May 8

Table of Contents

May 8, 2005

What’s Happening to Movies?

Many people are concerned about the high level of sex and violence in films. How can you choose wisely when deciding which movies, if any, your family will see?

3 What’s Playing This Summer?

4 From Script to Screen

10 Which Movies Will You See?

15 A New Home for an Injured Sparrow

16 Winged Beauties of the Tropics

19 A Ball of Salt

25 ‘I Wanted to Learn More About My Religion’

26 Almost Good Enough to Eat!

28 Watching the World

30 From Our Readers

31 For Family Review

32 Youths Searching for Answers

Should Icons Be Used in Worship? 20

The use of religious paintings in worship is a prominent part of many faiths. What does the Bible say about this practice?

Meet the “Flying Mitten” 22

Can the flying squirrel really fly? Why is this little creature so seldom seen?

[Picture Credit Lines on page 2]

Boris Subacic/AFP/Getty Images

Benjam Pöntinen

What’s Playing This Summer?

WHAT does the arrival of summer mean to you? If there is a change to warmer weather, summer may be a call to the pleasant outdoors​—perhaps to enjoy outings at the beach or a park.

Those in the film industry, however, are counting on millions of people to spend a good number of summertime hours indoors at the movies. There are at least 35,000 movie screens in the United States alone, and in recent years about 40 percent of box-office profits in that country have been generated during the summer season.a “It’s like what Christmas is to the retail industry,” says Heidi Parker of Movieline magazine.

This was not always so. Summer used to be sluggish for U.S. theaters, forcing many of them to limit their schedule or close for the season. But by the mid-1970’s, air-conditioned theaters were luring millions indoors to escape the heat. Children, out of school, were an untapped market that did not escape the notice of moviemakers. Before long, the summer blockbuster emerged.b It changed the way films are made and marketed, as we shall see.

[Footnotes]

From Script to Screen

OVER the past few decades, Hollywood has become a prolific source of box-office blockbusters. This phenomenon has had global impact, since many American films are released abroad just weeks​—or in some cases days—​after their U.S. premiere. Some movies have even opened worldwide on the same date. “The international market is a growing and very vibrant place,” says Dan Fellman, president of Warner Brothers Pictures domestic distribution, “so when we make movies, we view it as a global opportunity.” Now more than ever, what happens in Hollywood affects the entertainment industry worldwide.a

But making a profit on a film is not as easy as it may seem. Many movies must take in more than $100 million just to cover production and marketing costs. And whether they succeed is entirely up to an unpredictable public. “You can never know what the public at any given moment is going to find exciting or sensationally appealing,” says David Cook, a professor of film studies at Emory University. So how do moviemakers increase their odds of success? To answer, we first need to understand a few basics about how films are made.b

Preproduction​—Laying the Groundwork

Preproduction is often the longest phase of the filmmaking process and one of the most important. As with any large project, preparation is the key. The hope is that every dollar spent in preproduction will save many more times that amount during filming.

The making of a movie begins with a story idea, which may be either fictitious or based on real-life events. A writer puts the story into script form. The script, also called the screenplay, may be revised numerous times before the final version​—called a shooting script—​is produced. The shooting script contains the dialogue of the film as well as a brief description of the action that will take place. It also provides guidance for technical details, such as camera direction and transitions between scenes.

It is while still in its early stage, however, that a screenplay is offered for sale to a producer.c What kind of screenplay might a producer be interested in? Well, typical summer film fare is targeted at teens and young adults​—“the popcorn crowd,” as one movie critic calls them. So a producer might be drawn to a story that reaches out to youths.

Better still is a script that cuts across the age demographic. For example, a movie about a comic-book superhero will surely draw younger children who are familiar with the character. And no doubt their parents will accompany them. But how do moviemakers attract the teenagers and young adults? “Edgy content” is the key, writes Liza Mundy in The Washington Post Magazine. Adding crude language, scenes of intense violence, and a generous dose of sex to a movie is a way of “maximizing its profit-making potential by leaving no group languishing out on the sidewalk.”

If a producer feels that a screenplay has potential, he might purchase it and try to sign on a reputable director and a famous actor or actress. Having a known director and a top-name star will create box-office appeal when the film is released. Yet, even at this initial stage, big names can attract investors who are needed to finance the film.

Another aspect of preproduction is storyboarding. A storyboard is a series of sketches depicting various sequences of the film, particularly those that involve action. Serving as a blueprint for the cinematographer, the storyboard saves much time during filming. As director and screenwriter Frank Darabont says, “there’s nothing worse than standing around on the set wasting your shooting day trying to figure out where to put the camera.”

Many other issues must be settled during preproduction. For example, what locations will be used for filming? Will travel be required? How will interior sets be built and designed? Will costumes be needed? Who will handle lighting, makeup, and hair? What about sound, special effects, and stunt work? These are just a sampling of the many aspects of moviemaking that need to be considered before a single frame of film is shot. Watch the closing credits of a big-budget film, and you may find that hundreds of people were involved behind the scenes! “It takes a city of people to make a feature film,” says one technician who has worked on numerous movie sets.

Production​—Putting It on Film

Shooting a movie can be time-consuming, tedious, and expensive. Indeed, a single minute wasted can cost thousands of dollars. Sometimes actors, crew members, and equipment have to be transported to a remote part of the world. No matter where shooting takes place, however, each day of filming takes a sizable bite out of the budget.

Lighting crew, hairdressers, and makeup artists are among the first to arrive on the movie set. Each day of filming, stars may spend several hours being made ready for the camera. Then a long day of filming begins.

The director closely supervises the filming of each scene. Even a relatively simple scene can take all day to film. Most scenes in a movie are filmed with a single camera, and as a result, the scene will be done over and over again for each camera angle. Additionally, each shot may need to be done repeatedly to get the best performance or to correct a technical problem. Each of these attempts at filming is called a take. For bigger scenes, 50 or more takes may be required! Later​—usually at the end of each shooting day—​the director views all the takes and decides which ones should be saved. In all, the process of filming may take weeks or even months.

Postproduction​—The Pieces Come Together

During postproduction, film footage is edited to form a cohesive motion picture. First, the audio track is synchronized with the film. Then, the editor assembles the raw footage into a preliminary version of the film, called a rough cut.

Sound effects and visual effects are also added at this stage. Special-effects cinematography​—one of the most complex elements of filmmaking—​is sometimes accomplished with the help of computer graphics. The results can be spectacular and lifelike.

The musical score is also added during postproduction, and this aspect has taken on greater prominence in today’s films. “The movie industry is now demanding more original soundtrack music than ever before​—not just twenty minutes or a few cues for dramatic moments, but often more than an hour of music,” writes Edwin Black in Film Score Monthly.

Sometimes a newly edited film is shown to a test audience, perhaps made up of the director’s friends or colleagues who were not involved in the making of the film. Based on their response, the director might reshoot scenes or eliminate them. In some cases the entire ending of a film has been changed because there was a poor response to the original in a test screening.

Finally, the completed film is released to theaters. Only at this point does it become apparent whether it will be a blockbuster or a bomb​—or something in between. But more is at stake than dollars and cents. A series of failures can ruin an actor’s prospects for work and destroy the reputation of a director. “I had seen several of my contemporaries fall away after a couple of misses,” says director John Boorman, reflecting on his early years in filmmaking. “The brutal reality of the movie business is that if you don’t make money for your masters, you are banished.”

Of course, when standing before a theater marquee, the public at large is not thinking of the employment issues of moviemakers. More likely, their primary concerns include: ‘Will I enjoy this movie? Is it worth the price of admission? Will I find the film shocking or offensive? Is it appropriate for my children?’ How can you answer such questions when deciding which movies you will see?

[Footnotes]

[Blurb on page 6]

“You can never know what the public at any given moment is going to find exciting or sensationally appealing.”​—David Cook, professor of film studies

[Box/Pictures on page 6, 7]

MARKETING A BLOCKBUSTER

The film is complete. It is ready to be seen by millions. Will it succeed? Consider a few ways that moviemakers try to market their product and turn it into a blockbuster.

◼ BUZZ: One of the most effective ways to create anticipation for a movie is through word of mouth​—or, as it is called in the industry, buzz. Sometimes buzz begins months before a movie’s release. Perhaps it is announced that there will be a sequel to a previous hit movie. Will the original stars return? Will it be as good (or as bad) as the first installment?

In some cases, buzz is created over a controversial element in a film​—perhaps depictions of sex that are unusually graphic for a mainstream motion picture. Is the scene really that bad? Has the movie “pushed the envelope” too far? Moviemakers enjoy the benefits of free advertising as opposing viewpoints are publicly debated. Sometimes the controversy that is ignited all but guarantees a large turnout for the film’s premiere.

◼ MEDIA: More traditional forms of advertising include the use of billboards, newspaper ads, TV commercials, movie trailers shown in theaters before a feature film, and interviews in which the stars plug their latest movie. Now the Internet is a prime tool for movie advertising. “Had Dorothy [of The Wizard of Oz] clicked her mouse, and not her heels,” writes film critic Steve Persall, “she’d have found herself with a rainbow of movie sites offering celebrity gossip, the latest movie trailers, tickets and times.”

◼ MERCHANDISING: Promotional items can enhance a film’s release. For example, a movie based on a comic-book hero was accompanied by tie-in lunch boxes, mugs, jewelry, clothing, key chains, clocks, lamps, a board game, and more. “Typically, 40 percent of movie merchandise is sold before a film is even released,” writes Joe Sisto in an entertainment journal of the American Bar Association.

◼ HOME VIDEO: A movie that falls short financially at the box office can make up for its losses in home video sales. Bruce Nash, who tracks the financial intake of motion pictures, says that “home video markets account for 40 to 50 percent of revenues.”

◼ RATINGS: Moviemakers have learned to use ratings to their advantage. For example, material might be deliberately inserted into a film so that it will receive a more severe rating, making the movie seem more adult. On the other hand, just enough cuts might be made to a movie to avoid an adult rating and make it marketable to teens. Liza Mundy writes in The Washington Post Magazine that a teen rating “has evolved into an advertisement: Studios use it to send a message to teenagers​—and young kids who long to be teenagers—​that the movie will contain cool stuff.” The rating creates a sort of “generational tension,” Mundy writes, “warning the parent while seducing the child.”

[Pictures on page 8, 9]

HOW MOVIES ARE MADE

SCRIPT

STORYBOARDS

COSTUME

MAKEUP

FILMING ON LOCATION

SPECIAL EFFECTS FILMING

MUSIC RECORDING

SOUND MIXING

COMPUTER-GENERATED ANIMATION

EDITING

Which Movies Will You See?

IN RECENT decades, the profusion of on-screen sex, violence, and profanity has met with varied reactions. Some say that a certain sex scene is lewd, while others argue that it is artistic. Some insist that the violence in a movie is gratuitous, while others say that it is justified. Some assert that dialogue peppered with profanity is offensive, while others claim that it is realistic. What one person calls obscene, another calls freedom of expression. Listening to both sides may make this all seem to be a matter of semantics.

But film content is not just a matter for trivial debate. It is a valid concern, not only for parents but also for all who value moral standards. “Whenever I take a chance and go against my better judgment and venture back into a movie theater, I always feel like a worse person when I come out,” lamented one woman. “I’m embarrassed for the people who made this trash, and I’m embarrassed for myself. It’s like watching the stuff that I’ve just watched has made me a smaller human being.”

Setting Standards

The concern over movie content is not new. In the early days of film, a furor arose over sexual themes and criminal elements that appeared on the silver screen. Finally, in the 1930’s, a code was put in force in the United States that severely limited what could be shown in films.

According to The New Encyclopædia Britannica, this new code for films “was monumentally repressive, forbidding the depiction on screen of almost everything germane to the experience of normal human adults. It prohibited showing ‘scenes of passion,’ and adultery, illicit sex, seduction, and rape could not even be alluded to unless they were absolutely essential to the plot and severely punished by the film’s end.”

Regarding violence, films were “forbidden to display or to discuss contemporary weapons, to show the details of a crime, to show law enforcement officers dying at the hands of criminals, to suggest excessive brutality or slaughter, or to use murder or suicide except when crucial to the plot. . . . Under no circumstances could any crime be represented as justified.” All told, the code stated that “no picture shall be produced which will lower the moral standards of those who see it.”

From Restrictions to Ratings

By the 1950’s, many Hollywood producers were defying the code, feeling that its rules were antiquated. Hence, in 1968 the code was dismantled and replaced with a rating system.a With the rating system, a film could have explicit content, but it would be branded with a symbol forewarning the public of its level of “adult” content. According to Jack Valenti, who served as president of the Motion Picture Association of America for nearly four decades, the goal was “to offer some advanced cautionary warnings to parents, so that they could make their own judgments about what movies their children should and should not see.”

With the introduction of the rating system, the dam broke. Sex, violence, and profanity flooded into mainstream Hollywood movie scripts. The new freedoms that were granted to films unleashed a tidal wave that could not be suppressed. Still, with a rating, the public would be forewarned. But does a rating tell you all that you need to know?

What Ratings Cannot Tell You

Some feel that over the years the rating system has become lax. A study by the Harvard School of Public Health supports such a suspicion, for it found that films deemed acceptable for younger teens now contain more violent and sexually explicit content than those of a mere decade ago. The study concluded that “movies with the same rating can differ significantly in the amount and type of potentially objectional content” and that “age-based ratings alone do not provide good information about the depiction of violence, sex, profanity and other content.”b

Parents who obliviously send their children off to the theater may not be aware of what is considered appropriate viewing today. For example, one movie critic describes the main character of a movie rated in the United States as suitable for teens. She was “a 17-year-old free spirit who cheerfully engages in daily drunkenness, illegal drug use, orgiastic partying and aggressive sex with a boy she has just met.” This type of content is hardly uncommon. Indeed, The Washington Post Magazine notes that references to oral sex seem to be “routinely acceptable” in movies that are rated appropriate for teenagers. Clearly, a rating should not be the sole factor in assessing the content of a film. Is there a better guide?

“Hate What Is Bad”

A rating system is no substitute for a Bible-trained conscience. In all of their decisions​—including those having to do with entertainment—​Christians strive to apply the admonition found in the Bible at Psalm 97:10: “Hate what is bad.” A person who hates what is bad would consider it wrong to be entertained by things that God abhors.

Parents especially need to be cautious regarding the kind of movies that they allow their children to see. It would be naive to take no more than a passing glance at the ratings. It may well be that a movie rated appropriate for your child’s age bracket promotes values that you as a parent do not endorse. This is hardly surprising for Christians, since the world has embraced a way of thinking and acting that is at odds with godly standards.c​—Ephesians 4:17, 18; 1 John 2:15-17.

This does not mean that all movies are bad. But caution is in order. In this regard, the May 22, 1997, issue of Awake! made this comment: “Each individual should weigh matters carefully and make decisions that will leave him with a clear conscience before God and man.”​—1 Corinthians 10:31-33.

Finding Suitable Entertainment

How can parents be selective when it comes to choosing which movies their family will watch? Consider the following comments from parents around the world. Their remarks may help you in your quest to provide wholesome entertainment for your family.​—See also the box “Other Forms of Recreation,” on page 14.

“My wife or I always accompanied our children to the movies when they were younger,” says Juan, in Spain. “They never went alone or just with other youths. Now, as teenagers, they do not go to movie premieres; instead, we prefer that they wait until we have read the reviews or have heard comments about the film from others we trust. Then as a family we decide if we should see this film.”

Mark, in South Africa, encourages open communication with his teenage son about what is playing in the theaters. “My wife and I initiate the discussion, asking his opinion on the film,” Mark says. “This enables us to listen to his thoughts and reason with him. As a result, we find that we are able to choose movies that we can all enjoy together.”

Rogerio, in Brazil, also spends time with his children analyzing the films that they want to see. “I read with them what the critics have to say,” he says. “I go with them to the video store to teach them how to look at the cover for indications that a film might be inappropriate.”

Matthew, in Britain, finds it beneficial to talk with his children about the movies they want to see. “From a young age,” he says, “our children were included in discussions about the content of films that have interested us as a family. If our decision was to avoid a certain film, my wife and I would explain why, rather than just say no.”

In addition, some parents have found it helpful to research movies on the Internet. There are a number of Web sites that give detailed reports on the content of films. These can be used to get a clearer picture of the values promoted by a particular movie.

The Benefits of a Trained Conscience

The Bible speaks of those who “have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong.” (Hebrews 5:14) Thus, the goal of parents should be to instill values in their children that will help them to make wise decisions when they have the freedom to choose their own entertainment.

Many youths among Jehovah’s Witnesses have received excellent training from their parents in this regard. For example, Bill and Cherie, in the United States, enjoy going to the movies with their two teenage boys. “After leaving the theater,” Bill says, “we often get involved in a family discussion about the film​—what values it taught and whether we agree with those values or not.” Of course, Bill and Cherie realize the need to be selective. “We read up on the movie beforehand, and we’re not embarrassed to walk out of a film if there is objectionable content that we didn’t anticipate,” Bill says. By including their children in responsible decision-making, Bill and Cherie feel that their sons are being helped to develop a keen sense of right and wrong. “They are making wiser decisions when it comes to choosing what movies they would like to see,” Bill says.

Like Bill and Cherie, many parents have helped their children to train their perceptive powers in the matter of entertainment. Granted, much of what is produced by the film industry is not appropriate. On the other hand, when they are guided by Bible principles, Christians can enjoy good entertainment that is wholesome and refreshing.

[Footnotes]

[Box/Pictures on page 12]

“WE MAKE THE DECISION TOGETHER”

“When I was younger, we used to go to the cinema together as a family. Now that I am older, I am allowed to go without my parents. However, before they let me go, my parents want to know the title of the film and what it is about. If they haven’t heard of the movie, they read a review or watch a movie trailer on TV. They also check out information about the film on the Internet. If they feel that the movie is not suitable, they explain why. They allow me to express my opinion as well. The conversation is open, and we make the decision together.”​—Héloïse, 19, France.

[Box/Picture on page 13]

TALK IT OVER!

“If parents forbid things and don’t offer anything wholesome in place of them, the children may try to satisfy their wishes in secret. Therefore, when children show that they want to watch some type of unwholesome entertainment, some parents don’t forbid them right away, nor do they give permission. Instead, they allow time for cooling off. For a few days, without getting upset over the issue, they discuss the matter, asking the youth why he or she feels that this type of entertainment would be good. By talking it over, youths often come to agree with their parents and even thank them. Then, with the parents taking the lead, they choose some other entertainment that they can enjoy together.”​—Masaaki, a traveling overseer in Japan.

[Box/Pictures on page 14]

OTHER FORMS OF RECREATION

◼ “Young ones have a natural desire to be with others of their age, so we have always provided our daughter with wholesome companionship under our supervision. Since there are many exemplary young ones in our congregation, we have encouraged our daughter to develop friendships with them.”​—Elisa, Italy.

◼ “We are very much involved in our children’s recreation. We organize wholesome activities for them, such as walks, barbecues, picnics, and get-togethers with fellow Christians of all ages. In this way our children do not view recreation as something that they will enjoy only with their peers.”​—John, Britain.

◼ “We have found gatherings among fellow Christians to be rewarding. My children also like playing soccer, so from time to time, we arrange to participate in this sport with others.”​—Juan, Spain.

◼ “We encourage the children to enjoy playing musical instruments. We also take part in many hobbies together, such as tennis, volleyball, bicycle riding, reading, and getting together with friends.”​—Mark, Britain.

◼ “We make it a point to go bowling together as a family and with friends. Also, we try to schedule something special to do together once a month. The key to avoiding problems is for parents to be watchful.”​—Danilo, Philippines.

◼ “Attending live events is often more exciting than just sitting in a chair watching a movie. We keep our eyes open for local events such as art exhibitions, car shows, or musical programs. These types of venues often allow for communication during the event. We are also careful not to provide too much entertainment. Not only is time a factor but too much entertainment also deadens the novelty and excitement of the event.”​—Judith, South Africa.

◼ “Not everything that other children do is appropriate for my children, and I try to help them to understand that. At the same time, my husband and I try to provide them with good entertainment. We make an effort to keep them from saying, ‘We don’t go anywhere. We don’t do anything.’ As a family, we go to parks and arrange for get-togethers at our home with others from our congregation.”d​—Maria, Brazil.

[Footnote]

[Credit Line]

James Hall Museum of Transport, Johannesburg, South Africa

[Picture on page 11]

Check the movie reviews BEFORE you decide

[Picture on page 12, 13]

Parents, teach your children to be selective

A New Home for an Injured Sparrow

“DO WE really need more work?” That was my initial reaction when my wife brought home a little house sparrow that had fallen out of its nest. A closer look at the trembling bird melted my heart. Still, I wondered how this frail creature could survive.a

At first, we had to prod our guest to eat a bit of pureed food. By the next day, though, the little sparrow was crying regularly to be fed. Its chirping could even be heard out in the stairwell, through the double doors of our apartment!

The bird’s plumage made it apparent that our sparrow was a female. In time, it regained strength and was able to fly. But our efforts to send it back outdoors proved futile! ‘Perhaps it’s just not courageous enough to leave the house,’ we thought. So we bought a birdcage and adopted our little sparrow as a pet. We named it “Spatzi,” a diminutive form of the German word meaning “sparrow.”

One day we prepared some rice, which seems to be one of Spatzi’s favorite dishes. Since it was still quite hot, my wife put it aside and scattered some seeds in front of Spatzi instead. How did our little bird react? It tilted its head and then with its beak pushed the seeds off the edge of the table! Taken aback, my wife and I looked at each other and laughed. Quickly, we put a small amount of cooled-off rice in front of Spatzi, who seemed quite satisfied with it!

Taking care of this delightful little bird brings to mind what Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not two sparrows sell for a coin of small value? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.” Then Jesus said to them: “Have no fear: you are worth more than many sparrows.”​—Matthew 10:29-31.

How comforting it is to know that Jehovah sees our distresses and remembers our endurance. (Isaiah 63:9; Hebrews 6:10) Yes, the compassion we feel for a little bird is just a token of the love Jehovah God has for those who serve him!​—Contributed.

[Footnote]

Winged Beauties of the Tropics

By Awake! writer in Spain

FOR some travelers the first visit to a tropical rain forest may prove somewhat disappointing. They look forward to seeing exotic animals and birds; but most of the animals are nocturnal, and many of the birds are out of sight in the forest canopy.

“There are plenty of signs that the forest is full of life​—sounds are all around,” explains The Mighty Rain Forest. Nevertheless, the book adds: “Unless a visitor is willing to spend a lot of time patiently waiting and exploring, the chances are that no animals will be seen except for butterflies.” Happily for visitors, the tropical butterflies provide flashes of color and beauty that make a trip to the rain forest unforgettable.

Tropical butterflies stand out for their size, variety, and color. The green of the forest is an ideal backdrop for the brilliant blue, red, and yellow butterflies that flit about in the clearings. Apart from these traditional colors, in South America you may also see butterflies with transparent wings. Other species have wings whose undersides look even more spectacular than the top surfaces. The dull owl butterflies have huge owllike eyespots to brighten up their brown attire. But a few butterflies keep a low profile, and only the keenest observer realizes that he is looking at an insect rather than a dead leaf.

Often the sheer size of tropical butterflies catches the eye of the visitor. Some are larger than small birds and fly or glide just as vigorously. The number of different butterfly species inhabiting the rain forest is also remarkable. The Malaysian tropics harbor nearly a thousand species, and Peru provides haven for four thousand species​—20 percent of the worldwide total.

Although a butterfly’s wing may exhibit a full range of colors, these hues generally do not depend on many different pigments. The wing comprises a transparent membrane on which thousands of tiny scales are attached, and each scale usually has just one pigment. However, scales of different colors combine to give the impression to the observer of yet another color, as do the colored pixels of a television set.

You might imagine that the best time to see these beauties is when they are hovering over flowers, but this is usually not the case in the rain forest. Most flowers bloom high up in the canopy, and while they provide a feast of nectar for the butterflies, they cannot be seen by a visitor on the ground. Fortunately, male butterflies come down to earth for salt. It is thought that the mating process may deplete them of necessary minerals, which they replenish by sucking up moisture from wet ground. Thus, a damp forest path or the edge of a small stream may prove the ideal place to observe the butterflies of the rain forest.

You may also spot a group of butterflies perched together in a communal resting area. The custom of roosting together is quite common among tropical butterflies. Some may allow you to approach them as they bask on a leaf in the morning sunlight. Even though certain species rarely seem to alight anywhere, just watching their colorful flight can brighten up your visit to the rain forest.

[Box/Pictures on page 18]

A Lepidoptera Beauty Parade

Although it is difficult to judge which butterfly or moth is the most beautiful, certain groups undoubtedly stand out.a

Swallowtail butterflies (Papilionidae)

A large family of colorful butterflies, many of which have a small “tail” on their hind wings. They are fast fliers, often feeding on flowers of the forest canopy.

Morpho butterflies (Morphidae)

Found only in South and Central America, these butterflies have striking, metallic-blue wings. Their iridescent color depends on diffraction of light. As they lazily flap their wings, the intense blue switches on and off according to the angle of the light.

Bird-wing butterflies (Ornithoptera)

These butterflies come from Southeast Asia and tropical Australia. As the name suggests, they are huge butterflies with wings larger than many birds. Their beauty and rarity make them literally worth their weight in gold.

Uraniid moths (Uraniidae)

Classified as moths rather than butterflies, these magnificent insects fly during the day. The Chrysiridia madagascariensis of Madagascar, whose wings exhibit all the colors of the rainbow, has been described as “the most beautiful insect in the world.”

[Footnote]

[Credit Lines]

Morpho: Zoo, Santillana del Mar, Cantabria, España; all others in box: Faunia, Madrid

[Picture on page 16]

Transparent wings of “Hypoleria oto”

[Picture on page 16]

Hewitson’s blue hairstreak butterfly. Its underwings (at left) are as spectacular as the top surfaces (above)

[Picture on page 16, 17]

Goliath birdwing butterfly (actual size)

[Picture on page 17]

Owl butterflies’ underwings

[Picture on page 17]

Dry-leaf butterfly

[Picture on page 18]

Tropical butterflies sipping salty moisture from the ground

[Picture Credit Lines on page 16]

Hypoleria oto: Zoo, Santillana del Mar, Cantabria, España; all other photos: Faunia, Madrid

[Picture Credit Lines on page 17]

Dry-leaf and yellow butterflies: Zoo, Santillana del Mar, Cantabria, España; all other photos: Faunia, Madrid

A Ball of Salt

BY AWAKE! WRITER IN ZAMBIA

What comes to your mind when you think of salt? Probably rock salt, sea salt, or table salt. But have you ever heard of Cibwa salt, from the Mpika district in the Northern Province of Zambia? What makes Cibwa salt unique is that it comes from grass!

The villagers living near Cibwa swamp perform a unique mineral-extraction process using tall grass that grows close to the Lwitikila River. They harvest the grass from August through October, before the rainy season starts. Once the rains begin, the grass does not yield any salt.

After the grass is cut and dried, it is burned in order to remove the organic components. The salt, though, does not burn. It remains in the ashes. The ashes are put into a container, such as a calabash, or gourd, and water is slowly filtered through the ashes. The water dissolves the salt and carries it through tiny holes at the bottom of the calabash. The resulting brine is collected for the next step​—evaporation.

Direct-heat evaporation is used to remove the water, a process that can take up to six hours. To do this, the brine is first poured into a clay pot and boiled on an open fire. More brine is added as the water evaporates. This produces a thick salt solution that eventually fills the pot. The pot now acts as a casting mold. When it is removed from the fire and then broken apart, a ball of salt remains.

Villagers have been making Cibwa salt for generations. No one knows who developed the process. It is amazing, however, that the same basic science behind modern salt processing is found in this remote part of rural Zambia​—far removed from the outside world.

[Picture on page 19]

Calabash filtering the water

[Picture on page 19]

Finished product

[Picture on page 19]

Clay pot

The Bible’s Viewpoint

Should Icons Be Used in Worship?

EVERY August 15, a great religious celebration takes place on the Greek island of Tínos. Thousands gather in veneration of Mary the mother of Jesus and of her icon, which is believed to possess miraculous powers.a A Greek Orthodox reference work explains: “With special faith and devoutness we honour the Most Holy Theotokos, the Mother of our Lord, and we ask her protection and her speedy overshadowing and aid. We recourse to the wonder-working Saints​—Holy men and women—​for our spiritual and bodily needs . . . With deep piety we kiss and venerate their holy relics and sacred icons.”

Many other professed Christians belong to denominations that engage in similar acts of worship. But is the use of icons in worship supported by Bible teachings?

The Early Christians

Consider what happened about the year 50 C.E. when the apostle Paul visited Athens, a city in which much emphasis was placed on the use of images in worship. Paul explained to the Athenians that God “does not dwell in handmade temples, neither is he attended to by human hands as if he needed anything . . . Therefore, . . . we ought not to imagine that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, like something sculptured by the art and contrivance of man.”​—Acts 17:24, 25, 29.

Actually, such warnings regarding the use of idols are common in the Christian Greek Scriptures, also called the New Testament. For example, the apostle John admonished Christians: “Guard yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21) Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “What agreement does God’s temple have with idols?” (2 Corinthians 6:16) Many early Christians had formerly used religious images in worship. Paul reminded Christians in Thessalonica of this when he wrote: “You turned to God from your idols to slave for a living and true God.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9) Clearly, those Christians would have had the same view of icons as John and Paul did.

Adoption of Icons by “Christians”

The Encyclopædia Britannica says that “during the first three centuries of the Christian Church, . . . there was no Christian art, and the church generally resisted it with all its might. Clement of Alexandria, for example, criticized religious (pagan) art in that it encouraged people to worship that which is created rather than the Creator.”

How, then, did the use of icons become so popular? The Britannica continues: “About the mid-3rd century an incipient pictorial art began to be used and accepted in the Christian Church but not without fervent opposition in some congregations. Only when the Christian Church became the Roman imperial church under Emperor Constantine in the early 4th century were pictures used in the churches, and they then began to strike roots in Christian popular religiosity.”

A common practice among the stream of pagans who now began to declare themselves Christians was the worship of portraits of the emperor. “In accordance with the cult of the emperor,” explains John Taylor in his book Icon Painting, “people worshipped his portrait painted on canvas or wood, and from thence to the veneration of icons was a small step.” Thus pagan worship of pictures was replaced by the veneration of pictures of Jesus, Mary, angels, and “saints.” These pictures that started to be used in the churches gradually found their way into the homes of millions of people, being venerated there as well.

Worshiping “With Spirit and Truth”

Jesus told his listeners that God’s servants must worship “with spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) So when a sincere person seeks to know the truth about the use of icons in worship, he has to turn to God’s Word for enlightenment on the subject.

For instance, the Bible contains Jesus’ statement: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Paul declared that “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus,” and that “Christ . . . pleads for us.” (1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 8:34) This takes on added meaning when we read that Christ is able to “save completely those who are approaching God through him, because he is always alive to plead for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) It is in the name of Jesus Christ that we should approach God. No other person, and certainly no lifeless icon, can substitute for him. Such knowledge from God’s Word can help anyone seeking the truth to find the way to worship “the Father with spirit and truth” and experience the blessings of this superior way of worship. Indeed, as Jesus said, “the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him.”​—John 4:23.

[Footnote]

[Picture Credit Line on page 20]

Boris Subacic/AFP/Getty Images

Meet the “Flying Mitten”

BY AWAKE! WRITER IN FINLAND

SQUIRRELS are found almost everywhere on earth. Few, however, are like the extraordinary Siberian flying squirrel, commonly termed the “flying mitten.”a Can this little rodent really fly? What kind of creature is the flying mitten, and why is it so seldom seen?

How Do They Fly?

While all squirrels that live in trees bounce from tree to tree, none of them can beat the flying squirrel. These rodents are known to leap as far as 260 feet! [80 meters] But how does this squirrel do it?

The flying squirrel has aerodynamic membranes that would amaze any airline engineer. “Its front part is supported by a rod of cartilage starting from the wrist,” says the book The World of the Animals. “Although the membrane looks as though it has only two layers of skin, there is a thin layer of muscles that enables these squirrels to change the curvature of the gliding surface in order to adjust its aerodynamic qualities.”

The name flying mitten is fitting, since while gliding, the squirrel appears to be completely flattened, much like a mitten. When not gliding, the squirrel sometimes looks as if it were wearing a gray fur coat several sizes too big!

How can the squirrel fly without bumping into anything? Its tail acts as a rudder, guiding the squirrel’s flight. Just before landing on a tree, the squirrel opens its “brake parachute”​—that is, it turns to a vertical position. Very rarely does a squirrel miscalculate and fall to the ground.

This furry “hang glider” is also helped by its light weight. An average adult flying squirrel weighs only about five ounces [150 grams] and is about eight inches [20 centimeters] in length, not including the tail. The ears are small and have no tufts, so they do not impede the squirrel’s flight.

A Night Pilot

The flying squirrel has unique eyes, which resemble large black pearls. Unlike other squirrels, the flying squirrel is a nocturnal animal. Hence, it needs good eyesight to find its favorite food​—the catkins and leaves of deciduous trees and the buds of conifers. Because there is less food available in winter, during autumn the flying squirrel collects small stores of catkins in caches on branches and in tree holes.

In the spring some flying squirrels become so consumed with play that they forget to take their afternoon nap. Besides, at this time of year, the squirrels have something else on their mind​—mating. After the female is sufficiently impressed by the male’s flight display, it is time to start thinking about a nest. The nest will be either a birdhouse, if one is available, or a hole in a tree. Usually the flying squirrel has many nests. Some are used as food caches, and others as spare apartments. Some flying squirrels will even make a nest in a barn. Unlike other squirrels, though, the flying squirrel refuses to dwell in the city!

Late in the spring or early in the summer, the mother flying squirrel will give birth to two or three offspring. Feeding them keeps her busy, even during daytime. At birth these infants are about the size of your fingertip; yet, before autumn has ended, they will have glided from the nest!

Why Seldom Seen?

Why is the flying squirrel seen so seldom? One reason is that this little nocturnal creature moves silently through the canopy of trees and does not readily catch one’s attention. In addition, the flying squirrel prefers the northern mixed woods stretching from the Baltic Sea through the Russian taiga to the Pacific Ocean.

The vast forests of Siberia seem to guarantee the survival of the Siberian flying squirrel. Nevertheless, this species​—like other hole nesters—​has lost suitable nesting places as a result of deforestation. In Finland, the western region of its habitat, the flying squirrel is protected by a European Union decree. Just a glimpse of a flying squirrel in the canopy or the discovery of its droppings can postpone or cancel a construction project.

Of course, flying squirrels are unaware of the consequences their droppings may have, and nothing seems to disturb their routine. As dusk falls in the northern woods, thousands of tiny noses come out of tree holes. Long whiskers twitch, delicate branches swing, and the flying mittens are in action once again!

[Footnote]

[Picture on page 23]

Catkins, a favorite food of the flying squirrel

[Picture on page 24]

Baby Siberian flying squirrel

[Picture Credit Line on page 22]

Ilya Lyubechanskii/BCIUSA.COM

[Picture Credit Line on page 23]

Squirrels: Benjam Pöntinen

[Picture Credit Line on page 24]

Squirrels: Benjam Pöntinen

‘I Wanted to Learn More About My Religion’

FOR a history project at school, 12-year-old Ciara, from Florida, U.S.A., chose an intriguing subject​—the persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Nazi Germany. “I chose this topic because I wanted to learn more about the history of my religion,” she says. “I hoped to learn exactly what Jehovah’s Witnesses went through during the Holocaust.”

After doing considerable research, Ciara had a wooden purple pyramid constructed, representative of the purple triangle that was sewn onto the uniforms of Jehovah’s Witnesses for identification in the camps. Ciara attached pictures with captions to the sides of the pyramid. Also included was the heartrending, yet faith-strengthening, letter written by Wolfgang Kusserow, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, just before his execution.​—See The Watchtower of September 1, 1985, page 14.

Ciara’s display made clear that, unlike other prisoners, the Witnesses had a choice: If they signed a document renouncing their faith, they would be released. The fact that the overwhelming majority did not sign is testimony to the integrity of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Ciara says that she benefited from choosing this topic for her project. It certainly helped her to learn more about her religion. “Despite being a small group in Germany at the time,” she says, “Jehovah’s Witnesses had strong faith, which helped them overcome the persecution they encountered.”

If you are a young Witness of Jehovah in school, are there ways that you too can speak about the history of your faith?

Almost Good Enough to Eat!

By Awake! writer in Japan

YOUR eyes are fixed on what looks like a delicious meal. Your appetite is stirred, and your mouth begins to water. Oddly, however, this “food” has no aroma, no taste, and no nutritional value. It will never spoil and requires no refrigeration. What is it? In Japan there can be only one answer​—a plastic food model. Plastic food is a vinyl replica of an item found on a restaurant menu. It is made to be the precise size, shape, and color of the actual item.

These food displays come in many forms​—from traditional Japanese dishes, such as sushi, to Western favorites, such as pizza and spaghetti. There are also replicas of beverages, appetizers, and desserts. The variety is staggering. In fact, one manufacturer offers more than 10,000 food items!

Plastic food looks real. Fine details​—such as the tiny bumps on the skin of a baked chicken, the randomly spaced seeds in a slice of watermelon, and the subtle bend in a leaf of lettuce—​are masterfully incorporated. But how did plastic food become so popular in restaurants in Japan?

Late in the 19th century, some restaurants displayed samples of their dishes to introduce foreign foods to the Japanese public. Passersby could thus preview the food without having to walk in. Of course, the displays attracted not only people but also animals and flies. Heat and humidity caused the food to spoil, and it was costly to prepare the samples every day.

In time, real food was replaced by replicas made of painted wax. But wax had a major drawback​—it deteriorated in hot weather. Eventually, wax was replaced with vinyl plastics. Here, at last, was a product that was durable as well as able to resist the heat and at the same time attract the right kind of customers​—people! But how are plastic replicas created?

First, a mold of the food item is made. A piece of steak, for instance, is placed in a square container, and then silicon is poured in until the steak is fully immersed. After the mold hardens, it is flipped over. The steak is removed, and an impression is left. Colored vinyl is then poured into the mold and baked at 180 degrees Fahrenheit [82°C]. Once cooled, the imitation steak is removed. Now it may be painted.

To make a sandwich, each component​—bread, meat, cheese, and lettuce—​needs to be molded separately. After that, the process is similar to preparing a real sandwich. The various items are placed on top of each other between slices of bread. With a plastic sandwich, however, glue holds the pieces together.

In a sense, making plastic food is a form of art. “The key to making plastic food look real is carefully examining real food,” says Katsuji Kaneyama, who has been in the business for some 23 years. “People look at food as something to eat. We look at food as something to make.”

A close look at a bowl of freshly cooked Japanese rice reveals that individual grains appear to stand in relation to each other. The entire bowl of rice “gently rises from within and peaks in the middle,” explains Kaneyama. To create this effect, each grain needs to be molded separately. Simply gathering the grains is not enough because they will lie flat. Instead, the grains must be carefully glued into position in such a way that they reflect the cresting of real rice. Adding a realistic touch makes the food more appealing to the discerning eye.

Becoming proficient at making plastic food takes years of experience. An apprentice may spend the first few years learning basic skills, starting with simpler items such as mushrooms. About ten years of study are needed before making a convincing replica of a freshly caught fish with its complex textures and colors. It may take up to 15 years before one is considered an expert in the field.

If you happen to walk by a restaurant in Japan and see mouthwatering dishes on display, think about the painstaking work that went into their creation. It may well cause you to wonder which takes more skill​—preparing real food or making its plastic counterpart!

[Box on page 27]

Under the Camera Lights

The next time you see food in a movie, television program, or commercial, take a closer look. It may not be real. According to Los Angeles food stylist Chris Oliver, food replicas are ideal for the notoriously long hours it takes to film a scene. “It’s more expensive than buying real food, but much more practical,” he says. Indeed, under the searing camera lights, plastic food serves as an excellent substitute for the real thing.

[Picture on page 26]

Can you tell which one is real? (Answer on page 27)

Answer: The real food is on the tray in the woman’s right hand.

[Picture Credit Line on page 26]

Bottom photos: Hachiman Town, Gujyo City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan

Watching the World

Luxury Water

“It is a sign of the times,” says the German magazine Natur+Kosmos. “Cool students always have their brand-name water with them. In New York, ‘in’ people meet in water bars. And five-star hotels with waiter service offer a selection of international brands of mineral water, with a quality rating otherwise reserved for wines of the best years.” The water does not come cheap. “People pay a lot of money for their mineral water, which they take with them in designer bottles,” says the article. In some hotels a liter of water of exquisite origin can cost as much as 62 euros. Although bottled brand-name water has become an expression of individual style by the consumer with discriminating taste, this does not mean it is better for you. Some producers promise mental and bodily fitness, health, and beauty. But many experts cannot see any advantage over plain water. In Germany, for example, the quality of tap water is at least as good as the mineral water from halfway around the globe, the article contends. And tap water needs neither plastic bottles nor transport of several thousand miles.

French Diet Secrets

“The French eat a lot of saturated fat,” says the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter. “Yet they are leaner than Americans and far less likely to be obese. Their mortality rate from heart disease is half that of Americans and lower than any other country in the [European Union].” Why the paradox? The answer may be that the French “consume fewer calories,” says the Wellness Letter. Research conducted in restaurants in Paris and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., showed that the French portions were considerably smaller. Cookbooks differed also. Suitable servings of meat, for example, were smaller in the French cookbooks. “Perhaps the most impressive finding was that the French take a lot longer to eat their smaller portions,” the article states. “The average French person spends nearly 100 minutes daily just eating, while Americans swallow their daily bread (and whatever else) in only 60 minutes.” The conclusion? Watch your calories. Eat sensible amounts of nourishing food. Take time to enjoy the food. If you are served large portions, share with a companion or take half of it home. And “make home meals a pleasant experience.”

Take Care of Your Books

“The worst enemies [of books] are time and dampness,” says an article in the Mexican magazine Día Siete. To preserve them in good condition, the article recommends dusting your books at least once a year. Take care, though, to grasp the book tightly as you dust to prevent dust from impregnating the pages. In humid environments, dampness can be controlled by sprinkling a little talcum powder on each page, putting weight on the book for a few days, and then removing the powder with a brush. If mildew develops from dampness, lightly scrape it off with a razor blade and finish by cleaning it with alcohol. Do not remove a book from a shelf by pulling it by the upper part of the spine. The best way to remove a book is to grasp it between two fingers at the center of the spine, move it from side to side to separate it from the books on either side of it, and ease it out. Books that are very large, especially if they are old, are subject to damage by their own weight. This can be avoided by placing them horizontally on the bookshelf.

Demise of the Unitarians?

“One of [Britain’s] oldest denominations . . . is in terminal decline and will be extinct within decades,” states The Times of London. The Unitarian movement has fewer than 6,000 members in Britain. Half of these are over 65 years of age. Forecast of the movement’s demise was made by Peter Hughes, a senior minister of the denomination. Using their oldest chapel in Liverpool as an example, Hughes said: “They have had no minister since 1976 and the Unitarian cause there is effectively dead.” The designation “Unitarian” has been used in Britain since 1673, says The Times. “Many English Presbyterians became Unitarians in the 18th century, inspired to reject the belief in the Trinity in a theological debate over the divinity of Christ that caused a crisis in the Church of England.” The paper adds: “But now that it is no longer illegal to embrace a non-Trinitarian belief, and many churches turn a blind eye to ‘believers’ who have liberal views on traditional doctrines, there is not the demand for the Unitarian movement that there was.”

Shrinking With Age

As people get older, they usually get shorter. “The reason has a lot to do with gravity,” reports The Daily Telegraph of Australia. Under the influence of gravity, a person’s height changes throughout the day. Full height is restored during sleep. “When our bodies get older, though, and a little less robust, the shrinking effect starts to become permanent,” says the newspaper. “As people get older, they lose muscle mass and fat. It’s part of the natural ageing process and has a lot [to] do with hormonal changes. The vertebrae can actually begin to degenerate and collapse​—causing the spine to shrink by more than 2.5cm [one inch].” Osteoporosis is a likely cause of the shrinking process.

Raising Bilingual Children

“When children are nurtured with patience and sensitivity, multilingualism can be a source of great fortune for them, their families, and society,” states the Milenio newspaper of Mexico City. Studies have “concluded that children who speak two languages perform better in school than those who speak only one.” Sometimes parents worry when their children mix words from the two languages in one sentence or make mistakes by applying the rules of one language to the other. “But these grammatical ‘mistakes’ are trivial and quickly overcome,” says Professor Tony Cline, a psychologist who specializes in the language development of children. If the languages of both parents are taught from birth, they are naturally absorbed, and in time, the children will handle them separately.

From Our Readers

Fraud You will never know how much I appreciated the series “Protect Yourself From Fraud.” (July 22, 2004) I run a small business from my home, and I was a victim of fraud. The feelings I had were just like those described in the series​—shame, guilt, and embarrassment over being so foolish. I did just what the series advised. I admitted my mistake, prayed to Jehovah, and talked to an elder who is my friend. With the help of these articles, I have been able to put the matter behind me. What a blessing!

T. G., United States

Premarital Sex The article “Young People Ask . . . What’s Wrong With Premarital Sex?” was a strengthening aid to me. (July 22, 2004) The thoughts expressed by young people quoted in the article were similar to thoughts I have had. The words that especially hit home were those of Psalm 84:11, which tells us that Jehovah will not hold back anything good from those who walk in faultlessness.

T. U., Germany

As a young person, I have always tried my best to remain chaste in Jehovah’s eyes, but sometimes it is a challenge. This article renewed my determination and reminded me that I am not the only one facing pressures from Satan’s world. Knowing how much Jehovah cares about young people is truly encouraging.

F. B., Botswana

Appearance I want to express my thanks for the article “When Concern About Appearance Becomes an Obsession.” (July 22, 2004) I am 21 years old, and I had been really conscious of the fact that I am bigger than other people. Now I want to maintain the glow of the inner person. It is as if the article were written for me!

N. U., Japan

Unfortunately, these days we are led to believe that we should have the perfect body. Sometimes it’s a battle, and it often depresses me that I’m not winning it. But I want to keep working on it, and this article is a tremendous help!

D. P., Germany

Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) Thank you for the experience of Jack Meintsma in the article “Once Stricken, Twice Afflicted.” (July 22, 2004) I have suffered from polyarthritis for the past 23 years but have symptoms similar to those mentioned in the article. I want to thank Brother Meintsma for the information he passed on concerning helpful devices and reducing the demand on affected muscles.

U. K., Austria

I had polio when I was two and a half years old and PPS at 25. The doctors were not familiar with this syndrome, and they had great difficulty diagnosing it. Before reading this article, I had never found such comprehensive information on this subject.

J. E., France

My mother was stricken with poliomyelitis when she was six years old. The accurate description of the sickness has helped me to understand her condition.

T. V., Italy

I had polio at 18 months of age, and I am not nearly as affected as Brother Meintsma. However, I am somewhat drained of my energy as a result of weak muscles. The article helped me to understand how to conserve my energy. The greatest benefit from the article was to read that Jehovah sees and cares!

L. J., United States

For Family Review

AMONG the appreciative readers of Awake! are many children. “Thanks for the very good articles,” wrote a nine-year-old boy. “Keep making these magazines so interesting.” After reading an article on dolphins in the January 8, 2002, issue, a young girl wrote: “Last summer when I was seven, three dolphins came up to us and watched us while we were swimming, just as the dolphins did in the article. I love to see the wonderful things that Jehovah has made. Thank you for the articles you print!”

Parents, can you direct your children to articles in this issue of Awake! that they might benefit from? Perhaps they would enjoy the following exercise.

Find these pictures in the magazine, and then answer the following.

1. What happened to this poor sparrow, and how was it helped?

2. What did Jesus say about sparrows?

․․․․․

1. What is the name of this animal, and who created it?

2. What amazing things can this animal do?

․․․․․

1. What subject did this girl choose for her history project, and why?

2. How can you talk to others about Jehovah?

[Picture Credit Line on page 31]

Benjam Pöntinen

Youths Searching for Answers

When the 17th Catholic World Youth Day was held in Toronto, Canada, in 2002, hundreds of thousands of people came from around the world. Although not part of the event, Jehovah’s Witnesses anticipated an influx of many young ones into the city. How did they prepare for this? In the spirit of first-century Christians, they took advantage of the occasion to speak to them about the Scriptures.​—Acts 16:12, 13.

The Witnesses commended these youths for their spiritual inclination. This led to many friendly Scriptural conversations. When asked by one Witness whether World Youth Day was what she expected, one girl responded: “Well, so far we’ve seen music and dancing, but nothing is making my faith stronger.”

The Witness then offered the girl the brochure entitled A Book for All People, explaining that it answered many questions people have asked about the Bible, such as “Is it really the Word of God?” and “How can we know that it hasn’t changed since it was originally written?”

The girl answered: “That’s the stage I am at in my life right now. I need to have my questions answered. I want to read this right away. It may be the most important thing that comes out of this trip.”

That was but one of the many conversations the Witnesses had with delegates to the Catholic World Youth Day. If you too would like to receive the 32-page brochure A Book for All People, just fill in the accompanying coupon and mail it to the address shown on the coupon or to an appropriate address listed on page 5 of this magazine.

□ Without obligation, I request a copy of the brochure A Book for All People.

□ Please contact me concerning a free home Bible study.