still float with your head a little below the surface. But what can you do when you need air after a quarter minute or so?

Lift your head, exhaling underwater through your nose. As you do this, bring your legs up and execute a scissors kick, pushing the water downward with the bottoms of your feet. Also, cross your arms in front of your head in a relaxed easy manner. Your face will be lifted out of the water, allowing you to draw a breath of air.

After getting air, drop your head in the water again, face down, and bring your arms to your sides. Relax until you need air again, and then repeat the procedure, One severely burned man with an arm broken stayed afloat for five hours using this method. He was finally rescued.

Take Precautions, Enjoy the Benefits

Swimming can offer many benefits in the form of fun, relaxation and improved health. It is good to know the restful strokes that can save your life and increase your enjoyment of the water. But, at the same time, never become overconfident, taking chances in the water or ignoring safety rules.

Never swim right after a meal. It could result in painful stomach cramps, which have caused even excellent swimmers to drown. Do not swim alone. Be with someone who can help in an emergency. Never leave a small child alone in or near the water. They can drown without even a sound. If you go out on a boat, always wear a life jacket. It can save your life in an emergency. Never dive or jump into strange waters. Investigate them first, making certain they are sufficiently deep and free of hidden rocks or timbers.

Take precautions. Reflect on this sobering fact: Drownings are the second-largest cause of accidental deaths in the United States. Enjoy the benefits of swimming, but do not let your enjoyment be marred by tragedy.

[Picture on page 17]

The side stroke can help to make swimming more enjoyable. The face is never under the water and the swimmer is helped to rest

[Picture on page 18]

To float, lie on your back and make a sculling motion with your hands; kick slightly

Epilepsy​—Today’s Outlook

IT WAS the noon hour at a California high school. An attractive tenth-grade girl was coming down the steps, along with many of her classmates. Suddenly she fell to the ground. The muscles of her body tightened. She briefly ceased to breathe, and her muscles went into contractions, jerking her body around violently. Many fellow students watched anxiously, completely surprised by what they saw happening to the girl. It was an epileptic seizure.

How would you have reacted if the girl had been your classmate or acquaintance? Would you have continued to treat her as a friend? Or would you now think she was somehow undesirable? Would you be afraid of her, and try to avoid her?

Earlier Views and Present Attitudes

For thousands of years it was commonly believed there was something magical or demonic about epilepsy. Epileptics were accused of witchcraft and ostracized. Holes were bored in their heads and they were branded with hot irons to drive out evil spirits. Their disorder was considered a hereditary “family taint,” and mentally retarding.

Such views persisted into modern times, and were written into the laws of the land. As recently as the 1950’s about one third of the states in the United States had laws restricting the marriage of epileptics. Many states also had sterilization laws applicable to them. Epileptics were prohibited from driving an automobile. And few firms would employ them.

Thus the former director of the National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Blindness, Dr. Pearce Bailey, was moved to observe: “Epilepsy is the only disorder where the sufferer is more handicapped by the attitude of society than by his disability.”

Happily the outlook has improved over the past few years. Almost all states have erased the sterilization laws applicable to epileptics, as well as the laws forbidding them to marry. It has become possible for epileptics to receive driver’s licenses throughout the United States; Denmark, as far back as 1937, allowed epileptics to obtain driver’s licenses. And employers are now more inclined to hire them.

In keeping with the improved outlook is the change in attitude of the general public, as reflected by surveys of the American Institute of Public Opinion. In 1949, 57 percent of the people asked said they would not object to their child’s playing with epileptics, compared with 81 percent who, in 1969, said they would not object. When asked if they thought epilepsy was a form of insanity, 59 percent in 1949 said “No,” but, in 1969, 81 percent answered “No.” And in 1949 only 45 percent thought epileptics should be employed, whereas, in 1969, 76 percent thought they should be employed.

What is your opinion on such matters? Would you hesitate to associate with epileptics or allow your children to, thinking, perhaps, that such a disorder is necessarily caused by wicked spirits?

The Bible and Epilepsy

The Bible does not support the view that epilepsy is necessarily caused by demons. At Matthew 4:24 it says that people brought to Jesus “all those faring badly, distressed with various diseases and torments, demon-possessed and epileptic and paralyzed persons, and he cured them.” Note that it says, Jesus cured persons who were “demon-possessed and epileptic.” Thus, the Bible draws a distinction between demon-possession and epilepsy.

It is true that the Bible shows that demons can cause epilepsy. One case is recorded in which a demon periodically caused a boy to fall to the ground, roll around violently, foam at the mouth and demonstrate other symptoms of epilepsy. (Mark 9:14-29) Yet the Bible also shows that demons could cause dumbness, saying: “People brought [Jesus] a dumb man possessed of a demon; and after the demon had been expelled the dumb man spoke.” Also the Bible explains that a man’s blindness was caused by a demon.​—Matt. 9:32, 33; 12:22.

But by showing that the demons have power to cause physical disorders, the Bible is in no way indicating that blindness, dumbness and epilepsy are generally caused by wicked spirits, or demons. Physical causes are behind most of these disorders.

What Epilepsy Is

Epilepsy is a term that covers a variety of basic conditions. All of these conditions, however, have a dominant symptom in common: recurrent seizures. And it has been found that the various forms of epilepsy also have in common a malfunctioning of some brain cells.

By probing into the brain we learn that its cells emit electrical impulses. The electrical firing of brain cells is normally rhythmic, forming wavelike patterns. A machine has been invented that can pick up these wave patterns and record them on a moving strip of paper. But in some persons the electrical activity of the brain becomes disrupted temporarily, and faulty messages are flashed to the body’s action centers. This results in an epileptic seizure. But the disturbance in the brain, sometimes called a “storm,” soon passes, and the seizure ends.

Thus it can be seen why Dr. Louis D. Boshes explained: “Epilepsy is not a disease. It is a symptom that something is wrong with the brain​—just as a fever is not a disease or an ailment in itself but a symptom that there is an infection somewhere in the body.”

Far from being a rare condition, epilepsy is quite common. About one person in a hundred is believed to be affected, most of them children. That amounts to more than two million epileptics in the United States! In addition, millions more at one time or another have had isolated seizures, but this is not classed as epilepsy, for the seizures are not recurrent.

Although seizures vary greatly in their manifestations, there are three main forms that authorities frequently list. Each is associated with characteristic brain-wave patterns, reflecting the type of electrical “storm” in the brain. The most severe form is that experienced by the girl described in the introduction of the article. She had grand mal, which is what most people regard as a true epileptic seizure.

Although a grand mal attack can be frightening to an onlooker, since the victim is unconscious it is not painful and it rarely causes injury. The jerking and thrashing of the body lasts only about a minute, although it may seem longer to someone watching. The person then relaxes, and after a few minutes he may be up and able to resume normal activities as though nothing had happened.

A second main form is petit mal, common in the five-to-twelve-year age range. However, this form rarely continues into adult life. It is characterized by brief interruptions of consciousness that usually last only five to ten seconds. They can occur frequently, up to a hundred times or more a day. The eyes may roll back and there may be slight jerking movements of the head or arms, but the person does not fall. Immediately following the spell the individual is mentally alert and is able to carry on with his activities.

Psychomotor seizures are the third main form of epilepsy. They are characterized by automatic stereotyped movements or odd behavior. The victim may seem all at once to “switch off,” and engage in irrelevant activity. He may pick or tug at his clothes, examine objects about him or walk around. A patient in a waiting room once was observed to pick up an ashtray and go from person to person offering gifts of cigarette butts to each one.

A psychomotor attack usually lasts but two to three minutes. Afterward there is generally little or no recollection of what happened. Only if the person is physically restrained may he appear angry or become obstreperous.

Although malfunction of brain cells is the source of the trouble, intelligence is not affected. Most epileptics are average in intelligence, some are brilliant and, as in any segment of the general population, some are below average.

Physical Causes

What causes persons to have recurrent electrical “storms” in the brain, bringing on seizures? The fact is that in most cases of epilepsy the cause is not known. However, it is said that anything that damages nerve cells in the brain can be responsible.

Thus a blow to the brain can be the cause, or a brain tumor. Infections also can be responsible. Viruses that cause measles, meningitis and other diseases can travel up the spinal cord and affect the brain. Or an imbalance in body chemistry may be the source of the disorder. For example, a person’s body may lack a certain enzyme that can lead to an irritation of the brain cells. Or a deficiency of pyridoxine, vitamin B₆, can be responsible.

Although emotional upsets are not known to cause epilepsy, they frequently provoke the seizures of persons already subject to them. Financial or domestic worries, fear of seizures or other upsetting factors can precipitate attacks. In girls, seizures sometimes occur only in association with the menstrual cycle, generally premenstrually.

Some persons seem to have a predisposition to epilepsy. It is this tendency that seems to pass on from generation to generation, even as susceptibility to other disorders such as cancer and heart troubles also seems to run in families. But epilepsy itself is not inherited. Thus laws prohibiting epileptics from marrying have been widely repealed. A generally accepted view is that an epileptic has one chance in fifty of having an epileptic child, and a non-epileptic has one chance in two hundred.

Encouraging Outlook

It is encouraging that epileptic children frequently recover from epilepsy with increasing age. Also, at least half of all epileptics can now be kept seizure free. In another 35 percent, seizures can be drastically reduced. And even the remaining 15 percent of epileptics can be helped. How is this done?

Principally it is by means of anticonvulsant drugs. Now twenty or more are available, phenobarbital and diphenylhydantoin sodium being the most widely used. Therapy involves finding the dosage of a drug, or combination of drugs, required to eliminate seizures, while endeavoring to avoid adverse side effects to the extent possible. The drugs act to supplement the body’s natural chemical balances and thus suppress the abnormal electrical activity of the brain. But the drugs are not cures. They are regularly taken to avoid seizures, just as diabetics regularly take insulin to maintain health.

But to obtain the maximum benefit of the drug therapy, a healthful mental outlook and style of living is vital. The fears, frustrations and anxieties that can provoke seizures need to be alleviated. And the best medicine for this is LOVE. An epileptic needs to feel wanted and that others truly care for him.

Important, too, is proper nutrition, rest, exercise and moderation in every aspect of his life. The seizures of some epileptics have been controlled by taking dietary supplements of vitamin B₆ and magnesium.

When seizures are controlled, an epileptic acts as normal as anyone else. Thus, after a seizure-free period, usually of one or two years, epileptics are permitted to obtain driver’s licenses in the United States. It is only proper that they should also be permitted to enjoy suitable employment. After an extensive study, Dr. Melvin M. Udell said that he found “no substantial evidence to prove any real difference in the work performances of epileptics and others.”

Being of Help

If you are the relative, friend or just an acquaintance of an epileptic, you certainly want to be of help. And perhaps the best way you can be is by treating an epileptic as normally as possible. By all means do not try to avoid him or treat him as being somehow undesirable. Remember, epilepsy is due simply to a physical malfunction, even as heart trouble and other such disorders are.

As far as epileptic children are concerned, do not be overly protective. Let them engage in the activities of other children. Actually seizures rarely occur during physical activity, so the danger while at play is minimal. Of course, for children subject to frequent attacks activities such as horseback riding and tree climbing are wisely prohibited.

What if you should witness a seizure? Keep calm. There is nothing you can do to stop it. Clear the area around the person so that he does not injure himself, but do not try to interfere with his movements. If his mouth is open, you can place a soft object such as a folded clean handkerchief between the side teeth, to prevent him from biting his tongue. But be careful in doing this so that your fingers are not bitten. And when the seizure ends, you can be there at his side and talk quietly and encouragingly.

We can do little else. But happily there is one who can do more. Nineteen centuries ago Jesus Christ showed his power to cure epilepsy, and as the king of God’s kingdom he will soon exercise that power for the benefit of all, including epileptics.

Why Do Many No Longer Desire the Priesthood?

IN COUNTRY after country the story is much the same. Large numbers of Roman Catholic priests are abandoning their vocation, and seminary enrollments continue to decline. The last seven-year period has seen about 25,000 men leave the priestly ranks. No letup is in sight. Eugene C. Bianchi, president of the Society of Priests for a Free Ministry, observed: “Sociologists foresee no upswing in recruitment nor halt in leakage from clerical ranks.” But why has this situation developed?

Many are of the opinion that one factor is the hierarchy’s adamant adherence to compulsory celibacy for priests. A growing number of priests, especially younger ones, favor the abolition of compulsory celibacy. At a convention of the National Federation of Priests’ Councils in Baltimore, Maryland, from March 14 to 18, 1971, the delegates by a majority vote adopted the following declaration: “We ask that the choice between celibacy and marriage for priests now active in the ministry be allowed and that the change begin immediately.”

About 90 percent of the assembled priests thereby put themselves on record as favoring a position that runs counter to the encyclical Sacerdotalis Caelibatus (Priestly Celibacy) issued by Pope Paul VI back in 1967. In so doing, these priests likely ruined their opportunities for being granted higher offices in the Catholic Church. Their stand therefore reflects strong feeling and is a good index to the sentiments of a large percentage of priests. It is estimated that these priests, averaging thirty-nine years of age, represented more than 60 percent of the priests in the United States.

Though definitely a burning issue, the hierarchy’s position on priestly celibacy does not provide all the answers as to why priests are leaving their vocation and fewer men are becoming priests. Compulsory celibacy for priests has been in effect for many centuries. Yet never before have so many priests raised their voices against it. Even priests who just two years ago were opposed to the idea of optional celibacy have changed their minds.

It is noteworthy that these priests are not objecting to something that is commanded in the Bible. In fact, The Catholic Encyclopedia (Vol. III, p. 481, edition of 1908) acknowledges:

“We do not find in the New Testament any indication of celibacy being made compulsory either upon the Apostles or those whom they ordained.”

Commenting about the apostle Paul’s direction at 1 Timothy 3:2, 12 and Titus 1:6 that a ‘bishop’ or a ‘deacon’ should be the “husband of one wife,” this work (Vol. III, p. 483) states:

“These passages seem fatal to any contention that celibacy was made obligatory upon the clergy from the beginning, but on the other hand, the Apostle’s desire that other men might be as himself (I Cor., vii, 7-8, . . .) precludes the inference that he wished all ministers of the Gospel to be married. The words beyond doubt mean that the fitting candidate was a man who, amongst other qualities which St. Paul enunciates as likely to make his authority respected, possessed also such stability of character as was shown, in those days of frequent divorce, by remaining faithful to one wife. . . .

“A strenuous attempt has indeed been made by some writers, of whom the late Professor Bickell was the most distinguished, to prove that even at this early date the Church exacted celibacy of all her ministers of the higher grades. But the contrary view, represented by such scholars as Funk and Kraus, seems much better founded and has won general acceptance of recent years.”

Dissatisfaction with a System

So the many priests who are expressing themselves against compulsory celibacy are really showing that they are not satisfied with the prevailing system that is based on tradition. And it would seem that those who either give no consideration to the priesthood as a possible vocation or forsake it are not convinced that the prevailing system is best for them. If they had a genuine desire to serve others and firmly believed that being a priest according to the present standards was by far the best way to fulfill that desire, doubtless they would become or remain priests. It is noteworthy that a recent study reveals that many of the problems of Catholic clergymen center around discontent with the present arrangement​—differences with superiors, inadequate leadership, lack of support from fellow priests and disappointment with the stand taken by the Church on certain moral issues.

Faith and belief definitely enter the picture. This aspect was highlighted in the Catholic magazine Commonweal. In its issue of February 13, 1970, the following observations were made:

“The vocations question is actually just one manifestation of a larger crisis of faith and belief, of institutional credibility and the broadening conviction that the priesthood is no more supremely useful a career than many others. . . .

“A change in the celibacy laws would return to ‘orthodoxy’ many priests who have left to be married, but not all or even the major part of these men.

“And it is extremely doubtful that it would noticeably influence the generation now making its decision about life. The priesthood could offer them the privileges of Brigham Young [polygamy], and there’d still be the matter of faith and belief.

“This is what must complicate Rome’s position. It could alter the celibacy laws tomorrow and the basic difficulties would still be there, still unresolved. There’s just no panacea, no remedy for the church’s general malaise.

“In a way, it makes it easier to see why Rome should hold fast to old traditions. The celibacy laws cry for change, but what’s to be gained by change at the moment, except maybe the cynical judgment that Rome is reacting to pressure out of institutional self-interest?”

But why is it that after centuries of existence the Roman Catholic Church is now unable to instill the faith and belief needed for becoming or remaining a priest? Could it be that the Catholic Church has herself undermined the very foundation for faith and belief? Might this be one reason for disappointment on the part of many priests with the position taken by her on certain moral issues?

Bible Teachings Not Followed

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: “All Scripture is inspired of God and is useful for teaching​—for reproof, correction, and training in holiness so that the man of God may be fully competent and equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17, The New American Bible) Do these words of the apostle Paul not suggest that the Holy Bible should be the standard for right teaching and action? Accordingly, would not a person’s faith be considerably shaken if he found that the teachings of his religion did not agree with the Bible? This gives rise to yet another question, Has the Catholic Church taught the truth as set forth in the Bible and has she upheld the inspiration of the Bible?

For centuries Catholics and members of other religious organizations have been taught that the soul is the immortal, spiritual part of man which survives the death of the body. But is this what the Bible teaches? The New American Bible (bearing the imprimatur of Patrick Cardinal O’Boyle, D.D., Catholic Archbishop of Washington), in its “Glossary of Biblical Theology Terms,” says under the word “Soul”:

“In the New Testament, to ‘save one’s soul’ (Mk 8:35) does not mean to save some ‘spiritual’ part of man, as opposed to his ‘body’ (in the Platonic sense) but the whole person with emphasis on the fact that the person is living, desiring, loving and willing, etc., in addition to being concrete and physical (cf. BODY). There is no opposition or difference between soul and body; they are merely different ways of describing the one, concrete reality.”

And under the heading “Body” we read:

“In the Bible, not the opposite of soul, but the whole, concrete fullness of the human person, man as a whole. The distinction between soul and body in the Greek sense is alien to the Bible.”

Does it not appear strange that the Catholic Church has for centuries taught that the soul and body are not the same and yet says that this is not a teaching of the Bible? Might not the inconsistency between what has been taught and what is actually contained in God’s Word have contributed toward undermining the faith of many? If you have always believed that man has an immortal soul, how does it make you feel when you read an official Catholic publication admitting that this is not a Bible teaching? Does it cause you to wonder as to whether you have been taught many other things that are out of harmony with the Holy Scriptures?

It should be noted that, not only have doctrines admittedly contrary to the Bible been taught, but even the inspiration of the Bible has been called into question. In discussing points made by theologian Hans Küng, Gregory Baum, O.S.A., wrote recently:

“In the past we looked upon the scripture as inerrant. Because it was Word of God, the church was not ready to admit any errors in its pages. A more critical, historical approach has taught us, however, that there are many mistakes in the Bible. How did theologians deal with this problem? They did not distinguish in scripture the parts that are inspired by God and hence inerrant, and the parts that are not inspired and hence possibly erroneous. They rather proposed that the entire scripture is inspired, the entire Bible communicates God’s Word to men, despite the mistakes we find in it and the misconceptions future generations may still discover in it. This viewpoint at first caused consternation and anger among Catholics and even provoked negative reactions from the hierarchy, but it was eventually acknowledged by the church and became its official position.”

In view of what the Catholic Church has done in teaching things that are openly acknowledged by her as unbiblical and now even accepting the idea that the Bible is filled with errors, should it be surprising that the Catholic Church is experiencing a crisis? Might it not be otherwise if she had followed the Bible’s teaching and consistently adhered to its standards in everything? If she had, compulsory celibacy for priests would not even be an issue, for the Bible does not support the idea.

“Your Word Is Truth”

Happy the Merciful​—They Will Be Shown Mercy’

THERE is a saying, “Virtue is its own reward.” That saying is well meant, for he who is virtuous with an eye to material reward is not really virtuous. However, God’s Word assures us that Jehovah God also rewards virtue, that is, goodness and right doing. In fact, the apostle Paul states that to please God we must believe not only that He exists but that He rewards those earnestly seeking Him. (Heb. 11:6) Jesus Christ, the Son of God, made the same point in his Sermon on the Mount when he said: “Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy.”​—Matt. 5:7.

To many persons the word “mercy” has only the legal sense of not exacting the full penalty that justice requires. Thus to commute a death sentence to one of life imprisonment is deemed an act of mercy. God’s Word often uses “mercy” with this connotation. But “mercy” has also another meaning, that of showing kindness or compassion, consideration to deserving or needy ones, and it is with this meaning that the word “mercy” is used most frequently in the Bible, in both the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures.

When Jesus, in connection with his parable of the Good Samaritan, asked which one “made himself neighbor to the man that fell among the robbers,” he was answered, “The one that acted mercifully toward him.” Obviously, here it was a matter not of tempering justice with leniency or being forgiving, but rather of showing compassion to a victim of misfortune, the man who had been beaten and robbed. (Luke 10:36, 37) And so we repeatedly find in the Gospels that victims of misfortune or those in need begged Jesus to have mercy on them, not having in mind that he should forgive them, should exact less than justice from them, but that he should relieve them of their sufferings.

Does God truly show mercy to those who are thus merciful? Historical facts show that what God’s Word says about this is truth. A striking example of how God showed mercy in the sense of compassion to one who had shown this quality is seen in the Bible record of Tabitha or Dorcas. It tells us that she “abounded in good deeds and gifts of mercy” to the poor. When she happened to fall sick and die, those who had benefited from her mercies sent for the apostle Peter. He, by means of God’s holy spirit, was able to bring her back to life​—certainly a great mercy to her.​—Acts 9:36-43.

Another example of the application of Jesus’ words at Matthew 5:7 is seen in the case of Cornelius, a Roman officer living in Caesarea. He was ‘devout and fearing God and made many gifts of mercy to the Jews as well as praying to God continually.’ God showed him consideration; He answered his prayers. God rewarded him for the mercies he had shown by allowing him to become the first Gentile convert to true Christianity. This meant that the merits of Christ’s ransom sacrifice were applied on his behalf, he became a spirit-begotten follower of Jesus Christ and had the hope set before him of everlasting life in the heavens.​—Acts 10:1, 2, 42-48.

Jehovah God, in his great love, consideration and compassion, causes the sun to shine and the rain to fall upon the wicked and the righteous. And “by God’s undeserved kindness” not only did Jesus “taste death for every man” but God made provision that “all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out,” “both the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Heb. 2:9; John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15) But to benefit fully from God’s undeserved kindnesses, to continue to enjoy them, to keep on being the recipients of his mercies, persons must also be merciful. They must make it a practice to show kindness or compassion to their fellowman.

Jesus’ illustration of the sheep and goats as found at Matthew 25:31-46, and which parable is having fulfillment in our day, makes a similar point regarding the importance of mercy. Therein Jesus tells of some, the sheeplike ones, who showed many kindnesses, mercies, who manifested compassion to him in that they did so to his “brothers.” How did they show such merciful compassion? By feeding Christ’s spiritual brothers when hungry, clothing them when in need of covering, visiting them when sick and when in prison. Because of having done all these things Jesus says they will be shown kindness, favor and consideration: “Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world.” And in particular will they be shown compassion in that God will protect them in the day of his anger.

Within the Christian congregation as well as within one’s family circle there are also opportunities to show mercy. There may be some who are depressed, discouraged, timid or shy. To “speak consolingly to the depressed souls” is indeed extending mercy, and in doing so one can expect to receive mercy in that “the generous soul will itself be made fat, and the one freely watering others will himself also be freely watered.” (1 Thess. 5:14; Prov. 11:25) Not that such gifts of mercy are limited to spiritual things. As the apostle John shows, Christians are also to show love by giving of material things to fellow Christians in need. Do you do that?​—1 John 3:17, 18.

Christians are to be willing to show mercy to one another, and they are also counseled to do it cheerfully. “He that shows mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness,” wrote the apostle Paul. Yes, they are to do this, “not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Showing mercy with cheerfulness is a mercy, a kindness; it shows compassion in itself because it makes the acceptance of the mercy more pleasant. Can we help a fellow Christian who needs upbuilding spiritually or who has fallen into need materially?​—Rom. 12:8; 2 Cor. 9:7.

In addition to receiving mercy from Jehovah God for showing mercy we can also hope to receive mercy from those to whom we have shown mercy when the ‘shoe is on the other foot,’ as the saying goes. This is indicated by Jesus’ words: “Practice giving, and people will give to you.”​—Luke 6:38.

Along with our showing compassion and kindnesses to needy ones, either spiritually or in a material way, our mercy should, of course, include being forgiving. Thus Jesus in one of his parables has the master say to a slave who had been forgiven a large sum he owed but refused to forgive a small debt owed him: “Wicked slave, I canceled all that debt for you, when you entreated me. Ought you not, in turn, to have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I also had mercy on you?” In conclusion Jesus said: “In like manner my heavenly Father will also deal with you if you do not forgive each one his brother from your hearts.” Events due to take place in the very near future will prove unmistakably that in this, too, what the Bible says is the truth.​—Matt. 18:23-35.

Watching the World

1971 Assemblies Under Way

◆ The first three of the 1971 “Divine Name” District Assemblies of Jehovah’s Witnesses began June 30. On opening day the keynote speaker declared that the “clergy of Christendom have made God’s name stink to the high heavens” by trying to associate “this God of the Bible with all their spilling of blood in violent wars.” But the speaker showed that this is not true of the increasing number of persons today who do not engage in Christendom’s God-dishonoring activities. Instead, by what they say and do they glorify Jehovah, willingly taking up the obligation of being his Witnesses. That God would completely clear his name of reproach was discussed on the fifth or final day in the public address, “When All Nations Collide, Head On, with God.” In attendance were 52,243 in New York city, 36,335 in Cincinnati and 16,102 in Jersey City. At these three assemblies a total of 1,782 were baptized to symbolize their dedication to God. The assemblies were the first of a series to be held this summer, in many parts of the world.

New Field of Virus Research

◆ A new field of medical research has opened up with respect to diseases involving the nervous system. Such afflictions as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease may be caused by “slow viruses,” researchers think. These are different from the familiar viruses that are fast striking, causing diseases to appear in a matter of days. The “slow viruses” may inhabit a cell for years before causing a disease to manifest itself. Dr. John L. Sever, an American researcher at the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, observed: “It’s a new state of viral activity never seen among fast-acting viruses.” It has been found that the fast-acting measles virus can get into the nervous system and become a “slow virus” there, causing a disease that destroys brain cells. The chicken-pox virus can also become a “slow virus,” appearing after many years of latency to cause shingles in an adult. According to one researcher, “slow viruses” have “opened up a whole new frontier of medical research.”

Want to Buy a Seminary?

◆ A Catholic seminary in the Canadian province of Quebec has been trying to find a buyer for three years. The initial price of $3.25 million has been scaled down to $2 million, but still no buyers. Sagging enrollment compelled the Redemptorists, the religious order that owns it, to close it down. The seminary, with its 35 acres of land, appears to be unattractive to potential buyers because of the high cost of converting it to another use.

Recycling Cans

◆ More than 60 billion cans are used in the United States every year for foods and other products. Now the steel companies are starting a drive to retrieve these cans and recycle them through their furnaces into new steel products. Can-collecting stations are being established in thirty-nine cities in thirteen states. Since cans make up 7 percent of the nation’s garbage, this recycling program is a step in the right direction.

Crystals for Picture Storage

◆ It is now possible to store pictures permanently in pieces of crystal the size of sugar cubes. A laser beam is used to imprint the pictures in the crystal. This can be done not only with photographs but also with maps, drawings, statistics and other information. A crystal somewhat smaller than a sugar cube could probably hold one trillion bits of information. In turn, a laser is used to retrieve the pictures. A minute turn of the crystal makes it possible to switch from one picture to another.

Energy from Fusion

◆ Scientists around the world are working to produce energy from the fusion of hydrogen atoms, the power behind the hydrogen bomb. They believe that controlled fusion of such atoms will solve man’s energy needs. It has been estimated that one gallon of seawater can, by means of fusion, produce energy equivalent to 300 gallons of gasoline. A fusion reactor produces energy by bringing the nuclei of hydrogen atoms so close together that they fuse and in the process give off a burst of energy. A few research machines have already produced fusion, but at present the energy consumed in the process greatly exceeds the energy produced.

Chickens for Plane Safety

◆ During 1970 airplanes in the United States had 537 collisions with birds, resulting in smashed windshields, wrecked tail assemblies and dented wings. To test the structural soundness of planes against such collisions, a forty-foot gun has been set up in Ottawa, Canada, that fires four-pound chickens at aircraft parts. The dead chickens leave the barrel at 700 miles per hour or at lesser speeds when desired. The gun is operated by compressed air. According to the man who operates this unique gun, there is hardly a square inch of a plane that can withstand the impact of a four-pound chicken that strikes it at 500 miles per hour. The results of such tests are considered when efforts are made to improve the structural safety of airplanes.

Evolutionary Uncertainty

◆ With few facts and much imagination, evolutionists take several pieces of bone and construct a line of creatures that were supposed to have been ancestors of man. The Australopithecus holds an important niche in their lineup. Now that Richard Leakey has found in Africa three specimens of Homo on the same levels that yielded specimens of Australopithecus, the theory is presented that Australopithecus was not an ancestor to Homo and to man after all. So the fruitless search for the imaginary creatures that are supposed to link man with the animals goes on.

Starlight vs. City Light

◆ Astronomers find that they have a growing problem with light from nearby cities. The light from such cities can engulf an observatory, interfering with telescopic viewing of faint stars. Telescopes are so sensitive to the faint light of distant stars they can be overwhelmed by the sporadic flashes of a neon road sign twenty miles away. The six observatories near Tucson, Arizona, are being affected by the lights of this city whose population has grown to 300,000 in the past twenty years. Astronomers are asking for laws to prohibit spotlights and advertising signs within a twenty-five-mile radius of an observatory. They also want new street lamps with down-reflecting shields, as well as black asphalt paving on the streets.

Pick with Care

◆ There are many varieties of edible mushrooms, but there are also 70 varieties that are poisonous. Since hundreds of people every year suffer from mushroom poisoning, the warning to pick with care cannot be repeated too often. Recently two men in New Jersey picked mushrooms in a pine grove, and their wives cooked the mushrooms in a stew. After eating the stew one of the men died from mushroom poisoning, as well as a daughter of the other man. The latter man became very ill and was hospitalized. In a few days his liver began to deteriorate. After a frantic search, an antidote, thioctic acid, was obtained from Milan, Italy. Gradually he began to improve. The mushroom that poisoned him was the deadly Amanita verna, a graceful, creamy-white variety that can be easily mistaken for an edible mushroom.

Female Criminals

◆ Crimes among females are increasing in the United States. In 1960, women made up 10 percent of those persons arrested for major crimes. In 1969, the figure was 16 percent. According to a Boston judge, there used to be one girl for every ten boys that came before him in his courtroom. Now the ratio is one to three.

School-Age Parents

◆ Britain is having a truancy problem because so many school-age children are parents of illegitimate children. Many of the girls claim that they must remain home to care for their illegitimate babies. A former labor MP cited the case of a 15-year-old boy whose mother was questioned about his recurring truancy. The boy’s mother said: “I can’t insist on his going to school​—he’s a father.” The number of girls giving birth to illegitimate babies in Britain during 1969 was triple the figure of 1959.

Underground Pollution

◆ In an effort to dispose of unwanted wastes many American industrial plants are pumping them into disposal wells. These are holes that are five to six inches in diameter and 3,000 to 12,000 feet deep. The industries hope that the wastes will be absorbed into underground formations of porous limestone and sandstone. But there appear to have been cases where the wastes have escaped through cracks in the rock formation and returned to the surface. Some persons are worried that these wastes will pollute underground water supplies. One government official observed: “This underground pollution is a game of environmental roulette.”

White-Collar Unemployed

◆ The business slump in the United States has hit white-collar workers a hard blow. In times past it was the blue-collar workers who were let go, but this time workers ranging from president to file clerk have also lost their jobs. Professionals with college degrees have been let go the same as those without degrees. College graduates are having more difficulty finding jobs now than they have had in a decade.

Too Many Drugs

◆ With people taking a mixture of drugs for various problems, there is a rising incidence of dangerous complications. One doctor observed: “Some drugs, although innocuous in solo, can be lethal in concert.” In other words, when taken along with other drugs, serious interactions can occur. Some persons are taking several different drugs at the same time that have been prescribed by several physicians without telling any of the physicians what drugs they are taking. Such mixtures can cause dangerous complications.

[Picture on page 29]

52,243 persons filled New York’s Yankee Stadium on July 4 to hear public talk by N. H. Knorr

Learn the Secret of a Happy Family Life

It is plainly set out in the encouraging book “Life Everlasting​—in Freedom of the Sons of God.” Two chapters are devoted to Bible principles governing the marriage relationship. You will also learn how freedom in an earth-wide paradise can be the future for you and your family. This hard-covered book of 416 pages can be had for only 50c.

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