November 22

Page Two

Should You Contact the Spirit Realm? 3-10

People everywhere try to contact the spirit realm. They search for knowledge of the future. They seek guidance in the everyday problems of life. Is it really possible to contact the spirit realm? Who dwell there? Should you try to contact them?

Removing Misconceptions About Jehovah’s Witnesses 18

How this was accomplished by a guest speaker before a Rotary Club in San Francisco, California.

The Pilgrims and Their Struggle for Freedom 24

What prompted these religious people to risk a long and arduous voyage across a treacherous ocean in such a tiny ship?

[Picture Credit Line on page 2]

Harper’s Encyclopædia of United States History

Contact With the Spirit Realm

IN THE center of a typical West African town stood an attractive one-story building, painted white and green. In the reception room, two secretaries worked at typewriters. Several people lounged in chairs, waiting to see the babaláwo, the diviner.

Behind a desk in the adjacent office, beside a fax machine, sat the babaláwo himself. Heavyset, with graying hair, he wore long white robes—expensive, embroidered. “My father was a diviner,” he said. “I was born into the tradition. I grew up in it. By the time I was five, when my father went to divine, I went with him. I watched how he did it, and I copied him until it became part and parcel of me.”

The babaláwo gestured toward a large wooden display board that outlined the intricate divination system that his people had used for countless generations. Based on the casting of 16 palm nuts, it is a system that has spread throughout West Africa and beyond. “People come to me with all kinds of problems,” he said. “Problems with women, sterility, joblessness, insanity, health, and so on. Depending on the results of the divination, appeal is made either to the ancestors or to the heavenly bodies [divinities]. Whichever the case, some type of sacrifice must be performed.”

Traditional religious practices, including divination, are strong in the area, but so are the churches of Christendom. Not far from the babaláwo’s offices are whitewashed buildings with signs in front: King Solomon II Church, Cherubim and Seraphim, Celestial Church of Christ, Christ Apostolic Church, Christ Trumpeters Church. These churches coexist with and sometimes embrace the practices of traditional religion. Said the babaláwo: “Recently I was talking with the bishop. He came here. After we had discussed matters for about 30 minutes, he said he wanted us to map out some sort of dialogue where Christians and traditionalists can sit down to exchange ideas and clear up misunderstandings.”

Doors to the Spirit World

Such misunderstandings often involve the identity of those who reside in the spirit realm. Throughout Africa south of the Sahara, there is widespread belief that there are two groups of beings who dwell in the spirit world. The first group is made up of divinities, or gods, who have never been humans. The second group consists of the ancestors, or spirits of the dead, whose responsibility it is to ensure the survival and prosperity of their families on earth. Both divinities and ancestors are believed to have power either to help or to harm those on earth. Consequently, both must be shown proper respect and homage.

Similar beliefs are found in many parts of the world. Using various means, people everywhere approach the forces of the supernatural, seeking knowledge of the future and help and guidance in the everyday problems of life. Is it really possible to obtain help from the spirit realm? Jesus Christ, who had lived there, showed that it is. He said: “Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) But to receive that help, we must ask the right person, seek in the right manner, and knock on the right door. If we knock on the wrong door, it may be opened by someone who will do us harm, not good.

It is vital, therefore, to know who live in the spirit realm and who do not. We also need to know the difference between those who will help us and those who will harm us. Finally, we need to know what we must do to receive help from the ones prepared to give it. The following articles will examine these matters.

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Photo on pages 3-4: The Star, Johannesburg, S.A.

Who Live in the Spirit Realm?

THE world has become a “supermarket” of religious beliefs and creeds. In Africa alone there are thousands of religious groups, each with its own opinions about what goes on in the spirit realm. But for a clear and truthful picture, we need to look to the Bible. It identifies the spirits—both good and bad—that inhabit the spirit realm. It also shows to whom we may successfully appeal for help and protection.

Jehovah, the Almighty God

Traditional religion in Africa teaches that presiding over the ancestors and divinities is an almighty God. States the book African Mythology: “There is no doubt that nearly all, if not all, African peoples believe in a Supreme Being, the creator of all things.” Says the book African Religion in African Scholarship: “Since God is the absolute controller of the universe, all other beings and all power exist in consequence of Him. Absolute authority and power is vested in Him.”

The Bible agrees that there is One who reigns supreme in the spirit realm. It describes him as “the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the God great, mighty and fear-inspiring, who treats none with partiality nor accepts a bribe.”—Deuteronomy 10:17.

Throughout Africa there are hundreds of names and titles given to the one considered supreme. Yet, what does God’s Word say about the divine name? The psalmist wrote: “You, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:18) This sacred name occurs over 7,000 times in the Bible record, though some Bible translators have replaced it with titles such as “God” or “Lord.”

Because Jehovah is almighty in power, he can help us. He describes himself as “a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, preserving loving-kindness for thousands, pardoning error and transgression and sin, but by no means will he give exemption from punishment.”—Exodus 34:6, 7; 1 Samuel 2:6, 7.

Angels, Powerful Ministers of God

Long before Jehovah created humans or even the earth itself, he created spirit persons in heaven. The Bible says that at the time when God “founded the earth . . . , all the [angelic] sons of God began shouting in applause.” (Job 38:4-7) There are millions of angels. Jehovah’s servant Daniel wrote of a vision of heavenly things in which he saw “a thousand thousands that kept ministering to [God], and ten thousand times ten thousand that kept standing right before him.”—Daniel 7:10.

The first spirit person that Jehovah created was the one who came to be known as Jesus Christ. (John 17:5; Colossians 1:15) Before he lived as a man on earth, Jesus lived in heaven as a mighty spirit creature. After his death as a human, Jesus was resurrected to heaven, where he resumed life as a mighty spirit creature.—Acts 2:32, 33.

Jesus has great power in heaven. At Jude 9, Jesus, also known as Michael, is called “the archangel,” meaning that he is the chief, or principal, angel. (1 Thessalonians 4:16) He also possesses authority over the earth. Jehovah has given him “rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him.” (Daniel 7:13, 14) Despite his great authority, Jesus remains subject to his Father, Jehovah.—1 Corinthians 11:3.

While faithful angels minister to Jehovah, they also minister to God’s servants on earth. The apostle Paul wrote: “Are [angels] not all spirits for public service, sent forth to minister for those who are going to inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14) They are especially concerned that people learn the truth about Jehovah. The apostle John saw in a vision an “angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people, saying in a loud voice: ‘Fear God and give him glory.’”—Revelation 14:6, 7.

Satan and the Demons, Enemies of God and Man

Sadly, not all angels have been faithful to God. Some rebelled against him, becoming enemies of both God and mankind. The principal rebel is Satan the Devil.

While many today deny that Satan exists, nobody denies that evil exists. Believing in evil while disbelieving that it has a cause leads to “an inescapable problem,” observes the book The Death of Satan. “We feel something that our culture no longer gives us the vocabulary to express.”

In contrast, the Bible does have the vocabulary and clearly spells out the truth about the source of evil. It explains that the angelic creatures whom Jehovah created were all righteous and good; he did not create any wicked angels. (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 5:4) Yet, the angels, like humans, were given the ability to choose between right and wrong. One of these perfect spirit sons developed a selfish desire to seize for himself the worship that rightfully belongs to Jehovah. He thus earned the name Satan, which means “Resister.” (Compare James 1:14, 15.) Satan is no mere trickster, as some African religions teach; neither is he a “bodyguard” who protects those who make regular sacrifices to him. The Bible shows him to be thoroughly evil and vicious.

Other angels joined Satan’s rebellion against God. These demon angels are also enemies of people on earth. They too are malicious and evil. In times past, they made some humans speechless and blind. (Matthew 9:32, 33; 12:22) Others, including children, they afflicted with illness or insanity. (Matthew 17:15, 18; Mark 5:2-5) Clearly, no sensible person would want to have anything to do with Satan or those demons.

Where Are the Ancestors?

Millions of people in Africa and elsewhere believe that death is not an end to life but merely a transition, a passage to life in the spirit realm, the domain of both divinities and ancestors. Scholar John Mbiti, an expert on African religions, writes about the belief in ancestors, whom he calls the “living-dead”: “These are the ‘spirits’ with which African peoples are most concerned . . . They know and have interest in what is going on in the family [on earth]. . . . They are the guardians of family affairs, traditions, ethics and activities. Offence in these matters is ultimately an offence against the forefathers who, in that capacity, act as the invisible police of the families and communities. Because they are still ‘people’, the living-dead are therefore the best group of intermediaries between men and God: they know the needs of men, they have ‘recently’ been here with men, and at the same time they have full access to the channels of communicating with God.”

What, though, does the Bible say about the condition of the dead? It shows that there is no such thing as the “living-dead.” People are either alive or dead—never both. God’s Word teaches that the dead are unable to hear, see, speak, or think. The dead are in no position to police the living. The Bible says: “The dead . . . are conscious of nothing at all . . . Their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished . . . There is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol [the grave], the place to which you are going.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10) “[Man] goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish.”—Psalm 146:4.

Returning to the Dust

If you find this difficult to accept, consider what happened to the first man, Adam. Jehovah formed Adam “out of dust from the ground.” (Genesis 2:7) When Adam disobeyed Jehovah’s command, the penalty was death. God said to him: “You [will] return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return.”—Genesis 3:19.

Before Jehovah created Adam from the dust, Adam did not exist. So when he ‘returned to the ground,’ he again became lifeless, like the dust. He did not cross over to the realm of ancestral spirits. He did not go to heaven or hell. When he died, that was the end of him.

Does the same thing happen to other humans at death? Yes, it does. The Bible states: “All [both humans and animals] are going to one place. They have all come to be from the dust, and they are all returning to the dust.” (Ecclesiastes 3:20) The Bible does promise that God will awaken the human dead to life in a paradise earth, but that time is yet future. (John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15) Meanwhile, we should not fear the dead or make sacrifices to them, since they can neither help us nor harm us.

Satan and his demons want to mislead people about the condition of their dead ancestors, so they promote the lie that people live on after death. One way they do this is through false stories. (1 Timothy 4:1) They also use visions, dreams, and spirit mediums to deceive people into thinking that they have communicated with the dead. But it is not the dead that are contacted. Rather, it is demons who pretend to be people who have died. That is why Jehovah strongly condemns those who inquire of the dead, either directly or indirectly, through other means, such as divination.—Deuteronomy 18:10-12.

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By means of visions, dreams, and spirit mediums, the demons deceive and frighten people

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To mislead people, demons pretend to be those who have died

Our Best Friend Is in the Spirit Realm

THE Bible gives us a clear picture of those who live in the spirit realm. Jehovah God is supreme in heaven. Jesus Christ is next to Jehovah in power and authority. Angels faithful to God serve as ministers to both God and his people on earth. Satan and his demons oppose God and mislead humans. The dead are asleep in death until God resurrects them.

The Demons Want Our Worship

Since the dead are lifeless, there is nothing to be gained by worshiping them. Making sacrifices to the dead only promotes the lies of Satan and the demons.

Do God’s angels desire our worship? By no means! Faithful angels give glory to God and encourage humans to do the same. Twice, the apostle John tried to worship angels, but they rebuked him, saying: “Be careful! Do not do that! . . . Worship God.”—Revelation 19:10; 22:8, 9.

Satan and his demons, in contrast with faithful angels, want to be both worshiped and glorified. This was evident when Satan tempted Jesus when Jesus was a man on earth. The Bible relates: “The Devil took [Jesus] along to an unusually high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to him: ‘All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.’”—Matthew 4:8, 9.

Jesus replied: “Go away, Satan! For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’” (Matthew 4:10) Jesus knew Jehovah’s Law, and he refused to violate it.—Deuteronomy 6:13.

Though Satan was not able to make Jesus worship him, he has succeeded with others. Of course, few people worship Satan deliberately. Nevertheless, by means of trickery, deceit, lies, and fear, Satan and the demons have turned so many people away from the pure worship of Jehovah that the apostle John wrote: “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) Those who worship in ways contrary to God’s Word honor Satan, not Jehovah. The Bible warns: “The things which the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God.”—1 Corinthians 10:20.

Worship Belongs to Jehovah

Our worship should be directed to God alone. Jehovah told Moses: “You must not have any other gods against my face. You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion.”—Exodus 20:3-5.

Although Jehovah is awesome in majesty, he is approachable. The disciple James wrote: “Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.” (James 4:8) The apostle Paul said: “[God] is not far off from each one of us.” (Acts 17:27) And the apostle John wrote: “This is the confidence that we have toward [Jehovah], that, no matter what it is that we ask according to his will, he hears us. Further, if we know he hears us respecting whatever we are asking, we know we are to have the things asked since we have asked them of him.”—1 John 5:14, 15.

Notice that John wrote that Jehovah will grant our requests if we ask “according to his will.” To know what God’s will is, we must learn what the Bible teaches. Jehovah’s Witnesses will be happy to help you understand the Bible.

As you learn more about Jehovah, you will gain more knowledge about those who live in the spirit realm. This knowledge brings freedom from superstitions, beliefs, and traditions that Satan uses to hold people in fear and bondage. Through accurate knowledge of God, you will learn to trust in him to help you avoid or overcome everyday problems of life. You can become a friend of God. And God will prove to be for you “a refuge and strength, a help that is readily to be found during distresses.”—Psalm 46:1.

Wicked Forces to Be Done Away With

Never doubt that the spirit forces of good will triumph over the spirit forces of evil. A war has already been fought in the spirit realm that has cleansed the heavens of Satan and his evil companions. The book of Revelation states: “War broke out in heaven: Michael [the resurrected Jesus Christ] and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.”—Revelation 12:7-9.

What was the result of that war? The report continues: “On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.” (Revelation 12:12) Those in heaven could rejoice, since Satan and his demons were no longer there to cause trouble. His being cast from heaven, however, has brought much woe, great trouble, to those on earth. We are living in that time of woe now.—2 Timothy 3:1-5.

A Future Without Evil

Yet, the Bible also offers hope. It assures us that the Devil has “a short period of time” before he is put out of action. When that happens, Jehovah will bring wonderful blessings to all on earth who seek his friendship. Consider a few of his promises for the future:

“There will come to be plenty of grain on the earth; on the top of the mountains there will be an overflow.”—Psalm 72:16.

“The work of their own hands my chosen ones will use to the full. They will not toil for nothing.”—Isaiah 65:22, 23.

“No resident will say: ‘I am sick.’”—Isaiah 33:24.

“At that time the eyes of the blind ones will be opened, and the very ears of the deaf ones will be unstopped. At that time the lame one will climb up just as a stag does, and the tongue of the speechless one will cry out in gladness.”—Isaiah 35:5, 6.

“And [God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”—Revelation 21:4.

“The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.”—Psalm 37:29.

Only Jehovah, the true God, can fulfill such grand promises. Nothing will stop him from accomplishing his purpose. “With God no declaration will be an impossibility.”—Luke 1:37.

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Once you are God’s friend, he will help you deal with the problems of life

‘It’s Only Temporary!’—My Life With Kidney Disease

I still remember that day in early January 1980 as if it were yesterday. My mother asked me to go to the store to buy a loaf of bread, but just as I was leaving the house, the phone rang. It was my doctor calling to give us the results of my lab tests. Suddenly, Mom burst into tears. Between sobs, she relayed the bad news to me. My kidneys were failing. I had one, at the most two, years of kidney function left. The doctor was right—one year later I was on dialysis.

I WAS born on May 20, 1961, the first of six children. When I was about six months old, my mother noticed blood in the urine in my diapers. After extensive tests, my condition was diagnosed as Alport’s syndrome, a rare congenital defect. For unknown reasons, males with the disease often suffer renal failure after a time. My parents and I were not told this, so I did not worry about kidney disease.

Then, in the summer of 1979, I noticed an ammonialike odor to my breath in the morning. I didn’t really pay much attention to it, but then I started feeling fatigued. I thought I was just out of shape, so I shrugged it off. In December I had my annual checkup, and in January I got the telephone call mentioned above.

As I drove to the store—after all, my mother still needed the bread—I was in shock. I couldn’t believe that this was happening to me. “I’m only 18 years old!” I cried. I pulled over and stopped. The enormity of what was happening was beginning to dawn on me.

“Why Me?”

As I sat there at the side of the road, I began to weep. With tears running down my face, I blurted out: “Why me, God? Why me? Please don’t let my kidneys fail!”

As the months of 1980 went by, I felt sicker and sicker; and my prayers became more desperate and tearful. By the end of the year, I was passing out and had frequent vomiting spells due to the buildup of waste toxins in my blood, which my failing kidneys were not filtering out. In November I went on one last camping trip with some friends. But I was so sick that I just sat in the car the whole weekend, shivering. I could not keep warm, no matter what I did. Finally, in January 1981, the inevitable happened—my kidneys completely failed. It was either start dialysis or die.

Life on Dialysis

A few months earlier, our family doctor had told me about a new type of dialysis that does not involve needles and that cleanses the blood inside the body. The process is known as peritoneal dialysis (PD). This immediately appealed to me, as I have a strong aversion to needles. The process had become a viable alternative for some dialysis patients.

Amazingly, our bodies have a membrane that can function like an artificial kidney. The peritoneum—a smooth, transparent membrane that forms a sac around the digestive organs—may be used as a filter to cleanse the blood. The inner side of this membrane lines a space called the peritoneal cavity. The peritoneum is like a deflated bag, sandwiched between the organs of the abdomen.

Here is how PD works: A special dialysis fluid is placed in the peritoneal cavity through a catheter (tube) that has been surgically implanted in the lower abdomen. The fluid contains dextrose, and by means of osmosis, waste products and extra fluid from the blood are pulled through the peritoneum into the dialysis fluid, which is within the peritoneal cavity. The waste products that would normally have been eliminated as urine are now in the dialysis fluid. Four times a day, you must perform an exchange—drain the used fluid and then fill the cavity with fresh fluid. An exchange takes about 45 minutes to complete. It’s sort of like an oil change—drain out the old and replace with the new to increase your mileage and help your body run smoothly!

In the beginning of January 1981, I had the necessary catheter implanted in my lower right side. Then, I went through two weeks of training on the procedure. If the process is not done properly, using strict aseptic technique, a person can develop peritonitis—a serious and potentially fatal infection of the peritoneum.

In the summer of 1981, about six months after I started PD, my parents got another phone call that was to have a profound impact on my life.

Shopping for a New Kidney

Since January 1981, I had been on the national list for a kidney transplant.a I hoped that with a transplant my life would go back to the way it had been. Little did I know what lay ahead!

A phone call in mid-August informed us that a donor had been found. When I got to the hospital, at about 10 p.m., blood samples were taken to make sure I was a suitable match for the transplant. The kidney was made available by the family of a young man who had died in an accident earlier that day.

Surgery was scheduled for the following morning. Before the operation could be performed, a major issue had to be addressed, as I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and my Bible-trained conscience will not permit me to accept a blood transfusion. (Acts 15:28, 29) That first night the anesthesiologist came to see me. He urged me to agree to have blood available in the operating room, just in case. I said no.

“What am I supposed to do if something goes wrong? Let you die?” he asked.

“Do whatever else you have to do, but no blood is to be given to me, no matter what.”

After he left, the surgeons came in. I discussed the same issue with them, and much to my relief, they agreed to operate without blood.

The three-and-a-half-hour operation went smoothly. The surgeon said that I lost very little blood. When I awoke in the recovery room, three things assaulted my senses—first hunger and thirst and then pain! But all of that faded into the background when I saw a bag on the floor, filling with a pinkish-yellow fluid. It was urine from my new kidney. I was finally putting out urine! When the catheter was removed from my bladder and I was able to urinate like anyone else, I was very happy.

My joy, however, was short-lived. Two days later I got depressing news—my new kidney was not working. I would have to resume dialysis in the hopes that it would give the new kidney time to kick in. I continued on dialysis for several weeks.

It was now mid-September, and I had been in the hospital nearly a month. The hospital was 50 miles [80 km] from my home, so it was difficult for my Christian brothers and sisters to visit me. I missed my congregation very much. I received tape recordings of the congregation meetings, but when I listened to them, I got all choked up. I spent many lonely hours talking to Jehovah God in prayer, asking him for the strength to keep on enduring. I didn’t know it then, but even more difficult tests lay ahead.

Not Afraid to Die

It had been six long weeks since the transplant, and by now it was painfully obvious that my body had rejected the kidney. My abdomen was swollen grotesquely; the doctors told me that the rejected kidney would have to come out. Again, the question of blood came up. The doctors explained that this time the surgery was even more serious, because my blood count was very low. I patiently but firmly explained my Bible-based stand, and they finally agreed to do the surgery without blood.b

After the surgery, things went downhill very fast. While I was in the recovery room, my lungs began to fill with fluid. After an entire night of intense dialysis, I was a little better. But two days later my lungs filled up again. Another night of dialysis followed. I do not remember much about that night, but I do remember my father by my side, saying: “One more breath, Lee! Come on. You can do it! One more breath. That’s it, keep breathing!” I was so tired, more tired than I had ever been. I just wanted it to be over and to wake up in God’s new world. I was not afraid to die.—Revelation 21:3, 4.

The next morning my condition was grave. My hematocrit, the measure of red blood cells in circulating blood, was down to 7.3—normal is more than 40! The doctors were not optimistic about my condition. They repeatedly tried to get me to accept a blood transfusion, which they said was vital to my recovery.

I was moved to an intensive care unit, and then my hematocrit dropped to 6.9. But with the help of my mother, my hematocrit slowly began to rise. In a blender at home, she made drinks out of foods high in iron and brought them to me. She even drank them with me to encourage me. A mother’s love for her children is a wonderful thing.

When I was released from the hospital in the middle of November, I had a hematocrit of 11. Early in 1987, I started taking EPO (erythropoietin), a synthetic hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to send fresh red blood cells into the bloodstream, and now my hematocrit is about 33.c

‘It’s Only Temporary, Lee!’

I went on to have other major surgeries in 1984, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, and 1996—all a result of my failed kidneys. During these many years of living with kidney disease, one thought that has helped sustain me is, ‘It’s only temporary.’ Whatever our problems, physical or otherwise, they will be corrected under God’s Kingdom in the coming new world. (Matthew 6:9, 10) Whenever I face a new challenge and start feeling down, I just tell myself, ‘It’s only temporary, Lee!’ and it helps me put things back into perspective.—Compare 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18.

The year 1986 held the biggest surprise for me—I got married. I had thought I would never get married. ‘Who would ever want to marry me?’ I had wondered. But then Kimberly came along. She saw the man I am on the inside, not the one wasting away on the outside. She saw, too, that my condition is only temporary.

On June 21, 1986, Kimberly and I were married in our local Kingdom Hall in Pleasanton, California. We have decided not to have any children, since my disease is hereditary. But perhaps this too is temporary. In God’s new world, we would like to have children if that is Jehovah’s will.

I have the privilege of serving as an elder in the Highland Oaks Congregation in California, and Kimberly serves as a full-time evangelizer. The ordeal in 1981 ravaged my body and left me with little stamina. Since then, my sister has developed a mild form of Alport’s syndrome, and two of my brothers, who have the disease, suffered renal failure and are on dialysis. My other two brothers are very healthy.

I continue on peritoneal dialysis, and I am grateful for the mobility it gives me. I look to the future with hope and confidence because, after all, the problems of today—including kidney disease—are only temporary.—As told by Lee Cordaway, who died before this article was printed.

Awake! does not recommend any particular method of medical treatment. This article is not meant to discourage other forms of treatment, such as hemodialysis. There are pros and cons to each method, and an individual must make his own conscientious decision about which method he will employ.

[Footnotes]

[Diagram on page 13]

How peritoneal dialysis works

Liver

Loops of small intestine

Catheter (receives the clean solution; releases the old solution)

Peritoneum

Peritoneal cavity

Bladder

[Picture on page 12]

With my wife, Kimberly

Tiger! Tiger!

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN INDIA

‘I ONCE was walking along a narrow ridge,’ recalls Dr. Charles McDougal, who has spent many years studying the tiger in the Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal. ‘As I was walking, a tiger was coming from the opposite direction. We kind of met at the top, and there was a little distance between us—about 15 paces.’ Dr. McDougal stood still. Rather than staring the tiger in the eye, which a tiger regards as a challenge, he let his gaze go over the tiger’s shoulder. The tiger remained crouched down but made no move to attack. After several long minutes, Dr. McDougal took a few steps backward. ‘Then,’ he says, ‘I simply turned around and walked back to where I came from.’

At the turn of the century, there were 100,000 tigers in their native Asia, including about 40,000 in India. But by 1973 the world population of these magnificent creatures had been reduced to under 4,000, mainly as a result of hunting. The tiger, the largest cat on earth, came to be threatened with extinction by man. But is the tiger a threat to humans? What is this great cat really like? Have efforts to save it from extinction been successful?

Tiger Family Life

Years of patient observation have given naturalists a clearer picture of the life of the tiger. Let us imagine that we are looking in on a typical tiger family in the beautiful forests of Ranthambhore, in northern India. The male is almost 10 feet [3 m] long from his nose to the tip of his tail and weighs some 450 pounds [200 kg]. His mate is approximately 9 feet [2.7 m] long and weighs about 300 pounds [140 kg].a There are three cubs, one male and two females.

The temperature in these forests can exceed 112°F. [45° C.], but the tiger family finds shade under the leafy trees. And they can always enjoy a dip in the cool waters of a nearby lake. Cats that swim? Yes, tigers love the water! In fact, they have been known to swim more than three miles [5 km] without pausing.

Sunlight filters through the trees on the tigers’ shiny orange coats, making them seem to glow. The black stripes glisten, and the white patches above their amber eyes flash brilliantly. After we watch the three cubs for a while, it becomes easy for us to distinguish one from another by their different stripes and facial markings.

Growing Up as a Tiger

When the mother tiger was expecting her cubs, she sought out a suitable den, well hidden by thick vegetation. From there, the family now enjoys a view down onto a plain with a water hole that attracts other animals. The tigress selected this spot so she could hunt for food without being far from her cubs.

From birth, the cubs received lots of attention. Throughout their infancy their mother cuddled them between her paws, nuzzled them, and licked them, as she murmured softly. When the cubs got older, they began to play hide-and-seek and fight mock battles. Although tiger cubs cannot purr, beginning at about one year of age, they exhale in great, loud bursts when their mother returns from an absence.

The cubs love to swim and play in the water, along with their mother. Picture the tigress sitting at the edge of the lake with her tail in the water. Every now and then, she jerks her tail out to give her hot body a cool shower. And speaking of tails, the cubs never tire of trying to catch their mom’s tail as she swishes it from side to side. By doing this, the tigress is not just playing with her cubs; she is also teaching them the skill of pouncing, which they will use later, when they begin hunting. The cubs are also fond of climbing trees. But by about 15 months of age, they have become too bulky and heavy to climb them easily.

The Father’s Role

Until recently, many believed that the mother tiger brought up her cubs alone and that the male would kill the cubs if given the chance. With most tigers, however, this is not the case. The father tiger does disappear into the jungle for long periods, ranging through his territory of over 20 square miles [50 sq km]. But he also visits his family. When he does, he may join the tigress and the cubs in hunting, even sharing the kill with them. The more aggressive male cub may take his turn to eat first. If he greedily keeps his sisters away too long, though, his mother nudges him or even swats him with her paw to allow the female cubs to get their fair share of the feast.

The cubs enjoy playing with their huge father. A favorite place for this is in the nearby water hole. The father tiger eases himself backward into the water until he is submerged up to his head. (Tigers do not like water splashing in their eyes!) He then allows his cubs to nuzzle him as he licks their faces. Clearly, there is a strong family bond.

Man-Eaters?

Books and films often depict tigers as fierce, aggressive creatures, stalking and attacking humans, then mauling and eating them. This is far from the truth. Tigers are not all man-eaters. Usually, if a tiger sees a man in the forest, it prefers just to slip away quietly. Interestingly, human scent does not appear to have any effect on a tiger.

However, under certain conditions a hungry tiger can become dangerous indeed. If it loses teeth as a result of old age or has been injured by humans, it may be unable to hunt normally. Likewise, if human habitation encroaches on the tigers’ habitat, the tigers’ natural prey may become scarce. For reasons like these, about 50 people a year are killed by tigers in India, though this is a hundred times fewer than the number killed by snakes. Tiger attacks occur mainly in the swamps of the Ganges delta.

According to Dr. McDougal, tigers are not as dangerous as most people think. Though surprising a tiger at close range could provoke an attack, “the tiger is a very calm, cool, and collected animal,” he says. “Normally, if you encounter a tiger—even in fairly close quarters—it won’t attack.”

Among tigers aggression is rare. For instance, a young tiger may wander into the territory of another tiger and bump into the resident male. Deep growls, bloodcurdling roars, and fierce nose-to-nose snarling ensue. But when the older male shows his superiority, the younger one will usually roll onto his back with his paws in the air in a sign of submission, and the confrontation is over.

The Future of the Great Cat

Instead of being in danger from the tiger, man has proved to be the only real danger to the tiger. At present, efforts are being made to save the tiger from extinction. Several Asian countries have established tiger reserves. In 1973, a special effort called Project Tiger was launched in Corbett National Park, in northern India. Funds and equipment for Project Tiger poured in from all over the world. Eventually, 18 tiger reserves were set aside in India, with a total area of more than 10,000 square miles [28,000 sq km]. By 1978, tigers were also put on the endangered-species list. There were amazing results! Before tiger hunting was banned, the tigers had become elusive and mainly nocturnal because of fear of man. But after some years of protection, tigers began to move about the reserves and hunt in broad daylight!

Still, there is a continuing threat to the tiger: the international demand for traditional Asian remedies made from parts of the tiger’s body. A bag of tiger bones, for example, can bring over $500 in India, and by the time the bones are processed and reach the markets of the Far East, the value has escalated to more than $25,000. With this much money at stake, poor villagers are tempted to cooperate with tiger poachers in outwitting forest guards. At first, efforts to save the tiger were considered successful. But since 1988, the situation has taken a turn for the worse. Today, only about 27 tigers roam Ranthambhore, compared with the 40 that were there 20 years ago. And the world tiger population may be as low as 5,000!

Up until the end of the last century, tigers and humans coexisted in India in relative harmony. Will they ever be able to do so again? For now, the excited call “Tiger! Tiger!” can still mean a sighting of the world’s largest feline. Whether conservation programs will ensure the tiger’s safety in the future remains to be seen. But the Bible assures us that one day the whole earth will be a paradise like the Garden of Eden. Then man and wild creatures like the tiger will share the earth in peace.—Isaiah 11:6-9.

[Footnote]

[Box/Picture on page 17]

The White Tiger

A national treasure in India, the rare white tiger is the result of a recessive mutant gene. In 1951 a white male cub was caught in India’s Rewa Forest. Mated to a normal-colored tigress, normal litters were produced. However, when a female from one of these litters was mated with the white sire, she gave birth to four white cubs. Careful breeding has made it possible for people in many places to see this rare beauty in their zoos.

[Picture on page 16]

Cats that swim? Yes!

[Picture on page 17]

Tigers are not as dangerous as most people think

Removing Misconceptions About Jehovah’s Witnesses

WHILE engaging in their house-to-house preaching work, two of Jehovah’s Witnesses came across a man who told them he was not interested. The Witnesses departed quietly, but as they walked down the sidewalk, they noticed that the man was following them. “Stop, please!” the man called out. “I want to apologize. I don’t know anything about the Witnesses, and I believe that many people have been misinformed about you.”

The man then introduced himself as Renan Dominguez, the program chairman for the Rotary Club of South San Francisco, California. He asked if a Witness would come to the club and give a talk about the beliefs and activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses. An agenda was arranged. The Witness would speak for 30 minutes and then open the meeting up to questions from the audience. Ernest Garrett, a Witness for many years in the San Francisco area, was asked to make the presentation to the Rotary Club on August 17, 1995, and shared the following:

“I wondered and prayed over what I could say to the members of the Rotary Club, who are business and community leaders, such as bankers, lawyers, and doctors. I did a little research and found out that the Rotary Club’s published objective is to strengthen the community. So I presented the information on page 23 of the brochure Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Twentieth Century, entitled ‘Practical Value of the Good News to Your Community.’”a

“I explained that Jehovah’s Witnesses are an influence in this direction. Every day of the week, Jehovah’s Witnesses are out knocking on the doors of their community. Their desire is to influence their neighbors to have a strong family—and a strong family unit makes for a strong community. The more individuals and families Jehovah’s Witnesses influence to live by Christian principles, the less delinquency, immorality, and crime the community will have. This information was very well received by the members because it was in line with the goals of the Rotary Club.”

“Why Don’t You Get Involved in Politics?”

“When the meeting was thrown open for questions, one of the first questions was: ‘Why don’t you get involved in politics and in government?’ The gentleman who asked this question then added: ‘You know, the Good Book says: “Pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar.”’ I told him that we are in full agreement with that statement and fully subscribe to it. I pointed out that the majority of people whom I have heard quote that scripture never quote the other half of it, which says: ‘Pay back God’s things to God.’ (Matthew 22:21) So, then, we must conclude that not all belongs to Caesar. There are some things that belong to God. We are faced with the matter of finding out what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God.

“I showed him that when Jesus was asked the question ‘Is it lawful to pay head tax to Caesar or not?’ he did not answer by saying yes or no. He said: ‘Show me the head tax coin,’ a Roman denarius. He asked: ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ They said: ‘Caesar’s.’ He then said: ‘Pay back, therefore, Caesar’s things to Caesar.’ (Matthew 22:17-21) In other words, pay the tax to Caesar because we derive certain services from Caesar and we properly pay taxes for these. I explained that Jehovah’s Witnesses pay their taxes and do not cheat the government out of what rightly belongs to it.

“Then I stated that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that they owe their lives to Caesar. They believe that they owe their worship to God, and this they rightly pay back to him. So when we take this stand, we do not intend any disrespect for Caesar. We obey all the laws of Caesar, but when there is a conflict, we respectfully choose to obey God as ruler rather than men. The man who had asked this question then said before the whole group: ‘I can’t argue with that!’

“We were also able to answer numerous questions about our preaching activity. Many of the members came up after the meeting and shook hands and said that they were in full agreement with us—that the family is the backbone of a strong community. We then gave each member the brochure Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Twentieth Century.

“After this meeting the program chairman, Mr. Dominguez, phoned me and asked if I would come to his office, for he had more questions to ask about our beliefs. We had a fine discussion on several scriptures. He especially wanted me to explain our position on blood. He volunteered that he would not take a transfusion himself, and he was so impressed with the information I gave him from the brochure How Can Blood Save Your Life? that he invited me to come back and speak to the club members about our position on blood. I invited another Witness, Don Dahl, to join me in this program. He goes to hospitals to discuss the issue with doctors when Witnesses have to go in for operations. Together, we thoroughly explained how we work with doctors and the hospital administration to clarify our Scriptural position and to offer successful alternatives to blood transfusion.”—Leviticus 17:10-12; Acts 15:19-21, 28, 29.

‘Do You Mean You Would Let Your Son Die?’

“After the meeting a gentleman came up and asked me privately: ‘Do you mean you would let your son die if he were in an accident and brought into an emergency room bleeding profusely?’ I assured him that I share his concern, for I had a son and lost him in the airplane explosion over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. In answer to his question, I first told him that I would not want my son to die.

“We are not antidoctor, antimedical, or antihospital. We are not faith healers. We need the services of the medical profession. We have put our trust in God and are confident that his directions on this matter of blood are for our lasting good. God is described in the Bible as ‘the One teaching you to benefit yourself, the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk.’ (Isaiah 48:17) He has given his Son the ability to resurrect the dead. Jesus said: ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life; and everyone that is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all. Do you believe this?’—John 11:25, 26.

“All that we ask the doctors to understand is that our position is a matter of conscience and that it is nonnegotiable. We cannot negotiate this matter any more than we can negotiate God’s law on adultery. We could not negotiate with God and say, ‘God, is there any circumstance under which I could commit adultery?’ I then said to this man: ‘You asked me if I would let my son die by refusing a blood transfusion. With all due respect, I would like to ask if you would let your son die in the military service of any nation?’ He answered immediately and emphatically, ‘Yes! Because that is his obligation!’ I said: ‘You would allow your son to die because it is for a cause you believe in. Allow me the same privilege with my son.’

“An interesting footnote to all of this is that the program chairman, Mr. Dominguez, invited my wife and me to dinner with him and his wife. He felt that his wife was a victim of misinformation and misconceptions about Jehovah’s Witnesses. He was right. She had been misinformed. We had an enjoyable evening, and his wife asked many questions about us and our work, which she allowed us to answer in detail. The next day he phoned and said that his wife had thoroughly enjoyed meeting my wife and me and thought we were very nice people.

“I have continued to make regular visits to Mr. Dominguez, and he manifests a keen interest in the Bible. He did say to me: ‘I would not hesitate to encourage you to contact the program chairmen of all the Rotary Clubs in the Greater San Francisco Bay area and offer to give their club a talk similar to the one you gave our club. You may use my name as a reference, and when I am contacted, I will be pleased to give you the highest recommendation to be invited as a guest speaker.’

“Rotary clubs are international. Could it be possible that other clubs in the United States and throughout the world would open their doors to presentations by Jehovah’s Witnesses?”

[Footnote]

[Picture on page 18]

Mr. Renan Dominguez, left, and Brother Ernest Garrett

Young People Ask . . .

Alternative Rock—Is It for Me?

“I can relate to the songs about different problems and experiences we young ones encounter.”—15-year-old George.a

“It strikes a middle ground between pop and heavy metal.”—19-year-old Dan.

“It’s new. It’s different. It’s not mainstream, mass-produced music.”—17-year-old Maria.

ALTERNATIVE rock. Many young people enjoy listening to it. Some adults are disturbed by it. And most parents probably have little or no idea what it is in the first place.

Admittedly, it is not easy to explain exactly what alternative rock is. Originally, it was the music of youths who wanted something different, an alternative to the mainstream popular music heard on the radio. Some say it all began when local college radio stations gave airtime to some virtually unknown bands—musical groups that prided themselves on not having sold out to the commercial music industry. The new breed of musicians shunned major recording labels and mass-marketing techniques, such as music videos. Also, they wrote about subjects rarely covered in Top 40 songs.

Unlike heavy metal or rap music, alternative rock is not always easily recognized or categorized. Even experts in the music industry disagree as to just what alternative rock is. That is because, as its name suggests, it covers a wide variety of sounds, moods, and feelings. One young man said: “It’s very hard to classify. It covers a broad spectrum of today’s music.” Another young person ventured this explanation: “It’s not always hard or soft, fast or slow, upbeat or down.” One youth even admitted: “I’m not sure if I can say I like alternative rock because I’m not sure what it is.”

At any rate, the popularity of alternative rock has grown to the point that many of its more popular artists are now considered a part of the music mainstream. Also, parents appear to be less prone to object to it than to heavy metal or other earsplitting forms of rock. Indeed, few parents seem to know which groups or album titles are called alternative, anyway. Even so, there is a need for you to exercise a measure of caution when it comes to this music.

What Is the Appeal?

Consider, for example, why so many youths are attracted to this music. For many it is simply a matter of going along with one’s friends. It also provides a common ground for conversation or for activities, such as trading tapes and CDs.

For most youths, however, it is the sound and the message of alternative rock that makes it so appealing. In particular, many youths find that they identify with the experiences and feelings of the songwriters. A Time magazine cover series on this subject explained: “While pop songs are often about love, alternative lyrics are usually about tougher feelings: despair, lust, confusion. . . . If you are in your teens or 20s, chances are your family has been through a divorce. Alternative music has become an emotional sound track, speaking directly to unresolved issues of abandonment and unfairness.” Thus, a 21-year-old college disc jockey says: “It appealed to me and my friends because our generation is so dead to the world. There’s nothing waiting for us when we get out of school.”

Some Christian youths have likewise become fond of alternative rock. Naturally, most have avoided the harder, more rebellious, violent, or immoral songs. Even so, some of these young Christians have voiced reservations about the seemingly safer songs. Young Dan commented: “Some of the singers are known homosexuals and lesbians or drug users, and their lyrics reflect their life-styles.” Another youth, named Jack, says: “Some of the groups have an idea that no one cares about them, their problems, or the future of today’s youth, so they express this in their songs. Many have no motivation or hope.”

A Word of Caution

The Bible tells us that “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one,” Satan the Devil. (1 John 5:19) It should not surprise you, then, that music is one of the means Satan uses to mislead young people. Previous articles in this journal and its companion magazine, The Watchtower, have repeatedly demonstrated this fact.b The cautions that have been given regarding heavy metal and rap music are also appropriate when it comes to alternative rock. As the Bible puts it, “the shrewd one considers his steps.”—Proverbs 14:15.

For one thing, it makes little sense to follow after the crowd when it comes to your taste in music. Note this Bible principle, which can apply to letting others make decisions for you: “Do you not know that if you keep presenting yourselves to anyone as slaves to obey him, you are slaves of him because you obey him?” (Romans 6:16) For a Christian youth, the issue is not what is acceptable among one’s peers but what is “acceptable to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:10) Besides, what kind of youths are drawn to alternative rock? Youths who seem to be happy, balanced, and interested in spiritual things? Or does it seem to find its audience primarily among youths who are disgruntled, unhappy, or even angry?

True, some youths with cheery, upbeat personalities may still be drawn to alternative rock. But consider this: Christians, young and old, have a bright future awaiting them. (2 Peter 3:13) The apostle Paul reminds us of the certainty of the fulfillment of God’s promises, saying: “It is impossible for God to lie.” (Hebrews 6:18) What point is there, then, in exposing yourself to the bleak, negative view of the future that some alternative rock songs express? Could becoming absorbed in music that expresses fear, despair, and hopelessness undermine your faith? Furthermore, what effect might a steady diet of such music have on your emotional outlook?

Be Selective

This is not to say that all music labeled “alternative” is necessarily harmful or offensive. But suppose you learned that someone was trying to poison you. Although you wouldn’t stop eating, you surely would examine your food carefully, wouldn’t you? Knowing that Satan is trying to poison your outlook and attitude should likewise make you careful about the music you choose. As the Bible says, “the ear itself makes a test of words, just as the palate tastes when eating.” (Job 34:3) Instead of blindly following the crowd, put the music you like to the test.

How can you do that? The box entitled “A Guide to Selecting Music” has some helpful suggestions that you might try. Also, try asking your Christian parents what they think of your music. (Proverbs 4:1) You may be surprised at their answers! Of course, your parents are older than you. Understandably, they may not share your taste in music. But if they dislike your music to the point of finding it offensive, degrading, or obnoxious, should you ignore what they have to say? The Bible says: “A wise person will listen and take in more instruction.”—Proverbs 1:5.

Consider how the music affects you. Does it make you feel angry, rebellious, or depressed? If so, these are warning signals that you should not ignore! Why not find music that relaxes or soothes you or that cheers you up?

Trends in music are constantly changing. Before long, some other style of music will be the latest rage. But don’t be swept along with these changing tides. Be discerning and selective when it comes to your music. Be sure that what you listen to is wholesome and upbuilding. (Philippians 4:8) Music can then be a valuable and enjoyable part of your life!

[Footnotes]

[Blurb on page 22]

“While pop songs are often about love, alternative lyrics are usually about tougher feelings: despair, lust, confusion.”—Time magazine

[Box on page 23]

A Guide to Selecting Music

◆ Examine the album packaging. This will often tell you a lot about the music and the musicians themselves. Beware of album covers that feature violence, demonic symbols, bizarre dress and grooming, or nudity.

◆ Consider the message of the lyrics. These identify the thoughts and life-styles of the musicians. What ideas do they want you to accept?

◆ The overall sound of the music signals the mood and the feelings the musicians would like you to have—melancholy, joy, defiance, sexual arousal, tranquillity, or despair.

◆ Consider the general audience that is attracted to the music group. Would you like to be identified with that group of people and their attitudes?

[Picture on page 23]

Many youths identify with the lyrics of today’s songs

The Pilgrims and Their Struggle for Freedom

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN THE NETHERLANDS

IN 1620, a group of English Puritans who had sailed from Delfshaven, near Rotterdam, Netherlands, founded the first permanent settlement by Europeans in New England—Plymouth Colony—in what is now southeastern Massachusetts. What prompted these deeply religious people to risk such a long and arduous voyage across the treacherous Atlantic Ocean in the tiny ship Mayflower? What were they doing in the Netherlands in the first place? Why did they leave there?

The Religious Situation in England

During the 1500’s, the Roman Catholic Church was shaken by the Reformation. Protestant churches came into existence all over Europe, including England. In England’s case, the final breach with Rome came after the pope refused to grant the request of King Henry VIII to have his first marriage dissolved. The English church separated from Rome, and in 1534 the English Parliament officially recognized Henry as the “Supreme Head on earth, immediately under God, of the Church of England.” His daughter Elizabeth, born in 1533, was brought up a Protestant, and after becoming Queen Elizabeth I, she gave the Anglican Church a strong Protestant character. Nevertheless, there were smaller Protestant groups that did not agree with the prevailing Anglican Church. Many of these came to be called Puritans because they wished to purify the Anglican Church of any vestige of Roman Catholicism. One Puritan group was held to be especially radical, as they broke away from the church hierarchy of bishops and priests. They considered their congregation to be completely independent, under the rule of their own elders.

Queen Elizabeth feared that she would lose her grip on the people if the Puritans were not held in check. She therefore introduced severe legislation against them. In spite of this, the various Puritan groups continued to meet, but secretly, in private homes. The Puritans also distributed many religious pamphlets expounding their beliefs. The London Puritans appointed their own body of elders, consisting mostly of suspended Anglican ministers. The groups that gave up on reforming the Anglican Church and broke away from it were referred to as Separatists.

King James I, Queen Elizabeth’s successor, followed her religious policy, threatening to “harry [the Puritans] out of the land.” At the same time, he commissioned a new English translation of the Bible—the King James Version, completed in 1611. This new version motivated many people to examine the Bible. The result? Even more people began to differ with the State church. What would you have done if you had lived in those days? Do you think that under the threat of persecution, you would have adjusted your religious beliefs? Would you have held to your convictions firmly, regardless of the cost? Many Puritans did and refused to compromise.

Escape to Holland

One group of Separatists that did not compromise was found in the small English town of Scrooby. There they met secretly in the home of postmaster William Brewster, their “Ruling Elder.” Also associated with them was John Robinson, a former Anglican priest. Besides advocating church government by elders rather than by priests and bishops, the group at Scrooby rejected priestly garb and much of the ritual of Anglican Church services, although these things were required by law.

Under increasing pressure, this small group decided to flee to the Netherlands, at the time the only place in Europe where their opinions and practices would be tolerated. Emigration, however, was illegal. As secretly as possible, therefore, they sold their homes and everything else they could not take along, and in 1608 they went to Amsterdam by ship. It was in the Netherlands that the Separatists began to think of themselves as pilgrims.

The Pilgrims moved to Leiden a year after arriving, the same year that a truce interrupted the war that had been raging between Spain and the Netherlands. The truce resulted in a more peaceful climate for the Pilgrims. Gradually, more fugitives arrived from England, and the group grew to about 300. Eventually, they bought a large house, where John Robinson and his family lived and where they could also hold meetings.

After spending about ten years in Leiden, the Pilgrims began to feel unsettled. The truce with Spain was about to lapse, and they feared that if the Spanish Inquisition gained control in the Netherlands, they would be worse off than they were under King James. Moreover, they disagreed doctrinally with their more liberal Dutch neighbors, and they worried about their children’s association with the Dutch youngsters, whom they regarded as dissolute. What should they do? They contemplated another very big move—this time to America!

The Mayflower Sails!

Their biggest challenge was financing such a long voyage. Another considerable problem was that permission for the expedition had to be obtained from the king of England—the same king from whom they had sought to escape when they fled to the Netherlands! The Pilgrims wore King James down with their petitions, until he finally gave his permission. In the end, a group of London merchants financed the venture.

At last, the time came to leave! Those of the Pilgrim Church in Leiden who decided to make the move boarded the ship Speedwell and on July 22, 1620, left Delfshaven for England, there to be joined by additional members. The Pilgrims set out aboard two ships, the Speedwell and the Mayflower. However, serious leaks in the hull of the Speedwell forced the ships to turn back to England, where the Mayflower took on passengers and provisions from the Speedwell. Finally, on September 6, the little 90-foot [27 m] Mayflower put out to sea from Plymouth, England, by herself, with 24 families on board—a total of 102 passengers—and a crew of 25. What courage it took for those novice travelers to attempt an ocean voyage of 3,000 miles [5,000 km]! The ship was badly overcrowded and had to contend with dangerous North Atlantic weather. Imagine the feelings of those aboard when after nine long weeks on the ocean, they sighted land!

Founding the Colony

Before the Pilgrims went ashore, they concluded a mutual compact, or covenant, concerning the future government of the new colony. By this compact, signed by 41 of the men in the group, the Pilgrims formed themselves into a “Civil Body Politic” and assumed the responsibility of making, and abiding by, rules to govern all their affairs. Although some historians have called this document the first American constitution, the Grote Winkler Prins Encyclopedie points out that the Pilgrims who framed it “had in mind establishing an authority of a religious nature.” Its purpose was to commit all the members of the colony to staying together, both physically and religiously.

After surveying the coast and carrying out expeditions inland, in cold December the group settled in the place that they named New Plymouth, later called Plymouth Colony. They came across fields that had been cultivated by Indians. But the huge Indian population that had been observed there by explorers just a few years earlier had been ravaged by the explorers’ diseases—including smallpox and measles. Otherwise, the Indians might have resisted the Pilgrims’ efforts to establish a colony.

The Pilgrims started by building a communal house and several private homes. It was a difficult beginning, for they arrived in winter and did not have enough food left over from their ship’s provisions. During that first winter, 52 died of disease, including 13 of the 24 husbands and as many as 14 of the 18 wives. Among the casualties was their first governor, John Carver. But the survivors resolved to remain in New Plymouth. The next governor, the enthusiastic William Bradford, kept a detailed record of the history of the young colony and has therefore been considered America’s first historian.

The Pilgrims and the Indians

The first Pilgrims to arrive in New Plymouth concluded a mutual peace treaty with Massasoit, the paramount chief of the local Wampanoag Indian tribe. In the treaty the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag promised not to harm one another, and they vowed mutual protection in case of war with outsiders. Without Massasoit’s friendship, it is unlikely that any of the Pilgrims would have survived. These Indians gave the settlers native corn to eat and to plant, and the alliance with them helped to prevent the Pilgrims’ perishing at the hands of other tribes.

In the early days, the colonists received much help from the Indians. In the words of Governor William Bradford, an Indian named Tisquantum taught the colonists “how to set their corne, wher to take fish, and to procure other comodities, and was also their pilott to bring them to unknowne places for their profitt.” (Spelling as in original document.) The first harvest of Indian corn was good, and the Pilgrims had success in hunting fowl. They were grateful to God and decided to hold a three-day harvest festival. Massasoit and 90 of his braves came, bringing along five deer to add to the banquet.

Like the colony itself, the celebration had strong religious overtones. Although the Pilgrims did not hold the festival the next year because of poor crops, Thanksgiving Day later became an annual national and religious holiday in the United States, Canada, and a few other countries. Today, Thanksgiving Day in North America is typically an occasion for a family banquet of turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie—but in principle, it remains “a time for serious religious thinking, church services, and prayer.”—The World Book Encyclopedia, 1994.a

Later Developments

In 1622 more Pilgrims came from Leiden and England. Later, additional ships arrived with fellow believers from Europe. In 1630 the last group of Pilgrims from Leiden joined the colony, bringing their number to about 300. The colony eventually merged with the much larger Massachusetts Bay Colony, not far to the north. These colonists also held Puritan beliefs. In the meantime, however, tensions were growing between the colonists and their Indian neighbors. The Puritans, who believed that God had predestined them to dominate the new land, grew increasingly arrogant. Seeing this, the Indians became ever more resentful of them. Sadly, only 55 years after the treaty with the Wampanoag, the colony at Plymouth, in league with three other English colonies and some other Indians, went to war against Massasoit’s son. He and some three thousand Indian men, women, and children were killed, and the Puritans sold hundreds more into slavery. The Wampanoag became extinct.

The Pilgrims’ Legacy

In the Netherlands you can still visit the section of Leiden where the Pilgrims lived, as well as Delfshaven, the harbor where they departed for America. In the present town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, you can see Plymouth Plantation, a reconstruction of the original village built by the Pilgrims, along with a Pilgrim museum and a replica of the Mayflower. In the village, actors portray the original inhabitants. They will tell you that God’s name is Jehovah and that “the church” is not a stone building but is made up of people. To the question, “How many elders are there in your church?” they reply: “As many as satisfy the Bible’s requirements.”

The Pilgrims tried to model their society “as closely as possible after Israel’s twelve tribes under Moses,” according to the book The Puritan Heritage—America’s Roots in the Bible. At times, though, the Puritans went to extremes. Their reputation as hard workers, for example, sprang in part from their belief that material prosperity indicated God’s favor. And although they genuinely loved their children, many early Puritans believed that they should “conceal their . . . inordinate affections.” Thus, “puritanical” has come to be associated with austerity, severity, and excessive strictness. In spite of their imperfections, however, the Pilgrims had a measure of moral fortitude, were devout, and made efforts to live by the Bible. Clearly, these were qualities that held the Pilgrims together and saw them through many of their trials.

[Footnote]

[Picture on page 26]

Wampanoag Indians helped the Pilgrims

[Credit Line]

Harper’s Encyclopædia of United States History

[Picture Credit Line on page 24]

Top: Model van de Mayflower

Watching the World

The Scourge of Infectious Diseases

One third of the 52 million deaths that occurred last year were due to infectious diseases, says the World Health Organization (WHO). Most of the estimated 17 million who died were young children. According to The World Health Report 1996, issued by WHO, at least 30 new infectious diseases have been identified in the last 20 years, including the Ebola virus and AIDS. Even though major diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera, and malaria can be prevented or treated at low cost, they are making a comeback and have become increasingly resistant to drugs. The reason, says the report, is “the uncontrolled and inappropriate use of antibiotic drugs,” coupled with other factors, such as international travel and population growth in mosquito-infested tropical areas.

Bookstore Confessionals

An Italian Catholic association has decided to install confessionals in its chain of religious bookstores, each complete with a confessor. The experiment began in Milan. Each Wednesday in a downtown bookstore, a priest was available for “all who want to see a priest—but not in a church—to ask for spiritual advice, or even to confess,” said the store manager. He added: “The first results were far better than even our most optimistic expectations.” Why the initiative? “To make up for the decline in the sacrament of penance,” explains the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

Nothing Wasted

After the 600 or so pounds [270 or so kg] of meat is taken, what happens to the rest of the cow? Some of the internal organs, such as the thyroid, pancreas, lungs, spleen, adrenal gland, ovaries, pituitary gland, and bile from the liver and gallbladder, are used to make medicines. Collagen is extracted from the bones, hooves, and hides, to be used in moisturizers and lotions. Gristle and fat end up in components such as butyl stearate, PEG-150 distearate, and glycol stearate used in many makeup and hair products. Most soaps are made from animal fats. And the bones and hooves are ground up to make the gelatin that is used in hundreds of food items, including ice cream, some candies, and many “fat free” products. Parts also end up in a long array of such products as crayons, matches, floor waxes, linoleum, antifreeze, cement, weed killers, cellophane, photographic paper, sporting goods, upholstery, and clothing. The highest price is paid for the gallstones—$600 (U.S.) an ounce! Merchants from the Far East buy them for use as an aphrodisiac.

Childbearing Tragedy

About 585,000 women die each year during pregnancy or while giving birth, says a new comprehensive survey by UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund). According to the report The Progress of Nations 1996, much of the childbearing tragedy is preventable. It states: “For the most part, these are the deaths not of the ill, or the very old, or the very young, but of healthy women in the prime of their lives.” Some 75,000 women die each year because of botched abortions; 40,000 as a result of obstructed labor; 100,000 from blood poisoning; 75,000 from brain and kidney damage of eclampsia (convulsions and high blood pressure late in pregnancy); and over 140,000 because of hemorrhaging. Shortage of obstetric care in many lands is said to be largely responsible. UNICEF officials say that the data indicates that 1 in 35 women in South Asia and 1 in 13 in sub-Saharan Africa dies of matters related to pregnancy and childbirth, as compared with 1 in 7,300 in Canada, 1 in 3,300 in the United States, and 1 in 3,200 in Europe. The figures are nearly 20 percent higher than the earlier estimate of about 500,000 deaths a year.

AIDS Cases Still Climbing

“The virus that causes AIDS continues to spread rapidly in large parts of the world, especially Asia and southern Africa, and the number of people sick with AIDS has also climbed steeply,” reports The New York Times. Data compiled by the United Nations Joint Program on H.I.V.-AIDS shows that in 1995 some 1.3 million people were ill with the symptoms of AIDS, a 25-percent increase over the previous year. It is now estimated that 21 million adults worldwide are infected with HIV, and about 42 percent of them are women. An additional 7,500 people become infected each day. Several million children are also said to be infected. It takes about ten years from the time of infection for serious illness to set in. The UN report estimates that 980,000 people died from AIDS-related diseases in 1995 and that this will jump to 1,120,000 in 1996. The virus has recently spread widely in southern Africa and India and is expected to do the same in China and Vietnam. The infection rate in some African nations is already as high as 16 to 18 percent. It is worrisome that the number of young women infected is rapidly growing worldwide. A third of the babies born to these women will also have the virus.

Watch That Speed!

Driving too fast kills 1,000 Britons yearly and causes 77,000 injuries, reports The Daily Telegraph of London. Even keeping to the speed limit may be unsafe under certain conditions. Over 10 percent of accidents on high-speed roads are caused by driving too close to the vehicle ahead. The British Highway Code recommends that you leave a two-second gap between you and the car in front, but this should be doubled when driving on wet or slick road surfaces or in poor visibility. Not only is following too close unsafe; it is also tiring and stressful. Drivers often complain that when they leave a safe gap, another car cuts in. However, the only safe response to this is to reduce speed and allow the gap to widen again. Sudden application of brakes can cause accidents, so look ahead for possible hazards. Having an antilock braking system does not reduce stopping distances. Says driving instructor Paul Ripley: “The safe speed for a given set of circumstances is usually much lower than most drivers realise.”

Surgeons, Watch What You Say

Researchers from Erasmus University in the Netherlands have found that patients undergoing surgery are able to “hear,” even though under general anesthesia. After surgery, 240 patients were given the first syllable of a word that had been spoken during surgery and were asked to complete it by saying the first word that came to mind. Even 24 hours afterward, most patients could recall words that had been mentioned only once. This suggests, say the researchers, that anesthetized patients can “listen in” during their operation and may be sensitive to negative or insulting remarks. Research Reports From the Netherlands, issued by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, concludes: “Medical staff will therefore need to be heedful of their conversations during operations.”

“Mad Cow Disease”

◼ Britain’s outbreak of “mad cow disease” has brought a long-standing fact of animal husbandry to the fore. Animals have been changed from natural herbivores to carnivores by being fed parts of other animals. Dried blood, crushed bone, and meat meal, or feed, that includes ground-up intestines, spinal cords, brains, and other internal organs, such as the pancreas, trachea, and kidneys, are routinely used in an effort to conserve resources, increase profitability, and accelerate animal growth. By the time the average calf reaches the age of six months, he has been fed about 26 pounds [12 kg] of food made from the remnants of other animals, says Dr. Harash Narang, one of the experts who first raised an alarm about the disease. “I was astonished,” he said, referring to his visit to a slaughterhouse. “We were actually recycling cattle to cattle. To me it’s cannibalism.”

◼ On the lighter side, one British dairy farmer has found a way to use the older cows that he cannot sell at a profit because of the scare of “mad cow disease.” As reported in Newsweek, he is using them as billboards. He mounts ads on his cattle that graze beside a busy highway and collects about $40 per cow per week. “We have to look for new areas of revenue,” the farmer said. “It seemed a good way for them to earn their keep.”

From Our Readers

Unemployment Thank you ever so much for the series “Unemployment—There Is a Solution.” (March 8, 1996) It came at a time when I was out looking for a job, but I could find none. I tried creating work at home, as you mentioned on page 11, and it is working for me. Thanks to Jehovah for you!

J. M., French Guiana

The articles described the situation in which I found myself recently. For a few months, I had to adapt to doing “all kinds of work,” just as one article said. But I did not get discouraged. I tried to have a positive outlook, and in the end I found a steady job. During that period, I had the help of my wife, who was very thrifty in doing the shopping. Thanks again for information that helps us to apply Bible principles in difficult situations.

U. C., Italy

I especially liked your box “Creating Work at Home.” I’m a regular pioneer, a full-time evangelizer, and for two years I operated a licensed home day-care center. I watched children before and after school and had a good income. It freed me for preaching during the middle of the day, and I worked only four hours each day. A lot of parents were grateful because quality care is hard to find. I hope others too can find employment that will help them in serving Jehovah.

T. K. L., United States

You suggested that unemployed people could privately take up upholstering, barbering, janitorial work, and so forth. You also said that under certain circumstances they could advertise their services free of charge or at low cost. Would this not be illegal in Germany?

R. T., Germany

Laws differ from country to country, and perhaps these suggestions would be illegal in some lands. That is why on page 9 we pointed out the necessity of knowing and respecting fiscal and tax laws before embarking on such a venture. Christians are obligated to obey the laws of the lands in which they live. (Romans 13:1)—ED.

Zoo I really enjoyed the article “Studying the Bible—In the Zoo!” (March 8, 1996) I loved the information about the animals mentioned in the Bible. I never knew that zebras were mentioned in the Bible. I also loved the paragraph about ants. The article has encouraged me to research a different animal each month.

M. F., United States

My Dear Friend I want to express my sincere appreciation for the enchanting article “My Dear Friend.” (February 22, 1996) It was delightful to read that such a beautiful friendship existed despite such a difference in ages. It illustrates that it is not essential for youths to have as their closest friends only those in their age group. There are many older ones who have much to offer in the way of experience, wisdom, and humor.

S. T., England

The article proved that young and old can get along well together and that young people can benefit from the rich experience of the older generation. I myself have spent many interesting and pleasant hours with an older friend. He has done much to help me deal with such problems as peer pressure.

W. S., Austria

Up till now I have never tried to learn from older ones. Thanks to this article, I now understand what things I can learn from such ones. I want very much to become a close friend of some older ones who are rich in wisdom.

R. K., Japan

Nature Reserves Turned Into Killing Fields for Monarchs

IN AN amazing migratory flight, monarch butterflies that summer in Canada and the northern United States spread their orange-and-black wings and waft themselves out of Canada, across the United States, and concentrate in one region west of Mexico City. There, in 1986, the Mexican government created five nature reserves in mountains 11,000 feet [3,400 m] high that are covered with fir trees. According to a 1994 census, at least 60 million monarchs winter in the reserves.

Fir trees are especially preferred by the monarchs because the trees form a dense canopy that protects the butterflies from cold rain and snow. Logging is prohibited on these five reserves, but that does not stop illegal logging. Butterfly scientists are concerned that the “logging of the fir trees in the Mexican reserves, despite Government prohibitions, is leaving the monarchs more vulnerable to severe storms and cold. . . . The loss of trees and their canopies make it more likely that the butterflies will be exposed to rain and snow.” Logging breaks up the protective canopy. As Lincoln Brower, zoologist at the University of Florida at Gainesville, said concerning the protective cover for the monarchs: “The more these forests are degraded, the more holes there are in their blanket.”

“Bad weather and cutting of trees are fatal to butterflies,” said The New York Times. It then reported on a snowfall in the reserves on the night of December 30, 1995: “Government forest rangers and biologists who toured part of the reserves said there were snow banks densely littered with thousands upon thousands of frozen monarchs, with many butterflies buried under the snow.”

The photo at the top of this page confirms the tragic story.

[Picture Credit Line on page 31]

Jorge Nunez/Sipa Press

Something Young People Need Today

A 14-year-old New Jersey, U.S.A., girl said that earlier this year she had to write a report on “Why Students Cheat on Tests.” She brought her book Questions Young People Ask—Answers That Work to school to do research. One of her schoolmates picked it up and started to read the headings of the sections of the table of contents, such as “Sex and Morals” and “Dating, Love, and the Opposite Sex.”

“May I have this book?” the schoolmate asked.

“I explained that this was my copy,” the student said, “but that I would bring her one. When I did, another classmate saw the book and asked me to get one for her too. Shortly thereafter, I brought ten of the Young People Ask books for students who wanted a copy.”

The 14-year-old student feels that the book is valuable to have. She said: “We truly do need this publication because being a youth these days is very difficult.”

If you would like to have a copy of the book Questions Young People Ask—Answers That Work or would like to have someone call at your home to discuss the value of Bible education with you, please write to Watchtower, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483, or to the address nearest you listed on page 5.