February 8

Page Two

For thousands of years, peace has been man’s elusive goal. What has motivated men to go to war? Who make the decisions? Who are made to pay the price? And how is that accomplished? Will lasting peace ever be a reality? These and other questions are considered in our opening series

War or Peace​—And You 3

War​—Why? 4

How Can Peace Become a Reality? 8

[Picture Credit Line on page 2]

Cover: UN photo/​Milton Grant

War or Peace​—And You

What Is War?

“War is an element of the order of the world established by God. Without war the world would stagnate and lose itself in materialism.”​—German field marshal Helmuth von Moltke.

“Suppress war, and it would be like trying to suppress the processes of nature.”​—Joseph P. Goebbels, Nazi minister for propaganda and national enlightenment.

‘A part of politics.’​—Russian leader Lenin.

“The only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes ability to execute, military plans.”​—Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli.

What Is Peace?

“A period of cheating between two periods of fighting.”​—Ambrose Bierce, American journalist.

“A moribund condition, caused by a surplus of civilians, which war seeks to remedy.”​—Cyril Connolly, English critic and writer.

“A dream, and not even a beautiful one.”​—Helmuth von Moltke.

HOW do the above-quoted expressions strike you? Do you sense a cynical approach to war and peace? Do they give you the impression that for many people, especially rulers and politicians, life is cheap​—as long as it is not their life that is at stake? Yet we are sure that regardless of your nationality you would like to live in a world of peace and harmony.

During mankind’s 6,000 years of history, war has reaped its dead by the hundreds of millions. Even after the experience of two world wars, peace and harmony seem to be a dream. As Gwynne Dyer wrote in his recent book War: “During the last two years of World War II, over one million people were being killed each month. If the great powers go to war with each other just once more, using all the weapons they now have, a million people will be killed each minute.” And if the nuclear powers go to war, will they consult the people first for their opinion? History answers otherwise.

Past conflicts and the present potential for slaughter lead us to ask, What are the causes of war? What are the prospects for a true, lasting peace in our time​—not just a breathing space between wars? And in this nuclear age, is lasting peace an elusive dream?

War​—Why?

HAVE you ever wondered why nations go to war? If we discover the answer to that question, we may also discover the key to peace.

Maybe you react somewhat like John Stoessinger, professor of political science: “I read that wars were caused by nationalism, militarism, alliance systems, economic factors, or by some other bloodless abstraction that I could not understand. . . . I wondered if this could be true. . . . After all, wars were begun by men. Yet this personality [human] dimension was seldom given its due weight in traditional books on war.” (Italics ours.) Obviously, the human element in war cannot be ignored.

In his book The Evolution of War, Professor Otterbein comes to a similar conclusion, saying that “wars are caused by the decisions of men as members of organizations, whether they are military organizations or governing bodies.” But what are the motives for war? According to his study, they are basically: political control, territory, plunder, prestige, defense, and revenge.

War​—In Our Genes?

Many theories are offered to explain the causes of war. For example, those who believe in evolution see man only as a higher form of animal life that still retains the aggressive and defensive reflexes of the animal world. They argue that aggression is innate in man, that it is in his genes. Zoologist Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt wrote in The Biology of Peace and War: “Our closest relatives, the great apes, have considerable aggressive potential and are also territorial. . . . This strongly suggests that our human aggressivity may be an ancient primate heritage.”

Konrad Lorenz, Austrian founder of modern ethology (the study of animal behavior) asserts that man has an aggressive drive that is his “most powerfully motivating instinct [that] makes him go to war.”​—On Aggression.

On the other hand, Sue Mansfield, a professor of history, challenges that conclusion, saying: “Though the majority of cultures in historic times have engaged in war, the majority of human beings have not been participants.” The fact that governments have to resort to obligatory conscription into the armed forces would also suggest that aggression and killing are not necessarily viewed with great enthusiasm by people in general, nor can they be seen as reflex reactions. Professor Mansfield adds: “Indeed, the historical record suggests that warfare has usually been a minority experience.”

In recent times that minority has been highly trained and preconditioned. In addition, with the advent of artillery, bombs, and missiles, war and killing have also become more impersonal. In contrast with wars of past ages, the specialized minority can kill without actually seeing, let alone knowing, their victims. But if they do not know the enemy, how can people be motivated to fight?

The Role of Propaganda

Sometimes neighbors quarrel. But seldom does it lead to bloodshed. In the first place, the law of the land prohibits assault and murder against fellow citizens. But in time of war, that prohibition does not apply to citizens of an opposing country, even though people in general really do not know their “enemies.” All that they know about the enemy is what they have been led to believe by the spoon-feeding of their politically controlled media.

This is a fact of life in every nation. As Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt wrote: “Public opinion is formed by interest groups (politicians, arms manufacturers, the military) that deceive the electorate by giving them false or one-sided information.” In a similar vein, historian H. E. Barnes wrote: “Since the wars of the French Revolution . . . copious and compelling propaganda [has] been continued and greatly increased to protect warfare against popular dissent, opposition, and factual analysis of issues.”

As a consequence, “practically anybody can be persuaded and manipulated in such a way that he will more or less voluntarily enter a situation wherein he must kill and perhaps die.” (War, by Gwynne Dyer) Thus, by reason of their political and economic power, the “elite” can control the media in order to prepare the masses for the bloodbath.

Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels, leaders of the ruling Nazi elite, were well aware of the importance of mind control and deception of the masses. On August 24, 1939, Hitler explained to a group of high officers his plans for the invasion of Poland: “I shall give a propagandist cause for starting the war. Never mind whether it is plausible or not. . . . In starting and waging a war, it is not Right that matters but Victory.”

Thus it is clear that a motivation has to be generated to make a nation rise up against another. But what are the key elements in generating war fever?

Who Make the Decisions?

Austrian economist Schumpeter wrote: “The orientation toward war is mainly fostered by the domestic interests of ruling classes but also by the influence of all those who stand to gain individually from a war policy, whether economically or socially.” These ruling classes have been defined as “elites [that] are at all times involved in trying to manipulate other elements of the population, or the public mood itself, so as to perpetuate themselves in power.”​—Why War? by Professors Nelson and Olin.

Every nation has its ruling class, even though that group may be divided into different political factions. However, many observe that the power of the military elite in every nation should not be underestimated. Former U.S. Ambassador John K. Galbraith describes the military establishment as “by far the most powerful of the autonomous processes of government.” He continues: “The power of the military embraces not only the significant sources of power but . . . all the instruments of its enforcement. . . . More than any other exercise of power in our time it is the subject of grave public unease.”

Galbraith illustrates his point by reference to the United States military institution, which has property resources that “far exceed any similar source of power; they embrace not only what is available to the armed services and the civilian military establishment but what flows out to the weapons industries.” A like situation no doubt exists in the Soviet Union and many other countries. And therein lies a danger that could lead to a war of mutual annihilation​—that the power of the military establishment comes to exceed that of the political.

How Does Religion Influence War?

Even though religion is on the wane in many countries, the clergy can be included in the elite decision-making group. Furthermore, religion has been and still is the motivating force behind some wars. One clear example is Shi‘ite Muslim Iran that is waging war with Sunni Muslim Iraq.

A similar situation exists in the conflict between India and Pakistan. Professor Stoessinger states: “The most savage religious war in history was neither the Christian Crusades against Islam nor the Thirty Years’ War that pitted Catholic against Protestant. It was the war of Hindu against Moslem in the twentieth century.” What provoked that ongoing enmity? The partitioning of India and Pakistan that took place in 1947. The first effect was “a gigantic population exchange, probably the most massive in history. Over 7 million Hindus, fearful of persecution in Pakistan, frantically sought refuge in India, and a similar number of Moslems fled from India to safety on Pakistani soil. A vast amount of violence and bloodshed generated by religious hatred accompanied this population exchange.”​—Why Nations Go to War.

Down through history the priestly class has been the willing accomplice of the ruling elite. In time of war, religious leaders have piously blessed weapons and armies on both sides in the name of God, while often professing the same religion. This blasphemy has turned many people away from religion and God.

Nationalism​—The “Sacred Egoism” That Divides

Sometimes the people are not in favor of a war. On what basis, then, can the rulers most easily persuade the population to support their aims? This was the problem that faced the United States in Vietnam. So, what did the ruling elite do? Galbraith answers: “The Vietnam War produced in the United States one of the most comprehensive efforts in social conditioning [adjusting of public opinion] in modern times. Nothing was spared in the attempt to make the war seem necessary and acceptable to the American public.” And that points to the handiest tool for softening up a nation for war. What is it?

Professor Galbraith again supplies the answer: “Schools in all countries inculcate the principles of patriotism. . . . The conditioning that requires all to rally around the flag is of particular importance in winning subordination to military and foreign policy.” This systematic conditioning prevails in communist countries as it does in Western nations.

Charles Yost, a veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service and State Department, expressed it thus: “The primary cause of the insecurity of nations persists, the very attribute on which nations pride themselves most​—their sovereign independence, their ‘sacred egoism,’ their insubordination to any interest broader or higher than their own.” This “sacred egoism” is summed up in divisive nationalism, in the pernicious teaching that any one nation is superior to all others.

Historian Arnold Toynbee wrote: “The spirit of nationality is a sour ferment of the new wine of democracy in the old bottles of tribalism.” In Power and Immortality, Dr. Lopez-Reyes wrote: “Sovereignty is a major cause of contemporary war; . . . unless altered, the system of sovereign nation-states will trigger World War III.” The emphasis on nationalism and sovereignty denies the basic concept that we all belong to the same human family, regardless of linguistic or cultural differences. And that denial leads to wars.

Yes, the experts can come up with all kinds of explanations of why man systematically sets out to destroy those of his own kind. Yet there is one primary factor that most commentators ignore.

The Hidden Cause of War

The history of war and its causes should not be considered without taking into account a much greater conflict that has deeply affected mankind. It is clearly identified in the Bible. This ancient book shows that a powerful spirit creature, driven by selfish ambition, raised himself up in opposition to God. (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7) He initiated a rebellion in heaven and on earth and, along with that, introduced disobedience, imperfection, sin, and death to the human family. (Genesis 3:1-7) Thus, Jesus when on earth could identify his religious enemies by saying: “You are from your father the Devil . . . That one was a manslayer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. . . . He is a liar and the father of the lie.”​—John 8:44.

This rebel spirit creature, Satan (meaning, Adversary) the Devil (meaning, Accuser, Slanderer), has ruled and divided the nations for thousands of years. He has achieved invisible control over the nations by means of political power. What basis do we have for such an assertion? The fact that when he tempted Christ he could show him “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” and then say: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.” Christ did not deny Satan’s control over “all the kingdoms of the world.” He rejected the temptation, saying: “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.”​—Matthew 4:1, 8-10.

By every possible political ruse and diversion, Satan has turned mankind away from the only true way to peace. The vast majority of humankind are loyal to political systems that are, by definition, antagonistic. They will not and cannot establish true peace for the human race because they are under the influence of the wrong god​—the god who “is misleading the entire inhabited earth”—​Satan. Consequently, explicitly or implicitly, they reject the only true way to peace.​—Revelation 12:9; 2 Corinthians 4:4.

But, you might ask, ‘What is the true way to make peace a reality? What will bring about such a transformation? And what must I do to inherit that peace?’ The following article will consider those questions.

[Picture on page 5]

Joseph Goebbels, minister for propaganda and national enlightenment, “master propagandist of the Nazi Regime”

[Credit Line]

U.S. Library of Congress

[Picture on page 6]

Religion still causes wars, as the Iran-Iraq conflict illustrates

[Credit Line]

I. Shateri/​Gamma-Liaison

How Can Peace Become a Reality?

What are some of the major stumbling stones that prevent permanent peace from being a reality? From our previous article, we can identify the following:

(1) Selfish elite ruling classes (political, military, commercial, and religious) that have manipulated the people.

(2) A system of educational conditioning based on extreme nationalism that teaches “sacred egoism,” national superiority, mistrust, and hatred.

(3) The overall control and direction by ‘the god of this system of things, who has blinded the minds of the unbelievers,’ namely, Satan the Devil.​—2 Corinthians 4:4.

ON A world scale, there has to be a change of thinking, a change of heart. And that means a change of education​—to teach all peoples peace, love, and mutual respect. And that also means a worldwide change of leadership to a unified leadership that will be respected by all nations​—an incorruptible world government. In turn, that means a change of world control​—from the rule of Satan to the rule of God! But how are these changes going to be brought about?

The Bible prophesied over 2,500 years ago that in the time of the end for this system of things ‘the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that would never be brought to ruin.’ (Daniel 2:44) This is the everlasting Kingdom for which Jesus taught his followers to pray: “Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.” (Matthew 6:9, 10) That kingdom means a new rulership by Christ Jesus, from the heavens, for all the earth, even as the prophet Daniel wrote: “His rulership [or, sovereignty] is an indefinitely lasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be brought to ruin.”​—Daniel 7:13, 14.

This heavenly government in the hands of Christ is the new arrangement that will replace the divisive, selfish elite classes that have misruled mankind for millenniums. It forms the governing part of the “new heavens and a new earth” that “we are awaiting according to [God’s] promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.” (2 Peter 3:13) This government is the true “cradle of future world destiny,” not the United Nations in New York that is advocated by Robert Muller, an assistant secretary-general to the UN. In spite of the UN proclamation of 1986 as the International Year of Peace, true peace can only come through the divinely approved channel of God’s Kingdom.

The Role of Education

Millions of people are already preparing themselves to live in peace under the rule of that Kingdom government. For over a hundred years a tremendous educational campaign has been extended throughout the nations to bring the message of that Kingdom to all people. Probably you have had a peaceful representative of that government call at your home, although at the time you perhaps did not realize the importance of that visit. He or she was participating in the most extensive educational work ever in human history. Who was the visitor? One of Jehovah’s Witnesses. And why do the Witnesses visit you?

The Witnesses offer to study the Bible with any sincerely disposed person who desires to learn about Jehovah’s way to peace. This free education is already helping millions “to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears.” The prophet Isaiah states: “Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.”​—Isaiah 2:4.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are already fulfilling this prophecy in contrast with the members of the United Nations, who still wage verbal or physical war one against another. And how have the Witnesses achieved this? By studying the Bible to get the mind of Christ on matters; by learning that God truly is love and that they must reflect his love to their fellowman of all nations and races. For that reason they maintain a strict stand of neutrality on political issues and refuse to participate in any war or conflict, come what may.​—1 John 4:8; John 13:34, 35.

According to fulfilled Bible prophecy, the time is near for God’s Kingdom to take action. (Matthew 24:3-35) Soon God’s war of Armageddon will put an end to Satan’s rule with all its divisive and destructive politics. (Revelation 16:14-16; 19:17-21) Now is the time to turn to God and his Word. Jehovah’s Witnesses in your neighborhood will gladly help you to prove for yourself that everlasting peace is not an elusive dream but a reality that will soon be worldwide. Or feel free to write to the publishers of this magazine for further information and help.

[Blurb on page 8]

“There are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.”​—Peter the apostle

[Blurb on page 9]

“By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”​—Jesus Christ

[Picture on page 9]

“And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares . . . Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.”​—Isaiah the prophet

Thirty Years of Love and Devotion

OUR daughter Josephine is now just over 30 years of age. She delights in washing the dishes and helping around the house, and she always thanks us for the pleasure such jobs bring her. But then, Jose (as we call her) is rather exceptional. Let me explain why.

Likely you can imagine my joy when, after 14 years of marriage, I knew I was expecting my first child. But from the moment I saw Josephine, I realised that she was a Down’s syndrome baby.

Facing Reality

The shock and heartbreak were terrible. My kind husband was as upset for me as I was for him. The disappointment was very real for both of us. And, to be honest, our pride was shattered. How would we break the news to our parents and friends​—and my husband to his business associates? But overshadowing everything else, we felt so sad for our daughter, especially since we did not then know the full extent of her handicap.

The doctors were frank. They told us that Jose would never be strong and that in such cases heart and chest weaknesses usually limit life expectancy. When we eventually arrived home, we still knew so little. Would Josephine ever walk, talk, or be able to feed herself? How would we ever manage, assuming we were able to cope at all? But I had faith that Josephine would be cured when, as I had so often prayed, God’s will takes place here on earth as in heaven.​—Matthew 6:9, 10.

All my neighbours had taken an interest in my confinement. So when Josephine was about six weeks old, I made her look pretty in her perambulator, filling it, too, with copies of a booklet containing the very encouraging Bible talk “Can You Live Forever in Happiness on Earth?” Then I knocked at every door on both sides of the road on which I lived, inviting each neighbour out in turn to see my baby. At the same time, I explained my hope for her restoration to perfect health under God’s Kingdom rule and gave everyone a copy of the booklet. After I had finished, I did not feel as brave as I hope I looked. But at least I had shown all how precious my faith is.

Meeting the Challenge

My husband and I determined to do our very best for Josephine. At the outset, we set our minds to the task of making her an acceptable member of society. Little did we realise then how many years of slow training​—painfully slow at times—​lay ahead of us.

For example, Jose’s tongue would constantly hang out of her mouth. Each time this happened, I would gently put it back, kiss her cheek, and whisper to her, “Clever girl!” By the time she was six months old, she got to understand what was required and this problem was overcome. But what patience was needed!

Family, friends, and members of the Taunton, England, Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses were all so helpful! Never did we lack for a word of encouragement. After little more than a year, with the aid of a child walker, Josephine was getting around the house unaided. A pattern was beginning to emerge, but we still had much to learn.

When Josephine was two and a half years old, we were advised that the time had come to toilet train her. She was always dry and clean when she went to bed, and I took her to the bathroom again just before my husband and I retired for the night. We set our alarm clock for half-past four, when I would rise to care for Jose’s needs once more. Then, by setting the clock five minutes later each day, by the time she was three, we were regularly able to get an undisturbed night’s rest. The secret, we found, was to have on hand a warm, dry change of clothing for her and to commend with the phrase she had grown to know so well, “Clever girl!”

Progress and Setbacks

Knowing that ours was not a unique problem, we read books about Down’s syndrome but found so many of them depressing. We therefore decided to have independent assessments of Josephine’s disabilities and her potential. Here again, opinions varied enormously, usually depending on how Josephine felt at the time of her interviews.

On one occasion, she took an instant dislike to a specialist. As a result, we were told that Josephine was a very bad case and quite incapable of learning anything. But other interviews were more constructive. Her ability to speak a little, and especially to sing in tune, stood her in good stead. As a direct result of these tests, when Jose was eight years old, we were able to enroll her in a Bristol school for children with special educational needs.

By the time Jose was three, I had given birth to our second daughter, Joan. As Joan grew up, she was my constant companion and joined in helping to care for Josephine with the freshness of a child who dearly loved her older​—but, in reality, her baby—​sister. When I would be inclined to give up on teaching a certain word or correcting persistent naughty behaviour, Joan would persevere and thereby encourage me. Of course, there were problems, as Josephine’s frustrations so often turned into tantrums. Then the only remedy was to hold her very tightly to prevent her from injuring herself, all the while gently reassuring her until she gradually calmed down.

Bringing up two children in such circumstances was not easy. When I had to go into the hospital for an operation, Josephine fretted so much that she lost all her lovely dark hair. Although for many years we regularly took her to a specialist for treatment, to this day she has to wear a wig. Soon thereafter, her health broke down. A curvature of the spine also developed, and because of her precarious health, we were unable to do anything about this. Things were not easy for any of us. In times of extreme stress, we were very grateful for the modern drugs that enabled Jose to relax and sleep. In fact, I doubt that she would be alive today if it had not been for these modern medications.

The schoolteachers who specialised in Josephine’s care were unstinting in their efforts to help her and to train her. Lessons never lasted more than 20 minutes and oftentimes were of much shorter duration. We concentrated primarily on correct vowel sounds, followed by very short phrases, going slowly to ensure clear pronunciation. Jose’s powers of concentration were very limited. On one occasion, I recall that Joan and I spent two weeks teaching her to say “my arm” and “park keeper.” But what a joy it was to be successful!

Josephine’s school curriculum, limited though it had to be, was of great value. By the age of 16 not only could she speak well but she could also read and write. She had learned skills with her hands and could weave and make clay pots. Even today she loves to colour pictures, something she does meticulously. But, most important of all, during all these formative years, I taught both my girls to love Jehovah God.

Spiritual Blessings

When Joan underwent baptism at the age of 16, Josephine was present and heard the speaker say that a baptized person is “truly one of Jehovah’s large family.” From then on, Jose’s one longing and fervent wish was to be part of that family. So a few years later, at the age of 22, she was baptized. That was such a happy day!

Quite fearlessly, Josephine talks to everyone about her faith in God​—to her teachers at the Centre where she spends some time each week, to friends, and to neighbours. She is proud to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jose places many Bible study aids and gives me addresses to write to so as to follow up interest she has found. She loves to attend meetings at the local Kingdom Hall, and when she is well enough, we are able to take her to larger assemblies.

I also have numerous opportunities to help others in circumstances similar to my own. Some of my husband’s business associates, as well as doctors who know about Josephine, will ask me to go and comfort the parents of a Down’s syndrome baby. They send me because I always look so happy. Well, I have every reason for happiness. Over the years, I have corresponded with families in Australia and elsewhere who are having problems like my own. It is always rewarding to be able to encourage other parents and to pass on to them practical suggestions gained from my own experience.

Of course, every case is different and domestic circumstances vary. But medical authorities acknowledge that Down’s syndrome children have a wide variety of abilities and a great deal of suppressed potential. Parents must fight the tendency to become passive and overprotective as they settle down after the initial shock of the birth. Overindulgence is another ever-present danger. The first five years are as formative for a child with Down’s syndrome as they are for normal children. Firmness, tempered with kindness, is essential if full potential is to be realised.

Every effort my husband, my daughter Joan, and I have made has been worth while. Outsiders often think that caring for a handicapped child must be a responsibility with little reward. How wrong they are! Although Josephine cannot cook, she will often make a cup of tea as a surprise when visitors arrive. She also answers the telephone, makes her own bed, and exercises great care and much patience when doing little jobs of dusting and cleaning about the home.

Children suffering from Down’s syndrome are not only extremely affectionate but also sensitive, caring, and gentle. Josephine is no exception. Oh, yes! She really has brought us far more joy than sorrow. As far as we are concerned, it is she who especially manifests love and devotion.​—As told by Anna Field.

[Blurb on page 10]

I had shown all how precious my faith is

[Blurb on page 11]

We were very grateful for the modern drugs that enabled Jose to relax and sleep

[Blurb on page 12]

I taught both my girls to love Jehovah

[Blurb on page 13]

The first five years are as formative for a child with Down’s syndrome as they are for normal children

[Picture on page 11]

Anna Field with her daughter Josephine

Down’s Syndrome​—A Modern Approach

Cosmetic surgery is a new approach to helping those suffering from Down’s syndrome, although such surgery can be very costly. One child in Britain and a few children in the United States have had such operations. But the pioneer work on 60 children has been done in Israel by a team of surgeons headed by Professor Ruben Feuerstein.

What is involved? Surplus folds of skin can be removed to correct slanting eyes. Silicone implants can be used to make a new bridge for the nose. Cheekbones can be raised and a receding chin reshaped. Ears can also be pinned back closer to the head. And an outsize tongue, common to many with Down’s syndrome, can be trimmed.

“These children,” commented Feuerstein, “are frequently confined to the educational dustbin and some are even left to die in [the] hospital after they are born. Because of their very distinctive looks they are assumed to be much more backward than they often are.”

Pointing to apparently satisfying effects in the case of one girl in Britain, London’s Sunday Times published its report under the headline “Happiness is a brand new face.” Of course, plastic surgery in such instances has its critics. And Awake! does not endorse or recommend specific forms of therapy, recognizing that these are matters for personal decision.

Crossword Puzzle

Clues Across

1. Timothy was admonished to apply himself to this [2 words] (1 Timothy 4:13)

7. Mesopotamian city from which Jehovah directed Abraham to move (Genesis 12:1; 15:7)

9. Esau’s color at birth (Genesis 25:25)

10. “Look! The ---!” (John 19:5)

11. Nineteenth letter of the Greek alphabet

12. Two of these equal one cubit (1 Samuel 17:4)

13. Female relative (Leviticus 18:14)

15. Jesus used it in healing a blind man (John 9:11)

16. Resolve (Luke 21:14)

18. Men from this city tricked Joshua (Joshua 9:3-27)

21. Allows (Hebrews 6:3)

22. Betrothed (Deuteronomy 22:23)

24. Away from the right course (1 Peter 2:25)

27. Property (Genesis 47:26)

28. Hill also known as the Areopagus (Acts 17:22, KJ)

29. In mockery, the Roman soldiers put one in Jesus’ hand before his impalement (Matthew 27:27-29)

31. “The beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14)

32. Peter cut this off the slave of the high priest (John 18:10)

33. Disciplining a child by means of this could save his life (Proverbs 23:13, 14)

34. A plant mentioned by Jesus in reference to the tithing of the Pharisees (Luke 11:42)

35. Egyptian city known as Thebes (Ezekiel 30:14-16)

36. Every species of this to be tamed [2 words] (James 3:7)

Clues Down

1. Miriam was the first woman designated as such in the Bible (Exodus 15:20)

2. Though ravens lack one, they still are fed (Luke 12:24)

3. Love does not behave this way (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5)

4. Designation given to those in Israel who accepted Christ (Romans 9:27; 11:5)

5. Israelite who sent his non-Israelite wife away (Ezra 10:30, 44)

6. By God’s blessing, this plant would be replaced with the myrtle tree (Isaiah 55:13)

8. Such hands do not attend to God (Acts 17:24, 25)

14. Levitical gatekeeper who did the same as the Israelite in 5-Down (Ezra 10:24)

17. Jehovah put her two husbands to death (Genesis 38:6-10)

18. Another name for the Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:1)

19. Under Mosaic Law, anyone having relations with one would be put to death (Exodus 22:19)

20. Catch up with (Exodus 14:9)

23. Hebrew name of “the angel of the abyss” (Revelation 9:11)

24. A Benjaminite ancestor of King Saul (1 Samuel 9:1, 2)

25. After the Flood, all animals were to have this feeling toward man (Genesis 9:2)

26. Amazement (Hebrews 12:28)

30. Fall (2 Kings 9:33)

31. His violent anger was cursed by Jacob (Genesis 49:5-7)

CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS PAGE 25

Answers Across

1. PUBLIC READING

7. UR

9. RED

10. MAN

11. TAU

12. SPAN

13. AUNT

15. CLAY

16. SETTLE

18. GIBEON

21. PERMITS

22. ENGAGED

24. ASTRAY

27. ESTATE

28. MARS

29. REED

31. LUKE

32. EAR

33. ROD

34. RUE

35. NO

36. CREEPING THING

Answers Down

1. PROPHETESS

2. BARN

3. INDECENTLY

4. REMNANT

5. ADNA

6. NETTLE

8. HUMAN

14. URI

17. TAMAR

18. GENNESARET

19. BEAST

20. OVERTAKING

23. ABADDON

24. ABIEL

25. TERROR

26. AWE

30. DROP

31. LEVI

Young People Ask . . .

How Can I Get Close to God?

‘I’M HUMAN, God’s divine. I’m finite, God’s infinite. I’m flesh, God’s spirit. Then how am I supposed to relate to God?’ Thus ask many youths about God today. ‘Sometimes I wonder,’ say some youths, ‘if God even wants me to communicate with Him or if He just wants to be left alone.’ Still others complain, ‘When I pray, I don’t hear any voices telling me how to handle my problems.’

However, not all young people feel this way. Says George Gallup, Jr., in his publication Religion in America 1984: “Teenagers appear to be more likely than their elders to feel a close relationship with God.” But while 95 percent of the teenagers interviewed said they believe in God or in a universal spirit, this in itself does not mean they have a relationship with him.

Getting close to God involves more than just believing in him. It means putting belief into action, which includes cultivating a friendship with God. Thus, the Bible speaks of faithful Abraham coming to be called “Jehovah’s friend.” True, cultivating any relationship is work. But is God’s friendship worth the effort?​—James 2:23.

Why It Matters

“By him we have life and move and exist,” said the apostle Paul. (Acts 17:28) Like it or not, your life depends upon God. The air you breathe, the food you eat, the water you drink​—these are but a few of his provisions. Are we not thus indebted to him? This alone is a reason to want to be close to God. (Genesis 1:27, 28; Psalm 104:14) Yet, there is still further reason for you to want to do so.

“It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step,” says the Bible. Not that man cannot try, but without God’s direction he is simply not equipped to do it. (Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 12:15) Wars, crime, violence, pollution, and many other common situations today have proved this true. Yes, not being close to God has seriously hurt mankind. But what about you as an individual?

Being God’s friend will help you cope with personal problems. Man has “a scanty lifetime and an overload of difficulties,” says the Bible. (Job 14:1, The Bible in Living English) Yet, through the direction he gives by means of his Word, God can guide you in ways that are for your own lasting good. “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding,” the Bible urges. “In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight.”​—Proverbs 3:5, 6; Psalm 16:11.

God is also interested in your future welfare. His promise of everlasting life on earth​—in peaceful and righteous conditions—​to those who earnestly seek him makes getting close to God matter all the more. (John 17:3; Psalm 37:9-11, 29; Revelation 21:3, 4) How, then, can you begin to get close to him?

Get to Know God

Before you choose someone as a good friend, you must first get to know him. Would you choose this friend at random​—not knowing his name, his personality, his interests, and even his deeper thoughts and emotions? Probably not. Likewise, to get close to God you must first learn about him. (John 17:3) Begin by studying the Bible. This helps you get to know God as a person. You learn how he thinks and what he requires of you.

Even though the Bible is written in language that is reasonably simple and clear, some amount of disciplined study is necessary. Unfortunately, for most people, the Bible remains an unread, foreign document. According to a Gallup Youth Survey, “only about one teenager in eight (12%) reads the Bible daily, and 30% never open the book or can’t remember when they last did so.” Interestingly, 52 percent say they read the newspaper every day. But to “go on perceiving what the will of Jehovah is,” reading his Word on a regular basis is a must.​—Ephesians 5:17; Joshua 1:8.

However, getting close to God is not just a matter of getting facts about him. As in any relationship today, some form of communication is necessary. With Jehovah God, it is prayer.

Communicate

To some youths, talking to God in prayer seems too remote, too fantastic or unreal. Nevertheless, as 17-year-old Laverne observes, “it is hard to say you really have a personal relationship with someone if you don’t talk to him.” True, knowledge is important. But no matter how much knowledge you may have about God, without regular prayer to him, your efforts may be in vain.

Lynda was raised in a Christian family. Nevertheless, reflecting on her teenage years, she recalls, “In all those years, I rarely missed a Christian meeting, and I have never missed a month of preaching activity, yet I never really developed a close personal relationship with Jehovah.” But at a certain point in her life, when problems and tensions were building up, what helped her? “I prayed incessantly for days for answers to our problems.” She soon realized that Jehovah would help her with her problems, and she was able to cope with them.

Do you ever feel like Lynda, that you are doing good Christian things, but you still cannot get close to God? Have you tried praying to him about it? The Bible clearly states that “Jehovah is near to all those calling upon him.” (Psalm 145:18) That is why the Bible encourages us to “pray continually,” “persevere in prayer,” and “carry on prayer on every occasion.” (Matthew 26:41; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18) Although this does not mean you must spend all your time​—24 hours a day—​praying, it does mean you need to pray regularly. But when you pray, is God listening?

He is if you meet his conditions for prayer and if you pray for the right things. Jesus Christ used his model prayer as a pattern. (Luke 11:1-4) The disciple James, though, told certain Christians in his day: “You do ask, and yet you do not receive, because you are asking for a wrong purpose.” (James 4:3) Hence, if your prayers are selfish or ignore God’s will, you cannot expect God to listen to them.

However, just talking to God is not necessarily prayer. Your prayer should involve devotion, trust, respect, and a sense of dependence on God. Pour your heart out to him as you would to an understanding father. Yes, “in everything by prayer . . . let your petitions be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6) Still, more than knowledge and prayer is needed for you to get close to God. You must also put forth an effort to harmonize your life with Bible principles.

Apply Yourself

Men, women, and young ones will spend much time, exert much effort, and even endure hardship to reach their personal goals. For example, between the ages of 9 and 19, Olympic figure-skating star Peggy Fleming spent more than 20,000 hours​—an average of at least five hours each day—​exercising and training herself for the Olympics. Her goal? An Olympic gold medal. Should not working at getting close to God also require considerable effort?

His Word tells us to “strip off the old personality” and to “quit being fashioned after this system of things.” (Colossians 3:9; Romans 12:2) This requires constant effort on your part. But you will never get closer to God unless you do something about it.

So, for you to get close to God, you must get to know him, communicate with him through prayer, and apply yourself by doing his will. Yes, begin to “seek God, . . . grope for him and really find him, although, in fact, he is not far off from each one of us.”​—Acts 17:27.

[Blurb on page 16]

Getting close to God involves more than just believing in him

[Blurb on page 17]

You will never get closer to God unless you do something about it

[Picture on page 16]

Many exert much effort to reach their goals. Should it require any less effort to get close to God?

Economics​—“The Dismal Science”

RECESSION, depression, inflation, stagflation, zero growth, negative growth​—all of these are dismal words used in what one man called “the dismal science” of economics. But what really lurks behind these intimidating terms? Does the science of economics have any solution to the problems most of us are facing?

Lionel Robbins, an English economist, defined economics as “the science which studies human behaviour as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternate uses.” All of us have “ends,” that is, things we need or want. And these “ends” are virtually limitless. On the other hand, our “means,” such as our income, are usually very limited.

Take, for example, a man who sits down with his family for breakfast and finds that there is very little sugar to go with his coffee. He is now faced with an economic decision. How will their scarce “means” (the sugar) meet everyone’s “ends”? He may decide that everyone should take just a little. Or then again, he may decide that he wants it all. Mother, however, may want the sugar for cooking. So economic decisions are not solely the domain of an intellectual elite.

When you are discussing economics on an individual basis, such as for households or consumers, you are studying what is called microeconomics. When the same principles are applied to broad groupings of individuals such as a nation, you are dealing with macroeconomics. But do not let the technical jargon fool you, for economics is hardly a precise science. An observer once said that if you ask six different economists for their opinion, you will get seven different answers. Nevertheless, it is worth learning something about this science.

From Smith to Keynes

For much of history, the average person’s economic options were very limited. Usually if you were born poor, you died poor; and if you were born rich, you probably died rich, unless some noneconomic factors (such as invading armies) came along.

Then came the Industrial Revolution, and for the first time in history, people in general could look forward to improving their economic situation through their own efforts. As the feudal system gasped its last breaths, governments were now faced with making the economic decisions. Leaders started wondering how they could control the economic future.

Then in 1776, Adam Smith wrote the first work of modern economics, “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.” He expressed confidence in both the marketplace and the individual’s abilities to bring about economic progress. Smith theorized that man’s inherent self-interest would be the driving factor behind development. The desire for a good wage or a big profit would move people to invest their capital or talents in the market system. Two other men​—David Ricardo and Thomas Robert Malthus—​joined Smith in pioneering the science of economics.

It was these three men that Scottish essayist Thomas Carlyle called the “Respectable Professors of the Dismal Science.” Why “dismal”? Because these men held the gloomy opinion that while the economies of different countries would expand, the lot of the common worker would never rise above the subsistence level for anything more than brief periods. Malthus further concluded that any prosperity would be offset by an increased number of mouths to feed.

Then Karl Marx came on the scene. He was not only an economic theorist but also a student of human behavior and political thought. He shared the same pessimistic attitude that the rich would get richer and the poor, poorer. Marx concluded that as long as there were unemployed workers, or an ‘industrial reserve army,’ competition for work would always drive down wages. ‘Why should an employer give a pay raise when there is a hungry and unemployed man willing to work for less?’ he reasoned. But Marx also saw within capitalism the seeds of self-destruction: Riches would accumulate into fewer hands, and the misery of the working people would increase until they would be forced into open and bloody revolt.

But while socialism was gaining popularity, another movement was growing​—social Darwinism. By applying Darwin’s theory of evolution to social problems, one of the leading men of that movement​—Herbert Spencer—​coined the phrase, “the survival of the fittest.” They reckoned that those who won in the battle of the marketplace would get the spoils, and as for those who lost​—well, only the fittest should survive, anyway! This sort of thinking led to some very unscrupulous business practices and the amassing of tremendous fortunes by the most aggressive.

Thus, since the earliest days of economic theory, battle lines have been drawn between those who believe in the free market system (and hence limited, if any, government economic control) and those who want more or even absolute government control. The Great Depression of the 1930’s, however, caused many to reconsider the possible value of government intervention in the marketplace so as to prevent the suffering that the collapse of the free market had brought. So it was that another prominent economist, John Maynard Keynes, declared that state control of interest rates and government influence through taxation could prevent the economic cycles from bottoming out too low. Variations on his theories still prevail in the Western world.

Economics Today

Have economists, with all their theories and charts, solved the world’s money problems? In recent years, much has been said about economic theory. There has even been talk of going back to the teachings of Adam Smith and to trusting completely in the free market system. But most people realize that we face problems bigger than individuals or economists can handle. Thus, some government control is seen by many as a necessity.

An article in Saturday Review once said: “A humane economy requires more than prosperity and economic growth, more than efficient allocation of resources. It demands changes in the framework of economic institutions to achieve greater equality and freedom. . . . It requires a social environment that brings a sense of community and fellowship into human relationships. It demands compatibility among man, his technology, and the natural environment. And all of these things must be done on a worldwide scale.”

But achieving such “a humane economy” is far from easy. Today, wealth still tends to gravitate to the rich and away from the poor. A lasting solution based on human efforts alone eludes man. Recession, depression, inflation, stagflation, zero growth, and negative growth thus remain familiar words to those who follow the economic news, even in the richest countries.

The Future​—Dismal?

Will there ever be a more efficient allocation of resources? Or a social environment that brings a sense of community and fellowship into human relationships? Will we ever see the day when economics will not seem “dismal” for the workingman?

Please open your Bible and look up the 65th chapter of the book of Isaiah and read Isa 65 verses 21 through 23. The words are simple, but the thoughts are profound. Imagine each person having his own home and being self-sufficient economically. No monotonous jobs but constructive, satisfying work. An economy that provides bountifully for all! And all of this under a worldwide government of God.​—See also Psalm 72:16; 145:16; Isaiah 25:6.

We therefore need not be dismayed at the dire predictions of “the dismal science.” The future that God holds out is very bright, indeed, for those who put faith in him and in his purposes for this earth.

[Blurb on page 19]

Will the day ever come when economics will not seem “dismal” for the workingman?

[Picture on page 19]

Malthus concluded that increasing population would offset any temporary prosperity

[Credit Line]

Bettmann Archive

Would You Take a Working Vacation?

“I worked 10 times harder than I ever thought I would but loved it 20 times more.”​—D. V., Wisconsin

“I was assigned to do a job that I did not like. But I found that doing it at Bethel, I loved it.”​—G. R., Wisconsin

“I would like to bring my wife here and make this our home!”​—I. J., Kentucky

“Very interesting. Would very much love to come to Bethel as a family.”​—A. G., New York

WHAT are these people talking about? What is “Bethel”? What kind of work were they doing?

These comments are typical of those made by the over 2,000 volunteers who, during the last two years, have come at their own expense and often on their vacation time to serve temporarily at the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses. These building complexes, called Bethel (“House of God,” from Hebrew), are located in Brooklyn, New York, and at the Watchtower Farms in Wallkill, New York. Most of these volunteers have served from a week to a month, alongside the permanent staff of some 3,500. But why has their help been necessary?

Rapid Worldwide Expansion

Jehovah’s Witnesses are experiencing a period of tremendous worldwide expansion. To illustrate: In 1943 there were only 126,000 Witnesses preaching in 54 lands. Forty-two years later there are 700,000 Witnesses in the United States alone! Seven more countries​—Brazil, Britain, Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and Nigeria—​have passed the 100,000 mark. There are now over 3,000,000 Witnesses active in some 50,000 congregations in over 200 countries and territories.

This has caused a parallel expansion in the need for Bibles and Bible literature in the more than 190 languages covered by Watch Tower publications. In turn, this has meant an increased need for printing facilities and living quarters for the voluntary workers who staff the Watchtower headquarters in New York, as well as the many branch offices and printeries around the world.

To meet these needs, the Watchtower Society is pushing ahead with expansion, especially of its headquarters facilities in Brooklyn and at the Watchtower Farms. For example, recently two older factory buildings were purchased in Brooklyn, one located at 360 Furman Street, a dock area of the East River. As former tenants have moved out, a vast remodeling work has been necessary. The 13-story Furman Street building alone contains about a million square feet (93,000 sq m) of floor space! Although the Watchtower Society has permanent construction crews, more help has been needed to move ahead quickly with the renovation projects. That is where temporary volunteer labor has been so valuable.

Why Do They Volunteer?

In 1984 the Watchtower Society sent out a letter to the nearly 8,000 congregations in the United States, inviting volunteers to come to serve at Bethel for a minimum of a week. Several thousand have responded from all over the country and have come at their own expense. What has been the magnet to draw them there? Has it been the wages?

The volunteers have had free board and lodging during their stay but no wages! Then what is the secret? A Witness from Louisiana wrote: “It really was a privilege to become a Bethelite temporarily to see firsthand what Bethel life is like. It has given me a feeling of deep appreciation and admiration for those regularly serving there who have sacrificed their personal life-styles for this special service. I learned that to enjoy myself the most, I had to overcome my misconception of ‘what Bethel can do for me’ and change it to ‘what can I do for Jehovah at Bethel.’”

Another Witness, a civil engineer, stated: “I would like to express my deepest thanks for the opportunity that you have provided for brothers like me to share the joy of Bethel service in a temporary manner.” Their desire to serve Jehovah in the spiritual atmosphere of Bethel has been their basic motivation.

Working With a Will

What kind of work have these volunteers been doing? Much of it has centered around the renovation of the Furman Street building and the Bossert Hotel, which serves as living quarters for hundreds of Bethel workers. Another extensive project has been the expansion of printing facilities and living quarters at Watchtower Farms.

Hundreds of tons of rubble and garbage have been cleaned out of the Brooklyn buildings. An average of 90 huge containers a month have been trucked away. These containers have a capacity of 25 cubic yards (19 cu m), which is almost enough to fill a medium-sized, single-decker bus. The temporary volunteers have also helped to break up, dig out, and replace concrete floors. They have mixed and poured tons of concrete. They have helped in installing miles of new cable and plumbing for the electrical and water systems.

One Witness lawyer, who is married and has three children, came all the way from San Diego, California. For the first few days he was on demolition work. Then a special need arose in the Society’s Legal Department. You can guess where he spent the rest of his two weeks.

Because of the corroded state of the large factory windows in the Furman Street building, it has been necessary to remove over 1,300 of them and replace them with new double-glazed units. These window units have been manufactured with the help of volunteer labor at the Furman Street building. A temporary worker who owns a glass manufacturing firm said that it would cost $5,000 to install a typical window of 10 feet by 17 feet (3 m by 5.2 m). The same window is manufactured and installed for $1,500 right on the building premises.

Volunteers With High Values

What kind of men are offering their services on these construction projects? To make this kind of sacrifice, it takes men who appreciate spiritual values. In a recent survey it was found that of 1,419 volunteers, 626 were congregation elders, 595 were ministerial servants, and 418 were also pioneers, that is, full-time ministers. These are men who show a self-sacrificing spirit, and it is reflected in their willingness to work hard at Bethel. Most of them are married and have families. In fact, some have their sons serving full time at Bethel.

Take, for example, an elder from northern California. His two sons have been at Bethel for nearly three years. He wrote: “I have two sons there as part of this family, so my temporary work assignment was very special to me. I found it a worrisome thing to have them 3,000 miles (4,830 km) away. Well, my mind is greatly relieved after my two weeks of association at the meal table, morning text and comments, Watchtower Study, and many other things. I am extremely pleased to have my two sons there as part of this family.”

Although these volunteers made many sacrifices, they left Bethel feeling that they had gained more than they had given. They all had full participation not only in hard manual work but also in Bethel’s spiritual routine. They shared in morning worship at breakfast time, which includes 20 minutes of Bible discussion and family prayer. They also attended the huge Bethel family Watchtower Study on Monday night. As one brother from New Mexico expressed it: “Perhaps the one thing that stands out most in my mind was singing with the family on Monday nights. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life. And now more than ever, I can see why the daily text can be considered as part of our worship of Jehovah.” Another from Pennsylvania said: “I feel that I benefited more than I contributed. The whole week was a very upbuilding and faith-strengthening experience.”

Because of the enormous amount of construction work in New York and in branches around the world, the Watchtower Society has its own Drafting and Engineering Department. Here men and women are trained in drafting work. A civil engineer volunteer who worked with the department wrote the following: “In 25 years of working for various companies and in my own practice, I have never seen a better organized or disciplined Engineering Department. I was particularly impressed with the excellent school that is being provided to train in-house engineers. Judging from the attitude of the young people chosen for the training, it is evident that within a year or two the Society will have one of the finest engineering offices in the country.”

Can You Volunteer?

Since there are many of these construction projects going on in various countries, the same volunteer arrangement is being used everywhere. In the Bethel expansion program for the United States, there is enough work for volunteers for the next few years. If you are a baptized brother between the ages of 19 and 55, in good health, of good reputation in the congregation, and willing to work hard, feel free to request an application through your congregation elders.

Wrote one who served at Watchtower Farms: “The two weeks that I spent here were two of the best weeks of my life!” If you get to serve at Bethel for a while, you too might feel that these days have been the best of your life in Jehovah’s sacred service.​—Psalm 133:1; 84:1, 2, 10.

[Pictures on page 21]

Much welding has been necessary in the Watchtower buildings

Many tons of concrete were poured for new roofs

[Picture on page 22]

Old windows had to be removed to make way for new

[Pictures on page 23]

New concrete floors replaced old ones

Over 1,300 factory windows have been replaced with double-glazed units

[Picture on page 24]

Temporary workers have assisted at Watchtower Farms

[Picture on page 25]

The Furman Street building is being totally renovated

The Bible’s Viewpoint

Terrorism​—Why the Rapid Rise?

“Even if you have to blow up half the continent and shed a sea of blood to destroy the part of barbarity, have no qualms about doing so.”​—Karl Heinzen, German revolutionary, 1809-80.

BOOKS and other items were suddenly sent flying when the bomb exploded in a Dortmund, Germany, department store. Eight shoppers were injured, some seriously. Another dastardly act by political extremists? No. “It was all just a joke,” said a 20-year-old who was soon taken into police custody. However, his lack of political motivation made it no less an act of terrorism.

In just nine days​—from February 28 to March 8, 1985—​Northern Ireland, Lebanon, Spain, and the Federal Republic of Germany had seen the bloody hand of terrorism fatally strike down 72 people, injuring another 245. And since then, terror, fear, and shock by miscreants have continued without limit.

Why are people in a civilized world resorting to violence to achieve their goals? Can it, will it, ever be checked? The Bible offers credible answers.

Why Terrorism?

“Do not show yourself heated up because of the evildoers. . . . Let anger alone and leave rage; do not show yourself heated up only to do evil.” “For mere oppression may make a wise one act crazy.”​—Psalm 37:1, 8; Ecclesiastes 7:7.

When governments repeatedly fail to cope successfully with such problems as lack of peace, poor environment, or social or economic injustice, when they permit or even encourage oppression and discrimination, people can understandably become “heated up.” They argue: ‘Something must be done, and if not now, when? If not I, who?’

At times frustration can make even “a wise one act crazy.” Thinking himself wise, the peaceful protestor may at first be intent on committing only nonviolent acts of civil disobedience. How rapidly, however, these can escalate into acts of violence! Look, for example, at one racially and economically divided African country. What started as peaceful protest marches has ended up as militant opposition. “Today, after a quarter-century of struggle and despite recent promises of reform,” says Time magazine, “violence still holds sway in the divided land.”

“Because sentence against a bad work has not been executed speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad.”​—Ecclesiastes 8:11.

It is admittedly difficult to apprehend wrongdoers and to bring them to justice. In some places, courts have become overly lenient in dealing with accused wrongdoers. Add to this a heavy court work-load that prevents authorities from executing “sentence against a bad work . . . speedily,” and we have the ingredients for causing the hearts of wrongdoers to “become fully set in them to do bad.” Since governments have found no successful way to combat even “normal” crime​—much less international terrorism—​many people may feel tempted to try to get away with it.

But Why the Rapid Increase Now?

“In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. . . . Men will be lovers of themselves, . . . unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, . . . without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness.”​—2 Timothy 3:1-3.

Bible chronology and the fulfillment of Bible prophecies indicate that our generation is living in “the last days” marked by “critical times hard to deal with.” Would you not say that men and women with the characteristics mentioned above are potential candidates for the terrorist scene? Since their number has been increasing as “the last days” proceed to their end, we should not be surprised that violence continues to permeate every feature of human society.

“And the earth came to be ruined in the sight of the true God and the earth became filled with violence.” “For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be.”​—Genesis 6:11, 13; Matthew 24:37.

In Noah’s day, spirit sons of God who had made demons of themselves played a significant role in creating a world filled with violence. (Genesis 6:1-5) These wicked creatures can no longer materialize human bodies to influence mankind directly, as they did then. But today their indirect, invisible attacks are no less deadly.

Now living in the days of “the presence of the [glorified] Son of man,” Jesus Christ, we can expect the world to be bloodied by the same kind of violence. Really, we can see, as Jesus predicted, an “increasing of lawlessness.” (Matthew 24:12) This is true because “the one called Devil and Satan . . . [has been] hurled down to the earth, and his angels . . . with him.” With what result? “Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.” (Revelation 12:7-12) Would this not be the main reason why terrorism is increasing at an unprecedented rate today?

Birth Pangs

Jesus prophesied various events that would occur during the transition period after his Kingdom had been established and before he destroyed this wicked system. (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21) He said, as recorded at Mark 13:8, that there would be “pangs of distress.” Even as literal birth pangs multiply in number and intensity as birth draws near, so the pangs of distress described by Jesus as a sign of “the last days” would increase in number and intensity as the time for Christ’s unopposed rule drew near.

No wonder, then, that the “pangs” of terrorism are increasing. This may cause uninformed persons, in fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy, to “become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.” Not those, however, who know the meaning of his following words: “But as these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance [including deliverance from terrorism] is getting near.”​—Luke 21:26, 28.

[Blurb on page 26]

When governments fail to cope with problems, people can become “heated up”

[Blurb on page 27]

In Noah’s day, demons played a significant role in creating a world filled with violence

From Our Readers

A Drink That Saves Lives

I would like to express appreciation for your timely article “A Salty Drink That Saves Lives!” (September 22, 1985) My two daughters frequently go into the hospital for dehydration because of a medical problem called A. G. Syndrome. I tried this drink on my youngest daughter when she was ill. This is the solution they are given when in the hospital, and it has saved their lives many times. I thank you again for this information, most helpful to me and many others.

C. R. G., Indiana

The Catholic Church and Marriage

Your view of Catholicism’s position on sex is mistaken and, worse, derogatory and insulting. (November 8, 1985) You are so wrong that it is ridiculous. You paint the picture of all Catholics as being sexually guilt ridden, which is totally ridiculous also.

F. P., Colorado

Your articles on “The Catholic Church​—Its View of Sex” are an eye-opener. This magazine raised many eyebrows. You get your point across very well by using Catholic reference books. Please send me more detailed information on the Catholic reference works. Your magazine is read regularly by this devoted Catholic.

P. W., Alabama

I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your article “The Bible’s View on Matters of Sex.” I was raised a Catholic, and on becoming a teenager, I tried to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, get married and raise a family or serve God by becoming a nun. I chose to get married, but even then I felt wrong in having sex with my husband. This article helped me to realize some of the reasons why I felt that way. I think the scriptures in this article will help me to be more balanced.

B. J., Arkansas

In your issue about “The Catholic Church​—Its View of Sex” you show a caption stating, “The Mary symbol links Christianity with ancient religions and mother goddesses,” but you show with the caption a picture of Saint Theresa.

P. G., France

We apologize. The wrong illustration was selected for this caption.​—ED.

Child Molesting and Crime

Please send 30 copies of your issue on “Child Molesting.” (January 22, 1985) The detective captain of our town’s police department was very impressed with the article and would like to distribute it to his youth bureau. Another captain is basing many of his lectures on your issue on crime. (August 8, 1985) Many of the patrolmen and the chief have received copies of both magazines.

D. G., Connecticut

“Young People Ask . . . ”

These articles have really helped promote communication between young people and parents. Truly, without these special articles, our young ones would not be as open to us as they have been.

L. C., Arkansas

Watching the World

AIDS Spreading

“Communities across the nation are worried that acquired-immune-deficiency syndrome may spread more easily than medical authorities now believe,” says U.S.News & World Report. “Cases are doubling every 12 months, and experts believe that more than a million people may have been exposed to the AIDS virus.” Although the majority of these have not developed the fatal form of the disease, they can pass the infection on to others. New research also indicates that additional exposure to the AIDS virus, or perhaps even other viruses, may cause the full disease to erupt in such persons. Many harboring the AIDS virus do not even know it, as symptoms may not develop until five or six years after exposure. Over 7,000 AIDS victims have already died in the United States. The disease is spread by sexual contact, blood transfusions, and the sharing of hypodermic needles by drug users. Children can also be born with it when the mother is a carrier.

The deadly character of AIDS has pushed the once widespread fear of genital herpes into the background and has resulted in some unprecedented actions. The mayor of San Antonio, Texas, urged AIDS victims to “transcend their individual rights,” while the City Health Department warned them that engaging in sexual activity or donating blood could result in felony charges. Some churches have stopped their practice of using a common Communion cup. The U.S. military services now test all recruits for AIDS. Schools admitting children with the disease have been boycotted by concerned parents. And following the news that actor Rock Hudson’s death was due to AIDS, the Screen Actors Guild now requires that performers be given advance notice of any scenes that call for open-mouth kissing.

Condor Survival Threatened

The condor, one of the largest birds native to North America, boasts a wing span up to 10 feet (3 m) and can weigh as much as 22 pounds (10 kg). Yet, currently, only seven have been seen soaring above their California habitat. According to Science magazine, their population dropped from about 40 birds in 1967 to 15 in 1984. Six more died between November 1984 and April 1985. Although 20 of the birds are in captivity, their survival as a species is in question. Condors reach reproductive age at six or seven years and usually produce about one egg every two years. This low rate and man’s intrusion on the condor’s habitat, coupled with food contamination by lead and other poisons, pose a major threat to their survival.

Small Country, Big Problem

The country of Belize has a population of under 160,000, yet, as reported in The New York Times, it is said to be “the most important narcotics trafficking center in Central America and the fourth largest supplier of marijuana to the United States, after Colombia, Mexico and Jamaica.” About 85 percent of the crop manages to get into the United States each year despite arrests, attempts to eradicate it, and efforts to educate the public regarding the dangers of trafficking in marijuana. “If we allow this to continue, we could lose our Government​—our independence,” said Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel.

Heavy Hailstorm

A freak hailstorm, so heavy that it left a hundred-foot-long (30 m) slab of ice 5 feet (1.5 m) thick on one street, struck a Brazilian town the last day of September 1985. Hailstones weighing about two pounds (1 kg) hit the town of Itabirinha de Mantena, some 300 miles (500 km) north of Rio de Janeiro, and covered the streets with sheets of ice. Lasting only 15 minutes, the storm killed more than 20 people, injured 300, and left 4,000 of the town’s 10,000 inhabitants homeless. Over 900 houses lost their roofs, while 50 were completely destroyed. Other damage was done when rivers, jammed with ice, overflowed. Mayor Clovis D. de Castro described the calamity as the ‘worst tragedy on record in the region in recent years.’

Anniversary Marred

The close of the 40th anniversary celebration of the UN was marked by disappointment when member nations could not agree on a declaration of purpose. Over 200 visiting dignitaries uttered more than a million words during the six-week session of the General Assembly, without resolving any conflicts or agreeing on what was to be a “Declaration on the Occasion of the 40th Anniversary.” Why? “A number of nations used the declaration as a point-scoring exercise,” admitted American delegate Harvey Feldman. “The meetings were marred by East-West and North-South tensions and, in particular, by the Middle Eastern questions.” India’s prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, summed it up, saying: “Certain countries are not willing to work together to produce a result that is acceptable to everyone.”

Expressing the concerns of many world leaders, Foreign Minister Shah Mohammad Dost of Afghanistan stated: “It is regrettable that we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of this organization when . . . the world is precariously tottering on the edge of the abyss of a nuclear catastrophe, which threatens not only the entire civilization but also the very existence of any form of life on earth. Nothing could be more distant from the dreams and ideals of the authors and signatories of the United Nations Charter.” Yet, the General Assembly concluded their session by declaring 1986 to be the international “Year of Peace.”

New Brake Light

An automobile brake light, mounted at eye level in the rear window of the vehicle, is claimed to be far more visible than those at a lower level. Used together with the standard brake lights, it is said to reduce rear-end collisions by as much as 53 percent. The new light will be required on all 1986 cars in the United States. It can also be inexpensively purchased for installation on older cars. “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that consumers will save $394 million each year on rear-end crashes,” states Prevention magazine.

New Design Needed

“Car seat belts should be redesigned to prevent drivers’ heads from hitting the steering wheel, and to prevent injuries to the breastbone, abdomen and lower spine,” says The Times of London. The government-sponsored study, conducted at 15 hospitals, analyzed the injuries that 14,000 people received the year before and the year after the passage of the compulsory-seat-belt law. Overall, there was a reduction in deaths and injuries. But while the number of injuries was down 20 percent for drivers and 24 percent for front-seat passengers, the average severity of the injuries showed no reduction. A shift did take place in where the injuries occurred. Chest, neck, and abdominal injuries increased, while kidney injuries and broken limbs decreased. Skull fractures decreased dramatically for front-seat passengers but increased among drivers. Hence, the call for seat-belt redesign.

‘No Place for the Sick’

A surprisingly large number of hospitalized patients are contracting infections that have no connection with the ailments for which they were admitted. A report published in a recent issue of Discover estimates that two million Americans develop infections during their stays, raising medical costs by up to $2 billion per year. On the average, such illnesses add four days to a patient’s stay in the hospital, at an additional cost of $800. Some 300,000 patients die each year from such infections. Yet such figures do not take into account other mishaps, such as anesthesia mistakes and errors in medication, that affect millions of other patients annually. Says Dr. Lowell Levin, professor of public health at Yale University: “It sounds like a joke, but a hospital is no place for a sick person to be.”

Teen Mothers

Child promiscuity resulting in unwanted pregnancies is “the most pressing issue in our society at present,” says Dr. Charl Roux, head of family planning in the department of gynecology at Cape Town’s Tygerberg Hospital. In 1984, 20 percent of all births recorded at this hospital were to teenage mothers, two of whom, at 19 years of age, were pregnant for the ninth time. Dr. Roux said that by failing to teach their young children the facts of life and by not setting a good example, adults are responsible for a large part of the social problems that result. “It is the responsibility of parents to foster a climate which prevents the possibility of the child being too scared or inhibited to discuss matters of this kind with them,” he said.

Milk for Bones

Drinking plenty of milk during childhood seems to build bone mass effectively to an optimum level, reports Asiaweek. Milk is rich in calcium, a natural bone-builder. A study of 255 women between the ages of 49 and 66 showed that those who were heavy milk drinkers during childhood had bones with greater density. Such findings are significant for women, since they face the greatest risk of suffering from osteoporosis, which, due to a decreased production of sex hormones and aging, diminishes bone mass and can result in spontaneous fractures.

‘Teen Pregnancy Epidemic’

“Teen pregnancy is so widespread throughout the world,” states psychologist Michael A. Carrera, professor of health sciences at New York’s Hunter College, “that to call attention to it by saying it is of epidemic proportions is fair, and it should harken us to action.” At a rate of about one million unwanted teenage pregnancies a year, the United States leads other developed nations by a wide margin. According to Carrera, sex-education programs for teenagers do not prove effective because they fail to take their religious, social, and cultural values into consideration.

For the Serious Student

Designed for the serious student, this Reference Bible has over 125,000 marginal references, more than 11,000 footnotes, an extensive concordance, and 43 appendix articles, plus maps. Bound with a handsome dark-maroon hard cover, it contains 1,600 pages and is 9 1/4” x 7 3/8” x 1 3/4” in size. You can receive this scholarly publication, postpaid, for only $9.

Please send the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures​—With References. I enclose $9 (U.S.). (Outside the U.S.A., write to local Watch Tower branch for information.)

Can You Pass This Survival Test?

1. What are you facing that is more awesome than a nuclear war?

2. Is there a way around it?

3. When is it expected?

4. Are you marked for survival?

Answers.

Please send, postpaid, the hardcover, 192-page book Survival Into a New Earth, containing Bible prophecies describing the events yet before us and the way to survive into a beautiful, cleansed earth. I enclose $1 (U.S.).