October 8

Page Two

Missionaries​—Agents of Light or of Darkness? 3-10

Many religions have missionaries. But not everyone agrees that their activity is desirable

My Father Was “Atom-​Bombed Out Of Prison” 11

Surviving the atom- bombing of Hiroshima

Mountains​—Masterpieces of Creation 16

A look at some of these breathtaking creations

[Picture Credit Line on page 2]

A. Tovy/​H. Armstrong Roberts

Missionaries​—What Should They Be?

THE word “missionary” can evoke strong emotions. In some people, it inspires admiration, calling to mind individuals like Mother Teresa or the late Albert Schweitzer.

In contrast, others react with indifference, disgust, or even anger when the subject of missionaries is broached. To them the word suggests mental manipulation and conjures up visions of colonialism.

As regards missionaries, an appropriate question is, Have they been agents of light or agents of darkness?

What Is a Missionary?

A missionary is defined as “a person undertaking a mission,” that is to say, undertaking “a ministry commissioned by a religious organization to propagate its faith or carry on humanitarian work.”

The basis for Christian missionary work was provided by Jesus Christ when he told his followers: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations.” This necessitates preaching the Christian message in the entire world.​—Matthew 28:19.

Jesus himself was a missionary, sent by his Father, Jehovah, from heaven to a foreign assignment, the earth. (Philippians 2:5-8) Logically, a Christian missionary should closely follow the example set by Jesus Christ. A first-​century missionary who did just that was the apostle Paul, who became a model for subsequent Christian missionaries to imitate.​—1 Corinthians 11:1.

Although sympathetic to the social problems plaguing humankind, Jesus did not give top priority to solving them while on earth. To have done so would only have brought temporary relief at best. (John 6:26, 27; 12:8) Something else was of greater importance. “For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world,” Jesus told Pilate, “that I should bear witness to the truth.” The value of having a knowledge of such truth cannot be overemphasized, as Jesus had earlier stated in prayer: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.”​—John 17:3; 18:37.

Have Christendom’s missionaries measured up to the example set by Jesus? Have they proved to be agents of light as he was, reflecting the light of God’s Word, the knowledge of which leads to everlasting life? Or have they left the people in darkness? The answer to these questions should be of interest to all of us because the fruitage produced by professed Christian missionaries over the centuries helps us to identify true religion, as well as false religion. Awake! is therefore pleased to announce that it will give this subject in-​depth coverage in its next five issues.

How Have Missionaries Measured Up?

Missionaries have made valuable contributions in spreading Christ’s message. For example, some have translated the Bible into local languages, thus enabling people to read it for themselves.

Nowadays, however, it appears that some missionaries feel meeting social needs should take precedence over the endeavors of preaching or translating. An article in Time magazine entitled “The New Missionary” noted: “Among Protestants, there has been a shift toward greater involvement with the basic economic and social problems of the people the missionaries are trying to reach.” As for Catholics, the head of Jesuit missions sent from the United States said that the sharing of Christian beliefs “has taken second place to being of service to human beings.” And a Catholic mission secretary argued: “In the past, we had the so-​called motive of saving souls. . . . Now, thanks be to God, we believe that all people and all religions are already living in the grace and love of God and will be saved by God’s mercy.”

Does this mean that there is no longer any need for teaching God’s Word as Jesus did?

Is There Still a Need?

In 1985 some 18,000 households in Hamburg, Germany, were telephoned by several hundred volunteers in what a newspaper called a “mass missionary work by telephone.” It evidently bore little fruitage. Last December The European wrote: “The Protestant church in Germany . . . has seen attendances fall by more than 500,000 since 1991.”

A shrinking flock is not unique to German churches. Millions of people worldwide have turned their back on religion, no longer considering it relevant to life in the down-​to-​earth 1990’s. But a knowledge of Christianity is vital if we are to cope successfully with the darkness of today’s world and are to be sustained by the hope of a better world for the future. Jesus’ command to make disciples of people of all the nations is a valid way of filling an urgent need.

Jesus Christ meant Christian missionaries to be agents of light, not agents of darkness. How have Christendom’s missionaries measured up? What pattern have they followed?

[Picture Credit Line on page 3]

Culver Pictures

Missionaries​—Who Should Set the Pattern?

BEFORE Jesus Christ commanded his followers to make disciples, other religions had already been carrying on a missionary activity of sorts. Some did this more than others, since not all religions have a universal approach, that is, not all teach a message felt to apply equally to all peoples.

For example, according to The Encyclopedia of Religion, such a universal vision is less pronounced “in the beliefs of the tribal religions and Shintō, and less overt in many strands of Confucianism, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.” These religions are spread “more by the migrations of peoples or by the gradual incorporation of immediate neighbors than by organized missionary activities.”

“Hinduism represents a special and exceedingly complex case,” the encyclopedia adds. “While it is similar to nonmissionizing traditions in many respects,” having spread by gradual adoption by non-​Hindus, it has, on the other hand, “had periods of vigorous missionary activity.”

“Those living religions claiming the most universalistic visions and evidencing the most extensive missionary zeal beyond the place of origin,” says Max L. Stackhouse of the Andover Newton Theological School, include Islam and Buddhism. Islam’s missionaries could not have served as patterns for Christian missionaries, however, because the Islamic era did not begin until some 590 years after Christ’s command to make disciples. Buddhism, on the other hand, preceded the establishment of Christianity by almost the same amount of time that Islam followed it.

A Pattern of Liberality

Tradition claims that the Buddha instigated a missionary movement by telling his disciples: “Go, monks, preach the noble Doctrine, . . . let not two of you go into the same direction!” Large-​scale missionary movements have nevertheless been few, even though Buddhist missionaries were in Europe as early as the fourth century B.C.E. In most cases the religion was spread on an individual level by traveling traders, pilgrims, or students. It reached China and the various parts of Southeast Asia, for example, through trade routes by sea and by land.

Erik Zürcher of the University of Leiden in the Netherlands attributes the spread of Buddhism mainly to three factors. One is Buddhism’s “liberal attitude toward all religions.” This allowed easy acceptance of “non-​Buddhist creeds as preliminary and partial revelations of truth” and even the incorporation of “non-​Buddhist deities into its pantheon.”

A second factor is that Buddhist missionaries entered into a so-​called “homeless state,” which means they renounced all worldly distinctions. Free from the limitations of the caste system, whose religious significance the Buddha rejected, they could mingle with foreigners without fear of ritual pollution.

A third factor is that Buddhism’s holy writings were not associated with any one particular sacred language. They could easily be translated into any language. “Especially in China,” Zürcher notes, “the most prominent foreign missionaries were all active as translators.” In fact, they translated to such an extent that Chinese became a third major language for Buddhist literature, joining Pali and Sanskrit.

In the middle of the third century B.C.E., the ruler of the Indian empire, King Aśoka, did much to popularize Buddhism, also strengthening its missionary aspects. During this pre-​Christian era, though, Buddhism remained chiefly centered in India and what is today Sri Lanka. To all intents and purposes, it was only after the beginning of the Christian era that Buddhism spread into China, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and elsewhere.

Buddhism’s missionaries to China evidently saw nothing wrong with modifying their religion to make it more acceptable. The Encyclopedia of Religion notes that “key Buddhist texts were given fresh interpretation; apologetic literature, new poems, and new laws and regulations were promulgated that modified and, indeed, transformed aspects of the Buddhist message so that it could graft onto, and in some ways revitalize, dimensions of the indigenous folk religions and of the Confucianism and Taoism of that land.”

At times, as future articles in this series will show, Christendom’s missionaries have followed the pattern of their Buddhist missionary predecessors. While they have translated their sacred writings into other languages, they have often allowed, or even promoted, as historian Will Durant states it, “the absorption of pagan faith and ritual” into their religious practices.

Following “The Master Missionary”

Judaism and Christian Beginnings explains that Judaism did not promote missionary activity in the same sense that Christianity did but was “relatively non-​proselytizing.” Yet, the book’s author, Samuel Sandmel, notes that “there was at least a recurrent, at least sporadic, thrust toward it.”

Sandmel explains that “in the Rabbinic literature Father Abraham is often depicted as the master missionary.” He reasons that this “view of Abraham as the missionary could scarcely have arisen had there not existed some disposition in at least some segments of Jewry that looked favorably either on an active quest for proselytes or, at least on the reception into the faith of those who on their own sought conversion.”a

Evidently, during the two centuries immediately preceding the Common Era, Jewish missionary activity was intensified, particularly in Greek-​speaking countries, as pagan religions began to lose their appeal. This activity continued well into the Common Era, but was outlawed in the fourth century C.E., when the Roman Empire adopted a watered-​down form of Christianity as its official religion.

Setting the Pattern

The pattern set by Jewish missionaries, however, was not what Christian missionaries were told to follow. In fact, of the Jewish Pharisees of his day, Jesus said: “You scour sea and land to make a single convert, and then you make him twice as ripe for destruction as you are yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15, Phillips) So even though they viewed Abraham as “the master missionary,” Jewish missionaries obviously did not make converts to the kind of faith Abraham had in Jehovah God.

For Christian missionaries the pattern to be followed is the perfect example given by the foremost master missionary, Jesus Christ. Well before issuing his disciple-​making command, he began training his early disciples to perform the international missionary activity that this would involve. Since it was to be a centuries-​long project, the question was appropriate, Would Christ’s followers stick to the pattern he had given?

As the first century of the Common Era drew to a close, the answer was not yet evident. Not so today, as the 20th century draws to a close. Some 1,900 years of past missionary activity on the part of professed followers of Christ lie before us as an open book.

From its birthplace in Palestine, Christianity expanded into the entire world. Moving west into Macedonia was one step. Read about this in our next issue.

For an example of what Christendom’s missionaries have done, note what happened for several centuries in Mexico. In reading the following account, ask yourself, ‘Have they been agents of light or agents of darkness?’

[Footnotes]

[Picture on page 7]

Jesus initiated Christian missionary work, training his followers and setting the pattern they were to follow

The Inquisition in Mexico​—How Did It Happen?

IMAGINE that you are before a religious court that wants to force you to believe what that religion teaches. You do not know who is accusing you or what you are accused of. Instead of being told, you are being forced to provide a reason for your arrest, to explain what you believe the charge against you is, and to tell who the accuser is.

Be careful how you answer​—you could confess to something that you have not been accused of and make your situation worse! You could also implicate people who had nothing to do with the charge being brought against you.

If you do not confess, you may be tortured by having a great quantity of water forced down your throat. Or you may have your arms and legs tied progressively tighter on a torture table until the pain is excruciating. Your property has already been confiscated by the court, and you will most likely never get it back. Everything is done in secret. If you are found guilty, you may be exiled from your country or even burned alive.

In this 20th century, you may find it difficult to comprehend a religious action as horrible as this. But several centuries ago, such atrocities took place in Mexico.

“Converting” the Native Population

When what is now Mexico was conquered by the Spaniards in the 16th century, a religious conquest took place as well. The religious conversion of the native peoples was little more than a substitution of traditions and rites, since few Catholic priests concerned themselves with teaching the Bible. They did not bother to learn the language of the natives or to teach them Latin, in which religious doctrine was available.

Some thought that the Indian should receive complete religious instruction. But others were of the same opinion as Friar Domingo de Betanzos, who, according to Richard E. Greenleaf in his book Zumárraga and the Mexican Inquisition, “believed that the Indian should be denied instruction in Latin because that would lead to his realizing how ignorant the clergy was.”

Inquisition Against Native Peoples

If native-​born Mexicans did not embrace the new religion, they were regarded as idolaters and were severely persecuted. For example, one of them publicly received one hundred lashes for worshiping his pagan idols, which he had buried beneath an idol of Christendom in a simulated act of “Christian” worship.

On the other hand, Don Carlos Ometochtzin, tribal chief of Texcoco and grandson of the king of the Aztecs, Netzahualcóyotl, verbally attacked the church. Greenleaf states that “Don Carlos had particularly offended the Church because of having preached to the natives about the dissipation of the friars.”

When Friar Juan de Zumárraga, inquisitor at the time, learned about this, he ordered the arrest of Don Carlos. Accused of being a “dogmatizing heretic,” Don Carlos was burned at the stake on November 30, 1539. Many other natives were punished under charges of sorcery.

Inquisition Against Foreigners

Foreigners living in Mexico who refused to accept the Catholic religion were accused of being heretics, Lutherans, or Judaizers. The Portuguese Carvajal family was one example of this. Charged with practicing the Jewish religion, almost all of them were tortured by the Inquisition. The following sentence pronounced against a member of this family reflects the horror: “The said Doña Mariana de Carvajal [I do] condemn to be . . . given the garrote [an instrument of strangulation] until she dies naturally, and then that she be burned in a blazing fire until she turns to ashes and of her not even the memory remains.” That is just what happened.

Whenever a foreigner threatened the clergy’s power, he was brought to trial. A man named Don Guillén Lombardo de Guzman was accused of wanting to liberate Mexico. However, the charge brought by the Holy Office for his arrest and trial was for being an astrologer and sectarian heretic of Calvin. During his imprisonment he went out of his mind. Finally he was burned alive at the stake on November 6, 1659.

The book Inquisition and Crimes, by Don Artemio de Valle-​Arizpe, describes that occasion: “They went tying up the culprits, fastening them to the stake with an iron collar around the throat. . . . The holy bonfires of the faith began to burn in a whirlwind of red and black. Don Guillén . . . let himself suddenly drop and the collar that was holding him by the neck strangled him, his body disappearing afterward in the horrifying splendor of the blaze. He left this life after seventeen years of slow and continuous suffering in the somber jails of the Holy Office. The bonfires went dying down little by little, the cardinal red tumult of their flames fading away, and when they became extinguished, only a bright pile of embers was left glowing in the night.”

“Holy Office” Established

As already noted, many native and foreign-​born Mexicans were punished, and some were killed for criticizing or for not accepting the new religion. This brought about an inquisition created by the friars and later by the bishops. However, the first General Inquisitor in Mexico, Don Pedro Moya de Contreras, came from Spain in 1571 to set up officially the Tribunal of the Holy Office of Inquisition there. This court quit functioning in 1820. Thus, from 1539, there were some three hundred years of harassment, torture, and death for those who did not share the Catholic beliefs.

When someone was accused, he was tortured until he confessed. The court expected him to renounce his anti-​Catholic practices and accept the beliefs of the church. The accused was freed only if he proved his innocence, if his guilt could not be proved, or, lastly, if he confessed and repented. In the latter case, his statement that he detested his offense and promised to make amends for what he had done was publicly read. In any event, he lost his property and had to pay a heavy fine. Found guilty, he was turned over to the secular authorities to be punished. This generally ended with his being burned at the stake, either while still alive or after having been put to death moments before.

For public execution of sentences, a huge auto-​da-fé was held. A public proclamation would be made throughout the city to inform everyone of the day and the place to convene. That day the condemned ones would come out of the jails of the Tribunal of the Holy Office dressed in a sambenito (a kind of cloak without sleeves), carrying a candle between their hands, a rope around their neck, and a coroza (cone-​shaped hat) on their head. After the crimes against the Catholic faith were read, the punishment decided upon for each victim would be meted out.

In this way many were condemned and punished in the name of religion. The cruelty and the intolerance of the clergy were evident to the crowds who observed the victims dying at the stake.

Outright Opposition to Christianity

Christ Jesus commissioned his disciples to convert people to true Christianity. He commanded: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.”​—Matthew 28:19, 20.

However, Jesus never indicated that people should be converted by force. Rather, Jesus said: “Wherever anyone does not take you in or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city shake the dust off your feet.” (Matthew 10:14) The final judgment of these people is left to Almighty God, Jehovah, without physical intervention by Christians.

Clearly, then, wherever an Inquisition was carried out in the world, it was done in outright opposition to Christian principles.

The climate of religious tolerance that now prevails in Mexico allows people to exercise freedom as to the way they worship God. But the centuries of the so-​called Holy Inquisition remain as an evil page in the history of the Mexican Catholic Church.

My Father Was “Atom-​Bombed Out Of Prison”

At 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, an atom bomb exploded over Hiroshima, Japan, devastating the city and wiping out tens of thousands of its population. My father had refused to worship the emperor and support Japan’s militarism, so he was at that time an inmate in the Hiroshima prison.

FATHER often described what occurred that memorable morning. “The light flashed on the ceiling of my cell,” he said. “Then I heard a terribly loud roar as if all the mountains had collapsed at one time. Instantly the cell was shrouded with a thick darkness. I shoved my head under my mattress to escape what appeared to be a dark gas.

“After seven or eight minutes, I lifted my head from under the mattress and found that the ‘gas’ had dissipated. It was light once again. Articles from the shelf and a large quantity of dust had fallen, making a real mess. Because of the high wall encircling the prison, no fire had come in from the outside.

“I looked through the back window and was thunderstruck! The jail workshops and the wooden buildings had all been crushed flat. Then I looked through the small front window. The cells of the opposite block had been torn to pieces. Prisoners who survived were crying for help. There was fear and panic​—a scene of dire confusion and terror.”

As a boy I thrilled to listen to Father tell about, as he put it, “being atom-​bombed out of prison.” He related the story without feelings of guilt, because he had been imprisoned unjustly. Before telling about the charges against Father and how he was treated during his years of confinement, let me explain how my parents became associated with the Todaisha, as the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in Japan was then called.

Searching for a Purpose

Father was an ardent lover of books, and early in life he sought to improve himself. When he was still in the fifth grade of elementary school, he sneaked out of his home in Ishinomori in northeastern Japan. With only enough money for a one-​way ticket, he boarded a train for Tokyo, where he was determined to become a houseboy for Shigenobu Okuma, who had twice been prime minister of Japan. But when this shabbily dressed country boy appeared at Mr. Okuma’s home, his request for employment was turned down. Later Father obtained live-​in employment in a milk shop.

While still a teenager, my father began to attend lectures by politicians and scholars. In one lecture the Bible was mentioned as a very important book. So Father obtained a Bible, complete with cross-​references and a Bible atlas. He was deeply impressed by what he read and was moved to want to do work that would benefit all mankind.

Eventually Father returned home, and in April 1931, when he was 24, he married 17-​year-​old Hagino. Shortly after Father married, a relative sent him literature published by the Todaisha. Impressed with what he read, Father wrote to the Todaisha in Tokyo. In June 1931 a full-​time minister from Sendai by the name of Matsue Ishii visited him in Ishinomori.a Father accepted a set of books from her that included The Harp of God, Creation, and Government.

Finding a Purpose in Life

Almost at once Father perceived that various church teachings, such as man having an immortal soul, the wicked burning forever in hellfire, and the Creator being a triune God, were false. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; Ezekiel 18:4; John 14:28) He also realized that this world would end. (1 John 2:17) Wanting to know what he should do, he contacted the appointed representative of the Todaisha who visited him in August 1931, and as a result of their discussions, Father was baptized and decided to become a full-​time minister of Jehovah.

After extended discussions Mother too became convinced that what she had learned from the Bible was the truth. She dedicated her life to Jehovah and was baptized in October 1931. When my father put his property up for auction, his relatives thought that he had lost his mind.

Life as Full-​Time Ministers

Father left all the money received from the auction to his mother, and he and Mother went to Tokyo in November 1931. Although they had received no instructions on how to talk to others about the good news of the Kingdom, they started preaching the day after they arrived there.​—Matthew 24:14.

Their life was not easy. Especially was it hard on my mother who was then only 17 years old. There were no fellow Witnesses, no meetings, and no congregation​—just a daily schedule of distributing Bible literature from house to house from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

In 1933 their preaching assignment was changed from Tokyo to Kobe. I was born there on February 9, 1934. My mother worked zealously in the ministry until a month before my birth. Afterward my parents moved to Yamaguchi, to Ube, to Kure, and finally to Hiroshima, preaching in each place for about a year.

My Parents Are Arrested

As Japanese militarism increased, publications of the Watch Tower Society were banned and the Witnesses were put under strict surveillance by the Special Secret Service Police. Then, on June 21, 1939, full-​time ministers of Jehovah’s Witnesses were rounded up throughout Japan. Father and Mother were among those arrested. I was turned over to the care of my grandmother who lived in Ishinomori. After being detained for eight months, Mother was released and put on probation, and eventually, in 1942, I was able to join her in Sendai.

In the meantime, Father, along with other Witnesses, was interrogated by the secret police at the Hiroshima police station. Because they refused to worship the emperor or support Japan’s militarism, the Witnesses were severely beaten. The interrogator could not budge Father from worshiping Jehovah.

After more than two years in detention, Father was put on trial. During one session, the judge asked: “Miura, what do you think of His Majesty, the Emperor?”

“His Majesty, the Emperor, is also a descendant of Adam and is a mortal, imperfect human,” Father answered. That statement so astonished the court stenographer that he failed to record it. You see, most Japanese at that time believed the emperor to be a god. Father received a sentence of five years in prison, and the judge told him that unless he gave up his faith, he would be in prison the rest of his life.

Soon afterward, in December 1941, Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Food in prison became scarce, and during the winter months, Father had many cold, sleepless nights because of lack of clothing. Although cut off from all spiritual association, he had access to the Bible in the prison library, and by reading it over and over again, he maintained spiritual strength.

When the Bomb Fell

Early on the morning of August 6, 1945, a prisoner wanted to exchange books with Father. This was forbidden, but since the prisoner had already slid his book across the hallway into Father’s cell, he slid his book into the other prisoner’s cell. So rather than follow his usually inflexible schedule that morning, Father was reading when the bomb fell. Ordinarily he would have been using the toilet in his cell at that time of the morning. After the blast, Father saw that the toilet area had been destroyed by falling debris.

Father was then taken to the nearby Iwakuni prison. Soon after that, Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces, and he was released from prison amid the postwar chaos. He returned home to Ishinomori in December 1945. His health had been ruined. He was only 38, but he looked like an old man. At first I could not believe he was my father.

His Faith Still Strong

Japan was in a chaotic condition, and we did not know where the handful of faithful Witnesses had been scattered to. Nor did we have available any of the literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Yet, Father taught me directly from the Bible the truth about Jehovah’s Kingdom, the new world, and the approaching battle of Armageddon.​—Psalm 37:9-11, 29; Isaiah 9:6, 7; 11:6-9; 65:17, 21-24; Daniel 2:44; Matthew 6:9, 10.

Later, when I was taught the evolution theory in high school and began to doubt the existence of God, my father tried to convince me of God’s existence. When I was hesitant to believe, he finally said: “Most of the people of the world supported the war and became guilty of shedding blood. I, for my part, stuck to Bible truth and never supported either militarism, emperor worship, or the war. So consider carefully for yourself which is the true way of life you should walk in.”

Knowing what my father taught and lived by and comparing that with what I was learning in school, I could see that the evolution theory could not be a sound way of thinking. Although no evolutionist had risked his life for his beliefs, my father was willing to die for his.

One day in March 1951, more than five years after the war had ended, Father was reading the Asahi newspaper. Suddenly he cried out: “Hey, they came, they came!” He showed the paper to me. It was an article about five missionaries of Jehovah’s Witnesses who had just arrived in Osaka. Leaping with joy, Father contacted the newspaper and learned that Jehovah’s Witnesses had established a branch office in Tokyo. He obtained the address and visited the branch, thus restoring contact with Jehovah’s organization.

Faithful Till the End

In 1952 our family moved to Sendai. Watch Tower Society missionaries Donald and Mabel Haslett moved there that same year and rented a house to hold the Watchtower Study. Only four attended that first meeting​—the Hasletts, my father, and I. Later, Shinichi and Masako Tohara, Adeline Nako, and Lillian Samson joined the Hasletts as missionaries in Sendai.

Through association with these missionaries, our family progressed in knowledge of God’s Word and organization. Mother, whose faith had been shaken by things that had occurred during the war, soon joined us in going to meetings and sharing in the field ministry. I was moved to dedicate my life to serve Jehovah God and was baptized on April 18, 1953.

Following the war Father worked as a salesman for an insurance company. Despite the aftereffects of his imprisonment, which included a kidney disorder and high blood pressure, he had a strong desire to resume the full-​time ministry as a pioneer. He did so about the same time that I was baptized. Even though poor health prevented him from continuing as a pioneer very long, his zeal for the ministry moved me to quit the university that I was attending and to take up the full-​time ministry as a career.

Isamu Sugiura, a fine young man from Nagoya, was appointed as my working partner. On May 1, 1955, we commenced our ministry as special pioneers in Beppu on Kyushu Island. There were only a handful of Witnesses on the whole island then. Now, over 39 years later, we have 15 spiritually thriving circuits with over 18,000 Witnesses on the island. And in all Japan, there are now nearly 200,000 Witnesses.

In the spring of 1956, Isamu and I received invitations to attend the Watch Tower Bible School of Gilead in the United States. We were overjoyed. However, when I received a physical checkup in preparation for the trip, doctors found that I had tuberculosis. Greatly disappointed, I returned home to Sendai.

By then Father’s physical health had worsened, and he was resting at home in bed. Our rented house was made up of only one 100-​square-​foot tatami room. My father and I lay side by side. Since Father could not work, Mother had a rough time caring for our financial needs.

In January 1957, Frederick W. Franz, then the vice president of the Watch Tower Society, visited Japan, and a special convention was arranged to be held in Kyoto. Father urged my mother to attend. Although reluctant to leave us in our sick condition, she obeyed Father and left for the convention.

Soon afterward Father’s condition began to worsen day by day. As we lay side by side, I started to worry, and I asked him how we were going to support ourselves. To that he answered: “We’ve served Jehovah God, even risking our lives, and he is the almighty God. Why do you worry? Jehovah will without fail provide what we need.” He then admonished me in a most tender way, saying: “Cultivate in yourself a stronger faith.”

On March 24, 1957, Father quietly took his last breath. After his funeral I visited the insurance company for which he worked to settle things with them. As I was leaving, the branch manager handed me a paper bag and said: “This is your father’s.”

Upon returning home I discovered quite a large sum of money inside. When I asked the manager about it later, he explained that the money was from a premium that had been deducted monthly from Father’s salary without his knowledge. Thus Father’s words, “Jehovah will without fail provide what we need,” did come true. This greatly strengthened my faith in Jehovah’s protective care.

Decades of Continued Service

The material assistance provided by that money helped me to concentrate on recuperating at home. A year later, in 1958, Mother and I were appointed as special pioneers. Afterward, I served as a traveling overseer in Japan, and then in 1961, I had the privilege of attending the ten-​month course of the Gilead School at the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brooklyn, New York.

When I returned to Japan, I again took up serving congregations as a traveling overseer. Then, in 1963, I married Yasuko Haba, who was working at the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Tokyo. She joined me in the traveling work until 1965, at which time we were invited to serve at the branch office in Tokyo. Since then we have served together​—first at the branch location in Tokyo, then in Numazu, and now in Ebina.

Mother remained a special pioneer minister until 1965. Since then she has kept active helping many persons accept Bible truths. She is now 79 years old but is comparatively healthy. We are happy that she lives nearby and can attend the same congregation that we do near the Ebina branch office.

We really thank Jehovah God that my father survived the atom-​bomb blast over Hiroshima. He maintained his faith, and it is my desire to welcome him back in the new world and relate to him how we were delivered out of Armageddon, the battle he so much wanted to see. (Revelation 16:14, 16; 21:3, 4)​—As told by Tsutomu Miura.

[Footnotes]

[Picture on page 11]

Katsuo and Hagino Miura, with their son Tsutomu

[Picture on page 15]

Tsutomu Miura working in Japan branch office

[Picture Credit Line on page 13]

Hiroshima Peace and Culture Foundation from material returned by the United States Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

Mountains​—Masterpieces of Creation

THE Andes, the Cascades, the Himalayas, the Rockies, the Alps, and the Urals​—they are merely some of the mountains of planet Earth. The immense size of these mountains can take your breath away.

Imagine standing before Mount Everest. It is the earth’s showpiece in height, 29,028 feet [8,848 m]​—a five-​and-a-half-​mile-​high [8.8 km] monument! And this one peak is just a small part of the magnificent Himalayas. With over 70 peaks that each reach a staggering 21,000 feet [6,400 m], this range is twice the size of the Alps in Europe!

Unique Life Zones

Most mountains have various life zones, or environments, largely because the temperature drops about 3.3 degrees Fahrenheit [1.8° C] for each 1,000 feet [300 m] of altitude. Variations in rain, soil, and wind also make each zone unique.

An example of the variety of such environments are the San Francisco Peaks in Arizona, U.S.A. They are the highest mountains in that state. If you start from the base of the mountains at the Coconino Plateau and climb up to the summit of one of the San Francisco Peaks, you will first observe an ecological community that includes lizards and cacti in desert conditions. Progressively you will enter cooler life zones, home to mountain goats and spruce trees. Finally you will reach the arctic-​alpine conditions of the summit. On just this one climb, you could encounter the same variety of life-​forms and environments that would otherwise be found only if you were to travel inland near sea level from Mexico to Canada!

Have you experienced the exhilarating sensation of breathing crisp, fresh mountain air? The lower temperature of the air is one explanation for this sensation. But where there are no cities nearby, mountain air can also be clearer and cleaner. In every cubic centimeter of air at 6,562 feet [2,000 m], there may be just 2,500 tiny particles of dust, pollen, and so forth. Compare that to the air in large cities, where as many as 150,000 of these particles can be in the same amount of air space! This explains why modern observatories are often built on mountains where clear, dry air provides ideal conditions for astronomical observation.

Of course, mountains are not so hospitable at higher elevations where atmospheric pressure and oxygen levels drop, solar radiation increases, and gale-​force winds cause temperatures to plummet. Amazingly, even under such circumstances, some life still thrives tenaciously. Consider, for example, the tiny salticid, or jumping spider. This mountain dweller is at home in the Himalayas at well over 20,000 feet [6,000 m]! How the creature survives is not entirely clear to scientists.

Effects on Man

Mountains have an impact on all mankind. For example, take a look at a world map. Notice how the Pyrenees, with peaks reaching over 10,000 feet [3,000 m], separate Spain from France and the rest of Europe. You will likewise note that many other political boundaries are drawn along massive mountain chains. These immovable barriers have restricted travel and trade between peoples of differing languages and customs. Hence, the presence of mountains likely has had a modifying influence on the shape and size of the country where you live, the language you speak, and the customs of your land.

High mountains also break up the flow of the wind. This can have an impact on the cycles of rain, snow, wind, and temperature. This, in turn, affects the variety of food you enjoy, the type of clothes you wear, perhaps even the architectural design of your home.

For example, the Kunlun, the Tien Shan, the Hindu Kush, the Himalayas, and other mountain ranges in Central Asia run from east to west. These silent giants halt the cold, dry winds sweeping down from Siberia and stop the warm, wet winds flowing up from the Indian Ocean. Thus, an entirely different climate exists to the north of these mountains from that on the south, affecting the lives of millions.

A Threatened Environment?

Surprisingly, mankind is damaging the beauty and splendor of the mountains. The lynx and bears that once roamed the Alps are gone because of uncontrolled hunting. Valuable topsoil is washed from many slopes as a result of deforestation. Industrial pollution and massive tourism are also having a severe impact on the delicate ecological balance of some mountainous regions.

Happily, mountains are a permanent feature of the earth’s landscape. (Compare Genesis 49:26.) Noteworthy is the fact that the Bible likens the coming new world government to a mountain. Filling the earth, this mountainlike government will repair any damage done to the planet. (Daniel 2:35, 44, 45) We thus have the assurance of forever enjoying these masterpieces of creation.

[Picture on page 16, 17]

Mont Blanc, in France, 15,771 feet

[Credit Line]

M. Thonig/​H. Armstrong Roberts

[Picture on page 18]

Mount Fuji, in Japan, 12,388 feet

[Credit Line]

A. Tovy/​H. Armstrong Roberts

The Bible’s Viewpoint

The “Weaker Vessel”​—An Insult to Women?

“WHY ARE WOMEN JUDGED BY THEIR GENDER RATHER THAN BY THEIR EXPERIENCE, ABILITY, AND INTELLIGENCE?”​—BETTY A.

“WOMEN ARE CONDITIONED TO THINK THAT THEY ARE LESSER CREATURES.”​—LYNN H.

DOES the Bible expression “weaker vessel” degrade women? The Bible verse in question is 1 Peter 3:7, which states: “You husbands, continue dwelling in like manner with them according to knowledge, assigning them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one, since you are also heirs with them of the undeserved favor of life, in order for your prayers not to be hindered.”

When Peter wrote these words to fellow Christians, women had very few rights, not only in the ancient pagan world but also among the apostate Jewish community. Were Peter and the early Christians advocating the then prevalent view of women?

Lesser Vessels?

How would first-​century readers of Peter’s words construe the term “weaker vessel”? The Greek word for vessel (skeuʹos) was used a number of times in the Greek Scriptures and refers to various containers, implements, utensils, and instruments. In calling women the “weaker vessel,” Peter was not degrading women, for the expression implied that the husband too was a fragile or weak vessel. Other Bible texts use similar imagery in referring to both women and men, such as “earthen vessels” (2 Corinthians 4:7) and “vessels of mercy” (Romans 9:23). True, Peter portrays women as the “weaker” of the sexes. But Romans 5:6 uses “weak” to apply to all humans​—male and female. Therefore, the early Christians would not have considered the term “weaker vessel” to be derogatory to women.

If anything, Peter’s words would have been viewed as elevating the status of women. In Peter’s day respect for women hardly existed. As God had long before foreseen, husbands often dominated and abused their wives physically, sexually, and emotionally. (Genesis 3:16) Thus, Peter’s counsel to Christian husbands implied, in effect: Do not exploit the power worldly society has given men.

Let us take a closer look at the term “weaker.” Peter in this verse was referring, not to emotional, but to physical traits. Men are weak vessels; in a comparative sense, women are weaker vessels. How so? Bone and muscle structure are such that men are usually endowed with more physical strength. However, there is no indication that Peter was making a comparison of moral, spiritual, or mental strength. Really, as far as emotional reactions to events go, women might best be described as different from men, not necessarily weaker or stronger. The Bible describes the strong moral character, the endurance, and the discernment of women who followed God’s way​—such as Sarah, Deborah, Ruth, and Esther, to name but a few. Humble men have no difficulty recognizing that women can be more intelligent than they are.

Nonetheless, some believe that a reference to women as “weaker” implies that they are lesser persons. But consider this example. A person has two useful containers. One is sturdy, the other less so. Is the second vessel somehow less valued because it is not as sturdy? Actually, the less sturdy one is usually treated with more care and honor than the sturdier one. Therefore, is a woman of lesser value because she has less physical strength than a man? Certainly not! Peter uses the term “weaker vessel,” not to denigrate women, but to foster respect.

“In Like Manner . . . According to Knowledge”

Peter exhorted husbands to “continue dwelling in like manner with them [their wives] according to knowledge.” “In like manner” to whom? In previous verses Peter was discussing Christ’s loving care for his followers, and he instructed husbands to care for their wives “in like manner.” (1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:7) Christ always placed his disciples’ welfare and interests ahead of his own personal desires and preferences. He was interested in their spiritual and physical welfare, and he took their limitations into consideration. Husbands are to imitate Christ’s loving example, to behave toward their wives “in like manner.”

A smooth-​running marriage does not happen by chance. Both husband and wife must know how to contribute to the success of the marriage. Hence, Peter’s advice is for husbands to continue dwelling with their wives “according to knowledge.” Husbands need to study how Jehovah and his Son, Jesus Christ, dealt with women. They need to know how God wants them to treat their wives.

In addition, husbands need to know their wives well​—their feelings, strengths, limitations, likes, and dislikes. They need to know how to respect their wives’ intelligence, experience, and dignity. The Bible says: “Husbands, continue loving your wives, just as the Christ also loved the congregation and delivered up himself for it. In this way husbands ought to be loving their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself, for no man ever hated his own flesh; but he feeds and cherishes it.”​—Ephesians 5:25, 28, 29.

Assign Them Honor

When Peter referred to women as the “weaker vessel,” he also stated that husbands should be “assigning them honor.” In Greek, the noun ti·meʹ conveys the sense of honor, esteem, value, preciousness. In other words, the assigning of honor is not simply an act of favor but the recognition of what is due them. Paul instructed all Christians, both men and women, as follows: “In brotherly love have tender affection for one another. In showing honor to one another take the lead.”​—Romans 12:10.

Jehovah God certainly does not consider women as mere showpieces. In Israel, God’s laws applied with equal force to both men and women who were guilty of adultery, incest, bestiality, and other crimes. (Leviticus 18:6-17, 23, 29; 20:10-12) Women could experience the benefits of the Sabbaths, the laws governing Nazirites, the festivals, and many other provisions of the Law. (Exodus 20:10; Numbers 6:2; Deuteronomy 12:18; 16:11, 14) The mother, as well as the father, was to be honored and obeyed.​—Leviticus 19:3; 20:9; Deuteronomy 5:16; 27:16; Proverbs 1:8.

Verses 10 to 31 of Proverbs chapter 31 honor “a capable wife” because of her faithfulness, industriousness, and wisdom in caring for her many responsibilities. She was duly recognized for her share in handling family business, as well as other financial matters. How different from the attitude of some men who think of women as mere ornaments! Later, in the early Christian congregation, women were empowered with holy spirit as witnesses of Christ. (Acts 1:14, 15; 2:3, 4; compare Joel 2:28, 29.) Thus, some women are destined to become heavenly judges of men, women, and even angels. (1 Corinthians 6:2, 3) True, women were not to teach in congregational assembly; nevertheless, there were situations when Christian women could pray or prophesy. They were assigned to be teachers of younger women, children, and to those outside the congregation.​—Matthew 24:14; 1 Corinthians 11:3-6; Titus 2:3-5; compare Psalm 68:11.

Another good indicator of what Peter had in mind when he said to assign them honor is found at 2 Peter 1:17. There we read that Jehovah honored Jesus by expressing his approval of him in the presence of others by stating: “This is my son, my beloved.” Similarly, a husband should show by his deeds, both in public and in private, that he assigns his wife honor.

Heirs of Life

Throughout history, men have often viewed women as worthy of little honor or respect​—as a slave, or as a mere instrument for gratifying men. The Christian concept of assigning honor to women certainly elevates them to a higher level of respect. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament observes that Peter’s admonition “contains a very important truth in regard to the female sex. Under every other system of religion but the Christian system, woman has been regarded as in every way inferior to man. Christianity teaches that . . . she is entitled to all the hopes and promises which religion imparts. . . . This single truth would raise the female sex everywhere from degradation, and check at once half the social evils of the race.”

Since Christ has ownership of both men and women, there is serious reason for husbands to cherish their wives as Christ’s property. Immediately after referring to women as the “weaker vessel,” Peter’s words continue: “Since you are also heirs with them of the undeserved favor of life, in order for your prayers not to be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7b) Peter indicated that a husband’s mistreating his wife would injure his relationship with God, blocking his prayers.

In no way is the term “weaker vessel” meant to insult women. While Jehovah set husbands as the head of the household, he does not subscribe to men mistreating women. Instead, he directs that the man, with knowledge of the woman, should extend care and honor to her.

The Bible directs both married and single men to assign honor to women, not treating them as lesser persons. Men and women who earnestly worship God and who dignify one another will receive rich blessings from the hand of God.​—Compare 1 Corinthians 7:16.

[Picture Credit Line on page 19]

Miss G. E. K. / Artist: Alice D. Kellogg 1862-1900

Courtesy of Joanne W. Bowie

Young People Ask . . .

How Can Unwed Mothers Make the Most of Their Situation?

LINDA’S emotions included shock, denial, fear, anger, hopelessness, and despair.a Testing had confirmed her worst fear​—she was three months pregnant. Unmarried and only 15 years old, Linda is just one of a million teens each year in the United States who get pregnant. Teen pregnancy, however, is a global problem, cutting across all ethnic and socioeconomic lines.

Some teenage girls imagine that a pregnancy will rescue them from an unhappy home life or solidify a relationship with a boyfriend. Others see a baby as a status symbol or as something of their own to hold and to love. The stark reality of single parenthood, however, soon dispels such fanciful notions. An unwed mother is forced to make tough, often agonizing, choices. She may also grapple with economic problems, emotional despair, loneliness, and the stresses of rearing a child without a mate. With good reason, then, our Creator commands Christians to “flee from fornication,” including premarital sex.​—1 Corinthians 6:18; Isaiah 48:17.

Sexual immorality is not tolerated among Jehovah’s Witnesses. (1 Corinthians 5:11-13) Even so, among them there are young unwed mothers. Some became pregnant before learning God’s standards. Others were raised as Christians, but fell into immorality. Some, having been disciplined by the congregation, repent of their wrongs. What help and direction does God’s Word offer for such youths?b

Should I Marry the Father?

The Bible makes it clear that abortion is against God’s law. (Exodus 20:13; compare Exodus 21:22, 23; Psalm 139:14-16.) It also teaches that a single mother has a responsibility to provide for her child, in spite of the undesirable circumstances of the child’s conception. (1 Timothy 5:8) In most cases, it is best for the girl to raise the child herself rather than put it up for adoption.c

In view of the hardships that raising a child by herself can bring, some mothers may feel it would be wise to marry the father of the child. But many teenage fathers feel little obligation to either the child or its mother. Besides, most young fathers are still of school age and unemployed. Entering into what one researcher calls “a potentially unstable marriage undertaken solely to prevent an out-​of-​wedlock birth” may only make a bad situation worse. Remember too that the Bible directs Christians to marry “only in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:39) Realizing this, Linda (mentioned at the outset) decided against marrying the 18-​year-​old father of her child. She explains: “He had no interest in God or the Bible.”

This does not necessarily mean leaving the young father out of the picture entirely. As the young child gets older, he may want to know his biological father. Or it may be that the young father or his parents feel some moral obligation to have a relationship with the child or to provide some financial support. Nevertheless, a girl’s parents may prefer that she have no further contact with the young man. (1 Thessalonians 4:3) In some lands, though, the courts have granted unmarried biological fathers legal rights similar to those of married fathers. Maintaining a civil relationship with the unmarried father and his family may therefore avert a bitter custody battle.d While some contact with the young father may be necessary, it should not be in a romantic or potentially compromising setting. Mature supervision is usually advisable.

Getting Help

Says the book Surviving Teen Pregnancy: “When you decide to keep and raise your baby, you choose instant adulthood. . . . You choose to leave behind a part of yourself that was more carefree, had fewer obligations or responsibilities.” A teen parent thus needs help and support. Reading appropriate medical literature (which may be easily accessible in a public library) may do much to help a nervous young mother develop confidence in her child-​care skills.

Especially valuable is the support of parents. One’s mother may be a veritable gold mine of child-​rearing experience. True, it may be awkward to ask for help. A girl’s parents may still be hurt and angry. They may also fear that the pregnancy will impact negatively upon their own life-​style. “My parents were upset because they had all these things they wanted to do,” recalls 17-​year-​old Donna. “Now they say they can’t because of me having this baby.” In time most parents work through their painful emotions and are willing to help in some way. A repentant youth can do much to ease tensions by acknowledging the pain she has caused and offering a sincere apology.​—Compare Luke 15:21.

What if the girl’s parents refuse to help out or simply cannot afford to allow her to continue living with them? In lands where public assistance is provided, an unwed mother may have little choice but to take advantage of it​—at least initially. The Bible permits Christians to use such provisions. However, this will mean living on a very strict budget. “It seems my biggest problem is money,” says 17-​year-​old Sharon. “I can buy food and diapers, but that’s it.” In time it may be possible to work an outside job. Trying to juggle motherhood, work, and spiritual activities will not be easy, but others have managed to do it.

Using Wisdom and Discernment in Dwelling Together

If one’s parents are agreeable, there may be real advantages to staying at home rather than trying to venture out on one’s own. Living at home is usually less expensive. Furthermore, the familiar surroundings of home may offer a sense of safety and security. Staying at home may also make it easier for a girl to continue her schooling. By graduating from secondary school, a girl greatly improves her chances of escaping a life of poverty.e

Of course, having three generations share a home can create stress and strain for everyone concerned. The single mother may have to deal with cramped living quarters. Parents and siblings may have to get used to having their sleep interrupted by a baby’s cry. The family routine may be disrupted. But Proverbs 24:3 says: “By wisdom a household will be built up, and by discernment it will prove firmly established.” Yes, if all concerned display unselfish love and consideration, friction within the family can be minimized.

Problems will also arise if the young mother tries to evade carrying her own load of responsibility and expects the grandmother to do all the work. (Compare Galatians 6:5.) Or it may be that the well-​intentioned grandmother virtually commandeers the care of her grandchild. Notes the book Facing Teenage Pregnancy: “Grandparents who raise the child of an unwed daughter as if it were their own may add to family conflict and role confusion.” While a grandparent’s help and support is invaluable, the Scriptures assign the responsibility of child rearing to parents. (Ephesians 6:1, 4) Open communication and cooperation can therefore do much to prevent misunderstandings.​—Proverbs 15:22.

You Are Not Alone

Although having a child out of wedlock is difficult, it is not the end of one’s life. God ‘forgives in a large way’ those who repent of their wrongs. (Isaiah 55:7) Meditating on this can help a single mother overcome feelings of self-​loathing that may come over her at times. When feeling discouraged, she can lean upon Jehovah and approach him in prayer. She can also implore God’s help in rearing her child.​—Compare Judges 13:8.

Jehovah also provides support through the Christian congregation. Though Jehovah’s Witnesses do not condone immorality, they give consideration to those who repentantly make changes in their lives in order to please God. (Romans 15:7; Colossians 1:10) Some in the congregation may be moved to find discreet ways to render some practical assistance to a single parent. (Compare Deuteronomy 24:17-20; James 1:27.) At the very least, they can provide friendship and a hearing ear when it is needed. (Proverbs 17:17) Although the parents committed a serious sin, the child is blameless. So the congregation can help if the mother shows a right attitude.

How much better it is not to violate God’s laws in the first place! But erring ones who have repented of their wayward course, and have acted accordingly, can be assured of Jehovah’s help in making the most of their situation.

[Footnotes]

[Picture on page 23]

An unwed mother needs help and support

Red Sea Wonders Beneath the Waves

People say that beauty is only skin deep. But real beauty often lies beneath the surface​—and this doesn’t just apply to people. I discovered this to be true in the case of the Red Sea. The barren coastline gave me no inkling of the incredible beauty awaiting the fortunate swimmer who peers beneath the surface of its waters.

THE Red Sea has a reputation for being one of the most interesting sites in the world for exploring the wonders of the coral reef. So I was keen to see firsthand if its fame was justified.

Once I had seen the underwater world for myself, I wanted to understand it better. Marine biologist Aaron Miroz, an expert on the marine life of the Red Sea, answered my questions.

Why are the waters of the Red Sea so prolific?

“The Red Sea looks and acts like a huge bottleneck, collecting many fish of the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, we have here an extraordinary abundance of corals. On the reef you can often find as many as 20 different species of corals growing on just one square yard of rock. What encourages coral growth is the ideal water temperature, which only varies by a few degrees throughout the year. Furthermore, the low rainfall in the area means that little sediment enters the sea. This, in turn, reduces the amount of pollutants, although I regret to say that during the last 15 years, the situation has worsened.”

What are the problems in safeguarding this marine treasure?

“When dealing with a relatively unspoiled habitat, pollution is the greatest problem. In the Red Sea, contamination comes from three main sources: phosphates, fish farms, and sewage from coastal towns. The popularity of the diving sites can also cause problems. The fragile coral reef can easily be damaged by careless divers.”

You have been studying the coral reef in the Red Sea for many years. What are some of the things you have learned?

“We have discovered that fish have their feeding schedules. Some start feeding at seven o’clock in the morning, feed for three hours, have a break, and then feed for another three hours in the afternoon. Some feed only at night. These schedules are important. If smaller fish were under constant pressure from predators throughout the day, they would be hard-​pressed to feed themselves. And fish, like humans, can be fussy eaters. The blue-​spotted grouper, for example, has a particular fancy for the fairy basslets, which are very common in the Red Sea. Our fish in the aquarium also have their favorite food​—some like tuna, while others prefer sardines.

“You might think that to a fish, all humans look alike, but that is not the case. Fish and even some invertebrates learn to recognize people. I remember an octopus who was once playfully slapped by one of our staff. He didn’t like being slapped, and he never again accepted food from that person. Incidentally, we have found that mild people work best with fish, whereas an aggressive or impatient person makes them nervous.”

What impresses a novice diver is the incredible variety of beauty and color.

“Sure enough, the colorful fish are impressive. But what many do not realize is that some fish use their colors as signals, somewhat like we use traffic lights. For example, when the red grouper is hunting rather than merely keeping watch over his territory, his color turns a darker shade of red. The clown fish, which is preyed upon by the grouper, can tell from the grouper’s color when he is ‘off duty.’ During these safe periods, a clown fish will boldly chase away a grouper who invades his territory.”

No doubt about it, the extraordinary beauty of God’s creation can be discovered in many unlikely places. My life was enriched by exploring just a tiny sample of this beauty. That brief visit to the realm beneath the waves deepened my appreciation for the natural treasures that our planet harbors.​—Contributed.

[Picture on page 26]

A lionfish leisurely drifted around, unconcerned about predators. They keep their distance, since his spiny fins pack a poisonous punch

[Picture on page 26]

The clown fish rarely strays far from home, which is among the tentacles of a large anemone. He is immune to the embrace as he helps keep his host clean

[Picture on page 26]

Butterfly fish come in an array of colors. Their waferlike bodies waved to and fro, reminding me of a butterfly

[Picture on page 26]

The Picasso fish, with his gaudy stripes and what looked like bright yellow lipstick, reminded me of the work of an abstract artist

[Picture on page 26]

The emperor angelfish has a multicolored coat that changes color and design while he is growing up

Watching the World

Railroad Is Forced to Backtrack

When a major railroad in Brazil instituted a new program to train its watchmen in the use of firearms, two of its employees faced a problem of conscience. As Jehovah’s Witnesses living by the Bible precept to ‘learn war no more,’ they felt strongly that it would be wrong for them to accept training in the use of lethal weapons. (Isaiah 2:4) They were summarily fired for their “insubordination” in taking such a stand. The railroad even refused their request to keep their former positions and simply forgo the training program and promotion that went with it. However, the Constitution of Brazil states: “Freedom of conscience and worship are inviolable, free exercise of religion being guaranteed, in the form of law.” The Regional Labor Court found the railroad guilty of firing the men without “just cause” and forced the company to pay them their due compensation.

Chagas’ Disease and the Blood Trade

Chagas’ disease, which is caused by a parasite and leads to heart failure after years of dormancy, currently infects some 18 million Latin Americans. It is often transmitted through transfusions of blood that has not been effectively tested. The Bolivian Times recently explained: “One of the reasons why the blood is probably not being screened in all cases is because of its commercialisation that takes place on a worldwide basis. The screening and analysis of blood for any disease reduces the profit that is incurred.” On December 24, 1993, El Diario of La Paz stated: “Fifty percent of the blood transfusions carried out in the country are contaminated with the following diseases: Chagas’, malaria, hepatitis, syphilis, and AIDS, the Bolivian Red Cross warned.”

Baby Hazards

Recently, Japan has seen a marked increase in the number of babies at the “crawling stage” swallowing poisons, the Health and Welfare Ministry reports. About half of all poisonous substances ingested by babies in 1992 involved cigarettes. Some drank mixtures of cigarette butts and ash, which had been left in beverage cans or in ashtrays containing liquid. Other dangerous substances swallowed by babies include, in order of frequency, medicines, toys, coins, food products, and cosmetics. Several cases resulted in serious illness. The Ministry warns that an amazingly large percentage of these accidents occur between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. when more family members are home and should be able to watch the children.

Baptism Controversy

Colorado Springs, U.S.A., which has become one of Christendom’s leading centers of evangelism, was recently embroiled in controversy over methods of converting children. According to The Denver Post, the Cornerstone Baptist Church uses a fleet of 16 buses to scour the area looking for children. Promises of candy, soda, and a carnival get the children eager to board the buses. Many parents let their children go but are unpleasantly surprised when the children come home with tales of getting baptized. Normally these “evangelists” have parents sign a consent form before baptizing the children, but that policy has been relaxed from time to time. According to the Post, the minister of the church says of the consent form: “It slows us down.”

Carrying Soccer to an Extreme

Some soccer fans in England have carried their devotion to an unusual extreme: They request that after they die, their ashes be scattered on the playing field of their favorite team. One popular team receives as many as 25 such requests each year. The practice has become so widespread that the English Football Association has had to issue a warning to soccer clubs on just how such human remains should be deposited. According to The Medical Post, their advice includes the following: “There is no need to sprinkle all the ashes. You can just scatter a sample. A large pile could kill the grass. . . . Brush the ashes about with a broom to ensure a light and even spread.”

Taoism on the Upswing

“The grandest in history.” That is how the magazine China Today described the September 1993 celebration of the Luotion Grand Prayer Ceremony, a Taoist religious observance. The ceremony was held at the White Cloud Temple in Beijing, and participants came from Taoist temples in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States. “The principal aim” of the ceremony, according to the magazine, “was to request heaven that it grant happiness to people all over the world.” Eleven altars were set up, scriptures were chanted, and devotions were paid to hundreds of gods​—including the “savior” god who is supposed to save people from the misery of their lot in life. An abbot of the Hong Kong temple told the assemblage that Taoism is above worldliness and so has nothing to do with politics. The chairman of a Taoist temple in Taiwan told journalists that Taoism advocates patriotism and fraternity.

Cost of Averting Disaster

How much would it cost to avert the disastrous change in global weather patterns that many scientists fear? Klaus-​Peter Möller, leader of the Eduard Pestel Institute for System Research [German: Leiter des Eduard-​Pestel-​Instituts für Systemforschung] in Hannover, Germany, calculated that it could be done using current technology. According to German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, Möller’s plan would require a 75-​percent reduction in consumption of such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and gas, replacing them with alternative fuels that do not emit carbon dioxide. What about the cost? According to Möller’s calculations, the tally would amount to $22.5 trillion, or about $4,000 for every man, woman, and child alive today. As the newspaper concludes, the job “would require mankind as a whole to accomplish a feat of incredible magnitude.”

Who Saw Him First?

Pope John Paul II recently spoke in support of a tradition that surmises that “after the resurrection, Jesus first appeared to the Madonna before anybody else, before the angel announced it to the women,” states Corriere della Sera. This view, completely unsupported by the Gospels, has aroused no little perplexity among some. Commenting on the pope’s opinions and the role of Mary in Catholic tradition, Italian Catholic writer Sergio Quinzio noted that “popular devotion” to Mary has always tended to lead Catholics “even beyond what the Holy Scriptures have handed down to us.” This most recent “peremptory formulation,” he added, “forces the texts beyond what they say.”

“Toad-​Smoking” Succeeds “Toad-​Licking”

Reportedly, it has long been known by some in the drug culture that certain toads ooze from their skin a hallucinogenic chemical called bufotenine. However, the chemical is also toxic​—so much so that it sometimes kills dogs who catch and eat the toads. Therefore, reports The Wall Street Journal, some drug users have been scared away from “toad-​licking” and have resorted instead to “toad-​smoking.” They dry the venomous toad slime and smoke it, reasoning that the heat will rid the stuff of its toxins. Be that as it may, toad abuse is now illegal. Bufotenine is on the list of dangerous and illegal drugs in the United States. At least one dealer has been arrested. His toads, the Journal reports, were impounded.

Cancer Increases Among French Women

In France more women are smoking than ever before. Among adolescent smokers, girls now outnumber boys, and the number of women who are heavy smokers (more than 20 cigarettes a day) has more than doubled since 1977. Not surprisingly, the number of women developing smoking-​related cancers is now also beginning to increase. The Paris newspaper Le Figaro reports that there are 20,000 new cases of lung cancer in France each year, and more than 800,000 earth wide. Deaths from bronchial cancer in women have tripled in the United States and Canada and have more than doubled in Britain, Japan, and Sweden. At a recent Paris meeting on respiratory cancers, doctors emphasized that by far “the most effective weapon against smoking-​related cancers is to stop smoking.”

Church Decline in the Netherlands

If current trends continue, three fourths of the Dutch people will not belong to any church by the year 2020, according to Staatscourant, the official newspaper of the Dutch government. A recent study entitled “Secularization in the Netherlands 1966-1991” finds four main groups among the Dutch populace: 28 percent have had no religious upbringing; 33 percent have had such an upbringing but have since left the church; 28 percent had a religious upbringing but now attend church seldom or never; and only 11 percent attend church frequently. Staatscourant notes that the drift away from the churches has been most pronounced among Roman Catholics and comments: “The views of Roman Catholics seem to contrast with those of their spiritual leaders. One gets the impression that their authority is ignored by church members.”

From Our Readers

Breast Cancer Thank you very much for publishing the series “Breast Cancer​—Every Woman’s Fear.” (April 8, 1994) I have checked myself from time to time and have simply thought that my glands were hard. Feeling very uncertain, I did nothing about it. However, after reading the article, I went to the hospital and learned I had cancer. Arrangements were made for me to have an operation. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

T. Y., Japan

Since my surgery, I haven’t been able to read anything about cancer. So when the magazine came out, I wasn’t thrilled about it. But I usually read all issues of Awake! from cover to cover, and that night I decided to read a little and stop if I got scared. Well, I couldn’t stop reading it. It was so well-​done, so informative, and so caring.

G. K., United States

The article helped me see how Jehovah understands our fears of facing a life-​threatening illness. I had always thought people were weak or lacked faith if they felt this way. It really helped me to see the deep compassion Jehovah has.

K. G., United States

If ever a magazine spoke to someone, that issue surely spoke to me. My husband and I sat on the couch with our medical bills for my breast-​cancer surgery spread all around us. As we wrote check after check, the mailman delivered this issue of Awake! I read the article that very day, with more than ordinary interest. Thank you on behalf of all the women who will draw courage from the articles.

E. J., United States

Cities I am 16 years old and was thrilled to read the series on cities. In geography class we were asked to give a short talk on the subject of our choice. I based mine on the article “The City That Was Abundant With People.” (January 22, 1994) After I read my talk out loud in class, everyone applauded. Thanks for helping me to improve my understanding of geography.

T. R., Germany

In the article “Let Us Build Ourselves a City,” you said: “In 1900, London was the only city in all the world with a population of one million.” (January 8, 1994) But in the following issue, you said: “By the mid-1800’s it [Edo, now called Tokyo] had a population well in excess of a million people.” Which is correct?

S. T., Japan

The statement regarding London was apparently in error. It was based on the 1985 edition of the “Illustrated Atlas of the World” (Rand McNally and Company). However, “The World Almanac and Book of Facts 1993” appears to be correct in saying that several cities had populations of over a million as of 1900. Sorry for the confusion.​—ED.

The Money Chase As a young reader of Awake!, I was really touched by the series “The Money Chase​—Where Will It End?” (March 22, 1994) It seems to me that my peers have only one goal: to fill their wallets. However, to follow what Jehovah teaches is much more honorable than to worship things that are perishable.

K. R., France

Sports Thanks for the item “Does God Take Sides in Sports?” (February 8, 1994) I have made the mistake of praying for victory in a track race; I’ve also prayed for the defeat of my competitors. Now I know that Jehovah’s will is not connected with sports. I am dedicating my life to Jehovah, and I feel more comfortable knowing that he is really listening to my prayers.

J. T., United States

Hippopotamus to the Rescue!

WEIGHING up to four tons, the hippopotamus is the second largest living land mammal. Its powerful jaws can break apart a canoe in a single bite. Thus, a group of men at Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, were quite surprised when they saw a hippo behave in a way that struck them as out of character​—to say the least.

The men, while near a dam, saw two impalas being hotly pursued by nine wild dogs. Finding no escape route, the impalas plunged into the water. The dogs trotted along the edge of the water, anticipating where the impalas would likely emerge.

Eventually, one exhausted impala began swimming for a far shore, without realizing that the dogs were there waiting. As the impala neared land, however, the men saw a nearby hippopotamus swimming toward the impala. Upon reaching it, reports the magazine African Wildlife, the hippo “turned it around and compelled it with a gentle nudge to swim in the opposite direction.” The impala obeyed. The hippo followed, giving an occasional nudge when the impala showed signs of unsteadiness.

As the impala reached the water’s edge, the men watched the hippo gently but firmly propel the impala ashore. The impala took a few faltering steps, then stopped and stood shivering. Soon, the impala began walking away from the water. The hippo followed until both disappeared from view.

What happened to the other impala? The men report that the wild dogs “had been so engrossed in watching the rescue that the other impala had escaped unnoticed.”

Treasure in the Garbage

That is what a person in Hungary felt he had found. He wrote to Jehovah’s Witnesses and explained:

“I would like to make a request of your organization. I would like to order from you The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom and the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth.

“Let me explain the reason for my request. In my city I work with a garbage truck where I found the magazine. I cleaned it and took it home with me. At home I studied it with my family. We would like to increase our little knowledge. Therefore, we ask you for your understanding and help.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses are pleased to respond to such requests for Bible literature and for help to come to a better knowledge of the Bible. Therefore, if you would like to have a copy of The Watchtower or would like someone to call at your home and consider with you the Bible-​based hope presented in the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, please write to Watchtower, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201-2483, or to the appropriate address listed on page 5.