December 8

Page Two

It is natural for humans to want material prosperity and happiness. To achieve this, many economic and political systems have been tried, among them today capitalism, communism and socialism. Are these able to bring real prosperity and happiness to people? If not, what can?

5 MATERIAL PROSPERITY​—A UNIVERSAL GOAL

6 CAN THEY BRING REAL HAPPINESS?

9 IS MATERIAL PROSPERITY ENOUGH?

13 BIBLE VALUES AND PROMISES THAT BRING REAL HAPPINESS

Have You Ever Wondered—

“Does the Bible Say That?”

THE Bible is the world’s best seller. It has had greater influence upon the world than any other book. Yet, some very wrong things were done by people who claimed that the Bible supported them. Also, many unusual statements have been credited to the Bible.

ARE PEOPLE’S CLAIMS ALWAYS TRUE?

Surely you agree that people can misread a passage or repeat something from hearsay. Also, persons seeking support for some crooked act could easily twist a Bible statement or take it out of its context. Or a person may have some cherished ideal, religious belief or personal opinion and look for any kind of support from the Book of books.

The Bible even warns that some of its users would selfishly ‘twist the Scriptures.’ It urges: “Make sure of all things; hold fast to what is fine.”​—1 Thess. 5:21; 2 Pet. 3:16.

What are some common ideas attributed to the Bible?

Does it say: “The earth will be burned up”?

Here is a case where some persons have taken a Bible verse out of its context and have twisted its meaning. True, at 2 Peter 3:7 the Bible states: “The heavens and the earth that are now are stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment.” But the context of the verse shows that the words “the heavens and the earth” do not refer to the literal starry heavens and the ground we walk upon.

Previous verses speak of ‘heavens and an earth of old’ that were destroyed by water. What was it that perished during the global flood of Noah’s day? Wicked people. Yes, a violent society, along with those individuals who ruled over them like a “heavens,” was drowned. The literal starry heavens and our earth remained. In this instance the earth is used in a symbolic way, referring to people. It is used similarly at Genesis 11:1, which says: “Now all the earth continued to be of one language.” Certainly it is people, not the ground, that use language. So with the coming day of judgment there will be a “destruction of the ungodly men,” the symbolic “earth.” However, our planet Earth will remain and will be converted into a global paradise.​—2 Pet. 3:5-7; Ps. 37:10, 11; Eccl. 1:4.

Another saying attributed to the Bible has been very much misunderstood over the years.

Does it say: “Money is the root of all evil”?

The simple fact is that the Bible does not make this statement. What, then, does it say that is similar? With a significant difference it states: “The love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things.”​—1 Tim. 6:10.

What a world of difference those three extra words make! Can money itself be blamed for what people do with it? Much good can be accomplished through its wise use. On the other hand, if the desire to possess money becomes the all-consuming love in life, therein lies the root of all sorts of injurious things, intrigue and murder among them. So what the Bible does say is nicely balanced and true.

Does it say: “God cursed the blacks”?

This statement was used to support the slave trade and the subsequent oppression of the black people. How did it come about? Is this statement really in the Bible?

No, it is not. In Genesis, chapter 9, there is the account of Ham’s son Canaan, who was cursed by his grandfather, Noah, in these words: “Cursed be Canaan. Let him become the lowest slave to his brothers.”

In the course of history, the Canaanites were subjected by the Israelites and later by various world powers. But did this fulfillment have anything to do with the black races? No. How do we know? Simply because none of Canaan’s offspring were black. In fact, it was Ham’s other sons, Cush and Put, who settled in Africa and fathered the races of black people living there. The Bible does not say that these other sons or their descendants were cursed by God.

In the face of this evidence, why do people still cling to this myth? In some countries, as in the United States prior to the Civil War, economic advantages in certain areas fit conveniently into such a pattern of thinking. For other individuals, the nurturing of a feeling of superiority may make them feel good. The fact remains, however, that the Bible does not say the black people are, or ever were, cursed by God.

So, with the Bible in hand, there is no need to be misled at any time. Anyway, is it not fairer and safer to check it for yourself, rather than to accept hearsay? Then you can be sure that your faith will be strengthened by the many good things the Bible has to say!​—2 Tim. 3:16.

Material Prosperity​—A Universal Goal

“MATERIAL consumption is said to be the national religion. All Americans are supposed to want to be rich, and the culture is one of comfort and pleasure. . . . The materialism of American life is all-pervasive.” Such is reported to be the view of American life currently expressed in French school textbooks.a

Allowing for exaggeration, there is undoubtedly some truth in this assessment. The standard of living in the United States has become the criterion for measuring the economic success of any nation. Only a few other countries (such as Switzerland and Sweden) can boast of having a similar standard of living. These favored few have become the envy of the many others, including communistic countries.

“Higher pay,” “fewer working hours” and “better living conditions.” These are the demands of the working classes in all lands, whether their system of government is capitalistic, socialistic or communistic.

As applied to people’s attitude toward life, the word “materialism” has been defined as “the doctrine that comfort, pleasure, and wealth are the only or highest goals or values.” Who will deny that a large percentage of mankind has adopted such a materialistic outlook on life? For many, material prosperity has become synonymous with happiness. It seems to have become the universal goal to be attained. But by what means?

Many people in industrial countries sincerely believe that the capitalist system offers the best hope of prosperity and happiness. They are for free enterprise, with as little interference from the state as possible.

Millions of others are convinced that capitalism favors the few, to the detriment of the greater number. They prefer communism, an economic and political system based on the ownership of all property by the community or the state. They are willing to forgo certain freedoms provided the state guarantees them material prosperity.

Between these two groups are millions of others for whom the way to material prosperity and happiness is through neither capitalism nor communism. They recognize the disadvantages of the capitalist system, but also the dangers of communism. They hope, by means of reforms, to bring about an equalitarian, democratic society based on state planning and public control of the principal means of production. These are the socialists, variously called Social Democrats, Laborites, Welfare Staters, and so forth.

A brief examination of the history of capitalism, communism and socialism, and of the results obtained by these systems, will help us to see if any one of them can bring true happiness.

[Footnotes]

Can They Bring Real Happiness?

Capitalism? Communism? Socialism?

THE pursuit of happiness by means of material prosperity is not a new idea. It was the way of life of many ancient Greeks and Romans. But it fell into disrepute throughout the entire Middle Ages. Why? Mainly for religious reasons.

Medieval society was dominated by religion in every field of human activity. For the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, poverty was a virtue. It was a “test” that had to be accepted by the poor. The rich were rich and the poor were poor by what was labeled a God-ordained arrangement. Voluntary poverty was considered “holy,” and “usury” (lending for gain) was condemned by canon law.

Yet, while anathematizing Jewish moneylenders, Catholic cathedral chapters lent money at high interest rates. The papacy itself became “the greatest financial institution of the Middle Ages.” This was the setup during much of the period of the feudal-ecclesiastical order.

The Birth of Capitalism

With the breakup of the feudal system, town and intercity trade grew. So did trade between nations. And ideas circulated more freely, particularly after the invention of the printing press. The influence of the Catholic Church began to wane.

Medieval Catholicism had been the greatest obstacle to the development of a new economic system. Yet pockets of capitalistic trading, manufacturing and banking had been growing toward the end of the Middle Ages right within Catholic Christendom. This was true in such Catholic cities as Venice in Italy, Augsburg in Germany and Antwerp in Flanders.

Then the Protestant Reformation broke out in the 16th century. While it would be an exaggeration to say that the Reformation fathered capitalism, it did release ideas that gave a decided boost to it. For one thing, Calvinism relieved legitimate business profit of the stigma of “usury.” Moreover, certain Protestant beliefs provided people with the incentive to work hard so as to succeed in life and thus prove they were among the “elect.” Success in business was considered to be a sign of God’s blessing. The resulting wealth became available “capital” for investment in one’s own business venture or some other one. Thus, the Protestant ethic of hard work and thrift contributed to the expansion of capitalism.

Not surprisingly, the capitalist economy developed faster in Protestant countries than in Catholic states. But the Catholic Church quickly made up for lost time. She allowed capitalism to develop in lands where she was powerful, and became an extremely rich capitalist organization in her own right.a

Capitalism undoubtedly provided an improvement over the feudal system, if only for the greater freedom it brought to the working classes. But it also brought many injustices. The gap between the rich and the poor tended to widen. At its worst, it brought about exploitation and class warfare. At its best, it produced an affluent consumer society in some lands, with material fullness. But it has also produced spiritual emptiness, and has failed to bring true and lasting happiness.

Is Communism the Way to Happiness?

The Protestant Reformation was a revolt against papal abuse of power and privilege. Yet it unleashed a flood of ideas that went far beyond what the original Reformers anticipated. These ideas​—sooner or much later—​were to produce revolutions in fields other than religion. Not only did the revolt against Rome boost the development of capitalism but it also contributed to innovations in the fields of science, technology and philosophy​—leading to godless beliefs.

With the advent of the steam engine and machinery, capitalism spread out from the field of commerce into that of industry. The latter part of the 18th century and the 19th century saw the creation of huge factories requiring a large labor force recruited among peasants, craftsmen and even children. But capitalist “exploitation of man by man” led to the creation of workers’ movements and revolutionary philosophies such as communism.

Theoretically, the term “communism” denotes “systems of social organization based upon common property, or an equal distribution of income and wealth.” In current practice, communism is a system of government based on the holding of property by the state, which controls the economy under a one-party political structure.

For millions of have-nots throughout the world, communism seemed to offer hope for a better life. It appeared to be the best means for leveling off the flagrant social inequalities created by the capitalist system. Many were even prepared to forgo immediate hopes of freedom if, by means of a revolution, better living conditions could be obtained. Freedom would come later, so they thought. But years have gone by. The communist system of government has had time to show what it is capable of in many countries. The results have been disappointing, even with regard to material prosperity, not to speak of freedom and happiness.

For years, in the Western world, many of the young​—and even some not so young—​were attracted by the communist ideology. But persistent bad news seeping out of many communist lands and the one-way flow of refugees have left many disillusioned.

Is Socialism a Better Way?

The word “socialism” comes from the Latin word socius, meaning “companion.” It was first used in England at the beginning of the 19th century, and a little later in France. It was applied to the social theories of Englishman Robert Owen (1771-1858) and Frenchmen Saint-Simon (1760-1825) and Charles Fourier (1772-1837).

Owen criticized the capitalist organization of industry, based on competition and on the exploitation of the workers. He recommended a cooperative system in which men and women would live in “Villages of Unity and Cooperation,” enjoying the fruits of their labor in both agriculture and industry. Several Owenite communities were set up in Scotland, Ireland and even in the United States. But they eventually disintegrated.

In France, Fourier advocated the creation of model communities called phalansteries, consisting of people who would work according to their preferences. Unlike Owen, who accepted state intervention to set up his “villages,” Fourier believed his system would work on an entirely voluntary basis. Moreover, members of his communities would be paid according to their efforts and would be allowed to own property. Fourier thought he had discovered a social organization that corresponded with men’s natural desires in their search for happiness. Fourierist communities were actually set up in Europe and in the United States. But they also failed.

Nearer to modern socialism were the ideas of Frenchman Saint-Simon. He advocated the collective ownership of the means of production and their administration by experts in the fields of science, technology, industry and finance. Saint-Simon believed that cooperation between science and industry would produce a new society in which people would have equal opportunity of finding prosperity according to their abilities and the amount and quality of their work.

While none of these early socialist ideologies succeeded, they paved the way for later movements. They were the early voices of modern-day socialism, which has been defined as a system of social organization based on public ownership and control of the principal means of production and distribution of goods. While its fundamental aims are similar to those of communism, present-day social democracy differs from Marxism in that it advocates progressive reforms but not revolution and a one-party system.

Although more respectful of individual freedom than communism, socialism has not succeeded in bringing about international peace and happiness. Why?

Why the Failure?

For one thing, socialism has not proved itself more powerful than nationalism. Concerning the Second International, a federation of Socialist parties and trade unions founded in 1889, we read that it “issued many moving and stirring manifestoes against war, but when war broke out [in 1914] it disclosed its paralysis. Most of its national components sided with their own governments and abandoned the idea of international working-class solidarity.”​—Encyclopædia Britannica.

Since then, the socialist movement has continued to be fragmented and to mean different things to different people. The name socialist is used by various governments throughout the world, some of which differ very little from progressive conservative governments, whereas others are authoritarian and even totalitarian. The word “socialist” has therefore lost much of its meaning for many sincere people who thought it would lead to a worldwide brotherhood in a classless society of material prosperity and happiness.

Little wonder that French trade-union leader Edmond Maire wrote in Le Monde: “The historic failure of the labor movement in its ambition to build socialism . . . [has] led a number of militants​—both workers and intellectuals—​to give up even the long-term hopes. . . . The young appear to be particularly affected by this weakening of the socialist hope.”

Thus, whether it be by means of capitalism, communism or socialism, mankind’s quest for a system that will bring material prosperity and real happiness has failed. American sociologist Daniel Bell admits: “For the radical intelligentsia, the old ideologies have lost their ‘truth,’ and their power to persuade. Few serious minds believe any longer that one can set down ‘blueprints’ and through ‘social engineering’ bring about a new utopia of social harmony.”​—The End of Ideology.

Yet this quest for material prosperity and happiness is a natural one. Why, then, have human economic and political systems been unable to attain it? The following article will examine that question.

[Footnotes]

[Blurb on page 7]

Many have become disillusioned with communism, as evidenced by the one-way flow of refugees

[Box on page 8]

Capitalism

The economic system in which all or most of the means of production and distribution of goods (land, mines, factories, railroads, and so forth) are privately owned and operated for profit, the owners (capitalists) hiring the labor services of capitalless persons (workers)

Communism

A system of social organization based on the holding of all property by the community or the state, which plans and controls the economy under a one-party political structure

Socialism

A system of social organization based on public ownership and control of the principal means of production and distribution of goods; distinguished from communism in the Western world in that it advocates progressive reforms within a democratic society

[Picture on page 6]

Child working in a coal mine in Britain in 1842

Is Material Prosperity Enough?

THE desire for material prosperity is not wrong in itself. But is it enough to bring true happiness? Have capitalism, communism and socialism forgotten the primary ingredient for true happiness? And could this important lack explain, at least in part, why these systems have failed to make people really happy?

The sincerity of men who devote their entire lives to efforts aimed at making capitalism, communism or socialism succeed cannot be denied. And each system has succeeded in raising the standard of living in certain countries, for certain people. But have they brought genuine happiness to the majority of those lands? Have they ended crime, violence and war? Has any one of these systems wiped out suicide, drug addiction or alcoholism? Do happy people commit suicide, “escape” by means of drugs, or “drown their sorrows” in alcohol?

The avowed purpose of these various human systems is to further a way of life that is considered to be the best for all or, at least, for “the greatest number.” They attach more or less importance to freedom or to equality as being basic to human happiness. Capitalism is willing to sacrifice equality in favor of freedom. Communism puts equality above freedom. Social democracy tries to make the best of both worlds. But not one of them has succeeded in changing human nature. Human selfishness brings out the worst in capitalists, making many of them unjust exploiters; it has converted communist experiments into state capitalism, the common people being exploited by the state instead of by individual capitalists or huge corporations; it has ruined socialist Utopian dreams.

Technology Is Not Enough

Until quite recently, political and economic ideologists of all tendencies pinned their hopes on scientific progress and technology. We read: “The new technology seemed to fit [free-enterprise capitalism] like a glove and to guarantee the rapid realization of the Utilitarian philosophers’ ideal of ‘the greatest good for the greatest number.’ Even Marx and Engels, approaching from a radically different political orientation, saw in technology nothing but good.”​—Encyclopædia Britannica.

Yes, from the most die-hard capitalist to the most revolutionary communist, men hailed technology as the key to mankind’s future happiness. New and better machines would do away with drudgery. Working hours would be reduced, leaving people with more leisure time for travel, culture or pleasure. How could this result in anything but happiness?

Nowadays the optimism has subsided. Technology has created as many problems as it has solved, or would you say, even more? The reference work just quoted goes on to speak of the “social defects of technological progress, such as automobile fatalities, air and water pollution, urban overcrowding, and excessive noise.” It also mentions the serious problem of “technological tyranny over man’s individuality and traditional patterns of life.”

Who, today, can seriously claim that technology has improved family life, provided people with satisfying jobs or made the world a safer place in which to live? Undeniably, something more than technology is necessary to make people happy.

“Not on Bread Alone”

As the technological revolution got under way, a few farsighted men foresaw its dangers. British statesman William Gladstone (1809-1898) issued a warning against the “increasing domination of the things seen over the things unseen,” and against the “power of a silent, unavowed, unconscious materialism.” American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) gave this poetic warning against rising materialism: “Things are in the saddle and ride mankind.”

In his book Religion and the Rise of Capitalism, R. H. Tawney denounces the “illusion of progress won from the mastery of the material environment by a race too selfish and superficial to determine the purpose to which its triumphs shall be applied.” He criticizes the idea “that the attainment of material riches is the supreme object of human endeavour and the final criterion of human success.” Additionally, he emphasizes the need of “a standard of values . . . based on some conception of the requirements of human nature as a whole, to which the satisfaction of economic needs is evidently vital, but which demands the satisfaction of other needs as well.”

Yes, for true happiness, man must have a “standard of values.” But the present state of the world shows beyond doubt that human philosophy, political economy, science and technology have all failed to supply man with a valid set of values. People would, therefore, do well not to despise the only book that does supply a reliable standard of values​—the Bible.

In both the Hebrew and the Greek Scriptures, we find this basic truth: “Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah’s mouth.” (Matt. 4:4; Deut. 8:3) The Bible puts the emphasis where it belongs​—on spiritual values. Giving a fundamental prerequisite for happiness, it states: “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need.”​—Matt. 5:3.

Man has proved incapable of filling such spiritual need. By making technology and materialistic goals his top priority, he has come face to face with a crisis summed up as follows: “For all his intelligence, man behaves in communities with a thoughtlessness for his environment that is potentially suicidal. It is debatable, then, whether technology is a blessing or a bane [cause of distress, death, or ruin]. The history of technology has led from the earliest technological achievements of man the toolmaker to the crossroads at which the species now stands, in the last third of the 20th century, confronted by a choice, that of self-destruction or a millennium of adventurous growth and expansion.”​—Encyclopædia Britannica.

A Millennium of True Prosperity

The Bible not only supplies here and now the spiritual values that are the primary ingredient for happiness but also gives a wonderful hope of a millennium of peace, justice and material prosperity right here on earth. (See page 13.) Well over two million Jehovah’s Witnesses living in 205 countries whose governments represent the whole gamut of economic and political systems​—from capitalism to communism—​have found immediate happiness by the practical application of the Bible’s moral values, while placing their hope of peace and justice in God’s sure promise of a new order.​—2 Pet. 3:13.

In the past, many who are now Jehovah’s Witnesses had put their faith in the political and economic systems invented by men, or thought something could be done to reform them. Some were ardent believers in capitalist free enterprise. Others thought welfare-state socialism would solve mankind’s problems. Still others were militant communists. One of these latter, living in France, writes: “I believed that all working-class people could attain material happiness by practicing Marxism. For about 12 years I was an active member of the Communist Party. I sold L’Humanité [a French communist newspaper] on the streets and pasted propaganda posters on walls late at night. I was very much convinced that communism was the only way to put an end to the exploitation of man by man. But eventually, I became tired of the Party. We were always the same few to be asked to do the work. The rest just bought the Party Card.”

Explaining why he became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he adds: “The Witnesses were able to answer all my questions. I realized that God’s promises were more realistic than those of the Communist Party. I was overjoyed to meet with kind people who really loved one another. I now learned that the paradise I had hoped to see through communism would come through God’s kingdom.”

Other Witnesses have learned the hard way that material prosperity definitely is not enough to bring happiness. They have experienced the truthfulness of this Bible axiom: “The love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things.” (1 Tim. 6:10) This has proved to be true of both rich and poor. Whatever their social level may be, Jehovah’s Witnesses follow the Biblical counsel that says: “Train yourself spiritually. . . . the usefulness of spirituality is unlimited, since it holds out the reward of life here and now and of the future life as well.”​—1 Tim. 4:7, 8, The Jerusalem Bible.

The “future life” that the Bible offers on a paradise earth is an eternity of spiritual and material prosperity, an eternity of life in happiness for those who prove faithful to the “happy God,” Jehovah. (1 Tim. 1:11; Rev. 21:1-5) This is a hope that neither capitalism, communism nor socialism can dare to offer.

[Blurb on page 11]

“Even Marx and Engels . . . saw in technology nothing but good”

Bible Values and Promises That Bring Real Happiness

The Bible is not a book of politics or economics. It does, however, condemn injustice and foretell the end of man-made systems and their replacement by a new order of peace and prosperity under God’s Kingdom government.

SPIRITUAL VALUES ABOVE MATERIAL PROSPERITY:

“Happy is the man that has found wisdom, and the man that gets discernment, for having it as gain is better than having silver as gain . . . Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its roadways are peace. It is a tree of life to those taking hold of it, and those keeping fast hold of it are to be called happy.”​—Prov. 3:13-18.

GREED CONDEMNED:

“Woe to the ones joining house to house, and those who annex field to field until there is no more room.”​—Isa. 5:8.

“Incline my heart to your reminders, and not to profits.”​—Ps. 119:36.

WARNING AGAINST MATERIALISM:

“Men who set their hearts on being wealthy expose themselves to temptation. They fall into a trap . . . For loving money leads to all kinds of evil.”​—1 Tim. 6:9, 10, “Phillips,” Revised Edition.

“A person’s true life is not made up of the things he owns, no matter how rich he may be.”​—Luke 12:15, “Today’s English Version.”

PROMISE OF A JUST NEW ORDER:

“We have his [God’s] promise, and look forward to new heavens and a new earth, the home of justice.”​—2 Pet. 3:13, “The New English Bible.”

THE END OF ALL OPPRESSION:

“The oppressor has reached his end; the despoiling has terminated; those trampling down others have been finished off the earth. And in loving-kindness a throne will certainly be firmly established; and one [Christ, the Messianic King] must sit down upon it in trueness in the tent of David, judging and seeking justice and being prompt in righteousness.”​—Isa. 16:4, 5.

A LIFE OF SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL ABUNDANCE:

“The earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah.”​—Isa. 11:9. “The earth itself will certainly give its produce; God, our God, will bless us.”​—Ps. 67:6.

Do You Recognize the Meaning of What You See?

False prophets

NO ONE wants to be misled. And yet so many people today seem to have been led astray.

It is noteworthy that in giving part of the “sign” of the “conclusion of the system of things,” Jesus Christ warned against being misled. He said: “Many false prophets will arise and mislead many.” (Matt. 24:11) Who did he have in mind?

In Religion

Discontent with older religions has brought about the establishment of new, less orthodox ones, particularly in our 20th century. Thousands of distinct religious groups lay claim to being true guides. And ever more persons, finding none to suit their taste, start their own.

At least some of the religious groups seen in the accompanying chart have most likely been founded during your lifetime. They, and thousands of other religions, have attracted millions of members.

Not every religious “prophet” is of necessity a guide for good, however, regardless of how many people follow him. This is well illustrated by what happened in Jonestown, Guyana, in 1978. Over 900 persons, most of them belonging to the sect Peoples Temple, committed mass suicide at the direction of their leader, Jim Jones.

Since the Bible speaks about only “one faith,” all of today’s religious groups outside this one true faith must, according to this standard, be counterfeits, composite “false prophets.” (Eph. 4:4-6; Matt. 24:11) And there are more of them now than ever before.

In Politics

Political leaders often end up being “false prophets” unable to fulfill their promises. Of course, not every ruler turns out to be a “Hitler,” whose promised “thousand-year reich” proved to be a disastrous 12 years of misrule. The danger that one will be a “false prophet” increases, however, in direct proportion to their number. And that number is increasing​—rapidly.

A very prominent political “prophet” of our present century was the League of Nations, formed in 1919. It foretold a world of lasting peace. But World War II unceremoniously dumped it into a pit of inactivity. It was replaced in 1945 by the United Nations organization, which doubtless is trying to prevent the outbreak of an atomic World War III. But has it truly ‘maintained international peace and security,’ as its charter prophesied?

In Personal Matters

The wide variety of views found in religious and political persuasions can also be found in matters of a more personal nature. Self-appointed “prophets” have promised a happier future to those adhering to their gospel of permissive child training, new morality and drugs.

But Dr. Benjamin Spock, himself a former proponent of permissive child training, later admitted that it was a mistake. The German Philological Association now agrees, saying that such permissiveness “is at least indirectly responsible for the problems we now have with young people.”

Of the new morality, author Barbara Seaman says: “The backlash is against casual sex.” Why? “Because a lot of people were hurt,” she explains.

Despite former Harvard professor and “LSD apostle” Timothy Leary’s promise that LSD and similar drugs would open up “a better road to happiness,” the World Health Organization writes in its official journal: “Attempts have been made to surround LSD with an intellectual aura, but it still remains a drug with frightful effects . . . Some scientists suggest that chromosome damage can result . . . the risk of mental illness is even greater . . . [LSD has] gone hand in hand with violence, murder and suicide.”

A Swiss writer recently blamed today’s new life-style, which places so much emphasis on personal freedom, as being responsible for “a noticeable increase in narcissist neuroses and narcissist personality disturbances.” He said: “Patients complain of inner emptiness and of paralyzing boredom, about inability to work and of massive anxiety.” Does this sound like happiness? Or are people being misled by “false prophets”?

What Does It Mean?

As mentioned earlier, the founder of Christianity, Christ Jesus, foretold that part of the “sign” of the “conclusion of the system of things” would be that “many false prophets will arise and mislead many.” (Matt. 24:3, 11) Evidently, in view of Mt 24 verses 5, 23 and 24 of this same chapter, Jesus chiefly had religious and political “false prophets” in mind. The principle involved, however, also fits other persons​—“prophets” disseminating supposedly Messiah-like counsel in the more personal matters of life.

Every generation has had its share of “false prophets.” So their mere existence today does not prove that we are living in the time of the end of this system of things. But the rapid increase in their number and in the number of persons they are misleading, along with the fulfillment of all the other things Jesus foretold for our day, does! Never before have so many religious leaders, political rulers and counselors striven to give people guidance. And never before have so many people been misled.

Jesus was no false prophet. He foretold exactly what you are seeing today: manifold evidences, including that of “many false prophets,” that the end of this wicked system of things is indeed near. He pinpointed our particular “generation” by adding the words: “Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.” (Matt. 24:34) “All these things” includes the fulfillment of the early part of Jesus’ prophecy: “And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.”​—Matt. 24:14.

[Chart on page 15]

RELIGIOUS ESTIMATED

GROUP WORLDWIDE

(YEAR FOUNDED) MEMBERSHIP

THE UNIFICATION CHURCH (1954) 2,000,000

THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY (1954) 5,000,000

TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION CHURCH (1958) 2,000,000

DIVINE LIGHT MISSION (1960) 8,000,000

HARE KRISHNA (1966) 7,000

THE CHILDREN OF GOD (1969) 70,000

Loyal People​—Where Can They Be Found?

By a Staff Writer

THERE were about 20,000 people at the racetrack that day. I was standing near a sign that read “Lost and Found” when I noticed an elderly woman approaching. She obviously was upset about something. I learned that she had lost a bag in which she had put her keys, her wallet and $116 (U.S.). She had tried to retrace her steps, hoping to find the bag. But when that failed, someone suggested she go to “Lost and Found.” Had someone found the bag? If so, would he turn it in?

Well, you can just imagine the look on her face when the man in charge handed her the bag, with the keys, the wallet and the money​—all of it—​inside! She excitedly thanked him over and over again.

A rare occurrence today? True. As a United States senator said in describing the trends of our day: “Trust nobody​—believe nobody—​have faith in nothing.” As a result of dishonesty, selfishness and greed, many have come to feel that loyal people​—that is, people who adhere firmly to God, to principles and to one another in spite of pressures or temptations to deflect—​just do not exist.

However, this was no ordinary racetrack crowd. You see, we were there to attend one of the current series of worldwide conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses, featuring the theme “Kingdom Loyalty.” What I personally saw and experienced, as well as what I have read in reports that I received from conventions held in other parts of the world, convinces me​—and perhaps will convince you too—​that loyal people can be found on the earth today.

I was not the only one to observe loyalty to principles such as honesty. In particular did I find it moving to read reports of honesty displayed by young children attending the conventions.

Try to imagine the scene in Portland, Oregon: Marcy, only eight years old, brings to the Lost and Found department two crumpled and folded bills totaling $11 (U.S.), which she had found at the entrance to the convention grounds; a few minutes later a young boy, eight years old, brings in a one-dollar bill that he had found in the hallway; another young boy, 10 years old, brings two quarters that he had found near a refreshment stand; Angela, 10 years old, brings a digital watch that she had found near one of the drinking fountains; an attendant is approached by an eight-year-old boy who holds out two dimes and says, “I found these in the [soda] machine and they don’t belong to me. Could you put them in the contribution box for me?”

These were just a few of many reports of honesty shown by young children. However, it was in more than just displaying honesty that loyalty could be observed at the conventions.

Loyal Families

“Witnesses Emphasize the Family,” stated a newspaper headline in reporting on a convention held in Hampton, Virginia. And it was with good reason that family life was emphasized at the conventions. Skyrocketing divorce rates, broken homes and disobedience to parents are indications of the erosion of loyalty in family life today. So the first day was set aside as “Family Day,” with the program dealing directly with family life and the pressure today from decaying moral standards that makes it difficult for family members to keep loyal.

It was especially heartwarming to observe families united in worship, sitting together and listening attentively to the program. Apparently this impressed others, too, for I read the following editorial regarding a convention in Brazil: “All members of the family were present. Groups of all ages were represented, even babies were there with their parents. The ruffling of pages can be heard as all family members turn the pages of their Bibles when the speakers quoted certain texts.”

But attending a convention is surely far from easy for families in which there are several small children. To get the children ready takes real effort. Why do parents do it?

“A few days before the convention I make sure the laundry and grocery shopping are done,” stated Jeri, a mother of four whose husband is not a Witness. “Then I figure out what I’m going to prepare for supper each night, and I have the children’s clothes laid out the night before.” I asked her why she does it, and she replied: “I feel it’s worth it. I’m doing it for Jehovah and my children. I realize that it’s through the example that I set that my children are going to have an appreciation for Bible truths.”

The efforts of such loyal parents to train their children are noticed by others. For example, at a campground in Michigan where a number of conventioners were camping, the following announcement was made by the owner over the loudspeaker system: “We would . . . like to commend the Jehovah’s Witnesses on what nice children you have. In the history of this campground we have never had such well-behaved children as those of Jehovah’s Witnesses. We really appreciate that!”

Loyalty Prompts Changes

There is another outstanding evidence to me that loyal people can be found. This is the positive change that persons have made in their life; not only change in their attitude but in many cases drastic personality change. Why? Because of their loyalty to God and the principles of his Word, the Bible.

Take the case of Neil, who was baptized at a convention in Arizona. “I originally was an atheist,” he explains. What caused him to change? “I decided to start reading the Bible. From my reading, studying and observing especially the prophecies that have been fulfilled, I eventually came to realize that Jehovah is the true God.” What a change in viewpoint!

“I had become involved in a very immoral life-style​—homosexuality,” began a young woman who was baptized at another convention in the United States. “This created many problems in my life, such as insecurity, loss of friends. . . . But most of all I couldn’t see any purpose in life. I was at the point of suicide.” What caused her to change?

Well, one day she was heading home to kill herself but decided to stop at her grandparents’ house, thinking that perhaps they could offer her some advice. They were not at home, but her Aunt Gladys, who is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, was there. She continues: “I told Aunt Gladys that the only thing that bothered me about being gay is what the Bible says. So she showed me many scriptures on the subject. Then she showed me from the Bible the wonderful hope for the future. I went back to my friend’s house that night and wrote her a note, saying: ‘There is something better to live for than gay liberation.’ I went home having made up my mind to serve our wonderful Creator, Jehovah.”

A different personality change was made by Alice, who was baptized in Portland, Oregon. She explains: “I lived with my parents 48 years and never spoke a word. I was considered slow. This made me very shy.” Then in 1976 her parents died. How would she overcome her extreme shyness?

Alice started to study the Bible with one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She continues: “When I first started studying, I was still very shy, but I truly loved the Bible and soon I began to gain more confidence.” Alice gradually progressed to the point where she now can freely approach others, and she even regularly shares in public preaching activity. To what does she attribute the change? “Only Jehovah could have given me the confidence I now have.” Truly remarkable examples of the drastic personality changes that loyalty to God and his Word makes possible!

Loyal Friends

“Friends always show their love.” “Some friends are more loyal than brothers.” (Prov. 17:17; 18:24, Today’s English Version) That is how the Bible describes loyal friends. Can such friends be found today? An experience from Vienna, Austria, answers, Yes!

Some 5,000 Witnesses from Poland and 760 from Hungary were to attend the convention in Vienna. They started arriving a few days in advance. However, many of them arrived in Vienna between midnight and 4 a.m., and one night over 2,000 arrived. How would they get to their accommodations?

Like friends who are “more loyal than brothers,” a number of the Witnesses in Vienna had volunteered to provide transportation. But when they were called in the middle of the night, what was their response? According to one report: “It was particularly nice to see the fine spirit of cooperation, because not even one was angry about being awakened in the middle of the night. To the contrary, quite a number got up quickly and personally came to pick up the guests.” Some drove a total of over 400 miles in a 24-hour period! What an outstanding example of loyal friends!

A very touching way in which I observed similar loyalty was in the concern shown for the handicapped attending the convention.

“So many people have offered to feed me that if I took all of them up on it, I wouldn’t fit in this wheelchair,” said Jerry, a young man I talked to who is paralyzed from the chest down as a result of an automobile accident eight years ago. Additionally, Jerry has a skin disorder and so he cannot sit in one position for very long periods of time. It so happened that one day he sat next to a family that had a lounge chair with them. When they realized Jerry’s condition, what happened? Jerry explains: “This very big brother just picked me up out of my wheelchair and put me in the lounge chair and said, ‘Stay as long as you like.”’ In this way Jerry could lie on his side and listen to the program. What a pleasure it was to observe friends who are ready to “show their love”!

Loyalty Appreciated by Others

“I am particularly impressed by the way they work together. They get the job done. You don’t hear any yelling, screaming or hollering or orders being given. Everybody has a job to do and he does it. I wish we had more of that around here.” That is what a maintenance worker employed at the racetrack said to me concerning the conventioners he had observed. It indicated to me that loyalty as manifested by upright conduct is appreciated by others. Notice some of the other comments I received:

“Your people are devoted and dedicated. You have left the arena cleaner than the way you received it. It is the cleanest it has ever been.”​—Executive director of the Market Square Arena in Indiana.

“When I saw the brooms appear and the sidewalks around the stadium all clean, I said, ‘That’s it! They’re back again!’”​—A woman who lives close to Colombes Stadium near Paris, France, where conventions often have been held.

“Impatient, shoving crowds were nowhere to be seen, neither were carelessly thrown-away papers or cigarette packages.”​—Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, July 24, 1981, reporting on the convention in Dortmund, Germany.

“Never have I seen such cooperation and enthusiasm in keeping the Center clean, and the conduct of your people throughout the Convention was truly commendable.”​—Director, Department of Auditoriums, Honolulu, Hawaii.

“We don’t want you to go anywhere else.”​—Building engineer, Kentucky Fair and Expo Center Coliseum, Louisville, Kentucky.

“Outstanding discipline for such crowds prevailed, whether on convention working zones, outside in the parking lots or in the waiting lines for meals.”​—Le Dauphiné Libéré, July 24, 1981, reporting on the convention in Grenoble, France.

The living evidence that I observed convinced me that, in striking contrast to the disloyalty rampant today, there were many loyal people among those attending the conventions.

What about you? Are you convinced? Surely you would be delighted to associate with friends who are loyal, adhering firmly to God and to fine principles and who are willing to stick by you “through thick and thin.” Jehovah’s Witnesses will gladly assist you to learn from the Bible what builds such loyalty. Why not get in touch with them and see for yourself the evidence among them that loyal people can be found today?

[Picture on page 16]

Loyal families, such as this one at Elmont, New York, could be observed sitting together and listening attentively

[Picture on page 17]

Among the 8,820 baptized in the United States was this young girl at Portland, Oregon

[Picture on page 18]

While a total of 1,067,850 attended in the United States, conventions were also scheduled in many other countries, such as this one held in Munich, Germany

[Picture on page 19]

[Headlines and Letters Here]

[Picture on page 20]

In Dortmund, Germany, loyal conventioners on their way to clean up the stadium to be used for the convention

Crossword Puzzle

Clues Across

2. Paul sent greetings to his household in Rome (Romans 16:10)

8. Used in fishing (John 21:4-14)

9. Judean king who fought apostasy (1 Kings 15:9-15)

10. A deliverer mentioned by Samuel (1 Samuel 12:11)

12. Jehovah ‘throws it like morsels’ when there is hail (Psalm 147:17)

13. Hypocritical Pharisees tithed it (Luke 11:42)

14. At Gibeon the sun did not ‐‐‐ for about a day (Joshua 10:12-14)

15. His descendants were among the Nethinim (Ezra 2:43)

16. Jesus reduced the Sadducees to it (Matthew 22:34)

18. One hating reproof will ‐‐‐ (Proverbs 15:10)

19. Older ones awaken at its sound (Ecclesiastes 12:1-4)

21. After Rachel’s death, Jacob tented beyond the tower of ‐‐‐‐ (Genesis 35:19-21)

23. Exclamation (Psalm 35:21)

25. Necessary for ministry at the tabernacle (Numbers 4:12)

28. Drunkards have this (Proverbs 23:29-35)

30. The priest here befriended David (1 Samuel 21:1-6)

31. Paul did not wish his blows to strike it (1 Corinthians 9:26)

32. No one can slave for ‐‐‐ masters (Matthew 6:24)

33. Made a mistake (1 Kings 8:47)

35. There are times for this and to rip apart (Ecclesiastes 3:7)

36. He honored his sons more than Jehovah (1 Samuel 2:27-29)

37. Name of certain Assyrian kings (2 Kings 17:3)

Clues Down

1. Those sowing it reap what is hurtful (Proverbs 22:8)

2. City with an altar “To an Unknown God” (Acts 17:22-34)

3. Job did not ascribe anything like this to God (Job 1:20-22)

4. May contain a precious metal (Job 22:24)

5. Esau sold his birthright for this kind of stew (Genesis 25:29-34)

6. Tore a lion apart bare-handedly (Judges 14:5-7)

7. Roman soldiers’ quarters in Jerusalem [3 words]

10. Father of Edomite King Hadad (Genesis 36:31, 35)

11. Type of darkness found in Tartarus (2 Peter 2:4)

17. Take the rafter out of yours before removing the straw from your brother’s (Matthew 7:3-5)

20. Where the ‘good Samaritan’ brought the wounded man (Luke 10:29-34)

22. He spent two of these for the wounded man’s care (Luke 10:35)

23. Noah built the first one mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 8:18-22)

24. City founded by Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-10)

26. Pharisees washed their hands up to them (Mark 7:3)

27. Jehovah threw his 900 chariots and his camp into confusion (Judges 4:12-16)

29. Her Hebrew name was Hadassah (Esther 2:7)

34. His son Shimei was one of Solomon’s deputies (1 Kings 4:7, 8, 18)

CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS PAGE 26

Answers Across

1. ARISTOBULUS

8. NET

9. ASA

10. BEDAN

12. ICE

13. RUE

14. SET

15. HASUPHA

16. SILENCE

18. DIE

19. BIRD

21. EDER

23. AHA

25. UTENSIL

28. CONCERN

30. NOB

31. AIR

32. TWO

33. ERRED

35. SEW

36. ELI

37. SHALMANESER

Answers Down

1. UNRIGHTEOUSNESS

2. ATHENS

3. IMPROPER

5. LENTIL

6. SAMSON

7. CASTLE OF ANTONIA

10. BEDAD

11. DENSE

17. EYE

20. INN

22. DENARIUS

23. ALTAR

24. ACCAD

26. ELBOWS

27. SISERA

29. ESTHER

34. ELA

The Animal with the Soulful Look

IT LOOKS like a bear, can stand erect like a bear, but it isn’t a bear. Its face is white, but its eyes are set in two black patches slanted at a peculiar angle that gives it a soulful look. This, plus a shiny black nose, reminds one of a sad clown. Two round black ears rise from the surrounding white fur to complete a fascinating face​—the face of the giant panda.

It is a private animal, living a solitary life in the high mountains of southwest China and eastern Tibet. In fact, only during the mating period do a male and a female live together. When it is time for a baby to be born, the female finds a hollow tree in which to bear and nurse her cub.

In the winter the giant panda moves down the mountainsides, below 8,500 feeta where food is more plentiful. But in summer it climbs above 9,000 feet, where it is cool, and sweet Chinacane bamboo is abundant. Its appetite is enormous, a single panda devouring 22 to 44 poundsb a day to sustain its 200- to 300-pound body. After eating, it has an after-dinner drink of water​—not from a stream, but from a hole it digs right beside the stream. It may make and drink from several of these private water holes before its thirst is quenched.

You may have to depend on a zoo to see the soulful-looking pandas, but Tibetan peasants who live in the Baishui River Nature Preserve have them as neighbors. The Tibetans call them the “white bears.” Sometimes they wander into the cornfields for a snack, but the peasants merely shout to drive them away. Once in a while a panda slips into a peasant’s cottage to filch some food, but the peasant is likely to smile and say, “Welcome to my home for dinner, white bear.” Peasants have been known to care for lost cubs, feeding them the tenderest shoots of bamboo until they are able to fend for themselves.

Since the Chinacane bamboo is the regular diet of giant pandas, a disaster can occur when, after a cycle of several decades, the bamboos suddenly die off en masse. When this happened in the Baishui area in 1975, many pandas died from hunger. When Tibetans reported the matter, rescue teams were sent out to search for starving pandas. The teams brought the pandas to a collecting post, where they were fed maize or rice mixed with sweet potatoes. Team members even scaled mountains to find any remaining bamboo shoots. Old and weak pandas were given a broth of Chinese medicinal herbs to aid in their recovery. Sick pandas were nursed day and night. The rescue work took two months, but all the pandas brought in recovered.

Recently giant pandas have appeared in places where they have not been seen for years. But their numbers in the wild are just under 1,000, and there is growing concern for their survival. Hopefully, however, the “white bears” will increase. It would be sad indeed if these animals with the soulful look were to disappear from the earth.

[Footnotes]

Cleaners in the Deep

FISH line up, patiently waiting for their turn. One of them may be an ocean sunfish, perhaps weighing a ton. But what’s the attraction?

Even in the depths of the oceans there are little creatures that plague fish much as ticks pester land animals. Also, wounds may need to have dead flesh cleaned away. Fish troubled by parasites or injuries definitely need cleaning services. There are experts to do the job. These are cleaner fish with just the right equipment​—a mouth resembling a beak and teeth that function much like tweezers. Among such cleaner fish there is no unemployment.

In the case of a sunfish, a shoal of little cleaner fish goes into action. The operation is quite a banquet for the cleaners, as they feast on parasites, fungi, bacteria and the dead flesh of wounds.

Fish that are being cleaned cooperate fully. They may raise first one gill cover, then another, so the little cleaner can get inside to perform its task. Certain kinds of sharks open their mouths so that the cleaners can get at the irritating parasites inside. The moray eel has been observed similarly permitting cleaners to work in its mouth. When the job is done, the cleaner is permitted to leave in peace, even though other fish would become food for the moray eel.

Alone or in groups, certain shrimps skillfully get rid of skin parasites. Even when the cleaner shrimp is hidden away in its hole, fish may be waiting in the area for him to come out. If a fish has an injury near the tail, this part will be presented for attention first. The fish will remain quite still as the shrimp crawls all over its body, pulling at parasites with claws and making incisions to reach those under the skin.

Even gigantic whales may have problems with parasites. During their migrations sperm whales surface near areas where the gray phalarope, a small shore bird, is at home. These birds land on the backs of surfaced whales and proceed to dine on the crustacean parasites that have taken up residence in the skin.

The cleaning activities carried on for dwellers in the deep illustrate that much more than blind chance is in operation. Purposeful design and loving care are reflected. Surely, all credit for this should go to the Creator, Jehovah God, who wisely arranged for cleaners to perform their important work.

How Secure Is Your Money?

IN MOST countries money is a unique piece of paper recognized by its words, pictures and numbers. Or it could be coins stamped in a special way to denote value. The paper money is remarkable because the mere changing of a number, picture or set of words can change its value.

Money has a dramatic effect on everyone’s life. Many people work long and hard to get it. Some gamble for it. Others kill for it. Many marriages succeed or fail because of it. And often mental and physical health problems result from it.

Yet, when people get money, few can keep much of it. They usually spend it quickly. As an example, in a recent year the average American family saved only 3 percent of its income. Many saved nothing at all. Others went deeply in debt. One reason for this is inflation.

Inflation a “Thief”

Inflation steals money from people just as effectively as a thief taking it out of their pockets. And the average person can do nothing to stop it. If let go to an extreme, inflation can destroy governments and cause enormous upheavals in nations. Yet today inflation is reaching epidemic proportions in many countries and is highly contagious. No one seems to have perfected a cure for this financial “disease.”

As a result, millions of people throughout the world are constantly pushing themselves to earn the money that is so quickly passing through their fingers. In spite of this, in many, many cases they are losing ground. The chart on the next page, published in U.S. News & World Report, shows what has happened to prices due to inflation in the period from 1975 to 1980. And it is only a partial list. Many other countries, as in Latin America and Africa, have had inflation rates of over 100 percent a year recently.

True, many workers receive raises during the year. But not all get enough to compensate for inflation. If, for example, you received a 7.5 percent raise in pay, but the inflation rate was 13 percent, what would happen? Before your raise, let us say you were making $12,000 a year. After your raise this came to $12,900. But when the inflation rate is calculated, the purchasing power is now only $11,223. That is a loss of $1,677. So not only did this cancel out your raise of $900 but it cost you another $777 in purchasing power. Too, the raise could put you in a higher tax bracket, causing an even greater loss.

Also, many people tend to increase their spending when they get more income. But, under the above circumstances, it would be a bad time to buy a new car, take an expensive vacation or move into more costly housing. Indeed, this worker who gets the $900 raise should do all he can to spend less. Otherwise, he will surely get into deep financial trouble.

Too, it is obvious that any money in the bank that collects less interest than the inflation rate will also lose purchasing power. But what if you have $1,000 in savings at 6 percent simple interest, and the rate of inflation for that year is also 6 percent? Have you maintained your position? No, and here is the reason. Six percent simple interest will earn $60 in one year. But the 6-percent inflation rate on the $1,060 you now have is $63.60. Subtract that from the $1,060 and the resulting purchasing power is only $996.40. Also, in some lands you may be taxed on the $60 interest you earned, resulting in even less purchasing power.

Thus, it is easy to see that inflation robs money of its worth. But the security of money is threatened in other ways.

How Safe Are Banks?

Many people put money into banks. In turn, the banks lend the money to other people or businesses that want to borrow it. What is left is kept in cash or is invested in buildings, equipment and securities (usually government securities). The portion kept in cash is usually a very small percentage of total assets.

What would happen if bank depositors in great numbers went to their banks and asked for their money back in cash? If that happened on a large scale, the banking system would be unable to honor its obligations; nor would any government insuring agencies.

Aside from such a possible catastrophe, most of us presume that we can get our money back at any time by merely asking for it. But many banks can legally withhold money for 30 days. A typical regulation of this kind may read: “The bank may allow monies to be withdrawn from savings accounts at any time without notice, but it reserves the right to demand notice of withdrawal not to exceed thirty days on any or all accounts.” So, in difficult times, your money would be unavailable for 30 days. Yet, at present, banks are generally as safe as most places to keep money.

The Tax ‘Bite’

In recent years, most governments have raised their spending for military, economic and social needs. The usual way to pay for these is to raise taxes, over which you have no control.

Also involved in taxes are social welfare payments, such as the Social Security system in the United States. Millions of people rely on government retirement checks. When these individuals worked, they reduced their paychecks by contributing to Social Security, and now they get back retirement payments. However, the Social Security program is having difficulties. The government continually raises the contributions of workers to cover the payments of the growing number of retirees.

If this program continues in its current direction, the possibility of bankruptcy exists. To help remedy the problem, officials have talked of lowering the cost-of-living increases that are added each year. In addition, it was suggested that the age for full retirement be advanced from the present 65 to 68.

If an economic crisis were to occur and these monthly checks abruptly came to a halt, millions of people would have little or no income. They would surely lose faith in their government, and the result could be disastrous not only for them but for the country.

Crime Adds Insecurity

In most countries of the world today, crime is increasing to epidemic proportions. Homes are being broken into. Businesses are being robbed, some even in broad daylight. Individuals are being mugged in the streets, in shopping centers, in almost any location. Why?

The main reason is that the perpetrators want your things of value, preferably your money. Money is easy to spend, does not bear your name and is difficult if not impossible to trace. While there may be other reasons for their stealing from you, the basic one is that they want more money to spend on their personal desires or needs.

As economic difficulties increase, with inflation reducing the value of money, and with unemployment rising, it gets harder to make a living. Add to this the increased debt that many experience, and also the heavy spending on drugs, alcohol or gambling. All these people have something in common: an ever-increasing need for money. Some are willing to work extra hours to earn it. But a growing number are not; so they steal. And not just hardened criminals or the unemployed do this; many businesses today find that most theft comes from their own employees, many of whom hold responsible positions.

Less Secure

All these things mean that your money is less secure today. But this is not surprising, since Bible prophecy foretold that in the “last days” of this system of things there would be “critical times hard to deal with.” (2 Tim. 3:1) So do not count on these trends being reversed. It is not at all likely that your money will become more secure in the future. Instead, as this system moves toward its end, greater economic insecurity is likely to prevail.

In the meantime, you need to be realistic about your way of life and your expenses. Live within your means. Do without some things if you have to, rather than plunging deep in debt with all its problems. When credit becomes necessary, use it wisely. And educate your children, by both instruction and example, on the value of money and the need to conserve.

Also, avoid the trap of trying to work longer and longer hours, or even at two jobs, to keep up a higher standard of living. While that may help compensate for the inflation “thief,” it will rob you of the vital time needed to care for your responsibilities toward your Creator and your family. Only God, in his new order, can solve mankind’s economic problems. And this he will. So before long the present uncertainties of life will be forever things of the past when God’s “new earth” is realized.​—2 Tim. 3:13; Rev. 21:1.

[Chart on page 25]

CONSUMER PRICE INCREASES 1975-1980

Switzerland ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 12.2%

West Germany ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 22.3%

Austria ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 29.4%

Netherlands ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 33.8%

Belgium ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 36.0%

Japan ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 37.2%

Norway ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 49.7%

Canada ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 52.0%

United States ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 53.1%

Denmark ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 64.0%

France ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 64.1%

Sweden ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 65.0%

Australia ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 65.4%

Finland ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 66.0%

Ireland ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 93.3%

Great Britain ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 95.6%

Greece ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 112.6%

Italy ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 115.7%

Spain ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 134.3%

Portugal ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 151.1%

Turkey ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 568.4%

[Picture on page 24]

INFLATION

One Man and Inflation

Trembling and in a nervous sweat, a poorly dressed laborer opened a cloth-wrapped parcel on the desk of the mayor of Votorantim, Brazil. He poured out several packages of money in bills and about 300 coins, pleading with the mayor to store the money for him in a safe place. The bills were stuck together with age and the coins carried dates from 1938 on. Benedito Antunes da Silva then told his story to an amazed mayor.

According to the newspaper “O Estado da São Paulo,” Benedito’s mother had been the family “banker” for over 40 years, keeping the money stored in a locked trunk. She regularly added to the family fortune as the years went by, accumulating well over 170,000 cruzeiros. But Benedito became alarmed at the thought of having so much money stored in his mud hut and feared being assaulted. Hence, he asked the mayor to keep his money for him. The mayor then called the police, who confirmed what the mayor had feared: the “fortune” was of absolutely no value! All the bills and coins were for “old” cruzeiros, out of circulation for years.

The now bewildered and weeping laborer learned that if, instead of being stored away, the money had been used at the time, it could have purchased 17 middle-class houses, which by now could be worth a real fortune. Instead, Benedito sadly left the office with 500 cruzeiros ($6.00, U.S.) in his pocket, given to him by the compassionate police investigator. Inflation had taken its toll.

From Our Readers

IDENTIFYING THE TRUE RELIGION

Your article “Why Are There So Many Religions?” interested me. It tries to bring out the unity of religion, especially in the teachings of Jesus. But then at the end of the article it is implied that pure worship is obtained by knowing and worshiping as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. As a member of Christ’s Church, I object to anyone proclaiming Christ’s blessing for their denomination only. As the apostle Paul proclaimed, all men can be saved by their faith in Jesus as God’s free gift. (Rom. 3:22-25) All that we must do is to accept Christ’s death and resurrection for our sins in order to be saved. If you must solicit God’s Word, please do not make it so judgmental.

J. L., Nebraska

We agree that Christ’s death and resurrection provide the basis for forgiveness of sins and salvation to everlasting life. But everyone accepting this free gift must meet certain requirements as to faith and works that are outlined in God’s Word, the Bible. (Jas. 2:26) These constitute identifying marks of true religion. While the article referred to above does not mention Jehovah’s Witnesses, the very fact that the outlining of such identifying marks causes some to think of Jehovah’s Witnesses is evidence that Jehovah’s Witnesses do have these identifying marks of true religion.​—ED.

FRIEND OF THE UNBORN

I am pleased that you published the article “Are You a Friend of the Unborn?” As a former medical records student I studied the effects of teratogens, which are defined as substances that are known to cause harm to the fetus. I am so glad you are making these substances known to the general public. From a personal viewpoint it even pays to be a little wary of doctors. Earlier this year, during my early stages of pregnancy, my doctor ordered an ultrasound scan to check on my baby’s condition. An hour before the scan the doctor told me to drink as much coffee or tea as I wanted. I knew caffeine could be harmful to the unborn, especially during the first three crucial months, so I drank other noncaffeinated liquids instead.

R. T., New Hampshire

EARTH’S FUTURE

Out of pity, I have regularly obtained magazines from Jehovah’s Witnesses calling at our door, as I thought in that way I offered them some financial aid. When the Witnesses would return and ask if I had read the magazines, I always had to answer ‘No.’ But they kept coming with magazines. On an occasion when I was again practicing Yoga I prayed ‘O God, if you really exist, show this to me in one way or another.’ Possibly due to this prayer my attention was drawn to the “Awake!” bearing the title ‘Earth’s Future​—Garbage Dump or Garden Home?’ This was the start of an accurate study of the truth.

J.v.d.N., Netherlands

TWO-DAY MIRACLES

I just completed the article “The Two-Day Miracles” and I would like to express my deepest thanks for such a wonderful article on brotherly love. I enjoyed it so much! This article moved me with the desire to have a share in this self-sacrificing work. Therefore, I would truly appreciate some information on where such building work would take place near where I live. I am willing to do anything from mixing mortar to carrying bricks.

M. B., Georgia

Watching the World

Massive Transfusions as Killers

◆ The medical journal Surgical Rounds recently published the results of two studies that revealed a “greatly increased” death rate for persons who receive massive blood transfusions over short periods of time. “The overall mortality rate of 50%,” reports the journal, “reflects the severity of the problems associated with massive transfusion.” Surgical Rounds also stated: “As might be expected, there was a substantial rise in mortality rate with increased numbers of transfusions. The mortality rate with 10 to 14 units of blood was 37%; with 15 to 19 units, 53%; with 20 to 24 units, 62%; and with 25 or more units, 78%.”

For those who do not die from massive transfusions, there was a great risk of serious complications. “Approximately 85% of the patients receiving 10-19 units of blood and virtually all patients receiving 20 or more units of blood within a 24 hour period had major complications,” stated the article. “It was somewhat surprising that over 90% of the individuals receiving 15 or more units of blood developed one or more infections.”​—August 1981, pp. 47-54.

Salvation Army Withdraws

◆ Charging that the World Council of Churches is guided “by politics rather than the gospel,” the Salvation Army has withdrawn its membership from the Council. The Salvation Army protested the Council’s giving financial support to guerrilla movements.

Pistol-packing Pastors

◆ Fourteen delegates to the recent National Baptist Convention in Detroit were arrested for carrying undeclared concealed handguns across the Canadian border. ‘At least a dozen of those arrested at the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel in Windsor,’ said the Detroit Free Press, ‘were ministers.’ The handguns ranged from .22 caliber revolvers to .357 magnums. Said the acting Canadian customs superintendent at the tunnel: “We asked what they were carrying with them. We also asked if they had any firearms.” In court, the pastors were fined or given suspended sentences. A judge who handled seven of the 14 cases explained: “All they have to do is tell the truth and we send them back. There’s no law against them having the guns at the border check if they just let us know.” He added: “Well, we’ve confiscated all the guns and the people will have to go home without them. And I’m sure most of them will make it. Maybe then they’ll realize they don’t have to carry guns around with them.”

Bankrupt Lottery Winner

◆ In 1979 a 26-year-old man in Chicopee, Massachusetts, won the State Lottery’s big prize​—$1 million. Even though the winner is paid in yearly installments, today this man has filed for bankruptcy and says: “I’ve been through hell the past two years. A lot of problems started with money. Most of the money I had, I lost.” Bankruptcy proceedings and claims of creditors have tied up the issuance of more money. “Vultures” began to appear at his doorstep after he won, he said, and “I was bombarded with letters from women 16 to 60.” He spent large sums of money on his lady friend. They were almost engaged when his financial troubles began and she was exposed as a gold digger. Another problem the lottery winner encountered was that he suddenly became the target of robbers. Nine times different ones assaulted him. Though he carried only a few dollars with him, he explained, “people figure that you’re a walking bank.” He added: “When you win that kind of money, it brings out the greed and jealousy in people.”

Smoker’s Face

◆ Many doctors believe that smoking may make a person’s facial skin look older. Says Albert Kligman, a Philadelphia dermatologist: “The skin of smokers is just not as good. But all we have are the personal observations​—there has not been a single study to make the comparison.” A Canadian immunologist, John Gerrard, examined 200 men to see if their immune systems were affected by smoking. He found it almost unnecessary to ask if they smoked, since, he explained, “I could easily identify the long-term smoker by his wizened [withered] appearance. The faces of smokers and nonsmokers are not very different at age 30. But by 40 and 50 the differences are apparent.”

“License to Kill” Killed

◆ After a four-year parliamentary battle, Italy has abolished a law that allowed murderers involved in so-called crimes of passion to get away with very little punishment. The law had stated that the killing of one’s unfaithful spouse “in a state of anger prompted by the affront to his or his family’s honour shall be punished by a prison sentence of from three to seven years.” Before Italy legalized divorce, some men reportedly even took advantage of the law by murdering claimed adulterous wives in order to be free to remarry after a short sentence. Now such a crime will be treated like any other murder.

Preying on Despair

◆ According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), each month about 4,000 refugees from Vietnam​—often called “boat people”—​are being killed by pirates in the China Sea. “Piracy has taken on the proportions of an industry with unparalleled violence,” said the ICRC. The pirates, who have been active since the 17th century, reportedly attack about 80 percent of the refugee-filled boats that leave Vietnam. And “for every four to five people who arrive at a safe port,” says the ICRC, “there are probably another five who don’t make it” because of a pirate attack.

Vancouver’s “Gay” Parade

◆ This summer the capital of British Columbia, Canada, had a parade of homosexuals and their supporters in celebration of “Gay Unity Week,” as proclaimed by Mayor Michael Harcourt. Vancouver’s “gay” community also staged an exhibition celebrating their sexual condition. The Toronto, Ontario, Sunday Star reported that “prominent exhibitors include the Jewish, Anglican, Roman Catholic and United Churches​—and the Vancouver city police force.” “This year’s homosexual parade was the first of its kind,” noted the newspaper. And “it was so successful​—it drew an estimated 1,500 parade marchers, homosexuals and their relatives and supporters—​that parade organizer Vincent Manis wants to make it an annual event.”

Revival of Militarism?

◆ More and more government officials in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan are exerting efforts to have the Shinto shrine in Tokyo, known as Yasukuni Shrine, become a national war memorial. They want August 15 to be designated as a day of mourning for those who died in World War II. However, there are many opposition groups who feel that such moves will revive militarism and the Shinto religion’s role in it. On display in the shrine compound are a midget submarine, an army tank and other war machines. The shrine’s memorial hall contains hundreds of articles, such as blood-stained uniforms, testaments and portraits of Kamikaze suicide corps members.

Way to Stop Rape?

◆ Between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. one summer night this year, a masked man climbed through a window into a North Carolina woman’s apartment. According to a report in the Boston Sunday Globe, the would-be rapist threatened to cut her throat if she refused to submit to him. Instead of giving in, “I told him I was a Christian and could not have sex with anyone but my husband,” she said, adding: “After further discussion along those lines, he just walked out.”

Video-Game Addiction

◆ Electronic video games in arcades represent a big industry. According to U.S. industry trade publications, each machine brings in an average of $145 a week, though some in high-traffic areas earn more than $100 a day. From 20 to 30 billion quarters are dropped into these machines each year, mainly by teenagers. Some parents are now wondering about the possible effects of the games. Medical authorities on addiction are concerned about the addictive potential of the games among certain children. “The chief danger signs for parents to be aware of,” says Dr. Robert Millman, associate professor of psychiatry at the New York Hospital–Cornell University Medical Center, “are children who spend an inordinate amount of time or money on the games. If a kid keys on the games as the main reason for living, then he’s got real trouble.”

Pesticides with a Long Life

◆ No small number of soil scientists have believed that most pesticides degrade in the ground into their basic components, thereby ending any danger for mankind. But scientists at the University of Pennsylvania now report that certain pesticides in widespread use do not disintegrate readily in the soil. “They found,” reported the New York Times, “that such pesticides as DDT, Sevin and 2,4-D tend to polymerize, or combine with other molecules, in the soil, producing new toxic chemical components that can have even longer lives than the original ones. Such transformed components also tend to become bound to the soil or humus, resulting in unknown effects on the environment.”

Volcano Revisited

◆ In what was called Operation Pulse, about 150 scientists spent two weeks studying the area of destruction resulting from the May 18, 1980, eruption of Mt. St. Helens. A biology professor heading a team of scientists studying animal life reported finding an unexpected variety of wildlife within seven miles of the volcano, including deer and elk. They also found mice, gophers, mountain bluebirds, crows and ravens and in the crater itself many hummingbirds. “The amazing thing is the lack of spiders and other aerial insects,” said the professor. “We think they will return when vegetation returns.” A small lake seven miles northeast of the volcano was thought to be “dead.” But it proved to be full of life. For example, scientists sighted a beaver and a muskrat in the lake, and one team of scientists netted seven large trout.

World’s Air Safety Record

◆ On July 30, 1971, a Japanese commercial jet carrying 162 persons was hit by an air defense training jet high over northern Japan. All 162 aboard the airliner died. Following that disaster, Japan improved its air safety facilities. The result? In over 10 years there have been no commercial air fatalities, Japan thereby setting a world record. Officials report, however, that the airspace over Japan is becoming crowded. They point out that in the past seven years at least 50 near misses were reported. Constant alertness will be needed to maintain this fine record of air safety.

Japan’s Crime Soars

◆ Japan may have a world record in safety for commercial air transportation, but things on terra firma are not so rosy. An all-time high in crimes was reported by the National Police Agency. The figure is 8.1 percent higher than for the same period in 1980. Statistics show that juvenile crime is increasing faster than last year​—and last year’s juvenile crime report was the worst in 35 years, or since World War II.

Search for Intelligent Life

◆ “I have always thought that if they were going to look for intelligence, they ought to start right here in Washington,” declared Senator William Proxmire. The U.S. Senate responded by cutting out an appropriation to help carry on the search for radio signals from intelligent life in outer space. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) had wanted $1 million for next year and $15 million more during the next seven years to continue the search for intelligent life. “It’s hard enough to find intelligent life right here,” declared the senator. “It may be harder than finding it outside our solar system.”

Cassette News​—Now! Add Revelation to Your Tape Library

Many are finding that listening to Bible tapes is an excellent way to grow in knowledge of God’s Word. The cassette tape of the Bible book Revelation is a recent addition to a growing tape library. The clear, dramatic recordings are from the modern English New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

Please send me, postpaid, the cassette tape of Revelation. I enclose $2 (U.S.).

World Destruction​—Then World Peace

How will world destruction come? What will be included? Will humans bring it about? Or is it God’s purpose to do so?

Read the chapter on the subject above in the 192-page book True Peace and Security​—From What Source? Learn how you can survive and how world peace will then be made secure.

Please send the hardbound book True Peace and Security​—From What Source?; I enclose 75c (U.S.).