December 22

Page Two

The number of desperately poor in the world is increasing dramatically. How can the poor be helped? Are political efforts the answer? Should your church, therefore, become involved in politics? In this issue Awake! examines these questions and points to the only realistic solution to the problem of the poor.

Should Your Church Be in Politics?

By Awake! correspondent in Brazil

HE IS tall and skinny. Obviously, he has not had a bath for some time. As a shoeshine boy, he is looking for customers. In the waiting room, someone offers him a homemade cake. He grabs it with his dirty hands. Without a word he sits down on the floor and starts devouring the cake. Other kids appear, and they each get a small piece. Soon the cake has disappeared.

Such pitiful sights are common in big cities worldwide. There, countless homeless people daily live and die on the streets. In shacks and slums, mothers are struggling, even starving, for the sake of their small children. Yet, as former U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson once said: “The arithmetic of modern politics makes it tempting to overlook the very poor, because they are an inarticulate minority.”

At the same time, actually observing children with empty stomachs impels a person to wonder: ‘What will happen to all the abandoned children? Will the afflicted ever receive help?’

The Role of the Church?

No doubt you are concerned with such issues as poverty, housing, and health. So, then, have you ever asked yourself: ‘Should my church be active in social reforms?’

Perhaps you are inclined to answer: ‘Why not? The church ought to use its influence to make the world a better place.’ On the other hand, do you feel like Brazil’s minister of justice, Paulo Brossard, who said: “Secular matters are resolved by the state, and spiritual matters by the church”?

In Brazil, where there are more nominal Catholics than in any other country, the bishops now freely speak out on social issues. For example, the Latin America Daily Post notes: “The Brazilian church increasingly has become a champion of the cause of the landless, in an historical turnaround from the days when the church lent more support to the oligarchy [ruling class].”

A New Theology

The turnaround, or change, among many of the Catholic clergy has resulted in a radically new theology. According to a Brazilian newspaper, “liberation theology refers to a movement widely spread among Brazilian priests favoring church support for revolutionary elements aimed at fighting poverty and oppression.”

This alternative theology proposes that Jesus was a liberator. It promotes the ‘fundamental belief that Christianity’s chief mission involves politically mobilizing the poor.’ So liberation theology justifies action in a world where the poor have always been encouraged to be passive.

Activist Francis O’Gorman explains: “There has to be a change. Something is wrong in society when two-thirds of the world is suffering from poverty because they’re denied their rights. We have the resources to feed everybody. We see the rich becoming richer while the poor are becoming poorer.”

It Is Dividing the Church

Liberation theology is sharply dividing the Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II, for example, has denounced the involvement of priests in it. He said: “The idea of Christ as a political figure, a revolutionary, as the subversive man from Nazareth, does not tally with the church’s catechism.” The pope, in fact, is trying to restrain the activist movements, fearing that the Latin-American church is allowing itself to be manipulated by radical forces.

Recently, the pope rebuffed Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff for advocating liberation theology. Interestingly, Catholic prelates, like the pope, do not criticize the supporters of liberation theology because of their involvement in politics, since the church has had a long history of such involvement. No, but they object because of the similarity of liberation theology to communistic ideology.

Vicente Cardinal Scherer of Brazil declared that communists “have a different tactic from the one used in the past to infiltrate and dominate. Instead of using brutal methods . . . they try to attract certain factions of the Church to their cause, and unfortunately they have succeeded in making these factions participate in promoting the communistic cause.”

Boaventura Kloppenburg, a Catholic bishop of Salvador, Brazil, said of proponents of liberation theology: “They want to make a rereading of the Gospel, a reinterpretation of doctrine and history, a popular appropriation of the liturgy, an unblocking of the moral consciences in the sense that people can commit revolutionary acts without problems.”

No wonder sincere Catholics find it difficult to follow church leaders who disagree so much among themselves.

Will Liberation Theology Succeed?

Although the proponents of liberation theology may be well-meaning, needed reforms do not come easily. The complexities of human society and inborn selfishness indicate that even if change is achieved, problems will not be solved. As Lord Halifax wrote: “When the people contend for their liberty, they seldom get anything by their victory but new masters.”

Ask yourself: Do those who believe in such movements as liberation theology know where they are being led? Jesus warned about going ahead blindly, saying: “If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”​—Matthew 15:14.

So, then, are you sure you have a realistic picture of the plight of the poor in the Third World and how it can be solved? Does God see the problems of poverty and oppression, and will he do anything about them?

[Blurb on page 4]

“When the people contend for their liberty, they seldom get anything by their victory but new masters”

Solving the Problem of the Poor

SOME religious leaders express themselves so eloquently about today’s problems that people may believe they really know how to improve things. Yet, if politicians and economists have been unable to solve problems, can religious leaders really do better by supporting revolutionary elements?

Church leaders defend their agitating spirit, but not everyone is convinced of their sincerity. Edmund Burke wrote: “It is a general error to suppose the loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare.” Is it possible that church leaders are motivated by concerns other than simply a zeal for justice?

The Brazilian magazine Veja claims: “In reality, what the Church desires is power . . . The fact that the world’s riches are concentrated strongly in Protestant, Buddhist, and even atheistic countries forces the Church to try to return to power by the hands of the poor in the Third World.”

But even granting that individual clergymen are not seeking any personal advantage, will the poor be truly benefited by supporting a liberation movement that endorses social activism? Is that the way to solve the problem of the poor?

Pattern Set for True Christians

What example was set by Jesus Christ, the one all true Christians are obligated to imitate? While on earth, he did not involve himself in social reforms, nor did he deviate from his commission to tell others about God’s Kingdom. (Luke 4:43; John 6:15) Even Pope John Paul II, when discussing social activism, noted: “The Gospels clearly show that for Jesus, anything that would alter his mission as the Servant of Yahweh [Jehovah] was a temptation.”

This does not mean that Jesus did not recognize the needs of the poor. He did. “He felt pity for them,” the Bible says, “because they were skinned [or harassed] and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36) And he invited those who would follow him: “Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you.”​—Matthew 11:28.

A Bible prophecy describes Christ’s Kingdom rule: “He will deliver the poor one crying for help, also the afflicted one and whoever has no helper. He will feel sorry for the lowly one and the poor one, and the souls of the poor ones he will save. From oppression and from violence he will redeem their soul, and their blood will be precious in his eyes.”​—Psalm 72:12-14.

Those who would imitate Jesus must therefore have great compassion for the poor and must seek to help them. But how? Since Jesus acknowledged that the present world is under the control of Satan the Devil, he did not attempt to reform it. (Luke 4:5-8; John 12:31; 14:30; 18:36) But he did help the poor by providing them instruction that would help them cope with the problems of life.

Jesus taught his disciples to be resourceful, thus imitating him and his Father. “My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working,” he said. (John 5:17) Also, Christ’s followers were instructed about how to take care of themselves and their families by being virtuous, honest, and industrious. (Philippians 4:4-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12) But this was only in preparation for something better: the realization of the blessings of God’s Kingdom.

God’s Kingdom the Only Solution

Indeed, Jesus promoted God’s Kingdom as the only realistic and lasting solution for the problem of the poor and everyone else. What are your thoughts about it? Why do proponents of liberation theology say so little about God’s Kingdom?

The truth is, they have lost faith in the Bible’s promises regarding God’s Kingdom. Yet, when Jesus taught his followers to pray for ‘the kingdom of God to come and for his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven,’ he was not providing an illusory hope. That prayer will be answered. God’s Kingdom is a real government. You can be sure that Christ would never have deceived his devoted followers by teaching them to pray for what would never come to pass.​—Matthew 6:9, 10.

The apostle Peter was favored with a preview of that heavenly government. This occurred when Jesus was transfigured before Peter and two other apostles on a high mountain. Thus, many years later Peter could write: “No, it was not by following artfully contrived false stories that we acquainted you with the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but it was by having become eyewitnesses of his magnificence.”​—2 Peter 1:16-18.

In a vision, Peter actually saw Christ ruling in that Kingdom of God! “Consequently,” Peter continued, “we have the prophetic word [about the Kingdom, by such prophets as Isaiah and Daniel] made more sure.” (2 Peter 1:19) The prophet Daniel, for example, recorded a vision of Christ’s installation as King when He was “given rulership and dignity and kingdom.” Daniel went on to say: “His rulership 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.

What does “the prophetic word” say will happen to the present governments of men when God’s Kingdom comes in answer to the prayers of Christ’s followers? Listen to the inspired forecast at Daniel 2:44: “In the days of those kings [the governments now existing] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin [the Kingdom for which Christ taught his disciples to pray]. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms [present human governments], and it itself will stand to times indefinite.”

Truly, this Kingdom of God is mankind’s only hope for solving the problem of the poor! The fact is, humans are incapable of properly ruling their fellowman. History reveals that “man has dominated man to his injury,” regardless of the type of human government that has been tried. As God’s Word long ago indicated, it simply does not belong to man to govern himself independent of God.​—Ecclesiastes 8:9; Jeremiah 10:23.

On the other hand, you can be confident that the bounteous blessings described by Isaiah’s “prophetic word” will be fulfilled, namely: “They will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating. . . . They will not toil for nothing, nor will they bring to birth for disturbance; because they are the offspring made up of the blessed ones of Jehovah, and their descendants with them. And it will actually occur that before they call out I myself shall answer; while they are yet speaking, I myself shall hear.”​—Isaiah 65:21-24.

Jehovah God will not use any human efforts or movements, including liberation theology, to bring about these blessings. Instead, his heavenly government will take over and unite all obedient humankind, bringing about righteousness and prosperity. Therefore, keep God’s Kingdom in mind. Put it first in your life. Yes, “it is better to take refuge in Jehovah than to trust in earthling man.”​—Psalm 118:8; Matthew 6:33.

[Picture on page 7]

God’s Kingdom will solve the problems of the poor

Why Liberation Theology Is Not for Me

THAT is what attracted me to the liberation theology movement​—the promise of a change, as indicated in the above chorus of a song that we used to sing. But was my hope for a world change a valid one?

Early Catholic Upbringing

Born to Catholic parents, I was raised “inside the church.” I joined the club for altar boys to help the priest during Mass. At age 17, I was chosen to be president of the club, and this brought me in closer contact with the priests. It was enjoyable hearing what they talked about and reading what they read. Especially appealing to me were books on liberation theology that spoke of mankind’s being eventually freed from oppression.

The more I read and heard, the more I became convinced of the need for the people to learn of these things and to become aware of their rights. So I was happy when what is called a base community was formed in our parish. Base communities are groups in which “pastoral care” of the poor is combined with education and calls for political action. In Brazil alone, there are some 70,000 base communities.

The objective of these communities is to organize informed Catholics into centers of instruction and for rallies. I planned and printed posters and banners of protest and took members of our group to special Masses in other communities and to protest marches.

Working in Base Communities

Some of the people in our center in Belém lived in a low, swampy area where they had to use boardwalks to reach their homes. The city planned to expropriate the homes and transfer the people to other locations, reimbursing them accordingly. I was directed to discourage the people from accepting the city’s offer and to remind them that our priest had said that if they stood firm, the city would give in and would make improvements on their property. As a result, some refused to move. But how sad it was to see firemen expel them from their homes with water hoses! Feeling I had failed the people of our center, I moved to another community.

A conflict over land broke out about this time, and 13 squatters and 2 French priests were arrested. Both squatters and priests were taken to Belém to await trial. Their arrest seemed unjust to us. So it was agreed that all the base communities in Belém would join in peaceful protests in front of the police station. One night even my sister and grandmother took their turn along with the rest. Our protest was maintained 24 hours a day, rotating in shifts, and ended only when the prisoners were taken to Brasília for trial.

An all-night demonstration was planned on the eve of the trial. However, this had to be canceled when the army arrived. The demonstration was then moved to another location, next to the small Church of the Holy Trinity. When shock troops came with tear-gas bombs, we all crowded into the church.

There were nearly 2,000 jammed inside and 1,200 troops outside. In the midst of the tumult, I wondered: ‘Are these God’s people? They must be, for did not Jesus say: “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also”?’​—John 15:20.

By evening we were all getting hungry, not having eaten all day. A bishop arrived and called for attention, saying: ‘Brothers, it’s best for us to leave the church, since there is no water or electricity, and only God knows what they will do to us during the night.’

Then a prominent lawyer spoke: ‘Comrades, we live in a democracy, and they will not do anything to us, so we should stay here.’

After much dispute, the group leaders decided we should leave. The police let us go peaceably.

Need to Resolve Questions

As my work at the center continued, I decided to teach the children in our group, using the book Listening to the Great Teacher that my grandmother had given me in 1974. The book talked of good conduct, of obedience to authorities, and of not using images. But how could I reconcile these Bible-based teachings with what we were doing?

This led to my withdrawing from the community. I had a lot of questions on my mind that needed answering. For example: If those who support liberation theology are the true people of God, why do they not follow Jesus’ high moral standards? Also, God used Moses to deliver the oppressed Israelites out of Egypt, so why do some politicians after gaining positions of authority forget the oppressed people they are supposed to liberate?

Six months later a lady knocked on my door and began to talk about God’s Kingdom. She was a missionary of Jehovah’s Witnesses. After a brief conversation, she handed me the book Your Youth​—Getting the Best out of It. In time a Bible study was started with me, and I was invited to attend a meeting at the Kingdom Hall. I returned home afterward thinking about the difference between that meeting and those I attended at the center. In the Kingdom Hall there was no smoking, drinking, or obscene jokes.

About this time I attended a seminar of the Catholic Church on “Faith and Politics.” There, faith and politics were explained to be two sides of the same coin. A Christian with faith, it was claimed, must take part in politics and not just swallow governmental directives. But I was struck by a comrade’s comment. “Then the apostle Paul comes along and does away with everything,” he said.

“What do you mean, Demetrius?” I asked.

“You wouldn’t understand,” he replied. “Forget it.”

But I wanted to understand and not just forget it, so I decided to take my Bible study with Jehovah’s Witnesses more seriously and try to find out.

Liberation Theology and the Bible

At a meeting in the Kingdom Hall, the speaker talked about Romans 13:1, 2, which says that ‘every soul should be in subjection to the superior authorities, and that the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. Therefore, he who opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God.’

I thought: ‘That’s what Demetrius was talking about! With those words, the apostle Paul does away with everything advocated by liberation theology. It’s wrong for Christians to oppose governmental authorities.’

I also learned that the Bible offers the true remedy to free mankind from oppression​—God’s Kingdom government in the hands of his King, Christ Jesus. Since only Jehovah’s Witnesses preach this Kingdom government, I made up my mind to join them in their preaching work. Soon I was baptized and became a pioneer, as full-time ministers of Jehovah’s Witnesses are called, and since August 1985, I have served as a special pioneer. Later I married a pioneer, and we now serve in the full-time ministry together.

I am very grateful to Jehovah God for having learned ‘the truth that sets one free’ and for the privilege of helping others to become free from false ideologies. (John 8:32) Among those I have helped are two buddies who had worked along with me in the Catholic center, as well as my sister and my grandmother. Like me, they also can now see why liberation theology is not the real solution to the problems of the poor.​—As told by Átila Monteiro Carneiro.

[Picture on page 9]

I worked unsuccessfully to improve the living conditions of poor people in Belém

[Picture on page 10]

My wife and I bring the message of true liberation to the poor

Young People Ask . . .

How Can I Manage My Money?

HOW do you feel about money? Is it something to spend at will? Something to be saved or even hoarded? Knowing that their parents are there to provide for them, many youths, frankly, give little thought to money​—other than how to spend it.

Nevertheless, you may not always have parents to serve as a safety net. Furthermore, the mere fact that you have an after-school job or even a sizable allowance does not mean you can afford to be careless with cash. Warns the Bible: “Have you caused your eyes to glance at it [money], when it is nothing? For without fail it makes wings for itself like those of an eagle and flies away toward the heavens.” (Proverbs 23:5) How can you prevent your money from ‘flying away’? First, you must appreciate what money is all about.

Money​—Why So Valuable

Money is a means of exchange​—and a powerful means at that. The Encyclopædia Britannica says that “money is the only completely liquid asset.” Your radio, for example, might be considered an asset (something of value). But imagine trying to trade or barter it for a simple loaf of bread. The radio may greatly exceed the value of the loaf. But if the bakery-shop owner doesn’t want your radio, he is unlikely to give you a loaf of bread for it. Your radio might just as well be worthless! Money, though, is almost universally respected.a It is thus quickly and easily exchangeable for whatever goods or services you desire.

Wisely, then, did Solomon say at Ecclesiastes 7:12 that “money is for a protection.” Money is thus a key to possessing life’s necessities and also many of life’s pleasures. As Solomon further said: “The table has its pleasures, and wine makes a cheerful life; and money is behind it all.”​—Ecclesiastes 10:19, The New English Bible.

Yet, money is not always easy to come by. Most parents do not have unlimited sources of cash; they must work hard for what they share with you. Asked Solomon: “For what does a man come to have for all his hard work?” (Ecclesiastes 2:22) Your parents may get little satisfaction​—and little pay—​for their hard work. Why, many parents work from morning to night just to provide their families with the barest of necessities!

Money, then, should not be taken for granted. It should be viewed with respect and handled wisely. One way to do that is to learn to budget your money.

The Value of Budgeting

A budget is simply a means of managing the spending and saving of your money. ’Teen magazine of May 1985 observed: “Finding out where all of your dollars are ‘disappearing’ to is the first step toward gaining control over your money and putting yourself on a budget that will work for you.” So first make a list of all your expected expenses​—lunch, transportation, entertainment, and so forth. Next, keep track of your actual expenditures for a month or so. Now you are in a position to make some reasonable and realistic spending and saving goals.

Once these are established, you might try taking some envelopes and labeling them according to each category of expenses. One envelope, for example, might be labeled “Lunch Money,” while another might be labeled for some future purchase, such as “New Blouse” or “New Shirt.” When you receive your allowance or salary, divide the money among the envelopes according to your established spending goals. When expenses come up, pay for them from the appropriate envelopes.b

Have you tried to follow a budget and failed? You are not alone. Leah, a young adult, said: “I tried budgeting my money on a number of occasions, but I don’t stick to budgets very well.” However, she admits: “When I’m on a budget, I save better. I don’t buy things that I don’t need.” The key to success? Self-discipline. Make a resolve and hold to it! Feel free, also, to pray to Jehovah to help you to control any loose spending habits.​—Luke 11:13.

Interestingly, the apostle Paul suggested that Christians in Corinth “budget” some of their money, saying: “Every first day of the week let each of you at his own house set something aside in store.” (1 Corinthians 16:1, 2) The money was then contributed to a special fund for needy Christians. No doubt it took real self-discipline for those Corinthian Christians to follow Paul’s suggestion, but the blessings made such effort worth it!

You too will no doubt benefit from sticking to a budget. A youth named Avian says: “I was like the one mentioned at Proverbs 21:5, “hasty” and ‘heading for want’ before the next payday. Budgeting makes me more responsible.”

Cautious With Credit

“Buy now, pay later!” urge many merchants. Used cautiously and intelligently, credit indeed has its place. Used recklessly, however, credit can become what a youth named Kevin calls “a form of slavery.”​—Compare Proverbs 22:7.

For some youths, credit simply makes it too easy to purchase things they neither need nor can afford. And if you do not pay off your balance at the end of the month, you are charged interest on what you owe. The longer you take to pay, the more an item ends up costing you. In the long run, therefore, it is cheaper to save up for what you need and pay for it with cash.

‘A Penny Saved . . . ’

A young woman named Phyllis observed: “We never know when hardships may come upon us and we will need to have money saved up.” (Compare Ecclesiastes 9:11.) Indeed, you could get sick and be unable to hold a job. Your parents too could fall on hard times and be unable to pay you an allowance. It thus makes good sense to include in your budget an amount to set aside as savings. This can help you weather a financial storm more easily.

Now a piggy bank or a shoe box may seem like a smart place to store your cash. Jesus, though, spoke of putting money into a bank where it can earn interest and grow. (Matthew 25:27) Why not, then, discuss with your parents the advisability of opening your own savings account at a bank? You need not have a huge amount of cash to make a savings scheme work, although in some places a sufficient amount is required to avoid a service charge. The key to success is being regular in adding to your savings.

What, though, if your family is poor or you live in an economically disadvantaged land where youths rarely have their own spending money? Nevertheless, your family still has certain assets, meager though they might seem. But if your attitude toward family resources is ‘easy come, easy go,’ you work against your own and the family’s interests. Surely, you would not want to prove to be a “thankless one” when it comes to the things your parents work hard to provide.​—Proverbs 29:21.

So show a responsible attitude toward money​—even when you have little or no money of your own. You can, for example, avoid wasting things, such as food items. (See John 6:12, 13.) Treat hard-to-replace and expensive items, such as eyeglasses and school supplies, with respect. No doubt your parents will greatly appreciate your conscientiousness in this regard.

Proverbs 11:28 reminds us: “The one trusting in his riches​—he himself will fall; but just like foliage the righteous ones will flourish.” Money should serve to care for our needs. But a Christian should not be preoccupied with getting rich. As a youth named Matthew puts it: “Money has its place, but it is not everything.” It is merely a tool, indeed, a “protection.” (Ecclesiastes 7:12) Learn to use it wisely, prudently. A future article will discuss how to use your money wisely to care for personal and family obligations.

[Footnotes]

[Blurb on page 13]

“When I’m on a budget, I save better. I don’t buy things that I don’t need”

[Picture on page 14]

Responsible youths wisely save some of their money

Today’s Religions​—A Quiz

WHAT do people believe? Religious leaders are disturbed to find that many no longer believe what they have been taught.

Indeed, today’s religious scene has changed drastically since 1961 when Awake! published a well-received quiz entitled “How Well Do You Know Your Religion?” With this issue, we again invite our readers to test their background knowledge of contemporary religion and its age-old traditions. But this time the emphasis is on the crisis facing world religion, focusing on such developments as the modern phenomenon of people’s drifting belief and religion’s new assertiveness in politics and war.

Why not take your pencil and answer the quizzes on this page and the next three pages? Then compare your answers with the authorities cited on the answer pages. See if the results help you familiarize yourself with today’s religious situation.

WORLD RELIGIOUS MEMBERSHIP

Many of earth’s inhabitants are not associated with a religion, but this graph represents those who are.

Can you arrange the religions in order of comparative size or membership as shown on the graph? (Answers on page 18.)

BUDDHISM

HINDUISM

SHINTOISM

CHRISTENDOM

JUDAISM

ISLAM

1 ‐‐‐‐‐

2 ‐‐‐‐‐

3 ‐‐‐‐‐

4 ‐‐‐‐‐

5 ‐‐‐‐‐

6 ‐‐‐‐‐

BASIS FOR PEOPLE’S BELIEFS

Identify the writings with the corresponding religion or philosophy. (Answers on page 19.)

1. ‐‐ Koran A. Buddhism

2. ‐‐ Baltimore Catechism B. Confucianism

3. ‐‐ Talmud C. Hinduism

4. ‐‐ Vedas D. Islam

5. ‐‐ Five Classics E. Judaism

6. ‐‐ Pali canon F. Roman Catholicism

BIBLE FACTS AND TEACHINGS

Mark “T” or “F” for “True” or “False.” (Answers on page 19.)

1. ‐‐ The Bible writers admit they wrote under inspiration of God, who required them to record their own embarrassing mistakes and shortcomings.

2. ‐‐ The Bible assigns to Christendom’s clergy the job of protecting the laity from hellfire.

3. ‐‐ The Bible indicated that the earth was round when men thought it was flat.

RELIGION AND WAR

Match the locations of recent wars or armed conflicts with the religions involved. (Answers on page 20.)

1. ‐‐ India (Bhiwandi and Bombay) A. Catholicism, Protestantism

2. ‐‐ India (Punjab) B. Hinduism, Buddhism

3. ‐‐ Ireland C. Hinduism, Islam

4. ‐‐ Lebanon D. Hinduism, Sikhism

WHO SAID IT?

Match the name to the statement. (Answers on page 21.)

1. ‐‐ “Religion is the opium of the people.”

2. ‐‐ “Cleanliness is, indeed, next to Godliness.”

3. ‐‐ “The League of Nations is the political expression of the kingdom of God on earth.”

4. ‐‐ “The guardians of hell inflict torture.”

5. ‐‐ “It is a holy war, and it will continue until the abdication of the shah.”

6. ‐‐ “God helps those who help themselves.”

7. ‐‐ “Let some fresh air into the Church.”

8. ‐‐ ‘Call no man your father.’

9. ‐‐ “The peoples of earth turn to the United Nations as the last hope of concord and peace.”

A. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

B. Karl Marx

C. Buddhist writings

D. Federal Council of Churches

E. John Wesley

F. Jesus of Nazareth

G. Pope John XXIII

H. Pope Paul VI

I. Aesop (Greek fabulist)

EFFORTS TO KNOW GOD

Underscore the correct answer. (Answers on page 21.)

1. Hindus recognize (0; only 3; 330,000,000) gods and goddesses.

2. Shinto writings refer to (0; only 3; 8,000,000) gods.

3. Belief in a creator of all things does not exist in (Buddhism; Hinduism; Islam; Judaism).

4. A trinity of divinities was taught (exclusively by the early Christians; by most ancient non-Christian religions).

RELIGION AND THE WORLD

Check the correct statement. (Answers on pages 22 and 23.)

1. Jesus of Nazareth [ ] never [ ] once [ ] more than once refused political power as a king or national ruler.

2. The Bible teaches that the one bringing world distress is [ ] God [ ] God’s enemy the Devil.

3. The Scriptures require that God’s servants [ ] use violence as a last resort in correcting social problems [ ] stay neutral regarding worldly politics while looking to God’s Kingdom for the remedy [ ] overthrow the establishment.

4. The Bible [ ] teaches that as the world progresses educationally and socially, religion will grow stronger and more humane [ ] warns that men will practice only a form of godly devotion but prove false to its power [ ] anticipates no crisis in religion.

5. The Bible [ ] assumes that religion will convert the world [ ] predicts that all religions will unite [ ] foretells that national rulers will totally destroy the religions of the world.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Mark “T” or “F” for “True” or “False.” (Answers on pages 24 and 25.) According to the Bible:

1. ‐‐ The Kingdom is a spiritual state within the hearts of the friends of Jesus.

2. ‐‐ The Kingdom is a real government.

3. ‐‐ The Kingdom is represented on earth by the United Nations.

4. ‐‐ Without human help, the Kingdom of God will destroy the kingdoms of this world.

QUIZ ANSWERS

World Religious Membership

Answers to questions on page 15.

1. Christendom 1,644 milliona

2. Islam 860 million

3. Hinduism 655 million

4. Buddhism 310 million

5. Judaism 18 million

6. Shintoism 3 million

Basis for People’s Beliefs

Answers to quiz on page 16.

1. D Islam. Koran: “The book composed of writings accepted by Muslims as revelations made to Muhammad by Allah.”​—Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary.

2. F Roman Catholicism. Baltimore Catechism: “An official summary or statement of Roman Catholic beliefs and practices.”​—Webster’s New International Dictionary.

3. E Judaism. Talmud: “The authoritative body of Jewish tradition comprising the Mishnah and Gemara.”​—Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary.

4. C Hinduism. Vedas: “Any of four canonical collections of hymns, prayers, and liturgical formulas that comprise the earliest Hindu sacred writings.”​—Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary.

5. B Confucianism. Five Classics: “The Confucian canon of five books (Ching), comprising: The I Ching, or Book of Changes . . . The Shu Ching, or Book of History . . . The Shih Ching, or Book of Odes . . . The Li Chi, or Book of Rites . . . The Ch’un Ch’iu, or Spring and Autumn Annals.”​—Webster’s New International Dictionary.

6. A Buddhism. Pali canon: “This canon was committed to writing in the 1st century B.C., some four centuries after the death of the Buddha. . . . The Pali canon doubtless presents Buddhism as it existed in the Community of monks during the 1st century B.C. There is no general agreement as to the contents of Buddhism as it existed before the writing of the Pali canon.”​—The Encyclopedia Americana.

Bible Facts and Teachings

Answers to quiz on page 16.

1. True. The Bible writers freely admit that they wrote by inspiration and that God required them to record their own embarrassing mistakes and shortcomings. David, whose numerous Bible psalms candidly exposed national shortcomings and his own private sins, explained: “The spirit of Jehovah it was that spoke by me.”​—2 Samuel 23:2.

Also, Daniel wrote about future events that he acknowledged he “could not understand.” He asked: “O my lord, what will be the final part of these things?” The answer given him was: “Go, Daniel, because the words are made secret and sealed up until the time of the end.”​—Daniel 12:8, 9.

Yes, Bible writers foretold events that were beyond their ability to understand at the time. Therefore the apostle Peter admits: “No prophecy of Scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit.”​—2 Peter 1:20, 21.

2. False. The Bible does not assign Christendom’s clergy the job of protecting the laity from hellfire. The fact is, the hellfire teaching is not found in the Bible. The Bible teaches that the dead are unconscious, feeling no pain. It says: “As for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, . . . for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol [“hell” in older editions of the Bible], the place to which you are going.”​—Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10.

The Bible does not authorize the setting up of a clergy class distinct from those with a so-called laity status. Jesus taught his followers: “All you are brothers.” And he strictly forbade using such titles as “Rabbi,” “Father,” or “Leader.”​—Matthew 23:8-10.

3. True. The Bible indicated that the earth was round when men thought it was flat. In the eighth century before Christ, when men still believed the earth was flat, Isaiah wrote: “There is One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth.”​—Isaiah 40:22.

Religion and War

Answers to quiz on page 16.

1. C Hinduism, Islam

India (Bhiwandi and Bombay): “Tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India exploded into some of the worst communal riots since independence. Riots in Bhiwandi and Bombay in May and June [1984] left more than 300 people dead.”​—Encyclopædia Britannica, 1985 Book of the Year.

2. D Hinduism, Sikhism

India (Punjab): In 1984 India’s prime minister, Indira Gandhi, a Hindu, authorized a “punitive raid on the most sacred shrine of the Sikh religion, the Golden Temple at Amritsar” in the Punjab, “where Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale [a militant Sikh leader] . . . was martyred by government troops.” In quick retaliation Gandhi’s own Sikh bodyguards assassinated her. “Tension and violence between Hindu and Sikh communities in India continued into 1985.”​—Encyclopædia Britannica, 1985 and 1986 Book of the Year.

3. A Catholicism, Protestantism

Ireland: “Margaret Thatcher, the British prime minister, agreed to consult the Irish Republic in addressing the grievances of Ulster’s 600,000 Roman Catholics. But leaders of the North’s million Protestants have vehemently rejected the . . . accord. . . . If they prevail, . . . a savage conflict is likely to rage into another century.”​—The New York Times, November 15, 1986.

4. E Shiite Muslim, Christendom, Druze

Lebanon: “[Nominal] Christians killed Muslims without quarter. Muslims killed Christians with a ferocity unknown since the Crusades. Druze [members of a Syro-Lebanese religious sect originating among Muslims] and Palestinians entered the dark fray, until at any one time there were as many as 53 ‘irregular’ armies fighting in Lebanon. Indeed the ‘Lebanon syndrome’ became the metaphor for irregular warfare and purposeless killing in our times.”​—Encyclopædia Britannica, 1985 Book of the Year.

5. B Hinduism, Buddhism

Sri Lanka: “Among the traditional Buddhist nations, Sri Lanka had become the bloody scene of renewed violent conflict between the Hindu Tamil minority in the north and the Buddhist Sinhalese majority.”​—Encyclopædia Britannica, 1986 Book of the Year.

Who Said It?

Answers to quiz on page 17.

1. B Karl Marx

2. E John Wesley

3. D Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America (representing various Protestant denominations) December 18, 1918, in an adopted declaration sent to U. S. president Woodrow Wilson

4. C Buddhist writings quoted in the “Nikayas of the Pali canon”

5. A Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as quoted in Encyclopædia Britannica, 1985 Book of the Year

6. I Aesop, in his fable Hercules and the Waggoner

7. G Pope John XXIII, January 25, 1959, in explaining why he intended to call the Vatican II ecumenical council

8. F Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 23:9)

9. H Pope Paul VI during his visit to the United Nations in 1965

Efforts to Know God

Answers to quiz on Page 17.

1. 330,000,000 Hindu divinities: Regarding the common man in India, Professor J. B. Noss says: “Even though experience usually leads him to adopt one particular god or goddess as a patron . . . , he honors nevertheless all supernatural beings . . . Hindus are accustomed to saying their deities number some 33 crores; that is, some 330 millions.”​—Man’s Religions.

2. 8,000,000 Shinto divinities: “The gods of Shinto . . . are said in one place to number 80 myriads and in another to number 800 myriads.”​—The Sacred Writings of the World’s Great Religions.

3. Buddhism does not teach belief in a creator. “It admits no beings with greater supernatural power than man can reach by virtue and knowledge; in fact, several of the Buddhist nations have no word in their languages to express the idea of God.”​—McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia.

4. Most ancient non-Christian religions: Abbott’s Dictionary of Religious Knowledge calls the Trinity a “very marked” feature in the Hindu religion and “discernible” in the ancient [pre-Christian] religions of Persia, Egypt, Rome, Japan, India, and Greece. According to Professor E. W. Hopkins, a Neoplatonic philosopher named Plotinus (205-270 C.E.) “evolved” a form of trinity similar to the orthodox Buddhist and Brahmanic trinity. Professor Hopkins said of Plotinus: “His theology which was called ‘Platonic,’ had no little influence upon the leaders of Christian opinion.”

Did this philosopher influence Christendom’s leaders more than Jesus himself did? Professor Hopkins answers: “To Jesus and Paul the doctrine of the trinity was apparently unknown; at any rate, they say nothing about it.”​—Origin and Evolution of Religion.

Religion and the World

Answers to quiz on page 17.

1. More than once

Twice Jesus Christ declined opportunities to gain political power. Jesus refused to bargain when the Devil offered: “I will give you all this authority [over “all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth”] . . . because it has been delivered to me, and to whomever I wish I give it.”​—Luke 4:5, 6.

Jesus also refused a popular movement by religious admirers to sponsor him as king: “When the men saw the signs he performed, they began to say: ‘This is for a certainty the prophet that was to come into the world.’ Therefore Jesus, knowing they were about to come and seize him to make him king, withdrew.”​—John 6:14, 15.

2. The Devil

The Bible puts the blame for world distress on God’s enemy Satan the Devil. It says: “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 12:12.

3. Stay neutral regarding worldly politics while looking to God’s Kingdom for the remedy

Jesus commanded neutrality, and pointed to God’s Kingdom, saying: “My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up [to an unjust death sentence].” (John 18:36) Jesus also told the apostle Peter, when Peter took up a weapon in his defense: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword.”​—Matthew 26:52.

Demonstrating his faith in God’s Kingdom as the remedy for mankind’s problems, Jesus proclaimed that government as man’s only hope. While on earth, he explained: “Also to other cities I must declare the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this I was sent forth.”​—Luke 4:43.

According to The Encyclopedia Americana, “Jesus’ method was to go to the people, especially to the common folk and even the classes most despised, the ‘tax-collectors and sinners’ . . . His central theme was the Kingdom of God . . . The Kingdom message involved repentance and grateful faith in God; it required taking up a new life of obedience in fellowship with others who were waiting in hope for God to establish His Kingdom, which had begun to come in the work of Jesus. The final establishment of the kingdom . . . by the powerful action of God at the end of the age . . . was eagerly expected.”​—Volume 3, page 704 (1977).

4. Men will practice only a form of godly devotion but prove false to its power

The Bible foretold: “Know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be . . . lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power . . . Wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled.” “They will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled.”​—2 Timothy 3:1-13; 4:3, 4.

The Bible also warned: “Many false prophets [apparently the same type of popular leaders referred to above] will arise and mislead many; and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off.”​—Matthew 24:11-13.

5. National rulers will totally destroy the religions of the world

The Bible points to this outcome. Throughout the centuries, false religion has been deeply involved in the political affairs of the nations, even though Jesus said regarding his true disciples: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:16) Because of hobnobbing with the world, false religion is depicted in the Bible as a prostitute, or harlot, who has not been faithful to God. A Bible prophecy says: “Come, I will show you the judgment upon the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication.”​—Revelation 17:1, 2, 18.

This “great harlot” is thus like a woman caught selling sexual favors in return for high-level influence in government. Her punishment fits the crime. God will cause a sudden, foreboding change of heart among her former lovers. The Bible explains that the kings, or political rulers of the world, “will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely burn her with fire. For God put it into their hearts to carry out his thought.”​—Revelation 17:12, 16, 17.

The Kingdom of God

Answers to quiz on page 18.

1. False

When Jesus said “the kingdom of God is within you,” he was speaking to hostile Pharisees, his enemies, not his friends. (Luke 17:21, King James Version) What, then, did Jesus mean when talking with these Pharisees? Modern Bible translations, such as the Revised Standard Version, render Jesus’ words: “The kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” The Kingdom was in their midst, since Jesus, the one designated to be King of that future Kingdom, was there among those Pharisees.

Thus the Encyclopædia Britannica states: “By ‘kingdom’ He seems to have meant not principally the realm of God, but the reign of God . . . In this sense it is valid to describe Jesus’ view of the kingdom as futuristic . . . Jesus Himself appears in the Gospels as the herald . . . Therefore He could say to His enemies that the kingdom was ‘in the midst of you’ (Luke XVII, 21, not ‘within you’); for He himself was the sign of the kingdom in their midst.”

2. True

That God’s Kingdom is a real government is made clear at Isaiah 9:6, which says of the coming Messiah: “The government shall be upon his shoulder.” (American Standard Version) “The princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder.”​—New World Translation.

3. False

The Kingdom of God could not be represented on earth by the United Nations, for Jesus plainly taught: “My kingdom is no part of this world.”​—John 18:36.

God’s Kingdom is nonpolitical; it is brought about by God without human help. As the Encyclopædia Britannica puts it: “It is therefore foreign to Jesus’ teaching when Christians speak of their ‘building the kingdom.’ Clearly, He directed His hearers to that which was to come when He spoke to them about the kingdom.”

4. True

The Bible prophecy recorded at Daniel 2:44 clearly shows that God’s Kingdom will destroy the kingdoms, or governments, of the world. It says: “In the days of those kings [modern-day governments] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. . . . It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite.”

As to the blessings in store for humanity after God destroys these conflicting nations, see the book, You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth. This publication gives Biblical and historical proof that in 1914, God’s Kingdom began its long-awaited rule in heaven​—with the consequence that universal peace will arrive before the generation of that time passes away. (Matthew 24:34) In the words of a prophetic Bible psalm: “Evildoers themselves will be cut off, but those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth. But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”​—Psalm 37:9, 11.

[Footnotes]

[Picture on page 23]

Can a religion be approved by God when its clergymen bless men of war?

[Credit Line]

U.S. Army photo

[Picture on page 25]

Under God’s Kingdom, earth will be a paradise

“One of Nature’s Masterpieces”

THAT is how a South African scientist describes an elephant’s trunk. This boneless, muscular extension enables the elephant to suck up a gallon [4 L] of water and then to squirt it into its mouth. Without this ability, the huge animal would have an awkward job kneeling down for every drink. The trunk also enables it to eat 500 or more pounds [230 kg] of vegetation a day. Thus, elephants are in danger of starvation if this vital organ gets severely injured.

The trunk is used in many other ways, such as for trumpeting an alarm, caressing a calf, or smacking a baby when it is naughty. It is often used to spray its owner with water or mud. Why mud? Probably to protect its skin from heat and insects. Why does an elephant sometimes lift its trunk into the air like a periscope? To feel the direction of the wind and to catch the scent of an intruder. Yes, in addition to being a sensitive organ of touch, this versatile organ is also an extension of the nose. The late Jim Williams, in his book Elephant Bill, relates some interesting ways elephants use their trunks:

“If he cannot reach with his trunk some part of his body that itches, he doesn’t always rub it against a tree; he may pick up a long stick and give himself a good scratch with that, instead. If one stick isn’t long enough, he will look for another which is.

“If he pulls up some grass, and it comes up by the roots with a lump of earth, he will smack it against his foot until all the earth is shaken off, or, if water is handy, he will wash it clean, before putting it into his mouth.”

For over 20 years, Williams doctored elephants trained to transport wood in the Burmese teak forests. But he sometimes failed in hiding medication in a sick elephant’s food. With his trunk, explains Williams, “he will extract a pill (the size of an aspirin tablet) from a tamarind fruit the size of a cricket ball in which one has planted it, with an air of saying: ‘You can’t kid me.’”

“Elephants,” he continues, “can also detach a closely clinging creeper, like ivy, from a tree far more skilfully than can a man working with two hands. This is due to their greater delicacy of touch.”

So next time you see an elephant in a game park or zoo, why not do as suggested by Dr. Gerrie de Graaff in the African wildlife magazine Custos: “View the animal with the awe and respect due to it and allow yourself some time to ponder about and see one of nature’s masterpieces in action​—the elephant’s trunk.” Then ask yourself, ‘Who should be credited for such a remarkably versatile organ?’ The Bible’s answer to that question is that Jehovah God made “every moving animal of the ground according to its kind” and that he “saw everything he had made and, look! it was very good.”​—Genesis 1:25, 31.

From Our Readers

Safe Driving

As Illinois Secretary of State, I would like to commend you and the staff of Awake! for your recent publication that advocated safe driving. (January 8, 1988) The statistical reports and safety tips used in the articles were noteworthy and stressed that safe driving habits are not only a national concern but also an international one. . . . Civic and religious organizations such as yours have created a greater public awareness of the seriousness of this problem. . . . Again, you are to be commended for your efforts to encourage safe driving. A human life is much too precious to be put in danger by careless behavior. I personally extend my congratulations and thanks for your group’s involvement.

Short Temper

One evening when I was sorting out the “Young People Ask . . ” articles, I stopped on seeing the question “Why Do I Lose My Temper?” (April 22, 1987) After reading the article through twice, I began to wonder why the counsel about not getting angry fitted me so exactly. I am 22 years old, and yet, on that day, I discovered for the first time that I am short-tempered. I had never thought of myself like that before. Until recently, my way of reacting to my feelings was, ‘It is proper to get angry in this case,’ but from now on, I will do my best to suppress my anger.

Y. O., Japan

Religious Reporting

I was unhappy to see in the December 8, 1987, Awake! the article in the back dealing with the “Pope’s Visit Commercialized.” I felt the statement​—“A reported favorite sold to priests and nuns features a ‘canine beer mascot . . . in papal hat and robe.’” Come on now​—do you really believe this? I feel this constant barrage of anti-Catholicism is uncalled for. All religions should respect that they are Christians and one in the Father. Any religion that does not is not truly Christian and has no right to preach degrading material about others. Very poor, I’d say!

S. H., United States

In the July 8, 1988, Awake! “B.P.” of France dresses you down for backbiting and abusive speech. I find it hard to believe that this person has really been a reader of Awake!, for Awake! writes consistently with gentle love about truth from the Bible. Where this disagrees with the practices of world religions, I have yet to see an angry accusation against anyone! The differences are given to us. Quoted testimonials are carefully quoted. I appreciate the way Jehovah’s Witnesses present the facts and leave the intelligent reader to draw his own conclusions. From science to the sari, I have learned to trust your research and careful writing.

C. K., United States

We can only add to C. K.’s remarks that reader S. H.’s problem seems to be with “Newsweek” (June 29, 1987), whose report we summarized and quoted without comment. As to whether it is “truly Christian” to call attention to religious shortcomings, we must look to the example of Jesus Christ himself, who criticized the religious leaders of his day in terms far stronger than have appeared in “Awake!”​—Matthew 15:1-14; 23:2-32.​—ED.

Watching the World

Scared Sober

Judges in California are giving a “dose of reality” to teenagers who have been arrested for drunken driving, reports The New York Times. Besides being fined and put on probation as first-time offenders, they are sentenced to visit the morgue. According to the Times, judges say that the sentence is “not so much to shock young offenders as to expose them to the frailty of human life.” The reason? As one authority explains: “Teen-agers think they’re invincible,” so “they need a dose of reality.” One California judge reports that of the more than 400 youths given this sentence in Sacramento, only 6 have been arrested again. Another judge noted that the normal recidivism rate is 30 to 50 percent. The program’s success has inspired other states to institute similar sentencing programs.

Dangers for Smoking Women

Why are female smokers more likely than are female nonsmokers to develop heart disease, a condition more common in men? One reason may be that smoking is linked to hormonal changes in women, suggests a study by researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. Women who smoke after menopause have more of two male-type sex hormones in their blood than nonsmoking women have, the researchers reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. “Our findings may provide further evidence to persuade women to stop smoking,” said physician Kay-Tee Khaw, principal author of the study.

Anglicans Allow Polygamy

Although the 70-million-member Anglican Church promotes monogamy as the Christian ideal, in August it reversed a one-hundred-year-old ban on baptizing polygamists in the church. The resolution reversing the ban was passed at a three-week Anglican conference in Canterbury, England. In the past, a polygamist had to abandon all his wives except for one in order to become a baptized Anglican. Now, according to that church, in cultures where polygamy is socially established, a man may have more than one wife and still become an approved member of the church. But, according to God’s Word, it is still adultery.​—Ephesians 5:31; 1 Timothy 3:2.

Bangladesh Flood

Floodwaters engulfed most of Bangladesh last September, leaving as many as 28 million people homeless or stranded. “It was a terrible human tragedy,” said the brigadier general in charge of feeding and housing 30,000 victims in one area of this south Asian nation. Bangladesh, with 110 million inhabitants, was hit by extreme monsoon rains that began in June and that by September had left an estimated 75 percent of the land under water. The reported death toll from all causes during the flooding stood at over 500.

Anxious Dentists

If you want to receive the best possible dental treatment, don’t show your fear of the dentist. That appears to be the message conveyed by a Hamburg survey of 342 dentists in the Federal Republic of Germany. The survey revealed that 71 percent of the dentists interviewed felt under pressure when confronted with an uneasy patient. As a result, says the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, dentists “often react with extreme caution and nervousness and have to summon up greater reserves of energy to ensure quality treatment.”

Index to Volume 69 of “Awake!”

ANIMALS AND PLANTS

Autumn Leaves, 10/8

Beneficial Partnerships, 4/22

“Bird Trying to Make a Living,” 5/22

Butterflies, 11/22

Butterflies of the Seas, 3/22

Communal Nest-Builders, 4/22

Elephant, How Clever? 10/22

Elephant Trunk, 12/22

Gerenuk​—Gazelle Like a Giraffe, 6/22

Giraffes, Ants, Acacia Trees, 1/22

Insects, 2/22

Life in the Balance, 7/8

Made for Each Other, 7/22

Mesquite​—Sweet Mystery of Life, 7/22

Nepal’s Treasured Animals, 9/22

Porcupine Quills, 2/22

Some Mean, Some Mild (Dogs), 3/22

Trees, 3/22, 8/22

ECONOMICS AND EMPLOYMENT

Greed Destroy the Insurance Industry? 5/22

Money Your Passport to Happiness? 4/22

HEALTH AND MEDICINE

AIDS​—A Global Killer, 10/8

AIDS Risks? 6/22

Bed-Wetting, 2/22

Diagnosis in 80 Languages, 6/22

From a Quiet World, 7/8

From the Brink of Death, 4/22

Glaucoma, 5/8

High Tech Misdiagnosis, 12/8

Millions of Children Dying, 9/22

Parkinson’s Disease, 1/8

Secret to Long Life? 2/8

Spreading Death? (Smoking), 8/22

Staying Healthy​—The Natural Approach, 6/22

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, 1/22

Worth the Risk? (Blood), 4/8

HUMAN RELATIONS

Battered Wives, 11/22

Beware the ‘Copycat Effect’! 5/8

Child Custody, 10/22

Culture Gap, 8/22

Handicapped but Successful, 10/22

I Learned to Control My Temper, 5/22

Little Things Important? 6/22

Parents Have Homework Too! 9/8

Playtime Is Growtime, 9/22

Twins, 4/22

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Comics Artist Pursues Happiness (Y. Fujii), 2/22

From the Brink of Death (B. Beaderstadt), 4/22

Greater Challenge, Greater Thrill! (F. Stevens), 9/22

Greek Church Blocks Convention, 11/22

I Came to Appreciate True Wisdom (P. Chayakul), 11/22

I Escaped Religious Deception (I. Clemons), 3/22

I Learned to Control My Temper, 5/22

I Saw the Futility of War (R. Dixon), 4/8

It Started in Kathmandu (B. and T. Chitrakar), 6/8

Jazz Drummer Finds True Happiness (T. Moriyama), 7/22

Journey in Search of Purpose (D. Moffatt), 8/22

Learning From the Witnesses, 4/22

Liberation Theology Not for Me (A. Monteiro Carneiro), 12/22

Lilliputians Among Dwarfs (A. and C. Sánchez Escríbano), 2/8

Living as a Fugitive (F. James), 6/22

Lost for Over 20 Years (V. Sutera), 12/8

Musician Chooses Real Harmony (H. Lingenfelder), 8/8

‘My Word My Bond’ (T. Hunnings), 5/8

“Never Known One to Lie,” 8/8

Only Jehovah’s Witnesses? (Divine Name), 4/22

Portugal​—26 Years Later, 11/8

Pride My Worst Handicap (J. Martín Pérez), 11/8

“Principal Victims of Religious Persecution,” 6/8

She Reached Her Goal, 1/22

Surviving Persecution in Nazi Germany (K. Weigand), 10/22

“Trust in Jehovah” District Conventions, 1/22

LANDS AND PEOPLES

Andorra​—Pearl of the Pyrenees, 3/8

A Time for Everything in Japan, 7/22

Bangkok​—Medley of Past and Present, 1/8

Culture Gap, 8/22

Dragon Mountains (Lesotho), 9/8

Moorish Spain, 11/8

Nepal’s Treasured Animals, 9/22

Saris by the Millions, 7/8

Tall Sailing Ships Captivate Sydney, 9/8

Urus​—Island People of Lake Titicaca, 5/8

Yugoslavia​—Fascinating Variety, 9/8

MISCELLANEOUS

Advertising​—How It Affects You, 2/8

Be a Successful Shopper, 2/22

Clouds Tell a Story, 2/8

Cooking Vegetables Chinese Style, 5/8

Crossword Puzzles, 2/8, 6/8, 8/8, 10/8, 12/8

Culturing Pearls, 1/22

Fear of Flying, 9/22

Heavenly Light Display (Aurora Borealis), 8/8

International Expositions, 1/8

Steam Age Lingers On, 3/8

Stone That Solved a Mystery (Rosetta Stone), 6/8

Video Display Terminals, 12/22

Water Safety Is No Accident, 5/22

What Makes Them Erupt? 1/8

RELIGION

Advertising​—Christianity’s Powerful Weapon, 2/8

Bible Manuscript Meets Technology, 5/8

Catholic Bishops and “Sleeping Giant,” 8/22

Choice or Chance? 8/8

Christmas Christian? 12/8

Faith Moved Him to Action! (Abraham), 5/22

Greek Church Blocks Convention, 11/22

Last Days? 4/8

Mary​—Answer to World Crisis? 11/8

Poor​—Religion in Politics Help? 12/22

Pope Visits a Restless Flock, 3/8

Poverty, Wealth, and Religion, 10/22

Religion Slipping out of the Picture? 2/8

See for Myself (Bible Manuscripts), 7/22

Socinians​—Why Reject Trinity? 11/22

Today’s Religions​—A Quiz, 12/22

TV Evangelists, 3/22, 7/8

What Happens When We Die? 7/8

SCIENCE

Artificial Intelligence, 7/8

Bible Manuscript Meets Technology, 5/8

Electronic Eavesdropping, 5/22

Kitt Peak National Observatory, 11/22

“Like the Stars,” 4/8

Reach for the Stars, 9/8

Superconductivity, 3/22

Universe​—Creation or Chance? 3/8

Wonderfully Made, 6/8

Wonderfully Made to Live, Not Die, 10/8

Wonderfully Made to Stay Alive, 8/8

THE BIBLE’S VIEWPOINT

Abortion​—Answer to Overpopulation? 4/8

Knowledge of God for Elite Few? 11/8

Liberation Theology Not the Answer, 9/8

Obey the Ten Commandments? 5/8

Old Testament Out-of-Date? 6/8

Sectarian Worship Acceptable to God? 1/8

What Does Genesis Really Say? 12/8

Who Are “Born Again”? 2/8

Why Bible Prophecies Are Valuable, 8/8

Your Religion Good Enough for God? 3/8

WORLD AFFAIRS AND CONDITIONS

Apartheid, 6/22

Drugs​—The Growing Menace, 12/8

Electronic Eavesdropping, 5/22

Global Shift in Smoking, 5/22

Last Days? 4/8

Millions of Children Dying, 9/22

Nuclear Dilemma, 8/22

Pollution​—Relentless Killer, 5/8

Poor​—Religion in Politics Help? 12/22

Privacy in Danger? 2/22

Safe Driving​—Urgent Need, 1/8

What Hope for the Homeless? 3/8

Women’s Movement​—How Fulfilling? 7/22

YOUNG PEOPLE ASK . . .

Being Embarrassed, 9/22

Break Up? 7/22

Broken Heart, 1/22, 2/8

Christian Meetings, 6/8, 6/22

Feelings of Racial Prejudice, 11/8

Honoring Parents, 4/8, 4/22

Horror Movies, 5/8

Learn When Others Don’t Want To, 10/22, 12/8

Managing Money, 12/22

Masturbation, 3/8

Parents’ Divorce, 5/22

People Don’t Like Me, 8/22, 11/22

Privacy, 7/8, 10/8

Running Away, 2/22, 3/22

Tell On My Friend? 9/8

Why Feel So Worthless? 8/8

Why Obey Mom and Dad? 1/8

How Safe Are Video Display Terminals?

COMPUTER video display terminals (VDT’s), such as used for word processing, have been rapidly replacing typewriters and other office machines in many businesses. The terminals look much like television screens attached to a keyboard. Like television screens, they emit low levels of nonionizing radiation. As a result, their safety has repeatedly been called into question, especially since the user is sitting so close to them.

The concern of many was again raised recently by the results of a study of 1,583 pregnant women in California. The study found that women who used VDT’s more than 20 hours a week during early pregnancy had nearly twice as many miscarriages as other office workers who did not use them. Admittedly, the study did not prove that radiation from the VDT’s was responsible for the increased number of miscarriages. In fact, one authority asserted: “It seems clear that the problem is the factorylike environment so many VDT operators work in, not the machine itself.”

Yet, other authorities recommend caution. Michael Polen, one of the researchers involved in the California study, is one of these. He pointed to the fact that earlier studies on animal embryos showed that the type of radiation emitted from VDT’s disrupted cellular growth.

The editor of VDT News was another who cautioned pregnant women to be careful. He said: “I think any woman who is pregnant, or trying to become pregnant, should play it safe and stop working on a VDT.”

‘They Lifted Me Out of Deep Depression’

A woman from England wrote:

“Dear Sir:

“In February I sent for your cassette album of My Book of Bible Stories, and although I am a spiritualist, when they arrived I was so impressed with them. I had just come out of the hospital after a major operation and was in bed feeling really low and depressed. So when my husband brought the parcel up to me, I decided to play the tapes along with the book.

“They certainly lifted me out of my deep depression, and for the first time in ten days I actually felt like taking an interest in my surroundings. When my grandsons (6 and 8 years) came to visit, I let them hear these, and they were so delighted with the part they had time to hear that I let them take them home to listen to them all. Obviously, as they have received so much pleasure from them, I would be grateful if you could forward me another set of the cassette tapes and book so that they can keep theirs.”

She added this P.S.: “During my life I have many times tried reading my Bible but have never enjoyed or understood it. Yet these tapes and book explain it all so clearly.”

You too can receive these cassette tapes and the book My Book of Bible Stories, or both, by filling in and mailing the accompanying coupon.

Please send, postpaid, the brown vinyl album with the four cassette tapes of My Book of Bible Stories.

Check either or both.

[ ] I enclose $8 (U.S.).

[ ] Send the 256-page illustrated My Book of Bible Stories, for which I enclose $3 (U.S.).

Please remit the correct contribution. (Outside the U.S.A., write to local Watch Tower branch for information.)