October 8

Page Two

The beauty, variety, and design in creation lead many to believe there must be an intelligent Creator. Yet, for many others, the biggest stumbling block to their belief in God is the existence of suffering and evil in the world. If ‘God is love,’ why does he allow so many bad things to happen to good people? Are there valid reasons for God’s permitting evil? Is there reason to believe that evil will end in the near future?

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

At the base of the San Salvador volcano in El Salvador sits the town of San Ramón. On the morning of September 19, 1982, it was hit by three huge waves of mud. Fed by torrential rains, the first wave was nearly two stories high and carried boulders and tree trunks. Carving out a canyon 160 feet deep and 250 feet wide, it rolled down the side of the volcano, picking up momentum and size as it went. Reaching the bottom, it slammed into the adobe homes in its path.

Ana’s home collapsed under the unrelenting wave in one terrifying instant. Her daughters grasped at Ana and cried, “Pray for us!” Then the mud engulfed them . . .

By chance, though, a roofing tile lodged itself in front of Ana’s face, leaving her some breathing space. “I just kept calling and calling for help,” she says. About four hours later, neighbors heard her cries and began to extricate her. She was found buried in mud up to her armpits, with the bodies of her daughters pressed up against her in the suffocating mud.

THE people of San Ramón were humble and friendly. Among the dead were a number of dedicated Christians, including a newlywed couple, Miguel and Cecilia, and a family of five whose bodies were found locked in an embrace.

Calamity, though, makes no distinction between good and bad people, a fact many find hard to reconcile with belief in a loving God. ‘What kind of God,’ they ask, ‘would allow such a needless waste of life to occur? Or for that matter, how could an all-powerful Deity watch the elderly go unsheltered, hardworking families lose their life savings, young men and women in the prime of their lives being struck down by fatal illnesses​—and do nothing?’

Harold S. Kushner, a Jewish rabbi, asked such questions when he learned that his son would die of a rare disease. The baffling injustice of this puzzled Kushner. “I had been a good person,” he recalls. “I had tried to do what was right in the sight of God. . . . I believed that I was following God’s ways and doing His work. How could this be happening to my family?” Out of his search for answers came his popular book When Bad Things Happen to Good People.

Kushner is just one of many theologians who have tried to answer the question of why God permits evil. In effect, man has placed God on trial. What verdict have Kushner and other theologians reached? Is their verdict a just one?

How Some Explain God’s Permission of Evil

GOD​—guilty or innocent of authoring human suffering? This question looms large over calamities, whether personal or large-scale such as at San Ramón. Says the British journal The Evangelical Quarterly: “One of the greatest hindrances to belief in an all-powerful, all-loving God is the existence of apparently undeserved suffering in the world.”

Some would therefore fault God for tolerating​—if not actually causing—​suffering. Wrote theologian John K. Roth: “History itself is God’s indictment. . . . Do not take lightly what God’s responsibility entails.”

Many religious thinkers since Augustine, though, have argued eloquently for God’s innocence. Seventeenth-century philosopher Leibniz coined a term for this endeavor: theodicy, or “justification of God.”​—See page 6.

Modern Theology Takes the Witness Stand

Efforts to clear God of blameworthiness have continued into modern times. Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Christian Science Church, tried to resolve the problem by denying that evil exists in the first place! In Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures, she wrote: “God . . . never made man capable of sin . . . Hence, evil is but an illusion, and it has no real basis.”​—Italics ours.

Others have excused God on the basis of there being supposed virtue in suffering. A rabbi once said: “Suffering comes to ennoble man, to purge his thoughts of pride and superficiality.” Along similar lines, some theologians have theorized that suffering on earth is “necessary to prepare us as moral personalities for the life of the future heavenly Kingdom.”

But is it reasonable to believe that God brings or allows disasters so as to purge and punish people? Certainly those buried alive at San Ramón had little chance to improve their moral development. Did God sacrifice them so as to teach a lesson to the survivors? If so, what was the lesson?

Understandably, then, Kushner’s book When Bad Things Happen to Good People has popular appeal. Because its author personally knew the pain of suffering, he attempted to comfort his readers, reassuring them that God is good. However, when it came to explaining just why God permits the innocent to suffer, Kushner’s reasoning took a strange turn. “God wants the righteous to live peaceful, happy lives,” explained Kushner, “but sometimes even He can’t bring that about.”

Kushner thus proposed a God who is not wicked but weak, a God somewhat less than almighty. Curiously, though, Kushner still encouraged his readers to pray for divine help. But as to just how this supposedly limited God could be of any real assistance, Kushner is vague.

An Ancient Debate

The world’s religious thinkers have thus failed to mount a convincing defense for God and to render real comfort to victims of evil. Perhaps what should be on trial is not God but theology! For these conflicting theories merely echo the hollow reasonings uttered nearly four millenniums ago. At that time a debate took place centering around the sufferings of a God-fearing man named Job, a wealthy and prominent Oriental who became the victim of a series of calamities. In rapid succession Job suffered the loss of his wealth, the death of his children, and, finally, he was afflicted with a loathsome disease.​—Job 1:3, 13-19; 2:7.

Three so-called friends came to Job’s aid. But rather than rendering comfort, they assailed him with theology. The gist of their argument was: ‘God has done this to you, Job! Obviously you are being punished for having done something wrong! Besides, God has no faith at all in his servants.’ (Job 4:7-9, 18) Job could not understand why God seemingly had ‘set him up as a target for himself.’ (Job 16:11, 12) To his credit, Job maintained his integrity and never directly ascribed evil to God.

Nevertheless, Job’s comforters had, in effect, ‘pronounced God wicked,’ by implying that every sufferer of calamity was being punished for evildoing. (Job 32:3) But God soon corrected their erroneous views.

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Cover: FAO photo

Examining Evil From Augustine to Calvin

IN HIS book The City of God, fifth-century theologian Augustine argued that man, not God, was responsible for the existence of evil. Wrote Augustine: “God, the author of natures, not of vices, created man upright; but man, being of his own will corrupted and justly condemned, begot corrupted and condemned children . . . And thus, from the bad use of free will, there originated the whole train of evil.”

The bad use of free will may explain much, or most, of the evil that has afflicted people. However, could a disaster, such as at San Ramón, be blamed on man’s free will? Are not many disastrous events caused by circumstances beyond the control of man? And even if man did willfully choose evil, why would a God of love allow evil to continue?

In the 16th century, French Protestant theologian John Calvin, like Augustine, believed that there are those “predestined [by God] to be children and heirs of the heavenly kingdom.” However, Calvin took matters a step further, arguing that God also predestined individuals to be “recipients of his wrath”​—condemned to eternal damnation!

Calvin’s doctrine had frightening implications. If a man suffered any sort of misfortune, might that not indicate that he was among the damned? Furthermore, would not God be responsible for the actions of those he predestined? Calvin had thus unwittingly made God the Creator of sin! Calvin said that “man sins with the consent of a very prompt and inclined will.”​—Instruction in Faith, by John Calvin.

However, the concepts of free will and predestination proved hopelessly incompatible. Calvin could only gloss over the embarrassing contradiction by claiming that “the crudity of our mind could not indeed bear such a great clarity, nor our smallness comprehend such a great wisdom” as predestination.

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Augustine

John Calvin

Evil and Suffering​—How Will They End?

BITTER experiences often embitter. What, though, if there is a legitimate reason for human suffering? With that in mind, let us continue the account regarding Job. After three rounds of bitter debate have elapsed, a young man named Elihu speaks up. He says to Job: “You have said, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s.’” Yes, Job had been self-centered and self-justifying. “Look!” says Elihu. “In this you have not been in the right, I answer you; for God is much more than mortal man.”​—Job 35:2; 33:8-12.

God has left abundant evidence that he is good. (Acts 14:17; Romans 1:20) So is the existence of evil any reason to challenge the goodness of God? Answers Elihu: “Far be it from the true God to act wickedly, and the Almighty to act unjustly!”​—Job 34:10.

God​—Powerless Against Evil?

Could it be, then, that God was simply not powerful enough to intervene on Job’s behalf or that of anyone else? On the contrary! Out of a fear-inspiring windstorm, God now speaks for himself, powerfully confirming his almightiness. “Where did you happen to be when I founded the earth?” he demands of Job. Why, far from being limited, he speaks of himself as the One who can control the seas and govern the heavens and its living creatures.​—Job 38:4, 8-10, 33; 39:9; 40:15; 41:1.

True, God does not explain to Job why he permitted him to suffer. But “should there be any contending of a faultfinder with the Almighty?” God asks. “Really, will you invalidate my justice? Will you pronounce me wicked in order that you may be in the right?” (Job 40:2, 8) How presumptuous, then, to blame God for the world’s ills or fabricate philosophical defenses for him! As Job is now moved to do, such ones would do well to “make a retraction” of their contradictory theories.​—Job 42:6.

Issues to Be Settled

Job did not realize that his sufferings involved a number of monumental issues that had been raised shortly after man’s creation. At that time a rebellious spirit creature called Satan (“Resister”) had led man into sin. God had commanded Adam and Eve to avoid eating from “the tree of the knowledge of good and bad.” They had to respect God’s right to determine what was good or bad for them. The Resister, however, planted doubts in Eve’s mind, saying: “Is it really so that God said you must not eat from every tree of the garden?” Next he contradicted God: “You positively will not die. For God knows that in the very day of your eating from it your eyes are bound to be opened and you are bound to be like God.”​—Genesis 2:17; 3:1-5.

Satan’s slanderous words raised imposing issues: Was God a liar when he decreed death for eating the forbidden fruit? Even so, what right did he have to rob his creatures of independence and to impose his standards upon them? Was he not a selfish God, holding back what was good from his creatures? Could it be that independence from God was desirable?

Killing off the rebels would have done little more than raise more questions. Only by allowing independence from God to go unchecked for a sufficient period of time can it be proved​—once for all time—​that Satan’s offer of independence is an invitation to disaster. Yes, “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one,” Satan the Devil, not in the power of God. (1 John 5:19) Disease, injustice, economic slavery, heartache​—all of these have been the fruitage of man’s choosing independence from God and coming under satanic rule! And in spite of any technological progress, world conditions continue to worsen​—often because of modern technology.

God’s toleration of all this indescribable misery, however, does not make him unrighteous. On the contrary, man’s unrighteousness has ‘brought God’s righteousness to the fore.’ (Romans 3:5) How?

Suffering Eliminated​—Forever!

“All creation keeps on groaning together and being in pain together until now,” said the apostle Paul. (Romans 8:22) Yes, 6,000 disastrous years of human independence have shown the words of Jeremiah 10:23 to be true: “It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” Soon, though, God will righteously intervene and begin directing the affairs of mankind.

With the catastrophic consequences of human independence so thoroughly exposed, God can then eliminate all the things that have caused suffering: wars, disease, crime, violence​—even death itself! (Psalm 46:8, 9; Isaiah 35:5, 6; Psalm 37:10, 11; John 5:28, 29; 1 Corinthians 15:26) It is as the apostle John heard in a heavenly vision: “God . . . will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”​—Revelation 21:3, 4.

Interestingly, God ended Job’s sufferings by restoring his health and wealth and by blessing him with a large family. (Job 42:10-17) Similarly, the Bible promises us: “The sufferings of the present season do not amount to anything in comparison with the glory that is going to be revealed . . . The creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.” (Romans 8:18, 21) Wickedness will thus be virtually erased from our memories!​—Compare Isaiah 65:17.

Living With Evil

Until that freedom comes, we must endure living in a wicked world, not expecting God to shield us from personal calamity. Satan the Devil raised a false hope when he enticed Jesus Christ to jump off the temple, twisting the Bible text at Psalm 91:10-12, which says: “No calamity will befall you . . . For he will give his own angels a command concerning you, to guard you.” Jesus, though, rejected any notion of receiving miraculous physical protection. (Matthew 4:5-7) God promises to guard only our spiritual well-being.

True Christians therefore do not become “enraged against Jehovah himself,” even when tragedy strikes. (Proverbs 19:3) For “time and unforeseen occurrence befall” Christians too. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Yet, we are not helpless. We have the hope of living forever in a righteous new world, where evil will no longer exist. We can always approach Jehovah God in prayer, for he promises to endow us with the wisdom needed to endure any trial! (James 1:5) We also enjoy the support of fellow Christians. (1 John 3:17, 18) And we have the knowledge that our faithfulness under trial makes Jehovah’s heart rejoice!​—Proverbs 27:11.

Still, enduring evil is never easy. Thus, when comforting one in the midst of suffering, it is good to ‘weep with those who weep’​—and offer practical assistance. (Romans 12:15) Ana, mentioned at the outset, was thus helped to recover from disaster. She is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and found that her fellow Christians were more than willing to assist, offering her temporary housing. Even though she occasionally feels depressed, she finds refuge in the Bible’s hope. “I know my children will come back in the resurrection,” states Ana. Her faith in the God of goodness is thus stronger than ever.

If you are going through a period of suffering, ask Jehovah’s Witnesses to help you with your questions and doubts. From them you can also obtain the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, which has the helpful chapters “Why Has God Permitted Wickedness?” and “You Are Involved in a Vital Issue.” True, right now bad things happen to good people, but soon all of that is to change. Find out more details for yourself by contacting Jehovah’s Witnesses in your neighborhood or write to the publishers of this magazine.

[Pictures on page 9]

In God’s righteous new world, evil will be but a fading memory

I Survived the Sinking of the “Bismarck”

AN ENORMOUS flame surged from the stern of the British warship Hood. Then a column of fire swept upward to maybe a thousand feet, releasing a cloud of dark smoke. As the cloud swelled out and spread into the sky, incandescent debris fell from it into the sea.

When the cloud cleared, nothing remained of the 42,000-ton British battle cruiser Hood, the pride of the Royal Navy. A shell from the German battleship Bismarck had hit an ammunition magazine. Thus, at six o’clock in the morning of May 24, 1941, off the coast of Iceland, over 1,400 British seamen perished, with only 3 surviving.

Whether friend or foe, none who witnessed this terrible scene could remain indifferent. True, the crew of the Bismarck, where I was in command of an antiaircraft battery, were elated over the victory. However, I noticed that some of the sailors around me had tears in their eyes as the British ship sank. They had fellow feeling for the seamen who were losing their lives.

The “Bismarck” Under Attack

On the evening of May 18 we had left Gotenhafen, today the Baltic port of Gdynia, in Poland. Our group of ships was on a mission to raid Allied commercial shipping in the North Atlantic. This was part of “Operation Rheinübung,” or Rhineland Exercise, which had been worked out by the German admiralty.

In charge of our mission was Admiral of the Fleet Lütjens. His flagship was the pride of the German Navy, one of the most powerful battleships afloat, the Bismarck. It displaced over 50,000 tons and had a crew of more than 2,000. Learning that we had entered the North Atlantic, British ships set out a couple of days later to intercept the Bismarck.

When we sank the Hood on May 24, every available British ship set out to sink the Bismarck. That evening the British aircraft carrier Victorious launched a torpedo-plane attack. I was in command of a 20-millimeter antiaircraft gun situated toward the starboard bow. To this day I can still see those British planes skimming in just above the waves, directly facing our powerful fire. One torpedo hit us but caused only slight damage. We managed to shake off pursuit for over 30 hours.

During the morning of May 26, however, a British Catalina reconnaissance plane located us again. The British aircraft carrier Ark Royal sent off two strike forces that launched 13 torpedoes at us. This time the Bismarck was hit by two of them, one of which severely damaged the rudder. As a result, we lost control of our course and began going around in an immense circle. Despite this, I was convinced that nothing serious could happen to us. But the succeeding hours were to prove me wrong.

The “Bismarck”​—A Sitting Duck

On the morning of May 27, we were surrounded by British warships. These opened fire, literally raining down death and destruction. We were hit by at least eight torpedoes and several hundred shells. Although reduced to a sitting duck, the Bismarck obstinately stayed afloat.

The situation on board was desperate. The lifeboats were out of service, having been heavily damaged by repeated shelling and air attacks. Utter desolation reigned on all decks. Tangled metal was scattered all over the place. Black smoke belched from gaping holes in the deck. Fires were raging uncontrolled. The dead and wounded lay everywhere.

The order was given to abandon ship. The survivors all crammed to the back of the ship, life jackets and safety belts firmly attached. I was among those who leaped into the sea, with the wind behind us so as to avoid being dashed against the hull by the waves. Once in the sea, our only thought was to swim away as fast as possible to avoid being sucked down as the ship gradually sank and finally disappeared.

Three Days Alone in the Ocean

Our group was soon scattered by the ocean swells. The day was drawing to an end. The British ships disappeared on the horizon. In all directions, as far as the eye could see, were pieces of floating debris. When night fell only Hermann, who had worked in the engine room, and I were left together in the water.

The sea got rougher and the waves surged higher. Suddenly I realized that I had lost Hermann. There wasn’t a sign of him anywhere. I panicked. I was cold and frightened. We had been trained to be ready to die for the fatherland, but at that moment the idea of dying a hero’s death did not appeal to me at all. I wanted to live, even alone in the middle of a heaving, hostile, black ocean.

A stream of memories flooded my mind. I recalled my childhood in Recklinghausen, a coal-mining town in North Rhine-Westphalia. I thought of my dear father, who was a miner, and of my mother, my sister, and my three brothers. Our family were all Protestants, but Father always said that the churches did not put Bible teachings into practice. When I became a teenager, I went to live with my uncle in the country, and he sent me to an agricultural college, where I graduated.

When war broke out, I was enrolled in the navy in Gotenhafen, where my military training started. When I embarked on the “Bismarck,” I was the only son left in the family. One of my brothers died from sickness, another lost his life in the mine, and yet another was killed during the invasion of Poland.

The cold brought me back to reality. There I was in the middle of the ocean. I felt a sudden urge to pray, for I did not want to die. Overwhelmed with fear and aching all over, I remembered that my grandmother had taught me the Lord’s Prayer. It was the only prayer I knew, and I repeated it incessantly during the night. As the hours passed, my fear subsided and a calm came over me.

When at long last day dawned, I was completely exhausted. The sea got rougher and I started vomiting. Then, overcome with fatigue, I began to doze and eventually went off to sleep. Another day dragged by, with alternating periods of wakefulness and sleep. Then the second night set in. By then I was suffering severe thirst, my limbs were stiff from the cold, and I started getting cramps. I thought the night would never end.

I started praying again, begging God to help me survive. Dawn broke at last, bringing a third day. I fell into a semicoma, losing all notion of time, and in that state I just made out the sound of an engine before I lost consciousness.

Back on Dry Land

I came to in an unfamiliar setting. Slowly things came into focus, and I distinguished a nurse bending over me and vaguely heard her saying: “You’ve been asleep for three days. I’m sure you would like something to eat now.” It gradually dawned on me that I was still alive. Six days had gone by: three in the ocean, where I had drifted over 75 miles before being picked up by a German ship, and three more unconscious in a hospital at La Baule-Escoublac, a French seaside resort on the Atlantic Coast.

It took a month for my body to return to normal proportions; I was completely bloated after three long days in the ocean. I was granted leave, and on my way home to Germany, I learned that only 110 of the Bismarck’s more than 2,000 crew members had survived. Most had been rescued by the British cruiser Dorsetshire.

Homecoming

As I neared home, my heart started beating wildly. I was unaware that the authorities had informed my parents that I was lost at sea. My father caught sight of me first. He hugged me tightly, took my face in his rough hands and said: “My son, you were dead, and now you’ve come back to us!” He burst into tears, and sobbing, we embraced. He took me over to my mother, who was lying on the sofa, paralyzed. Unable to move or utter a word, her lips said: “My son, my boy . . . ” I fell to my knees at her side and wept like a baby.

During the next three years, I followed the pattern of coming home on leave and going back to war. Then, on November 24, 1944, my regiment, the Marine Light Infantry, was captured by the Americans. I remained in captivity until 1947 and on release returned home. Four days later Mother died. It was as though she had managed to survive long enough to see me again before passing away.

In Germany I noticed many changes. Hunger and unemployment were everywhere. The black market held the people in its grip. Inflation was skyrocketing. Poverty was our daily lot for a number of years.

In the French Foreign Legion

Finally, in 1951, I made a decision that influenced the course of my life for the following 18 years. I took the train to Strasbourg, a French town just across the Rhine from Germany. There I joined the French Foreign Legion. I was trained as a parachutist and was sent to Indochina, of which present-day Vietnam was a part.

In July 1954 our regiment left for Algeria, where the stage was being set for the war for independence. We were parachuted all over the territory, day and night, to assist the soldiers of the French contingent. In 1957 I was wounded and obliged to spend three months in a hospital in Constantine, eastern Algeria. In May 1961 my regiment was withdrawn from Algeria, and we embarked for a new destination, Madagascar.

A Changed Life

My life in Madagascar had absolutely nothing in common with my experiences of the previous 20 years. I had almost forgotten what peace and quiet felt like. In Madagascar I started to appreciate life again. I took an interest in my surroundings: the blue sea with its shoals of multicolored fish, the local plantations, and the majestic mountains. Here I met Marisoa, the girl who was to become my wife.

When I obtained my military pension in 1969, we set up home on the small island of Nosy-Be, five miles off the northwest coast of Madagascar. We stayed there five years but then had to return to France for family reasons. We settled in Saint-Chamond, an industrial town 30 miles from Lyons.

Not long afterward, Marisoa accepted a Bible study with two young Jehovah’s Witnesses who visited. I would sit in a nearby room and listen to all that was being said. Yet, when my wife invited me to sit in, I would tell her: “I have done so many bad things. I just know God can never forgive me for what I did as a soldier.” A little later my wife offered me a Bible in German, my mother tongue, and obtained a Watchtower subscription for me.

But I systematically refused to attend Christian meetings, thinking that only people who had committed minor sins could attend them or approach God in prayer. However, Marisoa insisted that I accompany her to the Memorial celebration of Christ’s death, held once a year. I finally gave in, making her promise that she would not bring the subject up again once we returned home. Yet, I had to admit that I was deeply touched by the warm welcome I received that evening.

From that time on, contrary to all my intentions, I went with my wife to the meetings at the local Kingdom Hall. Why? Because I felt at ease with these people. I was impressed by their warm love for one another and by their teachings, based on the Bible. I accepted a Bible study, and in 1976 my wife and I symbolized our dedication to Jehovah by water baptism. After that, my mind dwelt less on past experiences, and I spent my time helping others learn Bible truths. Thus, with the expansion of our preaching activity in mind, we returned to Madagascar in 1978.

Roads are few and far between in certain parts of the island, but we cheerfully set off along the dusty tracks, knowing that on arriving at our destination, there would be many a hearing ear. We walked from six to ten miles daily in temperatures of over 104°F. Sometimes by the time we arrived home, our stomachs and Bible book bags were empty! In three months I placed a thousand books, and we helped several persons to share our faith. Unfortunately, we had to leave Madagascar in 1982 because of health problems, and we returned to France.

The horrors I have experienced sometimes still run through my mind. But I know that the time will come when such memories, including those terrible days and nights spent during and after the sinking of the Bismarck, will enter my mind no more. Jehovah’s promise will be fulfilled: “For here I am creating new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart.”​—Isaiah 65:17.​—As told by Wilhelm Wieck.

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My wife and me, reading the Bible together

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Photos: Bundesarchiv, Koblenz, Germany

A Flashing Burst of Color

I WAS a European on my first visit to California. On the first morning in Indian Wells, I stepped out into the brilliant desert sun. The flowers were blooming on the patio. As I stood there, I suddenly heard a loud humming noise as what I thought was a large insect went zooming past me.

Within moments there was the sound and the blur once again. I thought it must be some kind of extra-large California bee warning me to get away from its flight path. I called to my host, “What was that that just buzzed me?” “Oh, that was only a hummingbird. We have hundreds of them around here.”

Just a hummingbird! That triggered my senses​—here was a creature I had heard about but had never seen. I watched carefully and suddenly sighted this tiny, whirring phenomenon poising in front of a flower. This little bird, hanging in midair, darted back and forth to dip its long bill into the precious nectar that was its source of vital energy.

I stood there entranced as the flashing burst of color hovered and then flew backward! I could hardly contain my excitement. Coming from northern European climes, I had never seen such a beautiful bird. It was like watching a miracle in action. Its iridescent feathers gave off colors that were hard to define​—reds, purples, and greens with a kind of metallic sheen. The sheer beauty of it made me call my wife to come and behold such a unique creation.

I could resist no longer. I went for my camera and started looking for angles and light in order to get a good action shot. In the corner of the patio was an artificial feeder in the form of a red, bell-shaped flower. Inside was man-made nectar​—a weak sugar solution. Since there was insufficient light in that corner, I asked my wife to hold the feeder at arm’s length out in the sun. As she stood still, the bird eventually came zooming toward her and started darting in and out, taking its fill of liquid energy. As it got confident with this new location, it even investigated my wife’s ear​—maybe there was nectar there!

We both marveled and thrilled actually to see and hear a hummingbird for the first time in our lives. I thought, ‘What a lesson! Wherever we are in the world, we should never take any of our own local miracles for granted.’ And my friend had said, “Only a hummingbird”!

Hummingbird Versus Helicopter

As I observed its maneuvers, I could not help but think that the nearest man has got to the design of a hummingbird is a helicopter. And yet, what a clumsy contraption it seems in comparison!

Ever since that day some five years ago, I have been intrigued by the beauty and design of the hummingbird. And I have discovered more about these tiny bundles of design and energy. For example, according to the book Hummingbirds: Their Life and Behavior, there are “approximately 338 species and 116 genera of the family Trochilidae, the smallest birds in the world.” In fact, some are so small they weigh less than a British penny or U.S. cent and are about the size of a bumblebee. The largest are about eight inches in length.

Returning to the helicopter comparison​—I checked with Sikorsky Aircraft to find out how many revolutions per minute the rotor blades make as a helicopter flies. The answer was between 200 and 300 revolutions per minute. And the hummingbird? While hovering, some of them achieve a wingbeat of 78 times per second, or 4,680 beats per minute!

So Much to Learn

Some of the names it is given in other languages are very expressive. The Portuguese call it beija flor, which means “flower kisser.” The Spanish call it chupaflor, which means “flowersucker.” In Italian it is colibrì, and it is also known as the uccello mosca, the “flybird,” because of its tiny size.

Have you ever seen a hummingbird in your part of the world? Unless you live in the Western Hemisphere, you will not have that privilege. Its range stretches from Alaska down through most of the United States, across Mexico and the Caribbean, and into South America. But whether you have seen one or not, you can imagine my thrill at seeing and hearing my very first hummingbird.

In all parts of the earth there are amazing creatures that are stunning with their design and beauty. Even those we may consider to be ugly still display awesome design. Yet, to know all of them and understand them is too big a task for so short a life. Just to know everything there is to know about hummingbirds would take years of study and observation. And yet, some say that everlasting life would be boring​—even with so much to learn!

I am reminded of the ancient poetic words, originally written in Hebrew: “How many your works are, O Jehovah! All of them in wisdom you have made. The earth is full of your productions.” (Psalm 104:24) It is no wonder that when the psalmist noted such creations as “the birds of heaven,” he was moved to add: “O Jehovah our Lord, how majestic your name is in all the earth!”​—Psalm 8:8, 9.

[Pictures on page 16]

In comparison with the beauty and design of a hummingbird, a helicopter is a clumsy contraption

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G. C. Kelley photo

[Picture on page 17]

It is the only bird that can fly backward

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G. C. Kelley photo

[Picture on page 17]

Some weigh no more than a penny

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D. Biggins/​U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

[Picture on page 18]

Some hummingbirds have a wingbeat of 78 times per second, while a helicopter’s rotor turns only 4 or 5 times a second

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G. C. Kelley photo

[Picture Credit Line on page 15]

G. C. Kelley photo

Brazil’s Purple Martin Treat

AS SUMMER ends in central Brazil, the inhabitants of such cities as Barretos, Bauru, and Rio Claro get a special treat from watching the birds. Their senses respond to the sights and sounds of thousands of migratory purple martins roosting in the trees of their public plazas. Each day as the sun sets, these birds fly in from the fields, converging en masse, staking their perches for the night. In so doing, they shower the excited bird-watchers with a blizzard of tiny feathers. Although a recent drought caused the martins to change their roosting habits, it was calculated that some 50,000 of them occupied one plaza alone in Bauru. Television stations made it possible for the spectacle to be seen throughout Brazil.

Young People Ask . . .

Is Lying All That Bad?

Michelle knew that her folks would get angry when they learned she had broken a cherished knickknack. She was in no mood, though, for punishment or a stern lecture. So she found a simple means of averting her parents’ wrath: she accused her younger brother of breaking it.

LYING​—many teenagers feel that it is all right under certain circumstances. Some say they would lie in order to hinder some criminal action, to protect the innocent, or to save a life. Such situations, however, are rare in real life. Far more often, youths resort to lies for the same reason Michelle did: to escape punishment or to get out of some uncomfortable situation.

Donald told his mother that he had cleaned his room when, in reality, he had thrown everything under the bed. Along similar lines, Richard told his parents that he got a failing grade, not because he did not study, but because he ‘did not get along with his teacher.’ Most unconvincing.

Still, you might feel that because these were not malicious lies, no harm was done. ‘What’s the harm in a white lie?’ you may say. And since dictionaries define a white lie as a “polite or harmless lie,” telling a white lie may not seem so bad.

In the book The Importance of Lying, H. L. Mencken is quoted as giving yet another reason why some resort to the lie: “What ails the truth is that it is mainly uncomfortable, and often dull. The human mind seeks something more amusing and caressing.” Not surprisingly, then, people often do not really want to hear the truth, preferring instead “to have their ears tickled.” (2 Timothy 4:3) The greatest teacher who ever lived, Jesus Christ, found this to be true. “If I speak truth,” he said to the people of his day, “why is it you do not believe me?” (John 8:46) How tempting it is at times to tell pleasing lies instead of unpopular truths!

But does the fact that a lie may be attractive or over a trivial matter or even well meant mean that it is right?

God’s View of Lying

The tendency of humans to lie was noted back in Bible times. Said the psalmist: “Untruth they keep speaking one to the other; with a smooth lip they keep speaking even with a double heart.” Self-interest lurked behind their lies. They said: “With our tongue we shall prevail. Our [lying] lips are with us. Who will be a master to us?” Note, though, how God felt about their lying ways: “Jehovah will cut off all smooth lips, the tongue speaking great things.”​—Psalm 12:2-4.

Yes, “a false tongue” was and is one of the things that “Jehovah does hate.” (Proverbs 6:16, 17) After all, it is Satan the Devil himself who is “the father of the lie.” (John 8:44) Interestingly, though, the Bible makes no distinction between lies and ‘white lies.’ It simply says, “No lie originates with the truth.” (1 John 2:21) That is why a “devious person is a detestable thing to Jehovah, but His intimacy is with the upright ones.” (Proverbs 3:32) Yes, Jehovah simply will not have a close relationship with someone who is dishonest.

The God-fearing youth thus cannot view any kind of lying as acceptable. As a youngster named Tyrone puts it: “It is like a true-or-false test. Something is either right or wrong.”

Lying​—Why It Is Harmful

Why, though, is lying so wrong? Might not a lie save you from getting punished? Perhaps. But what happens if the lie is exposed? Then it has merely postponed punishment. Young André also observes: “It makes you mad when someone tells you something and you find out later that it was a lie.” Yes, lying stirs up anger and resentment. And when the ones lied to are your parents​—a serious dose of discipline can result.

No wonder the Bible says: “The getting of treasures by a false tongue is an exhalation driven away.” (Proverbs 21:6) In other words, any advantages a lie may bring are as short lived as vapor.

Lying and Your Conscience

Lying also harms the liar himself. Michelle (mentioned at the outset) managed to convince her parents that it was her brother who had broken the knickknack. However, she later felt compelled to confess her wrongdoing to them. Michelle explains: “I felt really bad most of the time. My parents had put trust in me, and I let them down.”

Michelle’s bad conscience well illustrates a principle stated by the apostle Paul. In Romans 2:14, 15 he indicates that God has placed within mankind the faculty of conscience. Paul explains how this works, saying: “Their conscience is bearing witness with them and, between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused.” In Michelle’s case her conscience ‘bore witness’ to the fact that lying was wrong and ‘accused her’​—tormenting her with guilt feelings.

Of course, an individual can ignore his conscience, hardening it. An article in the journal Adolescence indicated, for example, that younger teens tend to view lying as wrong. But as they get older, their view of lying hardens. “Fifteen-year-olds,” said the article, “perceive lying as sometimes not wrong with greater frequency than do twelve-year-olds.” Evidently, the more a person practices lying, the more he is in danger of becoming ‘marked in his conscience as with a branding iron.’​—1 Timothy 4:2.

Developing “an Honest Conscience”

By way of contrast, the apostle Paul could say of himself and his companions: “We trust we have an honest conscience.” (Hebrews 13:18) Paul’s conscience would not permit him to resort to lies or half-truths. Is your conscience likewise sensitive to untruth? If not, train it by studying the Bible and Bible-based literature, such as this magazine and its companion, The Watchtower.

A youth named Bobby has done so, with good effects. On occasion these publications have dealt with a problem he has been having. Rather than covering over the problem with a web of lies, he has been prodded by his conscience to approach his parents and honestly discuss the matter. At times this has resulted in his receiving discipline. He nevertheless admits that he ‘feels better inside’ for having been honest.

Granted, as one youth put it: “If you tell the truth, it will hurt your parents.” However, they will respect your telling them the truth. It will demonstrate to them that you are growing up and realize you are accountable for your actions.

Another aid in developing an honest conscience is to be careful in choosing friends. “He that is walking with wise persons will become wise, but he that is having dealings with the stupid ones will fare badly,” says Proverbs 13:20. Observes Bobby: “A friend you lie along with will get you in trouble. He is not a friend you can trust.” The psalmist thus wisely said: “I have not sat with men of untruth.” (Psalm 26:4) Try to find friends who respect godly standards.

Finally, if tempted to lie, remember the standards Jehovah God sets for his own friends. “O Jehovah, who will be a guest in your tent?” asked the psalmist. “He who is . . . speaking the truth in his heart.” (Psalm 15:1, 2) Reflecting on what a privilege it is to have a relationship with God motivates one to be honest!

Speaking the truth is not always easy. You may even be in a situation where “a group of people tell a lie, and you have to tell the truth,” as a youngster named Mark puts it. But the one who makes a decision to tell the truth will maintain a good conscience, a good relationship with his real friends, and best of all, a good relationship with his Creator. A youth named Steven thus sums the matter up nicely when he says: “The fact that others tell lies does not mean that you have to!”

[Blurb on page 20]

Lies are often unconvincing and may merely delay punishment until they are exposed

[Picture on page 21]

Confessing a wrong is not easy, but your parents will respect your honesty

Crossword Puzzle

Clues Across

1. This distinguishes anointed Christians from the angels (1 Corinthians 15:50-53)

5. Offering this animal in sacrifice was considered disgusting worship (Isaiah 66:3)

7. Signifies a seat of ruling authority (1 Kings 2:12)

9. High-ranking angelic creature mentioned some 90 times in the Bible (Ezekiel 10:7)

11. A site of springs and palm trees where the Israelites camped after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15:27)

13. Go into (Hebrews 9:6)

15. Herbivorous animal mentioned only in Job (Job 40:15)

17. A son of Governor Zerubbabel (1 Chronicles 3:19, 20)

18. Go by (Numbers 20:17)

19. This well received its name because of a quarrel over it (Genesis 26:20)

20. Aged prophetess who was privileged to see the child Jesus (Luke 2:36-38)

21. Incite (Isaiah 19:2)

23. A city fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:5, 7)

24. A place settled by Benjamites after the Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 11:31, 34)

26. Endorsed as a means of honoring and praising Jehovah (Psalm 150:4)

27. An Asherite whose three sons were valiant warriors (1 Chronicles 7:39, 40)

29. One of seven “sheiks of the Horite, the sons of Seir” (Genesis 36:20, 21)

30. A family head involved in the attestations to the confession contract drawn up during Nehemiah’s governorship (Nehemiah 10:14, 24)

32. Early Christianity was known as The --- (Acts 9:2)

33. Result of disobedience (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)

Clues Down

1. The “new creation” [3 words] (Galatians 6:15, 16)

2. Came together (Amos 3:3)

3. The wife of one’s uncle (Leviticus 18:14)

4. Alternate form of the divine name

5. One of Haman’s ten sons (Esther 9:8, 10)

6. Where David’s men twice struck down giant Philistine warriors (2 Samuel 21:18, 19)

8. Made lower in status or prestige (Luke 14:11)

10. Seventeenth letter of Greek alphabet

12. Christian woman recommended by Paul (Romans 16:1, 2)

14. Brought back to an earlier state (Acts 3:21)

16. What one’s ears would do upon hearing the calamity coming on Jerusalem (Jeremiah 19:3)

18. Land used for grazing (Micah 2:12)

22. Pardon (Esther 2:18)

24. Judean site inhabited by potters in the king’s service (1 Chronicles 4:23)

25. Levite musician who accompanied the Ark to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15:16, 18)

28. To impart (2 Timothy 1:10)

29. Two signs involving this gave Gideon proof of divine support (Judges 6:36-40)

31. First letter of the word “Christ” in Greek

CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS PAGE 27

Answers Across

1. IMMORTALITY

5. PIG

7. THRONE

9. CHERUB

11. ELIM

13. ENTER

15. BEHEMOTH

17. OHEL

18. PASS

19. ESEK

20. ANNA

21. GOAD

23. SOCO

24. NEBALLAT

26. DANCE

27. ULLA

29. DISHAN

30. SHOBEK

32. WAY

33. MALEDICTION

Answers Down

1. ISRAEL OF GOD

2. MET

3. AUNT

4. YAHWEH

5. PORATHA

6. GOB

8. HUMBLED

10. RHO

12. PHOEBE

14. RESTORATION

16. TINGLE

18. PASTURE

22. AMNESTY

24. NETAIM

25. BEN

28. SHED

29. DEW

31. KHI

The Spanish Inquisition​—How Could It Happen?

By Awake! correspondent in Spain

IT WAS June 5, 1635, when Alonso de Alarcón was informed that a warrant for his arrest had been issued. His protests of innocence were ignored. He was imprisoned in solitary confinement. Three times he was “invited” to confess his crimes, but he proclaimed his innocence.

On April 10, 1636, he was tortured on the rack until he lost consciousness. On October 12, he was condemned to 100 lashes and was banished for six years.

“To the Greater Glory of God”

Alonso was a weaver in Toledo, Spain, (shown above) father of three daughters, and paralyzed on one side. His own doctor had informed the interrogators that torture could be applied without risk​—at least to the side that wasn’t paralyzed. Alonso was a victim of the Spanish Inquisition.

His crime? He was accused of eating meat on a Friday (it implied that he had Jewish leanings) and of blasphemy against the Virgin Mary (he had reportedly declared that one of his daughters was more of a virgin than Mary). His accuser was the local priest.

Theologians studied the case and decreed that the accusations against him were a clear proof of heresy. The entire procedure claimed to be ad majorem Dei gloriam (to the greater glory of God), although Alonso and the 100,000 or so others who were tried by the Inquisition did not see it in that light.

Not surprisingly, the Spanish Inquisition has become a byword for religious oppression and fanaticism. Even the word “inquisition,” which at first just meant “the act of inquiring,” now has connotations of torture, injustice, and a merciless disregard for human rights. How did such an oppressive machinery get established? What were its goals? Can it be justified as a “necessary evil”?

The Inquisition​—The Way to Unity?

In the 13th century the Catholic Church established the Inquisition in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Its main purpose was to stamp out dissident religious groups that the clergy viewed as dangerous to the church. After the demise of these groups, this church-sponsored Inquisition declined in influence, but the precedent was to have dire consequences for many Spaniards some two centuries later.

In the 15th century the Catholic Kings Isabella and Ferdinand conquered the last of the Muslim Moors who had occupied much of Spain for eight centuries. These monarchs looked for ways to forge national unity. Religion was considered to be a convenient tool to achieve that end.

In September 1480 the Inquisition reappeared in Spain, but its power was wielded by the State. Its purpose was the “purification of the nation and the unity of the faith.” The Catholic rulers of Spain persuaded Pope Sixtus IV to issue a bull authorizing them to name inquisitors for the purpose of investigating and punishing heresy. Thereafter, the State financed the Inquisition and established the procedures for its operation. A crusade to impose strict religious uniformity on the nation had begun. The institution was operated mainly by Dominican and Franciscan friars but was supervised by the monarchy.

This was a marriage of convenience between Church and State. The church wished to stamp out the threat it perceived from the thousands of Spanish Jews and Moors who had been forcibly converted to Catholicism but who were suspected of keeping their former beliefs. It would later use the same apparatus to stamp out Protestant groups that appeared in the following century.

The Inquisition also proved to be a powerful weapon for the State. It suppressed dissent, generated substantial income confiscated from its victims, and concentrated power in the hands of the monarchy. For over three centuries this fearful institution imposed its will on the Spanish people.

Torquemada​—The Most Notorious Inquisitor

In 1483, three years after the reemergence of the Inquisition in Spain, Tomás de Torquemada, a Dominican friar and ironically of Jewish descent himself, was appointed inquisitor-general. His cruelty toward suspected heretics was unsurpassed. He was praised by Pope Sixtus IV for “directing [his] zeal to those matters that contribute to the praise of God.”

Later, however, Pope Alexander VI, alarmed by Torquemada’s excesses, tried to dilute his power by appointing two other inquisitors-general. It was to little avail. Torquemada continued exercising overall authority, and during his term of office, he burned at least 2,000 people at the stake​—“an awful holocaust to the principle of intolerance,” according to The Encyclopædia Britannica. Thousands fled abroad, while countless others suffered imprisonment and torture and had their property confiscated. Apparently, Torquemada was convinced that his work was done in the service of Christ. Indeed, church doctrine justified his actions.a

However, the Bible warns that religious zeal can be misguided. In the first century, Paul described Jews who persecuted Christians as persons who had “a zeal for God; but not according to accurate knowledge.” (Romans 10:2) Jesus predicted that misguided zeal would even cause such ones to kill innocent people, imagining that they were ‘rendering a sacred service to God.’​—John 16:2.

Torquemada’s policies well illustrate the tragic consequences of a zeal hardened by bigotry instead of tempered by love and accurate knowledge. His was not the Christian way to achieve the unity of the faith.

The Inquisition and the Bible

Because of the inquisitors, for centuries it was almost impossible for Spaniards to read the Bible in their common language. The mere possession of one in the vernacular was deemed heretical by the inquisitors. In 1557 the Inquisition officially banned the Bible in any of Spain’s vernacular tongues. Countless Bibles were burned.

It wasn’t until 1791 that a Catholic Bible in Spanish was finally printed in Spain, based on the Latin Vulgate. The Spanish church’s first complete translation from the original languages, the Nacar-Colunga Bible, was not forthcoming until 1944.

The extent of the Inquisition’s power in this regard can also be seen by the fact that even handwritten Romance (early Spanish) Bibles in the king’s personal library, in El Escorial, were reviewed by the inquisitor-general. The warning “prohibited” can still be seen on the flyleaf of some of these works.

Perhaps the proscription of the Bible for so many centuries in Spain has been one factor contributing to the interest of Spanish people in the Holy Scriptures today. Many now possess a Bible and have a sincere desire to know what it really teaches.

The Real Face of the Inquisition

An inevitable result of the Inquisition was the fostering of greed and suspicion. Pope Sixtus IV complained that the inquisitors were showing more lust for gold than zeal for religion. Any wealthy person was in danger of being denounced, and although he might be “reconciled to the church” during the inquisitorial process, his goods would be confiscated anyway.

Others were judged posthumously, and their heirs were left penniless, sometimes on the basis of anonymous informers who would receive a percentage of the forfeited riches. The widespread use of spies and informers produced a climate of fear and suspicion. Often torture was invoked to obtain the names of “fellow heretics,” resulting in the arrest of many innocent people on the flimsiest of evidence.

Strong anti-Semitic suspicions led to other abuses. For example, Elvira del Campo of Toledo was accused in 1568 because of putting on clean clothes on Saturday and abstaining from eating pork, both of which were supposed proofs of secretly practicing Judaism. Mercilessly tortured on the rack, she implored: “Sirs, why don’t you tell me what you want me to say?” In a second torture session she had to confess that it was not a delicate stomach that made her dislike pork but, rather, her Jewish inclinations.

Hearts and Minds Not Won Over

However, brave voices of protest were heard, even at the height of the Inquisition’s power. Elio Antonio de Nebrija, one of the foremost scholars of his day, was denounced to the Inquisition for his desire to improve the text of the Latin Vulgate Bible. He protested: “Must I be obliged to declare that I do not know what I know? What slavery or what power is so despotic as this?” Luis Vives, another scholar whose whole family was wiped out by the Inquisition, wrote: “We live in difficult times in which we can neither speak nor keep quiet without danger.”

In the early 19th century, Antonio Puigblanch, a Spanish writer and politician who campaigned for the abolition of the Inquisition, argued: “[As the] Inquisition is an ecclesiastical tribunal, its rigor is incompatible with the spirit of meekness that ought to distinguish the ministers of the Gospel.” Even today, many sincere Catholics are still trying to come to terms with the church’s role in the Inquisition.

Thus, an appropriate question is: Were the hearts and minds of the people really won over by these methods? One historian observes: “The Inquisition, while it did impose conformity of dogma and outward observances, was not able to inspire a genuine respect for religion.”

For example, Julián, a young man studying to be a priest, was shocked when he first read about the part the church played in the Inquisition. His teacher argued that as God had invented hell to torment the wicked eternally, the church would use torment when deemed necessary. But this reply did nothing to allay his doubts, and he left the seminary. Similarly, Julio, a young Spanish lawyer who already had doubts about Catholicism, was convinced that the church could not be truly Christian after he had read extensively about the Inquisition.

The use of threats, imprisonment, torture, and even death to attain political and religious ends has proved counterproductive. The Spanish church, tainted by its history of suppression, is still reaping the consequences of having sowed violence, hatred, and suspicion.

Does the End Justify the Means?

The concept of ‘religious unity at any price’ is a dangerous one. Religious zeal can easily become fanaticism. This tragedy can be avoided by faithful adherence to Bible principles. The example of the first-century Christians proves that this is so.

Regarding the methods used by early Christians to maintain doctrinal harmony, The New Encyclopædia Britannica explains: “During Christianity’s first three centuries, penalties against heretics were exclusively spiritual, usually excommunication.” This was in harmony with the Scriptural instructions: “A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, avoid.”​—Titus 3:10, Douay.

Christian Warfare​—For the Minds of Others

The Bible describes the preaching of the good news as being spiritual warfare. The goal is to bring “every thought into captivity to make it obedient to the Christ.” To achieve lasting unity, weapons would be needed but not for torture. Rather, spiritual weapons, “powerful by God,” would be the means, always employed along with “a mild temper and deep respect.”​—2 Corinthians 10:3-5; 1 Peter 3:15.

Happily, we can look forward to the time when religious persecution will be no more. God’s promise is that soon a time will come when “they will not do any harm or cause any ruin.” Real religious unity will be achieved, and the whole “earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea.”​—Isaiah 11:9; Revelation 21:1-4.

[Footnotes]

[Pictures on page 24]

Coffin where tied victim was left inside for days

[Credit Line]

Exposición de Antiguos Instrumentos de Tortura, Toledo, Spain

Ladder rack used for stretching the limbs of the victim

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Exposición de Antiguos Instrumentos de Tortura, Toledo, Spain

[Pictures on page 25]

The pendulum​—victim was suspended by wrists tied behind his back

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Exposición de Antiguos Instrumentos de Tortura, Toledo, Spain

Dungeon for housing prisoners, such as Alonso de Alarcón

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Exposición de Antiguos Instrumentos de Tortura, Toledo, Spain

[Picture on page 26]

Prison of the Holy Brotherhood, where victims were housed in Toledo

From Our Readers

Spiritism

I would like to comment on the Awake! article “Allan Kardec​—Pioneer of Spiritism.” (May 22, 1987) I believe that everyone has the right to choose the religion he wants, provided it moves the person to do good and does no harm to other persons or animals. I am a spiritist, and in the classes I attend, those present do not waste time criticizing other religions, much less waste paper and money to publicize such criticisms. Spiritists disagree with Jehovah’s Witnesses about the immortality of the soul, communication with the dead, and other things. However, we are not so ignorant or unloving as to say that you participate with the demons, as you do with us. Spiritism incites us to personal reform, transforming vices into virtues. It counsels us to practice charity and solidarity with our less fortunate brothers. It is impossible for the demons to counsel persons to act like that, for they would not get any advantage from doing so. A bit contradictory, don’t you think?

C. M. G., Brazil

We agree that each one should be free to choose his religion. Yet, we feel obligated to call attention to the Bible’s warnings of dangerous religious practices. Those who believe in communicating with the dead, the Bible shows, are vulnerable to subtle, deceptive influence by wicked spirits who falsely impersonate people who have lived and are now dead and hence powerless to do anything at all. (See Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10 and Isaiah 8:19, 20.) For this reason, the Bible at Leviticus 19:31 and Deuteronomy 18:10-12 warns against spiritistic practices of any sort. As to spiritism’s apparently inciting one to transform vices into virtues, the Bible at 2 Corinthians 11:14, 15 says that “Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light. It is therefore nothing great if his ministers also keep transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness.” As stated at 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, the man of God should look to the Bible, not to spirits, as the true, dependable source of guidance concerning God’s will.​—ED.

Pollution

I read with interest your articles on “What Is Happening to Our Forests?” (June 22, 1987) I wonder why you did not suggest​—what appears to me to be the obvious solution as the alternative to pollutive, limited fossil fuels—​the use of an inexhaustible, unlimited source of energy, solar power. It is clean and will provide a source of power forever.

R. A. M., United States

We are very positive about the potential for solar power as a solution both to much of earth’s pollution and to the limited supply of fossil fuels. (See our issue of February 22, 1980.) However, the problem is more that of human selfishness and special interests, which hinder the development and universal application of solar energy. For these reasons, we believe only God’s Kingdom will be able to address itself successfully to all the problems involved and provide the lasting solution.​—ED.

Watching the World

AIDS and Breast Milk

It is acknowledged that the AIDS virus can be passed to an infant through its mother’s breast milk. Knowing this raises some concerns for a group of mothers who do not themselves have AIDS. Why? Because many hospitals have milk banks that accept breast-milk donations. This milk is then supplied to mothers who have an inadequate supply of their own milk or who for any other reason are unable to feed their baby themselves. Additionally, such donated milk is often used in hospitals to feed premature babies. However, since it does not appear that any testing is done to determine whether donated breast milk may contain the AIDS virus, mothers could inadvertently expose their infant to the AIDS virus in the event the milk obtained is from an infected donor.

Biodegradable Plastic Film

Plastics pollute our seas, forests, and cities. However, chemists Felix H. Otey and Richard F. Westhoff have recently succeeded in producing a plastic film that is biodegradable. Working in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s laboratory in Peoria, Illinois, these scientists have combined cornstarch molecules with plastic molecules for strength to make a sturdy plastic film. They claim that exposure to the dampness and warmth of soil will decompose the starch in the film, and as a result, the small fragments of plastic left will eventually be digested by bacteria in the soil.

Toad Tunnel

The festivities marked the opening of Britain’s newest tunnel. As photographers and the press covered the occasion, some words of the English author Kipling were read, and a ribbon across the opening was ceremoniously cut by Lord Skelmersdale, the Government’s Under Secretary of the Environment. He had to kneel down to do so, since the mouth of the tunnel was only six inches wide. It was built so toads could cross under the Henley roadway. Each year, during the mating season, some 20 tons of them are killed by British drivers as the toads cross roads to reach their spring breeding ponds. So successful was the tunnel that others have sought information for their particular animal road-crossing problems.

Homicidal Robot

A robot suddenly activated a lathe and killed a factory worker in Japan. The cause? An electromagnetic wave that originated from an electric spark from a crane. This 1982 incident was disclosed in a recent study by a Japanese Posts and Telecommunications Ministry council on “electronic smog.” Sources of “electronic smog,” or unwanted electromagnetic waves, are everywhere: personal computers, TV game machines, and boosters for TV antennas, to name just a few. However, such unwanted electromagnetic waves are said to cause malfunctions by interfering with integrated circuits in high-tech control systems. Robots in Japan have killed ten persons in the last eight years. It is suspected that in six of those cases electromagnetic waves were involved.

Bread, Wine, or . . .

This year, some East Germans attending the Eucharist (Communion) at Easter were surprised. Next to the traditional bread and wine provided on this occasion, some of the Lutheran and United Churches now also offered an alternative drink: grape juice. Why the juice? “To accommodate alcoholics and others not wishing to drink alcohol,” comments the Geneva-based Ecumenical Press Service.

A Scientist Speaks Out

“I get more intellectual satisfaction in accepting there is a God than merely accepting that it (we) happened by chance,” stated Dr. Louw Alberts, according to the Cape Times, a newspaper of South Africa. Alberts, a physicist who discovered giant magnetostriction (changes in dimensions because of magnetism) in rare earth metals, also expressed his view of the Bible. “The Bible is the written word of God, science is the reading of the created work. Both have the same author​—God.”

Fibrocystic Cure?

Up to 80 percent of today’s women are afflicted with fibrocystic breast disease, reports Dimensions, a Canadian magazine. The disorder thickens milk duct linings and forms painful cysts. However, since 1971 Dr. William Ghent of Queens University in Ontario, in collaboration with Dr. Bernard Eskin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been experimenting with elemental iodine to treat the disease, with a considerable measure of success. Their results showed that of the 315 fibrocystic women treated, 75 percent of the sufferers returned to normal and only 2 percent of the total did not improve. Some relatively minor side effects, however, were noted among a small percentage of the women treated. The good news, according to Dr. Ghent, is that many women would not need this therapy if they included more iodine in their regular diet. Supporting this is the fact that New York City reports twice as much fibrocystic breast disease among women as does Tokyo, where women eat more iodine-rich foods.

Plane Collides With Fish

Shortly after it took off from Alaska’s Juneau Airport, a Boeing 737 jetliner with 40 passengers aboard collided with a salmon in midair. According to the flight crew, the fish was being carried aloft by a bald eagle. When startled by the plane, the eagle dropped the fish, which struck a window at the top of the cockpit. The plane was delayed for an hour at its next stop so that it could be inspected for damage. “We’ve hit moose (on runways); we’ve hit deer, and we’ve hit various and sundry things,” says Jerry Kvasnikoff, customer service manager for Alaska Airlines, “but we’ve never hit a fish before.”

Energy From Ocean Waves

Could ocean waves be an important energy source of the future? Australia’s Minister for Minerals and Energy, Mr. Parker, thinks so and has authorized Wave Power International, a newly formed company, to construct a power station at Esperance in Western Australia, to generate electricity by waves. The large generator will rise above sea level by about 23 feet and will measure approximately 66 feet in diameter. The operation of the generator, as explained in the newspaper The West Australian, requires good ocean waves year round. A float inside a concrete structure that uses air pressure to control the seawater level is lifted to create a pumping force. Water is then drawn to the top of the tower and generates power when it falls. It is estimated that about 20 percent of the power needs for Esperance and the surrounding district will be met by this pollution-free method of generating electricity.

“Paper Food”

“Our aim was to produce highly nourishing, easy-to-carry, easy-to-eat food,” declared Eiji Miyazaki, a Japanese industrialist, when introducing his edible card to which he has given a French name. According to the French weekly L’Express, this food specialist has succeeded in cramming into a half-ounce bar, about the size of a credit card, the same amount of calories as in a complete meal. This discovery is of interest to such people as mountaineers wishing to “transport a maximum of calories in a minimum of space” or to truck drivers wishing to save the time needed to eat at roadside diners. L’Express does not expect this to be a big hit in France. The reason? Although there are 14 flavors, the French magazine finds they taste a little too much like the French name given to the product​—“Papier”!

Glaciers​—“Awesome Ice”

GLACIERS are formed when massive amounts of unmelted snow, crystals closely packed together, accumulate on mountainsides. This type is called a valley glacier. When the pileup becomes very heavy, its weight starts to slide the ice mass downward toward a valley or the sea. Icebergs are great chunks of glacier ice that have fallen off the tip of the glacier into the sea.

Some valley glaciers are as large as great rivers. Indeed, they are “ice rivers.” Other forms, called continental glaciers, cover vast areas, such as we see in Antarctica and Greenland.

They are all storehouses of frozen water that produce “the sparkle of awesome ice,” another creation of Jehovah.​—Ezekiel 1:22; Job 37:10.

[Picture Credit Lines on page 31]

Alaska Division of Tourism

Alaska Division of Tourism

A Youth Comforted

Late one summer, Denise became friends with a fellow lifeguard. When this friend was young her mother had died. And recently she had lost her father in death. “I sent her a six-month gift subscription for the Awake!” Denise explained. A couple of months later, Denise received the following letter from her friend:

“I read the first two issues of Awake! and two of the articles really helped me. One was on finding comfort after losing someone close and the other was on ways to overcome depression. I can’t tell you how much they have helped me. The latter quoted Philippians 4:7, ‘The peace of God that excels all thought will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus.’ Reading that immediately gave me new hope. Thank you so much for subscribing me to Awake!”

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