October 22

Page Two

Will All People Ever Love One Another? 3-11

How can people who hate learn to love those they hated? Read how millions have done this very thing and have reaped happy consequences.

Cartography—A Key to Knowing the World 16

Learn what is involved in mapmaking and why it is as much an art form as a science.

‘We Live No Longer for Ourselves’ 20

During the past 40 years, this couple have served in Iran and four countries of Africa. Read their exciting story.

[Picture Credit Line on page 2]

Mountain High Maps® Copyright © 1997 Digital Wisdom, Inc.

What Has Happened to Love of Neighbor?

MILLIONS feel lost, afraid, and miserable, with nowhere to turn. “I eat alone, walk alone, sleep alone and talk to myself,” one person lamented. Few are willing to reach out and act in a loving way toward those in need.

A retired businesswoman observed: ‘One evening a widow who lives on my floor knocked on my door and said she was lonely. I told her politely but bluntly that I was busy. She apologized for bothering me and left.’

The woman continued: ‘I felt quite proud of myself for not getting trapped by such a bore. The next evening a friend telephoned and asked if I knew the woman in my building who had committed suicide the night before. If you have not already guessed, she was the woman who knocked on my door.’ Afterward, the businesswoman said she had learned a “hard lesson.”

It is well-known that babies deprived of love can die. Older ones can also die if they do not receive love. In a suicide note, an attractive 15-year-old wrote: “Love is not being lonely any more.”

A Modern Tragedy

Commenting a few years ago on ethnic hatred, Newsweek reported: “‘Hate thy neighbor’ seemed the motto of the year.” During conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, formerly part of Yugoslavia, over a million people were forced from their homes, and tens of thousands were killed. By whom? “Our neighbors,” lamented a girl who had been driven from her village. “We knew them.”

“We used to live together in peace,” a woman said of the 3,000 Hutu and Tutsi living in the village of Ruganda. The New York Times said: “The story of this village is the story of Rwanda: Hutu and Tutsi living together, intermarrying, not caring or not even knowing who was a Hutu and who a Tutsi. Then something snapped,” and “the killings began.”

Similarly, Jews and Arabs in Israel live side by side, but many hate one another. Throughout this 20th century, like situations have arisen in Northern Ireland, in India and Pakistan, in Malaysia and Indonesia, and between the races in the United States—yes, throughout the world we live in.

One could continue citing example after example of ethnic and religious hatred. Never before in history has the world been so lacking in love.

Who Bears Responsibility?

Hatred, like love, is taught. A popular song says that children are “taught before it’s too late/Before you are six or seven or eight/To hate all the people your relatives hate.” Especially today is hate taught. The churches in particular have failed to teach their members to love.

The French newspaper Le Monde asked: “How can one avoid thinking that the Tutsi and the Hutu who are at war in Burundi and Rwanda were trained by the same Christian missionaries and attended the same churches?” Indeed, according to the National Catholic Reporter, Rwanda is a “70% Catholic nation.”

Earlier in this century, countries of Eastern Europe turned to atheistic Communism. Why? In 1960 the dean of a religious faculty in Prague, Czechoslovakia, observed: “It is we, we Christians alone, who are responsible for Communism. . . . Remember that the Communists once were Christians. If they do not believe in a just God, whose fault is it?”

Consider what the churches did during World War I. British brigadier general Frank Crozier noted regarding that war: “The Christian Churches are the finest blood-lust creators which we have and of them we made free use.” Later, after World War II, The New York Times said: “In the past local Catholic hierarchies almost always supported the wars of their nations, blessing troops and offering prayers for victory, while another group of bishops on the other side publicly prayed for the opposite outcome.”

Yet, Jesus Christ demonstrated love in all his activities, and the apostle Paul wrote: “You yourselves are taught by God to love one another.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9) “True Christians are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,” observed a staff writer for the Vancouver Sun. “They would never, never intentionally hurt one another.”

Clearly, the churches bear heavy responsibility for today’s lack of love. An article published in the magazine India Today observed: “Religion has been the banner under which the most hideous crimes have been perpetrated.” There is a fundamental reason, however, why our generation has been marked by such heartless disregard for others.

Why Love Has Cooled Off

Our Creator gives the answer. His Word, the Bible, calls the time in which we live “the last days.” Bible prophecy says that this is a period during which people would have “no natural affection.” Regarding these “critical times hard to deal with,” also called in the Scriptures “the conclusion of the system of things,” Jesus Christ foretold that “the love of the greater number will cool off.”—2 Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24:3, 12.

Today’s lack of love, therefore, is part of the evidence that we are living in the last days of this world. Happily, it also means that this world of ungodly people will soon be replaced by a righteous new world ruled by love.—Matthew 24:3-14; 2 Peter 3:7, 13.

But do we really have reason to believe that such a change is possible—that we will be able to live in a world where all people will love one another and live together in peace?

Can All People Ever Love One Another?

A LAWYER had just said that to enjoy “everlasting life,” we must love God wholeheartedly and love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus commended the lawyer and told him: “You answered correctly; ‘keep on doing this and you will get life.’” (Luke 10:25-28; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5) But the man, wanting to prove himself righteous, asked: “Who really is my neighbor?”

No doubt the lawyer expected Jesus to say, “Your fellow Jews.” But Jesus related a story about a neighborly Samaritan, which showed that people of nationalities other than our own are also our neighbors. (Luke 10:29-37; John 4:7-9) During his ministry Jesus emphasized that to love God and to love our neighbor are the most important commands of our Creator.—Matthew 22:34-40.

Yet, has any group of people ever truly loved their neighbors? Is it really possible for all people to love one another?

A First-Century Miracle

Jesus told his followers that they would be recognized by a love that transcends racial, national, and all other boundaries. He said: “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Then he added: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”—John 13:34, 35; 15:12, 13.

Jesus’ teachings about love, backed up by his example, worked a first-century miracle. His followers came to imitate their Master, learning to love one another in a way that drew widespread attention and admiration. Tertullian, a writer of the second and third centuries C.E., quoted non-Christians as commending Jesus’ followers: ‘See how they love one another and how they are ready to die for one another.’

Indeed, the apostle John wrote: “We are under obligation to surrender our souls for our brothers.” (1 John 3:16) Jesus even taught his followers to love their enemies. (Matthew 5:43-45) What is the consequence when people truly love others as Jesus taught them to?

A professor of political science evidently pondered that question. So he asked, as recorded in The Christian Century: “Can anyone seriously conceive of Jesus hurling hand grenades at his enemies, using a machine gun, manipulating a flamethrower, dropping nuclear bombs or launching an ICBM which would kill or cripple thousands of mothers and children?”

In answer, the professor said: “The question is so absurd that it scarcely merits an answer.” So he posed the question: “If Jesus could not do this and be true to his character, then how can we do it and be true to him?” We should not be surprised, therefore, by the position of neutrality taken by Jesus’ early followers, which is well documented by many history books. Consider just two examples.

Our World Through the Ages, by N. Platt and M. J. Drummond, says: “The behavior of the Christians was very different from that of the Romans. . . . Since Christ had preached peace, they refused to become soldiers.” And The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, by Edward Gibbon, states: “[Early Christians] refused to take any active part in the civil administration or the military defence of the empire. . . . It was impossible that the Christians, without renouncing a more sacred duty, could assume the character of soldiers.”

What About Today?

Is Christlike love practiced by anybody today? The Encyclopedia Canadiana observes: “The work of Jehovah’s Witnesses is the revival and re-establishment of the primitive Christianity practised by Jesus and his disciples . . . All are brothers.”

What does that mean? It means that Jehovah’s Witnesses allow nothing—neither race, nationality, nor ethnic background—to cause them to hate their neighbors. Nor will they kill anyone, for they have figuratively beaten their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears, as the Bible foretold true servants of God would.—Isaiah 2:4.

No wonder an editorial in California’s Sacramento Union noted: “Suffice it to say that if all the world lived by the creed of the Jehovah Witnesses there would be an end of bloodshed and hatred, and love would reign as king”!

Similarly, a writer in Hungary’s Ring magazine remarked: “I have come to the conclusion that if Jehovah’s Witnesses were the only ones living on the earth, wars would cease to exist, and the only duties of the policemen would be to control traffic and to issue passports.”

In the Italian church magazine Andare alle genti, a Roman Catholic nun also wrote admiringly of the Witnesses: “They refuse any form of violence and without rebelling put up with the many trials inflicted on them because of their beliefs . . . How different the world would be if we all woke up one morning firmly decided not to take up arms again, whatever the cost or the reason, just like Jehovah’s Witnesses!”

The Witnesses are noted for taking the initiative to help their neighbors. (Galatians 6:10) In her book Women in Soviet Prisons, a Latvian said she became very sick while working at the Potma penal camp in the mid-1960’s. “All through my sickness [the Witnesses] were diligent nurses. I could not have wished for better care, especially under camp conditions.” She added: “Jehovah’s Witnesses consider it their duty to help everyone, regardless of religion or nationality.”

Recently the public press in the Czech Republic took note of such conduct of the Witnesses in concentration camps. Commenting on the documentary “The Lost Home,” produced in Brno, the newspaper Severočeský deník observed: “It is noteworthy that even these reliable contemporaries [Czech and Slovak Jewish survivors] have with marked admiration testified in favor of prisoners from among Jehovah’s Witnesses. ‘They were very courageous people, who were always helping us in whatever way they could, although running the risk of execution,’ many commented. ‘They prayed for us, as though we belonged to their family; they encouraged us not to give up.’”

What, though, about loving those who actually hate you? Is that possible?

Love Triumphs Over Hate

Jesus’ teaching about love of enemies is in keeping with the Bible proverb: “If the one hating you is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.” (Proverbs 25:21; Matthew 5:44) Regarding the positive effect of receiving loving attention from ones once considered enemies, a black woman who had recently become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses wrote: “On occasion my heart has been warmed to the point of uncontrollable tears to experience the genuine love of white Witnesses, people whom shortly before I would have killed without hesitation to further the cause of a revolution.”

A French Witness related that a neighbor reported her mother to the Gestapo during World War II. “As a result, my mother spent two years in German concentration camps, where she nearly died,” the daughter explained. “After the war, the French police wanted Mother to sign a paper incriminating this woman as a German collaborator. But my mother refused.” Later, the neighbor developed terminal cancer. The daughter said: “Mother spent many hours making the last months of her life as comfortable as possible. I will never forget this triumph of love over hate.”

Without question, people can learn to love one another. Former enemies—Tutsi and Hutu, Jews and Arabs, Armenians and Turks, Japanese and Americans, Germans and Russians, Protestants and Catholics—all have been united by Bible truth!

Since millions of people who previously harbored hatred now love one another, surely a whole world of people could. Admittedly, however, a huge worldwide change will be needed if all people are to love one another. How will that change come about?

[Pictures on page 7]

Whites and blacks in South Africa

Jews and Arabs

Hutu and Tutsi

Figuratively, Witnesses have beaten their swords into plowshares

When All People Will Love One Another

IN HIS Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ pointed to the time when all people will love one another. Introducing his remarks, Jesus quoted the 37th Psalm, saying: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” That Bible psalm also describes how this marvelous situation will be realized, saying: “Evil-doers shall be cut off; but those that wait for Jehovah, they shall inherit the land.”—Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37:9; American Standard Version.

What a remarkable change that will be—all evildoers removed from the earth and only people who love one another left remaining! How could that ever happen? Jesus went on in his famous sermon to show how when he taught us to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.” (Matthew 6:10, AS) Note where God’s will is to be done. Not just in heaven. “We pray, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” an article in The Christian Century emphasized.

So, then, what is God’s Kingdom for which Jesus taught us to pray? Clearly, it is a real government, one that rules from heaven. That is why it is called “the kingdom of the heavens.” (Matthew 10:7) The appointed Ruler of this Kingdom, or government, is God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Long before Jesus was born of Mary, Jehovah’s prophet Isaiah foretold regarding that miraculous event and what would eventually follow: “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6, 7, AS) After Jesus’ death and resurrection, he sat down with his Father in heaven, waiting to be given the command to begin ruling as King.—Psalm 110:1, 2; Hebrews 10:12, 13; Revelation 11:15.

What, then, will eventually happen to this hate-filled world? Note how the Bible answers that question. God’s prophet Daniel foretold: “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite.”—Daniel 2:44.

Clearly, this Bible prophecy is pointing forward to a huge change in human affairs. This entire system of things, which includes those of this world of mankind who stubbornly refuse to submit to God’s rule, will be removed from the earth! Consider what will replace it.

Life in a Righteous New World

When the old world ends, there will be survivors. The Bible explains: “The world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever.” (1 John 2:17) Yes, those who do the will of God will survive into a new world, even as Noah and his family lived through the end of the world of their day. The apostle Peter wrote: “There are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to [God’s] promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.”—2 Peter 3:5-7, 11-13.

Regarding the time when the only government operating is God’s Kingdom, the Bible promises: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” (Psalm 37:29) The righteous will enjoy life in a cleansed earth. What a glorious time that will be! If you have not done so already, please examine the blessings described in the Bible that are illustrated on the preceding pages.

Does it not warm your heart to know that our Creator promises such wonderful things for the benefit of those who worship him? Surely, this was God’s purpose when he created the first human couple and placed them in an earthly paradise! Note what God told them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth.”—Genesis 1:27, 28.

Adam and Eve were to have children, and as these grew older, they were to share in the pleasant work of maintaining the earthly Paradise. Think of the joy of extending the boundaries of the garden of Eden as the human family grew in number! Clearly, it was God’s purpose for the entire earth to become a paradise. Will that purpose ever be fulfilled? We can be sure that it will be, for we have God’s own word on it! He promises: “I have even spoken it; . . . I shall also do it.”—Isaiah 46:11; 55:11.

Would you enjoy living forever in the earthly Paradise that is described in the scriptures illustrated on the preceding pages? As would be expected, not everyone will be permitted to live there forever. There are requirements. What are they?

Qualifying to Live Forever

First of all, those who live in God’s new world must learn to love one another, even as God teaches us to do. The Bible says: “You yourselves are taught by God to love one another.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9) How are we taught this by God?

It is particularly by means of his written Word, the Bible. This means that to live forever, we must accept the teachings of God in the Bible. An Oriental Bible student said: “I look forward to the time when, as the Bible promises, all people will have learned to love one another.”

In prayer to his Father, Jesus identified an essential requirement. He said: “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) The 32-page brochure What Does God Require of Us? will help you take in this knowledge. You can obtain a copy by filling out the coupon on page 32 and sending it to Watchtower, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483, or to the appropriate address on page 5.

[Box/Pictures on page 8-10]

What God Promises

Loving Worldwide Brotherhood

“God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.”—Acts 10:34, 35.

No More Crime or War

“As regards the wicked, they will be cut off from the very earth.”—Proverbs 2:22.

“[God] is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth.” —Psalm 46:9.

Plenty of Good Things to Eat

“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.

Peace Between People and Animals

“The wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, . . . and a mere little boy will be leader over them.”—Isaiah 11:6.

Sickness, Old Age, and Death Removed

“[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.

A Resurrection on Earth of Dead Loved Ones

“The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear [Jesus’] voice and come out.” —John 5:28, 29.

Young People Ask . . .

How Can I Make the Truth My Own?

“I was raised as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and I always felt that if you were brought up that way, you actually knew Jehovah. How wrong I was!”—Antoinette.

“WHAT is truth?” Pontius Pilate, the man who handed Jesus over for execution, posed that famous question. (John 18:38) However, Pilate evidently intended his cynical question to close—not open—honest dialogue. He really wasn’t interested in “truth.” But what about you? Are you interested in truth?

Philosophers have pondered what truth is for centuries, with embarrassingly little to show for their efforts. However, you can find the answer to Pilate’s question. Jesus Christ taught that God’s Word is truth. He also spoke of himself as “the truth.” And the apostle John wrote: “The truth came to be through Jesus.” (John 1:17; 14:6; 17:17) The entire body of Christian teachings, which later became part of the Bible, are therefore also called “the truth” or “the truth of the good news.” (Titus 1:14; Galatians 2:14; 2 John 1, 2) These Christian teachings embody such things as God’s personal name, the establishment of God’s Kingdom, the resurrection, and Jesus’ ransom.—Psalm 83:18; Matthew 6:9, 10; 20:28; John 5:28, 29.

Thousands of young ones have been taught Bible truth by Christian parents. But does this mean that such ones are “walking in the truth”? (3 John 3, 4) Not necessarily. Twenty-year-old Jennifer, for example, was reared as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She recalls: “My mother took me to Witness conventions and hinted that I should be thinking about baptism. But I thought to myself, ‘I don’t ever want to be a Witness. I only want to have fun!’”

Some youths believe what they have been taught, but they have failed to develop a deep understanding of what the Bible really teaches. The danger? Jesus warned that some individuals “have no root in themselves.” Such ones may “continue for a time; then as soon as tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, they are stumbled.” (Mark 4:17) Others can explain their Bible-based beliefs to some extent, but they have not come to know God on a personal basis. Says a young woman named Aneesa: “I don’t think I had a real relationship with Jehovah when I was younger . . . I guess it was mainly dependent upon my parents’ relationship with him.”

Where do you stand in this regard? Is Jehovah simply the God of your parents? Or, like the Bible psalmist, can you say: “In you I have put my trust, O Jehovah. I have said: ‘You are my God’”? (Psalm 31:14) It may take courage to face the facts. A young man named Alexander says: “For me, honest self-examination was the first step.” After doing some soul-searching, you may come to realize that you have never really proved the truth (the entire body of Christian teachings) to yourself. You may lack firm conviction, and so your life may seem aimless, without real direction.

At their Christian meetings, Jehovah’s Witnesses often sing a song entitled “Make the Truth Your Own.”a That advice may be appropriate for you. But how can you do so? Where do you begin?

Prove It to Yourself

At Romans 12:2, we find the advice of the apostle Paul: “Prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Just how can you do that? By gaining “the accurate knowledge of the truth.” (Titus 1:1) Ancient inhabitants of the city of Beroea did not accept without question the things they heard. On the contrary, they “carefully [examined] the Scriptures daily as to whether these things [they were learning] were so.”—Acts 17:11.

A young Christian named Erin saw a need to do the same herself. She recalls: “I did research. I asked myself, ‘How do I know that this is the right religion? How do I know that there is a God named Jehovah?’” Why not start your own personal study program? You might start with the Bible-based book Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life.b Read it carefully. Look up all the cited Scripture texts and note how they relate to what is stated. You may be amazed to find out how differently you feel about the truth when you become “a workman with nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of the truth aright”!—2 Timothy 2:15.

The apostle Peter said that some things in the Bible are “hard to understand,” and you will find this to be true. (2 Peter 3:16) But God’s spirit can help you to grasp even difficult subjects. (1 Corinthians 2:11, 12) Pray for God’s help when you are having problems understanding something. (Psalm 119:10, 11, 27) Try doing some additional research in the publications of the Watch Tower Society. If you’re not sure how to do that, ask for help. Your parents or perhaps some other mature members of the Christian congregation can assist you.

Remember, you are not studying to impress others with your knowledge. A youth named Collin explains: “You’re getting to know Jehovah’s qualities.” Take the time to meditate on what you read so that it sinks down into your heart.—Psalm 1:2, 3.

Associating with the congregation at Christian meetings can also help you. After all, as the apostle Paul wrote, the congregation is “a pillar and support of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15) Some youths complain that Christian meetings are boring. “But if you’re not preparing for the meetings,” reminds young Collin, “then you won’t get much out of them.” So prepare your lessons beforehand. Meetings are much more interesting when you are a participant—not merely a spectator.

Too Busy to Study?

Granted, with all your schoolwork and household chores, finding time to study may be challenging. A young person named Susan writes: “For years I struggled with knowing that I needed to prepare for meetings and do personal study, and yet I was never able to do it.”

Susan learned to ‘buy out time’ from less important pursuits. (Ephesians 5:15, 16) First, she made a list of all the things she needed to study. Then, she scheduled time to study them. But she also included some time for recreation in her schedule. She advises: “Don’t schedule every free moment. We all need some downtime.” Having a schedule will likely work for you too.

Share What You Learn

Using what you learn is especially helpful in making it a part of you. Try teaching someone else. The psalmist said: “My own mouth will speak things of wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will be of things of understanding.”—Psalm 49:3.

If you are not ashamed of the good news, you won’t hesitate to share it with schoolmates and others you might encounter. (Romans 1:16) By taking advantage of such opportunities to speak the truth to others, you will be using what you learn; and in this way you will embed the truth in your own mind and heart.

Guard Your Associations

Some Christians in the first century made good spiritual progress. But the apostle Paul soon had to write to them, asking: “Who hindered you from keeping on obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5:7) Something similar happened to a youth named Alex. He confesses that his efforts to study God’s Word were undermined by his “hanging around with bad associations.” For your spiritual progress, you may also need to make some changes in this regard.

Conversely, good associations can really help you to progress. Proverbs 27:17 says: “By iron, iron itself is sharpened. So one man sharpens the face of another.” Find good role models—people who apply the truth in their own lives. You may not have to look further than your own household. Young Jennifer recalls: “Grandfather was my best example. He always spent three hours preparing for our congregation Bible study on Sunday. He looked up every scripture in the lesson in various Bible translations and checked words in his dictionary. He was an expert on little-known facts from the Bible. You could ask him anything, and he would find the answer.”

When you make the truth your very own, you gain a precious possession—something you wouldn’t give up for any price. So never view the truth as just “my parents’ religion.” Your conviction should be that of the psalmist who said: “In case my own father and my own mother did leave me, even Jehovah himself would take me up.” (Psalm 27:10) By really knowing what the Bible teaches, believing it, sharing your beliefs with others and, above all, living in harmony with these beliefs, you will demonstrate that you have made the truth your own.

[Footnotes]

[Picture on page 13]

Prove the truth to yourself by doing your own research and personal study

Common Fallacies About Snakes

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN INDIA

The slimy cobra slithered toward the girl, lured by the scent of the jasmine flowers in her hair. Its long body undulated like the waves of the sea. She saw a flash on its forehead like a bright jewel as it transfixed her with its hypnotic gaze. Suddenly, it hurled itself through the air and buried its fangs in her arm.

FACT or fallacy? The entire picture created above is false, based on commonly held misconceptions. Consider some of these fallacies.

1. Jasmine, sandalwood, and other scents attract snakes. FALSE. The scent attracts insects, the insects attract frogs, and the frogs, which are part of the snake’s diet, attract snakes.

2. Snakes move by undulating their bodies vertically. FALSE. This impression is given when snakes move over large stones. The normal movement of cobras and other terrestrial snakes is horizontal, in a straight line. They either stretch the front part of their body forward and draw up the back part or, with the help of any projections on the ground, push sideways and forward, looking like the letter S.

3. Some snakes have a precious stone in their head. FALSE. A myth, along with the belief that great men in ancient India were protected by cobras.

4. Cobras hypnotize their prey. FALSE. The snake will usually stare fixedly when afraid, so the impression given to humans when they encounter a snake is of a fixed, hypnotic type of stare. This, however, is not a method used to catch prey.

5. Cobras hurl themselves at their prey. FALSE. The cobra throws the front part of its body forward to attack its prey, but most of its length remains on the ground to anchor its body. At the most, one third of the body is reared and strikes to attack.

6. The skin of snakes, including cobras, is slimy and always cold. FALSE. The skin of snakes, with its overlapping scales, is dry and feels like soft leather. Snakes are cold-blooded creatures; their body temperature reacts to changes in the external temperature.

7. Cobras are deaf. FALSE. A misconception held by many. These think that the snake’s only hearing is from vibrations in the ground that are carried through its body. The Bible, at Psalm 58:4, 5, correctly implies that cobras are not deaf. Recent research has shown that cobras can hear sounds carried in the air and that they respond to the music of the snake charmer.—See also Awake! of July 22, 1993, page 31.

[Picture Credit Line on page 15]

Top snake: Animals/Jim Harter/Dover Publications, Inc.

Cartography—A Key to Knowing the World

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN CANADA

“Paradise is somewhere in the Far East. Jerusalem is the centre of all nations and countries, and the world itself is a flat disk surrounded by oceans of water. So the monks, map-makers of the Middle Ages, saw the world they lived in.”

THOSE words were used by the editors of The Reader’s Digest Great World Atlas in its introduction. Such a religious belief, which finds no support in the Bible, partly explains why cartography, or mapmaking, made little progress during the early Middle Ages.

Maps are basic to a knowledge of geography, which in itself is essential to understanding the world around us. Yet, for many, geographic literacy has not advanced much since medieval times. About a hundred years ago, the writer Mark Twain used his fictionalized character Huck Finn to show the problem in his day. Aloft in a balloon, Huck assured his friend Tom Sawyer that they had not yet reached the state of Indiana because the earth was still green. Huck had noted that on a map Indiana was pink.

In more recent times, an American high school teacher would open his geography course by asking a student to point out the United States on a world map. For a period of ten years, he began his class this way. He reported that not once during that time had the first student—or the second—ever succeeded in pointing to the United States! Perhaps more surprising than that, “3 out of 10 Americans cannot distinguish north from south on a map,” according to Time magazine.

A Chronicle of Mapmaking

Mapmaking is one of the most ancient and extraordinary forms of communication. Maps have been carved on stone and wood; drawn on sand, paper, and parchment; painted on skins and cloth; and even hand shaped on snow.

The World Book Encyclopedia dates the oldest known map from about 2300 B.C.E., describing it as “a small clay tablet from Babylonia that probably shows an estate in a mountain-lined valley.” The Babylonians used similar clay drawings of city walls in an early effort at community development.

The Greek geographer Ptolemy of Alexandria of the second century knew that the earth was round, even as the Bible revealed in the eighth century B.C.E. when it spoke of God as the “One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth.” (Isaiah 40:22) According to the magazine Equinox, Ptolemy’s drawings are “among the first recorded attempts at cosmography—the mapping of the shape of the known world.”

Few knew about Ptolemy’s maps until they were printed in an atlas in the late 1400’s. Thereafter, they became the source of geographic data for such navigators as Columbus, Cabot, Magellan, Drake, and Vespucci. Even today, Ptolemy’s globelike map of the world resembles modern maps, although on his map the Eurasian landmass is exaggerated in size. The Reader’s Digest Atlas of the World notes that this exaggeration “led Columbus to underestimate the distance to Asia as he set out across the Atlantic, and thus he failed to realize that he had discovered the intervening New World.” This so-called New World, America, named after Amerigo Vespucci, was first added to a world map in 1507.

Voyages that followed during the age of discovery, between about 1500 and 1700, equipped cartographers with more accurate information. Their charts, or maps, became strategic documents and have been identified as “instruments of state power” and “weapons of war.” Mapmakers were sworn to secrecy, worked in isolation, and protected their maps on pain of death. If an enemy boarded a ship, the maps, kept in a weighted sack, were thrown into the sea. For a long time, nations carefully guarded their official maps, and in wartime, only a very few people could view them.

As new lands were discovered, old boundaries needed to be redefined. Flemish geographer Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594) responded by drawing the first scientific book of maps. In his book, Mercator used the figure of the mythological giant Atlas the Titan, and since then the word “atlas” has come to be applied to a collection of maps.

Modern Cartography

As geographic knowledge grew, the quality of maps improved. New mapping techniques played a major role in this development. Canadian Geographic describes the daunting role of surveyors during the latter part of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th: “Through heat and cold, by horseback, canoe, raft and foot . . . , they surveyed cities and homesteads, forests and fields, mud-laden roads and bug-infested bogs. They used chains to measure distance and transits for angles. They established benchmarks by the stars . . . and sounded the depths of coastal waters.”

In the 20th century, mapmaking literally got off the ground. Airplanes mounted with cameras began taking aerial photographs. Then, orbiting satellites of the 1950’s propelled mapmaking into the space age. By the end of the 1980’s, ground surveyors with global-positioning receivers could determine geographic locations earth wide in an hour, something it took months to accomplish a few years earlier.

Today cartographers draw with the aid of electronics. They update their maps by using instruments that have been placed in orbit, complemented by sophisticated instruments on earth. Computer hardware with specialized software programs allows mapmakers to store trillions of pieces of information, cartographic and otherwise. Thus, a custom-made map can be produced within minutes, without time-consuming hand scribing.

With a geographic information system (GIS), almost any information can be superimposed on a map. A GIS can produce an up-to-the-minute city street map to help with traffic flow during rush hour. It can also track and direct transport trucks that race across a nation’s highways, and it can even manage hay production for dairy farmers.

Maps—A Reflection of Reality?

“A map may lie, but it never jokes,” wrote poet Howard McCordin. For example, when a hand-drawn map sketched on a piece of paper fails to indicate the correct exit ramp to your intended destination, it is not a laughing matter. We have come to expect all maps to be truthful and to reflect reality. But the fact is that not all are truthful, nor do they all reflect reality.

An archivist acquired a colorful wall map of Quebec, Canada, and later discovered what appeared to be a flagrant mistake. “All of Labrador was included as part of Quebec,” he explained. “When I pointed out the problem to a colleague, I was astounded when he said it was probably not an oversight but a deliberate misrepresentation.” It seems that Quebec never was happy with a 1927 decision about the placement of the border between Labrador and Quebec, and so the map did not reflect this unwanted reality.

The colleague of the archivist pointed out additional examples of maps that were intentionally deceitful. The archivist later wrote an article in Canadian Geographic entitled “Maps That Deceive,” which emphasized that “cartography can easily be manipulated to support a particular point of view.” He wrote: “I had always been taught that maps were faithful representations of reality and yet here were maps that were full of lies!”

In 1991, The Globe and Mail, of Toronto, reported that “a delegation of Japanese officials, whose government claims ownership of the Soviet-controlled Kurile Islands, asked the [National Geographic Society] to designate the disputed territory a different hue.” Why did they want the change in color? National Geographic’s chief cartographer, John Garver, Jr., explained: “They wanted the colour changed to green, because Japan is green on the map.”

Therefore, colors on maps can be used to make certain associations or emphasize a particular feature. For example, in 1897, with the discovery of gold along a tributary of the Klondike River, maps were particularly useful in promoting the stampede of an estimated 100,000 gold seekers. Map producers colored Alaska and the Yukon deep yellow to suggest great potential for success.

Other attitudes may affect the appearance of a map in a much more dramatic way. For example, in 1982 a “Turnabout Map” was produced, which placed the Southern Hemisphere at the top. Why? Because it was felt that being at the top implied superiority and dignity and that such a map would have a positive effect on poorer countries of the world that are located in the Southern Hemisphere.

A Challenge to Mapmakers

Even when a cartographer wants to reflect reality, creating a map on a flat surface presents a problem. This is because drawing the surface of a sphere on a flat plane results in distortion. It is like trying to flatten a whole peel of an orange. The shapes of the continents may be accurate, but the sizes are out of proportion. Thus, John Garver, Jr., said: “The only accurate map is a globe.” But since globes are difficult to carry around, a flat, colorful world map is appreciated and beneficial.

In 1988, National Geographic released a new world map. Reporting on this event, Time explained the problem facing mapmakers: “The images on maps often do not reflect the actual shapes and relative sizes of continents and seas.” You can easily recognize this fact if you compare the world map issued by the National Geographic Society in 1988 with world maps produced by this same society in earlier years.

Discussing the radical differences in such maps, Time said: “On the new map of the world that the [National Geographic Society] is sending its 11 million members, the Soviet Union has lost 18 million sq. mi.—more than two-thirds of the territory it appeared to encompass on the National Geographic’s maps for the past half-century.”

Since the time of Ptolemy, cartographers have struggled with the problem of presenting relative sizes of areas of the world. For example, in a projection that National Geographic used for 66 years, Alaska is five times its real size! Such problems with distortion can help you understand why Arthur Robinson, who is considered by many to be the dean of U.S. cartographers, said: “Mapmaking is as much an art form as a science.” The map adopted by the National Geographic Society in 1988, according to Garver, was “the best balance available between geography and aesthetics.”

What Does the Future Hold?

Clearly, there is much more involved in mapmaking than many people realize. The more knowledge there is of the earth, the more accurate maps can be. Yet, that knowledge may not be easily available. Thus, as author Lloyd A. Brown said years ago, “until the time when all men can sail up to a neighbor’s shore without fear, and can ride or fly over any country without being shot at or stopped, the great map of the world that men have dreamed about for centuries must wait. Some day it may be finished.”

Happily, according to Bible prophecy, the entire globe will eventually be united under the rulership of God’s appointed King, Jesus Christ. Of him a Bible prophecy proclaims: “He will have subjects from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” (Psalm 72:8) When territorial boundary disputes and political rivalries are finally removed and conflicting national sovereignties no longer exist, a perfect map of the world may then be produced.

[Picture on page 16, 17]

Ptolemy and his world map

Gerardus Mercator

[Credit Line]

Ptolemy and Mercator: Culver Pictures; Ptolemy’s world map: Gianni Dagli Orti/Corbis; globe: Mountain High Maps® Copyright © 1997 Digital Wisdom, Inc.; background on pages 16-19: The Complete Encyclopedia of Illustration/J. G. Heck

‘We Live No Longer for Ourselves’

AS TOLD BY JACK JOHANSSON

The African, a Malawian soldier, ordered me to stand by the edge of the river in the light of the Land Rover’s headlights. As the soldier raised his rifle to his shoulder, Lloyd Likhwide dashed to the riverside and thrust himself in front of me. He pleaded: “Shoot me! Shoot me, instead! Not this foreigner who has done nothing wrong!” Why was an African ready to sacrifice his life for me, a European? Let me explain how I came to be a missionary in Africa nearly 40 years ago.

IN 1942, when I was only nine, my mother died, leaving Father with five children. I was the youngest. Four months later Father, who was one of the first Witnesses of Jehovah in Finland, died in a drowning accident. My oldest sister, Maja, looked after the rest of us, and we managed to keep our farm. Maja also took the lead in spiritual matters, and within a year of Father’s death, she and one of my brothers symbolized their dedication to Jehovah God by undergoing water baptism. A year later I was baptized, at the age of 11.

A Crucial Decision

After completing my studies in a commercial college in 1951, I began working for the Ford Motor Company in Finland. Six months later I got a surprise from a wise traveling minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He invited me to give a talk at an assembly about the blessings of the pioneer, or full-time, ministry. I felt uneasy, since I was working full-time secularly and felt I would never be able to speak from my heart. I prayed to Jehovah about the matter. I realized that Christians should “live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them,” and so I decided to change my priorities in order to serve as a pioneer.—2 Corinthians 5:15.

My supervisor promised to double my salary if I stayed with the company. Then, when he could see that I had made up my mind, he said: “You have made the right decision. I have spent my whole life here in this office, and how much have I really helped people?” So in May 1952, I became a pioneer. A few weeks later, I could deliver my talk about the pioneer ministry with full confidence.

After serving as a pioneer for a few months, I was sentenced to six months in prison because of my Christian neutrality. This was followed by eight months of confinement with other young Witnesses on the island of Hästö-Busö, in the Gulf of Finland. We called this island Little Gilead because of the intensive Bible study program that we organized among ourselves. My goal, however, was to attend the real Gilead, the Watchtower School of Gilead, located near South Lansing, New York.

While still in confinement on the island, I received a letter from the Watch Tower Society’s branch office, inviting me to serve as a traveling minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Upon my release I was to visit congregations in the Swedish-speaking section of Finland. At the time, I was only 20 years old and felt unqualified, but I placed my confidence in Jehovah. (Philippians 4:13) The Witnesses in the congregations that I served were wonderful, never looking down on me because I was just “a boy.”—Jeremiah 1:7.

While visiting a congregation the following year, I met Linda, who was vacationing in Finland from the United States. After she returned to the United States, she made rapid spiritual progress. Shortly, she was baptized. We were married in June 1957. Later, we were invited to the 32nd class of the Gilead School, in September of 1958. After our graduation the following February, we were assigned to Nyasaland, now called Malawi, in southeast Africa.

Our Ministry in Africa

We loved being out in the public ministry with our African brothers, who then numbered over 14,000 in Nyasaland. At times, we traveled by Land Rover, carrying all our necessities with us. We stayed in villages where no white person had ever been, and we were always well received. Upon our arrival, the whole village would turn out to see us. After a polite greeting, they would sit on the ground in silence, studying us.

Often, villagers kindly built a hut specially for us, which was sometimes made of mud and other times of elephant grass and was just big enough for a bed. Hyenas would streak by the hut during the night, emitting frightful howls right next to our heads. But Witnesses in Nyasaland were about to face more dangerous forces than wild animals.

Nationalism Becomes an Issue

All over Africa, independence movements were stirring. In Nyasaland everyone was expected to join the one political party that existed there. Suddenly, our neutrality became a burning national issue. I was then caring for the office work while our branch overseer, Malcolm Vigo, was away. I requested a meeting with Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, then prime minister of Nyasaland. Two other Christian elders and I explained our neutral position to him, and the meeting ended amicably. In spite of this, about a month later, in February 1964, Elaton Mwachande became the first casualty of the persecution—he was speared to death by an angry mob. The other Witnesses in his village were forced to flee.

We sent a telegram to Dr. Banda, appealing to him to use his authority to stop such violence. I soon received a call from the prime minister’s office, summoning me to appear. Accompanied by another missionary, named Harold Guy, and a local Witness, Alexander Mafambana, I went to see Dr. Banda. Two government ministers were also present.

As soon as we sat down, Dr. Banda, without saying a word, began waving the telegram back and forth over his head. Finally, he broke the silence, saying: “Mr. Johansson, what do you mean by sending a telegram like this?” Once again we explained our politically neutral position to him, and I added: “Now, with the murder of Elaton Mwachande, you are the only one who can help us.” That seemed to satisfy Dr. Banda, and he relaxed somewhat.

However, one of the government ministers present claimed that Witnesses in a certain distant village were uncooperative with the local authorities. The second minister then mentioned another remote village, charging that Witnesses there had spoken disrespectfully of Dr. Banda. Yet, they were unable to give us the names of any who had conducted themselves in that way. We explained that Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught always to respect the government authorities. Unfortunately, our efforts to correct the false impressions of Dr. Banda and his ministers were not successful.

Our Lives Were in Danger

In 1964, Nyasaland gained independence and later became the Republic of Malawi. Our preaching work continued with a measure of normalcy but under increasing pressure. During this time Witnesses in the southern region of the country called, saying that a political insurrection had broken out there. We saw the need for someone to go immediately to evaluate the Witnesses’ situation and provide moral support. I had made trips into the bush by myself on previous occasions, and Linda had accepted this courageously. This time, however, she pleaded with me, asking me to take along a young local Witness, Lloyd Likhwide. I finally consented, thinking to myself, ‘If it makes her happy, I will.’

We were told that we had to cross a certain river by ferry before a 6:00 p.m. curfew. We tried our best to make it by that time, but we were delayed by the bad roads. Only later did we learn that an order had been given to shoot anyone found on our side of the river after six. As we drove down toward the river, we saw that the ferry had already crossed to the other side. Brother Likhwide called for it to come and fetch us. It came, but a soldier on the ferry shouted back: “I have to shoot the white man!”

At first, I took it to be an empty threat, but as the ferry drew closer, the soldier ordered me to stand before the lights of the vehicle. It was then that my African friend thrust himself between us, begging the soldier to shoot him instead of me. Well, it seems that the soldier was touched by his willingness to die for me, and he lowered his gun. I thought of Jesus’ words: “No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his soul in behalf of his friends.” (John 15:13) How glad I was that I had listened to Linda’s advice to take that dear brother along!

The following day the road back to Blantyre was blocked by young men who demanded to see Brother Likhwide’s party membership card. There was only one thing to do—get through the crowd, and fast! I jammed the car into gear, and it lunged forward, startling them enough for us to get away. Had the mob got hold of Brother Likhwide, it would probably have meant the end of him. When we arrived back at the branch office, we were both badly shaken but thankful to Jehovah for His protection.

Imprisoned for Their Faith

Our work was officially banned in Malawi in October 1967. There were then about 18,000 Witnesses in the country. Two weeks later, we learned that 3,000 Witnesses had been imprisoned in Lilongwe, the capital. We decided to drive there that night, a distance of 190 miles [300 km], if only to give them moral support. We loaded the Land Rover with Watchtower publications and, thanks to Jehovah, passed through the many roadblocks without being checked. All along the road, at one congregation after another, we dropped off cartons of timely spiritual food.

In the morning we headed for the prison. What a sight! It had rained all night, and our Christian brothers and sisters had been detained outdoors in a fenced compound. They were soaking wet, and some were trying to dry out their blankets on the fence. We managed to speak with a few of them through the fence.

Their court case was held at noon, and a number of professed Witnesses appeared on the stand. We tried to make eye contact with them, but their faces remained expressionless. To our dismay, all of those on the stand renounced their faith! However, I learned that the local Witnesses did not know any of the ones who had denied being Jehovah’s Witnesses. It was apparently an effort to discourage the genuine Witnesses.

In the meantime, an order came through for us to be deported. Our branch office in Blantyre had been confiscated, and the missionaries had been given 24 hours to leave the country. How strange it was to find a police officer opening the gate for us when we returned home! The next afternoon a police official came and, with some regret, arrested us and drove us to the airport.

We left Malawi on November 8, 1967, knowing that our Christian brothers there were in for a fiery test. Our hearts ached for them. Dozens lost their lives; hundreds suffered cruel tortures; and thousands lost jobs, homes, and possessions. Nevertheless, nearly all kept their integrity.

On to New Assignments

Despite the hardships, it never occurred to us to quit the missionary work. Rather, we accepted a new assignment—to Kenya, a land of contrasts in scenery and peoples. Linda was fascinated by the Masai. At that time, there were no Masai who were Jehovah’s Witnesses. But then Linda met Dorcas, a Masai woman, and began to study the Bible with her.

Dorcas knew that to be pleasing to God, she had to legalize her marriage. The father of her two children refused, so Dorcas tried to support her children on her own. The man was furious with the Witnesses, but he was unhappy being separated from his family. Finally, at Dorcas’ urging, he also began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. He straightened out his life, became a Witness, and married Dorcas. She became a pioneer, and her husband and their oldest son are now congregation elders.

Suddenly, in 1973, the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses was banned in Kenya, and we had to leave. Only a few months later, the ban was lifted. But by then we had received our third assignment—to Congo (Brazzaville). We arrived in April 1974. Nearly three years later, we missionaries were falsely accused of being spies, and our work was banned. On top of that, fighting broke out in Brazzaville after the president of the country was assassinated. All the other missionaries were assigned to different countries, but we were asked to remain for as long as possible. For weeks we went to bed not knowing if we would see the morning. But we slept well, trusting in Jehovah’s care. Those few months, alone at the branch office, were probably the most faith-testing and faith-strengthening time we have ever experienced in our missionary service.

In April 1977 we had to leave Brazzaville. Then we had a real surprise—we were assigned to Iran to establish a new branch office. Our first challenge was to endeavor to learn Farsi, the Persian language. Learning a new language reduced us to giving only the simplest of comments at congregation meetings, the same as the small children gave! In 1978 a revolution began in Iran. We remained through the worst of the fighting, but in July 1980, all of us missionaries were deported.

Our fifth assignment took us back to the middle of Africa, to Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo. We served in Zaire for 15 years, for a time also under ban. When we arrived, about 22,000 Witnesses were active in that land—now there are over 100,000!

Home Again!

On August 12, 1993, the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Malawi was lifted. Two years later Linda and I were assigned back to where we started—Malawi, the beautiful, friendly country known as The Warm Heart of Africa. Since January 1996, we have had the joy of working among Malawi’s happy and peaceable people. We treasure serving once again with our faithful Malawian brothers, many of whom endured three decades of persecution. Our African brothers have been a source of inspiration, and we love them. They have certainly lived up to Paul’s words: “We must enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations.” (Acts 14:22) The nearly 41,000 Witnesses in Malawi are now free to preach openly and to hold large conventions.

We have enjoyed all of our assignments very much. Linda and I have learned that any experience, no matter how trying, can mold us into better persons, provided we hold on to “the joy of Jehovah.” (Nehemiah 8:10) I have had some difficulty adjusting when we have had to leave assignments. But Linda’s adaptability—and especially her strong faith in Jehovah—have helped me, causing me to appreciate the blessing of having “a good wife.”—Proverbs 18:22.

What a happy and exciting life we have led! Again and again we have thanked Jehovah for his protective hand. (Romans 8:31) It has been over four decades since I gave that talk about the blessings of the full-time ministry. We are glad that we have ‘put Jehovah to the test and tasted his goodness.’ (Psalm 34:8; Malachi 3:10) We are convinced that ‘living no longer for ourselves’ is the best way of life possible.

[Map/Picture on page 24]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

Countries in which we served

Iran

Republic of Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo

Kenya

Malawi

[Picture on page 21]

On our way to Malawi, by way of Cape Town, South Africa

[Picture on page 23]

When we were arrested and deported from Malawi

[Picture on page 25]

Dorcas, a Masai, with her husband

The Catholic Church and the Holocaust

By Awake! correspondent in Italy

FROM as early as 1987, there was talk of plans by the Catholic Church to produce a document acknowledging its responsibility in the Holocaust. So there was great expectation when in March 1998 the Vatican Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews released the document entitled We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah.a

While the document was appreciated by some, many were dissatisfied with its contents. Why? What did they find objectionable?

Anti-Judaism and Anti-Semitism

The Vatican document makes a distinction between anti-Judaism, for which the church acknowledges guilt, and anti-Semitism, which it disclaims. Many find the distinction and the conclusion to which it leads unsatisfying. German rabbi Ignatz Bubis said: “To me it seems like a way of saying that it’s not our fault; it’s someone else’s fault.”

Although Italian Catholic historian Giorgio Vecchio accepts the distinction between anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism, he points out that “the problem is also that of understanding how Catholic anti-Judaism may have contributed to the development of anti-Semitism.” It is of interest that the Vatican paper L’Osservatore Romano, of November 22-23, 1895, published a letter stating: “Any sincere Catholic is, in essence, anti-Semitic: so is the priesthood, by obligation of doctrine and ministry.”

The part of the Vatican document that provoked the most criticism, however, was the defense of the actions of Pius XII, appointed pope on the eve of World War II. Pius XII had served as nuncio (papal legate) to Germany from 1917 to 1929.

The Silence of Pius XII

Italian jurist Francesco Margiotta Broglio did not think that the document “offers new or explanatory elements on the widely debated issue of the so-called ‘silence’ of Pope Pius XII, on his alleged German sympathies, and on his diplomatic actions toward the Nazi regime both before and during his papacy.”

The majority of commentators agree that no matter how one views the import of the document We Remember, the question of why leaders of the Catholic Church remained silent about the genocide in Nazi concentration camps “remains wide open.” According to American historian George Mosse, by choosing silence Pius XII “saved the church but sacrificed her moral message. He behaved like a head of State, not like a pope.” Well-informed Vatican observers believe that what delayed the release of the document was the difficulty in handling the role of Pius XII in the Holocaust.

The document’s defense of Pope Pius XII has irritated many. “Silence on the ‘pope’s silences’ makes this document disappointing,” writes Arrigo Levi. Elie Wiesel, winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize for Peace, said: “It seems to me that claiming we Jews should be grateful to Pius XII is a heresy, to put it mildly.”

Shifting the Blame

The document adopts the traditional distinction made by Catholic theologians, according to which it is claimed that the church as an institution is holy and preserved from error by God, while its members, who are sinners, are the guilty parties for any evils perpetrated. The Vatican commission writes: “The spiritual resistance and concrete action of other Christians was not that which might have been expected from Christ’s followers. . . . [Such ones] were not strong enough to raise their voices in protest. . . . We deeply regret the errors and failures of those sons and daughters of the Church.”

However, attributing guilt to single members of the church rather than accepting it as an institution seemed to the majority to be a big step backward, compared with recent explicit requests for forgiveness. For example, the Roman Catholic Church in France issued a formal “Declaration of Repentance,” asking God and the Jewish people for forgiveness for the “indifference” the Catholic Church showed toward the persecution of Jews under France’s wartime Vichy government. In a statement read by Archbishop Olivier de Berranger, the church admitted that it had allowed its own interests “to obscure the biblical imperative of respect for every human being created in the image of God.”

The French declaration stated in part: “The church must recognize that in regard to the persecution of the Jews, and especially in regard to manifold anti-Semitic measures decreed by the Vichy authorities, indifference by far prevailed over indignation. Silence was the rule, and words in favor of the victims the exception. . . . Today, we confess that this silence was a mistake. We also recognize that the church in France failed in its mission as the educator of people’s consciences.”

More than 50 years after the terrible tragedy of the Shoah, or Holocaust, the Catholic Church has not yet managed to come to terms with its own history—one of ambiguity and silences, to say the least. But there are some who have never had to take any such step. Jehovah’s Witnesses, a religious minority cruelly persecuted by the Nazis, did not stoop to compromise.

As has been increasingly clear in recent times, in contrast with church members, the Witnesses denounced Nazi brutality. And it was not just as individuals that they did so. Their official spokesmen and publications also did. Historian Christine King, vice-chancellor of Staffordshire University in England, explained: “Jehovah’s Witnesses did speak out. They spoke out from the beginning. They spoke out with one voice. And they spoke out with a tremendous courage, which has a message for all of us.”

[Footnote]

[Picture on page 26]

Pope Pius XII was silent during the Holocaust

[Credit Line]

U.S. Army photo

Watching the World

Forest Fires in Mexico

A wave of forest fires that by the middle of April had destroyed some 300,000 acres [140,000 ha] in Mexico has been described as “an ecological disaster.” According to Julia Carabias Lillo, a secretary of the federal government of Mexico, some 6,800 fires had by that time raged in Mexico in what was called the most critical season of fires in the last 57 years. Although temperatures were above average and rainfall was scarce, most of the fires were “the result of human actions—the product of ignorance, of irresponsibility, and even of criminal conduct,” reports the newspaper El Universal. Octavio Escobar López, regional director of the Natural Resources Committee, said: “It will take about ten years to recover all the flora and fauna we have lost in a little over three days.”

Exercise and Longevity

“Taking brisk half-hour walks just six times a month appeared to cut the risk of [premature] death by 44 percent,” reports The New York Times about a recent study on longevity. Researchers in Finland tracked nearly 8,000 sets of twins for an average of 19 years and found that even occasional exercisers were “30 percent less likely to die than their sedentary twins.” The study is significant in that genetic factors were taken into account in determining the effectiveness of exercise. Steve Farrell, an aerobics researcher not involved in the study, said: “Even if you have bad genes, this study strongly suggests that increasing physical activity can help you live longer.”

Feathered Felons?

Police in South Africa have uncovered a diamond-smuggling operation involving the use of birds. Police say that employees at a state-owned diamond mine slip homing pigeons into lunch boxes or baggy clothes to smuggle them into the mine. There they load the birds with diamonds and then release them into the air, reports the Los Angeles Times. The homing pigeons can travel for miles with the gems. Over the past several years, four birds have been intercepted with contraband diamonds. In one instance, a homing pigeon was found with six carats of uncut diamonds strapped beneath its wings. Thus far, about 70 people have been arrested for using this method. The paper said that company officials estimate that nearly 1 in 3 diamonds mined from the ancient riverbed is stolen by dishonest employees.

Genetic Engineering

Over the past decade, scientists have made numerous discoveries regarding the genes that supposedly control complex traits and disorders in humans. Some scientists have predicted that this will one day enable mankind to manipulate genes and eliminate unwanted characteristics. For example, The New York Times reports that Lee Silver, a biologist at Princeton University, claims that our descendants will be smarter and more athletic and will live for hundreds of years. However, John Horgan, author of The End of Science, says: “Researchers hope they will be able to customize human personalities through genetic engineering. But so far not a single one of these claims linking genes to complex traits has been corroborated by follow-up studies.” Thus, Horgan adds: “By drawing attention to science’s failures as well as its legitimate achievements, perhaps scientists and journalists alike will present a less distorted, more honest picture of science’s real prospects.”

Farm Products Less Nutritious?

Are fruits and vegetables less nutritious today as a result of soil depletion? According to soil scientists, the answer is no. The University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter says: “Vitamins in plants are created by the plants themselves.” Thus, if the soil lacks necessary minerals, plants won’t grow properly. The plant may fail to flower, or it may simply droop and die. To prevent this from happening, farmers use fertilizer to put minerals back into the soil. The Wellness Letter says: “If the fruits and vegetables you buy look healthy, you can be certain they contain the nutrients they should.”

Houses Built Without Kitchens

It is estimated that in Australia half of all meals are now eaten outside the home. This trend has had such an impact that some apartments in Sydney are being built without kitchens, reports The Courier-Mail. Additionally, because Australians spend an average of only 20 minutes preparing meals, many Australian supermarkets have had to reexamine the type of food they offer. The manager of a large supermarket chain in Sydney claims that Australia is following a pattern set in the United States, where most meals are eaten outside the home.

Crime and Racism

A recent rise in crime in Greece has been blamed by some on the influx of refugees and immigrants from Eastern Europe and the Balkans, most notably Albania. Richardos Someritis, a columnist for the newspaper To Vima, says that concern over this increase in crime has caused a kind of “xenophobic and very often racist frenzy” against foreigners in that country. Nevertheless, it has been shown that foreigners are not involved in delinquent acts any more than Greeks are. For example, surveys show that “96 out of 100 crimes are perpetrated by [Greeks],” reports the newspaper. “The causes of criminal activity are economic and social,” claims Someritis, “not ‘racial.’” He also blames the media “for systematically cultivating xenophobia and racism” with its slanted coverage of crime in Greece.

Big Chip Was Watching

Runners competing in this year’s Boston Marathon carried a little extra baggage throughout the entire 26-mile, 385-yard race [42,195 m]—a microchip. According to InformationWeek magazine, to monitor their progress, all registered runners had an electronic chip attached to their clothing. The chips were programmed to be “read by radio frequency receivers that were set up every five kilometers [three miles].” The runners’ times were then sent to race headquarters, where they were posted on the Internet. Not only could marathon fans follow their favorite runners but any runner who attempted to cheat by not running the entire course was thwarted by this new technology.

Rare Deer Rediscovered in China

“The Tibetan red deer, thought to be extinct for more than 50 years, has been rediscovered in Shannan Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region,” reports China Today. For years the number of red deer, which stand about four feet high [1.2 m] and weigh about 200 pounds [110 k], had been greatly depleted by hunters who sought their valuable antlers. War and environmental changes have also taken their toll. It is estimated that fewer than 200 of these beautiful deer remain, and they are listed as an endangered species.

Mind Games

Contestants in the first U.S. National Memory Championship recently tested their skills by playing five mind games. The tests included memorizing 100 faces of ordinary people, memorizing a 50-line poem (including punctuation marks), recalling 125 English nouns (in order), memorizing a list of random numbers, and recalling a deck of 52 playing cards (shuffled and placed facedown). One contestant, Wallace Bustello, impressed his fellow participants by memorizing 109 consecutive numbers that were chosen at random. The overall winner, however, was 26-year-old Tatiana Cooley. According to the New York Daily News, she and her father, who programs satellites for an aerospace company, used to compete in memory tests at home. “I usually won,” says Tatiana.

Festival at the Ganges River

Millions of Hindus immersed themselves in the Ganges River in April as the Kumbh Mela, or pitcher festival, reached its climax. The Kumbh Mela is a three-month-long Hindu festival that celebrates the gift of immortality. The festival is held every three years and rotates between the four Indian cities where, according to legend, the nectar of immortality fell to the earth when gods and demons fought over its possession in heaven. In the past, stampedes to bathe in India’s sacred waters have resulted in many being killed.

From Our Readers

Strokes The series “Coping With Stroke” (February 8, 1998) was an answer to my prayer. My husband and I were attending a Christian convention a few years ago when he had a stroke. As he tried to write me a note, his hand slid across the paper; his whole right side had been affected. The article did more for me than I can ever express. It is wonderful to know that Jehovah has not forgotten us.

F. S. H., United States

Just a few hours before receiving this magazine, I was unsuccessfully trying to explain to my wife how I felt, but I was unable to express myself as I would have liked because of my stroke. I have already read this magazine three times. My wife has read it too.

R. Z., Italy

My father, who was a faithful servant of Jehovah for many years, died last year of a stroke. The article helped me to understand the behavior he exhibited before his death. The explanations regarding emotional changes, as well as why a stroke victim may have difficulty communicating, helped me to understand a little better what my father was going through.

V. C., United States

I suffered a stroke a year ago and am still struggling with the weakness on my left side. These articles will dispel some of the mystery and fear attached to stroke. It is a myth that only old people have strokes. I was only 47 years of age when I had mine.

A. A., England

The article helped me very much in understanding my daughter Lucia, who suffered a severe head injury in a car accident when she was two months old. She is unable to express her feelings. However, the article helped me to understand why.

N. K., Slovakia

I am a registered nurse certified in rehabilitation and have had a lot of experience working with victims of stroke. What I appreciated so much about this article was the truly empathetic approach it took in describing what is suffered by stroke victims’ families.

L. C., United States

My mother has suffered a transient ischemic attack. From a physical point of view, she has almost completely recovered. But she has deep psychological scars. She used to be strong and sure of herself, but now she has become extremely fragile. Thank you for highlighting the psychological impact this illness has.

R. C., Italy

Two years ago my mother suffered two strokes. The first caused her to lose her memory, and the second left her right side paralyzed. Sometimes I get impatient with her and say things that make her sad. Your article encouraged me to be more understanding.

R. T. S., Brazil

Christian Variety My sincere thanks for the article “The Bible’s Viewpoint: Does Christian Unity Allow for Variety?” (February 8, 1998) The more I get to know Jehovah, the happier I am to belong to his organization, in which we can enjoy a wide variety of personalities.

I. P., Slovenia

I am 15 years old and read Awake! regularly. I especially appreciated this article. One section talked about the Paradise and what it would be like. I had been wondering what perfect humans would be like and if we would all be the same in appearance and thoughts. Now I understand that there will be great variety in both humans and animals.

J. C., United States

He Did Not Give Up

ON October 5, 1995, 14-year-old Matt Tapio had surgery for a tumor on his brain stem. The tumor proved to be malignant. The operation was the first of many he would undergo in the next two and a half years. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments followed.

Matt lived in Michigan, U.S.A., where he attended public school and Christian meetings. He took advantage of opportunities to speak with teachers and classmates about his beliefs as well as to share in calling on others in the public ministry. During his frequent stays in the hospital—he spent 18 months of the last two and a half years of his life in hospitals—he placed hundreds of pieces of Bible literature with those he met there.

Many times it seemed that Matt wasn’t going to make it, but each time he bounced back. Once, on the way to the hospital, he had seizures and stopped breathing. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started, and he was revived. When he came to, he started crying and said loudly: “I’m a fighter! I’m a fighter! I’m not a quitter!” People said that it was Matt’s faith in God that kept him going for so long.

Matt realized a cherished desire on January 13, 1996, when he was baptized in symbol of his dedication to Jehovah God. The baptism took place in a private pool because of the risk of infection. A few days later, he was back in the hospital for more surgery. In August 1997, Matt vomited continually for weeks, but he stabilized after further surgery.

Through all of this, Matt continued to have a good sense of humor, joking with the doctors and nurses. They couldn’t understand why he had such a wonderful sense of humor. One of the doctors told him: “Matt, if I were in your shoes, I would have the curtain closed, cover my head, and tell everyone to get lost.”

In February 1998, Matt returned home from the hospital for one of the last times. He was so thrilled to be alive and at home that as soon as he walked in the door, he said: “I’m so happy! Let’s say a prayer.” He then expressed his happiness to Jehovah in prayer. Two months later, on April 19, he finally succumbed to the cancer.

Earlier, a recorded interview with Matt was played during a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. He was asked: “What would you tell those of us who have a measure of health regarding our ministry and Christian meetings?”

Matt replied: “Do what you can now. . . . You never know what might happen. . . . But whatever happens, don’t ever stop witnessing about Jehovah.”

‘Eagerly Awaiting the Coming Paradise’

That is what a 14-year-old named Aleksandr said in a letter that he wrote to the Russia branch office of the Watch Tower Society. This Russian youth had been given copies of The Watchtower and some other literature published by Jehovah’s Witnesses. In his letter he explained:

“When my parents and I traveled to Khabarovsk on the train, Jehovah’s Witnesses approached us. They told us a lot about Bible prophecies, the last days, and eternal life on the earth.”

The youth concluded: “How pleasant it is to realize that soon wickedness will come to an end and that people will live forever on earth! I eagerly await the time when the earth will be turned into a beautiful paradise. I would be very grateful if you could write to me about how Bible studies are conducted.”

Perhaps you too desire more knowledge regarding God’s purposes. If you do, please fill in the coupon below and mail it to Watchtower, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483, or to the appropriate address on page 5.

□ Send me a copy of the brochure What Does God Require of Us?

□ Please contact me concerning a free home Bible study.