October 8

Table of Contents

October 8, 2000

The Universe—Did It Come About by Chance?

Our universe contains countless heavenly bodies. How did they originate? What does the scientific evidence show?

3 Our Awesome Universe—A Product of Chance?

5 Did the Elements Come About by Chance?

8 The Earth​—Was It “Founded” by Chance?

12 Crossword Puzzle

13 Whatever Happened to the “Job for Life”?

16 The Pyramids of Mexico

20 My Chief Concern​—Remaining Loyal

28 Watching the World

30 From Our Readers

31 Noisy Snow

32 “I Always Thought I Was the Only One”

“Extreme Sports”—Should You Take the Risk? 18

What does the Bible say about this?

Is It Wise to Invest in the Stock Market? 25

Is it wise to put money in stocks? And is it gambling?

[Picture on cover]

Cover: Spiral galaxy NGC 5236

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Courtesy of Anglo-Australian Observatory, photograph by David Malin

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Page 2: Two spiral galaxies pass by each other

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NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI)

Our Awesome Universe—A Product of Chance?

SOME people say: ‘Yes, our universe is all a matter of chance.’ Others, especially those who are religious, disagree. Still others are just not sure. What do you believe?

Whatever your view, you will no doubt agree that our universe is a marvel. Consider the galaxies. It has been estimated that there are about 100 billion of them in the observable universe. Each is a grouping of from fewer than a billion to more than a trillion stars.

Most galaxies are grouped in clusters of from a few dozen galaxies to thousands of them. For example, our neighboring galaxy Andromeda has been described as the twin of our Milky Way galaxy. These two immense star systems are bound to each other by gravity. Together with a small number of other neighboring galaxies, they form part of a cluster.

The universe is made up of an untold number of clusters of galaxies. Some clusters are bound by gravity to other clusters, forming superclusters. But from that scale onward, gravity loses its grip. Scientists find that the superclusters are moving away from one another. In other words, the universe is expanding. This amazing discovery suggests that there was a beginning when the universe was in a much smaller and denser state. The birth of the universe is often referred to as the big bang.

Some scientists seriously question whether man will ever be able to find out how the universe was born. Others speculate about ways in which our universe could have come into existence without an intelligent cause. The journal Scientific American, in its January 1999 issue, discussed the subject “How Did the Universe Begin?” Some of the scientists’ theories have already been found wanting. “Unfortunately,” the magazine says, “it may be very difficult . . . for astronomers to test any of these ideas.”

The idea that the universe is a product of chance requires belief in what scientists describe as many “lucky accidents” or “coincidences.” For example, the universe is made up of an abundance of the simplest atoms—hydrogen and helium. Life, however, requires not only hydrogen but also an abundance of more complex atoms, especially carbon and oxygen. Scientists used to wonder where such precious atoms come from.

Is it just a coincidence that the complex atoms necessary to sustain life are manufactured inside certain giant stars? And is it just by chance that some of these giant stars explode as supernovas, spewing out their treasure chest of rare atoms? Sir Fred Hoyle, who was involved in the making of these discoveries, said: “I do not believe that any scientist who examined the evidence would fail to draw the inference that the laws of nuclear physics have been deliberately designed.”

Let us, then, take a closer look at the matter out of which our universe is made.

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THE INFLATION THEORY

Some scientists believe that certain characteristics of the early universe, such as its precise rate of expansion, can be explained without the need of an intelligent cause. They appeal to a theory or theories called inflation. However, the inflationary universe theory does not address the question of origins. It requires belief in something preexisting out of which our universe was accidentally born.

According to inflation theory, the universe grew from a size smaller than an atom to a size greater than our galaxy in less than a second. It is said that from that point on, the universe continued expanding at a slower, normal rate. Today, the visible part of our universe is considered to be a small fraction of a bigger universe. Inflation theorists claim that although the visible universe has the same orderly appearance in all directions, the greater unseen part may be different, even chaotic. “There can never be an observational test of inflation,” states astrophysicist Geoffrey Burbidge. In fact, inflation theory conflicts with new lines of observational evidence. It is now seen that if the theory were true, it would require a speculative new force of antigravity. One scientist, Howard Georgi of Harvard University, described inflation as “a wonderful sort of scientific myth, which is at least as good as any other creation myth I’ve ever heard.”

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Almost every object in this Hubble Space Telescope image is a galaxy

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Pages 3 and 4 (blurred): Robert Williams and the Hubble Deep Field Team (STScI) and NASA

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“The laws of nuclear physics have been deliberately designed.”—Sir Fred Hoyle, shown with supernova 1987A

[Credit Lines]

Dr. Christopher Burrows, ESA/STScI and NASA

Photo courtesy of N. C. Wickramasinghe

Did the Elements Come About by Chance?

“EVERY object in the Universe, even the most distant star, is made of atoms,” explains The Encyclopedia of Stars & Atoms. Individual atoms are too small to see, but packed together they make up familiar chemical elements. Some of these elements are solids that we can see; others are invisible gases. Can the existence of all such chemical elements be explained by chance?

Elements 1 to 92

Though hydrogen is the simplest of all atoms, it fuels stars like our sun and is vital for life. An atom of hydrogen has one proton in its nucleus and one electron moving around that nucleus. Other chemical elements, such as carbon, oxygen, gold, and mercury, are made of atoms with many electrons moving around a nucleus of many protons and neutrons.

Some 450 years ago, only 12 chemical elements were known. As more were discovered, scientists noticed a natural order to them. And when the elements were placed on a chart in rows and columns, scientists discovered that elements sharing a column had similar characteristics. But there were also gaps in the chart, representing unknown elements. This led Russian scientist Dmitry Mendeleyev to predict the existence of the element with the atomic number 32, germanium, as well as its color, weight, density, and melting point. Mendeleyev’s “prediction about other missing elements—gallium and scandium—also turned out to be very accurate,” notes the 1995 science textbook Chemistry.

In time, scientists predicted the existence of other unknown elements and some of their characteristics. Eventually all the missing elements were discovered. There are no longer any gaps on the chart. The natural order of elements is based on the number of protons in the nucleus of their atoms, starting with element number 1, hydrogen, and continuing to the last element that generally occurs naturally on earth, number 92, uranium. Is this just a coincidence?

Consider, too, the rich variety of chemical elements. Gold and mercury are elements with distinctive shining colors. One is a solid, and the other a liquid. Yet, they follow each other as elements 79 and 80. An atom of gold has 79 electrons, 79 protons, and 118 neutrons. An atom of mercury has just one more electron, one more proton, and more or less the same number of neutrons.

Is it just chance that a slight change in the arrangement of atomic particles yields such a rich variety of elements? And what about the forces that hold the atomic particles together? “From its smallest particle to its largest galaxy, everything in the Universe follows rules that are described by the laws of physics,” explains The Encyclopedia of Stars & Atoms. Imagine what would happen if one of those rules were to change. For instance, what if an adjustment were made to the force that keeps electrons moving around the nucleus of an atom?

Finely Tuned Physical Forces

Consider the consequences if the electromagnetic force were weakened. “Electrons would no longer be bound to atoms,” observes Dr. David Block in his book Star Watch. Just what would that mean? “We would have a universe where no chemical reactions were possible!” he adds. How thankful we can be for the fixed laws that make chemical reactions possible! For example, two atoms of hydrogen combine with one atom of oxygen to form a molecule of precious water.

The electromagnetic force is about 100 times weaker than the strong nuclear force that holds together the nucleus of atoms. What would happen if this ratio were changed? “If the relative strengths of the nuclear and electromagnetic forces were to be slightly different then carbon atoms could not exist,” explain scientists John Barrow and Frank Tipler. Without carbon, there would be no life. Carbon atoms represent 20 percent of the weight of all living organisms.

Also crucial is the strength of the electromagnetic force compared with the force of gravity. “The most minute change in the relative strengths of gravitational and electromagnetic forces,” explains New Scientist magazine, “would turn stars like the Sun into blue giants [far too hot for life] or red dwarfs [not hot enough to sustain life].”

Another force, the weak nuclear force, controls the speed of nuclear reactions in the sun. “It is just weak enough so that the hydrogen in the sun burns at a slow and steady rate,” explains physicist Freeman Dyson. Many other examples could be given to show how our life depends on the delicately balanced laws and conditions found in the universe. Science writer Professor Paul Davies compared these universal laws and conditions to a set of knobs and stated: “It seems as if the different knobs have to be fine-tuned to enormous precision if the universe is to be such that life will flourish.”

Long before Sir Isaac Newton discovered the law of gravity, the Bible referred to such fixed rules or laws. The man Job was asked: “Did you proclaim the rules that govern the heavens, or determine the laws of nature on earth?” (Job 38:33, The New English Bible) Other humbling questions were, “Where did you happen to be when I founded the earth?” and, “Who set its measurements, in case you know?”—Job 38:4, 5.

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VITAL ELEMENTS

The chemical elements hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon make up about 98 percent of the atoms in your body. Then comes nitrogen, which makes up a further 1.4 percent. Other elements occur in very small amounts but are nonetheless vital for life.

[Chart/Diagram on page 6, 7]

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As of the time of publication, scientists have produced elements 93 and larger, up to and including element 118. Predictably, these elements still fit the pattern of the periodic table.

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Source: Los Alamos National Laboratory

Name of element Symbol Atomic number (number of protons)

hydrogen H 1

helium He 2

lithium Li 3

beryllium Be 4

boron B 5

carbon C 6

nitrogen N 7

oxygen O 8

fluorine F 9

neon Ne 10

sodium Na 11

magnesium Mg 12

aluminum Al 13

silicon Si 14

phosphorus P 15

sulfur S 16

chlorine Cl 17

argon Ar 18

potassium K 19

calcium Ca 20

scandium Sc 21

titanium Ti 22

vanadium V 23

chromium Cr 24

manganese Mn 25

iron Fe 26

cobalt Co 27

nickel Ni 28

copper Cu 29

zinc Zn 30

gallium Ga 31

germanium Ge 32

arsenic As 33

selenium Se 34

bromine Br 35

krypton Kr 36

rubidium Rb 37

strontium Sr 38

yttrium Y 39

zirconium Zr 40

niobium Nb 41

molybdenum Mo 42

technetium Tc 43

ruthenium Ru 44

rhodium Rh 45

palladium Pd 46

silver Ag 47

cadmium Cd 48

indium In 49

tin Sn 50

antimony Sb 51

tellurium Te 52

iodine I 53

xenon Xe 54

cesium Cs 55

barium Ba 56

lanthanum La 57

cerium Ce 58

praseodymium Pr 59

neodymium Nd 60

promethium Pm 61

samarium Sm 62

europium Eu 63

gadolinium Gd 64

terbium Tb 65

dysprosium Dy 66

holmium Ho 67

erbium Er 68

thulium Tm 69

ytterbium Yb 70

lutetium Lu 71

hafnium Hf 72

tantalum Ta 73

tungsten W 74

rhenium Re 75

osmium Os 76

iridium Ir 77

platinum Pt 78

gold Au 79

mercury Hg 80

thallium Tl 81

lead Pb 82

bismuth Bi 83

polonium Po 84

astatine At 85

radon Rn 86

francium Fr 87

radium Ra 88

actinium Ac 89

thorium Th 90

protactinium Pa 91

uranium U 92

neptunium Np 93

plutonium Pu 94

americium Am 95

curium Cm 96

berkelium Bk 97

californium Cf 98

einsteinium Es 99

fermium Fm 100

mendelevium Md 101

nobelium No 102

lawrencium Lr 103

rutherfordium Rf 104

dubnium Db 105

seaborgium Sg 106

bohrium Bh 107

hassium Hs 108

meitnerium Mt 109

110

111

112

114

116

118

[Diagram]

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Do the order and harmony of elements in the periodic table reflect mere chance or intelligent design?

Helium atom

Electron

Proton

Neutron

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What accounts for the fine-tuning of the four physical forces?

ELECTROMAGNETISM

STRONG NUCLEAR FORCE

GRAVITY

WEAK NUCLEAR FORCE

Water molecule

Atom nucleus

Blue giant

Red dwarf

Sun

The Earth—Was It “Founded” by Chance?

TO AVOID extremes of temperature, the earth must orbit at the correct distance from the sun. In other solar systems, planets have been detected that orbit sunlike stars and are considered to be in the ‘habitable zone’—that is, they are capable of sustaining liquid water. But even these so-called habitable planets may still not be suitable for human life. They must also rotate at the right speed and be the right size.

If the earth were slightly smaller and lighter than it is, the force of gravity would be weaker and much of the earth’s precious atmosphere would have escaped into space. This can be seen in the case of the moon and the two planets Mercury and Mars. Being smaller and weighing less than the earth, they have little or no atmosphere. But what if the earth were slightly bigger and heavier than it is?

Then the earth’s gravitation would be stronger, and light gases, such as hydrogen and helium, would take longer to escape from the atmosphere. “More importantly,” explains the science textbook Environment of Life, “the delicate balance between the gases of the atmosphere would be upset.”

Or consider just oxygen, which fuels combustion. If its level were to increase by 1 percent, forest fires would break out more frequently. On the other hand, if the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide kept increasing, we would suffer the consequences of an overheated earth.

Earth’s Orbit

Another ideal feature is the shape of earth’s orbit. If the orbit were more elliptic, we would suffer unbearable extremes of temperature. Instead, the earth has a nearly circular orbit. Of course, the situation would change if a giant planet like Jupiter were to pass nearby. In recent years scientists have uncovered evidence that some stars have large Jupiterlike planets orbiting very close to them. Many of these Jupiterlike planets have eccentric orbits. Any earthlike planets in such systems would be in trouble.

Astronomer Geoffrey Marcy compared these external planet systems with the four planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, which make up our inner solar system. In an interview, Marcy exclaimed: “Look at how perfect this [arrangement] is. It’s like a jewel. You’ve got circular orbits. They’re all in the same plane. They’re all going around in the same direction. . . . It’s almost uncanny.” Can this really be explained by chance?

Our solar system has another marvelous feature. The giant planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune orbit the sun at a safe distance from us. Instead of being a threat, these planets fill a vital role. Astronomers have likened them to ‘celestial vacuum cleaners’ because their gravity sucks in large meteors, which might otherwise endanger life on earth. Indeed, the earth has been very well “founded.” (Job 38:4) Both its size and its position in our solar system are just right. But that is not all. The earth has other unique features that are essential for human life.

Oxygen and Photosynthesis

Oxygen atoms make up 63 percent of the weight of living organisms on earth. Furthermore, oxygen in the upper atmosphere protects terrestrial plants and animals from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. But oxygen is quick to react with other elements, such as when it reacts with iron and causes rust. How, then, does the atmosphere keep its 21-percent level of this highly reactive element?

The answer is photosynthesis—a marvelous process whereby earth’s vegetation uses sunlight to make food. A by-product of photosynthesis is oxygen—more than a billion tons of which are released into the atmosphere each day. “Without photosynthesis,” explains The New Encyclopædia Britannica, “not only would replenishment of the fundamental food supply halt but the Earth would eventually become devoid of oxygen.”

Science textbooks use several pages to explain the step-by-step process called photosynthesis. Some steps are not yet fully understood. Evolutionists cannot explain how each step evolved from something simpler. Indeed, each step appears to be irreducibly complex. “There is no generally accepted view of the origin of the photosynthetic process,” admits The New Encyclopædia Britannica. One evolutionist glossed over the problem by stating that photosynthesis was “invented” by “a few pioneering cells.”

That statement, though unscientific, reveals something else that is also amazing: Photosynthesis needs cell walls within which the process can safely take place, and the continuation of the process requires cell reproduction. Did all that just happen by chance in a few “pioneering cells”?

From Self-Reproducing Cell to Man

What are the chances of atoms collecting together to form the simplest self-reproducing cell? In his book A Guided Tour of the Living Cell, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Christian de Duve admits: “If you equate the probability of the birth of a bacterial cell to that of the chance assembly of its component atoms, even eternity will not suffice to produce one for you.”

Having come thus far, let us take a giant leap from one bacterial cell to the billions of specialized nerve cells that make up the human brain. Scientists describe the human brain as the most complicated physical structure in the known universe. It is truly unique. For example, large sections of the human brain are called association areas. These areas analyze and interpret information that comes from the sensory part of the brain. One of the association areas behind your forehead enables you to contemplate the marvels of the universe. Can chance processes really explain the existence of such association areas? “Equivalents of significant parts of these areas are not found in any other animal,” admits evolutionist Dr. Sherwin Nuland in his book The Wisdom of the Body.

Scientists have proved that the human brain processes information at a much faster rate than the most powerful computer. Bear in mind that modern computer technology has resulted from decades of human effort. What about the superior human brain? Two scientists, John Barrow and Frank Tipler, admit the following in their book The Anthropic Cosmological Principle: “There has developed a general consensus among evolutionists that the evolution of intelligent life, comparable in information-processing ability to that of Homo sapiens, is so improbable that it is unlikely to have occurred on any other planet in the entire visible universe.” Our existence, these scientists conclude, is “an extremely fortuitous accident.”

Did It All Happen by Chance?

What is your conclusion? Could the universe with all its wonders really have come about by chance? Do you not agree that every piece of grand music must have a composer and that the instruments must be finely tuned for it to sound good? What about our awesome universe? “We live in a very finely tuned universe,” observes mathematician and astronomer David Block. His conclusion? “Our universe is a home. Designed, I believe, by the hand of God.”

If that is your conclusion, then surely you will agree with the Bible’s description of the Creator, Jehovah: “He is the Maker of the earth by his power, the One firmly establishing the productive land by his wisdom, and the One who by his understanding stretched out the heavens.”—Jeremiah 51:15.

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A SPECIAL PLANET

“The special conditions on earth resulting from its ideal size, element composition, and nearly circular orbit at a perfect distance from a long-lived star, the sun, made possible the accumulation of water on the earth’s surface. It is difficult even to imagine the origin of life without water.”—Integrated Principles of Zoology, Sixth Edition.

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NASA photo

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LIFE—DID IT COME ABOUT BY CHANCE?

In 1988 a book that attempts to explain how life could have arisen by chance was reviewed in the journal Search, published by the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science. On just one page of the book, science writer L. A. Bennett found “16 highly speculative statements, each depending on the preceding one for credence.” What was Bennett’s conclusion after reading the whole book? “It is far easier,” he wrote, “to accept an all-loving Creator instantaneously creating life and guiding it along its teleological [purposeful] pathways . . . than to accept the myriad ‘blind chances’ needed to support the author’s theses.”

[Pictures]

Photosynthesis is vital for food production and the oxygen cycle

What accounts for earth’s ideal features that are necessary to sustain life?

Scientists describe the human brain as the most complicated physical structure in the universe. How could it have developed by chance?

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Photo: Zoo de la Casa de Campo, Madrid

Monte Costa, Sea Life Park Hawaii

[Pictures on page 8, 9]

Planet size shown to scale

Sun

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Pluto

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Sun: National Optical Astronomy Observatories; Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn: Courtesy of NASA/JPL/Caltech/USGS; Venus and Uranus: Courtesy of NASA/JPL/Caltech; Earth: NASA photo; Mars: NASA/JPL; Neptune: JPL; Pluto: A. Stern (SwRI), M. Buie (Lowell Obs.), NASA, ESA

Crossword Puzzle

Clues Across

2. Whether of man, animal, or produce, Jehovah required that these be offered to him (Proverbs 3:9)

8. In the Law, Jehovah acknowledged that this farming implement might wrongly be used as a weapon (Exodus 21:18)

9. In preparation for construction of the temple, King David assigned the alien residents to do this (1 Chronicles 22:2)

10. One of the 13 Levites who assisted Ezra in “explaining the law to the people” (Nehemiah 8:7)

11. One of the repatriated Israelites who, at Ezra’s urging, dismissed their foreign wives and sons (Ezra 10:27)

13. To cause to be in a certain position (Mark 8:33)

14. While on the road to Emmaus, what Cleopas suggested that Jesus might be because he did not seem to know what had occurred in Jerusalem (Luke 24:18)

15. He is always listed as the second of Noah’s sons, although he may have been the youngest (Genesis 5:32)

17. An Aaronic priest who was noted as an expert copyist and teacher of the Law (Nehemiah 8:13)

18. One of several constellations that God mentioned while questioning Job (Job 38:32)

19. Under the Mosaic Law, an incorrigible son accused of being a drunkard and this would be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 21:20, 21)

21. Hired by the Ammonites to fight against David, this Syrian army chief lost his life along with 40,700 of his men (2 Samuel 10:18)

24. The eighth month of the Jewish sacred calendar (1 Kings 6:38)

26. Common substance that became a symbol of stability and permanence (Numbers 18:19)

27. Earlier than the present time (Jude 4)

28. It alerted the prodigal son’s older brother to the fact that something unusual was going on at home (Luke 15:25)

30. The seventh angel poured out his bowl of God’s anger upon this (Revelation 16:17)

32. The eastern limit of the empire of Persian King Ahasuerus (Esther 1:1)

33. In vision, John saw one sitting on each of the 24 thrones surrounding Jehovah’s throne (Revelation 4:4a)

34. Jesus’ disciples became fearful when they saw him walking on this (Matthew 14:26)

35. One of David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 23:38)

36. What Jesus called the tradition-loving Pharisees [2 words] (Matthew 15:14)

Clues Down

1. The term that ancient people used for the Mediterranean from the time of Moses onward [3 words] (Numbers 34:6)

2. A prominent part (Hebrews 7:11)

3. One of five kings slain when Midian was punished for seducing Israel into immorality (Numbers 31:8)

4. The Midianites fled near here after being attacked by Gideon’s forces (Judges 7:22)

5. What the Ethiopian eunuch was doing when Philip approached his chariot (Acts 8:28)

6. Elisha’s father (1 Kings 19:19)

7. Instrument used to pierce the ear of a Hebrew slave who did not want to be set free (Exodus 21:6)

12. Where the good Samaritan took the half-dead Israelite he found on the road (Luke 10:34)

16. The type of work the “gifts in men” would perform (Ephesians 4:8, 12)

18. The first righteous king to rule over the kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 15:11)

20. One of the sons of Bani who dismissed their foreign wives in response to Ezra’s counsel (Ezra 10:34)

22. Craftsman who was the chief assistant of Bezalel in constructing the tabernacle (Exodus 31:6)

23. Relationship Jesus is said to have with the Christian congregation, highlighting his headship and loving care (Revelation 21:2)

24. One of the six sons of Azel, a descendant of King Saul and Jonathan (1 Chronicles 8:38)

25. This woman heard Paul’s defense at the Athenian Areopagus and became a believer (Acts 17:33, 34)

28. What Governor Festus exclaimed that “great learning” was making Paul become (Acts 26:24)

29. One of 70 men that Moses selected to help him carry the load of the people (Numbers 11:26)

31. The animal that Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem (John 12:14, 15)

[Footnote]

Crossword Solutions Page 14

Solutions Across

2. FIRSTFRUITS

8. HOE

9. HEW

10. AKKUB

11. AZIZA

13. GET

14. ALIEN

15. HAM

17. EZRA

18. ASH

19. GLUTTON

21. SHOBACH

24. BUL

26. SALT

27. AGO

28. MUSIC

30. AIR

32. INDIA

33. ELDER

34. SEA

35. IRA

36. BLIND GUIDES

Solutions Down

1. THE GREAT SEA

2. FEATURE

3. REKEM

4. TABBATH

5. READING

6. SHAPHAT

7. AWL

12. INN

16. MINISTERIAL

18. ASA

20. UEL

22. OHOLIAB

23. HUSBAND

24. BOCHERU

25. DAMARIS

28. MAD

29. ELDAD

31. ASS

Whatever Happened to the “Job for Life”?

GRAHAMa worked for a large Australian company for 37 years. In his late 50’s, he was suddenly given a few weeks’ notice that his services were no longer required. We can understand his perplexity, reflecting astonishment and deep concern for his future welfare. ‘Whatever happened to my “job for life,” which I thought was secure until I reached the age of retirement?’ Graham wondered.

Of course, losing one’s job is not unusual, nor is it something new. However, the magnitude of job loss on a global scale is new to this current generation of employees. Undoubtedly, there are many reasons for job loss, but a major one appears to be what is called downsizing. What is downsizing, and how has it come about?

The Changing Workplace

Economies today have become increasingly global. This came to be realized particularly in the United States in the late 1970’s when companies noticed that increasing numbers of consumers were purchasing cars, electronics, and many other goods produced overseas.

In an effort to become competitive and to reduce production costs, American companies began cutting the number of workers and improving methods and equipment. The technique used to reduce the work force became known as downsizing. The process has been described as “reducing the size of an organization’s workforce, usually through a combination of layoffs, early retirement incentives, transfers, and natural attrition.”

For some years it was blue-collar workers who were mainly affected by downsizing. But in the late 1980’s and the early 1990’s, this process began to include growing numbers of white-collar staff, particularly middle management. These trends soon affected all industrialized nations. And as financial pressure continued, governments and other employers searched for cost reductions through further downsizing.

For many workers, job security no longer exists. A trade union official states: “People who gave 10, 15, 20 years of loyal service have seen their implicit contract ripped up and they have been thrown out.” In her book Healing the Downsized Organization, Delorese Ambrose explains that in 1956 the term “organization man” was coined to describe the typical employee. She adds: “Whether he worked as a union laborer or as a manager, he turned over his economic well-being, social life, and loyalty to the organization in exchange for security—a job for life. Clearly, this pact has been broken in the modern corporation.”

Millions of workers around the world have lost their jobs to downsizing, and no group of employees has escaped unscathed. In the United States alone, the number of employees involved has been substantial, with millions losing permanent jobs. Similar downsizing has occurred in many other countries. But these cold statistics alone do not convey the human misery behind them.

The Adverse Effects

Graham, mentioned at the beginning of this article, said: “You suffer some real psychological damage.” He compared his dismissal to “an illness or a bruising physical encounter.”

When loyalty is not rewarded, people feel betrayed because the sacrifices that they have made for the company are not valued. Trust is lost, especially when many chief executive officers receive huge payoffs for downsizing the company. Additionally, the unemployed person’s ability to manage mortgage payments, other debts, health care for family members, and school fees and to keep up his or her life-style, hobbies, and personal possessions is jeopardized by the sudden loss of regular income. This results in feelings of despair and worthlessness.

Since stable, meaningful work contributes greatly to feelings of personal worth, imagine the devastating effect of unemployment on those who are disabled, unskilled, or older in years. A survey in Australia revealed that people between the ages of 45 and 59 were the most likely to be targeted for dismissal. Yet, this is the age group that finds it most difficult to adjust to the change.

Are there options available? Part-time employment or work at lower wages is certainly preferable to unemployment. However, that can result in a lower standard of living. And it has been found that only about a third of laid-off workers eventually get jobs that pay as well as their previous one did. This adds stress to family life.

Even current employment may not spell peace of mind. This is because the prospect of future job loss has a subtle yet devastating effect. The book Parting Company says: “Anticipating the loss of a job is like choosing the best way to be hit by a truck. You rarely get to test even the most ingenious ideas, because you usually don’t see the truck—or the ax—before it flattens you.”

How does unemployment affect youths? After a survey was conducted by a department of education and science, this observation was made: “One of the main external confirmations that adulthood had been reached was the attainment of full-time employment, which signalled the beginning of ‘real’ adult life, in an adult world and on adult terms, with concomitant financial independence.” So if it is felt that employment signals the beginning of real adult life, unemployment could be devastating to youths.

Surviving Unemployment

Dealing with the loss of employment has been likened to walking through a minefield. The book Parting Company identifies the most frequent emotions experienced as anger, shame, fear, sadness, and self-pity. Coping with these is difficult. The author observes: “You’ve been handed a difficult assignment—determining your future. You haven’t asked for this assignment, you probably don’t know how to proceed, and all of a sudden you may feel very much alone.” And explaining their sudden dismissal to their family is one of the most difficult problems the unemployed face.

However, there are some practical ways to deal with the impact of downsizing. The first step is to downsize your way of life immediately by planning for and living a life-style that is simpler than what you have been accustomed to in the past.

Here are some suggestions that may help you to handle the situation, even if they do not solve it altogether. First, recognize that unexpected job loss is a reality in these times. So regardless of your age and experience, plan ahead for that possibility in the way you live your life.

Second, be careful about taking on any large debt for items that are not essential for sustenance and covering. Live within your means, and do not assume that you can cover debts with anticipated income from promotions or regular wage increases. The message of today’s economy is that there may be no long-term future to rely on.

Third, look for ways to simplify your life and reduce existing financial commitments. This includes shedding debts for items that are not essential to a reasonably simple, wholesome life-style.

Fourth, review your lifetime goals, spiritual and secular, and update them. Then you can weigh all decisions against your goals and assess the impact.

Finally, do not look longingly at the life-style of others in your community who are living less frugally, lest you begin to desire the things they have and be lured into their way of life.

These are a few suggestions that may help you and your family to avoid the snare of relying on uncertain riches in a very uncertain world and to keep free of many of the anxieties incurred by contemporary life-styles.

Former investment banker Felix Rohatyn is quoted as saying: “There is something fundamentally wrong in our society when one man’s unemployment generates another man’s wealth.” So fundamentally wrong is this system that soon it will be replaced with a world where the expression “job for life” will take on meaning beyond our present imagination.—Isaiah 65:17-24; 2 Peter 3:13.

[Footnote]

[Blurb on page 14]

‘There is something fundamentally wrong when one man’s unemployment generates another man’s wealth’

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Look for ways to simplify your life

The Pyramids of Mexico

BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN MEXICO

MOST people today know about the pyramids of Egypt. In America too, archaeologists have found many pyramidlike structures, particularly in Mexico. Like their counterparts in Egypt, the Mexican pyramids are many centuries old and are shrouded in mystery.

An Egyptian pyramid is a tomb encased in a huge symmetrical mound of stones. Inner passageways lead to the tomb, the most important part of the pyramid. However, the Mexican pyramid is a large pile of earth with a temple at the very top and an external staircase that provides access to the summit. With few exceptions, the pyramids found in America were not tombs.

Teotihuacán—“The City of the Gods”

One of the most outstanding pyramid sites in Mexico is Teotihuacán. Located about 33 miles [50 km] northeast of Mexico City, Teotihuacán is still a mystery to anthropologists and archaeologists. This ancient metropolis was abandoned by its builders more than 500 years before the Aztec culture emerged. The name Teotihuacán, from the Nahuatl language, means “The City of the Gods” or “Where Men Become Gods.” It is thought that the Aztecs gave the name to the city when they visited it.

One of the editors for National Geographic magazine, George Stuart, explains that “Teotihuacan was the first true urban center in the Western Hemisphere . . . It arose around the beginning of the Christian era, witnessed some seven centuries, then passed into legend. At the height of its prosperity, about A.D. 500, it is estimated to have held between 125,000 and 200,000 people.”

Almost in the center of the city stands the great Pyramid of the Sun. It measures about 720 feet by 740 feet [220 by 225 m] at the base, and its five terraces rise to its present height of about 210 feet [63 m]. To reach the top of the pyramid, one must climb more than 240 steps. To the north of the ancient city is the Pyramid of the Moon, with its top 130 feet [40 m] high. Once there were temples on top of these two main pyramids.

In recent decades much has been learned about these pyramids. However, as Stuart puts it, “we still know next to nothing about the origins of the Teotihuacanos, what language they spoke, how their society was organized, and what caused their decline.”

Other Pyramid Sites

Right in the heart of Mexico City, one can visit the Main Temple of the Aztecs. While there is no pyramid in sight, the remains of a pyramid structure that was the basis for the Main Temple can still be seen. Archaeologists have uncovered two altars where human sacrifices were performed.

Chichén Itzá is one of the most visited pyramid sites in Mexico. There are many ancient ruins in the Maya region, but these are the most accessible because they are close to the city of Mérida in Yucatán. Although built in Maya territory, the structures show that the Toltec were once influential in these regions. Some buildings hint at the sophisticated mathematical and astronomical knowledge of the builders.

In Palenque, visitors will find an impressive Maya complex surrounded by the Chiapas jungle. Among the many pyramids and buildings are the Palace and the Temple of the Inscriptions. The Temple of the Inscriptions “is one of the most famous temples in the whole of Mesoamerica because it was not simply the base for a temple like all the others, but a funeral monument,” explains the book The Mayas—3000 Years of Civilization. “Inside there is a vaulted staircase leading down to the most magnificent burial chamber ever found in the Maya area.” The tomb was built for a governor who lived in the seventh century—Pacal, or Uoxoc Ahau.

These are only a few of the pyramids in Mexico. Other ruins and pyramids can be found in many places throughout the country. There are also huge pyramids in Guatemala and Honduras. All of these ancient structures show that the inhabitants of Mesoamerica desired higher ground on which to build their places of worship. Walter Krickeberg, author of the book Las Antiguas Culturas Mexicanas, wrote: “The custom of building temples on a stepped base goes back to an ancient worship of heights.” He adds: “While we consider heaven to be like a ‘vault,’ for other peoples it represented a mountain by means of which the sun ascended in the morning and descended in the evening; therefore, its slopes are stepped like those of a gigantic building. Thus, the ‘artificial mountain’ . . . was transformed into a stepped pyramid and, as deduced from legends and customs, was converted into a symbol of heaven among the many peoples of Mesoamerica.”

This concept may remind Bible students of the Bible account about the Tower of Babel, located in a city later known as Babylon. Genesis 11:4 says of the builders of this tower: “They now said: ‘Come on! Let us build ourselves a city and also a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a celebrated name for ourselves.’” Not too far from the ruins of Babylon, archaeologists have found pyramid structures known as ziggurats.

The form of worship that originated in Babylon spread to many parts of the world, likely reaching the region that became known as Mexico. It would not be surprising if the ziggurats of Babylon as well as the religion practiced there were the prototypes for the mysterious and impressive pyramids of Mexico.

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Teotihuacán

[Credit Line]

CNCA.-INAH.-MEX Reproducción Autorizada por el Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia

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Palenque

The Bible’s Viewpoint

“Extreme Sports”—Should You Take the Risk?

“THESE DAYS MORE AND MORE OF US HAVE LEFT THE OBSERVER’S SEAT TO DO OUR OWN LEAPING OUT OF PLANES, RAPPELLING DOWN MOUNTAINS, KAYAKING OVER WATERFALLS AND DIVING WITH SHARKS.”—THE WILLOW GLEN RESIDENT NEWSPAPER.

THIS comment describes a growing trend in sports. The significant rise in the popularity of such activities as skydiving, ice climbing, paragliding, and BASE jumpinga reflects a world enamored with taking risks. Snowboards, mountain bikes, skateboards, and in-line skates are also used to push personal limits by challenging the steepest mountains, the highest cliffs, and the longest jumps. As Time magazine states, the rising popularity of “extreme sports”—sports in which participants take great personal risks—highlights the eagerness of millions to participate on “the metaphorical edge, where danger, skill and fear combine to give weekend warriors and professional athletes alike a sense of pushing out personal boundaries.”

However, this increase in popularity also brings with it a high personal cost. More and more people get injured when relatively safe sports are taken to an extreme. In the United States during 1997, emergency-room visits for skateboarding-related injuries increased by more than 33 percent, for snowboarding 31 percent, and for mountain climbing 20 percent. For other sports, the results are even more dramatic, as is evident in the growing number of deaths related to extreme sports. Proponents of these sports are aware of the dangers. One woman who participates in extreme skiing states: “I constantly have death in the back of my mind.” A professional snowboarder sums it up by saying that if “you don’t get hurt, then you’re not trying hard enough.”

In view of these facts, how should a Christian regard participation in such activities? How can the Bible assist us in deciding whether we should engage in extreme sports? A consideration of how God feels about the sanctity of life will help to answer these questions.

God’s View of Life

The Bible tells us that Jehovah is “the source of life.” (Psalm 36:9) Beyond creating mankind, he also took great care in giving us what we need to enjoy life. (Psalm 139:14; Acts 14:16, 17; 17:24-28) It is reasonable, therefore, to conclude that he expects us to care for what he has so kindly given us. Laws and principles given to the nation of Israel help us appreciate that fact.

The Mosaic Law required that an individual take steps to protect the lives of others. If this was not done and a life was lost, the one who could have prevented the tragedy would be considered bloodguilty. For example, a homeowner was commanded to build a low wall or railing, called a parapet, around the flat roof of his new house. Otherwise, bloodguilt would come upon the house if someone fell to his death from the roof. (Deuteronomy 22:8) If a bull unexpectedly gored a person to death, the owner of the bull would not be held responsible. On the other hand, if the bull was known to be dangerous and the owner had been warned but did not keep the bull properly guarded, then if the bull gored someone, the owner of the bull would be considered bloodguilty and could be put to death. (Exodus 21:28, 29) Since life is precious to Jehovah, his Law reflected a high regard for the preservation and protection of life.

Faithful servants of God understood that these principles extended to taking personal risks as well. In one Bible account, David expressed his desire to be able to “have a drink of the water from the cistern of Bethlehem.” Bethlehem was under Philistine control at the time. On hearing David’s request, three of his soldiers forced their way into the camp of the Philistines, drew out water from the cistern of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. How did David react? He would not drink the water but, rather, poured it out on the ground. He said: “It is unthinkable on my part, as regards my God, to do this! Is it the blood of these men that I should drink at the risk of their souls? For it was at the risk of their souls that they brought it.” (1 Chronicles 11:17-19) To David it was unthinkable to risk a life for his personal satisfaction.

Jesus reacted in a similar manner when, likely in a vision, the Devil tempted him to throw himself off the battlement of the temple to see if the angels would protect him from injury. Jesus responded: “You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.” (Matthew 4:5-7) Yes, both David and Jesus recognized that it was wrong in God’s eyes to take unnecessary risks that could endanger human life.

With these examples in mind, we may wonder, ‘Where do we draw the line as to what is an extreme or dangerous sport? Since even a common form of recreation, not dangerous in itself, can be pushed to extreme limits, how can we determine how far we should go?’

Is It Worth the Risk?

An honest appraisal of any activity we might be contemplating will help us determine the answer. For example, we might ask ourselves, ‘What is the accident rate for this sport? Do I have the training or protective equipment needed to prevent injuries? What are the consequences if I fall or misjudge a jump or if my safety equipment fails? Would it be a minor mishap, or is there a probability of serious injury or death?’

Taking unnecessary risks in the name of recreation can affect a true Christian’s precious relationship with Jehovah as well as his eligibility for special privileges in the congregation. (1 Timothy 3:2, 8-10; 4:12; Titus 2:6-8) Clearly, even when engaging in recreational activities, Christians do well to consider the Creator’s view of the sacredness of life.

[Footnote]

My Chief Concern—Remaining Loyal

AS TOLD BY ALEXEI DAVIDJUK

The year was 1947; the place, a few miles from our village of Laskiv, Ukraine, near the Polish border. My older friend Stepan served as a courier smuggling Bible literature from Poland into Ukraine. One night a border guard saw him, gave chase, and shot him. Twelve years later Stepan’s death had a dramatic effect on my life, as I will explain later.

BY THE time I was born in Laskiv in 1932, ten families in our village were Bible Students, as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then known. Among them were my parents, who set a fine example of loyalty to Jehovah until their deaths in the mid-1970’s. All my life, being loyal to God has been my chief concern as well.—Psalm 18:25.

In 1939, the year World War II began, the area in which we lived in eastern Poland was incorporated into the Soviet Union. We were under Soviet rule until June of 1941, when the Germans invaded and occupied our area.

During World War II, I had some hard times at school. The children were taught to sing nationalistic songs and to share in military exercises. In fact, part of our training included learning how to throw grenades. But I refused both to sing patriotic songs and to engage in any military training. Learning at an early age to stand up for my Bible-based convictions helped me to remain loyal to God in the years that followed.

There were so many people who were interested in Bible truth in our congregation’s territory that two pioneers, as full-time ministers of Jehovah’s Witnesses are called, were assigned to our area to help teach them. One of the pioneers, Ilja Fedorovitsch, also studied the Bible with me and trained me in the ministry. During the German occupation, Ilja was deported and put into one of the Nazi concentration camps, where he died.

Father’s Struggle to Stay Neutral

In 1941 the Soviet authorities tried to make Father sign a document promising to pay money to help finance the war. He told them that he could not support either side in the war and that as a servant of the true God, he would stay neutral. Father was branded an enemy and sentenced to four years in prison. But he served just four days. Why? Because on the Sunday following his imprisonment, the German army occupied the area where we lived.

When the prison guards heard that the Germans were nearby, they opened the prison doors and fled. Outside, most of the inmates were shot by Soviet soldiers. Father did not leave immediately but later escaped to the home of friends. From there he sent word to Mother to bring his documents, which proved that he had been imprisoned for refusing to support the Soviets in the war. When Father showed these to the German authorities, they spared his life.

The Germans wanted to know the names of all the people who had cooperated with the Soviets. They pressured Father to denounce them, but he refused. He explained his position of neutrality. If he had named anyone, he or she would have been shot. Hence, Father’s neutrality also saved the lives of other people, who were very grateful to him.

Working Underground

The Soviets returned to Ukraine in August 1944, and in May 1945 the European phase of World War II ended. Afterward the so-called Iron Curtain kept those of us in the Soviet Union cut off from the rest of the world. Even maintaining contact with Jehovah’s Witnesses across the border in Poland was difficult. Courageous Witnesses would slip across the border and return with a few precious Watchtower magazines. Since the border was just five miles [8 km] from our home in Laskiv, I heard about the perils that these couriers experienced.

For example, a Witness called Silvester went across twice and returned each time without incident. But on the third trip, he was spotted by the border patrol and their guard dogs. The soldiers shouted for him to stop, but Silvester ran for his life. His only chance of avoiding the dogs was to wade into a nearby lake. He spent the whole night up to his neck in water, hiding in tall grass. Finally, when the patrol gave up the search, Silvester staggered home, exhausted.

As related earlier, Silvester’s nephew Stepan was killed while trying to make the crossing. Yet, it was important that we continue to maintain contact with Jehovah’s people. By the efforts of courageous couriers, we were able to receive spiritual food and helpful direction.

The following year, in 1948, I was baptized at night in a small lake near our home. Those to be immersed met in our house, but I didn’t know who they were, since it was dark and everything took place in hushed secrecy. We baptism candidates didn’t speak to one another. I don’t know who gave the baptism talk, who asked me the baptism questions as we stood near the lake, or who immersed me. Years later, when comparing notes with a good friend, we discovered that we had both been among those baptized that night!

In 1949 the Witnesses in Ukraine received word from Brooklyn that encouraged them to petition Moscow to legalize the preaching work in the Soviet Union. Following that direction, a petition was sent through the minister of the interior to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. Afterward Mykola Pyatokha and Ilya Babijchuk were asked to go to Moscow to obtain the government’s answer to our petition. They agreed and traveled to Moscow that summer.

The official who received this delegation listened as they provided the Bible-based reason for our work. They explained that our work was being done in fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy that “this good news of the kingdom [would] be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations.” (Matthew 24:14) However, the official said that the State would never legalize us.

The Witnesses returned home and went to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev to obtain legal recognition for our work here in Ukraine. Again the authorities denied the request. They said that Jehovah’s Witnesses would be left in peace only if they supported the State. Witnesses, they said, needed to serve in the armed forces and participate in elections. Again our position of neutrality was explained, namely, that in imitation of our Master, Jesus Christ, we must be no part of the world.—John 17:14-16.

Shortly after that, Brothers Pyatokha and Babijchuk were arrested, charged, and sentenced to 25 years in prison. About that time, in 1950, many Witnesses, including my father, were taken away by the authorities. He was given a 25-year prison sentence and sent to Khabarovsk at the eastern extremity of the Soviet Union nearly 5,000 miles [7,000 km] away!

Exiled to Siberia

Then in April 1951, the Soviet State struck an organized blow against the Witnesses in its western republics now known as Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Moldova, Belarus, and Ukraine. During that month some 7,000 of us, including Mother and me, were sent into exile in Siberia. Soldiers simply came to our home at night and took us to the railway station. There we were locked in cattle cars—about 50 to a car—and over two weeks later, we were dropped off at a place called Zalari, which is close to Lake Baikal in the district of Irkutsk.

Standing in the snow in the grip of an icy wind and surrounded by armed soldiers, I wondered what awaited us. How would I manage to stay loyal to Jehovah here? We began to sing Kingdom songs to keep our minds off the cold. Then managers of local state-owned enterprises arrived. Some needed men for hard physical work, whereas others wanted women for such things as caring for animals. Mother and I were taken to a construction site where the Tagninskaya Hydroelectric Power Station was being built.

When we arrived, we saw rows of wooden barracks, housing for the exiles. I was assigned to work as a tractor driver and an electrician, and Mother was put to work on a farm. We were officially classed as deportees, not as prisoners. So we were free to move within a short distance of the power station, although we were forbidden to visit the next settlement some 30 miles [50 km] away. The authorities pressured us to sign a declaration stating that we would stay forever. That sounded like an exceedingly long time to me, a 19-year-old, so I refused to sign. Yet, we did remain in the area for 15 years.

There in Siberia the Polish border was no longer within just 5 miles [8 km] of us but was over 4,000 [6,000 km] miles away! We Witnesses did all that we could to organize ourselves into congregations again, appointing men to take the lead. At first, we had no Bible literature except for a few items that some Witnesses had managed to bring with them from Ukraine. These were copied by hand, and we passed them among ourselves.

Soon we started holding meetings. Since many of us lived in barracks, we met together most evenings. Our congregation consisted of about 50 people, and I was assigned to conduct the Theocratic Ministry School. There were few men in our congregation, so women also gave student talks, which was a procedure introduced to congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses elsewhere in 1958. All took their assignments seriously, viewing the school as a way to praise Jehovah and to encourage others in the congregation.

Our Ministry Blessed

Since we shared the barracks with non-Witnesses, hardly a day went by without our talking with others about our faith, even though this was strictly forbidden. After Joseph Stalin, the Soviet premier, died in 1953, conditions improved. We were allowed to talk more openly with others about our Bible-based beliefs. Through correspondence with friends in Ukraine, we learned where other Witnesses were located in our area and got in touch with them. This enabled us to organize our congregations into circuits.

In 1954, I married Olga, also exiled from Ukraine. Over the years she was a great support to me in my service to Jehovah. It was Olga’s brother, Stepan, who was killed at the border between Ukraine and Poland in 1947. Later we had a daughter, Valentina.

Olga and I enjoyed many blessings in our Christian ministry in Siberia. For example, we met George, who was the leader of a Baptist group. We called on him regularly and studied whatever Watchtower magazines were available. George soon came to appreciate that what Jehovah’s servants preach from the Bible is the truth. We also began to study with several of his Baptist friends. What a thrill it was for us when George and a number of his friends were baptized and became our spiritual brothers!

In 1956, I was appointed as a traveling overseer, which required that I visit a congregation in our area each week. I would work all day and then set off in the evening on my motorbike to meet with the congregation. Early the next morning, I would return and go to work. Mykhailo Serdinsky, who was appointed to assist me in the traveling work, was killed in a road accident in 1958. He died on a Wednesday, but we delayed his funeral until Sunday to give as many Witnesses as possible the opportunity to attend.

When a large group of us began walking to the cemetery, members of the State Security followed. Delivering a talk that covered our Bible-based hope of the resurrection meant running the risk of arrest. But I was impelled to speak about Mykhailo and his wonderful future prospects. Although I used the Bible, the State Security did not arrest me. Apparently they felt that nothing was to be gained, and I was well-known to them anyway, having often been a “guest” at their headquarters for questioning.

Betrayed by an Informer

In 1959 the State Security arrested 12 Witnesses who had been taking the lead in the preaching work. Several others were called in for questioning, and I was included. When my turn for questioning came, I was aghast to hear the officials recounting confidential details about our work. How could they know these things? Obviously there was an informer, someone who knew a lot about us and who had been working for the State for some time.

The 12 who had been arrested were in adjoining cells, and they agreed that they would not say one more word to the authorities. That way the informer would have to appear in person at the trial to give evidence against them. Although I was not charged, I went to court to see what would happen. The judge asked questions, and the 12 did not respond. Then a Witness named Konstantyn Polishchuk, whom I had known for years, testified against the 12. The trial ended with some of the Witnesses receiving prison sentences. On the street outside the court building, I bumped into Polishchuk.

“Why are you betraying us?” I asked.

“Because I no longer believe,” he replied.

“What do you no longer believe?” I asked.

“I just cannot believe the Bible any longer,” he replied.

Polishchuk could have also betrayed me, but in his testimony he didn’t mention my name. So I asked him why he didn’t.

“I don’t want you to go to prison,” he explained. “I still feel guilty about your wife’s brother, Stepan. I was the one responsible for sending him across the border the night he was killed. I am truly sorry for that.”

His words bewildered me. How warped his conscience had become! He felt remorse over Stepan’s death, and yet he now betrayed Jehovah’s servants. I never saw Polishchuk again. He died some months later. For me, seeing someone I had trusted for years betray our brothers left deep emotional scars. But the experience taught me a valuable lesson: Polishchuk was disloyal because he gave up reading and believing the Bible.

Surely we need to keep this lesson in mind: If we are to stay loyal to Jehovah, we need to engage in regular study of the Holy Scriptures. The Bible says: “Safeguard your heart, for out of it are the sources of life.” Moreover, the apostle Paul told Christians to beware. Why? “For fear there should ever develop in any one of you a wicked heart lacking faith by drawing away from the living God.”—Proverbs 4:23; Hebrews 3:12.

Back to Ukraine

When our exile in Siberia ended in 1966, Olga and I moved back to Ukraine, to a town called Sokal, about 50 miles [80 km] from L’viv. We had much to do, since there were only 34 Witnesses in Sokal and the nearby towns of Cervonograd and Sosnivka. In this area today, there are 11 congregations!

Olga died faithful in 1993. Three years later I married Lidiya, and since then she has been a great strength to me. In addition, my daughter, Valentina, and her family are zealous servants of Jehovah and have also been a source of encouragement. However, what continues to bring me the greatest joy is that I have remained loyal to Jehovah, a God who acts with loyalty.—2 Samuel 22:26.

Alexei Davidjuk died loyal to Jehovah on February 18, 2000, as this article was being prepared for publication.

[Picture on page 20]

Our congregation that met in the barracks in 1952 in eastern Siberia

[Picture on page 23]

Our Theocratic Ministry School in 1953

[Picture on page 23]

Funeral of Mykhailo Serdinsky in 1958

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With my wife Lidiya

Is It Wise to Invest in the Stock Market?

“Record numbers are now playing the market.”—Newsweek, July 5, 1999.

THE floor of a traditional stock exchange seems to be a chaotic marketplace. Mysterious (to an outsider) hand signals are employed, coded messages on electronic tickers appear and change at a frantic pace, and floor brokers compete to be heard above the flurry of activity.

Today, however, many people once bewildered by the stock market are investing in stocks. Why? For one thing, the Internet has enabled investors to access in moments financial news, investment advice, and stockbrokers. Paul Farrell, editor in chief of Wall Street News, writes: “For [individual investors], cyberspace investing is the new frontier, the new gold rush, the freedom to be yourself, with the opportunity to become financially independent while working at home.”

On the other hand, some financial advisers are alarmed by the eagerness of many to invest in a market that they may know very little about. One investment dealer with over 38 years of experience in the securities industry told Awake!: “More people are buying into the stock market as speculators, not investors. Some may call it investing, but they don’t know anything about the company [whose stock] they are buying and selling.”

What factors should you weigh before investing your money? Since a measure of risk is involved with the trading of stocks, is it gambling? First, let us consider how the stock market operates.

Buying a ‘Piece of the Pie’

Companies need capital, or invested money, to operate successfully. When a company prospers and requires a large amount of capital, its management may choose to offer shares of its stock to the public. One guide to the stock market illustrates it this way: “Stocks are pieces of the corporate pie. When you buy stocks, or shares, you own a slice of the company.”

At a street market, buyers and sellers meet and conduct business. Similarly, the stock exchange is a marketplace for those who buy and sell stocks. Before the development of the exchange, stocks were traded through brokers at coffeehouses and on the roadside. Trading under a buttonwood tree at 68 Wall Street led to the formation of the New York Stock Exchange.a Now there are stock exchanges in many countries. On any given business day, at any hour, there is a stock market open somewhere in the world.

To trade stocks, an investor usually opens an account with a broker and places an order. Today orders to buy or sell stock can be placed over the telephone, through the Internet, or in person. The broker then needs to execute the order on behalf of the investor. If the stock is traded on a traditional trading floor, the brokerage office directs one of its floor brokers to buy or sell stock for the investor. In recent years some exchanges have adopted a completely electronic trading system, where trades can be made seconds after the order is placed with a broker. Trades are then recorded on stock quotations—current prices and trading details displayed on an electronic ticker.

The price at which stocks are bought or sold is usually determined by competitive bidding, as at an auction. Business news, company earnings, and the future prospects of an enterprise can all influence the price of a stock. Investors hope to buy their stock at a low price and sell their shares for a profit after they increase in value. A portion of the company’s profits may also be divided among the shareholders as dividends. Some people buy stocks as a long-term investment; others trade stocks regularly, hoping to profit from stock prices that rise dramatically in a short time.

While the trading of stocks has traditionally been done over the telephone, on-line trading (buying and selling stocks over the Internet) has become increasingly popular. The Financial Post reports that the number of on-line trades in the United States “increased from about 100,000 per day in 1996 to nearly 500,000 by the end of June [1999] with nearly 16% of all trades in the United States done electronically.” In Sweden some 20 percent of all stock trading in 1999 was done over the Internet.

Invest Wisely

The apparent ease of trading stocks on-line and gaining access to information previously reserved for brokers and professional traders has prompted many individual investors to take up day trading, the buying and selling of stocks full-time. Some have given up lucrative careers to become day traders. Why? “The allure is obvious,” explains Money magazine. “No bosses, complete control over how and when you trade and the potential—or so it seems—to make a lot of money.” One 35-year-old man who quit his $200,000-a-year job to trade stocks at home is quoted as saying: “How else can you have no inventory and no employees, pay no rent, tap-tap-tap on a keyboard and make a living?”

Experts warn that trading stocks is not as easy as it may seem to a new investor. One psychiatrist who specializes in the stresses of trading observes: “Trading seems deceptively easy, but I like to say that it’s the hardest way to make an easy dollar.” The endless stream of financial news and advice has not come without side effects. Paul Farrell, quoted earlier, notes: “The relentless thrust of information racing at lightning speed at the individual players—both the individual investor and the institutional trader—is having a major psychological impact: rattled nerves, frustrations, stress.”

Overconfidence can also be a snare. Financial columnist Jane Bryant Quinn warns of dangerous attitudes among traders: “You think that if you’re at the helm—or at the mouse—bad things can’t happen. You’ll always be able to intervene in time.” She adds: “Because we can access information used by pros, we start to think that we’re pros, too.” Despite the widely publicized stories of investors who have become rich overnight on the stock market, the trading of stocks carries inherent risks. Some investors have been very successful. Others have suffered significant losses.

Investment advisers urge potential investors to consider a company’s past record and future prospects, the demand for its products, competition from other businesses, and several other factors before selecting a firm’s stock. This information is often available through stockbrokers and other financial institutions. Many investors consult with financial planners before purchasing stock.b By considering the background of a company, an investor can also ensure that his money will not be used to support an unethical enterprise.—See Awake!, February 8, 1962, pages 21-3.

A Corporate Lottery?

In view of the risks associated with the stock market, is buying stock the same as gambling? A measure of risk is involved in nearly all financial investments. Some people buy real estate, not knowing if the value of a property will increase or decrease over time. Others deposit their money in a bank, trusting that their savings will be secure. While the stock market is more complicated, simply put, one who invests in stocks buys the shares of a company in the hope that the enterprise will prosper and the stocks will increase in value.

Such an investment differs from gambling because the stockholder has purchased part of a company. These shares may be sold to another person or saved in the hope of future growth. This cannot be said of a person who bets money at a casino or on a game of chance. Against the odds, the gambler seeks to predict an uncertain outcome and win the loser or losers’ stakes.

How much risk should an investor accept? That is up to each individual to decide. Of course, it is not prudent to risk more money on an investment than one is willing to lose.

A Balanced Attitude Toward Money

In a desire to provide for their immediate and future needs, some have decided to invest in the stock market. One’s motive for making such financial decisions is important. Jane Bryant Quinn, quoted earlier, states: “Envying the undeserving rich can bring out our worst instincts as investors.” Those words seem to echo the advice given in a letter written to a young man almost 2,000 years ago: “Those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.”—1 Timothy 6:9, 10.

How a person chooses to invest his money is a personal decision. Guided by a sound mind and contentment with the necessities of life, an investor does well to keep financial concerns in their place, not neglecting his or her family responsibilities and spiritual needs.

[Footnotes]

Watching the World

Britons and Leisure

In 1999, for the first time, the average Briton spent more on leisure goods and services than on “food, housing or any other single element of the weekly family budget,” reports the Times newspaper of London. In 1968, only 9 percent of total family spending went for leisure, compared with 17 percent today. Consumer consultant Martin Hayward says: “Because we are now all so much more affluent than, say, 30 years ago, many leisure purchases that might once have been regarded as a luxury are now regarded by most people as a basic necessity. Taking a holiday is now regarded by most people as a ‘need’ rather than a ‘want.’ Some people even regard taking three holidays a year as a basic need.” Households now spend four times as much on video and audio equipment, TVs, and computers as they did in 1968. In fact, 1 household in 10 is connected to the Internet, and 1 in 3 has a computer.

A Nap That Refreshes

The habit of relying on caffeine to get through early-afternoon drowsiness may be counterproductive, according to The New York Times. “Consumption of caffeine will be followed by feelings of lethargy,” says Cornell University sleep expert Dr. James Maas. “A debt in your sleep bank account is not reduced by artificial stimulants.” Instead of taking coffee breaks, Maas recommends taking naps, which he says “greatly strengthen the ability to pay close attention to details and to make critical decisions.” A short midday nap, less than 30 minutes long, can revive a person’s energy without making it difficult to wake up and without interfering with a good night’s sleep, notes the Times. “Napping should not be frowned upon,” says Maas. “It should have the status of daily exercise.”

Cotton Grows on Sheep?

According to a recent survey commissioned by the European Council of Young Farmers, “50 per cent of EU [European Union] children do not know where sugar comes from, three-quarters . . . do not know where cotton comes from, with over a quarter who believe that it is grown on sheep.” In addition, 25 percent of nine- and ten-year-olds in Britain and the Netherlands believe that oranges and olives grow in their countries. The children’s main contact with agricultural products is, not the farm, but the supermarket, and they learn about agriculture mainly at school. These may be among the reasons why farming as a profession does not attract many European children today. “On average,” states the council, “only 10 per cent of EU children would ‘very much like’ to become a farmer in the future.”

Friendship Under Fire

Longer workdays, more business travel, and electronic entertainment “that keeps us wired to just about everything but other people” are taking a toll on personal friendships, reports The Wall Street Journal. “Spending time with friends is played down as an optional indulgence that steals scarce hours out of an already jam-packed schedule,” notes the paper. But those who neglect friendships may find that when family tragedy strikes, “no one’s there for them,” says sociologist Jan Yager. On the other hand, studies seem to indicate that those who have good friends usually suffer less stress and illness and may even live longer. “The key,” notes the Journal, “is realizing that maintaining friendships takes extra effort, just the way balancing work and family does.”

Overweight Children

“Obesity is one of the most serious health problems facing the youth of Asia,” warns Dr. Chwang Leh-chii, head of the dietitian’s association of Taipei, Taiwan. The incidence of overweight children in many parts of Asia is high, especially among boys and in urban areas, reports Asiaweek. A recent study in Beijing revealed that more than 20 percent of primary- and secondary-school students there are overweight. It seems that Asian youngsters are spending more and more time watching TV and playing video games, states the report. What to do? According to Asiaweek, the solution lies not so much in limiting the amount of food children eat but, rather, in combining regular exercise with a healthy diet—one that emphasizes fruits and vegetables over fatty snacks. Dr. Chwang further notes that making physical activity fun is the key to success. But without a change in habits, says the report, overweight children could be facing high blood pressure, liver trouble, diabetes, and psychological problems.

Movies Versus Church

“To teenagers, films such as Terminator 2, Titanic and Star Wars offer deeper religious experiences than conventional churches,” reports London’s newspaper The Independent. Dr. Lynn Clark, of the University of Colorado’s center for mass media research, asked 200 young people which film was most like their religious beliefs. Many cited Terminator 2, which portrays a battle between good and evil, with the lead character traveling back in time to save a Messiahlike child. Speaking at a conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, Dr. Clark concluded: “Young people are now looking to Darth Vader and the X Files as sources to help them unravel questions about what life is about. The X Files appeals because it looks at the whole idea of an unknown force controlling the universe. It raises the question that there are things unexplained by science. That’s a religious question, but one that religion is not handling well.”

Smoking Shortens Life

“Every cigarette a man smokes reduces his life by 11 minutes,” reports the University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter. Thus, smoking a carton of cigarettes would shorten his life by a day and a half, and each year that he smokes a pack a day, his life would be shortened by nearly two months, according to researchers at the University of Bristol, England. Scientists arrived at these estimates by comparing the life expectancies of men who smoke and those who do not. The researchers commented: “It shows the high cost of smoking in a way that everyone can understand.”

Elephant “Artists”

In Ottapalam, India, baby elephants are being taught to paint pictures by grasping a brush with their trunk. Conservationists have established the Asian Elephant Art and Conservation Project to raise money to protect elephants by selling elephants’ paintings, reports The Indian Express. One six-year-old tusker named Ganesan appears especially to enjoy his “artistic” endeavors. When he is in the mood to paint, he wags his ears and accepts the brush from his trainer. When Ganesan is painting, he does not like to be disturbed, even by the presence of birds or squirrels. After making some colorful strokes, Ganesan pauses and seems to study his work. However, not all young elephants respond to efforts to turn them into animal “artists.” Some show their displeasure by breaking the paintbrushes.

Programming Birth

“Children have learned to be born when the hospital wants,” says the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. At a conference on birth held recently in Florence, Italy, Swiss gynecologist Fred Paccaud noted: “Since the 19th century, in the Western world, there has been a 95-percent drop in births on Saturdays and Sundays. But that is not all: We can state that the majority of births take place during labor-union-correct hours of the day, that is, during those shifts when most doctors and nurses are at work.” The births are either induced by medication or performed by cesarean section. “We find ourselves faced with the medicalization and the surgicalization of birth,” says Florence gynecologist Angelo Scuderi. “We see a rapid increase in cesarean section, which by now accounts for more than 20 percent [of births].” However, Professor Carlo Romanini, president of the Italian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, claims that “‘programmed’ births are not a choice of convenience” but are a safeguard for the mothers and their infants against unforeseen complications. “It is much better for [a birth] to occur when the hospital is fully staffed and able to guarantee the best possible care,” he said.

From Our Readers

Kidnapping I am writing to convey my special thanks for the series “Kidnapping—Why a Global Threat.” (December 22, 1999) Last month there was a robbery at the supermarket where I work. Two masked men came in, one pointing a gun. Because the articles showed that kidnap victims should do as they’re told, I didn’t resist as they taped my hands, feet, and eyes and made me sit on the floor. They stole 9,500,000 yen (roughly $90,000 U.S.). But I remained calm and was not hurt. The article came at the right time!

S. H., Japan

Enjoys Awake! Being a member of the Assembly of God church does not prevent me from reading Awake! I have yet to read a magazine of such high quality and with such a variety of subjects. I do not have a television at home, but I can often discuss current topics with my friends because I have read about them in your magazine.

A.B.A., Brazil

Close Shave The article “A Close Shave” (January 22, 2000) came at just the right time for me. My husband is now in need of constant care and can no longer shave himself. The four tips on shaving were a great help. Now he wants me to shave him every day!

L. D., Germany

Lying I found the article “The Bible’s Viewpoint: Lying—Is It Ever Justified?” (February 8, 2000) to be thought provoking. But by any reasonable definition, does not the Bible condemn all deception?

D. S., United States

In the Bible, lying generally involves saying something false to a person who is entitled to know the truth and doing so with the intent to deceive or to injure him or another person. God-fearing individuals such as Abraham, Isaac, Rahab, and David thus engaged in forms of deception but were not condemned as liars. Of course, they did so under extraordinary circumstances. Their actions therefore do not justify needless deception. For example, if a Christian has sworn to tell the truth in a court of law, he will either tell the truth or remain silent.—ED.

Fatherless Families The February 8, 2000, issue addresses the cycle of fatherless children. (“Fatherless Families—Breaking the Cycle”) I cannot express in words how disappointed and angry I was after reading this. You sanctioned the conduct of absentee fathers by addressing their various concerns such as visitation rights and their economic plight. Where is the reprimand? Where is the encouragement for men to rectify their errors?

S. L., United States

We can well appreciate how painful it must be for some to consider such material, especially if they have experienced abandonment. But the article was not intended to serve as a reprimand to men. Rather, we endeavored to promote an understanding of both sides of the complex issues involved. We also gave practical counsel to victims of abandonment. Interestingly, the concluding article, “Fatherless Families—Breaking the Cycle,” made the statement: “Current family trends will be halted only if people are willing to make profound changes in their thinking, their attitudes, their behavior, their morals.”—ED.

When I saw the cover with its picture of a girl with her father, my eyes filled with tears. I had always wanted to have a relationship like that with my father. The article enabled me to try to understand why things happened the way they did in my family. It was like a ray of sunshine penetrating my past and illuminating dark questions that have been there for so many years.

M. M., United States

Noisy Snow

SCIENTISTS have discovered that when snow falls on water, each snowflake makes a sound, inaudible to humans. Like the wail of an approaching fire engine, this sound reaches a climax and then fades away, all in about one ten-thousandth of a second.

A raindrop or hailstone penetrates the surface of the water, but the lighter snowflake rests on top. Soon, though, it melts, and the “scream,” referred to above, occurs. This was noticed about 15 years ago, but the matter wasn’t pursued. In more recent years, however, the noise has become a nuisance to biologists in Alaska who use sonar to track migrating salmon. When the background clatter of falling snow masks signals from the fish, the monitoring exercise has to be aborted. What is the cause of this phenomenon?

New Scientist magazine explains that as the flake floats on the water, there is little noise below. But as soon as the flake starts to melt, water is sucked up by capillary action. It may be that at this time air bubbles are released from the flake or are trapped by the rising water. Each bubble vibrates as it struggles to reach an equilibrium with its surroundings, and in doing so, it sends out sound waves, somewhat like a ringing bell—but at a much higher pitch.

[Picture Credit Line on page 31]

Snow Crystals/Dover

“I Always Thought I Was the Only One”

THE comment above was made by 13-year-old Ulrike from California, U.S.A., in connection with her study of the book The Secret of Family Happiness. She wrote:

“I really appreciated the fact that you put in the chapter ‘Single-Parent Families Can Succeed!’ It helped me to be nicer and more helpful to my mom because she is a single parent. It also helped me to understand more about how she feels. I always thought I was the only one in emotional pain.” The youth concluded: “That book helped me a lot!”

Millions earth wide have been helped by this 192-page book. The Secret of Family Happiness can benefit all members of the family—husbands, wives, parents, children, grandparents—yes, everyone. Among its instructive chapters are “Train Your Child From Infancy,” “Help Your Teenager to Thrive,” “Protect Your Family From Destructive Influences,” and “Maintain Peace in Your Household.”

To obtain your copy, please fill in and mail the accompanying coupon to the address provided on the coupon or to an appropriate address listed on page 5 of this magazine. You will receive specific suggestions that can help to solve problems and make family life the delight that the Creator meant it to be.

□ Send me a copy of the book The Secret of Family Happiness.

□ Please contact me concerning a free home Bible study.