October 22

A Deadly, Growing Menace

Satanism, or Devil worship, is on the increase, featuring animal and human sacrifice, sexual molestation, and other criminal acts. What do Satanists believe? And why does their religion have such appeal? Awake! answers these questions and also unmasks the person behind this frightful religion.

DO YOU grow faint from horror at the thought of adult humans stalking other humans and then, like hungry lions, killing their prey, drinking their blood, eating their heart and other body parts​—all in the name of religion?

Does it make you shudder to think of mothers and fathers offering their own children to be sexually molested by others, finally to be slaughtered on an altar before all onlookers for religious gratification?

Does it baffle you to think of men having sexual relations with corpses in funeral parlors to please a spirit creature they think is divine?

Does it numb your emotions when you read of young children killing their parents and then mutilating the bodies without remorse or compunction​—all to make the Devil happy?

Do you shake your head in utter disbelief at those who would dig into graves, stealing heads and dismembering finger joints so they can be worn in religious ceremonies?

What do you think of a religion that advocates that their 13- to 25-year-old female members be used for breeding purposes so their babies can be offered up in bloodletting sacrifices?

‘What will moviemakers think up next?’ you may be asking as you read this. ‘After all, it’s only make-believe,’ you may say. Ah, but is it?

What you have just read is real! It is not the figment of a screenwriter’s imagination. The events may have happened in your own town. If they have not already, there are growing fears that they will.

The religion that embraces as a part of its ceremonies the sacrificing of both animals and humans, the molesting of children, the rape of adolescent virgins, sexual promiscuity, and other such activities is called Satanism, or Devil worship. So bizarre, so apart from the norm, are the practices of Satanism that many officials and citizens alike refuse to believe that people do these things as part of their worship.

The cult of Satanism, which only a few years ago had a relatively small following, has become a growing, deadly menace. “Satanism is the cult of the ’80’s,” reported one San Francisco police officer. “Satanism is part of Australia’s organised crime,” said one of that country’s leading crime experts. “I estimate it has a hard core of 20,000 followers throughout Australia, actively involved in Satan worship, sexual orgies, the sacrifice of animals and perhaps even human beings. I believe this movement is also behind the list of missing children and is heavily into drugs and the desecration of cemeteries.”

Satanic cult groups are usually organized into covens, consisting of from 9 to 13 members each​—perhaps more, depending on circumstances. Authorities estimate that in the United States, there were approximately 10,000 covens in 1946; 48,000 by 1976; and 135,000 by 1985. How many of these covens are nonviolent and who try to distance themselves from those that are not is not known. According to the March 7, 1986, National Catholic Reporter, “there are 150 active covens” in the city of El Paso, Texas, “with 2,000 satanists of all ages.” And the Pennsylvania State Police Bulletin reports: “Satanism is on the rise in America. Hardly a day passes without reports of violent acts conducted by Satanists.”

Moreover, Satanism boasts a membership made up of people from respected professions of the world​—doctors, lawyers, businessmen, policemen, nuns, priests, housewives, and military personnel. However, with dramatic results, new members have been recruited from high schools and college campuses around the world. Therefore, in many places today, teenage groups make up the majority of coven members.

The New Zealand Herald of August 26, 1988, reported: “Teenagers as young as 14 were being lured into the world of Satanism.” Said one Canadian official: “The kids who are . . . dabbling in Satanism are just as much of a threat as the more hard-core (Satanists).”

Reporting on the many youths serving time in a Canadian detention center, one employee said: “I’m amazed at how many of these kids are Satanists. They tattoo Satanic symbols on themselves, they conduct rituals, they actually believe in the devil.”

An 18-year-old female inmate agreed that Satanism is very popular with her peers. One Canadian youth admitted that he belonged to a 400-member Satanic cult operating in Alberta. “Teenage devil-worshippers should not be dismissed lightly,” said one Canadian expert on crime.

Members of the cult make a strong lifetime commitment to the group, which includes a strict vow of secrecy. “Members are not allowed to disassociate themselves from the group after having been exposed to their various criminal activities,” reports The National Sheriff. “A member breaking the code of secrecy places his life and the lives of his family in serious jeopardy,” the magazine added. “[They] are programmed not to tell,” said one Chicago authority. “If they do, they are programmed to kill themselves.”

Coven members also try to remain anonymous and unknown to law-enforcement officials. “They believe,” said one source, “their evil criminal acts will not be rewarded by Satan if they are identified and prosecuted by authorities.” Thus, it is often by mere chance that a satanic cult is identified as being the perpetrator of a crime. It has only been in recent years that some law-enforcement agencies have come to identify telltale signs left at the scene of fatal crimes with signal occult involvement​—for example, pages of a Bible upside-down with crosses drawn in the dirt nearby or the number 666 etched with the blood of the victim.

Why, though, the use of violence in the name of their religion? Consider some shocking reasons in the next article.

[Box on page 3]

Hard to Believe​—But True

“Bulletin,” a publication of the missing persons unit of the Pennsylvania State Police, reports: “Investigators may find it difficult to believe the strange and bizarre tales of criminal acts being committed by persons wearing priestly robes and adorned with symbols of the devil.”

Yet, according to the Bulletin: “Hardly a day passes without reports of violent acts conducted by satanists. Across the country law enforcement organizations are receiving reports of homicide, mayhem, assault, suicide, child abuse and animal mutilations that are linked with the satanic cult.”

Crusade of Violence​—Why?

SATANISM, or Devil worship, dates back to the time of the first humans. It was the disguised presence of Satan in the garden of Eden that led the first human pair away from their Creator, Jehovah God. (Genesis 3:1-6; Revelation 12:9) It forever marked them as being the first allies of Satan.

During the millenniums that have followed, Satanism has raised its ugly occult head in various forms​—witchcraft, black magic, the casting of demonic spells, and many others. Deceitfully, however, the name of Satan and the identity of his worship have generally been kept anonymous from its adherents and practitioners.

Since the turn of the 20th century, there has been an open and flagrant revival of satanic worship, and today it has invaded many parts of the world. Satanism has appeared on the religious scene with a bold new image. No longer is it cloaked in anonymity, with a whitewashed appearance of benevolence. Rather, Satan is worshiped in the most violent ways imaginable.

One of the early founders of Satanism in this century was an Englishman named Aleister Crowley. In 1905, in Los Angeles, California, Crowley organized a Satanism group named “Ordo Templi Orientis.” Soon he became the accepted leader of a growing cult. In his Book of Law, Crowley advocated a new formula of religious belief: “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole law.” It was from this philosophy that Crowley advocated the violation of every moral code and Bible principle known to man. Murder, violence, rape, and human sacrifice thus became a part of religious ritual.

On human sacrifice, Crowley wrote: “For nearly all purposes human sacrifice is the best, and a male child of perfect innocence and high intelligence is the most satisfactory and suitable victim.” Crowley once referred to himself as the “wickedest man in the world.” After spending time in an insane asylum, he reportedly died a heroin addict in a cheap rooming house in England.

Unfortunately, however, Crowley’s philosophy of freedom “to do what one pleases” in the name of religion did not die with him. Notice this observation by one writer: “The shade of Aleister Crowley looms large in the [Los Angeles area], but his excesses pale into insignificance compared to today’s devil worshippers.”

Allegiance to the Devil

It is the belief of Satan worshipers that the Devil rules the world. Furthermore, according to Robert J. Barry, writing in The National Sheriff, “when the end of the world comes, the forces of Lucifer will overpower the forces of God and Christ and will rule in heaven. Therefore, the Satanist pledges allegiance to the devil, not only for his assistance in this world, but in the world to come.”

Other Satan worshipers are said to believe that “Christ and Satan have joined forces to bring about the end of the world.” Christ is said by one satanic cult to use Satan as a hit man. Thus, according to Maury Terry, in his book The Ultimate Evil, “worshipping Satan was akin to worshipping Christ. And killing in the name of Satan was actually killing for Christ: a divine mission.”

It was Aleister Crowley who said that he wanted, as part of the cult’s religious doctrine and practices, “blasphemy, murder, rape, revolution, anything bad.” Indeed, one cult leader heralded the clarion call: “THOU SHALT KILL!” And it is obvious that this is exactly what members of satanic cults have been doing.

One person explained their reasons for violence: “Rapes are for the purpose of deflowering a virgin, which has special significance for Satan worshippers. Arson is a symbol of the great conflagration, or Armageddon, and murders are to spread confusion and to fulfill the prophecy in Daniel: ‘But the wicked shall do wickedly.’”

A look into the tenets of certain Satan worshipers also reveals that they believe that Adolf Hitler deserves to be worshiped. In fact, one writer said: “They look upon the destruction wrought by Hitler as a warm-up of what’s coming​—and they want to be in on the big event.”

What is the rationale behind the exaltation of Hitler? Investigative reporter Maury Terry explains that one reason “was a numerology timetable in which each letter of the alphabet was assigned a number. Under this system, A equaled 100 and Z was matched with 125. The numbers which corresponded to the letters in Hitler’s last name (107, 108, 119, 111, 104, 117) added to 666​—the number of the great beast of the biblical book of Revelation. The devil’s number.”

This helps explain the wide use of the number 666, painted on walls of coven meeting places or public walls and bridges. The letters HT and HH are said to stand for Hitler, and the German SS lightning bolts are said to symbolize “heaven to hell, strength.” The swastika is also used by Satanists. “All are marks of the beast, Satan-Hitler, whom they serve,” said one insider.

Meetings Bring Violence

There are reportedly over 20 special occasions for coven meetings during the year. Many coincide with so-called Christian celebrations. This is in keeping with what they view as a means to desecrate all that is considered good or holy. Halloween is a major satanic holiday. The meetings, or sabbats, are held in secret locations, which may change according to circumstances. “Before each coven meeting,” wrote Terry, “Satan has to be appeased by the rape of a virgin [young girl], a holocaust [arson], or the ritual murder of a person or animal.”

The sacrifice of dogs and cats is big with the cult. In one location near New York City, for example, 85 skinned German shepherds and Dobermans were found in one 12-month period, all thought to be the work of Satanists. Often, body parts are removed and consumed in the belief that they possess magical powers. Blood is passed around and drunk from silver chalices stolen from churches​—all as part of the worship of Satan. Of course, a human sacrifice is considered the supreme offering that pleases him more. And he is often appeased in this manner.

But who is this Satan? Does he really exist? Or is he only the figment of a fevered imagination?

[Box/​Picture on page 7]

Sacrificing to Appease the Devil

Last April the world was shocked by the discovery of the remains of more than a dozen men who had been sacrificially murdered outside the Mexican city of Matamoros, near the Texas border. Time magazine reported:

“To ingratiate themselves with the devil, the killers boiled the brains and hearts of their victims, mixing the concoction with leg and arm bones and animal heads. So vicious were the devil worshipers that it took two pathologists . . . almost four days to complete the autopsies.”

The Devil worshipers believed they would receive protection from their god by appeasing him with human sacrifices. A police lieutenant said that the killers prayed to the devil “so the police would not arrest them, so bullets would not kill them and so they could make more money.”

Satan Behind the Mask

TODAY, Satan is receiving worldwide attention. Reams have been written in newspapers, magazines, and religious tracts about him. Radio and television programs have been devoted to the religion that bears his name.

“Satan,” written forward and backward, can be seen on public benches, painted on bridges and walls of abandoned buildings and storefronts, and whitewashed on plate-glass windows. The lure and subsequent entrapment of people, especially youths, into the religion that bears the name Satan has become phenomenal.

In spite of the widespread publicity, however, there are diverse opinions regarding who, or what, Satan really is. To many, including his most devout followers, Satan is cloaked in anonymity. “It runs the gamut,” said a professor of religion, “all the way from people who believe in a literal person who is Satan to the other extreme of those who believe this a symbolic figure of speech and who simply dismiss the idea.”

When another professor of religion at a Baptist theological seminary characterized Satan as ‘God’s servant,’ rather than His archenemy, it touched off a religious furor. Many phone calls and letters to the church’s publishing company protested this interpretation. “If Satan is accepted as a servant of God,” said one conservative Baptist minister, “then that makes God our adversary.” However, another Baptist minister and professor of religion countered with the observation that Baptist board members “have not taken a poll to see what is the official Baptist position” on Satan.

Actually, the members of many churches do not really know what their religion teaches about Satan. One newspaper writer observed: “Few churches have a doctrine stating what their members should believe about Satan, so the subject becomes intensely personal.” Some even teach that the Devil simply represents the evil within us. For example, Presbyterian minister A. D. Ellison claims that Jesus was tempted in the desert, not by some supernatural satanic being, but by his own self-centeredness.

It is no wonder that church members are in doubt as to the identity of Satan, since their religious leaders are in doubt as well.

Who He Is

The Scriptures, however, are very clear and emphatic regarding who Satan is. Almighty God created many spirit creatures who have access to him in the heavens and who are his servants. The Bible reveals that when God “founded the earth,” creating it for future human habitation, “all the sons of God [angelic spirit creatures] began shouting in applause.” (Job 38:4, 7) In time, one of these angels turned against his Creator, becoming a rebel, an opposer.

This original opposer, or Satan (meaning “Resister”), was the one who used a serpent as a mouthpiece when speaking to Eve to induce her to disobey God. (Genesis 3:1-6) That is why he is also called “the original serpent.” (Revelation 12:9) Jesus himself said of Satan: “That one was a manslayer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him.” (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8) Jesus thus identified Satan as one who once enjoyed God’s favor but who rebelled against Jehovah God.

Although some say that the Devil refers simply to an abstract principle of evil, the qualities and actions attributed to Satan in the Bible can be attributed only to a person. Indeed, the Bible shows that Satan is a real, invisible spirit person whose avowed purpose is to turn mankind away from serving the Creator, Jehovah God. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus could not have been tempted by a mere quality of evil or ‘his own self-centeredness.’ For evil, or selfishness, could not dwell within Jesus, since the Bible makes it clear that Jesus was “guileless, undefiled, separated from the sinners.”​—Hebrews 7:26; Luke 4:1-13.

Quest for Power

Satan rebelled against God in a quest for power, out of a desire to rule over others, to be their god, to be worshiped. (2 Corinthians 4:4) To Adam and Eve he offered power and freedom​—“to be like God” in making their own decisions as to what is good and bad, right and wrong. (Genesis 3:5) Power and freedom are what Satan still offers his worshipers.

Thus, a teenage Satanist named Sean, who had just murdered his parents and a third victim, wrote: “I am free. I can kill without remorse.” At another time he wrote in his own blood: “I renounce God, I renounce Christ, I will serve only Satan . . . Hail Satan.”

Randy Shores, a teenager and former member of a satanic cult explained: “It was great then, that you had all that power.” Shores emphasized that ‘power was the lure, the power that comes from the group to protect you, from the rituals and spells done to harm someone else, and from the secrecy.’

Yes, there is the belief among many of Satan’s worshipers that he will provide power to those who follow his teachings. And the understanding of some satanic worshipers is that this means power to murder without retribution. The publicized murders by worshipers of Satan reveal that they really believe that by murder they can ingratiate themselves with the Devil. So there is need to take seriously the growing menace of satanic worship.

Do Not Be Deceived

Remember, Satan is real. He is not the figment of someone’s imagination. His greatest delight is to discredit God and His Word, the Bible, and to entrap as many as he can in his web of destruction. But God has already initiated action against Satan, authorizing his removal from the heavens to the confines of the earth. Satan’s confinement to earth has no doubt been a factor in the recent revival of Satanism.​—Revelation 12:7-12.

Parents need to be attentive. In many cases when children have embraced Satanism, it was because their parents did not give them the love and attention they needed. The children resented the seeming abandonment and became easy prey for satanic recruiters.

Happily, however, the end of Satan and his influence is near. Soon he and all his followers will suffer defeat and total destruction. The great God, Jehovah, whom Satan and his demons have boastfully defied, will use his Warrior-King, Jesus Christ, to put these wicked persons out of the way. (1 John 3:8; Revelation 20:1-3, 10) In the meantime, may you be among those who resist Satan and find protection in the loving brotherhood of the organized worshipers of the true God, Jehovah.

[Box on page 9]

Source of True Protection

In a letter to The Times Herald Record of Middletown, New York, a man described how he became involved in seeking occult powers. He had been enticed by the writings of two psychotherapists who had compiled a recipe for acquiring these powers. “I eagerly followed the recipe,” he explained, “but paid for it by six weeks of nightly terror.

“Fortunately,” he continued, “two [of] Jehovah[’s] Witnesses advised me, among other things, to pray to Jehovah and this I did nightly when I started experiencing strange sensations.” What were the results?

“On the last night of terror,” he said, “whatever was possessing me relinquished its grip . . . After that time, I’ve had no more bad experiences.” This person learned, as he wrote the newspaper, that “God condemns participants in occult practices (Deuteronomy 18:10-13).”​—February 27, 1988.

The above scripture De 18:10-13 says in part: “There should not be found in you . . . anyone who employs divination, a practicer of magic or anyone who looks for omens or a sorcerer, or one who binds others with a spell or anyone who consults a spirit medium or a professional foreteller of events or anyone who inquires of the dead. For everybody doing these things is something detestable to Jehovah.”

[Box on page 10]

Parents, Watch for Signs

Because of the appeal of Devil worship to youths, parents should be alert to signs that their children may be involved. An authority on satanic cults, Evon Peterson, advised:

“They (youth) need someone to believe in them. . . . They’re begging for someone to pay attention to them . . . to listen to them. The cults are very good at listening. If the parents aren’t there, the cultists are.”

Angelo Pierri, a counselor in New Jersey, warns: “I know you’re probably saying, ‘it’s just a fad,’ but that’s exactly what the satanists want you to think. They don’t want to be exposed. They don’t want light shed on their activities.”

It is especially vital to observe the music that young people listen to. Much of today’s heavy metal rock music is saturated with satanic messages and symbolism. “It is extremely perverted,” Peterson notes, “with messages to kill and hurt. It fills the kid’s needs to act out violence.”

Last year a 14-year-old New Jersey youth stabbed his mother to death and then killed himself. Posters of heavy metal rock musicians covered the walls of his room. The boy’s father pleaded afterward: “Tell parents to watch what music their children listen to.” He said that the entire week before the killings, his son had sung a rock song “about blood and killing your mother.”

Indeed, Satanism is a deadly, growing menace. The first step in combating it is to be informed. Then confront it. Yes, the Bible is correct when it says that we have a fight “against the wicked spirit forces.” (Ephesians 6:12) Satan and his demons really do exist, and they are behind all these devilish practices.

Doctors Tried to Take Our Daughter Away

FORTY-TWO and pregnant! The doctors were quick to point out the possibility of problems for a woman my age, as well as the problems the baby might have. A procedure called amniocentesis was suggested. By removing a small amount of amniotic fluid from the womb, doctors can determine whether there is a genetic defect, such as Down’s syndrome. Doctors generally suggest an abortion if such a defect is found.

However, I refused the test, explaining that under no circumstances would I agree to an abortion. With that out of the way, I looked forward to an enjoyable pregnancy. The next step in getting everything in order was to find a pediatrician who would respect our wishes and not give blood, since my husband and I are Jehovah’s Witnesses. We made an appointment, met with the doctor, and explained our stand on blood. (Genesis 9:4, 5; Leviticus 17:10-14; Acts 15:19, 20, 28, 29) He said he understood and that there was no problem. Well, that was easy, or so I thought.

A Successful Birth, but . . .

The due date was near, and how excited all of us were! I had been a widow raising three boys when I married again. My new husband, Gino, also inherited my mother, who has lived with me since my first husband died.

Labor started Monday night, February 17, 1986. Gino, Mother, and I left for the hospital, along with my youngest son, Matthew. The older boys preferred to wait at home. We were met in the maternity ward by Evelyn, a fellow Witness, who is a registered nurse. She had been informed that I was in labor and had immediately gone to the hospital. The birth was exciting for all of us. We occupied a birthing room, which provided a homey atmosphere. Gino was even able to cut the umbilical cord. One of the nurses brought in some ice cream, and we celebrated Kaleigh’s entrance into our lives.

Two days later I was home. There was never a shortage of helpers. My mother, who is 84, was such a source of help and encouragement. I tired quickly those first few days, so I really appreciated her caring for me and the baby. But after a week had gone by, we began to worry about Kaleigh. She was not nursing well and slept much more than I thought newborns should. Her color was changing to a yellowish tone. I called the pediatrician and made an appointment for that day.

By 2:00 p.m., the doctor had finished examining her and had taken the necessary blood for tests. We were told that he would call later with the results. His call finally came around five o’clock. We were told to take Kaleigh immediately to a teaching hospital over a hundred miles [160 km] northwest of us, as she was to have a complete blood exchange. I reminded the doctor that we are Jehovah’s Witnesses and again stated that we would not accept a blood transfusion under any circumstances. If he was not going to respect our beliefs, we asked him to please tell us immediately so that we could find a doctor who would.

“I don’t know,” he replied, “I have to think about it and then let you know.”

We patiently waited for his return call. Not hearing from him by 7:00 p.m., Gino called and was told the doctor had not yet decided how he felt. We were now very suspicious, since the doctor had emphasized how important it was to treat Kaleigh right away. At this point we called fellow Witnesses for their encouragement and assistance. Their response was immediate, some coming from as far away as 20 miles [30 km].

At 9:00 p.m. the doctor called and asked us to put Kaleigh in our local hospital for some more tests. Gino knew that once Kaleigh was there, they could gain complete authority over her and would see to it that she was transported to the teaching hospital for the blood exchange. So my husband said he would think about it and let the doctor know in the morning.

Meanwhile, our fellow Witnesses were on the telephone trying desperately to locate another pediatrician. Because of the late hour, their efforts were futile. Kaleigh looked terrible, and my emotional state was getting worse. The doctor’s warning about how sick Kaleigh was, and how dangerous severe jaundice is, kept going through my mind. As I held her in my arms and cried, I wondered how the doctor was dealing with his conscience, knowing that he had been so deceitful with us.

How comforting it was as our Christian brothers gathered together and prayed in our behalf. I felt greatly strengthened and encouraged to face whatever lay ahead. The search for a doctor was still going on, and it was now 11:30 p.m. Gino quietly told me that we had better leave the house. He was sure the doctors were up to something. I could not bring myself really to believe this. But Gino repeated: “We’d better get out of here soon.” Still, I just sat there.

Then, at about 11:45 p.m., the telephone rang. It was Evelyn, calling from the hospital. She had been asked to work an unscheduled shift that evening, something that was most unusual. While assisting in the delivery room, the doctor was called out to confer on a case involving the giving of a transfusion and obtaining a court order to do so. Now I was convinced!

Escape in the Nick of Time

We literally threw things in a suitcase, put food items and the like in grocery bags, and rushed to the car. We were given the name of a doctor in Jacksonville, Florida, who would possibly help. It would be a 200-mile [320 km] drive, and it was five past midnight when we left.

Fifteen minutes later, a car and an ambulance with its lights flashing arrived at our house. Five officials from the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services knocked on the door. Mother got out of bed, went calmly to the door, and simply stated that the baby and her parents were not there. They asked to come in and see for themselves. They said that they were to take the baby with them. Every room was checked thoroughly. They even looked in one of the boys’ dresser drawers. Mother could not help but ask: “You don’t really think they’d stick the baby in there, do you?”

It was about five o’clock in the morning when we reached Jacksonville. Now a four-hour wait was necessary. The doctor that we had hoped to see did not open his office until 9:00 a.m. As we waited anxiously, I could not help thinking whether the doctors back in Vero Beach were really as concerned about my baby’s health as they were about getting their own way. Even though they may have meant well, their position that a blood transfusion was necessary to save Kaleigh from serious harm was simply not true. There is medically recognized nonblood management for Kaleigh’s condition, and that is all that we were seeking.

Promptly at 9:00 a.m., we called the doctor’s office, explaining the urgency of our situation to the nurse. She said that the doctor would call us as soon as he could. We called again and again. Finally, the nurse said that the doctor would not call and would not help us. It was now 1:00 p.m. We felt so helpless and frustrated. I decided then to go downstairs to the lobby and use the telephone there, not wanting to tie up the telephone in the room.

Source of Help

I called a local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. A Witness working there kindly listened and immediately came to our aid. He hurried to the motel and took us to a couple of clinics, but neither could help us, as they did not have the proper equipment. Kaleigh was in need of special light treatment, or phototherapy. Her bilirubin level had risen to 29 milligrams per 100 milliliters, and a level of 25 is considered serious.

The Witness then remembered a hospital and a doctor who had recently operated without blood on the baby daughter of a Witness couple. So we headed there. But we decided to stay close to Kaleigh and not let her out of our sight until we were positive that our Bible-based wishes would be respected. We entered the emergency room and answered all the questions asked. In disbelief the nurse kept asking: “Why was it that you drove all the way up here from Vero? I can’t believe that right here in Florida, they would actually forcibly take a baby away from people as nice as you.”

Once the paperwork was completed, things moved quickly. All of us were led into an examining room, where Kaleigh was undressed, and the critical care team was called in. Like an echo down the hall we heard: “They are Jehovah’s Witnesses, no blood, no blood.” Soon the doctor who headed the critical care team entered the scene and announced that he wanted to do a complete blood exchange.

Gino firmly stated our position once again, and the doctor went off to confer with his peers. It was now necessary to start an IV in Kaleigh. I was physically and emotionally drained by now and just could not bear to see the baby stuck with any more needles or listen to her screaming. At this point, Gino was beginning to wonder about whether the baby would make it through all of this. He carefully gathered a few wisps of hair from her head and put them in his pocket. He wanted to have something from his little girl to remember her by.

That night, Kaleigh was settled in her incubatorlike bed with bandages over her eyes to protect them from the special lights they use in such cases. Gino and I were still doubtful that our stand on the blood issue would be respected, so we did not dare leave the baby’s side, even though this would be our second night without sleep. The doctor in charge came into the room and again brought up his desire to give Kaleigh a transfusion. Again, he was given an explanation of our Bible-based stand on blood.

Finally, he said: “All right, what’s the bottom line?” Gino made it clear that we would do all we could to prevent our baby from getting a transfusion. Indeed, we had just driven 200 miles [320 km] in the middle of the night to prevent such a thing. He told the doctor that another court order would have to be obtained, but by then we would be gone. The doctor walked away saying nothing. Again we prepared ourselves. Would we have to grab the baby and run? I peeked out the room and looked down the hall. I wanted to know where the exits were, just in case.

The night passed slowly. Every two hours a blood sample was taken from Kaleigh’s heel. The high count was slowly going down. The treatment was working! During the next two days, regular blood tests were taken every two hours. Kaleigh’s little heels were raw from all the sticks. She was actually becoming used to it, and at times she did not even cry when pricked.

In the meantime, we enjoyed loving visits from many of the Witnesses from the Jacksonville area who had learned of our situation. The couple whose baby girl had recently had surgery done without blood were some of the first to come. How encouraging they were to us! A cardiologist now told us that a transfusion would be of greater risk than the jaundice. With that information we finally felt that it was safe to leave the baby’s side for the first time in three days.

Complete Recovery

After many doctors from various fields of medicine gave the baby thorough examinations, we were told that she had no adverse effects from the jaundice, which they said surprised them. We could now finally go home. I could not wait to hold Kaleigh without all the IV tubes attached to her. Because we exercised our informed choice for the safe phototherapy and because we rejected blood with all its risks, we do not worry about Kaleigh’s coming down with AIDS, hepatitis, or some other dreadful disease.

One more problem still faced us. The court order in Vero Beach was still in effect, so we did not dare leave until it was canceled. The doctor in charge was kind enough to make the necessary telephone calls, notifying the proper authorities of the treatment the baby received. With that taken care of, we returned home.

We would not, of course, consider taking Kaleigh back to her original pediatrician. The doctors in Jacksonville, assuming this, agreed to hold all the baby’s records until we found another doctor. Little did we realize how well-known our little girl was and how prejudiced the doctors in Vero Beach were!

I made an appointment with another pediatrician who was recommended to us because he had said that he would respect Jehovah’s Witnesses on the blood issue. I took Kaleigh to his office. I undressed her, and the nurse weighed her and took her temperature. Kaleigh lay on the table waiting for the doctor. He came in and walked past her, stating that he and the other pediatricians agreed that they would not treat the baby and that they supported the pediatrician who had got the court order.

I mentioned that he had told friends of mine that he would cooperate with our position on the blood issue. He claimed he had not really said that he would. “Well, they certainly feel that you meant what you said,” I replied. With that he left the room, never once looking at the baby lying on the table. As I dressed her, I began to cry again, thinking of how callous men have become, including those who are supposed to be dedicated to the care of their fellowman.

In order for Kaleigh to have her checkups, it was necessary for me to take her over 40 miles [60 km] to a doctor willing to treat her. I think that many doctors really do not believe we will actually abstain from blood when it comes down to a critical life-and-death situation. They feel that we will change our minds. We need to make it known that we are sincere, dedicated Witnesses of our God and that obedience to his law comes before any other consideration.

Our experience has proved helpful for other Witness parents in discussing medical treatment with their doctor. They have become more specific in questioning their doctor as to just what he or she would do under specific circumstances. ‘How would you have handled that?’ they have asked in referring to our situation. And citing our experience has made doctors realize that Jehovah’s Witnesses really mean what they say.

We were surprised about six months afterward to receive a letter from the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services stating that they had finished their investigation of the charges of medical neglect against us. The charges, the letter said, had proved to be unfounded and were being dropped. I called the department to inquire as to their investigation. I was curious about just what this investigation involved. The woman in charge said that they simply called Jacksonville to be sure of what was done. They were satisfied with that.

Kaleigh is now three years old. She is a picture of health and a constant source of joy. She loves people and enjoys adopting others in the congregation as her temporary mom or dad. Many times the remark has been made, “Oh, what a pretty granddaughter you have!” I just smile and say, “No, she’s all mine.” How thankful to our loving God I am!​—As told by Bonnie Deskins.

[Blurb on page 13]

“They said that they were to take the baby with them”

[Blurb on page 14]

“Would we have to grab the baby and run?”

[Picture on page 15]

With my daughter, Kaleigh

Sustained by the Kingdom Hope

IN APRIL 1987 Lila, a woman in her mid-80’s, watched her husband die in a hospital near Portland, Oregon. The eyes of the sympathetic nurses were fixed on her. She looked at the corpse and then stepped up and patted it.

“You have been a good husband,” she said. “I will see you in the resurrection!” Then she turned and said: “I said that because I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Let me explain.” She went on to tell about the resurrection and God’s new world.

Later, as she was leaving the hospital, the heart specialist that had treated her husband approached her in the hallway. He paused and expressed his sympathy. She immediately began to explain that she would soon see her husband in the new world through a resurrection. She gave quite a witness before he tore himself away, saying: “Lila, I hope it happens that way for you.” As he was turning to leave, Lila said: “It will, and I want to see you there too!”

Unknown to Lila, the doctor had been called on by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Now, observing how Lila’s faith strengthened her during the stress of her husband’s death and hearing her positive hope for the future, the doctor was encouraged. He and his wife continued their discussions with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

A few months later, in January 1988, Lila began to get sick and ended up in the hospital. She was not responding to medication and appeared to be slipping away. The heart specialist heard about it and immediately went to visit her in the intensive-care unit. He asked: “Well, Lila, how are you doing?”

“Not so good, I guess.”

“You are missing Erick, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I suppose I am, more than ever.”

Then he spoke to her about the Bible’s promise of seeing Erick again in the resurrection, as well as the hope of eternal life in perfection in the new world. Actually, these were the very things that Lila had told him earlier when her husband had died! It was the best medicine that he could have given her. She perked right up, was out of the hospital within the week, and resumed the Christian ministry with renewed vigor.

And what about the heart specialist? He and his wife dedicated their lives to God and were baptized at the district convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Corvallis, Oregon, in June 1988.​—Contributed.

Religion’s Future in View of Its Past

Part 20​—19th Century Onward—​Restoration Imminent!

“The best way to see divine light is to put out thy own candle.”​—Thomas Fuller, English physician and writer (1654-1734)

THE 19th century has been called one of the most vigorous periods of Christian history, ranking with the early centuries and with the Reformation years. The reasons for such an increase in religious awareness and activity are many and varied.

Author Kenneth S. Latourette lists 13 relevant factors, some of which were discussed in the previous issue of this magazine. He says that “never before in so brief a time had human society been changed so profoundly and in such a variety of ways.”

In the United States, the religious revival was clearly visible. For example, church membership rose from less than 10 percent of the population at the start of the century to almost 40 percent at the end of it. Sunday schools​—introduced in England in 1780—​grew in popularity. A reason for this was that, in contrast with Europe, the separation of Church and State in the United States barred religious instruction in public schools. In addition, dozens of denominational colleges and interdenominational Bible societies were founded, and during the first half of the century, at least 25 theological seminaries were established in the United States.

Meanwhile, on a global scale, Protestantism was becoming missionary-minded. British shoemaker and teacher William Carey had taken the lead in 1792 by publishing the book An Enquiry Into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens. While serving in India as missionaries, Carey and his associates translated the Bible in full or in part into over 40 Indian and other Asian languages and dialects. The work that some of these early missionaries did in distributing Bibles is commendable.

The relatively new science of Biblical archaeology also gained in status during the last century. In 1799 French soldiers in Egypt discovered a slab of black basalt now called the Rosetta stone. It contained the same inscription written three times, twice in two different forms of Egyptian hieroglyphics and once in Greek. It thus proved invaluable in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics. Soon thereafter Assyrian cuneiform writings were decoded as well. So when excavations began in Assyria and Egypt soon afterward, unearthed artifacts took on new meaning. Many Bible accounts were confirmed down to the smallest details.

Burning Their Own Candles

As religious interest grew, so also did the number of would-be reformers. However, it was obvious that not all were sincere. The aforementioned author Kenneth S. Latourette candidly admits that some of the new religious denominations “were born of envy, strife, and personal ambition.” But reformers burning candles of personal ambition could hardly be expected to be God’s choice for restoring true worship.

Amid this confusing flickering of individual candles, theological thinking was thrown into confusion. Higher criticism, mainly a product of German universities, reinterpreted the Scriptures in the light of “advanced” scientific thought. Higher critics viewed the Bible as little more than the record of Jewish religious experience. The authority of the Bible as being essential in determining the way of salvation was questioned, as was the wisdom of the moral standards it champions.

Higher criticism found ready support, particularly among Protestant clergymen. According to one report, by 1897 not a single faculty member of the 20 Protestant theological universities in Germany still held to the traditional views about writership of the Pentateuch or of the book of Isaiah.

A few years later, in 1902, a controversy over higher criticism arose at a conference of the General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Churches in Scotland. The Edinburgh Evening News reported: “According to the higher critics, . . . the Bible is a collection of mythical stories, from which a preacher may extract a few grains of ethical teaching just as a skilled moralist may extract a few grains of ethical teaching from ‘Æsop’s Fables.’” However, the paper then observed: “The working classes are not fools. They will not attend church to listen to men who themselves are living in a mental fog.”

A second article a few days later was even more blunt, commenting: “There is no use mincing matters. The Protestant church is an organized hypocrisy, and its leaders arrant humbugs. It is actually come to this that if the author of the ‘Age of Reason’ were alive today he would not be spoken of derisively as Tom Paine, the infidel, but the Rev. Thomas Paine, D. D., Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Exegesis, U[nited] F[ree] College, Glasgow. He would have no difficulty in preaching from a Protestant pulpit . . . [and] drawing a handsome salary as a professor of theology.”

A Religious Backlash

From its start, Protestantism stressed personal conversion and Christian experience, relied mainly on Scripture, and downgraded sacraments and tradition.

In the 1830’s and 1840’s, many Protestant Evangelicals began proclaiming the imminent second coming of Christ and with it the beginning of the Millennium. William Miller, a New York farmer, ventured that the second coming might take place about 1843. This millenarian movement helped lay the foundation for a more prominent and aggressive form of Evangelicalism that came to be known as Fundamentalism.

Fundamentalism was largely a backlash against the skepticism, freethinking, rationalism, and moral laxity that liberalized Protestantism had nourished. It later adopted its name from a series of 12 works entitled The Fundamentals, published from 1909 to 1912 by the Moody Bible Institute.

Fundamentalism, particularly in the United States, has become well-known through its effective radio and TV ministries, its Bible institutes, and its well-publicized and emotional revival meetings. Recently, however, its reputation has suffered under the financial and sexual improprieties of some of its most prominent leaders. It has also been criticized for its increased political activity, especially since the formation in 1979 of the Moral Majority, which was recently disbanded.

Fundamentalism, while claiming to defend the Bible, has also actually undermined its authority. One way it has done so is by a literal interpretation of texts that are clearly not meant to be taken literally. An example of this is the claim that, according to the Genesis account, the earth was created in 6 literal 24-hour days. Obviously, these were symbolic days of much longer duration. (Compare Genesis 2:3, 4; 2 Peter 3:8.) Other ways Fundamentalism undermines the Bible is by teaching unscriptural doctrines, such as eternal torment in hellfire, and at times by promoting standards of conduct other than those required by Scripture, such as forbidding the consumption of alcoholic beverages or the use of makeup by women. In these ways Fundamentalism has caused people to reject the Bible’s message as naive, unreasonable, and unscientific.

A Matter of Timing

Clearly, what was needed was restoration, the restoration of true worship! But as Ecclesiastes 3:1 says: “For everything there is an appointed time.”

Back in the first century, Jesus reactivated true worship in the form of Christianity. Yet, he prophesied that there would be an apostasy. He said that true Christians, like wheat, and pseudo-Christians, like weeds, would “both grow together until the harvest.” At that time, angels would “collect the weeds and . . . burn them up,” while true Christians would be gathered into God’s favor. (Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43) In the latter half of the 19th century, the appointed time for this restoration of true worship was at the doors.

Charles Taze Russell was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1852, and even as a child, he manifested great interest in the Bible. In his early 20’s, he turned his attention from the family business to devote all his time to preaching. By 1916, when he died at the age of 64, he had reportedly preached more than 30,000 sermons and written books consisting of over 50,000 pages.

While recognizing the commendable work others had done in promoting the Bible, Russell realized that simply translating, printing, and distributing the Bible is not enough. So in 1879 he began publishing the magazine today known as The Watchtower. Its first issue said: “We are too much inclined to ask, What does my church say about any question, instead of What saith the Scriptures? Too much theology studied, and the Bible not enough. With the thought, then, that ‘The Scriptures are able to make us wise,’ that ‘the testimonies of the Lord are sure making wise the simple,’ let us examine.”

Today, having completed 110 years of uninterrupted publication, The Watchtower (now published in 106 languages and with a circulation in excess of 13 million copies per issue) continues to examine God’s Word. Millions of people have learned to appreciate the help that it provides in study, understanding, and application of what the Bible teaches.

Russell was unlike many of his reformation-minded contemporaries in that he did not preach a special approach to God, did not boast of divine visions or revelations, did not discover esoteric messages in the form of hidden books or otherwise, and never claimed to be able to heal the physically sick. Furthermore, he did not assert that he could interpret the Bible. As a willing instrument in divine hands, he resisted all temptations to allow “his own candle” to outshine divine light.

“It is the truth rather than its servant that should be honored and proclaimed,” Russell wrote in 1900, adding: “There is too much disposition to credit truth to the preacher, forgetful that all truth is of God, who uses one or another servant in its proclamation as it may please him.” This is the principal reason why writers and translators of Watch Tower publications, as well as members of the New World Bible Translation Committee, choose to remain anonymous.

God’s King Enthroned!

In the first century, John the Baptizer announced the imminent appearance of Jesus as God’s designated King. In the 19th century, the time had come to announce the imminent appearance of that King in heavenly power. Accordingly, in its March 1880 issue, Zion’s Watch Tower declared: “‘The Times of the Gentiles’ extend to 1914, and the heavenly kingdom will not have full sway till then.”

Thus, the group today known as Jehovah’s Witnesses went on public record well over a hundred years ago in making known that the year 1914 would mark the beginning of God’s Kingdom. The enthronement of God’s King was a preliminary step toward the final snuffing out of false religion’s flickering candle, so that it might no longer obscure divine light.

As the 19th century drew to a close, Christendom’s religion had no garments to identify itself as God’s servant. It deserved to be abandoned by God. Its time of judgment was drawing near. Learn more about this in our next issue.

[Box on page 18]

Some “Late-Arrival” Children of the Reformation

Church of Christ, Scientist: This religious movement is commonly known as Christian Science. It was founded in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy, who was very health conscious. Her reportedly instantaneous recovery from a severe accident in 1866 convinced her that she had discovered the principles that enabled Jesus to heal the sick and raise the dead. Her 1875 book Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures teaches that the spiritual prevails over the physical, that sin, disease, death, and other negatives are illusions conquerable by knowledge of truth and positive thinking in harmony with Mind, meaning God.

Disciples of Christ: This church was formed in 1832 by restoration-minded American Presbyterians. Their slogan was: “Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent.” One reference work describes them as “highly tolerant in doctrinal and religious matters.” Members allowed politics to divide them seriously during the U.S. Civil War. In 1970 there were 118 denominations, including the Churches of Christ formed in 1906.

Salvation Army: William Booth founded this religious group that is organized along military lines. Booth entered the Methodist ministry in his early 20’s and became an independent evangelist in 1861. He and his wife established a preaching mission among the poor in London’s East End. The group’s name was changed in 1878 from Christian Mission to Salvation Army. The Salvation Army seeks to “save souls” by offering social help to the homeless, the hungry, the mistreated, the underprivileged.

Seventh-Day Adventists: This is the largest of some 200 Adventist denominations. Their name is based on belief in the second coming, or advent, of Christ. The Adventists stem from Baptist lay minister William Miller’s movement of the early 1840’s. Teaching that the Ten Commandments are still in force, Seventh-Day Adventists keep a literal Saturday sabbath. Some members attribute almost Biblical inspiration to the writings of Ellen Gould White, one of the group’s most influential leaders, who claimed she was illuminated by a series of divine visions.

[Picture on page 17]

The Rosetta stone has helped confirm the Bible’s truthfulness

[Credit Line]

Courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum

A Future to Believe In

“Where there is no vision the people get out of hand,” a Bible writer long ago said. (Proverbs 29:18, The Jerusalem Bible) People need vision, a hope for a bright future. Otherwise they become demoralized and run wild. But is there a future we can believe in?

The theme for the Voice of Democracy essay contest this past year was “Preparing for America’s Future.” The winner of first prize at the district level in the state of Virginia was a 16-year-old girl, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She was also invited to a local Veterans of Foreign Wars meeting, where she delivered her essay to about a hundred veterans. The essay appeared in the local Saltville News-Messenger, December 15, 1988. Read her essay, and see why this youth really believes there is a beautiful future.

“Picture yourself in paradise. You are in a meadow with a plush, green carpet of grass under your feet. To the side of you is an awe-inspiring waterfall cascading over rocks down the side of a hill. Overhead hangs beautiful weeping-willow trees with clusters of violet blossoms producing the most pleasant fragrance. In the distance you see deer grazing. A grizzly bear comes up to you and allows you to pet and cuddle its massive fur. Birds of paradise are singing a delightful song. Would not that be wonderful? What a beautiful future to look forward to!

“What in that picture was missing? I did not tell you about the broken glass and soda cans polluting the stream because they were not there. I did not tell you about the worried look on your face from fear of nuclear war because it was not there. I did not tell you the sad fact that you were going to die in two months from AIDS because that was not true either. Now distinguish which scene is reality. It will not be hard. Now which is the future for Americans?

“Over a period of 40 years, from 1945 to 1985, America made 60,000 nuclear warheads, costing the nation $82 billion. That is 1,500 a year and four weapons per day. The word ‘pollution’ speaks for itself. We are witnesses to this in our own vicinity and that of neighboring counties. There is a river nearby that runs through several counties that is stagnant and stinks with chemical pollution. Where is the American frontier of vast land that the first explorers gazed upon? It is estimated that by the year 2000 three-fourths of the growing population will live in urban areas.

“There has also been an extreme breakdown in morality. As the result of years of promiscuity, in New York alone 250,000 to 400,000 are infected with AIDS. This costs each victim $50,000 each year. These low moral standards also mean that there are 12 million sexually active young people in America today. It is no wonder then that America is notable for the highest teen pregnancy rate among industrialized lands. There is also dishonesty. Time bandits, or employees who steal company time, add to America the bill of $170 billion each year.

“These are problems we are all aware of and we all must face. Granted it can be depressing, but I heard a poem once that read, ‘Two men looked out of prison bars, one saw the mud hole, the other saw the stars.’ To solve these problems we must look to the stars, meaning that we must have a positive attitude. For thousands of years man has set up governments, each different but none succeeding or withstanding very long. A prophet once said, ‘It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his steps.’ A wise king said man dominates man to his injury. To have a future we must look to the stars, not the stars on the flag, and not to the stars that astrologers claim to derive the future from, but we must look beyond that to a much higher source, our Creator.

“Our Creator promises at Psalm 46:9 to cause wars to cease. At Revelation chapter 11 and verse 18 Re 11:18 he assures us that he will bring to ruin those ruining the earth. We can also be confident in the fulfillment of Daniel 2:44, which talks about a kingdom, a government that will last forever. This perfect government will do for the earth what we pictured at the beginning of this speech.

“When we study the Bible, we learn what Jehovah God has in store for our future. President Reagan knows this is true because in 1983 he signed a resolution that was passed by both houses of Congress stating 1983 the national ‘Year of the Bible.’ This resolution recognized a ‘national need to study and apply the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.’ Mr. Reagan asked, ‘Can we resolve to reach, learn and try to heed the greatest message ever written, God’s Word and the Holy Bible? Inside its pages lie all the answers to all the problems that man has ever known.’

“Imagine again a paradise. That is the future that I believe in, when people will be motivated by love, honest and sincere. America’s problems are not unique to America. The same problems are being felt by the entire world. This we can see by simply reading the daily newspaper or watching the nightly news with Tom Brokaw. The only way to solve these problems is to look to our Creator. His original purpose for the earth was for it to be a paradise. Remember the Garden of Eden, where he put Adam and Eve? I believe he will fulfill that purpose. We just need to trust in him. So let us learn what the Bible foretells and keep our chin up to a beautiful future.”

Young People Ask . . .

Why Must I Be an Example to My Younger Brothers and Sisters?

DARRYL is the oldest child in the family. During a particularly difficult period of time, he allowed his grades to slip. His parents reacted swiftly. Recalls Darryl: “They encouraged me to improve in my schoolwork not only for my sake but for the sake of my younger sisters, showing them that good grades are important.”

If you are the oldest child in your family, you no doubt know what it is to be told, ‘Set a good example for your younger brothers and sisters!’ Often, though, this causes resentment. In their book Raising Siblings, Carole and Andrew Calladine say: “Firstborns also complain of the correlative high expectations of their parents. They feel the parental pressure to excel, to achieve. Typical admonishments to firstborns are, ‘You’re too old to do that,’ ‘You should know better.’”

Why, though, do parents expect so much of the oldest child? Are they perhaps expecting too much?

Why You Must Be an Example

From earliest times, firstborn children​—especially sons—​have been subject to high parental expectations. As the beginning of their fathers’ generative powers, firstborn sons in Bible times were often especially loved. (Genesis 49:3; Deuteronomy 21:17) Why, Jehovah himself called the nation of Israel his “firstborn” to express his deep love for them. (Exodus 4:22) Much was expected of the firstborn son, though, as he was the one who eventually succeeded his father as family head.

It should not surprise you, then, that parents still tend to have high expectations for their oldest child​—and with good reason. For one thing, if you are the oldest, you have probably received more training in household chores, moral values, and Bible principles than your siblings (brothers and sisters). Should you not be expected to pass on to them what you have learned?

One 14-year-old boy was thus told by his parents to help his younger sisters learn household chores. He recalls: “My parents explained that I had more training and experience than my sisters because I am the oldest.”

Your assistance in training younger brothers and sisters may be particularly needed because of the economic pressures many parents now face. Often, mothers as well as fathers must work at secular jobs, leaving them less time at home. And if you live in a single-parent household, your parent may be laboring under the strain of trying to fulfill two parental roles. Your setting an example for younger ones in the household can do much to ease the load. Additionally, your parent knows that setting a good example for your younger brothers and sisters will help you develop into a responsible adult.

Being Responsible Toward Them

True, you may not feel comfortable with being an example. As one young girl put it: “It is very hard being the eldest because I get more privileges and responsibilities.” But the fact is, your siblings are influenced by your behavior. They will often imitate your speech, dress, and conduct. As one youth said of his older brother: “I like him to do things first. Then I can see how they are supposed to be done.” Hence, what you do and say is very important! As the authors of Raising Siblings point out: “Being responsible is the parent’s password to firstborns.”

Miriam, the older sister of Moses, was a good example of taking on responsibility toward a sibling. You’ll recall that Moses’ parents defied the king’s order to execute all newborn sons, concealing the baby Moses in a papyrus basket, or ark. Miriam kept an eye on that ark as it floated down the Nile River, and she saw it being safely retrieved by Pharaoh’s daughter. Boldly, Miriam approached her and arranged for the child’s own mother to nurse him. Because of her courageous actions in behalf of her baby brother, Moses not only survived but grew up to be the deliverer of Israel!​—Exodus 2:1-10.

Do you feel a similar responsibility toward your brothers and sisters? Rather than resent them, do you try to be their close companion and friend? (Proverbs 17:17) You can, for example, do much by way of offering them help and advice in solving problems. Perhaps one sibling is unable to get along with someone at school. Another may be anxious over some upcoming event​—a move to a new location, the first day of school, a trip to the doctor—​and may need some encouragement and support. Often, you have already experienced a similar situation and are in a position to share your knowledge and experience. As one teenage girl said of her older sister: “She’s like a guide for me. She understands what I’m going through, because she’s already been through it herself.”

However, there is a danger of taking matters too far.

Know Your Limits!

“He thinks he’s the authority figure,” said one 15-year-old of his older brother. “I get into an argument with him, he’ll slap me across the table. We don’t get along at all.” A teenage girl reports a similar problem in dealing with her younger sisters. “I have sat down with them and showed them a few scriptures,” she relates. “But they get angry! Sometimes our arguments get so violent that we end up in fistfights.”

Unfortunately, youths sometimes confuse being an example with being a boss. While you can be a friend and an adviser to younger brothers and sisters, you will never be their parent! More than likely, they will resent any attempts on your part to deal with them as such by disciplining or counseling them. It is your parents’ job to ‘bring them up in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah’​—not yours! (Ephesians 6:4) So while a word of advice can be fine, if you’re running into resistance, perhaps you’d be wise to back off and let your parents handle the matter.

Knowing your limitations in this regard can also prevent you from getting into conflict with your parents. A younger brother or sister may solicit your advice on a matter that is far beyond your experience to handle. Or he or she may confess some wrongdoing that your parents have the right to know about. Rather than try to handle matters yourself, recall the words of Proverbs 11:2: “Has presumptuousness come? Then dishonor will come; but wisdom is with the modest ones.” Modestly see that your parents are alerted to the situation; indeed, it would be good to encourage your sibling to approach them himself.

One youth points to yet another area in which you must remember your limitations, saying: “I like being the oldest, but sometimes it’s hard to do everything right.” Instead of feeling under an oppressive load, realize that “we all stumble many times.” (James 3:2) Only Jesus Christ is a perfect example! (1 Peter 2:21) So don’t take yourself too seriously.

The Benefits

Striving to set a good example for your younger brothers and sisters has its problems, but it also has its rewards. For one thing, by showing yourself responsible, you will mature more quickly and no doubt earn for yourself yet additional privileges. (Luke 16:10) You will develop abilities and skills that will prove invaluable later, should you have children of your own. Not to be overlooked, too, is the effect your example may have on your younger brothers and sisters, moving them to become responsible, God-fearing adults.

By showing a warm, loving interest in your siblings, you may win their abiding love and respect. True, they will get on your nerves from time to time. But as one teenage girl admits: “There is one thing that I am really thankful for, and that is having two sisters who talk to me about personal problems and give me hugs when I need them.” This bond of love, once forged, can last a lifetime. It is worth the effort it takes to set a good example.

[Picture on page 24]

Help your younger brothers and sisters learn to do things

[Picture on page 25]

An older sister may be resented if she acts like a boss

A Lentil That Lames

By Awake! correspondent in India

THE young Indian farm laborer had nearly forgotten the sudden pains that jarred him from sleep a few weeks earlier. For several nights his calf muscles had tightened into hard lumps, and he suffered spasms lasting from 10 to 15 minutes. But this morning, as he awakens and gets to his feet, he suddenly falls to the ground. Within hours his legs begin to feel stiff and heavy, and his steps become jerky and awkward.

Little is the young man aware that he is suffering the early stages of a paralyzing disease called lathyrism. He would never suspect that his daily diet of a particular lentil, known here as pulse, was the cause. (Of course, other types of lentils are nourishing and healthy.)

A Poison in the Pulse The illness, affecting thousands in India, takes its name from a hardy legume known as Lathyrus sativus. Indians generally know it as khesari dal, but there are many other local names. It is commonly ground into flour and rolled out into rotis, a flat unleavened bread. Often it is boiled and eaten as porridge. Neither preparation, however, eliminates a potent toxin that affects the nervous system and brings on the incurable crippler, lathyrism.

Young males, with their normally bigger appetite, are especially susceptible to this disease. On the other hand, few women suffer from it because female hormones seem to offer some protection. Early symptoms of the disease include pain and muscle spasms. If the diet is altered at this point, the disease can be arrested. Otherwise, it will worsen until the victim’s heels do not properly rest on the ground when he takes his steps, and he will walk on his toes with bent knees and extended ankles. In its extreme form, the disease will hamper all efforts to walk, and the victim must crawl or move about by shifting his weight along with his hands.

When the disease gets to this stage, its effect is devastating. A once productive wage earner and family provider can be reduced to a social burden for the rest of his life. But why does this disease continue to cripple victims when its cause and prevention have been known for some 200 years?

Why So Widespread? Lathyrism is a socioeconomic disease. According to India’s National Institute of Nutrition, 75 percent of lathyrism sufferers are landless laborers, often in debt to the landlord. Instead of money wages, such workers have been paid with food grains, including Lathyrus pulse. The landowners use the pulse because it grows easily, and its stems and leaves can be fed to cattle. In times of shortage, workers receive only Lathyrus pulse.

Some find its sweet flavor enjoyable and get used to consuming it regularly. Others find they cannot sell or exchange the pulse and eat it to survive. Those who cannot obtain other foods eat large quantities of the paralyzing pulse. When two thirds or more of the daily diet is Lathyrus, an onset of the disease is likely.

Although many states have banned the sale of Lathyrus pulse and its use as wage payments, this lentil is not likely to disappear soon from the Indian diet. Nearly 2.5 million acres [1 million ha] of India’s crop area are still planted with Lathyrus. And there is nothing to prevent greedy merchants from mixing it with other grains and selling the product to unsuspecting buyers in urban areas.

Is There a Solution? Authorities believe that to combat the problem, intensive education about lathyrism and incentives for landowners to grow other crops are needed. For example, researchers have found that from 80 to 90 percent of the toxin can be removed by steeping the pulse in freshly boiled water for about two hours, followed by draining and washing in fresh water. The pulse can then be sun dried for later use.

Such knowledge and other administrative measures will help. But in all likelihood, lathyrism will remain in India until man’s greed can be eliminated and people everywhere learn to seek, not their own advantage, but that of others. For that we must look beyond the present unjust system to the promised righteous new world of God’s making.​—2 Peter 3:13.

Watching the World

ANYTHING FOR A “HIGH”

Drug abusers will go to extraordinary lengths to attain the chemical highs they seek. The following three items illustrate this.

▪ New York City drug abusers have found a way to counteract the nervous depression that commonly follows the brief, explosive high they get from the drug known as crack. They mix the crack, a form of cocaine, with heroin and smoke the combination in a pipe. The high from the heroin lasts for hours and softens the crash of coming down from crack. The popularity of heroin had been on the wane, as many younger drug abusers were reluctant to use needles. But now a whole new clientele may someday be in heroin’s addictive thrall.

▪ In Juárez, Mexico, local children were seen sniffing strange green rocks that they had found in the municipal dump. The rocks turned out to be hardened toxic waste, allegedly illegally dumped by U.S. companies located in Mexico. Sniffing the rocks reportedly acted on the youths much the way sniffing glue would, with similar dangers: possible kidney, liver, and brain damage, and even sterility or the risk of one day producing deformed offspring.

◼ According to the San Francisco Examiner, some people will even lick toads in order to get high. A chemical called bufotenine oozes from the skin of certain toads. Ingested in small quantities, it affects the senses and causes some disorientation. In larger quantities, it becomes dangerously poisonous and has been classified by drug experts with other illegal drugs, such as LSD and heroin. Although it is hardly a common practice, people are reportedly trying to get high from toad skins in regions as diverse as South America, the United States, and Australia.

“A FORM OF CHILD ABUSE”

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones, writing in The Globe and Mail of Toronto, Canada, notes with some concern that many North American children suffer from obesity. Why? The doctor blames consumption of fatty fast foods and insufficient exercise, remarking: “Children do not burn up calories when they are watching TV and munching on potato chips.” Children, the doctor observes, may pay a high price for their obesity with a variety of potentially serious health disorders. Further, obese preschoolers have a 25-percent chance of becoming obese adults, while those who remain obese into their teen years have a 75-percent chance of facing a lifetime of obesity. He asserts that “a fat child is a sick child,” concluding: “It is a form of child abuse to allow young children to develop this disease because of sheer neglect.”

BUGS IN THE GREENHOUSE

New Zealand scientists warn that the greenhouse effect, the gradual warming of the earth caused by human pollution, would have an unexpected by-product: Insect pests could flourish. The scientists predict that the projected rise in temperature would allow the many insects that filter through New Zealand’s quarantining procedures or drift there on wind currents to survive the winters, breed, and thrive. According to the New Zealand Herald, the scientists forecast swarms of locusts, disease-spreading mosquitoes, and thousands of millions of dollars spent on combating the invasion. The Herald notes that entomologist Dr. Garry Hill said that “some of the effects of the change seemed to be showing already.”

SQUANDERING FOOD

In Europe, destroying food has long been a matter of policy. In order to keep fruit and vegetable prices stable, the European Common Market organization buys up surplus produce. But according to a recent report of the European audit office, almost 84 percent of the surpluses bought in Italy, France, the Netherlands, and Greece are destroyed​—nearly 2.5 million tons of produce each year. Of the remainder, “10 percent is converted to animal fodder, 5 percent is distilled to alcohol, and barely 1 percent is distributed to the poor,” comments German newspaper Wetterauer Zeitung.

TOO HIGH A PRICE

Some aging rock-music stars, long known for playing their music at ear-splitting volume, are now speaking up about the hearing loss they have suffered as a result. According to The Toronto Star, rock guitarist Ted Nugent admits that his left ear “is there only for the looks. It doesn’t work.” And Pete Townshend of the group called The Who told the same paper that “one of the great agonies . . . is that long before you grow old, you can’t hear what children are saying to you.” Of his years of blaring rock ’n’ roll, he adds: “I think it’s worth saying that there is a price to pay for that: it’s premature deafness.” While he and other veteran musicians are now lowering their volume, many newer performers are not.

A DWINDLING FLOCK

“Decrease in Flock Challenges Catholic Church,” read a recent headline in the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo. Reporting on a survey of city dwellers taken at the request of the National Council of Bishops of Brazil, the article noted that while 73 percent of young people between 18 and 29 were of Catholic families, only 26 percent had been to church in the last month. Archbishop Geraldo Majella is reported as saying: “Baptism alone is not enough to make a Catholic. There are people who claim to be Catholic and practice abortion. There are serious faults in the formation of the faithful.” He concluded that, as a result, Brazil can no longer be considered a Catholic country.

FEEDING THE RATS

New Yorkers are being blamed for their city’s exploding rat population. Experts claim that the chief problem is improper garbage disposal. People feed the rats by hurling garbage out their windows, throwing food on subway tracks, leaving leftovers on park grounds, and so forth. In spite of $10.5 million spent by the city each year on a rodent-control program, the rat community continues to thrive. Tousaint Vogelsang, a New York City exterminator, observes: “Why would rats eat the poison we put down when they can have caviar​—chicken, steak, pizza—​straight out of the garbage bags! You gotta starve a rat. No food, no water. Then he’ll eat poison.”

FEMINISTS SWAP RELIGIONS

Some feminists think that foreign religions elevate women more than their local religions do. According to a columnist for Tokyo’s Mainichi Daily News, there are feminists in the United States who reject Christendom as male-oriented and instead worship the sun goddess Amaterasu, the principal female deity of Japanese Shinto. On the other hand, Japanese feminists have little time for Amaterasu, whom they link with Shinto-backed wars and subjugation of women. Many of them have joined Christendom’s churches, reasoning that the churches’ opening of schools for girls has liberated women in Japan.

FLOATING WALLS OF DEATH

Drift nets are a controversial way to catch fish. Nicknamed “walls of death,” they hang invisibly under water, some 50 feet [15 m] high and up to 35 miles [56 km] long, snaring not only fish but also sea turtles, seals, dolphins, and even small whales. Now their use has spread to the South Pacific, much to the concern of Australia, New Zealand, and several island nations. Most of the fishing boats using the nets are Taiwanese and Japanese vessels in search of albacore, a species of tuna. But the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries claims that fishing with drift nets could wipe out tuna from the region within two years. The loss of the species could be a staggering blow to the smaller island nations, whose economies hinge on the fishing industry.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

Recent court cases in the United States have held drug-abusing pregnant women responsible for the effects of their habit on the unborn. A mother that uses cocaine during pregnancy is, in effect, delivering drugs through the umbilical cord. In Illinois, a juvenile court convicted a mother of prenatal child abuse and neglect for taking cocaine while pregnant. Judge Frederick J. Kapala concluded: “It’s the same as if a mother gave a child a pack of razor blades to play with.”

From Our Readers

Merchants of Death What sheer madness it is to give out one million million dollars per year for arms, while letting 14 million children die from the effects of hunger! (June 8, 1989) Awake! is doing a good job in exposing the monstrous crimes of arms dealers, while showing how the Creator will soon usher in a new world where peace and security will reign.

C. G. P., Federal Republic of Germany

Safe Food I read with interest the article “Make Your Eating Safe” in the June 22, 1989, Awake! Nearly a year and a half ago, we traveled to a foreign country. I was amazed to learn that they washed dishes with hot, soapy water but never rinsed the soap suds off before drying the dishes. Since your article did not mention rinsing, does this mean that you do not think that this is necessary?

S. B., United States

Rinsing soapy dishes is an important hygienic step, and we appreciate your mentioning it.​—ED.

It’s surprising how many people leave food sitting at room temperature for hours at a time or don’t do simple things like washing their hands before cooking. I’ve been to your headquarters in New York, and I am always impressed with their extreme cleanliness. We all need to copy that example in our homes.

M. B., United States

Spectacular Sky-Shows A short while ago, my four-year-old daughter asked me where thunder and lightning come from. I gave her a rough answer but couldn’t satisfy her curiosity. I turned to books on science but found the explanations too technical. Your article (May 22, 1989) answered my questions in a clear and understandable way. And what an impression those pictures made on my children! For several days afterward, their bedtime story was ‘thunder and lightning.’

P. G., Federal Republic of Germany

Genetic Revolution I am studying horticulture and have just obtained my technician’s certificate. The subject for my exam was “Genetic Manipulations.” Imagine my surprise the next day when I read your article (July 22, 1989) on that very subject. The information you furnished was clear and up-to-date.

A. L., France

Tobacco You explained the dangers of smoking in an articulate manner. (July 8, 1989) I am a smoker, and I find nothing objectionable in the habit. What’s wrong with smoking in a responsible manner? As the apostle Paul wrote, ‘I want to do one thing but cannot stop doing the other.’ Simply to point to the Scriptures on this question is, I believe, not enough.

S. S., Federal Republic of Germany

Medical research clearly shows that there is no “responsible” way to smoke. And the habit certainly is objectionable to most nonsmokers who are forced to breathe in noxious fumes. The article therefore gave both the Scriptural view of the matter and realistic, practical steps to help smokers overcome nicotine addiction. Taken in context, the apostle Paul’s words referred to above show that with divine help, one can be ‘rescued’ from wrongdoing. (Romans 7:21-25)​—ED.

National Parks I really enjoyed reading the article “How to Enjoy Your National Parks.” (June 22, 1989) I now appreciate that the trails in national parks are for our safety. Someday, we will be able to go anywhere without fear because our Grand Creator has promised to make the earth a safe and beautiful paradise.

M. L., United States

What an Unborn Child Knows

RECENT research confirms that an unborn fetus is affected by much more than its mother’s diet, the drugs she may use, or whether she smokes or not. The fetus also hears what its mother listens to and is evidently affected.

To illustrate: The music director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Ontario, Canada, reported that when he was younger, various scores of music he was rehearsing seemed strangely familiar, although he had never seen them before. It was always the cello part that had this mysterious familiarity. He told his mother, a professional cellist, about this. When, at her inquiry, he told her the names of the musical works he was rehearsing, the mystery was solved. While she was pregnant with him, she explained, these were the very pieces she had been rehearsing!

Now, according to newspaper columnist Erma Bombeck, a British medical journal reports regarding a problem that the journal calls “fetal soap addiction.” Unborn babies are becoming addicted to the TV soap operas their mothers listen to. “I wish I had known this when I was carrying my children,” Bombeck observes. “I’d have glued myself in front of ‘The Waltons,’” a wholesome television program of some years ago. She adds: “No wonder we have children who want their ears pierced at age 2, date at 9 and get their own apartment at 13.”

Why Miss Them?

While standing in line in a New York City bank, a middle-aged woman noted that the man in front of her was reading the Watchtower magazine. She was quite anxious to read the article in it on prayer, so she took note of the issue date.

A few days later, Jehovah’s Witnesses called at her home, and she asked: “Do you have the July issues of The Watchtower?” After learning why she was interested in a particular magazine, one of the Witnesses noted: “The best way not to miss any interesting issues is to subscribe.”

“I didn’t know you could!” the woman exclaimed. When told the year’s subscription was $5, she answered: “Are you sure? Only $5 for the whole year?” When assured that it was, she wanted not only The Watchtower but its companion magazine, Awake!, as well. “Are you sure I can get both magazines for just $10?” she asked again.

The woman was pleased to have the Witness subscribe for her. You too can have the Watchtower and Awake! magazines delivered to your home. Send only $10, and you will receive both these magazines (four copies a month) for one year.

Please send a year’s subscription for The Watchtower and Awake! I enclose $10 (U.S.). (Outside the U.S.A., write to local Watch Tower branch for information.)