September 8

Page Two

Today many people claim to be realists. They say they believe only what they can see and are guided only by provable facts. This attitude has led many to stop believing in God. But observe the order in the universe. Is it realistic to believe there is no Creator?

Can A Realist Believe In God? 3

Can a Realist Believe in God?

ARE you a realist? Most of us would like to think we are. A realist tries to be guided by provable facts. He wishes to avoid being deluded by unrealistic dreams or impractical ideas. In the rational, scientific climate of today’s world, such an approach to problems is very attractive.

However, this attitude has led many to stop believing in God. They feel that it is impossible in this scientific twentieth century to believe in an invisible, superhuman Person who created everything. They prefer to look to science for answers to questions such as “How did we get here?” and “Where are we going?” So, are those who do believe in God unrealistic?

Limits of Realism

Before answering that, we should remind ourselves that realism has limits. A realist can only form conclusions based on facts he possesses. But what if he does not possess all the facts? Or suppose he believes something that is inaccurate? Or perhaps the facts he has are accurate, but his reasoning is faulty? Then, obviously, his “realistic” conclusions would be wrong.

Winston Churchill was doubtless being realistic, according to his own lights, when he said in 1939: “Atomic energy might be as good as our present day explosives, but it is unlikely to produce anything very much more dangerous.” Unfortunately, his conclusion was a long way from the truth. Similarly, in 1959 the managing director of the International Monetary Fund said: “In all likelihood, world inflation is over.” But, oh, how wrong he was! Hence, even when highly qualified men “realistically” assess a situation, their conclusions are not always correct.

Why is it, though, that some who want to be realistic deny the existence of God?

Scientists and Belief in God

One reason some deny the existence of God is that they feel that science has made such belief out-of-date. Is this true? Well, few of us are scientists, but surely it would be realistic to consider what scientists themselves have to say on the matter. An article in the magazine New Scientist states: “The lay view persists​—of scientists having ‘disproved’ religion. It is a view that commonly expects scientists to be nonbelievers; that Darwin put the last nails in God’s coffin; and that a succession of scientific and technological innovations since have ruled out the possibility of any resurrection. It is a view that is wildly wrong.” (Italics ours)

The article added: “Scientists are not notably irreligious. There are no reliable surveys on which to draw, but a straw poll among universities, research establishments, and industrial laboratories indicates that as many as eight of every 10 scientists follow a religious faith or countenance principles that are ‘non-scientific.’” Speaking realistically, surely the fact that many scientists have some faith in God is evidence that modern science does not make it impossible to believe in his existence.

But, you may feel, scientific theories​—especially the evolution theory—​make the existence of God unnecessary. The fact is, many who realistically examine the evidence for evolution find it sadly lacking. And even some of those who accept it find it insufficient to explain the beauty and grandeur of life on our planet Earth.

Professor Robert Jastrow, an eminent geologist, astronomer and physicist, accepts the evolution theory. But in an article in the magazine Science Digest he wrote: “When you study the history of life, and step back to look at this long history with the perspective of several hundred million years, you see a flow and direction in it. . . . Can this history of events leading to man, with its clear direction, yet be undirected?” His own conclusion is that that question is “beyond the reach of science.”

Many will agree that the “history of events leading to man” gives evidence of direction. But is it reasonable not to supply the next logical link in the chain of reasoning? Clear evidence of direction is surely evidence that there is a director. And that director can only be God. A realistic conclusion to draw from this is that, far from evolution making it impossible to believe in God, the existence of God makes the theory of evolution unnecessary.

There is another reason why some claim not to believe in God. Sometimes they use science as a cover for deeper motives. Consider what atheist Aldous Huxley wrote: “I had motives for not wanting the world to have meaning; consequently assumed that it had none.” What were his motives? “For myself, as, no doubt, for most of my contemporaries, the philosophy of meaninglessness was essentially an instrument of liberation. The liberation we desired was simultaneously liberation from a certain political and economic system and liberation from a certain system of morality.”

However, if we deny the existence of God and say the world has no meaning merely because we want it that way, does this change the facts? Any who think so are rather like a little boy who wants to hide, so he covers his eyes with his hands. He thinks that because he cannot see anyone, no one can see him! But is it realistic to say that God does not exist merely because we refuse to acknowledge his existence?

Realism and Belief in God

The apostle Paul developed a powerful argument that has led many realists to believe in God. He said: “[God’s] invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship.” (Romans 1:20) Paul could see the beauties of creation, the wondrous variety of life and the awesome starry heavens, and in them discern some of the qualities of the one who created them. Modern science helps us to see how intricately designed natural things are, what power and wisdom were necessary to bring them into existence. Hence, in some ways the natural world today gives an even more powerful witness to the existence of God.

True, there are some who reject this reasoning. But what alternative explanation do they have for the order that exists in the natural world? Regarding just one small aspect of that order, the protein molecules, science author Rutherford Platt wrote: “The chance of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen atoms, as well as phosphorus and a constellation of metallic elements, coming together in the right proportions, under the right conditions, can be likened to the chance that a pack of cards, flung in the air, will fall to the table with all the suits in sequence​—virtually impossible, even though the cards were tossed in the air every second without pause through history.”

The author goes on to say that he, nevertheless, believes that proteins came about like that​—by chance. But, surely, a realistic person, on finding a deck of cards all harmoniously laid out on a table in their proper suits, would realize that someone had carefully put them there. Is it unrealistic to come to the same conclusion when observing the beautiful harmony in nature?

Intellectuals, such as Rutherford Platt, doubtless feel compelled to accept a naturalistic, or non-divine, explanation for things​—in spite of the evidence—​because that is the kind of reasoning that is acceptable today. Even scientists who believe in God would find it difficult to credit him as the direct cause of things in their scientific writings. This is the intellectual fashion. But is it realistic to allow our view of matters to be dictated by the intellectual fashion? Fashions change. The existence of God is too serious a matter to be dependent on things like fashions!

The Urgent Need to Accept God’s Existence

While science has increased our knowledge of the natural world, it has not solved the problem of creating a workable human society; nor has any other branch of human learning. This has now become a serious problem.

The truth is, the world situation today is out of human control. Politicians cannot control the nuclear arms race or the spreading pollution threat. Civic leaders cannot control the crime explosion. Economists cannot solve the problems of inflation or declining production, and life for hundreds of millions of people is degraded and hopeless. The shocking truth is, there is a well-founded doubt as to whether the human race will survive much longer.

The Bible foretold this situation, and showed the main reason for it. It says that men would be “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-4) Is it any wonder the world is in such a bad situation when it is filled with people like that? Surely, things will never improve until people improve. Now, science cannot improve people’s nature. Can anyone? Yes, God can.

Man’s nature is degenerate because he is alienated from God. However, the Bible tells us that God is “reconciling a world to himself.” (2 Corinthians 5:19) Those who respond to this reconciliation really do change. They “quit being fashioned after this system of things.” Rather, they are “transformed.” (Romans 12:2) They develop qualities such as love, consideration, honesty, reliability and concern for others. Such people have the most realistic reason of all for believing in God. They have experienced his power in their lives.

If the world were full of people following godly principles (not people who merely claim to be Christians), then most of today’s problems would be solved. And that is exactly what is going to happen. “Just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more . . . But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.” (Psalm 37:10, 11) Man’s best hope for the future lies in the fulfillment of that promise.

Is it an unrealistic hope? Well, we know that men are ruining the environment of the earth and are close to destroying the human race. Hence, relying on men is unrealistic. If we do not believe in God, our only hope for the future lies in wishful thinking. Is it, then, realistic to turn your back on God? Is it not, rather, the height of realism to turn to the only One who has the power, the wisdom and the desire to rescue us from the results of our mistakes? Yes, a realist not only can but must believe in God.

[Blurb on page 4]

It is not true that scientists have “disproved” religion

[Blurb on page 4]

Scientists are not notably irreligious

[Blurb on page 5]

Rather than evolution making it impossible to believe in God, the existence of God makes the theory of evolution unnecessary

[Blurb on page 5]

Is it realistic to say that God does not exist merely because we refuse to acknowledge his existence?

[Blurb on page 6]

The existence of God is too serious a matter to be left to intellectual fashions

More Complex Than Expected

It has long been assumed that the lining of the small intestine is simply a passive tissue. In other words, it was believed that nutrients simply diffused across the lining without any active work done by the lining cells. However, the Scientific American of November 1981, pointed out: “Recent work in physiology presents a different picture of the lining. It is now clear that the inner surface of the intestine is active both in breaking down and in absorbing nutrients. Cells of the lining have enzymes embedded in their membrane that convert complex sugars into simple ones and break down the peptides produced by protein digestion into their constituent amino acids or into small peptides made up of a few amino acids each.”

Advancing knowledge has brought to light many of the wonderful workings of the human body, but no doubt many mysteries remain. Both the knowns and the unknowns are awe-inspiring, causing many to feel like King David, who said of the Creator: “I shall laud you because in a fear-inspiring way I am wonderfully made.”​—Psalm 139:14.

Word-Search Game

The names of all the books of the Bible, fifty-six different names in all, are hidden in this letter maze. Repeat names are shown only once. The names read forward, backward, up, down or diagonally, are always in a straight line and never skip letters. How many can you find and encircle?

They Believe What They Want To

WHY do people believe as they do? Because there are sound reasons for it? Do we not often observe that people believe what they want to believe? Perhaps they believe something because it is popular. This is often true with regard to belief in God, what the purpose of life is and what the future holds.

In past history no one had a better basis for believing what was true than the Israelites. They received their laws directly from Jehovah God, the Creator of all things. Through his laws and his dealings with them they should have believed in him. They should have obeyed him and sought his approval. But what did they come to believe?

In spite of receiving clear warnings from their God as to the disastrous consequences of idol worship and immorality, they began to follow phallic worship and yet made it seem as if they were worshiping Jehovah. We read at 2 Chronicles 33:17: “Nevertheless, the people were still sacrificing upon the high places; only it was to Jehovah their God.” They were stealing, murdering, committing adultery, swearing falsely, walking after other gods and yet believing they would be delivered.​—Jeremiah 7:8-11.

They believed what they wanted and made it seem as though they were worshiping Jehovah, the true God. Since they had turned to their own thoughts, Jehovah could say through his prophet: “The thoughts of you people are not my thoughts, nor are my ways your ways.” (Isaiah 55:6-8) They glorified God with their lips but had removed their hearts from him. (Isaiah 29:13) And when Jehovah sent them warnings by his prophets, they replied: ‘You must not see, and you must not envision for us any straightforward things. Speak to us smooth things; envision deceptive things.’ (Isaiah 30:9-11) They would hear only what they wanted.

When Jesus came and preached to them, he said that their belief was in vain because of their tradition. (Matthew 15:7-9) The apostle Paul later wrote of the Jews that ‘they had a zeal for God but not according to accurate knowledge, and they sought to establish their own righteousness.’ (Romans 10:2, 3) Why? Because they wanted it that way.

Some Believed Jesus, Others Did Not

People heard Jesus preach the same message and perform the same powerful works, yet some believed and others did not. Why? After hearing the testimony of John the Baptizer and the words of Jesus, Andrew came to his brother, Simon, and could say: “We have found the Messiah.” Philip came to Nathanael and said: “We have found the one of whom Moses, in the Law, and the Prophets wrote, Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” (John 1:35-45) Why did these believe? Merely because they wanted to? They believed because of what they had seen and heard, in accord with what had been prophesied in the Scriptures.

When the Samaritans heard the words of Jesus, they said to the woman who first spoke about him: “We do not believe any longer on account of your talk; for we have heard for ourselves and we know that this man is for a certainty the savior of the world.” (John 4:39-42) Many who saw Jesus resurrect Lazarus from the dead believed in Him. Others who saw the same miracle went and reported the matter to the Pharisees. Did these believe? No, they schemed to put Jesus and also Lazarus to death, so that people would not believe. (John 11:45, 46, 53; 12:10, 11) These did not want to believe in Jesus. They chose not to. Why?

Why They Did Not Believe

There were several reasons. The religious leaders were afraid that the Romans would “come and take away both our place and our nation.” (John 11:48) Jesus had previously told them that they did not believe because they preferred to accept glory and honor from one another. (John 5:44) And to officers who were impressed with Jesus, the religious leaders said: “Not one of the rulers or of the Pharisees has put faith in him, has he? But this crowd that does not know the Law are accursed people.” (John 7:46-49) So they had their reasons.

The same thing occurred with many who later fell away from the true Christian belief. The apostle Paul wrote that there would come a time when men would not put up with healthful teaching, but in accord with their own desires, they would accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they would turn away from the truth. (2 Timothy 4:3, 4) Peter wrote that some unsteady persons were twisting the Scriptures to their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16) And he wrote also that in the last days many would not believe in the promised presence of the Lord, saying: “From the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning.” Why? Peter stated that “according to their wish” the fact would escape their notice that God had executed judgment upon a wicked world in the days of Noah. (2 Peter 3:3-7) Yes, they would believe according to their wish.

Sound Basis for Belief

But, is belief in God as Creator, that his kingdom will come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven just a fantasy people want to believe in? Not at all. There is a basis for true belief. Regarding such belief, or faith, the apostle Paul wrote: “Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.” (Hebrews 11:1) Then he relates how many men and women did not merely believe what they wanted to, but believed what God revealed about himself and his purposes. Their belief required self-sacrifice and brought upon them the hatred of this world. The same is true today with those who believe in God’s purpose.

But does any religion that moves people to devotion and self-sacrifice show that it is from God? Or, could devotees of such a religion also be believing merely what they wanted? An outstanding example of a religious movement that has drawn large numbers of young people is Moon’s Unification Church. How has this Church been able to draw the dedicated service of so many young people in our time? Why is it so often spoken against? These questions will be considered in the following article: “Moon’s Unification Church​—What Does It Believe?”

Moon’s Unification Church​—What Does It Believe?

SHE is attractive, young, and pleasant in manner. She stands quite close as she literally buttonholes a man by slowly pinning a flower to his coat lapel. Attaching the slightly faded flower, she requests a donation for it, explaining that the money will assist a youth group. The smiling girl appears to be quite sincere.

She is typical of young people often seen at busy airports and shopping plazas in North America. Neither cold weather nor the icy response of most people seems to deter these young people, members of the Unification Church. Perhaps you know them by their media nickname, the “Moonies.”

Who are the “Moonies”? Press reports about the Unification Church have tended to highlight charges of weekend brainwashing sessions and slave labor. The political and financial problems of the Church have also made headlines, especially since Sun Myung Moon, the Church’s founder, was convicted of tax fraud. Moon’s mass marriage of 2,075 couples also made headline news.

But what do you know about the beliefs of the Unification Church? What is motivating the Church’s small army of apparently idealistic youths? Why are they willing to give up college and careers to follow Sun Myung Moon? What is he promising them?

Who Is Sun Myung Moon?

Sun Myung Moon (“Shining Sun and Moon”) is a Korean in his sixties. Though reared as a Presbyterian, when a teenager he began to have visions that led to the formation of the Unification Church in 1954.

“I met Jesus personally,” says Moon in his book Christianity in Crisis: New Hope, “and I received a revelation through which I learned that God’s grief is great. His heart is broken. Today God is working ceaselessly for the ultimate salvation of all mankind. He needs His champion to succeed in this work.”

Moon acknowledges that this may sound disrespectful of God. “So far in Christianity,” he said in a speech a few years ago, “we placed God so high up in heaven, and pushed man so low in hell, that there has been an uncrossable gap between them.” While Moon’s conception of God is not what is found in the Bible, it will be familiar to students of Eastern religions. “Man is the visible form of God, and God is the invisible form of man,” he said in that speech. “Man is incarnate God. . . . Man shares the same value as God and is just as important as God.”

Unification of world religions is seen by Moon as a first step toward world salvation, so it is not surprising that he interprets Christianity in ways that make it appear to harmonize with other religions. For example, his chief theological textbook, Divine Principle, says that “the Lord of the Second Advent, who comes as the central figure of Christianity, will also play the role of Buddha, whom Buddhists believe will come again.”

While most Christians look to a heavenly Messiah, Divine Principle states that the Christ must be “born in the flesh on the earth at the Second Advent.” The coming Messiah of whom Moon speaks is not the Jesus Christ of the Bible, but someone else, a man born somewhere on earth in our century. Where? “The nation of the East where Christ will come again would be none other than Korea,” says Divine Principle. Moon’s followers come to believe that he himself is the promised Messiah, or, as he puts it, the “Lord of the Second Advent.”

What does a member of the Unification Church believe when Church doctrine appears to contradict the Bible? “We must realize that Biblical words are a means of expressing the truth and are not the truth itself,” says Divine Principle. “The New Testament was given as a textbook for the teaching of truth to the people of 2,000 years ago, people whose spiritual and intellectual standard was very low, compared to that of today. . . . Today the truth must appear with a higher standard and with a scientific method of expression in order to enable intelligent modern man to understand it.” According to Moon, “the disciples of Jesus . . . followed what they felt spiritually in their hearts.” Moon’s followers are encouraged to do likewise. “We should not be attached to conventional ideas but should at all costs find the new truth,” says Divine Principle.

Kingdom of Heaven on Earth

“I am Jim,” said the neatly attired stock analyst. “I came searching answers to my problems and the world’s.” Jim was attending a “weekend workshop” sponsored by the Unification Church. A lot of young people are like Jim. They want to know why the world is full of suffering and evil. They want to know if life really has a purpose. They want to find out what will become of our polluted, war-threatened earth. Sun Myung Moon offers plausible-sounding answers to these questions.

Why is the world full of evil and suffering? Because Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden. “The foundation for the evil history of man was laid,” says Moon, “and Satan was established as the ruler of this world. . . . and now our world is rampant with killing, lying, and stealing.”

What does the future hold for our earth? Moon’s answer is appealing. God is not going to burn up the earth, as some religionists claim. “It is not the universe, but man who has committed sin,” he notes. “The Bible therefore says, ‘A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.’”

Since we are living in the “last days,” soon “all men will be made new through their True Parents. All will be made capable of bringing sinless children into the world. . . . The kingdom of heaven on earth will then begin.” How heartwarming! An earth full of perfect, sinless people, “the kingdom of heaven on earth.” No wonder idealistic young persons like Jim are touched by the message of the Unification Church! But how is such a world to be attained?

Sun Myung Moon has a unique answer to the often-posed question: How is God’s kingdom to be established? “Marriage,” he says, “is the most important means of establishing God’s kingdom on earth.” In fact, Moon continues, if Jesus had been allowed to marry, “the sinless state of God’s kingdom could have been a reality for the last 2,000 years.” Moon is quite emphatic on the subject. “Jesus was denied the opportunity to take a bride in the position of restored Eve, and to establish the first God-centered heavenly family. Instead, the people of Israel nailed him to the cross.”

Was Jesus a Failure?

According to Moon, when Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me” (Matthew 26:39), it was because “Jesus wanted to live and fulfill his mission” of getting married and raising a family. Since Jesus’ mission was not fulfilled, another Messiah must come in our time to get married, raise the perfect family and help mankind reach perfection.

Of course, serious Bible students will object that such ideas are nowhere to be found in God’s Word, but that is no problem for Sun Myung Moon. “You may again want to ask me, ‘With what authority do you say these things?’” he says. “I spoke with Jesus Christ in the spirit world.”

‘Even if an Angel out of Heaven . . .’

Most of the young people who join the Unification Church have only superficial knowledge of Christianity. The fact that Moon’s unbiblical ideas are so easy for these youths to accept speaks poorly for the religious training they had at home.

But back in the first century, to persons who had been instructed in true Christianity, the apostle Paul wrote: “Even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond what we declared to you as good news, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8) Although the Unification Church discusses basic Christian doctrines such as the Messiahship of Jesus and a second coming, does it understand these doctrines in the way the apostle Paul understood them and as set out in the Bible? Does it teach the same “good news” as found in the Bible? Consider what Moon teaches about one of the central doctrines of Christianity.

Death of Jesus Christ in Prophecy

“The Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many.” (Matthew 20:28) Here, in Jesus’ own words, was a key part of his mission​—to give his perfect life as a ransom sacrifice for the sinful descendants of Adam. Jesus never spoke of raising a perfect family and gradually taking over the world. Does Moon accept this?

“Right now I am making a bold declaration,” said Sun Myung Moon to a crowd gathered in New Orleans, Louisiana. “Jesus did not come to die. . . . If God had wanted His son to be crucified, He did not need 4,000 years to prepare the chosen people. He would have done better to send Jesus to a tribe of barbarians, where he could have been killed even faster. . . . Jesus died on the cross, not of his own will, not of the will of God, but by the will of men.”

Perhaps you are already pondering the question, If God did not purpose that Jesus die a sacrificial death, why does the Bible contain well-known prophecies about his death, such as the one at Isaiah, chapter 53? “I am aware of those prophecies,” Moon said. “We must know that there are dual lines of prophecy in the Bible. One group prophesies Jesus’ rejection and death; the others, such as Isaiah, Chapters 9, 11, and Isa 60, prophesy the glorious ministry of Jesus when the people accepted him as the Son of God. . . . Since God did not know how man would respond to His providence for the Messiah, He had no choice but to predict two contradictory results​—dual prophecies, each possible depending on man’s actions.”

What is this? Almighty God unable to predict how men would respond to the Messiah? To the contrary, God says: “So my word that goes forth from my mouth will prove to be. It will not return to me without results, but it will certainly do that in which I have delighted, and it will have certain success in that for which I have sent it.”​—Isaiah 55:11.

Clearly, in order for all of God’s prophecies to be fulfilled, the Messiah must be rejected in his first appearance, and gloriously triumphant upon his return. As Daniel 7:13, 14 makes clear, his triumphant return is not as a man on earth, but as a powerful spirit creature, able to approach Jehovah God, the Ancient of Days, directly in his heavenly court.

But the Unification Church does not accept the Bible’s clear testimony on this matter, because they prefer to believe in a fleshly Messiah who will raise a family on earth. To justify such doctrines, Moon denies God’s ability to predict the future. He preaches a weak God, one ‘of no greater value than man.’ He even goes so far as to say: “In a way God fears man, and Satan fears man also​—because of man’s ability to betray.” This “God” of whom Moon speaks is certainly not Jehovah, the Almighty God, whose grand promises are recorded in the Bible!

“Restoration Through Indemnity”

Some statements of the Unification Church appear to show an appreciation for Jesus’ sacrificial death. “Did the sacrifice on the cross then come to naught?” asks Divine Principle. “Not at all (John 3:16). If it had, Christian history could not have existed.” Nevertheless, “redemption by the cross has been unable to remove our original sin . . . salvation through . . . the cross is spiritual only.” What does that mean? “If Jesus had not been crucified . . . he would have accomplished the providence of salvation both spiritually and physically. He would have established the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.”

If Jesus’ sacrifice does not suffice to save men fully, then how is one to be saved? The Unification Church has developed an elaborate doctrine of atonement, called “restoration through indemnity.” “Man, who lost the original position or status endowed at the creation, must set up certain necessary conditions in order to restore himself,” says Divine Principle. (Italics ours)

The idea that men must atone for their own sins is very popular in the Orient, where the Unification Church got started. But does it agree with the Bible? “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” wrote the apostle Paul, “and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom paid by Christ Jesus. For we reckon that a man is declared righteous by faith apart from works of law.” (Romans 3:23, 24, 28) By their zealous fund raising, members of the Unification Church may feel that they are atoning for their sins, but their “works” cannot save them. The Jews thought they could prove themselves righteous by works of the Mosaic law, but Jesus said they were still ‘slaves of sin.’ How could they be free? “If you remain in my word,” Jesus said, “you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-34) The Unification Church has clearly gone beyond Jesus’ words. Its members remain slaves to sin, despite all their works.

Influence of “Spirit Men”

Moon’s doctrine of indemnity applies to dead persons as well as the living. He teaches that dead “spirit men” wish to participate in the good works of his followers. How do the “dead” do this? Answers Divine Principle: “The spirit men pour out spiritual fire on earthly men, give them the power to heal diseases, and help them do many mighty works. More than that, they enable earthly men to see many facts in the spirit world in a state of trance, give them the gift of prophecy, and inspire them spiritually. Through such activities, substituting for the Holy Spirit, they cooperate with earthly men to fulfill the will of God.”

This is a dangerous doctrine! Why? Because the dead are unconscious, incapable of working along with living men. The Bible clearly states: “There is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol [the grave], the place to which you are going.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10) Who, then, are the ones causing Moon’s disciples to prophesy and to do “many mighty works”?

“Whether there are gifts of prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease,” says the Bible. (1 Corinthians 13:8) Miraculous spiritual gifts ceased with the death of the apostles and those who received such gifts through the laying on of the hands of the apostles. God would not contradict his Word by inspiring such gifts now. Regarding the times we live in, Jesus warned clearly that “many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.”​—Matthew 7:22, 23.

Those are strong words, and members of the Unification Church should take them to heart. The “spirit men” they are involved with cannot be the dead, nor can they be from God. Since they are inspiring precisely the activity that Jesus warned against, such spirit forces can only be from God’s enemy, the original deceiver, Satan the Devil. They can only be demons, wicked spirits who have been misleading and abusing gullible men for thousands of years. To invite demon possession in the naive belief that you are cooperating with “spirit men” is a grave error.

Indeed, Divine Principle frankly admits that some of these “spirit men” are evil and may torment Moon’s followers, saying that if a disciple “gladly endures the torment given by the evil spirit man, . . . he can set up a condition of indemnity for his own sin and that of his ancestors.” In other words, Moon’s followers are taught that spirit possession and torment can atone for past sins!

With such doctrines and practices in the Unification Church, no wonder its members sometimes may appear to have a glassy-eyed look about them, as has often been commented on by observers. In some cases, doubtless, exhaustion or a poor diet may be the cause, but many of these young people could very well be undergoing demonic harassment. What a tragedy! Nor is it surprising that ex-members frequently report severe mental and emotional problems for months after leaving the Church. A study in Science Digest reports: “Former cult members complained of disorientation and of ‘floating’ in and out of altered states; of recurrent nightmares, hallucinations and delusions; of instances of bewildering or unnerving ‘psychic’ phenomena.”

What Kind of Prophet?

No one is questioning the sincerity of Moon’s disciples, but the fact is that they are in grave danger. By allowing Sun Myung Moon to convince them that they need not base their beliefs on the Bible, they have been seriously misled. Pitifully, they have been put at the mercy of ruthless demonic forces.

The Unification Church is right when it says that we are in the “last days,” and that God’s kingdom will soon rule over an earth full of happy, obedient people. This is a wonderful hope. But another part of the sign of the “last days” is that “false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones.” (Matthew 24:24) What kind of ‘Christ’ and ‘prophet’ is Sun Myung Moon? The facts speak for themselves.

“Johnny, Please Be Quiet!”

So cried a young mother, vainly struggling to quiet her noisy baby. She rocked, fed, cuddled caressed, shook and pacified with little effect. Johnny’s cry just got louder.

A BABY’S first cry is music to the ears of a mother. Yet the constant, sirenlike sound of a baby’s cry has driven some to violence. As one doctor expressed it, “the cry of a small infant . . . can reduce the most competent adult to a state of frenzied helplessness.” Exhausted from giving birth, nerves frazzled by midnight feedings and endless diaper changes, some mothers find it hard to respond to baby’s cry with compassion.

Yet mothers have successfully coped with their crying infants for centuries. So can you! Although we offer no “magic” solutions, you can surely benefit from the advice of parents, medical science and the Bible.

Babies Are People Too!

First, let’s dispose of a common fallacy: that a baby is just a little, moldable hunk of clay devoid of individuality​—an object, a plaything. Rather, he is a living, breathing human with real needs. An infant is generally alert, responsive and has a unique personality, albeit flawed. Though it’s hard to conceive of a helpless infant as sinful, the Bible realistically shows that “the inclination of the heart of man is bad from his youth up.” (Genesis 8:21) This helps us appreciate that, while cute and cuddly, infants are capable of deceit, anger, jealousy​—the trademarks of imperfect humanity!

Likely, much goes on in the mind of an infant as he evaluates the world around him and reacts to his own feelings. Baby wants to reach out and, in effect, say: “Here I am! Pay attention to me!” How does he do this? By calm discussion? No, a baby can only cry​—oftentimes at the top of his little lungs.

Forging a Bond

“When I first saw my baby, I fell in love with him. It was just the way he looked. He was so beautiful!” Thus a mother of three describes what doctors often refer to as “bonding,” the mutual emotional attachment between mother and baby. Is it important for mother and baby to be “in love”? Yes, for this bond helps mother to be sensitive to, attuned to, the needs of her baby. “Can a wife forget her suckling so that she should not pity the son of her belly?” asked the prophet Isaiah.​—Isaiah 49:15.

It appears that this bond can begin to form even during pregnancy, as the expectant mother senses life growing inside her. And when mother and child are allowed to stay together after birth, this link appears to be dramatically strengthened. Many hospitals now permit such contact, in view of studies claiming long-lasting results: “Less infant crying, more rapid infant growth, increased affection, and more self-confidence on the part of the mother,” to name a few.

The apostle Paul observed how a “nursing mother cherishes her own children.” (1 Thessalonians 2:7) This tender act of nursing does more than provide baby with nutritious food. Barbara, a mother of five, asserts: “Breast-feeding makes you feel closer to your baby. I felt close to the babies I bottle-fed, but when you breast-feed there is a different feeling.” Many doctors enthusiastically agree!

As natural as this bond may seem, it is not automatic, but can be strengthened or suppressed. It may take time and effort to get baby to respond to your efforts, whether he is breast-fed or bottle-fed, born “naturally” or with anesthesia. But, in the long run, it is worth the effort.

But What Is He Trying to Say?

The Bible condemns shutting one’s ears to the cry of the helpless, and baby usually won’t let himself be ignored! (Proverbs 21:13, The New English Bible) He will cry until he is comforted or too exhausted to continue. Confessed one mother: “It just kills you to hear your little baby cry.” That instinctive desire to respond to the cry and comfort him lays the groundwork for real communication. Redbook magazine stated: “Babies whose mothers respond to them regularly in this way become accustomed to having their signals understood. This makes them want to communicate more.” Eventually baby learns to talk. But for now crying must suffice. Listen! What’s he trying to say? Research indicates that attuned mothers can guess the cause of baby’s discomfort with surprising accuracy!

What might be troubling your newborn? Infants have a longing for milk, and possibly your child is hungry. Mother’s milk, a bottle, or even a pacifier may calm him. Like the patriarch Jacob’s children, your baby is very “delicate” and may cry simply because he’s tired. (Genesis 33:13, 14) Does your child have a fever or other signs of illness? Or could it be a wet diaper that is causing him discomfort? The possibilities are numerous.

Your baby also has emotional needs. You need love and reassurance, do you not? Babies need an exceptional amount. How can you meet these needs? By touch!​—holding, caressing, tickling your infant. Says Dr. Eleanor Hamilton: “The baby who cries for body contact is clamoring for fulfillment of a need as essential as that of feeding, diapering, and burping.” Depriving him of this essential contact is “the equivalent of condemning the baby to isolation-cell treatment.”

Babies need to feel secure. Physician Luke mentions that Jesus’ mother used an age-old method to soothe her newborn: “She bound him with cloth bands.” (Luke 2:7) “Mummifying” a baby may strike you as strange, but there is wisdom in this practice. One publication on child care advises: “Some tense newborn babies are soothed and find it easier to sleep . . . if they are wrapped in a light blanket or cloth. It seems to stop them from waking from ‘startles’ or waking themselves from random movements of arms and legs. It should be done quite firmly, as a loosely restricting blanket seems to be irritating to babies, rather than calming.” Whether it’s a cry for dinner or a plea to be gently caressed, baby’s cry has meaning, and by trial and error you learn to “tune in” to your infant.

Coping with Colic

“My first child,” says Dwan, “was the ‘perfect’ baby. But my second child cried​—actually screamed—​almost continually for three months!” The effects? “The baby took all my attention. I isolated myself and had very little communication with anyone. I’m not the nervous type, but this had severe effects on my nervous system and I developed colitis.”

A “bad” baby? No. He was crying out in real pain. A newborn’s digestive system is immature and some infants experience sharp pains in their stomach and intestines. This is commonly called colic. The cure? Admits Dr. Benjamin Spock: “Unfortunately, there is as yet no sure, effective way of relieving colic.” The only real cure so far known to doctors is the passage of time​—usually two or three months. In the meantime you may be sentenced to nonstop wailing.

Or are you? T. Berry Brazelton, MD, has had parents clock actual crying time and says that, “although it seemed to the parents that the baby was crying all day and all night, the truth was that the total crying did not amount to more than two hours a day.” Since babies are seemingly sensitive to parental tensions, “the more frantic maneuvers a mother used to try to quiet him, the more the baby cried.”

You must therefore stay calm and take reasonable steps to comfort your baby. Gentle massage of the child’s stomach, rocking, breast-feeding, pacifying, swaddling, softly speaking or even singing may calm him. Maybe not for long, but you accomplish a very important thing: You reassure the baby that he is loved and might prevent his suffering possible emotional scars.

Seth, for example, is a bright, cheerful and calm six-year-old. A person can hardly believe that he spent the first few weeks of his life screaming. But his mother, Janice, recalls being “exhausted from frustration.” Her husband adds: “You get up, you hold the baby, you try to feed the baby. No matter what you do, he keeps crying. It’s a very nerve-racking thing to go through, and I confess that at times I felt like throwing him down!” How did they keep their sanity? Cooperation. Says Janice: “I really could feel Bruce’s loyalty to me and his support.” Yes, he shared in getting up and comforting the baby. They also recognized their limitations: “At times the only way we could get relief was to do first what we could to comfort the baby and then put him down and let him cry. You feel guilty and selfish for doing this. But to get control of ourselves we at times just had to ‘suffer it through.’ Also, we kept reminding ourselves that this would eventually stop.”

Dwan, earlier quoted, further advises: “Make your problem known to your husband and friends. Once they know, they are often more than willing to help. Also, be aware of your own emotional needs.” Maybe a brief respite from parenthood, via a baby-sitter, can help restore your nerves. It is important, too, that you do not neglect your spiritual needs. (Matthew 5:3) Says Janice: “I really feel Jehovah has a lot of compassion for new mothers and helps them if they simply turn to him.”​—See Psalm 55:22.

Spoiling and Unspoiling

While love and attention seem to be vital to a baby’s emotional well-being, some babies continue to demand attention even after colic or hunger has abated. Most doctors agree that it is hard to spoil a very young infant. But older babies can become tyrants, demanding their parents’ undivided attention.

Typical is the toddler who, according to his mother, Carmen, “will go into a fit and start screaming if he doesn’t get what he wants.” The solution? “We had to discipline him. He knew that every time he acted up, he was going to get hit for it.” Though some are appalled at the thought of punishing a baby, Carmen knows that the Bible encourages the training and disciplining of children. (Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 23:13) This may mean giving her child an occasional whack. But Carmen says: “If you spank him, after a while he just goes right to you and hugs you.” So while a child thrives on attention and love, blend in some loving discipline.

The disciplined child is far better equipped to “go public.” The first time in a restaurant or shopping mall with your baby can be a nightmare if he is untrained. Christians have the further obligation of training their children to participate in worship, since the Bible tells of the congregating not only of adults but also of “little ones.” (Deuteronomy 31:12) True, baby may cause some embarrassment as he unleashes a cry from time to time in public. But people are usually sympathetic and tolerant. And a beleaguered mother is grateful when someone kindly asks, “May I help?” and offers her a few moments of relief.

“Out of the Mouth of Babes”

Hopefully, the task of keeping baby quiet now seems just a little less formidable. Of course, baby will keep expressing himself; it comes naturally to him. So relax and enjoy your baby. Get to know him. Being a parent is a full-time job.

While cries and shrieks may come “out of the mouth of babes,” don’t forget that with loving instruction “praise” can come out of those same tiny mouths. (Matthew 21:16) Infants are a marvelous testimony to Jehovah’s love and wisdom and are one of his greatest gifts. Your baby will make you fume from frustration and howl with laughter; drain you emotionally but then lift your spirits to soaring heights. So keep nurturing, comforting and, above all, loving your baby. He just might decide to stay quiet for a while.

[Blurb on page 18]

“Breast-feeding makes you feel closer to your baby”

[Blurb on page 19]

“We kept reminding ourselves that this would eventually stop”

[Blurb on page 20]

A child thrives on attention and love

[Picture on page 20]

“If you spank him, after a while he just goes right to you and hugs you”

So You Think You Have an Ulcer?

YOU’VE just walked out of the doctor’s office​—with more questions than answers. ‘He thinks I have an ulcer! Unbelievable! How would I have got that? More importantly, what can I do about it?’

The problem of peptic ulcer disease is not a small one. In the United States alone, it is estimated that each year eight million people are treated for ulcer disease at a cost of approximately four billion dollars. Furthermore, in recent years medical discoveries about ulcers have caused traditional treatments to be challenged. What would you say? Is milk good for ulcers? Is alcohol bad? How about spicy foods? What is the most prescribed drug in the United States today? The answers may surprise you.

What Is an Ulcer?

An ulcer is a local defect, or excavation, of the surface of an organ or tissue, and it is produced by the sloughing of inflammatory necrotic tissue. Peptic ulcer disease can be classified into two basic categories, gastric ulcers (ulcers that occur in the stomach) and duodenal ulcers (ulcers that occur in the first part of the intestine just outside the stomach). To put it simply, an ulcer represents a sore, or an erosion, in the lining of the wall of the stomach or the duodenum. This sore is caused by the action of strong chemicals produced by the stomach, namely, hydrochloric acid and pepsin (hence the name, peptic ulcer). If the ulcer is severe it may extend clear through the wall of the stomach, a very serious complication called a perforation. Serious hemorrhage can occur if the erosion of the ulcer involves a major artery in the area. In long-standing disease a duodenal ulcer may be further complicated by extensive scarring and stricture so that the lower end of the stomach is obstructed.

What Causes an Ulcer?

Many researchers are fond of saying that peptic ulcer is “multifactorial,” meaning there are many factors contributing to the disease. Much has yet to be learned. It has been observed for decades, for example, that the incidence of ulcer rises markedly in the spring and in the fall​—just why, nobody knows.

Nevertheless, there are several factors that have been proved to contribute to the development of an ulcer. Heredity, for example, plays an important role. A number of family studies and studies of twins indicate that there is about a threefold likelihood of duodenal ulcer in close relatives of patients with duodenal ulcer. Cigarette smoking, too, is a proved cause of ulcer disease. The bulk of evidence indicates that cigarette smokers have an increased incidence of both gastric and duodenal ulcer. Furthermore, smokers have slower healing of their ulcers than do nonsmokers, and they have more ulcer-related complications such as hemorrhage or perforation, as well as a higher ulcer-related death rate.

What about alcohol? There is no evidence to indicate that moderate alcohol intake is associated with an increased incidence of ulcer. In fact, G. D. Friedman and associates reported that those patients who drank minimal quantities of alcohol had a lower incidence of ulcer than did those who were nondrinkers. It is interesting how this verifies Paul’s counsel to Timothy at 1 Timothy 5:23: “Use a little wine for the sake of your stomach.”

This leads us into the topic of diet as both cause and cure of ulcer disease. For many decades folklore taught that ulcers were caused by a diet of hot, spicy foods and were cured by a bland diet. But recent medical studies have tended to dispute these commonly held views. There is no evidence that certain ethnic groups (for example, Mexican-Americans) who tend to eat highly seasoned food have more ulcer disease than do those who avoid highly seasoned food. Certainly coffee, decaffeinated or regular, and cola beverages are potent stimulators of gastric acid, but their role in the cause of ulcers remains unsettled.

As far as drugs are concerned, it is often difficult to prove that a certain drug actually caused an ulcer. Aspirin is the drug that has been studied most thoroughly and has been clearly shown to be associated with an increased incidence of gastric ulcer.

What about emotional factors? It has been commonly held that stress and tension are strongly associated with the development of peptic ulcer. Recently the Scriptural thought that “a heart that is joyful does good as a curer, but a spirit that is stricken makes the bones dry” has been proved true. (Proverbs 17:22) Medical studies have shown that in many ulcer patients stressful events either immediately preceded the clinical appearance of peptic ulcer or may have been present for many years beforehand.

In any event, whether from too much stress, too much smoking, too much caffeine or from heredity, the final common pathway leading to the formation of an ulcer is too much acid.

What Are the Symptoms?

The primary symptom is pain​—pain usually in the upper abdomen, often described as burning in nature, occurring a few hours after meals, or awakening the patient at 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. The pain sometimes is relieved by meals or antacids, but this is not a clear-cut indicator. In fact, in one hundred hospitalized duodenal ulcer patients, 40 percent said meals made the pain worse. Careful analysis of ulcer patients indicates that the most sensitive symptom is stomach pain that awakens the patient at night.

As you may have deduced by now, it is difficult to make the diagnosis of ulcers from the symptoms alone. The basic screening test for finding out whether one does or does not have an ulcer is the stomach X ray, or UGI (Upper Gastro Intestinal), in which the patient drinks a radiopaque, milklike substance to outline the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. A newer study, which has been found to be more precise, although slightly more uncomfortable and more expensive, is endoscopy. The patient swallows a small lighted tube, through which the doctor can actually see and take samples from the ulcer.

What Is the Treatment for Ulcers?

As a rule, an ulcer is not a serious, life-threatening thing. In fact, nowadays a patient usually need not be hospitalized for treatment of his ulcer. It must even be mentioned that many ulcers will heal on their own (34 percent in one study, with no medical treatment). But the goals of treatment with medicines are to diminish pain, speed healing, decrease complications and prevent recurrences. There are two types of medications that have been proved effective in accomplishing these goals.

The first of these is the antacid, which simply serves to neutralize excess stomach acid. In fact, in spite of all the new medications, antacids, if properly used, still seem to be the best treatment for most ulcers. Although there are many kinds of antacids, most are equally effective if taken in proper dosages​—usually two tablespoons of the liquid one hour after eating, three hours after eating, and at bedtime. Though some find it a nuisance to take the medication in this way, on the whole, antacids are very safe and effective.

In the past few years a major new advance in the medical treatment of ulcers has been the development of a drug called cimetidine, known by the brand name Tagamet. This medicine comes in pill form and is generally recommended to be taken four times a day. It works not by neutralizing the acid that is formed in the stomach but by blocking the production of acid. It is very effective, has high patient acceptance and very few side effects. As with any other effective medication, there is a tendency for it to be overused, and this is now becoming worrisome to some physicians. What did you suspect was the most prescribed drug (in terms of dollar cost to the patient) in the United States last year​—Valium, Librium or one of the other tranquilizers? No. Surprisingly, it was Tagamet. Thus the concern is that the medication is too easily prescribed for any kind of stomach pain.

Yet, for the patient who does have peptic ulcer, Tagamet is quite effective in rapidly diminishing the pain and speeding the healing. In essence it is as effective as the antacids and is much easier to take, although more expensive.

What about diet therapy for ulcers? The days of milk diets or even bland diets to cure ulcers may well be passing. Some studies have even shown that milk can actually be harmful in some ulcer patients because, although milk temporarily relieves the symptoms, it leaves the stomach quickly and can then cause the stomach to pour out more acid. Thus, today most doctors don’t put their ulcer patient on any strict diet. They tell him to eat a well-rounded diet and enjoy his food, and caution him only to avoid foods that seem to bother him.

A few comments on the role of surgery for the patient with peptic ulcer. The principal indication for operation in ulcer patients is for the treatment of complications, such as perforation, bleeding or obstruction. Although any surgical decision must be individualized, in general the safest, most effective ulcer operation is the selective gastric vagotomy, which involves cutting only those tiny nerves to the stomach that cause acid to be secreted. But surgery for ulcer is really a last resort since most ulcers can be taken care of with medications.

How Can I Keep From Getting an Ulcer?

Certainly any genetic tendency toward ulcers that we may have inherited through our imperfection is beyond our control. Keeping in mind the above principles, however, there are a few measures that may be highlighted to help prevent this painful medical problem. First and foremost, avoid the unhealthy habit of tobacco smoking. Second, avoid abusing over-the-counter medications, especially those containing aspirin. Third, if one has noticed that certain foods, such as highly seasoned spicy foods or caffeine, seem to bother the stomach, it would be wise to avoid them.

A word of caution: Although antacids may be safely used for a mild stomach upset, if the pain continues and the patient loses weight and has a change in bowel habits, he should seek medical attention promptly. These may be symptoms of another problem more serious than simple ulcer disease.

Finally, perhaps most importantly, the patient who is prone to ulcer problems would do well to pay attention to the wise Biblical admonition at Proverbs 14:30, “A calm heart is the life of the fleshly organism.”

[Box on page 22]

A Word of Caution

Although antacids are often used for a mild stomach upset, if the pain continues and you lose weight and have a change in bowel habits, you should seek medical attention promptly. These may be symptoms of another problem more serious than ulcers.

[Box on page 24]

To Help Prevent Ulcers:

1. Foremost, avoid the unhealthy habit of tobacco smoking.

2. Avoid abusing over-the-counter medications, especially those containing aspirin.

3. If one has noticed that certain foods, such as spicy foods or caffeine, seem to bother the stomach, it would be wise to avoid them.

Young People Ask . . .

Could I Be Hurt by Peer Pressure?

WHY would three young men get into a car trunk and during a short ride on a winter night gulp down a bottle of wine, a six-pack of beer and a pint of whiskey? Had someone threatened their lives if they refused? No. They wanted to be accepted into the most prestigious men’s club on their college campus and were willing to undergo this initiation rite. Thereby they would prove worthy of the approval of their esteemed peers.

However, when that night was over the three were unconscious and one was turning blue. Soon nineteen-year-old Chuck was dead from acute alcohol poisoning. It was claimed that no one forced Chuck to drink more than his customary few beers. “But when you’re in that heavy, verbal peer pressure situation it all becomes different,” reported his mother. “The whole world hates a chicken.” In Chuck’s case gaining the acceptance of his peers cost his life.

You may be thinking: ‘That is an extreme example. It could never happen to me.’ Yet it vividly illustrates the power of peer pressure. If you have ever had the dilemma of struggling to please old friends or fit in with new ones, then you know that peer pressure is a reality. Research studies have demonstrated that one of the major influences in our lives has to do with being a member of a group. So, handling peer pressure is vital as you mature.

A Part of Growing Up

We all need to conform to proper standards of conduct imposed by society. Because of inexperience, young persons are bound to have some “rough edges” of their personality that need smoothing. Practical indeed is the Bible proverb (Pr 27:17): “By iron, iron itself is sharpened. So one man sharpens the face of another.” Just as an iron file can sharpen the dulled edge of a knife, so your fellowship with others can ‘sharpen’ your personality. Such interaction with others can make you a better person as well as refresh you. The support from a peer group whose influence is healthy can even help make up for the lack of a parent or proper attention at home.

Naturally as you mature you will be more conscious of how others view you. You want to fit in. You soon learn that those who are popular seem to have the most fun. “You care so much about being accepted by other kids,” said Debbie. “When I was eighteen I dreaded the thought of being unpopular because I would have no one to invite me out for a good time. I feared I would be isolated and not asked to join in on the fun or I would be called an old fuddy-duddy who couldn’t do anything.”

Who Causes the Most Pressure?

“The people whose ways we like and the group we want to be part of have the greatest influence on us,” noted Professor James Comer of the Yale Child Center. These ones put us under the greatest pressure.

For instance, Debbie explained that while in school there were some youngsters who did not care about anything, including their grades. They were looked down upon by others. “It didn’t matter to you at all what their opinion was of you,” admitted Debbie. “But there were others who excelled in school and I wanted to have their approval. When these would look down on me it would make me want to go into a corner and just never come out. I would feel useless, no good. It was as if I was a little nobody who couldn’t do anything right.”

Debbie for some time did things to gain the acceptance of these peers so that she could fit in. You may know how she felt. Have you ever worn clothes you didn’t really like, just to win the approval of other kids? Has your speech or grooming ever been influenced? Then you, too, have experienced peer pressure.

However, many teens object to the thought that their actions are dictated by peer pressure. Many feel as did seventeen-year-old Susie who said, “Another kid can’t really make you do anything you don’t want to do.” However, peer pressure can be so subtle that it is not immediately recognized as such. A Bible example of a man with high principles who succumbed to peer pressure shows its insidious, yet relentless power.

The Apostle Peter and His Peers

The apostle Peter was one of the pillars of Christianity. He was a bold man with strong convictions. At first Christianity was made up solely of persons who were natural Jews, like Peter, or Jewish proselytes. Such persons avoided non-Jews, or Gentiles, even looking down on these. However, God revealed in a vision to Peter that non-Jewish persons from all nations and races could become Christians and thereby be acceptable to God. So Peter changed his thinking. Instead of avoiding non-Jews, he helped them spiritually and even ate with them. Later he valiantly defended his actions before the leaders of early Christianity.​—Acts 10:28; 11:1-18.

Time passed and Peter became situated in a city wherein many non-Jews had become Christians. While there in Antioch he freely socialized with these Gentile Christians, eating meals with them. However, one day some representatives from the Jerusalem congregation visited Antioch. These men, Jewish Christians, still disliked socializing with non-Jews, or Gentiles. Peter knew their feelings. How would he respond?

When they arrived Peter separated himself from the Gentile Christians and would no longer eat with them. He went against the very principles he earlier defended! Why? Because Peter was afraid of offending these visitors. Obviously Peter valued their opinion of him. He could have felt, ‘I’ll just bend a little now while they’re here and continue eating with the Gentiles after they’re gone. Why ruin my rapport with them over such a small thing?’​—Galatians 2:11-14.

How subtle! The Bible says that Peter and others who were influenced by his bad example were putting on a “pretense,” or pretending to do something that they really did not believe. In other words, the peer pressure had made Peter a pretender who rejected his own principles.

If this could happen to a mature Christian, one of the twelve apostles, could it not also happen to you? Peter was soundly corrected​—in public—​by the apostle Paul because he “stood condemned.” Suppose you let peer pressure influence you in a moment of weakness. If you do something wrong, how will you feel about it later? Won’t your conscience condemn you? You may even get caught and hurt your reputation. Is it worth it?

Yet not all peer pressure is bad. How can you benefit from good peer pressure and avoid the bad? The following issue of Awake! will provide some helpful answers.

[Picture on page 25]

Just as an iron file can smooth off rough edges on a knife, so there are qualities in our personality that can be sharpened by good peer influence

[Picture on page 26]

Peer pressure can influence the way we dress and groom ourselves. There is a need for us to develop our own thinking ability

[Picture on page 27]

Even the apostle Peter was hurt by peer pressure. Could peer pressure also affect you adversely?

From Our Readers

The New Morality

One half of the June 22nd Awake! deals with sex. Admittedly, you also give us the Bible counsel, but is it necessary to have the articles in such large doses?

M. M., Wales

I have been disturbed by the articles on morality. I realize that we need to be aware of the terrible things that are happening, but do we have to use the terms that these ones use and read the details of what goes on?

N. R., England

The information was open and shocking, but none of the language was vulgar or lewd, nor would any expressions used titillate or appeal to any prurient or immoral interest. The purpose was to alert our readers to the badness taking place and the subtle arguments used to defend such. It was also presented as a warning to parents to protect their children and equip them to resist such bad influence. The Bible is very open and direct in dealing with such matters. See Genesis 19:4-11; Leviticus 18:22, 23; 20:15-17; Romans 1:26, 27.​—ED.

I found this article to be very shocking, but I really do appreciate the publishers’ frankness and open-mindedness on this ever-growing dilemma.

L. B., England

I have just finished reading the articles on child pornography. I’m crying, shaking and I feel sick. Until I read this I was totally unaware of the disgusting things happening around us.

A. J., Wales

I would like to commend you on your straightforward handling of “The New Morality.” I was constantly victimized as a child and have never revealed this to anyone until now. It began at the age of eight and continued until my parents separated years later.

Anonymous, New York

I never imagined that things had got so outright disgusting. My grandfather assaulted me when I was seven years old, not just once but on a number of occasions. Now I feel the repercussions constantly. It’s been a living nightmare ever since. The memory can be pushed back for a while, only to resurface again. Thank you for showing it to be just what it truly is, selfish and reprehensible child abuse and a grotesque violation of a child’s trust and dependency.

M. K., New York

The articles on “The New Morality” are so very good. People must be made aware of these things.

K. P., Massachusetts

Thank you for your frank and clear presentation of this problem. Awake! has once again lived up to its name. It has awakened everyone to a real problem, perversion of sex. Please give us more articles like these.

J. M., Upper Volta

Watching the World

Wars Cover World

● “We often console ourselves with the knowledge that despite the advent of the nuclear age, the world has so far averted a terminal conflagration.” Thus spoke Jordan’s United Nations ambassador, Nazem Nuseibeh. “Yet,” he continued, “since the Second World War the world has seen 130 regional wars.”

While the Falkland Islands and Lebanon were grabbing the world’s attention, hundreds were dying every day in dozens of miniwars fought in the jungles, the deserts and the mountain valleys around the globe. The Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe are peppered with political violence, border skirmishes, civil wars, secessionist upheavals and ideological or religious conflicts. Jesus predicted that his invisible presence would be marked by ‘nation against nation.’​—Matthew 24:3, 7.

Religion Sinking?

● “More and more people in Switzerland no longer profess belonging to a ‘traditional’ religion, do not feel associated with any religious group, or refuse to answer questions regarding membership,” comments the Swiss newspaper Der Bund. Similar findings come from Germany. The German Südwest Presse, reporting on a poll conducted by Germany’s Allensbach Institute, shows that church attendance has plunged in the last three decades. Catholics who attend have dropped from 82 percent down to 45 percent, and Protestants from 53 percent down to 14 percent. “Young people particularly are turning their backs on the established churches to a degree that threatens their very substance,” says the article.

Although some denominations in the United States have seen attendance gains, a recent Gallup survey shows overall United States church and synagogue attendance sliding downhill from its 1958 peak of 49 percent to its present 40 percent.

Spinal Curvature Halted

● Nightly electrical muscle stimulation is proving effective nine out of ten times in halting or reversing mild-to-moderate spinal curvature (scoliosis) in youth, two medical journals report. While the youth sleeps, painless electrical impulses contract muscles and straighten the spine. “Our patients are delighted with stimulation because they can look and act like other youngsters during the day,” says orthopedist John B. Emans of Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Boston. Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in California uses electrode disks placed on the skin of the back and a portable pulse generator to stimulate muscles, according to Medical World News. And Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto uses an implanted model and a bedside transmitter to evoke muscle contractions, says the Journal of the American Medical Association. It is predicted that this type of treatment may eliminate back braces or possibly surgery.

Green Revolution​—Bleak Revolution

● The Green Revolution once hailed as the answer to the Philippine food production has turned bleak. Filipinos are now looking for native seed varieties to plant. The New York Times reports project director Domingo Panganiban as saying: “The seed-retrieval program seeks to rebuild the national genetic pool of plants geared to small farmers.” The high-yield cereal and vegetable seeds of the Green Revolution are not only very susceptible to diseases that can wipe out an entire crop but also require heavy doses of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This becomes a financial burden for small farmers. Domingo Abadilla, president of the Earthman Society, said of the Green Revolution: “True, it increased yields, but it also contaminated the environment. How many fish no longer swim in farm streams because these are poisoned by chemicals?”

“Pleasure” Price

● The venereal disease genital herpes is called the third-fastest-growing virus in the United States, reports the Denver Post. “This is spreading faster than any other (virus) with the exception of the common cold and influenza,” says Mary Guinan of the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC). One in every ten Americans is infected, with a half million being added each year. According to the CDC, this represents a ninefold increase since the epidemic began in 1966. There is no known method of immunization and “once someone has genital herpes, it’s for life,” reports the New York Daily News. “The virus burrows into nerve cells and stays there forever, ineradicable by any known treatment.” Besides genital herpes, bizarre, frightening new diseases are attacking the sexually permissive, says the Daily News. For example, chancroid, a sexually transmitted disease that causes painful genital ulcers, is reported on the increase.

Wind Energy

● Generating electric energy from the wind is being tried on the Greek island of Kythnos as a possible aid in reducing Greece’s dependence on petroleum imports and their successive price rises, reports Greece’s daily paper Kathimerini. This joint effort by Greece and Germany to tap the strong, almost continually blowing winds in the Aegean Sea is expected to supply 24 percent of Kythnos’ electric power demands. Similar wind-power generators are scheduled for installation on other Aegean islands in the near future. The answer as to whether or not wind power will sufficiently solve the energy problems of oil dependent countries lies “blowing in the wind.”

Garlic and Cancer

● Why should one county have the lowest rate of stomach cancer in the province and the county right next to it the highest rate? That was the question faced by doctors at Shandong Medical College in China’s Shandong Province. The answer, they believe, has to do with garlic. Those in Gangshan County, where the stomach cancer rate was the lowest, ate up to twenty grams of garlic a day. Those in Quixia County ate hardly any garlic at all. The doctors suspect that this low rate of stomach cancer is due to the property of garlic juice to inhibit bacterial growth. Says Health magazine: “Besides healthy stomachs, Gangshan residents also probably have very few extended visits from distant relatives.”

Altar Girls

● Although Roman Catholic Church policy forbids it, some Catholic Churches in Canada are using girls instead of boys in their services. In a survey conducted by the Toronto Star, sixteen of the seventy-eight churches contacted said they had altar girls. The girls light the candles, ring the bells, lead the processions to the altar and do other things formerly done only by altar boys. In explaining why he used girls, one priest said: “The boys never came out to the Saturday mass. But the girls were there.” Though official policy remains the same, a spokesman for the archdiocese of Toronto said the responsibility lies with the individual parishes and that they would not go on “a witch hunt for altar girls.”

Wedding Larceny

● It was meant to preserve cherished memories; instead it preserved an act of larceny that ended the marriage. That was what happened when a young couple decided to videotape their wedding festivities. According to a report in the New York Post, everything was proceeding well at the reception following the ceremony. The guests ate, sang and danced joyously. Many of the men took their jackets off, including the father of the bride​—forgetting the envelope in the pocket that held the thousands of dollars to pay the bill. When it was near time to pay and depart, the envelope was missing. Unable to find it, the bride’s father quietly paid by check and sat down with the remaining guests to sip coffee. Why not enjoy the wonderful wedding all over again, they thought. The cameraman obliged by showing the videotape of the wedding and reception. There, clear for all to see, was the groom’s father removing the envelope and money from the jacket pocket. Though the envelope was finally returned, nothing else could be set straight and the marriage was annulled.

Heavenly Messengers

● For a small fee, a Californian messenger service, Heaven’s Union, guarantees delivery of messages of up to fifty words to friends and relatives in the ‘Great Beyond.’ The messengers are terminal patients who agree to memorize the messages before their departure. For a higher fee, the message is placed with three messengers to ensure early delivery. Customers are assured that the message will not go to the wrong place because “Heaven’s Union messengers are fully aware of their situation and have had time to be repentant of past mistakes,” says the Union’s brochure. So far 500 messages have been submitted for delivery to friends, relatives and celebrities like John F. Kennedy and John Lennon. But, according to the Bible, the dead “are conscious of nothing at all.”​—Ecclesiastes 9:5.

Everyday Injuries

● Americans sustain an estimated thirty-three million product-related injuries each year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 1982 annual report. The report lists 183 products and activities, but excludes auto accidents. Highest on the list are injuries that occurred on steps, ramps or landings: 763,000 cases. Next come injuries associated with bicycles, baseball, football and basketball. Dancing ranks seventy-second on the list, with 26,000 injuries. This is not surprising in view of what goes on at some of the “wilder discothèques,” says a Commission spokesman. What is surprising is that 199,000 people were injured getting in and out of bed, and 83,000 injuries occur in the bath or shower each year. It seems that people manage to injure themselves on virtually everything, including pens and pencils, telephones and aquariums.

Malnutrition Kills Youths

● Malnutrition annually kills 75,000 children in Nigeria, states Professor Adewale Omololu of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He adds, malnutrition also results in less than 3 percent of Nigeria’s population living beyond the age of 60. Efforts are being made to improve this situation, reports the Daily Sketch of Nigeria. “Work now going on in my department,” Omololu explains, “includes studies on breastmilk and breastfeeding, weaning food for infants and children, and energy and protein requirements for Nigerians.”

Business Turns to Fox God

● Japanese companies are rushing to build office shrines for their fox god to combat economic recession, notes the Mainichi Daily News. According to Shinto religious belief, the fox is the patron deity of business prosperity. The Inari (fox god) Shrine in Fushimi, Kyoto, is being kept busy filling twenty requests per day for some of the fox god’s spirit. At least for the shrine in Kyoto there is no business recession.

What Do You Know About the Bible?

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Dating​—Does It Work?

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