Table of Contents

June 8, 2002

Can Science and Religion Be Reconciled?

Science and religion are thought by some to be in conflict. Is there any way they can be reconciled?

3 Science and Religion​—The Conflict

4 How Did the Universe and Life Originate?

8 Reconciling Science and Religion

16 Grass​—Not Just the Green Beneath Your Feet

20 Crossword Puzzle

21 Surveying​—What Is It?

24 Let’s Have a Hawaiian Luau

28 Watching the World

30 From Our Readers

31 “Kangaroo Mother Care”​—Solution to a Life-Threatening Problem?

32 You Are Invited to the “Zealous Kingdom Proclaimers” District Convention

Should Christians Preach to Others? 12

What is the viewpoint of God and Jesus on this matter?

Salt​—A Precious Commodity 14

Throughout history salt has always been highly valued. Why?

Science and Religion​—The Conflict

“Is religion best understood as an infectious disease of the mind?”​—Biologist Richard Dawkins.

RELIGION and science are sometimes assumed to be mortal enemies. To some they appear locked in a struggle of such magnitude that it may seem that one will triumph only by the death of the other.

In one camp are some scientists, such as chemist Peter Atkins, who feel that reconciling religion and science is “impossible.” Atkins says that to believe “that God is an explanation (of anything, let alone everything) is intellectually contemptible.”

In another camp are religious people who blame science for the destruction of faith. Such individuals hold to the opinion that science as practiced today is a deception; its facts may be correct, but the misinterpretation of those facts undermines the beliefs of the faithful. For instance, biologist William Provine says that Darwinism means “no ultimate foundation for ethics; no ultimate meaning for life.”

However, some of the conflict has developed because of false or unprovable assertions originating from both sides. For centuries, religious leaders have taught mythical legends and erroneous dogmas that are at odds with modern scientific findings and not based on inspired Scripture. For example, the Roman Catholic Church condemned Galileo because he concluded, correctly, that the earth revolves around the sun. Galileo’s view in no way contradicted the Bible, but it was contrary to what the church taught at the time. On the other hand, scientists are at fault when they teach as fact the unprovable theory that life evolved from inanimate matter independent of God. They ridicule religious faith as unscientific.

Is it possible, then, to reconcile science and religion? Yes, it is. Actually, proven science and true religion complement rather than contradict each other.

[Picture on page 2, 3]

Galileo taught scientific truth, for which he was censured by the church

How Did the Universe and Life Originate?

“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.”​—Albert Einstein.

OURS are times of astonishment on a scale previously unknown. New discoveries from space are forcing astronomers to revise their views of the origin of our universe. Many people are fascinated with the cosmos and are asking the ancient questions that are raised by our existence in it: How did the universe and life come about and why?

Even if we look in the other direction​—within ourselves—​the recent mapping of the human genetic code raises the questions: How were the multitudes of life-forms created? And who, if anyone, created them? The sheer complexity of our genetic blueprint moved a U.S. president to say that “we are learning the language in which God created life.” One of the chief scientists involved in the genetic decoding humbly remarked: “We have caught the first glimpse of our own instruction book, previously known only to God.” But the questions persist​—how and why?

“Two Windows”

Some scientists claim that all the workings of the universe can be explained by rational analysis, leaving no room for divine wisdom. But many people, including scientists, are not comfortable with that view. They attempt to comprehend reality by looking to both science and religion. They feel that science deals with the how of our existence and of the cosmos around us, while religion deals principally with the why.

Explaining this dual approach, physicist Freeman Dyson said: “Science and religion are two windows that people look through trying to understand the big universe outside.”

“Science deals with the measurable, religion deals with the immeasurable,” suggested author William Rees-Mogg. He said: “Science can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God, any more than it can prove or disprove any moral or aesthetic proposition. There is no scientific reason to love one’s neighbour or to respect human life . . . To argue that nothing exists which cannot be proved scientifically is the crudest of errors, which would eliminate almost everything we value in life, not only God or the human spirit, but love and poetry and music.”

The “Religion” of Science

Scientists’ theories often seem to rely on premises that require their own kind of faith. For example, when it comes to the origin of life, most evolutionists adhere to ideas that require faith in certain “doctrines.” Facts are mixed with theories. And when scientists use the weight of their authority to impose blind belief in evolution, they are in reality implying: ‘You are not responsible for your morality because you are merely the product of biology, chemistry, and physics.’ Biologist Richard Dawkins says that in the universe ‘there is no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but pointless indifference.’

To uphold such beliefs, some scientists choose to ignore the extensive research of other scientists who contradict the theoretical foundations for their theories on the origin of life. Even if we allow for billions of years of time, the accidental forming of the complex molecules required to form a functional living cell has been shown to be a mathematical impossibility.a Thus, the dogmatic theories on the origin of life that appear in many textbooks must be considered invalid.

Belief that life originated by blind chance demands more faith than belief in creation does. Astronomer David Block observed: “A man who does not believe in a Creator would have to have more faith than one who does. In declaring that God does not exist, a person makes a sweeping unsubstantiated statement​—a postulate based on faith.”

Scientific discoveries can induce a reverential attitude in some scientists. Albert Einstein admitted: “You will hardly find one among the profounder sort of scientific minds without a religious feeling of his own. . . . Religious feeling takes the form of a rapturous amazement at the harmony of natural law, which reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection.” Yet, this does not necessarily lead scientists to believe in a Creator, a personal God.

The Limits of Science

It is fitting to have proper respect for scientific knowledge and achievements. However, many will agree that while science involves a way of knowing, it is not the only source of knowledge. The purpose of science is to describe phenomena in the natural world and to assist in answering how these phenomena occur.

Science provides us with insights into the physical universe, meaning everything that is observable. But no matter how far scientific investigation goes, it can never answer the question of purpose​—why the universe exists in the first place.

“There are some questions that scientists can never answer,” remarks author Tom Utley. “It may be that the Big Bang happened 12 billion years ago. But why did it happen? . . . How did the particles get there in the first place? What was there before?” Utley concludes: “It seems . . . clearer than ever that science will never satisfy the human hunger for answers.”

Scientific knowledge gained through such inquisitiveness, far from disproving the need for a God, has only served to confirm what a fantastically complex, intricate, and awe-inspiring world we live in. Many thinking people find it plausible to conclude that the physical laws and chemical reactions as well as DNA and the amazing diversity of life all point to a Creator. There is no irrefutable proof to the contrary.

‘Faith Has Reality’

If there is a Creator behind the universe, we cannot expect to comprehend him or his purposes by using telescopes, microscopes, or other scientific instruments. Think of a potter and a vase that he has formed. No amount of examination of the vase itself can give an answer as to why it was made. For that, we must ask the potter himself.

Molecular biologist Francis Collins explains how faith and spirituality can help fill the void science leaves: “I would not expect religion to be the right tool for sequencing the human genome and by the same token would not expect science to be the means to approaching the supernatural. But on the really interesting larger questions, such as ‘Why are we here?’ or ‘Why do human beings long for spirituality?,’ I find science unsatisfactory. Many superstitions have come into existence and then faded away. Faith has not, which suggests it has reality.”

Explaining Why

True religion, in answering the question of why and in dealing with the purpose of life, also offers standards for values, morals, and ethics as well as guidance in life. Scientist Allan Sandage expressed it this way: “I don’t go to a biology book to learn how to live.”

Millions of people around the globe feel that they have found where to go to learn how to live. They also feel that they have found truly satisfying answers regarding the questions: Why are we here? And where are we going? The answers exist. But where? In the oldest and most widely distributed sacred text, the Bible.

The Bible tells us that God prepared the earth especially with humans in mind. Isaiah 45:18 says regarding the earth: “God . . . did not create it simply for nothing [but] formed it even to be inhabited.” And he provided the earth with everything that people would need, not just to exist but to enjoy life to the full.

Humans were given stewardship over the earth, “to cultivate it and to take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15) The Bible also explains that knowledge and wisdom are gifts from God and that we are to exercise love and justice toward one another. (Job 28:20, 25, 27; Daniel 2:20-23) Thus, humans can find purpose and meaning in life only when they discover and embrace God’s purpose for them.b

How can a modern thinker bridge the apparent chasm between scientific reason and religious belief? What guiding principles might help one to accomplish that?

[Footnotes]

[Box/Pictures on page 7]

What Some Scientists Say

Some people assume that most scientists avoid issues of spirituality and theology because they are not religious or do not wish to involve themselves in the science-versus-religion debate. That does describe some scientists but by no means all. Note what the following scientists have had to say.

“The universe had a beginning but what scientists can’t explain is why. The answer is God.” “I see the Bible as a book of truth and divinely inspired. There has to be an intelligence behind the complexity of life.”​—Ken Tanaka, planetary geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey.

“The gap between the various kinds of knowledge (scientific and religious) is rather artificial. . . . Knowledge about the Creator and knowledge about creation are closely related.”​—Enrique Hernández, researcher and professor at the Department of Physics and Theoretical Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico.

“As we develop all this information [about the human genome], it will reveal the complexity, the interdependence of all this material. It will point to the origin as the result of an intelligent creator, an intelligent agent.”​—Duane T. Gish, biochemist.

“There is no incompatibility between science and religion. Both are seeking the same truth. Science shows that God exists.”​—D.H.R. Barton, professor of chemistry, Texas.

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NASA/U.S. Geological Survey

Photo: www.comstock.com

NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

[Pictures on page 5]

Can scientific investigation answer why we are here?

[Credit Line]

Courtesy Arecibo Observatory/David Parker/Science Photo Library

[Picture Credit Line on page 6]

Stars on pages 2, 3, 5, and top of page 7: National Optical Astronomy Observatories

Reconciling Science and Religion

“Science and religion [are] no longer seen as incompatible.”​—The Daily Telegraph, London, May 26, 1999.

BOTH science and religion, in their noblest forms, involve the search for truth. Science discovers a world of magnificent order, a universe that contains distinctive marks of intelligent design. True religion makes these discoveries meaningful by teaching that the mind of the Creator lies behind the design manifest in the physical world.

“I find my appreciation of science is greatly enriched by religion,” says Francis Collins, a molecular biologist. He continues: “When I discover something about the human genome, I experience a sense of awe at the mystery of life, and say to myself, ‘Wow, only God knew before.’ It is a profoundly beautiful and moving sensation, which helps me appreciate God and makes science even more rewarding for me.”

What will help one to reconcile science and religion?

An Enduring Quest

Accept the limits: No end is in sight in our quest for answers about the infinite universe, space, and time. Biologist Lewis Thomas noted: “There will be no end to this process, being the insatiably curious species that we are, exploring, looking around and trying to understand things. We’re not ever going to get it solved. I can’t imagine any terminal point where everyone will breathe a sigh and will say, ‘Now we understand the whole thing.’ It’s going to remain beyond us.”

Similarly, when it comes to religious truth, the reach is boundless. One of the Bible writers, Paul, stated: “Now we see only puzzling reflections in a mirror . . . My knowledge now is partial.”​—1 Corinthians 13:12, The New English Bible.

Partial knowledge concerning both scientific and religious questions, however, does not prevent us from reaching sound conclusions based on the facts we have. We don’t need a detailed knowledge of the origin of the sun in order to be absolutely sure that it is going to rise tomorrow.

Let the known facts speak: In the quest for answers, we need to be guided by sound principles. Unless we stick to the highest standards of evidence, we can easily be misled in our search for scientific and religious truth. Realistically, none of us can begin to evaluate all scientific knowledge and ideas, which today fill huge libraries. On the other hand, the Bible provides a manageable compendium of spiritual teachings for our consideration. The Bible is well supported by known facts.a

However, concerning knowledge in general, earnest effort is required to distinguish between fact and speculation, between reality and deception​—in both science and religion. As the Bible writer Paul advised, we need to reject “the contradictions of the falsely called ‘knowledge.’” (1 Timothy 6:20) To reconcile science and the Bible, we must let the facts speak for themselves, thereby avoiding conjecture and speculation, and examine how each fact supports and adds to the other.

For example, when we understand that the Bible uses the term “day” to represent various periods of time, we see that the account of the six creative days in Genesis need not conflict with the scientific conclusion that the age of the earth is about four and a half billion years. According to the Bible, the earth existed for an unstated period before the creative days began. (See the box “The Creative Days​—24 Hours Each?”) Even if science corrects itself and suggests a different age for our planet, the statements made in the Bible still hold true. Instead of contradicting the Bible, science in this and many other cases actually provides us with voluminous supplemental information about the physical world, both present and past.

Faith, not credulity: The Bible provides us with knowledge of God and his purposes that cannot be gleaned from any other source. Why should we trust it? The Bible itself invites us to test its accuracy. Consider its historical authenticity, its practicality, the candor of its writers, and its integrity. By investigating the accuracy of the Bible, including statements of a scientific nature and, even more convincingly, the unerring fulfillment of hundreds of prophecies throughout the ages and into our present day, one can acquire firm faith in it as the Word of God. Faith in the Bible is not credulity but a proven confidence in the accuracy of Scriptural statements.

Respect science; acknowledge belief: Jehovah’s Witnesses invite open-minded people, both scientific and religious, to share in a sincere quest for truth in both realms. In their congregations the Witnesses nurture a healthy respect for science and its proven findings as well as a profound belief that religious truth can be found only in the Bible, which forthrightly and with abundant evidence declares itself to be the Word of God. The apostle Paul stated: “When you received God’s word, which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but, just as it truthfully is, as the word of God.”​—1 Thessalonians 2:13.

Of course, as with science, damaging falsehoods and practices have infiltrated religion. Thus, there is true religion and false religion. That is why many people have left organized, mainstream religion to become members of the Christian congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They have been disappointed by the unwillingness of their previous religions to disavow human tradition and myth in favor of discovered or revealed truth.

What is more, true Christians find real meaning and purpose in life, based on an intimate knowledge of the Creator, as he is revealed in the Bible, and of his expressed intentions for humankind and the planet we live on. Jehovah’s Witnesses have been satisfied with reasonable, Bible-based answers to such questions as, Why are we here? Where are we going? They would be more than glad to share these insights with you.

[Footnote]

[Box on page 10]

The Creative Days​—24 Hours Each?

Some fundamentalists claim that creationism rather than evolution explains pre-human history. They assert that all physical creation was produced in just six days of 24 hours each sometime between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. But in doing so, they promote an unscriptural teaching that has caused many to ridicule the Bible.

Is a day in the Bible always literally 24 hours in length? Genesis 2:4 speaks of “the day that Jehovah God made earth and heaven.” This one day encompasses all six of the creative days of Genesis chapter 1. According to Bible usage, a day is a measured period of time and can be a thousand years or many thousands of years. The Bible’s creative days allow for thousands of years of time each. Further, the earth was already in existence before the creative days began. (Genesis 1:1) On this point, therefore, the Bible account is compatible with true science.​—2 Peter 3:8.

Commenting on claims that the creative days were only 24 literal hours in length, molecular biologist Francis Collins remarks: “Creationism has done more harm to serious notions of belief than anything in modern history.”

[Box on page 11]

Has Science Taken the Moral High Ground?

Understandably, religion has been rejected by many people of science for its resistance to scientific progress, its dismal record, and its hypocrisy and cruelty. Professor of microbiology John Postgate points out: “The world’s religions have . . . brought the horrors of human sacrifice, crusades, pogroms and inquisitions. In the modern world this darker side of religion has become dangerous. For unlike science, religion is not neutral.”

Comparing that with the assumed rationality, objectivity, and discipline of science, Postgate claims that “science has come to occupy the high ground of morality.”

Has science really seized the moral high ground? The answer is no. Postgate himself admits that “scientific communities have their share of jealousy, greed, prejudice and envy.” He adds that “a few scientists have shown themselves capable of murder in the name of research, as happened in Nazi Germany and Japanese prison camps.” And when National Geographic assigned an investigative reporter to find out how a fossil hoax ended up in its pages, the reporter spoke of “a tale of misguided secrecy and misplaced confidence, of rampant egos clashing, self-aggrandizement, wishful thinking, naive assumptions, human error, stubbornness, manipulation, backbiting, lying, [and] corruption.”

And, of course, it is science that has given mankind horrific instruments of warfare, such as weapons-grade disease organisms, poison gas, missiles, “smart” bombs, and nuclear bombs.

[Picture on page 8, 9]

Ant Nebula (Menzel 3), from Hubble Space Telescope

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NASA, ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

[Pictures on page 9]

Science has discovered a world full of distinctive marks of intelligent design

[Picture on page 10]

Jehovah’s Witnesses nurture respect for true science and belief in the Bible

Salt​—A Precious Commodity

“YOU are the salt of the earth,” said Jesus to his disciples. (Matthew 5:13) The Arabs say, “There is salt between us,” and the Persians speak of a person “untrue to salt” (disloyal or ungrateful). Because of its preservative qualities, the word “salt” came to have connotations of high esteem and honor both in ancient languages and in modern ones.

Salt also became a symbol of stability and permanence. Therefore, in the Bible a binding covenant was called “a covenant of salt,” the parties often eating a meal together, with salt, to seal it. (Numbers 18:19) Under Mosaic Law, salt was to be added to sacrifices offered on the altar, doubtless denoting freedom from corruption or decay.

Interesting Historical Facts

Throughout history, salt (sodium chloride) has been such a precious commodity that wars were even fought over it. One of the contributing causes of the French Revolution was the high tax on salt imposed by Louis XVI. Salt was also used as a valuable medium of exchange. Moorish merchants traded salt for gold, gram for gram, and some central African tribes used slabs of rock salt as money. The English word “salary” comes from the Latin salarium (from sal, salt), referring to the early Roman soldier’s wages, part of which was an allowance of salt. The Greeks paid for slaves with salt, giving rise to the expression “not worth his salt.”

During the Middle Ages, certain superstitions developed around salt. The spilling of salt was considered to be a portent of doom. For example, in Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the “Last Supper,” Judas Iscariot is depicted with an overturned saltcellar in front of him.a On the other hand, up until the 18th century, sitting above or below the position of the salt at a banquet table indicated one’s social rank, the honored position being above the saltcellar, near the head of the table.

From early times man learned to extract salt from natural brines, seawater, and rock salt. An ancient Chinese treatise on pharmacology deals with more than 40 kinds of salt and describes two methods of extracting salt that are amazingly similar to those used today. For instance, solar energy is used to extract salt from seawater at the largest solar saltworks in the world, which is located on the shores of the Bahía Sebastián Vizcaíno in Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Interestingly, it has been estimated that if all the oceans in the world were completely dried up, “they would yield at least 4.5 million cubic miles [19 million cubic km] of rock salt, or about 14.5 times the bulk of the entire continent of Europe above the high-water mark,” according to the Encyclopædia Britannica. And the Dead Sea is about nine times as salty as the ocean!

Modern-Day Use of Salt

Today salt continues to be a precious commodity, used for seasoning food, preserving meat, and manufacturing soap and glass, among other things. But a particularly interesting use is in the public health field. For example, in many countries of the world, salt is fortified with iodine to combat endemic iodine deficiency, characterized by goiter (an enlargement of the thyroid gland) and in severe cases by mental retardation. Also, some countries add fluoride to salt to prevent dental caries.

While salt is essential for good health​—regulating blood volume and pressure—​what about the controversial association between salt intake and high blood pressure? Doctors have routinely restricted salt and sodium intake in hypertensive patients. About one third to one half of people with high blood pressure are salt sensitive. In this case a lower salt intake has been shown to lower blood pressure.

Salt certainly adds to the enjoyment of food, as Job indicated when he asked: “Will tasteless things be eaten without salt?” (Job 6:6) We can truly be grateful to our Creator, “who furnishes us all things richly for our enjoyment,” including that precious commodity salt.​—1 Timothy 6:17.

[Footnote]

[Picture on page 15]

Some of the many varieties of salt (clockwise from top): (1) ‘Alaea sea salt, Hawaii; (2) fleur de sel, France; (3) organic raw sea salt; (4) sel gris (gray salt), France; (5) coarse sea salt; (6) ground black salt, India

Grass​—Not Just the Green Beneath Your Feet

FOR some it is just the green stuff outside the house that they have to mow. For farmers and soccer players, on the other hand, it is their workbench. And for children, it is the ideal playground. But does the term grass only refer to the turf of lawns, farms, and playing fields?

If you live in an urban high-rise building, you might assume that you have very little to do with grass of any sort. However, almost all of us have daily contact with some type of grass and the products made from it. What basically is grass? And how do we make use of it?

What Is Grass?

Let us take a closer look at this humble plant. Commonly, all kinds of low, green plants are called grass. In addition to plants scientifically designated as part of the grass family (Gramineae, or Poaceae), some regard sedges and rushes as grass. But only the grass family is said to be true grass. Its members usually have some common distinctive features. Take a good look at what you think is a stem of grass.

Is the stem round and hollow, and does it have nodes, or joints? Are the leaf blades long, flat, and narrow, showing parallel veins and rising out of sheaths that encircle the stem? Do successive blades arise on opposite sides of the stem, creating two vertical rows? Are the roots a tangled network of tiny threads rather than an outbranching main root? Are the flowers​—if you can see any—​inconspicuous and small, forming a spike, raceme, or panicle? If your answers have been yes, that plant probably belongs to the grass family.

Although the grass family is rather uniform in appearance, it displays staggering variety, with between 8,000 and 10,000 species. The height of the plants range from about three quarters of an inch [2 cm] to 130 feet [40 m], in some bamboos. Grass makes up a major part of the vegetation that covers the earth. And no wonder, since it is one of the most adaptable plant groups on earth, growing in polar regions and deserts, in tropical rain forests, and on windswept mountain slopes. Entire vegetation areas​—such as steppes, llanos, pampas, prairies, and savannas—​are dominated by grass.

Robustness is one of the keys to the success of various grass types. Unlike many other plants, grass grows, not at the tip, but in growth areas above the nodes. And new shoots might start from stems growing horizontally on or under the ground. So when the lawn mower or the cow’s teeth cut away the tip, grass keeps growing, whereas many other plants stop. That is why frequent mowing favors grass at the expense of other plants and can make a lawn dense and beautiful.

Furthermore, with most grasses, if the stem is bent over by the wind or trodden underfoot, it can raise itself erect by growing faster on the side facing the ground. For these reasons grass usually recovers quickly after being damaged, which gives it an edge over other plants in the fight for sunlight. And we can be happy that grass is such a sturdy plant. After all, we depend on it.

A Versatile Plant

Grass is not only the most abundant but also the most important flowering-plant family on earth. A botanist said that grass is the foundation of our food. It is “like a dam protecting mankind from famine.” Try to remember what you ate today. Did you start with a bowl of cereal made with millet, rice, oats, or sorghum? Well, then, you ate grass seeds. Or perhaps you had a roll or other kind of bread. The flour used was made from grass kernels​—wheat, rye, barley, and other grains are all grasses. Cornflakes and corn pudding as well as tortillas made from corn flour are no exception. Corn, or maize, is​—you guessed it—​a grass too. You had sugar in your tea or coffee? More than half of all sugar is made from sugarcane, a grass. Even milk and cheese are in a sense processed grass, as that is what cows, sheep, and goats usually feed on.

What about your lunch? Pasta as well as pizza crust are made from wheat flour. Chickens and other fowl are often fed with grain. Cattle are fed all kinds of grasses. Thus, to a great extent, the eggs, poultry, and beef we eat are the result of grass being processed by an animal’s metabolism. And you can also drink grass. Aside from milk, many popular alcoholic beverages are made from grass: beer, whiskey, rum, sake, kvass, and most vodka.

Now please do not worry that your favorite dish was not mentioned. It is just not possible to list all the foodstuffs made from grass. By some estimates, more than half the calories consumed worldwide come from grasses. No wonder, for grass covers up to 70 percent of all cultivated land!

Grass is not only good for food, however. If your house has walls made of clay and straw, it is the grass that gives them the necessary strength. In different parts of the world, roofs are thatched with grass. In Southeast Asia bamboo is used for scaffolds, pipes, furniture, walls, and many other applications. Mats and baskets are woven from grass, and it provides raw material for glue and paper. Do not forget your clothes. Most animals from which we get wool and leather feed on grass. The grass species Arundo donax provides the reed for woodwind instruments, such as the clarinet. No other material has been found that can match the natural reed for that purpose.

Grass covers and adorns much of the earth. And what a beautiful, peaceful, and relaxing sight is a green meadow or a well-kept lawn! Because of the sheer mass of the green vegetation it produces, grass is a major oxygen supplier. Its fine roots also protect the soil from erosion. Keeping its versatility in mind, we are not surprised to learn that the usage and cultivation of grass has a long history.

History of Grass

We find the first mention of grass in the Bible’s creation account. On the third creative day, God said: “Let the earth cause grass to shoot forth.” (Genesis 1:11)a All major civilizations have depended on some form of grass. For example, the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans ate wheat and barley as staple foods; the Chinese, millet and rice; the Indus people, wheat, barley, and millet; the Maya, Aztecs, and Incas, corn. And the endless steppes provided the needed grass for fodder for the horses of the Mongol cavalries. Yes, grass has always been of great importance to mankind.

The next time you see a waving cornfield, a lush green meadow, or just humble blades of grass growing between stones in a sidewalk, you might stop and think of this marvelous and most versatile plant family. You might also be moved to thank its Great Designer, Jehovah God, as the psalmist did in singing: “O Jehovah my God, you have proved very great. . . . He is making green grass sprout for the beasts, and vegetation for the service of mankind, to cause food to go forth from the earth . . . Praise Jah, you people!”​—Psalm 104:1, 14, 31-35.

[Footnote]

[Diagram/Pictures on page 16, 17]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

Structure of grass plants

Main forms of grass flowers

Spike

Raceme

Panicle

Fibrous roots

Sheath

Blade

Stem

Node

[Pictures on page 18]

Did you eat your grass today?

[Picture on page 18]

Or did you drink some?

[Picture on page 18]

They too feed on grass

[Picture on page 18]

You can also live in something made of it

Crossword Puzzle

Clues Across

1. What Jehovah declares regarding retributive action [3 words] (Romans 12:19)

7. This native of Sharon looked after David’s herds that grazed there (1 Chronicles 27:29)

8. The designation of Ira the “priest of David” (2 Samuel 20:26)

10. Hindered in coming (1 Timothy 3:15)

15. A Simeonite whose son Ziza annexed Hamite territory to expand his grazing land (1 Chronicles 4:37)

16. Jehovah will not allow his praise to go to these (Isaiah 42:8)

17. An island where Paul apparently stopped briefly just before going to Miletus when returning from his third missionary tour (Acts 20:15)

18. What Jesus desired to do in regard to his God-given assignment (John 4:34)

19. The city where David was anointed as king and had his capital before moving to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 2:1-4)

20. First-named son of Ashhur of the tribe of Judah, by his wife Naarah (1 Chronicles 4:6)

25. John said that the rainbow that was around Jehovah’s throne resembled this precious gemstone (Revelation 4:3)

26. Paul evidently stopped here while being taken to Rome as a prisoner (Acts 28:13)

27. Poetic phrase referring to Jerusalem [3 words] (Lamentations 2:2)

Clues Down

1. Phrase that Nebuchadnezzar used in referring to his prophetic dream [4 words] (Daniel 4:5)

2. The place where David feigned insanity (1 Samuel 21:12-15)

3. A city of Asher (Joshua 19:27)

4. To take pleasure in (Exodus 30:38)

5. After “a sharp burst of anger” over this disciple, Paul and Barnabas separated (Acts 15:36-41)

6. It is on the basis of this toward Jesus that one gains everlasting life [2 words] (John 3:16)

9. The term by which first-century Christians referred to fellow believers (3 John 14)

11. A grandson of Noah through his son Japheth (Genesis 10:4)

12. When bringing news to David, he was identified by his running style (2 Samuel 18:27)

13. One of the sons born to King David in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:15)

14. Concerning (Exodus 32:1)

21. Exceeding or violating propriety (Psalm 10:3)

22. A grandson of Esau through Eliphaz (Genesis 36:11)

23. When Moses struck this to bring water to the Israelites, he failed to magnify Jehovah’s name and consequently did not enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:7-12)

24. He was noted for driving his chariot “with madness” (2 Kings 9:20)

Crossword Solutions Page 27

Solutions Across

1. VENGEANCE IS MINE

7. SHITRAI

8. JAIRITE

10. DELAYED

15. SHIPHI

16. IMAGES

17. SAMOS

18. FINISH

19. HEBRON

20. AHUZZAM

25. EMERALD

26. PUTEOLI

27. DAUGHTER OF JUDAH

Solutions Down

1. VISIONS OF MY HEAD

2. GATH

3. NEIEL

4. ENJOY

5. MARK

6. EXERCISING FAITH

9. FRIENDS

11. ELISHAH

12. AHIMAAZ

13. ELISHUA

14. REGARDS

21. UNDUE

22. ZEPHO

23. CRAG

24. JEHU

Surveying​—What Is It?

THE Egyptians called them “rope-stretchers.” Who were they? They were an ancient guild responsible for restaking land allotments for tax purposes every year after the banks of the Nile River flooded. These men were the forerunners of the modern-day professionals called land surveyors.

Today surveyors can frequently be seen alongside highways and on construction projects. You may have wondered, though, ‘What exactly is surveying?’

“Surveying has two main areas of function,” says Science and Technology Illustrated. They are “(1) to measure what exists, record where it is located, and use the data to make a map or description; or the reverse, (2) to establish landmarks in order to mark boundaries or guide construction according to such a plan or description. Surveying determines, or marks out, the position of points on, beneath, or even above the Earth’s surface.”

History of Surveying

Apparently, the first piece of land delineated was the garden of Eden. The Bible further indicates that surveyors were active in Israel, defining property boundaries and ownership. Proverbs 22:28 says: “Do not move back a boundary of long ago, which your forefathers have made.” The Romans even had a god named Terminus, who presided over boundaries and whose symbol was a stone.

Roman aqueducts and roads, many of which are still in existence, testify to the amazing accomplishments of the ancient Romans in the field of surveying. With limited means, early surveyors obtained some impressive results. In about 200 B.C.E., the Greek astronomer, mathematician, and geographer Eratosthenes calculated the earth’s circumference.

In about 62 C.E., Hero, or Heron, of Alexandria, in his book Dioptra, demonstrated the application of the science of geometry, literally meaning “earth measurements,” to surveying. And between 140 and 160 C.E., Claudius Ptolemy, following a method set out by Hipparchus, listed some 8,000 places in the known world together with their latitudes and longitudes.

By the 18th century, the Cassini family, over a period of four generations, had successfully conducted the first scientific national survey of France and produced La Carte de Cassini. The book The Shape of the World explains that “France led the way in scientific cartography; Britain was next; and the Austrian and German states close behind. In the rest of Europe national surveys caught on during the first decades of the nineteenth century.” Beyond Europe, the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India was undertaken in 1817 to complete the mapping of India. It was led by George Everest, after whom the tallest mountain in the world was renamed.

Some of the conditions under which these early surveyors worked were less than ideal. The Historical Records of the Survey of India up to 1861 reveal that fever stalked the survey team, and it was said that scarcely 1 in 70 returned to England. Other surveyors were subject to attack by wild animals or lived on starvation diets. Even so, men were attracted by the outdoor work and the measure of independence surveying gave them.

One group of Indians known as the Pundits gained special note in history for their fascinating work in Nepal and Tibet. Decrees and treaties had forbidden foreigners from entering these countries, so these surveyors disguised themselves as Buddhist lamas, or priests, to gain entry. In preparation for their undercover work, each one had been trained to pace precisely 2,000 steps to the mile [1.6 km]. A hundred-bead rosary was used to count their paces and calculate distance.

Many individuals, such as former U.S. presidents Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln, practiced surveying to some degree. Some even credit Lincoln’s political success, in part, to his survey work, which had brought him into close contact with his fellow countrymen.

Surveying Today

The types of land surveying usually done in our neighborhoods today fall into three categories. First, there is legal, or cadastral, surveying, which has to do with establishing legal property lines. When land needs to be subdivided for the construction of homes or when the government wants to establish the location of new streets, roads, or highways, land surveyors will be involved in apportioning the land and drawing up the legal plans.

Another type of surveying is called topographic surveying. This involves measuring and locating the size, shape, and slope of a parcel of ground as well as the location of roads, fences, trees, existing buildings, utilities, and so forth. Civil engineers, architects, structural engineers, and other professionals use the accurate location of these features on and around the piece of land that is to be developed. This information enables them to draw their plans accordingly and in some instances to incorporate these features in their designs.

Once designs, approvals, plans, and so forth are ready for a construction project to begin, there is still the matter of exactly where everything should go. At this stage a passerby will often see the third category, construction surveying, being carried out. The surveyors provide all the important points, lines, and elevation markers for the construction workers, in order to assure that all the utilities, roads, and other items are located just where the plans indicate.

Land surveys done on a small scale requiring measurements of no more than 12 miles [19 km] are called plane surveys. However, those done on a large scale require a geodetic survey, taking into account the curvature of the earth’s surface. Usually it is tied in with a country’s national coordinate grid system, which is related to lines of longitude and latitude.a This sort of work is performed to an extremely high degree of accuracy.

Modern surveying has also started to make use of special satellites through arrangements called global positioning systems. With portable devices, surveyors can now quickly locate positions on the earth’s surface with great accuracy. Other types of surveying that we may not normally be aware of include photogrammetric, photographs of the terrain taken with special cameras mounted on satellites, and hydrographic, surveys to define shorelines and determine depths and the terrain of rivers, lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water.

Importance to Us

For example, the Golden Gate Bridge in California, U.S.A., first opened in 1937. It was resurveyed in 1991 to record its precise location. If an earthquake occurs and the bridge moves, the stresses on the bridge can now be calculated and remedial action can be taken to ensure structural soundness and public safety. On a smaller scale, a ski resort in Vermont employed surveyors to improve the safety on the runs and provide world-class skiing conditions.

Further, using data obtained by satellite surveying, changes in the earth’s crust will be monitored in China in the hope that the impact of earthquakes on the population there can be reduced.b Additionally, whether it be the house you own, the roads you drive on, the office you work in, or the school you attend, all probably had a surveyor involved in their construction.

In a very tangible way, surveyors touch our lives. From using ropes to using satellites, they have sought to bring sense and order to our complex world. And as long as we continue to build and learn about the world above and beneath us, surveyors will unquestionably be needed. So the next time you see surveyors working along the roadside, you will understand a little more about their exacting profession.

[Footnotes]

[Box/Picture on page 22]

Precision Instruments

Electronic Distance Meter​—Calculates distance by producing an electronic beam or pulse signal that is reflected back to the instrument by special mirrors positioned at the point to be located.

Theodolites and Total Stations​—A theodolite (at left) measures angles and has a microscope attached to it that allows a system of lenses, internal mirrors, and prisms to display internally the greatly magnified angle measurements. Some of the more accurate theodolites can display angles as small as one second of arc, which is equal to a circle being divided up into 1,296,000 uniform parts. Total stations (at right) also have the capacity to measure electronically and to record data accumulated in the field, including angles, distances, and item descriptions. Afterward, the information can be taken back to the office and transferred to a computer for calculation and drafting purposes.

[Picture on page 21]

An old-fashioned level

[Picture on page 21]

Egyptian “rope-stretchers” were the forerunners of modern-day surveyors

[Credit Line]

Borromeo/Art Resource, NY

Let’s Have a Hawaiian Luau

BY AWAKE! WRITER IN HAWAII

FLOWER leis, the hula, and swaying palm trees. Mention Hawaii and such things come to mind. Millions of visitors from all over the world come to Hawaii to see these and also to take part in our world-famous luau, or Hawaiian feast.a

On a warm, balmy evening, as cool ocean breezes blow, a giant Hawaiian sun slowly sinks into the Pacific Ocean. Come be our guests at one of the hotels that regularly host typical Hawaiian luaus. I see that you are already in the mood, as you men are wearing traditional aloha shirts and you ladies, lovely muumuus. We are a bit early, so let’s go and see how our food is being prepared.

As we enter the luau grounds, we are greeted by a maiden in her ti-leaf skirt. She then presents each of us with a flower lei and a tropical drink to cool our parched throats​—always good after a long day of sightseeing or sunbathing on the sandy beaches. Spread before us on tables are such delicacies as poi, sweet potatoes, lomilomi salmon, and other popular island foods.

Our attention is drawn to a steaming mound of dirt away from the dining area. We observe several husky men wearing loincloths, who are carefully moving dirt and layers of leaves to the side of the mound. Soon we see a whole roasted pig pulled out of the ground. It is to be the main course of our luau. You might be asking yourself, ‘Are we going to eat this? It smells delicious, but it certainly doesn’t look appetizing or sanitary.’ However, before you think of leaving, let me explain how the meal is prepared, and you will see that there is nothing unsanitary about it. I know that you will try this delicious sampling of ancient Hawaiian cooking once you understand the method of this unusual cooking style.

What Is an Imu?

The imu was used by the ancient Hawaiians to cook a variety of their foods. Very simply, it is an underground oven. Besides pigs, they cooked fish, chickens, and smaller birds as well as sweet potatoes, taro roots, breadfruit, and puddings in the imu. Even the leaves of the sweet potato and taro were used in cooking.

The smaller items might have been wrapped in ti leaves and steam roasted. This cooking method is called laulau. The entire process of cooking in the imu is termed “kalua,” literally meaning “the hole.” Hence, our main course is known as kalua pig. This method of cooking is really a combination of roasting and steaming, as we shall see.

The ancient Hawaiians dug a hole large enough to accommodate all the meal items. Work usually began early in the morning so that the food would be ready for the evening meal. Firewood was laid in the bottom of the hole, similar to the way a large open campfire would be built. Tinder and kindling were laid out, and a pile of wood large enough to burn for three or four hours was carefully added.

The logs were arranged around a stick standing upright. Later the stick was removed, and smoldering ashes were dropped down into the hole to start the fire. Fires were started by rubbing two sticks together. Smooth basalt stones were then placed on top of the wood. Basalt was used because it could be heated without bursting. The stones might range from the size of a fist to that of a bowling ball. Quite a number of stones were needed, as they and the rest of the coals were the source of heat for the entire cooking process. The stones were heated until they were red-hot. Then any unburned wood was removed.

After the stones were brushed free of ashes, some of them were placed into the abdominal and thoracic cavities of the salted pig to ensure thorough cooking. Smaller cone-shaped stones might be inserted into the cavity of the chickens as well. The rest of the stones and coals were then evenly spread over the bottom and sides of the hole and were covered with layers of grass and ti or banana leaves. The stumps of the banana plant might also be smashed and thrown over the stones. This would prevent the intense heat from burning or scorching the food and would also provide moisture so that the food would be, in effect, roasted and steamed at the same time.

After enough leaves were in place, the pig was lowered onto the leaves, along with the rest of the meal. Everything was again covered with another generous layer of leaves. Tapa cloth made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree or mats made of woven lauhala were next spread over the leaves so that there was no chance of any dirt coming in contact with the food. The entire mound was then covered with a thick layer of dirt, so as not to allow any steam to escape from the imu. Water was sometimes sprinkled over the mound to keep it moist. At times, a hollow piece of bamboo was inserted into the mound if the cook deemed it necessary so that more water could be added.

Cooking time depended on various factors, such as the amount and type of food put into the imu and the number of stones that were used. It might have taken several hours for the pig to be fully cooked, depending on its size. When it was decided that enough time had passed, the dirt was carefully removed, followed by the mats and the leaves, to reveal the cooked meal. The food was placed in receptacles, allowed to cool, and then served cold. Uncooked meat was cut out and cooked at another time or in another fashion, such as by broiling or boiling.

Since the ancients had no fireproof utensils, food to be boiled was placed in a wooden bowl with water, and red-hot stones were dropped into it. The uncooked meat might also have been salted, being preserved in this manner for later use. Since cooking was hard, heavy work, the men cooked the meals. For obvious reasons, the imu was used over and over again. It was often located under some kind of a shelter, which formed a permanent kitchen for use in bad weather.

The Imu Today

Today at our luaus you will notice that things haven’t really changed much as far as the use of the imu is concerned. A wire mesh might be used to keep the pig together while it is being removed from the pit, as the kalua cooking method causes the meat literally to fall off the bones. Burlap bags have replaced the woven mats or tapa cloths. But other than such minor innovations, the imu has survived intact despite many other changes in the Hawaiian culture.

After all the meat is off the bones, more salt may be added according to taste. Then the kalua pig is ready to eat. Let the luau begin! You may choose to sit here on this mat on the ground and eat off a low table or sit at a more traditional Western table with chairs. In either case, we know you will be glad you stayed for our feast.

[Footnote]

[Box on page 27]

You Don’t Have to Dig a Hole

If you would like to try this Hawaiian treat, you will most likely have to come to Hawaii for an authentic luau. But if you are willing to settle for a reasonable facsimile, you might be able to cook your own kalua pig right in your kitchen.

Even here in Hawaii, we do not all have time to use an imu every time we want to eat kalua pig. Therefore, we have made adjustments in order to save some time and effort. Instead of a whole pig, you might settle for a pork butt or roast. For a leaner meat, you might even use chicken or turkey. In any event, rub the whole roast with one tablespoon of liquid smoke per pound [0.5 kg] of meat. This seasoning will give your meat a smoky smell and taste.

If you are able to obtain green ti leaves, wrap the meat in them. Place it in a slow cooker, as this more closely duplicates the moist heat of the imu. If you don’t have a slow cooker, your regular oven will work just as well. To keep as much of the moisture in as possible, cover your roast with some foil after wrapping it with ti leaves. Use a low oven temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit [160°C], and cook until well done. The meat should fall away from the bones easily. Shred the meat, and add some of the juices, or drippings, to moisten it. Now your homemade kalua pig is ready for your luau.

After trying this sample of Hawaiian cooking, you may be moved to come here and enjoy the real thing.

[Picture on page 25]

Red hibiscus

[Picture on page 25]

Popular island foods include poi, sweet potatoes, and lomilomi salmon

[Picture on page 25]

The hula

[Credit Line]

Ron Dahlquist/SuperStock

[Picture on page 25]

A traditional welcome with flower leis

[Picture on page 26]

Removing the kalua pig from the “imu”

Watching the World

Saving the Lives of Newborns

Each year, four million babies die within a month of birth. These neonatal deaths “make up more than 40 percent of the deaths of children under the age of five,” reports the German magazine Bild der Wissenschaft. What can be done to save the lives of newborns? Cost-effective methods recommended in the study “State of the World’s Newborns” include such simple things as keeping the babies warm and breast-feeding them immediately after birth, which promotes immunity to illnesses. Deaths can also be prevented by improving the health of expectant mothers, many of whom are overworked and undernourished and haven’t fully recovered from an earlier delivery. “In developing countries, where 98 percent of the newborn deaths occur,” local people could be trained in midwifery skills. “Their primary tasks would be to give expectant mothers instruction, to care for proper hygiene, and to give vaccinations,” the study states.

Fading Lighthouses

“Just as the light bulb replaced the candle, the automated lighthouse has replaced the hardy lighthouse-keeper,” says the Financial Post newspaper. “Now it appears even the days of the automated lighthouse are numbered.” While a modern lighthouse beams a powerful light that can be seen from 20 miles [32 km] out at sea and is fitted with an automated foghorn to warn sailors that land is near, satellite technology enables mariners to pinpoint their exact location. Ships are now equipped with global positioning systems that serve as eyes for a vessel when the crew cannot see what is ahead. Mike Clements, program manager with the Canadian Coast Guard in St. John’s, Newfoundland, says that global positioning systems “may make lighthouses redundant. There is nothing that can compare to [these systems]. You can’t navigate by a lighthouse.”

Infant Talk

“Just as infants of hearing parents start to babble at an age of about seven months . . . , children who grow up in a deaf household babble silently with their hands in imitation of their parents’ main form of communication,” even if these children can hear, says The Times of London. Research led by Professor Laura Petitto at McGill University, Montreal, Canada, suggests that babies are born with a sensitivity to the rhythms and patterns that are characteristic of all languages, including sign language. She says that babies who can hear but who have “signing deaf parents make a special kind of movement with their hands, with a specific rhythmic pattern, that is distinct from other hand movements. . . . It [is] babbling but with their hands.” The babies who were exposed to sign language produced two types of hand movements, while those whose parents used audible speech produced only one type. The research team used a position-tracking system to record the babies’ hand movements when they were 6, 10, and 12 months old.

Dead Sea Scrolls Published

“More than half a century after the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in caves in the Judean desert, scholars are celebrating the publication of the last of the 2,000-year-old religious texts,” says U.S.News & World Report. The publication of the 37-volume series was announced by Professor Emanuel Tov, who led the team of scholars that analyzed the scrolls. The completion of the work was credited to modern technology, including digital photography and multispectral imaging that enabled the scholars to decipher writing that had faded. The writings, translated from Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin, are dated from 250 B.C.E. to 70 C.E.

Coping With Uncertainties

Sales of Bibles by members of the Christian Booksellers Association of Canada have increased by as much as 30 percent since the terrorist attacks in the United States, reports Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper. “People are looking to find answers,” says Marlene Loghlin, executive director of the association. “There is a fear factor involved here. There are a lot of unanswered questions in people’s hearts and minds.” The report adds that even smaller bookstores have experienced “a rise in sales of anything religious-based that might help people make sense of the tragic events.” According to one University of Toronto theology professor, this is a common reaction. “In times of great uncertainty, people start to ask foundational religious questions,” and “seeking answers in the Bible may help,” she said.

AIDS​—South Africa’s Leading Cause of Death

“AIDS has become the leading cause of death in South Africa, and young adults are especially hard hit,” says The New York Times, commenting on a study by South Africa’s Medical Research Council. The researchers estimate that during the next decade, between five and seven million people in South Africa will die from AIDS. Young women in their 20’s are dying at a greater rate than women in their 60’s. South Africa “has more people known to be infected with H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, than any other country,” the article adds. “One in nine South Africans, and one in four adults [ages 30-34], is now believed to be living with H.I.V., government officials say.”

Living in Cities

“In 1900 the largest cities were London, New York, Paris, Berlin and Chicago,” notes The Sunday Times of London. But according to new projections, “by 2015 western cities will have been eclipsed. Tokyo, Bombay, Lagos, Dhaka in Bangladesh and Sao Paulo in Brazil will be the biggest.” These and 25 other cities will each have more than 20 million inhabitants. However, “estimates show London will lose its place as one of the top 30 most populated cities by 2015, and will be the only leading one whose population will have shrunk,” says the Times. Explosive growth creates many problems. “The poor will increasingly be concentrated in their own neighbourhoods characterised by high rates of crime, violence and social disorder,” said Douglas Massey, professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Tokyo, whose 26 million are expected soon to reach 30 million, has been able to cope because its growth has been slower and it has the necessary infrastructure and services. According to Massey, from Roman times to the Victorian era, no more than 5 percent of the world’s population lived in cities, but he estimates that by 2015, 53 percent will do so.

Quit Smoking​—For Good!

“All smokers must try to stop smoking. If you succeed, then make sure you do not start up again,” warns Professor Bo Lundback of the National Institute for Working Life in Stockholm, Sweden. Why? Because ex-smokers who return to smoking may suffer a more rapid decline in lung function than those who do not stop at all. A ten-year study of 1,116 men and women aged 35 to 68 showed that those who smoked throughout the study suffered a 3-percent decline in lung function, while those who stopped for more than a year and then started again experienced a 5-percent decline. “The decline in lung function is much greater in the first couple of years after an ex-smoker restarts,” warned Lundback. “And what smokers lose in lung function, they’ll never get back.” Those who successfully gave up smoking during the ten-year study experienced only a 1-percent decrease in lung function, reports The Times of London.

From Our Readers

From the editor: The cover series “Life Is Worth Living” (October 22, 2001) elicited wide reader response. This is gratifying, for “Awake!” endeavors to present practical, Bible-based information that will help people of all national, racial, and religious backgrounds to cope with today’s problems.

I am a longtime reader of Awake! but nothing has ever moved me like the series “Life Is Worth Living.” A year ago I was beaten down by despair, and I wanted to die. These articles reassured me that God understands our weaknesses.

S. H., Japan

I had been feeling despondent because of the attack on the Twin Towers in New York. At times I have had thoughts of suicide but had never faced up to the fact that something was wrong with me. I will get the needed help and follow the suggestions outlined in the article.

M. M., United States

Because of my poor health, I have had thoughts of ending it all. I would talk about it, sometimes jokingly, to see others’ reactions. It brought tears to my eyes when I read that God is always there to listen to us and that he cares. This magazine has totally changed my outlook on life.

T.E.J., Canada

I have been dealing with depression for years, and recently I was seriously thinking of ending my life. As I was ready to walk out the door, I remembered that the last article in the Awake! series said to talk to someone. So I told my husband. That delay kept me from going through with my plan. This series helped save my life!

M. B., United States

A few weeks before this magazine came out, I found myself looking at a cupful of sleeping pills and facing the dilemma described in the article: “Shall I swallow them or not?” Your magazine has given me the determination to live that I need. Some illnesses affect the mind to the point of making us reject the desire to live, but it is moving to see that God even takes an interest in people who seem to lose appreciation for the gift of life.

E. S., Italy

I was able to share the information in these articles with my physician. I told him how much they had helped me. Just being reassured that I have value to God motivates me to live. My constant prayer is that you write more articles like these!

J. S., United States

I thought that no one understood me, and it started to occur to me how much easier it would be if I died. But with these articles, I was able to recall the most important thing in life. I won’t think any more about dying!

M. M., Japan

Battered Women Thank you for the cover series “Help for Battered Women.” (November 8, 2001) As a child I saw how my father battered my mother day by day. Then, my sisters and I became the target of his attacks. I grew up with a deep hatred for men. In time, though, we started studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. It was not easy for Father to change his ways, but with Jehovah’s help he came to realize that he could not please God if he mistreated His lovely creation. The changes were gradual, but now my father is like a docile sheep. I can love him from the heart.

G. B., United States

“Kangaroo Mother Care”​—Solution to a Life-Threatening Problem?

The location was a hospital in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1979. Because the survival rate for premature babies was alarmingly low, a Colombian doctor came up with a novel solution​—“kangaroo mother care.”

Keeping premature infants alive is a challenge for doctors. Babies with low birth weights are often placed in the warm environment of an incubator, where they remain until they have gained weight. In developing lands, however, overcrowded facilities, poor sanitation, and a shortage of medical personnel and equipment often result in dangerous cross infections.

A doctor in Colombia came up with a method that seems to alleviate this problem. How does it work? When a baby is born prematurely, it is cared for in the standard way until its condition stabilizes. In the meantime, the mother receives training in child care. When the baby is sufficiently healthy, the mother becomes a living incubator. How? By keeping her baby close to her, wrapped vertically between her breasts. Safe in its kangaroolike pouch, the baby stays warm and can easily be fed its mother’s milk. Hence, the method is often called kangaroo mother care.

No fancy equipment is necessary. The mother wears a suitable blouse or a normal dress with a waistband. When the baby has gained sufficient weight, the mother and baby can go home, returning to the hospital regularly for checkups.

Preliminary research indicates that kangaroo mother care is effective and safe. Furthermore, it seems to promote a closer bond between infant and mother. Not surprisingly, this method has been adapted for use in many countries. In Mexico, relatives are trained to become “kangaroo fathers,” “kangaroo grandmothers,” and even “kangaroo sisters” to help out when mother needs a well-deserved break. Dr. Guadalupe Santos, who manages a kangaroo mother care program in Mexico, told Awake!: “We have been using this method since 1992 and have seen how effective it is. Fewer incubators and much less hospital time are needed.”

You Are Invited to the “Zealous Kingdom Proclaimers” District Convention

IN THE UNITED STATES alone, 194 conventions are scheduled. The first will be held there May 17-19, and the final one in mid-September. One of these three-day gatherings​—generally held Friday through Sunday—​will likely be in a city near you.

In most places, the sessions will begin with a musical program at 9:30 a.m. On the first day, the welcoming address will be followed by a part that features interviews with Kingdom proclaimers. Then, after the talks “Take Exquisite Delight in Jehovah Himself” and “Show Yourselves Thankful,” the morning session will conclude with the keynote address, “Kingdom Proclaimers Fired With Zeal.”

The Friday afternoon session will include a three-part symposium, “Micah’s Prophecy Strengthens Us to Walk in Jehovah’s Name,” as well as the talks “Maintain Chastity by Safeguarding Your Heart” and “Guard Against Deception.” Finally, excellent help will be provided in connection with the Christian ministry during the day’s final discourse, “Worship the Only True God.”

The Saturday morning session will include the three-part symposium “Kingdom Proclaimers Who Glorify Their Ministry.” It will be followed by the encouraging talks “Why ‘Pray Incessantly’” and “Spiritual Conversation Builds Up.” The morning program will conclude with a discussion of dedication and baptism, after which there will be opportunity for qualified individuals to be baptized.

The Saturday afternoon program will feature the final three-part symposium of the convention, “The Quality of Our Faith Tested by Various Trials.” The parts will provide Christians with help to face the challenge of maintaining neutrality. Saturday’s program concludes with a convention highlight, the heartwarming talk “Draw Close to Jehovah.”

The Sunday morning program will especially direct attention to young ones, opening with the talks “Is Your Confidence in Jehovah?” and “Youths​—Build for the Future With Jehovah’s Organization.” The latter part will include 20 minutes of interviews. This will be followed by a full-costume drama about Jeremiah, who when appointed as a prophet protested, “I am but a boy.” (Jeremiah 1:6) Afterward a talk will highlight the message conveyed in the drama. The afternoon program will feature the public address, “The Scene of This World Is Changing.”

Surely your life will be enriched spiritually by your being present all three days. For the convention location nearest your home, contact the local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses or write to the publishers of this magazine. In its issue of February 15, 2002, our companion magazine, The Watchtower, lists all the convention locations in the United States, Canada, Britain, and Ireland.