April 8

Table of Contents

April 8, 2000

What Has Happened to Morals?

The 20th century experienced a moral breakdown. Is it unique to our time? What does it mean?

3 What Are Morals Like Today?

5 Are Morals Worse Than Before?

9 What Does It All Mean?

12 Religious Intolerance Now Admitted

15 A Tool for Teaching Human Rights

20 Crossword Puzzle

21 Managing a Killer

24 The Vasa​—From Disaster to Attraction

28 Watching the World

30 From Our Readers

31 A Living Faith Amid Tragedy

32 A Day to Remember

A Marsupial With a Spring in Its Step 16

Taking a close look at Australia’s kangaroo.

Is It Proper to Worship Jesus? 26

What does the Bible say about this?

What Are Morals Like Today?

One morning in April 1999, the calm was shattered in the town of Littleton, near Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. Two youths in black trench coats entered the local high school and began shooting at students and teachers. They also detonated bombs. Twelve students and a teacher were killed, and more than 20 were wounded. The perpetrators ended the massacre by taking their own lives. They were only 17 and 18 years old and had a deep hatred for certain groups.

SADLY, the example mentioned above is not an isolated incident. Newspapers, radio, and television report similar events throughout the world. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 11,000 violent incidents involving weapons in American schools were reported during 1997. In Hamburg, Germany, reports of acts of violence increased by 10 percent during 1997, and 44 percent of the suspects were youths under 21.

Corruption among politicians and government officials is common. A report by European Union (EU) commissioner Anita Gradin in 1998 revealed that the cost of corruption within the EU during 1997 was estimated at 1.4 billion dollars. This involved everything from having parking tickets dismissed to fraudulently receiving agricultural or other EU subsidies. Large-scale money laundering and the smuggling of weapons and narcotics had been allowed, and EU employees had been bribed by criminal organizations to keep silent. The entire EU Commission resigned in 1999.

However, it is not only those at the highest levels of society who cheat. A report from the EU Commission regarding illegal workers revealed that up to 16 percent of the EU’s gross national product consists of income from businesses that are not registered and that do not pay taxes. In Russia illegal income is reported to be up to 50 percent of the total. Furthermore, in the United States, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners stated that American companies lose well over 400 billion dollars annually because of employees stealing money or property from them.

The Internet has been used by many pedophiles who seek to lure children and minors into illegal sex activities. Concern about child pornography on the Internet has been increasing, according to a spokesman in Sweden for Save the Children. In Norway in 1997, this organization received 1,883 tips about child pornography Web sites on the Internet. The next year the number of such tips skyrocketed to almost 5,000. Much of the material is produced in countries where governments or local authorities cannot control this despicable activity.

Was It Better in the Past?

Many people who are horrified by the bad state of morals in the world today may think back longingly to the community spirit of their parents’ or grandparents’ day. Perhaps they have heard that people lived a much calmer life back then and that honesty and other aspects of morality were highly valued at all levels of society. Older folks may have spoken about the time when hardworking people helped one another, family ties were strong, and youths felt secure and assisted on their parents’ farm or in their workshop.

This leads to the questions: Were people’s morals really better in the past? Or is there simply a feeling of nostalgia that distorts our memory of days gone by? Let us see how historians and other social analysts answer.

[Box on page 3]

Morals Defined

In these articles the word “morals” is used in the sense of relating to principles of right and wrong in human behavior. This includes honesty, truthfulness, and high standards of conduct in sexual and other matters.

Are Morals Worse Than Before?

IF YOU were to ask historians, “Are people’s morals today better or worse than in the past?” some may answer that it is difficult to compare the morals of different time periods. They may feel that every age has to be judged in its own context.

Consider, for example, the development of violent crime in Europe since the 16th century. Murders were not that unusual 400 years ago. People often took the law into their own hands, and blood feuds were common.

Nevertheless, historians Arne Jarrick and Johan Söderberg write in the book Människovärdet och makten (Human Dignity and Power) that the period between 1600 and 1850 was “characterized by a genuine civilizing of social life” in some places. People had become better at taking the needs of others into consideration—they had become more empathetic. Other historians note, for example, that theft and crimes against property were much less common in the 16th century than they are today. Organized gangs of thieves were rare, especially among the rural population.

Of course, the institution of slavery existed, and it resulted in some of the most serious crimes in history—the kidnapping of humans in Africa by European traders and the brutalizing of these millions of slaves in the lands to which they were taken.

Thus, if we look back over past centuries, we will likely find that when viewed in historical perspective, some conditions were better, whereas others were worse. Nevertheless, something very different and very serious—indeed, unprecedented—happened during the 20th century and is still happening.

The 20th Century—A Turning Point

Historians Jarrick and Söderberg observe: “In the 1930’s the curve of murder and homicide once again turned upward, and, sadly, since then this trend has continued for more than half a century.”

According to many commentators, there was a large-scale deterioration of morals during the 20th century. An essay about moral philosophy says: “One can clearly see that society’s view of sex and what is morally acceptable has changed much in the past 30 to 40 years—from society making clear what is morally correct, by means of strict rules, to a more free and individualist view.”

This means that sexual conduct and other aspects of morality are things that most individuals now feel they can decide for themselves. To illustrate this, the essay cites statistics showing that in 1960 only 5.3 percent of all children in the United States were born out of wedlock. In 1990 the figure was 28 percent.

In a lecture at the University of Notre Dame, U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman described the morals of our time as a “values vacuum, . . . where traditional ideas of right and wrong have been gradually worn away.” According to Lieberman, this phenomenon “has been brewing for the better part of two generations.”

Secularization

What do historians and other analysts say is the reason for this remarkable development during the 20th century? “One of the most important changes in society during the past two centuries is secularization,” observes the book Människovärdet och makten. Secularization meant that “people would be afforded the opportunity to take their stand on different viewpoints on their own. This idea . . . has its origin among the 18th-century philosophers of the Enlightenment, who were the first to . . . reject the Bible as the only source of truth.” Thus, religions, especially those of Christendom, are not looked to for moral guidance as much as they were in the past.

But why is it that a philosophy that was formulated in the 18th century took more than 200 years to catch on? “These ideas were not easily spread to the public,” says the above-mentioned book. “The movement toward secularization was slow.”

Even if the trend to abandon traditional moral standards and Christian values did proceed slowly for most of the past 200 years, it accelerated sharply during the 20th century. This has especially been the case in the past few decades. Why is that?

Selfishness and Greed

A strong contributing factor is the rapid technological and economic development in society during the 20th century. An article in the German newsmagazine Die Zeit stated that we live in a “dynamic epoch and not, as during former centuries, in a world characterized as being static.” The article explained that this has led to a system of market economy, which is based on competition and propelled by selfishness.

“This selfishness,” the article continued, “could not be stopped by anything. In its wake grows the brutality that marks our daily life, as well as corruption, which in many countries has reached right up to the government. People think of themselves and the maximum gratification of their desires.”

Sociologist Robert Wuthnow, of Princeton University, found through in-depth polling that Americans today are more focused on money than they were a generation ago. According to the study, “many Americans fear the yearning for money has overpowered other values like people’s respect for others, honesty at work and participation in their communities.”

Greed in society has further increased because many business executives have granted themselves huge wage increases and lucrative retirement benefits while urging their employees to be moderate in their wage demands. “The problem with the pursuit of profit among business leaders is that their attitudes are infectious and that they lower the moral threshold among people in general,” observes Kjell Ove Nilsson, associate professor of ethics and theological director at the Christian Council of Sweden. “Of course, this has a devastating effect on morals—in society as well as on the personal level.”

The Media Culture

Another major factor contributing to the rapid moral decline in the latter half of the 20th century is the media culture. “The new values transmitters are the television producers, the movie moguls, the fashion advertisers, the gangsta rappers, and a host of other players within the electronic media-cultural complex,” says Senator Lieberman. “These trend-setters exert an extremely powerful hold on our culture and our children in particular, and they often have had little or no sense of responsibility for the harmful values they are purveying.”

As an example, Lieberman cites a record made by a heavy-metal band called Cannibal Corpse. The singers describe in detail the rape of a woman at knife point. He and a colleague made a plea to the record company to withdraw the record. But as Lieberman relates, it was to no avail.

Responsible parents today are therefore locked in a bitter competition with the media culture as to who will influence and raise their children. But what about families where the parents are not conscientious? “In those cases,” says Lieberman, “the culture is unchallenged as the standard setter, and the child’s sense of right and wrong and his priorities in life are shaped primarily by what he learns from the television, the movie screen and the CD player.” And more recently, the Internet can be added to this list.

Back to “a Moral Stone Age”

How are the effects of these negative influences evident among young people? For one thing, in recent years more children and teenagers have committed cruel acts of violence against other children as well as adults.

A shocking case took place in Sweden in 1998. Two boys, five and seven years of age, choked a four-year-old playmate to death! Many asked the question: Do children not have a built-in restraint that tells them to stop when they are going too far? A child psychiatrist made this telling comment: “A restraint against letting it go too far is something that has to be learned,” she said. “It could have to do with . . . what role models children have and what they learn from the adults around them.”

A similar phenomenon can be observed in violent criminals. According to Sten Levander, a professor of psychiatry in Sweden, between 15 and 20 percent of all prison inmates today are psychopaths—people who are extremely self-centered, lack empathy, and are unable or unwilling to understand the concept of right and wrong. Even among children and youths who are seemingly normal, observers have noticed a blunting of moral senses. “We have been thrown back into a moral Stone Age,” claims Christina Hoff Sommers, a professor of philosophy. She noted that when her young students are faced with the question of what is right and what is wrong, most of them react by becoming very insecure. Then they reply that there is no such thing as right or wrong. They believe that each person must consider what is best for himself.

In recent times, many of her students have objected to the principle of the unique dignity and value of human life. For example, when asked what they would do if faced with the choice between saving the life of their pet or the life of a fellow human whom they did not know, many said that they would choose the animal.

“The problem is not that young people are ignorant, distrustful, cruel, or treacherous,” says Professor Sommers. “To put it bluntly, they are conceptually clueless.” She claims that many young people today actually question whether there is a right or a wrong, and she feels that this attitude poses one of the greatest threats to society.

The undermining of morals in our time is therefore a reality. Many fear that dire consequences could result. The article in Die Zeit referred to earlier says that the free market economy of today could gradually “degenerate and maybe someday collapse as the socialistic system did recently.”

What does all of this really mean? And what kind of future do we have to look forward to?

[Pictures on page 6, 7]

“The new values transmitters are the television producers, the movie moguls, the fashion advertisers, the gangsta rappers . . .”

What Does It All Mean?

IF YOU were to analyze moral standards in recent years, you would see a clear trend. Without a doubt, moral standards are being increasingly undermined among a growing number of people. What is the real significance of this?

Does it mean, as some individuals claim, that our entire civilization and all mankind are doomed, nearing annihilation? Or are such changes just part of the normal ebb and flow of history?

The latter is what many people think. They view the moral breakdown of our time as just a trend, one of many that have come and gone throughout history. They fully expect that the pendulum will eventually swing back and that higher moral standards will return. Are they correct?

“The Last Days”

Let us consider the facts in the light of a book that for centuries was a widely accepted authority on moral issues—God’s Word, the Bible. It is very enlightening to compare today’s world with the prophetic description that the Bible gives of the most decisive era in human history. This is the time period it calls “the last days” or “the conclusion of the system of things.” (2 Timothy 3:1; Matthew 24:3) As these expressions imply, this period is to mark the definite end of an epoch and the beginning of a new one.

God’s Word foretold that the last days would be marked by “critical times hard to deal with.” To help watchful observers to identify the last days, the Bible gives a number of details that together provide a clear description, or composite sign, of this unique time period.

Bad Traits in People

Note one of the features of this sign that is prominent today: ‘Men will have a form of godly devotion but prove false to its power.’ (2 Timothy 3:2, 5) No other period in history has been characterized by such powerful and thorough secularization. God has been widely rejected as the only authority, and most people do not accept the Bible as the only source of truth. Of course, religions still exist, but many have little influence. They are only a veneer.

The Bible mentions another feature of the sign: “Men will be . . . without self-control, fierce,” and “because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off.” (2 Timothy 3:2, 3; Matthew 24:12) The Greek word translated “fierce” means, among other things, “lacking human sympathy and feeling.” Today ever younger children are showing themselves to be “fierce” and are committing increasingly violent crimes.

Furthermore, fast-paced technical and economic developments, and the greed these have brought with them, have caused more and more people to throw aside old values. Without regard for others, they use any available means, even dishonest ones, to grab as much as they can to satisfy their selfish desires. The huge increase in gambling is another evidence of selfishness, and the crime statistics of the past few decades speak loudly and clearly about this.

A feature especially prevalent in our time is this one: “Men will be . . . lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:2, 4) One example of this is that people want sensual pleasure, but they do not want the responsibility of living with one marriage partner for a lifetime. The result has been a tidal wave of wrecked family relations, unhappy and rootless children, single parents, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Another aspect of the sign is that “men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money.” (2 Timothy 3:2) According to the German magazine Die Zeit, “the motor of [today’s economic] system is selfishness.” More than ever before, the pursuit of money is the most important thing in many people’s lives. In this selfish pursuit, other values are ignored.

World Events

Besides describing the breakdown in human values, the Bible also foretold that the last days would be marked by extraordinary upheavals that would affect the human family. It says, for example, that “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another pestilences and food shortages.”—Luke 21:10, 11.

Except for the 20th century, there has been no period in history when so many people have been involved in so many world-shaking catastrophes during such a limited span of time. For instance, well over 100 million people were killed in wars during that time, a figure many times greater than the number of war casualties in several previous centuries put together. The 20th century gave us two wars so different from any others that they were called world wars. Global conflicts like these had never occurred before.

An Evil Driving Force

The Bible also reveals the existence of a powerful, evil spirit creature, “the one called Devil and Satan,” whose purpose is to lure people away from true values and pull them down into moral corruption. It says that during the last days, he has come down to the earth, “having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.”—Revelation 12:9, 12.

The Devil is described in the Bible as “the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit that now operates in the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2:2) This implies that the Devil exercises a powerful influence on many humans, usually without their noticing it, just as we sometimes may not notice an invisible pollutant in the air.

For example, Satan’s influence is seen in many modern means of communication: videos, movies, television, the Internet, advertising, books, magazines, and newspapers. Much material, especially that focused on unsuspecting youths, is filled with extreme and repugnant trends, such as racism, occultism, immorality, and sadistic violence.

Many sincere people have been struck by the similarities between the description the Bible gives of the last days and the actual circumstances in the world of our day. True, there have been some events in history before the 20th century that in lesser ways seemed to fit the Bible’s description. But it is only during the 20th century, and now the 21st century, that all the elements of the sign can be observed.

The Coming New Epoch

Neither those who believe that mankind will be destroyed nor those who claim that things will continue the way they always have are correct. Instead, the Bible clearly shows that the present world society dominating the earth will be replaced by something completely new.

After Jesus listed a number of the features of the sign of the last days, he said: “In this way you also, when you see these things occurring, know that the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 21:31) God’s heavenly Kingdom was the main theme of Jesus’ preaching. (Matthew 6:9, 10) And God appointed him to be the King of this Kingdom, which is a government that will soon rule over all the earth.—Luke 8:1; Revelation 11:15; 20:1-6.

At the end of the last days, God’s heavenly Kingdom in the hands of Christ is going to eliminate all who are its enemies—the Devil and those who support him—and replace today’s present morally bankrupt society with a righteous new world. (Daniel 2:44) In this new world, righthearted people will enjoy eternal life on an earth transformed into a paradise.—Luke 23:43; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:3, 4.

Those who detest today’s moral breakdown and discern that the composite sign of the last days is being fulfilled in current events can look forward to a magnificent future. For this we thank Almighty God, who cares about us humans and who has a glorious purpose for his creation, the earth.—Psalm 37:10, 11, 29; 1 Peter 5:6, 7.

Jehovah’s Witnesses invite you to learn more about our loving Creator and the prospect of life in a morally clean world, which he holds out to all searching individuals. As the Bible says, “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.

[Picture on page 10]

Righthearted people will enjoy eternal life on a paradise earth

Religious Intolerance Now Admitted

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN BRITAIN

“BISHOPS Regret ‘Terrible Crimes’ of Queen Mary,” headlined Britain’s Catholic Herald of December 11, 1998. The Roman Catholic bishops of England and Wales acknowledged that “in the name of the Catholic religion terrible wrongs were done, for example to Protestants at the time of the Reformation in Great Britain.” Who was Queen Mary? What wrongs did she commit that prompted such an admission? And why did the bishops of England and Wales choose this time to issue their statement?

Mary Tudor was born in Roman Catholic England in 1516. The only surviving child of Catherine of Aragon, first wife of King Henry VIII, Mary was brought up as a devout Catholic by her mother. Her father wanted a male heir, but Catherine did not produce one. Since the pope refused to annul his marriage to Catherine, Henry took matters into his own hands, thus preparing the way for the Protestant Reformation in England. In 1533 he married Anne Boleyn, four months before the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, pronounced Henry’s first marriage invalid.

The following year a defiant Henry severed all ties with Rome and was made supreme head of the Church of England. Mary, now considered illegitimate, never saw her mother again, as Catherine was forced to spend her last years isolated from public life.

Protestant Intolerance

Over the next 13 years, some who refused to acknowledge Henry as head of the church or who still accepted the authority of the pope were put to death. Henry died in 1547 and was succeeded by nine-year-old Edward, his only legitimate son, by the third of his six wives. Edward and his advisers attempted to make England Protestant. Roman Catholics were persecuted for practicing their religion, and churches were stripped of images and altars.

Restrictions on printing and reading the Bible in English were soon lifted, and church services incorporating Bible reading were to be in English instead of Latin. But in 1553, Edward died of tuberculosis when he was only 15. Mary was considered the rightful successor and became queen of England.

Catholic Intolerance

At first, people welcomed 37-year-old Mary, but she soon became unpopular. Her subjects had become used to Protestantism, and now Mary determined to make the country Roman Catholic again. In a short time, all of Edward’s religious statutes were repealed. Mary sought the pope’s forgiveness on behalf of the nation. Once again, England became Roman Catholic.

Reconciliation with Rome, in turn, prompted a new wave of persecution against Protestants. They were likened to a malignant boil that was to be cut out before it could affect the entire body. Many who refused to accept the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church were burned alive at the stake.

Punishment of Heretics

The first to die during Mary’s reign was John Rogers. He had compiled what is known as Matthew’s Bible, which formed the basis for the King James Version. After preaching an anti-Roman Catholic sermon warning against “pestilent Popery, idolatry, and superstition,” he was imprisoned for a year, and in February 1555 he was burned to death for heresy.

John Hooper, bishop of Gloucester and Worcester, was also labeled a heretic. He declared that it was lawful for the clergy to marry and that divorce on the ground of adultery was permissible. He also denied that Christ was physically present in the Mass. Hooper was roasted alive, his agonizing death lasting nearly three quarters of an hour. When it was 70-year-old Protestant preacher Hugh Latimer’s turn for the flames, he encouraged Nicholas Ridley, fellow Reformer and fellow victim at the stake, with the words: “Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man. We shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”

Thomas Cranmer, the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury under Henry and Edward, was also condemned as a heretic. Although he recanted his Protestant beliefs, at the last moment he made a public about-face, denounced the pope as Christ’s enemy, and thrust his right hand into the fire to be burned first, since it had been guilty of signing the recantations.

While at least 800 wealthy Protestants fled abroad to safety, over the next three years and nine months until Mary’s death, at least 277 persons were burned at the stake in England. Many victims were ordinary people who had become totally confused about what they should believe. Young people had been brought up hearing the pope denounced and now were being punished for speaking against him. Others had learned to read the Bible for themselves and had formed their own religious opinions.

The slow, agonizing death of men, women, and children who were burned at the stake appalled many. Historian Carolly Erickson describes a typical scene: “All too often the wood for the fire was green, or the rushes were too soggy to burn quickly. The bags of gunpowder tied to the victims to shorten their agony failed to ignite, or else maimed them without killing them.” The victims were not gagged, and so “their screams and prayers were audible often until the very moment of death.”

A growing number of people began to doubt a religion that needed to burn people at the stake to enforce its teachings. A wave of sympathy for the victims led ballad makers to compose songs about Protestant martyrs. John Foxe started compiling his Book of Martyrs, which was to become almost as influential to the Protestant Reformers as the Bible. Many who were Roman Catholics at the beginning of Mary’s reign became Protestants by its close.

Mary’s Legacy

After becoming queen, Mary said that she would marry her cousin Philip, heir to the Spanish throne. He was a foreign king and an ardent Roman Catholic, the last thing many of the English wanted. A Protestant uprising organized in protest against the marriage failed, and 100 rebels were executed. Philip and Mary married on July 25, 1554, although Philip was never crowned. However, their childless marriage was a source of distress to Mary, who wanted a Roman Catholic heir.

Mary’s health failed, and after a short rule of five years, she died at 42. She went to her grave grief-stricken. Her husband had tired of her, and most of her subjects hated her. At her death, many Londoners held parties in the streets. Instead of rebuilding Roman Catholicism, she had furthered the cause of Protestantism by her fanaticism. Her legacy is summed up in the name by which she is known—Bloody Mary.

Wrongly Motivated Conscience

Why did Mary order so many people burned to death? She had been taught that heretics were traitors to God, and she thought it her duty to cut out their influence before they infected the whole nation. She listened to her conscience but ignored the rights of others whose conscience led them in another direction.

However, the Protestants were equally intolerant. Under Henry and Edward, people had also been burned for their religious beliefs. Mary’s Protestant successor, Elizabeth I, made the practice of Roman Catholicism a treasonable offense, and during her reign more than 180 English Roman Catholics were executed. Over the next century, hundreds more died for their religious opinions.

Why Apologize Now?

December 10, 1998, marked the 50th anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 18 recognizes “the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion,” including the freedom to change one’s religion and to teach and practice it. The Roman Catholic bishops of England and Wales chose the 50th anniversary as “an appropriate occasion for Catholics to examine their consciences in these matters” and to acknowledge the “terrible wrongs” committed, particularly in the time of Mary Tudor.

Although acts of religious intolerance nearly 450 years ago are now regretted, has anything really changed? People are no longer burned at the stake, but many so-called Christians continue to rape and slaughter those of other religions. Such intolerance does not please God. Indeed, Jesus Christ, the one who perfectly reflects God’s personality, declared: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”—John 13:35.

[Picture on page 12]

Queen Mary

[Credit Line]

From the book A Short History of the English People

[Picture on page 13]

Latimer and Ridley were burned at the stake

[Credit Line]

From the book Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

[Picture on page 13]

Cranmer ensures that his right hand burns first

[Credit Line]

From the book The History of England (Vol. 1)

[Picture Credit Line on page 12]

Border: 200 Decorative Title-Pages/Alexander Nesbitt/Dover Publications, Inc.

A Tool for Teaching Human Rights

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD student Rut Jiménez Gila, who lives in Granada, Spain, was invited by her teacher to write an essay on human rights. Several weeks after completing the assignment, she was informed by the European examining body in Brussels, Belgium, that she had been chosen, along with several other students from Spain, to represent her country. She subsequently wrote the following letter to the publishers of Awake! magazine.

“I needed up-to-date information regarding human rights, and the ‘Awake!’ issue of November 22, 1998, ‘Will There Ever Be Human Rights for All?,’ provided exactly what I was looking for. To illustrate abuses of human rights, I also selected information from other ‘Awake!’ articles on the future of women and on the Holocaust. [See issues of April 8, 1998, and August 8, 1998.] During my research I realized that ‘Awake!’ contained information that I could not find in other magazines or reference works. The photographs also impressed me, and I included some of them in my report.

“Because of my prize-winning essay, I spent a week in Finland, where I was able to talk further about human rights and explain the value of the ‘Awake!’ in highlighting important issues such as this one.

“Many, many thanks for always being the first to inform us about world events. May Jehovah continue to bless you, so that millions of people can continue to benefit from this information.”

[Pictures on page 15]

Rut and her certificate of participation

A Marsupial With a Spring in Its Step

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN AUSTRALIA

“EACH day when I came home from school, Joey, my pet kangaroo, would be sitting there waiting for me at the gate,” John recalls. “As soon as I opened the gate, he would jump up and embrace me with his forelimbs, and I would embrace him. We’d talk to each other in a language that said, ‘It’s great to see you!’ Then Joey would bound up the driveway a few yards like an excited dog, hop back, and repeat the process until we got to the house.”

People living in the Australian bush are legally permitted to have pet kangaroos, as John’s family did. Generally, these kangaroos are orphans, having been rescued as babies after their mothers were killed, perhaps when trying to cross a road. Even though it was the name John gave his pet, “joey” is, in fact, the common term for a baby kangaroo.

Naturally, the joey’s adopted family want to make it feel at home quickly. So one of the first things they do is give it a pouch. They choose a location away from the elements—and at a comfortable distance from the fireplace—and there they nail a large, tough cloth bag with a slot cut in it to resemble a mother kangaroo’s pouch. Then they put the joey into it with a bottle of warm, specially prepared milk. In this way many joeys are helped to survive. They soon adapt to their new pouch, diving into it headfirst, as if it were their mother’s.

How Do You Describe a Kangaroo?

Animals that raise their young in a pouch, or marsupium, are called marsupials. Comprising some 260 species, marsupials include the kangaroo, koala, wombat, bandicoot, and opossum, the only species native to North America. Understandably, early explorers found these unusual animals, especially the kangaroo, difficult to describe to people back home. The first to put the word “kangaroo” into written English was British explorer Captain James Cook. He likened the animal to ‘a greyhound that jumps like a hare or a deer.’ When a live kangaroo was later exhibited in London, it caused a sensation.

Kangaroos have big ears that swivel about on a deerlike head. Their small but powerful forelimbs resemble human arms, especially when the kangaroo stands erect. Kangaroos also have large, muscular hips; a long, thick, sinuous tail; and, of course, huge feet—a characteristic that has earned them the designation “Macropodidae,” meaning “long feet.”

Some 55 species of Macropodidae range in size from that of a man down to that of a rat. All Macropodidae have short forelimbs and long hind limbs for hopping. Red kangaroos, gray kangaroos, and wallaroos, or euros, are the largest. One male red kangaroo measured over seven feet [200 cm] from his nose to the tip of his tail and weighed 170 pounds [77 kg]. Smaller species of kangaroo are called wallabies.

Have you ever seen or heard of a kangaroo that lives in trees? Well, believe it or not, kangaroos do have a “monkey” in the family—the tree kangaroo. Found in the tropical rain forests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia, these shorter-legged, agile animals, so at home in trees, can leap some 30 feet [9 m] from one branch or tree to another. At night they descend to the forest floor, where they feed mainly on herbs and grubs.

Fast, Graceful, Efficient

When moving slowly, kangaroos seem ungainly and awkward. Their tail and short forelimbs become a tripod that supports their weight as they lift their hind legs forward. But they are graceful runners. When bounding along at up to 30 miles [50 km] an hour, they use their great tail to balance themselves. According to The World Book Encyclopedia, they “can reach a top speed of over 60 kilometers [38 miles] an hour.” In the case of a large kangaroo, a single hop at high speed may span from 30 [9] to 44 feet [13.5 m]—a leap that could almost pass for flying!

Kangaroos are not only fast but also efficient in their use of energy. Professor Uwe Proske, of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, says that a kangaroo’s oxygen consumption is actually more energy efficient at higher speeds than it is at lower speeds. Proske also calculated that “at 20 kilometres [12 miles] per hour or faster, the energy used by the hopping kangaroo was less than that of a four-legged placental mammal [a mammal that is born fully developed, like a dog or a deer] of similar weight, running at the same speed.” Because of the kangaroo’s energy-efficient locomotion, it can travel long distances without tiring. But how does the kangaroo manage to run so economically?

The secret lies in its long Achilles tendons. “It is as though kangaroos are hopping on pairs of coiled springs,” says Proske. Like those attached to a human calf muscle, the kangaroo’s Achilles tendons stretch on landing and compress during takeoff. Kangaroos hop at the same number of hops per second (about two for a red kangaroo) over a wide range of speeds. To go faster, they simply lengthen each stride. An exception is when a kangaroo is startled. Then it may take off with a few small, rapid hops for better acceleration.

Kangaroos are also expert swimmers. Not only do they use their powerful legs but they get additional propulsion by swinging their tail from side to side. When chased by dogs, kangaroos have been known to use their aquatic skills by bounding into a water hole or a river. Any dog brave enough to go after the kangaroo promptly gets shoved under the water by the kangaroo’s muscular forelimbs and five-fingered paws, each armed with sharp claws. John, mentioned at the outset, had two dogs that were almost drowned by a wild buck kangaroo when it took them on in a small reservoir on his family’s property.

The Marvel of Marsupial Birth

Although adults are tough and robust, kangaroos are extremely undeveloped and delicate at birth. Resembling little more than a pink worm measuring about an inch long and weighing a fraction of an ounce, they are born hairless, blind, and deaf. Yet, thanks to its precociously developed forelimbs equipped with claws and its sense of smell, the tiny “worm” crawls instinctively through its mother’s fur and up into her pouch. When inside the pouch, it latches onto one of four teats. The end of the teat immediately swells into a bulb inside the infant’s mouth, locking it firmly in place for several weeks. Considering its mother’s mode of travel, a solid anchor is clearly an advantage! In fact, so good is this anchor that early observers assumed that the young grew from the teat!

Eventually, of course, the joey will grow to the stage where it will leave the pouch, although only temporarily at first. However, after seven to ten months, when it is fully weaned, it will leave the pouch permanently. But let’s go back in time to when the joey first anchored itself to a teat and see another marvel of kangaroo reproduction.

A few days after the newborn latches onto its mother’s teat, she again mates. The embryo resulting from this mating develops for about a week, but then it goes dormant—on hold, so to speak—while its older sibling continues to grow in the pouch. When the older but still unweaned sibling leaves the pouch, the embryo in the womb resumes growth. After a 30-day gestation, it also attaches itself to a teat, but not the one suckled by the older sibling.

Therein lies another marvel of kangaroo biology. The mother gives her youngest joey one kind of milk and the older one a different kind. Commenting on this, Scientific American says: “The two milks secreted by the separate mammary glands are quite different in volume and composition. How this can be achieved under the same hormonal conditions is an intriguing question.”

Where to See Kangaroos

If you want to see kangaroos in their natural setting, you must be prepared to leave the cities and go out into the Australian bush, or the outback. Foraging for grass and small plants, kangaroos can be found individually as well as in small groups or in larger groups called mobs, which are presided over by big buck kangaroos called boomers. Because kangaroos feed mainly at night and rest in the shade (where they are well camouflaged) during the heat of the day, a good time to see them is early in the morning or at dusk. But in cooler weather, they may be active throughout the day. Whatever the case, be sure to bring a telephoto lens and binoculars—wild kangaroos are very shy animals.

Of course, you can also see kangaroos at most zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, and national parks throughout Australia and in some other countries as well. Regular exposure to humans has made these kangaroos less timid, and so you should be able to get some good close-ups, perhaps even of a mother with a joey peeking out of her pouch. Larger joeys always win a smile when they dive into mother’s pouch, only to have their lanky hind legs stick out awkwardly, making mother kangaroo resemble an overstuffed shopping bag. (Young kangaroos seem to be all legs!) A handsome buck may even grant you an erect, stately pose. Who knows? You may even see a couple of big boomers standing as tall as their long, sinuous legs permit and having a sparring match—genuine boxing kangaroos!

But to many, the best sight is a big red or gray buck hopping at full speed. True, other animals may be able to run faster or jump higher, but with no other creature will you see such a remarkable combination of grace, power, and spring on just two mighty legs.

[Picture on page 17]

The secret of the spring in its step is its long Achilles tendons

Crossword Puzzle

Clues Across

2. The northern limit of the Promised Land and the highest point in the vicinity of Palestine [2 words] (Joshua 12:1)

9. This quality, possessed by Jehovah and desirable in humans, is not a sign of weakness (Psalm 18:35)

10. A people allied with Ethiopia, Put, and Lud (Ezekiel 30:5)

11. One struck down 185,000 Assyrians in one night (2 Kings 19:35)

12. A chieftain of the tribe of Simeon in King Hezekiah’s day (1 Chronicles 4:34)

16. After pouring costly perfumed oil on Jesus’ feet, Mary used this to wipe them (John 12:3)

18. It was at this that Zeeb, a prince of Midian, was killed (Judges 7:25)

19. A Hebrew midwife who disregarded Pharaoh’s command to kill the baby boys (Exodus 1:15)

21. Although at times acting wrongly during his 41-year reign, this king of Judah is viewed as one of the faithful kings (1 Kings 15:14, 18)

22. A Jairite listed as “a priest of David” (2 Samuel 20:26)

23. A restoration prophecy said this animal would “eat straw just like the bull” (Isaiah 65:25)

24. From young to old, they surrounded Lot’s house, attempting to rape his angelic guests (Genesis 19:4, 5)

25. A beverage known from ancient times (Isaiah 1:22)

27. In answer to Samuel’s prayer, Jehovah used this to throw the Philistines into confusion, so that they were defeated (1 Samuel 7:9, 10)

28. Actuality (Hebrews 1:3)

30. Abraham was told that Eliezer would not succeed him as this (Genesis 15:4)

31. Moses asked Pharaoh to send the Israelites away so that they could celebrate one of these in the wilderness (Exodus 5:1)

32. Having two cutting sides (Isaiah 41:15)

Clues Down

1. A son of Japhlet of the tribe of Asher (1 Chronicles 7:33)

3. Part of a specific fruit-bearing tree, often used as a symbol of peace [2 words] (See Isaiah 17:6.)

4. A fastener (See Isaiah 41:7.)

5. A structure built on this foundation will not pass the test of fire (1 Corinthians 3:12, 13)

6. Of the five Bible books that John wrote, this one was written first

7. The fourth-listed son of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:2)

8. His sons were among the Nethinim who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:45)

13. Progress (2 Timothy 3:13)

14. The proverb says that she is “a crown to her owner” [2 words] (Proverbs 12:4)

15. A place in the southern part of Naphtali (Joshua 19:33)

17. A family head of some of “the sons of the servants of Solomon” who returned from exile (Ezra 2:55-57)

20. An advanced stage of life (Hebrews 11:11)

23. A town in Benjamin that was warned to “pay attention” to the coming attack of the Assyrians (Isaiah 10:30)

26. Hometown of David’s friend Barzillai (2 Samuel 19:31)

27. The symbolic number of angels that Satan has misled (Revelation 12:4)

29. Formerly (1 Corinthians 13:11)

31. An enemy (Psalm 89:43)

Crossword Solutions Page 27

Solutions Across

2. MOUNT HERMON

9. HUMILITY

10. CHUB

11. ANGEL

12. JAMLECH

16. HAIR

18. VAT

19. PUAH

21. ASA

22. IRA

23. LION

24. MEN

25. BEER

27. THUNDER

28. BEING

30. HEIR

31. FESTIVAL

32. DOUBLE-EDGED

Solutions Down

1. ASHVATH

3. OLIVE BRANCH

4. NAIL

5. HAY

6. REVELATION

7. NOHAH

8. LEBANAH

13. ADVANCE

14. CAPABLE WIFE

15. ADAMINEKEB

17. AMI

20. AGE

23. LAISHAH

26. ROGELIM

27. THIRD

29. USED

31. FOE

Managing a Killer

By Awake! correspondent in Canada

IT STALKS the forest, ignoring the young and attacking the aged. The slayer is tiny compared with its prey. It moves quickly and is not satisfied until ruination is complete. As the victim tries to force out the intruder, a life-and-death struggle ensues. Eventually the attacker wins.

Who is this foe? The attacker is the tiny mountain pine beetle, native to western North America. Its prey is the majestic lodgepole pine, common to the interior of the province of British Columbia, Canada.

Approximately 35 percent of the forested land base in the province consists of the lodgepole pine—a veritable breeding ground for the cylindrical mountain pine beetle, a mere one-eighth to five-sixteenths inch [3-8 mm] in size. Initially it targets unhealthy, overmature stands of pine. However, as the beetle population increases, the attack extends to healthy adult trees. (See the box “Mountain Pine Beetle Life Cycle.”) Recent epidemics in British Columbia have resulted in the death of 30 million pine trees in one year alone. It is estimated that enough beetles can emerge from an infested tree to kill two trees of the same size the succeeding year.

The mountain pine beetle is a natural component of the ecosystem, and along with wildfires the beetles serve to recycle lodgepole pine forests that reach maturity. Human intervention through fire detection and suppression, however, has contributed to the preservation of large areas of mature and overmature stands of timber. While this has protected wildlife habitats and migration corridors as well as forests used for recreational and industrial purposes, it has also created the need to manage the mountain pine beetle. How, though, are these tiny pests found and tracked through vast areas of wilderness? What, if anything, can be done to stem the tide of devastation left in their wake?

Detection and Tracking

Management of the mountain pine beetle starts with detection. An aerial inspection of the vast forest is made in search of trees that have turned red at the crown. Such trees indicate infestation and are easy to spot amid a blanket of green. The location of an infestation as well as the number of red trees is identified by the use of a global positioning system (GPS). Data is recorded and carefully stored in a hand-held computer. Later it is downloaded into office computers and overlaid on detailed forest cover maps by means of powerful geographic information systems. Each infestation is then assigned a number, and a list is generated that gives the coordinates of each area. This is vital for the ground survey team, which is dispatched to verify infestation levels.

The real threat to the forest, though, is not the trees that have turned red but the green trees currently being attacked. These are generally identified by a tube of pitch surrounding the hole where the beetles have entered and by bits of frass, or sawdust, at the base of the tree. All infested trees are marked with plastic ribbons and numbered with paint. Features of the terrain and the number of attacked trees are noted as well as any other information needed to help responsible agencies decide what should be done to control the spread of the infestation.

Control Methods

If an infested area is large enough to warrant logging, another crew is sent in to map the area. A logging plan is submitted to the Ministry of Forests for approval. The logging company also becomes responsible for reforesting the area and caring for the seedlings until they can be left to grow on their own. This process not only allows utilization of the trees but also serves to control the spread of the infestation and generate new growth.

If logging is not feasible, however, single-tree treatment may be recommended. This could involve injecting pesticide into the infested tree or felling and burning it on site. The latter control method, which is done in late winter or early spring before beetles emerge, is very effective but also labor-intensive. Dale, an expert in detecting and managing such infestations, describes for Awake! the routine of a typical workday.

“The first stage involves maneuvering on single-lane roads that are also used by huge logging trucks carrying massive loads. For safety reasons we use a two-way radio to monitor road activity. When the road ends, we unload our snowmobiles and sleds and trek deeper into the forest. Our GPS and compasses are carefully packed, as well as chain saws, gas, oil, axes, radios, snowshoes, and first-aid equipment. We traverse swamps, logged areas, and old trails through the bush for several miles. When our snow machines will go no farther, we put on snowshoes, which allow us to walk, albeit with some difficulty, through snow as deep as 50 inches [120 cm] in some places.

“The uncertain terrain makes carrying 30 pounds [15 kg] of gear somewhat challenging. Our hearts pound from exertion. How glad we are to find the site! But now the real work begins. A trained and qualified worker drops the infested trees with the precision of a marksman. Thereafter, the crew moves in and cuts the trees into manageable lengths to be burned. The bark must be completely burned to eradicate the larvae. When it is time to stop for lunch, the temperature of minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit [-20°C.] makes us appreciate our fire. We bask in its warmth and thaw out our frozen sandwiches. Then it is time to go back to work. All too soon, however, the winter sky begins to darken, reminding us that it is time to head home.”

Working in the Wild

The activities of forest workers are demanding. As these skilled individuals meet the challenges, they also take pleasure in the creation that surrounds them. This includes incredible scenery and memorable wildlife encounters. Some encounters are harmless, as when a grouse noisily flies out of the snow almost underfoot or a hapless squirrel scurries out of its burrow to run up a worker’s pant leg, creating a considerable amount of anxiety. Other encounters, however, have the potential to be deadly—one could be chased by a resident grizzly or black bear. Generally, though, dangers can be minimized through awareness and training, and workers can enjoy the wilderness environment without undue fear.

Exciting advances are being made in the use of technology to manage earth’s valuable resources. Many conscientious individuals are endeavoring to protect and preserve our precious trees through managing such things as the mountain pine beetle. Unquestionably, there is much more to learn about our wonderful forests. We long for the time when we will be able to care for them in total harmony with their original design.

[Box/Diagram on page 22]

Mountain Pine Beetle Life Cycle

In midsummer an adult female beetle bores through the bark of a lodgepole pine to the sapwood. After mating with a male, she deposits about 75 eggs. In the process she also transmits a blue-staining fungus into the sapwood to prevent pitch flow that could kill the beetles. The eggs subsequently hatch into grublike larvae that feed on the phloem (a complex tissue) of the tree. Within weeks of a beetle’s successful attack, the host tree is killed as a result of a disruption of water and nutrient flow. Larvae develop over the winter and emerge in summer to fly and attack new trees and repeat the cycle.

[Diagram]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

Adult

Eggs

Larva

Pupa

[Pictures on page 22, 23]

Close-up of damaged tree

Infected trees

Pitch tubes

The Vasa—From Disaster to Attraction

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN SWEDEN

AUGUST 10, 1628, was a beautiful summer day in Stockholm, the Swedish capital. People thronged the quays of the harbor as the grandiose royal warship Vasa, after three years of construction, set out on her maiden voyage to join the Swedish navy.

The Vasa was no ordinary warship. King Gustavus II Adolphus Vasa wanted her to be the mightiest in the world. Some say that he ordered a second gun deck built after he heard that the Danes were building a ship with two gun decks. He wanted the ship that carried his family name to be inferior to none.

Her departure was supposed to be a showy display of his royal power and glory. She was armed with 64 guns and adorned with more than 700 sculptures and ornaments. Her price equaled more than 5 percent of Sweden’s gross national product. This powerful war machine and floating art exhibition was probably the most glorious ship built anywhere at that time. No wonder people were cheering her on with pride as she passed the quays of Stockholm!

Disaster and Humiliation

However, the Vasa had sailed less than a mile [little more than one kilometer] when a strong gust of wind made her heel over. Water gushed in through the open gunports, and down she went. This was perhaps the shortest maiden voyage in naval history!

The spectators were stunned. The glory of the Swedish Navy was brought down, not in battle or by a violent storm on the high seas, but by a simple gust of wind in her own harbor. The death of about 50 people on board caused further consternation. Instead of being an object of national pride, the Vasa became synonymous with disappointment and disgrace.

A court was summoned to find the one responsible for the humiliating catastrophe. But no one was charged, likely because the testimony implicated both the king and the second highest commander in the Swedish navy, Vice Admiral Klas Fleming.

The king’s demands had made the builders experiment with designs unfamiliar to them. Thus, the Vasa became badly proportioned. Sometime before the capsizing, Admiral Fleming had arranged a stability test. Thirty men ran abreast from one side of the ship to the other. After three runs the admiral realized that if they continued, the ship would capsize right then. So he halted the test but did not stop the maiden voyage. With such important personalities as the king and the admiral implicated, the charges were dropped.

In 1664-65, an ex-officer of the Swedish army recovered most of the Vasa’s guns by means of a simple diving bell. The Vasa was then gradually forgotten as she sank deeper and deeper into the mire 100 feet [30 m] below the surface.

Out of the Mire

In August 1956, an amateur archaeologist, Anders Franzén, used a core sampler to bring up a piece of oak from the bottom. For years he had been examining old documents and searching the seabed looking for the Vasa. Now he had found her. Through a delicate salvage operation, the Vasa was lifted out of the mud and carefully carried underwater in one piece to a waiting dock.

On April 24, 1961, the quays in Stockholm were again filled with cheering spectators. After 333 years at the bottom of the sea, the Vasa made her comeback—this time as a tourist attraction and a treasure for marine archaeologists. More than 25,000 artifacts revealed fascinating details about this 17th-century warship and also gave unique insight into contemporary shipbuilding and sculptured art.

Why were the Vasa and her artifacts so well preserved? Some factors were that she was new when she sank, the mud had a preserving effect, and the wood-destroying sea worm does not thrive in water with low salt content.

The Vasa had some 120 tons of ballast. Experts calculate that she needed more than twice that amount to make her stable, but she did not have the space. Also, such added weight would have brought the lower gunports closer to the water. Her appearance was glorious, but her poor balance made her destined for disaster.

Now, as the oldest preserved, complete, and fully identified ship in the world, she is safe inside her own museum. There 850,000 visitors a year get a glimpse of 17th-century royal ostentation, frozen in time by that catastrophe in 1628. It is a reminder of the folly of those in authority who, through ego and carelessness, chose to ignore sound shipbuilding practices.

[Picture on page 24]

King Gustavus II Adolphus Vasa

[Credit Line]

Foto: Nationalmuseum, Stockholm

[Pictures on page 24, 25]

After more than 300 years on the seabed, the “Vasa” is a world attraction

[Credit Line]

Genom tillmötesgående från Vasamuseet, Stockholm

[Picture Credit Line on page 25]

Målning av det kapsejsande Vasa, av konstnär Nils Stödberg

The Bible’s Viewpoint

Is It Proper to Worship Jesus?

THROUGHOUT the centuries, many in Christendom have worshiped Jesus Christ as if he were Almighty God. Jesus himself, however, directed attention and worship only to Jehovah God. For example, when prodded to do an act of worship to the Devil, Jesus said: “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.” (Matthew 4:10) Later Jesus instructed his disciples: “Do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One.”—Matthew 23:9.

To a Samaritan woman, Jesus described the type of worship that individuals must give to God. Their worship must be based on spirit and truth. Indeed, “the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him.” (John 4:23, 24) Yes, reverent adoration should be expressed only to God. To render worship to anyone or anything else would be a form of idolatry, which is condemned in both the Hebrew and the Greek Scriptures.—Exodus 20:4, 5; Galatians 5:19, 20.

‘But,’ some may counter, ‘does the Bible not indicate that we must also worship Jesus? Did Paul not say at Hebrews 1:6: “Let all the angels of God worship him [Jesus]”?’ (King James Version) How can we understand this scripture in the light of what the Bible says about idolatry?

Worship in the Bible

First, we have to understand what Paul meant here by worship. He used the Greek word pro·sky·neʹo. Unger’s Bible Dictionary says that this word literally means to ‘kiss the hand of someone in token of reverence or to do homage.’ An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, by W. E. Vine, says that this word “denotes an act of reverence, whether paid to man . . . or to God.” In Bible times pro·sky·neʹo often included literally bowing down before someone of high stature.

Consider the parable Jesus gave of the slave who was unable to repay a substantial sum of money to his master. A form of this Greek word appears in this parable, and in translating it the King James Version says that “the servant therefore fell down, and worshipped [form of pro·sky·neʹo] him [the king], saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” (Matthew 18:26; italics ours.) Was this man committing an idolatrous act? Not at all! He was merely expressing the kind of reverence and respect due the king, his master and superior.

Such acts of obeisance, or expressions of respect, were fairly common in the Orient of Bible times. Jacob bowed down seven times upon meeting his brother, Esau. (Genesis 33:3) Joseph’s brothers prostrated themselves, or did obeisance, before him in honor of his position at the Egyptian court. (Genesis 42:6) In this light we can better understand what happened when the astrologers found the young child Jesus, whom they recognized as “the one born king of the Jews.” As rendered in the King James Version, the account tells us that they “fell down, and worshipped [pro·sky·neʹo] him.”—Matthew 2:2, 11.

Clearly, then, the word pro·sky·neʹo, rendered “worship” in some Bible translations, is not reserved exclusively for the type of adoration due Jehovah God. It can also refer to the respect and honor shown to another person. In an effort to avoid any misunderstanding, some Bible translations render the word pro·sky·neʹo at Hebrews 1:6 as “pay him homage” (New Jerusalem Bible), “honour him” (The Complete Bible in Modern English), “bow down before him” (Twentieth Century New Testament), or “do obeisance to him” (New World Translation).

Jesus Is Worthy of Obeisance

Is Jesus worthy of such obeisance? Most decidedly, yes! In his letter to the Hebrews, the apostle Paul explains that as the “heir of all things,” Jesus has “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty in lofty places.” (Hebrews 1:2-4) Thus, “in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”—Philippians 2:10,11.

Outstandingly, Christ will soon use this exalted position and the extensive executive powers that go with it to transform this earth into a global paradise. Under God’s direction, and as a result of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus, he will rid the world of all sadness, pain, and sorrow for the benefit of those who submit to his righteous rule. Is he therefore not worthy of our honor, respect, and obedience?—Psalm 2:12; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 23:43; Revelation 21:3, 4.

“A God Exacting Exclusive Devotion”

The Bible clearly indicates, however, that our worship—in the sense of religious reverence and devotion—must be addressed solely to God. Moses described him as “a God exacting exclusive devotion.” And the Bible exhorts us to “worship the One who made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.”—Deuteronomy 4:24; Revelation 14:7.

Jesus certainly occupies a pivotal role in true worship, one worthy of honor and respect. (2 Corinthians 1:20, 21; 1 Timothy 2:5) He is the only way through which we are able to approach Jehovah God. (John 14:6) Accordingly, true Christians do well to direct their worship only to Jehovah God, the Almighty.

Watching the World

Toddlers and TV

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of two not watch television, reports The Toronto Star. Research on early brain development shows that babies and toddlers need direct contact with parents and other caregivers. Watching TV may “interfere with interaction that helps develop their social, emotional and cognitive skills.” Not all experts agree, however. The Canadian Pediatric Society, for example, says that watching quality programming with parental supervision for a maximum of 30 minutes a day provides the child “an opportunity to be taught by a parent.” Both organizations agree, however, that young children should not have televisions or computers in their bedrooms and that TV should not be used as a baby-sitter. Since TV viewing can affect the health of young people, it is suggested that “children be encouraged to play outside, read books or work with puzzles or games.”

Frustration at Work

Why do some people lose their temper or even become violent at work? According to Toronto psychologist Sam Klarreich, the reason may be not just stress but a low tolerance for frustration. He believes that this condition develops in some employees who feel that they are being “asked to sell their souls at work and then discover the payoff is not proportionate to what they have given,” reports the Globe and Mail newspaper. Klarreich cautions that prolonged anger is “a very unhealthy emotion” that can lead to strokes or heart attacks. He encourages employees to learn to accept frustrations and to sit down with their employers and calmly discuss how much work they can realistically do. On the other hand, Klarreich advises employers to be alert to employees who seem to be burning out and to give them extra help, relieve them of some of their load, or suggest that they take a day off.

Singing Lifts the Heart

Scientists have found that singing releases chemicals in the brain that make you feel relaxed and happy, reports the German newspaper Stuttgarter Nachrichten. Researchers say that singing gets the “molecules of emotion” in the brain moving. Thus, “singing is said not only to express emotions but also to create them,” states the report. Music teachers note that many people today feel that singing is “old-fashioned” or that their voices are not very good, and they therefore leave singing and music to the media. This research indicates, however, that people benefit when they themselves sing.

Crop Theft

In several German states, farmers are complaining about an increase in the theft of crops, reports the Siegener Zeitung. Thieves help themselves to cucumbers by the bucketful and load minivans with piles of asparagus. In one case they stole 7,000 strawberry plants. Although some may steal food because of their worsening financial situation, others seem to view it as a hobby. Farmers report seeing “cars of all classes” near the looted fields. Fields are often located far from their owners’ residences, and in these fields the thieves become even bolder. One consultant suggested that farmers cover their crops with manure to discourage the thieves.

The Socially Active May Live Longer

According to a new study by Harvard University, elderly people who participate in social activities, such as going to church, restaurants, sports events, and movies, live an average of two and a half years longer than less social people. It has long been assumed that it was the physical part of such activities that helped people, said Harvard’s Thomas Glass, who led the study. However, he added that this study provides “perhaps the strongest circumstantial evidence we’ve had to date that having a meaningful purpose at the end of life lengthens life.” Glass noted that doing more, regardless of the activity, extended life in almost every case.

World’s Oldest Shipwrecks

Oceanographers have discovered the wrecks of two Phoenician vessels dating from about 750 B.C.E., reports the French magazine Sciences et avenir. The 48 [15]- and 58-foot [18 m] boats, lying off the coast of Israel at a depth of about 1,600 feet [500 m], are the oldest ships ever found in the open sea. The boats had set off from the port of Tyre carrying earthenware wine amphorae, probably bound for Egypt or the North African city of Carthage. As quoted in the International Herald Tribune, the discoverer of the ships, Robert Ballard, noted: “The great depths that exist in the oceans, the absence of sunlight, the great pressures, seem to preserve history far more than we thought.” The researchers said that this discovery “could help to open up a whole new chapter in the research on this ancient maritime culture.”

First Choice to Relax

In a recent study, 1,000 people in 30 different countries were asked which activity they favor to minimize or release stress. Worldwide, 56 percent of those interviewed indicated that music is their first choice, reports Reuters news agency. In North America, 64 percent ranked music first, compared with 46 percent in developed Asia. Overall, TV watching came in second, followed by taking a bath or a shower. “When you think of music’s cost and its availability via radio, TV, personal CD players, the Internet and so many other new channels,” said Tom Miller, director of the study by Roper Starch Worldwide, “it’s not surprising that more than half the world listens to music to relax.”

Poverty—A World Problem

The president of the World Bank, James D. Wolfensohn, recently voiced concern about continuing world poverty. Wolfensohn noted that a third of earth’s six billion people still live in extreme poverty, reports Mexico City’s La Jornada newspaper. He added that half of earth’s inhabitants survive on less than two dollars a day; and one billion, on less than a dollar. Although he is proud of the progress made by the World Bank in the fight against poverty, Wolfensohn provided figures showing that the problem is widespread and far from being overcome. He stated: “We must recognize that poverty is a world problem.”

If in Doubt, Throw It Out

Some molds, such as those in blue cheese, are safe to eat. But others can be dangerous, especially to people who are in frail health, warns the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter. The molds on bread and grain products are among the most toxic. Often the visible mold has rootlike threads that penetrate the food. Moreover, the toxins produced by mold cannot be destroyed by cooking. The Wellness Letter recommends:

◼ Refrigerate produce if possible, and use it before mold grows.

◼ Throw out small fruits, such as berries or grapes, that are moldy. Wash fruit only when you are ready to eat it, as moisture promotes mold.

◼ Small moldy areas of large, hard fruits and vegetables, such as apples, potatoes, cauliflower, or onions, may be safely cut out. Moldy soft fruits, such as peaches and melons, should be discarded.

◼ Moldy hard cheese may be partially salvaged by cutting away the outer part at least an inch [2—3 cm] away from the mold. But throw out moldy soft cheese and yogurt, along with moldy bread, meat, leftovers, nuts, peanut butter, syrups, and preserves.

Healthier Grilling

“Undercooking meat has always been a concern in food safety, but in recent years, overcooking—especially burning and charring meat, chicken and fish on the backyard grill—is being linked to a more long-term health threat,” states Canada’s National Post newspaper. When meat is cooked at high temperatures, carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are formed. The report suggests that using a simple marinade that includes “an acidic component, such as lemon juice, orange juice or vinegar,” may make grilling safer. In repeated trials, researchers at the American Institute for Cancer Research “found that the marinated foods had 92% to 99% fewer HCAs than their non-marinated counterparts—and it made no difference whether they were marinated for 40 minutes or two days.”

From Our Readers

Role-Playing Games Recently my new computer arrived. I intended to play just a few games but ended up playing for almost 16 hours nonstop! When I realized what had happened, I immediately erased all the games in my computer. Later on, though, I began to feel that maybe I had been a little extreme. But that same week, your article “Young People Ask . . . Is There Any Danger in Role-Playing Games?” arrived. (August 22, 1999) I realized what those games were doing to me. I thank Jehovah for opening my eyes to this danger.

L. H., Brazil

There’s a card game that has been the rage in Japan. Many of the cards have satanic names, for example, “Curtain of the Black Devil.” I got so caught up in the game that my spirituality was in shreds. In the end my mother found my cards and threw them away. I still felt an attachment to the cards. But after reading this article, that attachment dried up. The article was very helpful to me.

K. N., Japan

Bloodless Medicine I am 11 years old, and the article “Are Blood Transfusions Really Necessary?” was special to me. (August 22, 1999) My sister had two heart surgeries. My parents asked that they be performed without blood. I thought that she would die, but it’s been three years, and she’s doing fine!

C. S., United States

Wrong Horse! I really enjoyed the article “October Fair—‘Europe’s Oldest International Horse Fair.’” (March 22, 1999) But I was astonished to see that the photo of a skewbald cob was labeled “piebald cob.”

S. P., South Africa

Our reader knows her horses! According to the British Skewbald and Piebald Association, the piebald cob has only black and white markings—unlike the skewbald shown in our photo. Our apologies for the oversight.—ED.

Genes I am 16 years old, and I’m very interested in molecular biology. The series “Unraveling the Mystery of Your Genes” (September 8, 1999) was an excellent balance between the simple and the complicated. I read a book that explained the secrets of DNA in depth. To my great surprise, your article covered all that material but in more understandable and accessible terms.

S. R., France

Thanks to the articles, I got a high mark on my biology exam. Your description of nucleic acids and how they are related to hereditary characteristics was so simple and complete!

D.A.N., Brazil

I am a primary school teacher, and I have always wondered how I could help my pupils understand the composition of the human body. I found the information in these articles to be simple enough for my pupils to grasp, even though it involved a number of difficult scientific terms. Awake! made them very understandable.

K. M., Lesotho

Fear of Flying Thank you! On Monday I am taking my first airplane flight, and I’m very apprehensive about it. I guess the main reason is that I cannot comprehend how a machine so massive can seemingly defy gravity. I was therefore delighted to see the article “What Does It Take to Keep Them Flying?” (September 8, 1999) To know that the airlines take such care to make sure that their planes are safe—even X-raying them—has helped me to be more relaxed about flying. So despite my fears, I will keep this article in hand and I will get on that plane!

T. T., United States

A Living Faith Amid Tragedy

NEARLY 60 years ago, Mina Esch received a postcard from her husband, Peter. The handwritten message was brief and vague. Nevertheless, she was happy and relieved to receive it. Mina’s husband was a prisoner in the Buchenwald concentration camp, sent there by the Nazi government for being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The back of the postcard bore the terse statement: “The prisoner remains a stubborn Bible Student [as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then known] . . . For this reason only, the privilege of otherwise permissible correspondence is taken from him.” This message told Mina that Peter was holding true to his faith.

The postcard, now fragile and yellowed, is on loan to the Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, located in Battery Park, New York City. Along with a photograph of Peter Esch, the postcard shares in telling a small part of an enormous human tragedy—the Holocaust—during which six million Jews perished. The museum’s core exhibit contains more than 2,000 photographs and 800 historical and cultural artifacts that depict the experiences of the Jewish community from the 1880’s to the present, including the Holocaust. Why is the Museum of Jewish Heritage a fitting place to display Peter Esch’s letter?

“The mandate of the museum is to represent Jewish history,” explained museum historian Dr. Jud Newborn. “Jehovah’s Witnesses were persecuted for who they were. The Witnesses were persecuted wholly for their religious beliefs and because they did not believe in racism, in swearing allegiance to an evil, worldly dictator. And they didn’t believe in fighting his war. . . . Jews struggled to maintain their values and their faith against tremendous opposition. The museum celebrates such spiritual resistance. For that reason, this institution also acknowledges and admires the faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses during the Nazi era.”

In its temporary home at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, a simple letter depicts the struggle of one man whose loyalty to Jehovah was put to the test. Peter Esch survived his ordeal in the Nazi camp, his faith intact.

[Picture on page 31]

Museum of Jewish Heritage, in New York City

[Pictures on page 31]

Esch, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, was imprisoned from 1938 to 1945 for refusing to renounce his beliefs

April 19, 2000

A Day to Remember

THE evening before he died, Jesus instituted a memorial of his death. It was a simple ceremony. During it he told his disciples: “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”—Luke 22:19.

This year the anniversary of this event falls on Wednesday, April 19, after sunset.

As a result, Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world will be gathered on this special night to observe this Memorial in the manner Jesus requested. You are most warmly invited to join them as observers. Please check with Jehovah’s Witnesses locally for the exact time and place of the meeting.