July

Table of Contents

July 2006

How to Build a Happy Marriage

Today marriage is being shaken by many forces. See how you can strengthen your marriage by applying principles that really work and that bring lasting happiness to all in the family.

3 Can Marriage Withstand the Storm?

6 How to Build a Happy Marriage

10 The Message Must Get Through

16 Why Is the Sea Salty?

19 When Fish Make You Sick

22 A Massage for Baby?

29 Watching the World

30 From Our Readers

31 How Would You Answer?

32 Family Happiness​—Is It Possible?

From Hopelessness to Happiness 11

Burdened with guilt and depression, a young man wanted to end his life. Read how God’s Word helped him to find true inner peace.

Britain’s “Forgotten Genius” 26

A contemporary of Isaac Newton, he was one of Britain’s greatest inventors. Yet, he nearly disappeared from history. Find out why.

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Images courtesy of the Posner Memorial Collection, Carnegie Mellon University Libraries

Can Marriage Withstand the Storm?

“What God has yoked together let no man put apart.”​—MATTHEW 19:6.

HOMES that looked sturdy were swept off their foundations, their structures ripped to shreds. As monster storms hit large areas around the globe recently, the quality and durability of countless buildings were put to the ultimate test.

A storm of another nature, however, is wreaking havoc on the foundation and structure of the age-old institution of marriage. “For better or worse, marriage has been displaced from its pivotal position in personal and social life,” states family historian Stephanie Coontz.

Can you see the effects of such a trend? Do you feel that marriage is losing its honored place in society? If so, why is this happening? And what hope does anyone have of securing or maintaining a happy marriage? First, though, what is putting marriage in danger?

Marriage Under Attack

The attacks on marriage are not new; they go back to the beginning of human history. Qualities and attitudes that developed in our first human parents have led to the marriage crisis we experience today. Adam and Eve sinned when they gave in to selfish cravings, and thus “sin entered into the world.” (Romans 5:12) The historical record of the Bible states that soon after this, “every inclination of the thoughts of [man’s] heart was only bad all the time.”​—Genesis 6:5.

Not much has changed since then. Among the corrosive inclinations that plague marriage is the uninhibited pursuit of selfish gratification. Marriage itself might seem an outdated institution, no longer viable in a modern world under the spell of a new morality. And the relaxing of laws that regulate the breakup of a marriage has removed most of the stigma once attached to divorce.

Impatient individuals, who seek quick results and instant gratification, give little or no thought to the consequences of divorce. Lured by seductive promises of freedom and independence, they believe that divorce will lead to happiness.

Others when faced with thornlike problems in their relationship turn to therapists and marriage counselors or to books written by such authorities. Sadly, some modern marriage “experts” have proved more adept at promoting divorce than at defending marriage. “For perhaps the first time in human history,” states the book The Case for Marriage, “marriage as an ideal is under a sustained and surprisingly successful attack. Sometimes the attack is direct and ideological, made by ‘experts’ who believe a lifelong vow of fidelity is unrealistic or oppressive.”

Altered Perceptions

Perceptions about the nature and purpose of marriage have also changed. You have probably observed a shift in emphasis from loyal and supportive marriage partners to spouses who primarily expect personal fulfillment​—often at the expense of their mate. The transition to this self-centered view of marriage “began in the 1960s and accelerated in the 1970s,” states the Journal of Marriage and Family. Traditional reasons for marriage​—such as the desire for love, intimacy, fidelity, children, and mutual fulfillment—​have weakened.

Several other recent developments have accelerated the transformation of marriage in many lands. First, the traditional roles of the male breadwinner and the female homemaker have changed in many countries. With the entry of women into the paid workplace, there has been a notable rise in the number of dual-career households. Second, childbearing outside marriage is increasingly accepted, leading to more single-parent families. Third, cohabitation as a replacement for marriage is growing. (See the box “Less Stable Than Marriages.”) Fourth, same-sex unions and the movement to legalize them have gained wide approval. Have these modern trends influenced your view of matrimony?

Surging Divorce Rates

Let us look at several countries to see how the popularity of divorce has led to the further erosion of marriage. In the United States, according to a recent report, “the number of divorced couples quadrupled between 1970 and 1996.” Roughly, 1 in 5 adults has been lashed by the destructive winds of divorce. Who are the most vulnerable to marriage failure? Statistics show that about 60 percent of all divorces occur within the first ten years.

In other countries too, divorce rates have soared. The total number of divorces in England and Wales reached 153,490 in 2004. Australians can expect about 40 percent of their marriages to end in divorce. The Republic of Korea saw an increase of 21,800 divorces in just one year​—from 2002 to 2003—​a total of 167,100 couples divorced. Japan, where 1 in every 4 marriages ends in divorce, is now approaching Europe’s divorce rate. “Once upon a time it was only the very worst marriages that would end in divorce,” observed an expert in family studies at the Japan Red Cross University. “Now it has become a simple lifestyle issue.”

In many countries long-standing religious institutions and social traditions contributed to marriage stability. However, they can no longer stop the rising tide of social acceptance of divorce. For instance, consider the Roman Catholic Church, where marriage is regarded as something sacred. In 1983 the church relaxed its rules concerning marriage bonds and made it easier for Catholics to end a marriage. Hence, annulments have increased since then.

Obviously, the threads that bind marriage are unraveling. But not all the reasons are obvious. In fact, besides the general breakdown in society, there is another major cause of the increase in failed marriages​—one that is hidden from the view of the majority of mankind.

A Hidden Cause of the Storm

The Bible tells us that Satan the Devil, the epitome of selfishness, has an unseen, increasingly pernicious influence over the world. Why is that so? Because he has been cast down from heaven to the vicinity of the earth and is very angry. Indeed, he is bent on causing as much “woe,” or trouble, as possible, and the divine institution of marriage is just one object of Satan’s malicious anger.​—Revelation 12:9, 12.

Referring to the time after Satan’s eviction, Jesus said: “Because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off.” (Matthew 24:12) In a similar vein, the apostle Paul wrote: “[People] will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural [or, familial] affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:2-4) These repugnant characteristics have always existed to some extent, but they have become much more pronounced in recent times, as most people readily acknowledge.

In view of the storm battering the institution of marriage, what can we do to shield ourselves and to enjoy a truly happy and lasting marriage? The next article will examine this question.

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“In a society which is used to disposability, people are likely to have that same attitude towards relationships.”​—SANDRA DAVIS, FAMILY LAW EXPERT

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“Less Stable Than Marriages”

Many couples of the opposite sex live together without the commitment of marriage. Such unions, however, are even “less stable than marriages,” notes a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some of these couples cohabit in order to assess their compatibility prior to marriage. Does such an arrangement eliminate poor matches and improve subsequent marriages? According to the Journal of Marriage and Family, the evidence indicates otherwise. “Among married individuals, premarital cohabitation is related to lower marital satisfaction . . . , more reports of marital problems, and . . . a higher risk of marital dissolution,” says the Journal.

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Longevity and Marriage

People today live longer. Even this otherwise positive development has added stress to marriage. Today, divorce ends many marriages that death would have ended in times past. Consider an odd marriage ailment that is afflicting longtime married women in Japan. According to The Washington Post, experts label it “RHS,” or “retired husband syndrome.” Recalling her husband’s retirement, one wife, who had been married for 40 years, said that at the time she thought: “I am going to have to divorce him now. It was bad enough that I had to wait on him when he came home from work. But having him around the house all the time was more than I could possibly bear.”

How to Build a Happy Marriage

“A man . . . must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh.”​—GENESIS 2:24.

OUR Maker, Jehovah God, instituted marriage as a permanent union between a man and a woman. Says Genesis 2:18, 22-24: “Jehovah God went on to say: ‘It is not good for the man to continue by himself. I am going to make a helper for him, as a complement of him.’ And Jehovah God proceeded to build the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman and to bring her to the man. Then the man said: ‘This is at last bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. This one will be called Woman, because from man this one was taken.’ That is why a man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh.”

True, building a lasting, happy marriage is not easy, but it is certainly possible. Many couples have been happily married for 50, 60, or more years. How do they do it? They work at their marriage continually and unselfishly to “gain the approval” of their mate. (1 Corinthians 7:33, 34) That takes work. If you are willing to invest the time and effort, you too can build a happy marriage, one that will last a long time.

Follow the Blueprint Carefully

A trustworthy contractor would never start construction without first consulting a drawing. Similarly, we cannot succeed in building a happy marriage without carefully consulting God’s blueprint for the project. It is found in the pages of God’s Word. “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial . . . for setting things straight,” wrote the apostle Paul.​—2 Timothy 3:16.

Husbands and wives can learn a great deal about marriage by considering how Jesus dealt with his disciples. How so? In the Bible the relationship between Jesus and those who will rule with him in heaven is likened to that between a man and his wife. (2 Corinthians 11:2) Jesus remained loyal to his associates, even during the most turbulent times. “He loved them to the end.” (John 13:1) As a compassionate leader, Jesus always took into consideration the limitations and frailties of his followers. He never demanded of them more than they were able to do or give.​—John 16:12.

Even when disappointed by his closest friends, Jesus remained gentle. He did not berate them, but, rather, with godly humility and kindness, he tried to readjust them. (Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 14:34-38; John 13:5-17) Thus, if you examine closely the way Jesus tenderly treated his followers and the way they returned that expression of love to him, you will learn practical lessons on building a happy marriage.​—1 Peter 2:21.

Build on a Solid Foundation

Inevitably, stormlike trials will lash at the foundation of your marriage. This will test the underpinnings of your relationship with your spouse. However, the sturdiest foundation on which to build a happy marriage is loyal commitment based on love. Jesus highlighted the importance of commitment when he said: “No one should separate a couple that God has joined together.” (Matthew 19:6, Contemporary English Version) The expression “no one” would include the man and his wife, who have vowed to remain faithful to each other.

Some may view commitment as burdensome, its demands and costs being too great. Today convenience usually wins out over the sacrifice involved in being committed to someone.

What can sustain marital commitment? The apostle Paul wrote: “Husbands ought to be loving their wives as their own bodies.” (Ephesians 5:28, 29) In part, then, being “joined together” means that you feel as concerned about the welfare of your mate as you do about your own. Married people need to shift their thinking from “mine” to “ours,” from “me” to “we.”

Successfully weathering stormy attacks on your marriage will make you wise. Such acquired wisdom can result in happiness. “Happy is the man that has found wisdom,” notes Proverbs 3:13.

Use Fireproof Materials

For a house to last and be safe, it must be well built. Therefore, resolve to build your marriage with an eye to a lasting future. Use durable materials, the kind that can withstand fiery tests of your loyalty. Value as gold such precious qualities as godly wisdom, generosity, discernment, fear of God, warmth, loving appreciation for God’s laws, and genuine faith.

Happiness and contentment in marriage are not built on material possessions or secular advancement. They are built in the heart and mind, and these traits are strengthened by the truths from the Word of God. The exhortation “Let each one keep watching how he is building” can also be applied to marriage.​—1 Corinthians 3:10.

When Problems Arise

For a building to stand the test of time, a good maintenance program is necessary. When husband and wife regularly support each other in their goals and when they show honor and respect for each other, their marriage is kept strong. Selfishness does not take root, and anger is kept under control.

Deep, unresolved anger and frustration can kill love and affection in a marriage. The apostle Paul counseled men: “You husbands, keep on loving your wives and do not be bitterly angry with them.” (Colossians 3:19) The same principle applies to wives. When spouses strive to be considerate, kind, and understanding, they contribute to their happiness and contentment. Avoiding ill-tempered and confrontational behavior helps prevent conflict when difficulties do arise. “Become kind to one another,” urged Paul, “tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving one another.”​—Ephesians 4:32.

What if feelings of powerlessness, exasperation, or being underappreciated cause annoyance? In a calm manner, state clearly to your mate the reason for your concern. However, it may be best to let love cover over minor matters.​—1 Peter 4:8.

One husband, who has experienced several trials during his marriage of 35 years, says that no matter how angry you may feel toward your mate, you should “never stop talking.” He wisely adds, “Don’t ever stop loving.”

You Can Build a Happy Marriage!

True, building a happy marriage is not easy. However, when marriage mates are determined to work hard to include God in their union, happiness and security will result. Thus, watch closely the spiritual dimension in your family; have a rock-solid commitment to marriage. And remember that according to the words of Jesus, neither the husband nor the wife receives all the credit for a happy marriage. Rather, the credit primarily goes to the Originator of marriage, Jehovah God. “What God has yoked together let no man put apart.”​—Matthew 19:6.

FURTHER READING

The book The Secret of Family Happiness, published by Jehovah’s Witnesses, provides practical suggestions for building a happy and successful marriage. Hundreds of thousands of married couples around the world have found that its practical Bible-based advice has helped them improve the quality of their relationship.​—See page 32 of this magazine.

[Box on page 9]

What Can Help You to Build a Happy Marriage?

◼ Study God’s Word along with your mate regularly, and pray to God for help and guidance in resolving problems.​—Proverbs 3:5, 6; Philippians 4:6, 7; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

◼ Confine sexual interest exclusively to your mate.​—Proverbs 5:15-21; Hebrews 13:4.

◼ Communicate openly, honestly, and lovingly about your problems and differences.​—Proverbs 15:22; 20:5; 25:11.

◼ Speak to your mate in a kind, considerate manner; avoid outbursts of anger, nagging, and harsh critical remarks.​—Proverbs 15:1; 20:3; 21:9; 31:26, 28; Ephesians 4:31, 32.

◼ Humbly apply Bible counsel even if you feel that your mate is not doing everything he or she should be doing.​—Romans 14:12; 1 Peter 3:1, 2.

◼ Work hard to cultivate the spiritual qualities mentioned in the Bible.​—Galatians 5:22, 23; Colossians 3:12-14; 1 Peter 3:3-6.

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Follow God’s blueprint for marriage, found in the Bible

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Make unselfish love and loyalty your solid foundation

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Develop spiritual qualities that can withstand fiery tests

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A good marriage needs to be maintained

The Message Must Get Through

BEFORE the telegraph was invented, long-distance communication was often slow and awkward, depending on the means of travel and the terrain. Consider the challenges facing the Incas, who had a vast empire in South America.

At its peak in the late 15th and early 16th centuries C.E., the Inca Empire embraced parts of modern-day Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, where the empire’s ancient capital, Cuzco, was located. Travel was hampered by towering mountain ranges, dense jungles, and vast distances. Moreover, the Incas had no beasts of burden other than llamas, no wheeled vehicles, and no writing. So how did they communicate with one another in this large, diverse realm?

The Incas made their language, Quechua, the tongue of the empire. They also built many roads. Their royal road, or main highway, stretched more than 3,000 miles [5,000 km] through the Andean highlands, while a parallel road ran some 2,500 miles [4,000 km] along the Pacific Coast. Lateral roads connected the two. The Incas also constructed paved, stepped roads over high passes, pontoon bridges over marshes, and daring suspension bridges over gorges. One suspension bridge spanned 150 feet [45 m], had cables as thick as a man’s body, and was in use for 500 years, until 1880!

The key to Inca communication was an organization of runners called chasquis, who were stationed at intervals along major routes. The runners ran relays of two or three miles [three or four kilometers] each and reportedly covered over a hundred miles during daylight hours. They conveyed many messages orally but carried statistical information about governmental matters on an intriguing device called a quipu. A quipu was essentially a complex memory aid made of rope and color-coded cords. Knots in the cords represented units, tens, and hundreds. When the Spanish conquered the Incas, the quipu became obsolete and the codes were forgotten.

‘Comely Feet Upon the Mountains’

Today the most important message of all is being carried to millions of Quechua-speaking people​—the good news of God’s Kingdom, a world government that will bring peace to all who submit to its rule. (Daniel 2:44; Matthew 24:14) Travel in the land once ruled by the Incas remains difficult, and Quechua is still largely an unwritten language. But Jehovah’s Witnesses​—many of whom have learned to speak Quechua—​joyfully distribute written and audio publications in a number of modern dialects of the language.

The work of these evangelizers calls to mind the inspired words: “How comely upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, the one publishing peace, the one bringing good news of something better.”​—Isaiah 52:7.

From Hopelessness to Happiness

AS TOLD BY VICENTE GONZÁLEZ

When neighbors heard that I had shot myself four times but did not die, they began calling me Superman. But a superman I certainly was not. Let me explain why I tried to take my life.

I WAS born in 1951 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. My parents made a home for their nine children in a place by the sea called The Invasions. Poor families had “invaded” the area illegally, building houses with bamboo walls and corrugated metal roofs. Because the homes were constructed on mudflats and in mangrove swamps, they stood on wooden stilts. We had no electricity, we cooked on a charcoal stove, and we walked half a mile each way to fetch drinking water.

To help with the family’s expenses, my siblings began secular work at an early age. When I was 16 years old, having dropped out of school, I found work as a messenger in a factory. My friends and I started drinking and behaving immorally. When my conscience bothered me, I went to confession. “Son, you have made a good confession,” the priest would say before sending me off without giving any spiritual help. So I just continued doing the same things. Eventually, the cycle of sinning and confessing seemed pointless, and I stopped going to church. At about the same time, I became aware of the social injustice around me. The poor majority eked out a living, while the rich minority lived in luxury. Life made no sense. I felt that I had no future or purpose in life.

Then one day I discovered that four of my sisters were reading publications produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses. I too began to read them. One book in particular caught my attention, The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. In a logical way, it shed light on many Bible topics. ‘This is the truth!’ I remember telling myself. But as I would discover over the next 15 years, living the truth was another matter.

At the age of 22, I began working at a bank. One day a fellow employee showed me how he secretly “borrowed” money from the bank and later repaid the “loan.” I too began extending “loans” to myself, until I had taken so much that I could no longer hide my crime. Despair swept over me, since I felt that I could never repay the money. So I decided to confess and then, as an extreme form of penance, to take my life.

After writing a letter to the bank, I bought a small-caliber pistol, went to an isolated spot on the beach, and shot myself twice in the head and twice in the chest. Although seriously injured, I did not die. A cyclist found me and quickly arranged to get me to a hospital. After recovering, I was tried for theft and sent to prison. When released, I felt ashamed and depressed, as I now had a criminal record. Because I survived four bullet wounds, neighbors began calling me Superman.

An Opportunity to Change

About this time, Paul Sánchez, a missionary of Jehovah’s Witnesses, visited me. The first thing I noticed was his big smile. Paul was such a happy, positive individual that I accepted his invitation to have a personal Bible study. ‘Perhaps he can help me to find happiness and meaning in life,’ I thought.

With Paul’s help, I learned that God has a purpose for humans and that those who love and obey Him will one day live in an earthly paradise. (Psalm 37:29) I also learned that injustice and poverty are not God’s doing but a result of mankind’s rebellion against God. (Deuteronomy 32:4, 5) These truths were like a light in my life. Changing my personality, though, was much harder than studying the Bible.

I got an office job requiring that I handle company funds. Once again I caved in to temptation and began stealing. When I could no longer conceal my theft, I fled to another city in Ecuador for about a year. I tried to leave the country, but without success, so I returned home.

Paul found me again, and we renewed the study. This time I resolved to apply Bible principles in my life and to serve Jehovah. To that end, I revealed my earlier dishonesty to Paul, who was very frank in his counsel. He referred me to Bible verses such as Ephesians 4:28, which says: “Let the stealer steal no more, but rather let him do hard work.” I saw that I needed to own up to the theft and accept the consequences.

While thinking over my situation, I began working privately as an artist. One day a man came to my studio and expressed interest in a painting. However, he was a detective and had a warrant for my arrest. So once again I was off to court and then to prison. Paul visited me, and I promised him, “You will not regret your effort to help me understand the Bible.” We continued to study while I was in prison.

I Proved My Sincerity

When released, I resolved to serve Jehovah with all my heart, and I proved my sincerity over the next two years. In 1988, I was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Eager to make up for the time I had wasted, I commenced full-time service as a pioneer minister, making a special effort to reach members of youth gangs.

One gang often scrawled graffiti on our Kingdom Hall. Because I knew the members and where they lived, I called on them, explained the purpose of the Kingdom Hall, and kindly requested that they respect our property. We had no more graffiti after that.

Later, when we were remodeling the hall and scraping off old paint, a young Witness named Fernando uncovered graffiti that read “The Frog” (La Rana, in Spanish). “That was me!” he exclaimed. As a gang member, Fernando had painted his nickname on the building. Now, he was taking it off!

The first time I saw Fernando, he was high on drugs. His mother had sent him to two rehabilitation centers, but in vain. Hence, she gave up on him, moved away, and left him alone in the house. Fernando sold everything of value​—even the doors, windows, and roof of the house—​to pay for his drug habit. I approached him on the street one day, gave him a soft drink, and offered him a Bible study. He accepted and, to my delight, responded to the truth. He left the gang, stopped his drug habit, began attending Christian meetings, and before long was baptized.

When Fernando and I preached together from door to door, people would often recognize us and exclaim “The Frog!” or “Superman!” and ask what we were doing. They were amazed to see a former gang member and a former thief visiting them, Bibles in hand.

On one occasion I was witnessing to a man while Fernando was talking to the man’s neighbor. Pointing to Fernando, the man said to me: “See that guy over there? He once put a gun to my head.” I reassured him that Fernando had abandoned his old ways and was now living in harmony with Bible principles. In fact, when Fernando finished talking to the neighbor, I called Fernando over and introduced him. “Young man,” said the householder, “I want to commend you for the changes you have made in your life.”

I cannot recall the number of times that people have made similar comments to Fernando and me. These have opened the way for a fine witness, resulting in a number of Bible studies. Yes, both Fernando and I are honored to be identified as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

A Milestone in My Life

In 2001, when I turned 50 years of age, I was both surprised and thrilled to be invited to attend a class of the Ministerial Training School to be held in Peru. This school gives qualified Witnesses eight weeks of in-depth spiritual instruction to help them in their ministry.

Every aspect of the school was a delight, with one exception​—public speaking, which terrified me. Many of the younger students gave excellent talks and seemed full of confidence. But when I got up to deliver my first talk, feelings of inferiority that had troubled me since childhood returned. My knees wobbled, my sweaty hands shook, and my voice trembled. Jehovah, though, supported me by means of his holy spirit and loving brothers. One of the instructors even took a personal interest in me and after class helped me prepare my talks. Above all, he taught me to trust in Jehovah. By the end of the course, for the first time in my life, I actually enjoyed speaking before an audience.

A big test of my confidence came at a convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Guayaquil. Before 25,000 people, I related how I became a Witness. As I spoke, however, I was overcome with emotion at the privilege of encouraging so many people, and my voice began to tremble. Later, one of the convention delegates approached me and said, “Brother González, when you related your experience, there was not a dry eye in the audience.” More than anything else, I had wanted my story to be a source of encouragement to those who may have been struggling to overcome their old ways.

I now serve as an elder and a regular pioneer and have had the joy of helping 16 people come to an accurate knowledge of Bible truth. I am thrilled that my parents and four of my sisters have also dedicated their lives to Jehovah. Mother died faithful to God in 2001. I cannot thank Jehovah enough for allowing me to come to know him, and I know of no better way to show my appreciation than to invite others to draw close to him as well.​—James 4:8.

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Fernando, The Frog, a former gang member whom I helped

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Paul Sánchez, the missionary who studied the Bible with me

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Vicente González today

The Bible’s Viewpoint

Is the Holy Spirit a Person?

WHAT is God’s holy spirit? In its opening words, the Bible speaks of the holy spirit​—also rendered “God’s active force”—​as “moving to and fro over the surface of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2) In the account of Jesus’ baptism, while God is described as being in “the heavens,” the holy spirit appears “descending like a dove” upon Jesus. (Matthew 3:16, 17) Additionally, Jesus spoke of the holy spirit as a “helper.”​—John 14:16.

These and other Bible passages have led some to conclude that the holy spirit is a person, just as God, Jesus, and the angels are individual spirit persons. In fact, for centuries some of the most influential religions of Christendom have attributed personality to the holy spirit. Despite this long-standing doctrine, many church members remain confused, and some even disagree with their religious leaders. For instance, according to a recent survey, 61 percent of those interviewed believe that God’s spirit is “a symbol of God’s presence or power but is not a living entity.” What, though, does the Bible say?

What the Bible Says

An honest Bible reader cannot help but conclude that the holy spirit differs from official church descriptions of it as a person. Consider the following Bible accounts.

1. When Mary, the mother of Jesus, visited her cousin Elizabeth, the Bible says that the unborn child in Elizabeth’s womb leaped, “and Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit.” (Luke 1:41) Is it reasonable that a person would be “filled” with another person?

2. When John the Baptizer spoke to his disciples about Jesus as the one who would succeed him, John said: “I, for my part, baptize you with water . . . , but the one coming after me is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not fit to take off. That one will baptize you people with holy spirit.” (Matthew 3:11) John could hardly have been referring to the holy spirit as a person when he spoke of baptizing people with it.

3. While visiting a Roman army officer and his family, the apostle Peter spoke of Jesus as having been anointed by God “with holy spirit and power.” (Acts 10:38) Shortly afterward, “the holy spirit fell upon” the army officer’s household. The account says that many were amazed “because the free gift of the holy spirit was being poured out also upon people of the nations.” (Acts 10:44, 45) Here again, the terms used are inconsistent with the idea of the holy spirit being a person.

It is not unusual for God’s Word to personify things that are not a person. These include wisdom, discernment, sin, death, and undeserved kindness. (Proverbs 8:1–9:6; Romans 5:14, 17, 21; 6:12) Jesus himself said that “wisdom is proved righteous by all its children,” or its good results. (Luke 7:35) Clearly, wisdom is not a person that has literal children! Likewise, the holy spirit is not a person simply because in some instances it is personified.

What Is the Holy Spirit?

In the Bible, God’s holy spirit is identified as God’s power in action. Hence, an accurate translation of the Bible’s Hebrew text refers to God’s spirit as “God’s active force.” (Genesis 1:2) This concept is well supported throughout the Bible.​—Micah 3:8; Luke 1:35; Acts 10:38.

Contrary to popular belief, God is not present everywhere at all times. Rather, he dwells in the spirit realm, in an “established place of dwelling,” or residence. (1 Kings 8:39; 2 Chronicles 6:39) The Scriptures also refer to a specific place where God lives and has his “throne.” (1 Kings 22:19; Isaiah 6:1; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 4:1-3) However, from his “established place of dwelling,” he can use his active force to reach out into every corner of both the spirit realm and the physical realm.​—Psalm 139:7.

Back in 1879, Bible scholar Charles L. Ives aptly illustrated God’s ability to exercise his power from a fixed location. He wrote: “For example, we say, ‘Open the shutters, and let the sun come into the room.’ We mean, not the real, bodily sun, but the solar ray, that which proceeds from the sun.” Similarly, God has no need to travel to the locations where he intends to use his active force. He simply employs his holy spirit, which can reach to the extremities of creation. Seeing the holy spirit for what it is​—God’s powerful active force—​can give you confidence that Jehovah will fulfill his promises.

HAVE YOU WONDERED?

◼ Does the Bible teach that the holy spirit is a person?​—Acts 10:44, 45.

◼ What is the holy spirit?​—Genesis 1:2.

◼ How far-reaching is God’s holy spirit?​—Psalm 139:7.

Why Is the Sea Salty?

IF ALL the salt in the sea were spread evenly over the land, it would form a layer more than 500 feet [150 m] thick​—about 45 stories high! Where does all that salt come from, especially considering that countless freshwater streams and rivers empty into the oceans? Scientists have discovered a number of sources.

One source is the ground beneath our feet. As rainwater seeps through soil and rocks, it dissolves tiny amounts of minerals, including salts and their chemical constituents, and carries them out to sea by means of streams and rivers (1). This process is called weathering. Of course, the concentration of salt in freshwater is very low, so we cannot taste it.

Another source is salt-forming minerals in the earth’s crust beneath the oceans. Water penetrates the seafloor through cracks, gets superheated, and returns to the surface with its cargo of dissolved minerals. Hydrothermal vents​—some forming deep-sea geysers—​disgorge the resulting chemical soup into the sea (2).

In a reverse process that has a similar end result, undersea volcanoes eject large amounts of hot rock into the oceans, where the rock releases chemicals into the water (3). An additional source of minerals is the wind, which carries particles from land out to sea (4). All these processes make seawater a solution of practically every element known. The major salt component, however, is sodium chloride​—common table salt. It makes up 85 percent of the dissolved salts and is the primary reason why seawater tastes salty.

What Keeps Salt Levels Stable?

Salts are concentrated in the sea because the water that evaporates from the ocean is almost pure. The minerals are left behind. At the same time, more minerals continue to enter the oceans; yet, the salt level remains stable at about 35 parts per thousand of seawater. Evidently, then, salts and other minerals are being added and removed at about the same rate. This raises the question, Where do the salts go?

Many salt components are absorbed into the bodies of living organisms. For instance, coral polyps, mollusks, and crustaceans harvest calcium, a salt component, for their shells and skeletons. Microscopic algas called diatoms extract silica. Bacteria and other organisms consume dissolved organic matter. When these organisms die or are eaten, the salts and minerals in their bodies eventually settle to the seafloor as dead matter or feces (5).

Many salts not removed by biochemical processes are disposed of in other ways. For example, clay and other terrestrial materials that find their way into the oceans by means of rivers, land runoff, and volcanic fallout may bind certain salts and carry them down to the seafloor. Some salts also bind to rock. Thus, through a number of processes, much of the salt ends up being added to the seafloor (6).

Many researchers believe that geophysical processes complete the cycle, albeit over aeons of time. The earth’s crust is made up of gigantic plates. Some of these meet at subduction zones, where one plate plunges beneath its neighbor and sinks into the hot mantle. Usually, the denser oceanic plate sinks beneath its lighter continental neighbor, at the same time carrying its cargo of salty sediments with it like a great conveyor belt. In this way much of the earth’s crust slowly gets recycled (7). Earthquakes, volcanoes, and rift zones are three manifestations of this process.a

Amazing Stability

Ocean salinity varies from place to place and sometimes from season to season. The saltiest unenclosed waters are in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, where evaporation is very high. Regions of ocean that receive freshwater from large rivers or much rainfall are less salty than average. So, too, is seawater near melting polar ice, which is frozen freshwater. Conversely, when ice forms, nearby seawater becomes more saline. Overall, though, ocean salinity is very stable.

Seawater also has a relatively stable pH, which is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, 7 being neutral. The pH of seawater ranges between 7.4 and 8.3, which is slightly alkaline. (Human blood has a pH of about 7.4.) If the pH were to go out of this range, the oceans would be in big trouble. In fact, this is what some scientists now fear. Much of the carbon dioxide that humans are adding to the atmosphere ends up in the oceans, where it reacts with water to form carbonic acid. So human activity may be slowly acidifying the oceans.

Many of the mechanisms that keep seawater chemically stable are not completely understood. Still, what we have learned underscores the vast wisdom of the Creator, who cares about his handiwork.​—Revelation 11:18.

[Footnote]

[Diagram/​Pictures on page 16, 17]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

Rain

1 Minerals in rocks

2 Hydrothermal vent

3 Oceanic eruption

4 Wind

OCEAN

OCEAN FLOOR

EARTH’S CRUST

5 Diatoms

6 Volcanic fallout

7 SUBDUCTION ZONE

[Credit Lines]

Vent: © Science VU/​Visuals Unlimited; eruption: REUTERS/​Japan Coast Guard/​Handout

Diatoms: Dr. Neil Sullivan, USC/​NOAA Corps; volcano photo: Dept. of Interior, National Park Service

[Box/​Diagram on page 18]

Salts Found in the Sea

Even though scientists have studied seawater for over a century, they still have incomplete knowledge of its chemical composition. However, they have been able to isolate the various dissolved salt constituents and to calculate their proportions. These components include:

[Diagram]

55% Chloride

30.6 Sodium

7.7 Sulfate

3.7 Magnesium

1.2 Calcium

1.1 Potassium

0.4 Bicarbonate

0.2 Bromide

and a number of others, such as borate, strontium, and fluoride.

[Box/​Picture on page 18]

Saltier Than the Ocean

Some inland bodies of water are saltier than the ocean. A prime example is the Dead Sea, the saltiest body of water on earth. Water flows into the Dead Sea, called the Salt Sea in Bible times, carrying dissolved salts and other minerals. (Numbers 34:3, 12) Because the shore of the Dead Sea is the lowest dry spot on earth, water can leave only one way​—through evaporation, which can reduce the sea level as much as one inch [25 mm] a day in summer.

Consequently, the salt content of the upper layer of water is about 30 percent​—nearly ten times that of the Mediterranean Sea. Because water density increases with salinity, swimmers float very high in the water. In fact, they can lie on their back and read a newspaper without the aid of a flotation device.

[Box on page 18]

Salt Helps Clean the Air

Research has shown that pollution particles in air suppress precipitation from clouds over land. Polluted clouds over the ocean, however, more readily produce rain. The difference is attributed to sea-salt aerosols, which originate in sea spray.

Water droplets that form on pollution particles in the atmosphere tend to be too small to fall as raindrops; hence, they just stay in suspension. Sea-salt aerosols seed oceanic clouds by attracting these small droplets and forming larger ones. The result is rain, which also helps to purify the atmosphere of pollutants.

When Fish Make You Sick

BY AWAKE! WRITER IN FIJI

To eat or not to eat​—this was Arebonto’s dilemma. He knew the risk, but he was hungry. And the barbecued fish smelled delicious. His appetite won out. But the rapid onset of nausea and abdominal pain followed by vomiting and diarrhea made him wish he had not eaten the fish.

BY THE time friends rushed Arebonto to the hospital on his small Pacific island, he was semiconscious and dehydrated and had chest pains, dangerously low blood pressure, and a slow pulse. Over the next few days, in addition to headaches, dizziness, and fatigue, he experienced numbness in his legs, painful urination, and a strange sensory reversal whereby cold felt hot and hot felt cold. After eight days his pulse rate stabilized, but numbness and fatigue persisted for weeks.

Arebonto had fallen victim to potent, naturally occurring toxins that contaminate otherwise normally edible tropical reef fish. The condition, known as ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP), occurs in tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian and Pacific oceans and in the Caribbean. In these areas, locally caught fish are a major food source.

CFP is not a new disease. In fact, it was the bane of European maritime explorers. Likewise, many a present-day vacationer has suffered from its debilitating effects. Understandably, the disease imposes constraints on the fishing and tourist industries of many island nations. Moreover, international trade in live and frozen reef fish has extended the geographic range of CFP beyond the Tropics to places where it is not readily recognized.a

What causes reef fish to become toxic? Can toxic fish be identified? Consider what decades of research has revealed.

Identifying the Culprit

A microorganism called a dinoflagellate is generally regarded as the source of the toxins that cause CFP.b The microbe lives on dead coral and attaches itself to algas. Small fish graze on the algas and ingest the toxins​—called ciguatoxins—​produced by the dinoflagellates. These fish are eaten by larger fish, which, in turn, are eaten by still others, concentrating the toxins higher up the food chain. The fish, however, seem unaffected.

Ciguatoxins are among the most lethal biological substances known. Fortunately, “only a few species of fish are incriminated in CFP,” says an Australian government paper. Ciguatoxins do not alter the appearance, smell, or taste of fish and cannot be destroyed by cooking, drying, salting, smoking, or marinating. In Arebonto’s case, nothing about the fish he ate warned him of the hidden menace until he experienced severe gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and neurological symptoms.

Diagnosis and Treatment

At present there is no laboratory test for CFP in humans. Diagnosis is based on the appearance of a variety of symptoms, which usually appear within hours after eating and may be confirmed by testing leftover fish for toxins. (See the box on the opposite page.) If you suspect CFP, it is wise to seek medical help. Although there is no known antidote, treatment may relieve the symptoms, which usually subside within a few days. However, CFP can be debilitating, and early treatment may prevent its effects from becoming chronic.

The severity of the symptoms varies, depending on a number of factors. These include the toxicity of the fish, the amount and the parts of the fish eaten, the level of the ciguatoxins already in the patient, and the geographic origin of the fish, for toxins seem to differ slightly from region to region. Instead of developing an immunity to these toxins, humans become more sensitive, making repeat attacks even worse! Consuming alcohol also exacerbates symptoms. To avoid a relapse, the patient should refrain from eating fish for three to six months after a bout with CFP, explains a publication on this widespread disease.

Severe cases may last for weeks or months and sometimes even for years, resulting in symptoms similar to chronic fatigue syndrome. In rare cases, death occurs from shock, respiratory or heart failure, or dehydration. Such cases, though, are usually associated with the consumption of tissue where toxins are more concentrated, such as the head or the internal organs of the fish.

An Enduring Enigma

Virtually all fish that inhabit coral reefs, and their predators, are potentially ciguatoxic. But herein lies an enigma. Fish from one reef area may be highly toxic, but the same species caught nearby may be safe. A frequently implicated species in one part of the world may be considered safe in another. Since the release of toxins by dinoflagellates is erratic, the occurrence of toxic fish is unpredictable.

Adding to the problem, a cost-effective, reliable test for toxic fish remains elusive. The best that health authorities can do at present is to inform the public of what fish to avoid and where these might be caught​—information that is based on reported cases of CFP. Highly suspect species include barracuda, grouper, kingfish, red bass, rockfish, and snapper, as well as moray eel. Older, larger fish usually present a higher risk. In some places it is illegal to sell potentially unsafe fish. However, pelagic fish that do not prey on reef fish and fish from temperate waters are generally considered to be safe.

The incidence of CFP is predicted to rise. In part, this is because dead coral creates an environment favorable to the proliferation of toxic dinoflagellates, and reports indicate that a growing number of coral reefs are either sick or dying.

Despite the unpredictable nature of CFP, you can minimize the risk by observing some basic principles. (See the box above.) Arebonto almost died because he did not follow these guidelines. He ate the head and flesh of a local rockfish known to pose a high risk. He had eaten that species before without ill effects and, like many other islanders, became overconfident.

Does the foregoing mean that you should avoid seafood, perhaps while enjoying a tropical vacation? Not at all. The prudent course is to observe the warnings and to choose your fish wisely.

[Footnotes]

[Box/​Picture on page 21]

Common Symptoms

◼ Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps

◼ Chills, sweating, dizziness, headaches, itching

◼ Numbness or tingling around the mouth, hands, or feet

◼ Sensory reversal​—cold feels hot, hot feels cold

◼ Pain in muscles and joints and when urinating

◼ Slow pulse rate, low blood pressure, fatigue

[Box/​Picture on page 21]

Minimize the Risk

◼ Ask the local fisheries department or fishing experts about the fish to avoid and the areas where toxic fish are caught.

◼ Avoid eating fish from areas where ciguatera was recently reported.

◼ Avoid eating older, larger reef fish.

◼ Do not eat the head or the liver or other internal organs.

◼ As soon as you catch a reef fish, gut it properly.

[Pictures on page 20, 21]

Regular Suspects

(COMMON NAMES MAY VARY)

Snapper

Grouper

Barracuda

Rockfish

Kingfish

Moray eel

[Picture on page 20]

Dinoflagellate, source of the toxins

[Picture Credit Lines on page 20]

All fish except eel: Illustrated by Diane Rome Peebles-Provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Marine Fisheries Management; eel: Photo by John E. Randall; dinoflagellate: Image by D. Patterson and R. Andersen, provided courtesy of micro*scope (http://​microscope.mbl.edu)

[Picture Credit Line on page 21]

Fish backgrounds: Illustrated by Diane Rome Peebles-Provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Marine Fisheries Management

A Massage for Baby?

BY AWAKE! WRITER IN SPAIN

ANITA, a young mother from Nigeria, bathes her baby and then carefully massages her. Both mother and baby thoroughly enjoy themselves. “This is a traditional practice for Nigerian mothers in caring for their babies,” explains Anita. “My own mother used to massage me and my brothers. Massage is an excellent way to tone up a baby’s muscles and make it feel relaxed. While massaging my baby, I sing and talk to her, and she gurgles and smiles back. It is a wonderful experience!”

Infant massage is common in many lands, and it is becoming popular in some Western countries. According to the Spanish Association for Infant Massage, a massage is a subtle, tender, and pleasant technique that enables a parent to communicate physically and emotionally with the baby. It includes a series of gentle yet firm strokes of the baby’s feet and legs as well as the back, chest, stomach, arms, and face.

What does a baby get from a massage? Above all, a feeling of love and tenderness. A newborn not only needs to be fed but also needs to receive parental affection. Since the sense of touch develops early in life, gentle massaging by the mother or father communicates this love in a tangible way. Much information​—physical and emotional—​can be transmitted to a baby. Massaging can thus help to cement a bond of affection between parents and their baby right from birth.

Apart from expressing love, massage may teach a baby to relax, which may contribute to longer sound sleep and less stress. Massage may also help to tone muscles as well as regulate the circulatory, digestive, and respiratory systems. Some people claim that the infant’s immune system benefits too. And because the baby’s senses of touch, sight, and sound are stimulated, massage may also encourage memory and learning.

Some hospitals have looked into the value of infant massage as well. For example, one study found that premature babies who were massaged could leave the hospital up to seven days earlier than those who were not massaged, and they had an increased weight gain of up to 47 percent compared with the latter.

Evidently, adults are not the only ones who benefit from a good rubdown! Of course, for babies a massage is more than just a rub. It is love expressed by warm hands and gentle fingers, along with a big smile.

Young People Ask . . .

What Should I Do With My Life?

“At first, I didn’t worry about the future. But as I got closer to graduating from school, I realized that I was going out into the real world, with real jobs. And real bills.”​—Alex, 17.

AS A child, did you daydream about what you would be when you grew up? How do you feel about those ambitions now? Are you confused about how you will support yourself as an adult? If so, you’re not alone. “Career decision making is one of the major challenges young people face,” says the book Career Coaching Your Kids.

On the other hand, a career might be the last thing on your mind right now. Perhaps you are more concerned with having fun. There is nothing wrong with having a good time, for the Bible tells you to “enjoy life while you are young!” (Ecclesiastes 11:9, Contemporary English Version) Nevertheless, now is an appropriate time to start thinking about what you will do with your life. “The shrewd one considers his steps,” says Proverbs 14:15. How can you consider yours?

“Know Where You Are Headed”

Imagine that you are planning a journey that will take you many miles from home. Probably, you would first consult a map to determine the best route. It is similar with planning your future. “You have a wide variety of options,” says Michael, a young man who now serves at one of the branch offices of Jehovah’s Witnesses. How do you sort through the vast array of choices? “It’s all about goals,” Michael says.

Think of a goal as a target destination. You will likely not reach it by wandering about aimlessly. It is far better to pull out a map and plot your course, so to speak. In this way you will be following the admonition of Proverbs 4:26: “Smooth out the course of your foot.” The Contemporary English Version renders that phrase: “Know where you are headed.”

In the coming years, you will make many important decisions regarding worship, employment, marriage, family, and other vital matters. Wise choices will be easier to make if you first know where you are headed. And as you plot your course in life, there is one factor that you cannot ignore.

“Remember Your Creator”

If you are to be truly happy, you must take to heart the words of wise King Solomon: “Remember your Creator while you are still young.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1, Today’s English Version) The roads you choose in life should be influenced by a desire to please God.

Why is that important? The Bible says at Revelation 4:11: “You are worthy, Jehovah, even our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.” Yes, all creatures in heaven and on earth owe a debt of gratitude to the Creator. Are you thankful that he has given you “life and breath and all things”? (Acts 17:25) Do you not feel compelled to give something back to Jehovah God in appreciation for all that he has given you?

Keeping their Creator close in mind, many youths among Jehovah’s Witnesses have chosen to pursue the full-time ministry. The fact is, the full-time ministry is a noble goal, and it brings countless blessings. (Malachi 3:10) Forethought, though, will be needed. For example, ask yourself, ‘What abilities and skills do I have that I could use to support myself in the full-time ministry?’

Kelly, now 27, started with a plan early in life. She had a clear goal of entering the full-time ministry. In her late teens, Kelly started “plotting her course” when it came to employment. “I had to choose something that would allow me to support myself in my ministry,” she says.

Kelly trained to be a dental assistant through a vocational program in high school. She even won a state competition. But her success did not cause her to lose sight of her primary goal. “The full-time ministry was what I wanted to do,” says Kelly. “Everything else was secondary.” Kelly is still enjoying the full-time ministry. “I feel my decision was the best one that I could have made,” she says.

Ask for Directions

If you were traveling in an unfamiliar area, at some point you would likely need to ask for directions​—even if you had a map. You can do the same with planning your future. Get the input of others. Proverbs 20:18 says: “By counsel plans themselves are firmly established.” Of course, your parents are one vital resource. You can also seek the advice of mature Christians whose life reflects godly wisdom. “Look at those who are good examples as adults in your congregation or nearby areas,” recommends Roberto. “They can tell you some things that are quite surprising.”

More than anyone else, Jehovah God wants to help you make choices in life that will give you the greatest happiness. So ask him to help you ‘go on perceiving what his will is’ regarding your future. (Ephesians 5:17) If you trust in Jehovah with all your heart, “he himself will make your paths straight.”​—Proverbs 3:5, 6.

More articles from the “Young People Ask . . .” series can be found at the Web site www.watchtower.org/​ypa

TO THINK ABOUT

◼ What abilities and skills do you have?

◼ Can you think of ways that these abilities can be used to praise Jehovah?

◼ Which particular form of full-time service mentioned in this article appeals to you?

[Box on page 23]

A DEAD-END STREET

The Bible says: “Those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin.” The road to wealth is riddled with potholes! Ultimately, it can be a dead-end street of debt, anxiety, and spiritual collapse.​—1 Timothy 6:9, 10.

[Box/​Pictures on page 24, 25]

PIONEERING

A pioneer publisher is an exemplary, baptized Christian who has arranged to spend a minimum of 70 hours each month preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom. Through training and experience, pioneers sharpen their skills as Bible teachers.

BETHEL SERVICE

Bethel family members serve in branch offices of Jehovah’s Witnesses, where they help in the preparation, production, and shipping of Bible literature. Each assignment at Bethel is a sacred privilege of service.

SERVING WHERE THERE IS A GREATER NEED

Some pioneers are able to move to areas where there is a greater need for Kingdom proclaimers. Others learn another language and serve either in a foreign land or with a congregation using that language.

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

International servants travel to other lands to aid in the construction of Kingdom Halls and branch facilities. This is a form of sacred service comparable to the work of those who constructed Solomon’s temple.​—1 Kings 8:13-18.

MINISTERIAL TRAINING SCHOOL

The eight-week course trains qualified single elders and ministerial servants in organizational matters and public speaking. Some graduates are assigned to serve in their home country; others take on a foreign assignment.

MISSIONARY SERVICE

Qualified pioneers with health and stamina are trained for service in foreign lands. Missionaries lead exciting, fulfilling lives.

[Box/​Picture on page 24]

WHAT WILL I DO WITH MY LIFE?

This program, produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses, features candid interviews with youths from Brazil, Britain, Germany, and the United States. It will soon be available in a number of languages.

[Picture on page 23]

“It’s all about goals.”​—Michael, a Bethel family member

[Picture on page 24]

“It was the best decision I could have made.”​—Kelly, a pioneer for six years

[Picture on page 25]

“Look at those who are good examples.”​—Roberto, a Bethel family member

Britain’s “Forgotten Genius”

BY AWAKE! WRITER IN BRITAIN

ROBERT HOOKE, described by his contemporaries as “the most inventive man who ever lived,” is now hailed as England’s Leonardo da Vinci.a Born in 1635, Hooke was appointed curator of experiments at the Royal Society of London in 1662 and made secretary in 1677. He died in 1703. Despite his scientific prestige, however, his remains lie buried in an unknown grave somewhere in north London.

In recent years scientists and historians have worked hard to restore the reputation of this “forgotten genius,” as biographer Stephen Inwood calls Hooke. In 2003, to mark the 300th anniversary of Hooke’s death, London’s Royal Observatory Greenwich exhibited some of his extraordinary inventions and discoveries. Who was Robert Hooke, and why was he all but forgotten for so long?

Hooke’s Legacy

Hooke was a learned man and a brilliant inventor. Among his many creations are the universal joint, used in today’s motor vehicles; the iris diaphragm, which regulates the aperture size in cameras; and the spring control in the balance wheel of watches. He formulated Hooke’s law, an equation still in use today to describe the elasticity of springs. He also developed an air pump for Robert Boyle, an eminent British physicist and chemist.

One of Hooke’s greatest achievements, however, was his design of a compound microscope, which was later built by Christopher Cock, a famous instrument maker in London. Hooke subsequently coined the word “cell” to describe the honeycomb cavities in cork, which he could examine through his instrument. “Cell” was later applied to the basic building blocks of living things.

Hooke’s book Micrographia (Small Drawings), published in 1665, brought him early fame. Its contents include accurate, beautifully drawn illustrations by Hooke himself of insect life as he saw it under his microscope. His most famous drawing is that of a flea. About 12 inches by 18 inches [30 by 45 cm], the engraving shows the flea’s claws, spines, and armor-plating. That these tiny creatures often live on people shocked well-to-do readers of the day. Ladies allegedly fainted at the sight of the picture!

After comparing the magnified point of a man-made needle with natural things, Hooke wrote: “The Microscope can afford us hundreds of Instances of Points many thousand times sharper” than those of a needle. He pointed to the hairs, bristles, and claws of insects as well as to the thorns, hooks, and hairs of leaves. These “works of Nature,” he felt, proclaim the omnipotence of their Maker. “For the first time,” says Encyclopædia Britannica, the microscope had revealed “a world in which living organisms display an almost incredible complexity.”

Hooke was the first person to examine fossils under a microscope, which led him to conclude that they were the remains or traces of long-dead organisms. Micrographia contained many more fascinating scientific observations. In fact, noted diarist Samuel Pepys, a contemporary of Hooke, called Micrographia “the most ingenious book that I ever read.” Allan Chapman, a historian of science at Oxford University, described the work as “one of the formative books of the modern world.”

Rebuilding London

After the Great Fire of London in 1666, Hooke was appointed surveyor. He worked closely with his friend Christopher Wren, a fellow scientist and surveyor to the king, in rebuilding the city. Among Hooke’s many designs is London’s 202-foot-tall [62 m] Monument, erected to commemorate the fire. Hooke intended to use The Monument, the tallest freestanding stone column in the world, to test his theories on gravity.

Although the Royal Observatory Greenwich is attributed to Wren, Hooke played a major part in its design. Montague House, first home of the British Museum, was another of Hooke’s many projects.

Hooke excelled as an astronomer and was among the first to build a reflecting telescope, which he named after Scottish mathematician and astronomer James Gregory. Hooke observed that the planet Jupiter rotates on its axis, and his sketches of Mars were used two centuries later to determine the planet’s rate of rotation.

Why Forgotten?

In 1687, Isaac Newton published Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. Released 22 years after Hooke’s Micrographia, Newton’s work described the laws of motion, including the law of gravity. But as Allan Chapman observes, Hooke “developed many of the components of gravitation theory before Newton.” Newton’s research into the nature of light had also been stimulated by Hooke’s work.

Sadly, arguments about optics and gravity soured the relationship between the two men. Newton even removed references to Hooke from Mathematical Principles. According to one authority, Newton also tried to erase Hooke’s contributions to science from the records. Additionally, Hooke’s instruments​—many of them handmade—​a number of his papers, and the only authentic portrait of the man vanished soon after Newton became president of the Royal Society. As a result of these developments, Hooke’s fame all but sank into oblivion for over two centuries.

Ironically, it was in a letter to Hooke dated February 5, 1675, that Newton wrote his famous words: “If I have seen further it is by standing on ye sholders of Giants.” As an architect, astronomer, experimental scientist, inventor, and surveyor, Robert Hooke was a giant in his day.

[Footnote]

[Pictures on page 26]

Hooke’s drawings of snowflakes and frost patterns

[Picture on page 26]

Hooke’s microscope design

[Picture on page 27]

Hooke coined the word “cell” to describe the cavities in cork

[Picture on page 27]

Hooke’s book “Micrographia” illustrated what he saw through his microscope

[Pictures on page 27]

Approximate size of a flea

Ladies allegedly fainted at the sight of Hooke’s drawing of a flea

[Picture on page 28]

Montague House was one of Hooke’s many architectural designs

[Picture on page 28]

A drawing by Hooke, illustrating his law of elasticity

[Picture on page 28]

London’s Memorial Tower is the tallest freestanding stone column in the world

[Picture on page 28]

The Royal Observatory

[Picture Credit Line on page 26]

Spring, microscope, and snowflakes: Images courtesy of the Posner Memorial Collection, Carnegie Mellon University Libraries

[Picture Credit Line on page 27]

Images courtesy of the Posner Memorial Collection, Carnegie Mellon University Libraries

[Picture Credit Lines on page 28]

Spring diagram: Image courtesy of the Posner Memorial Collection, Carnegie Mellon University Libraries; London’s Memorial Tower: Matt Bridger/​DHD Multimedia Gallery; Royal Observatory: © National Maritime Museum, London

Watching the World

“Close to six million children every year​—one every five seconds—​die because they didn’t get enough to eat.”​—JAMES T. MORRIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

◼ The official death toll for Hurricane Katrina, which struck the southern United States in August 2005, is more than 1,300.​—THE WASHINGTON POST, U.S.A.

◼ The earthquake that hit northern Pakistan and India in October 2005 took more than 74,000 lives.​—BBC NEWS, BRITAIN.

◼ One report suggests that “nearly 1.2 million people die on the world’s roads each year.”​—SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL, SOUTH AFRICA.

Troublesome Treasures

Roman Catholic Church authorities are in a quandary as to how to protect colonial-period art treasures that adorn Peru’s churches. Over the past six years, 200 churches have been targeted by thieves. During the past 15 years, in Cuzco alone some 5,000 works of art, mainly valuable oil paintings, have been stolen. No one knows exactly how many pieces have been lost nationwide. To combat pillagers, some churches have hidden their artwork, but in unsuitable conditions. One parish had part of its collection of oil paintings eaten by rodents.

Finland’s Labor Market Crisis

The industrial and service sectors in Finland desperately need skilled laborers who have completed basic vocational training, such as carpenters, plumbers, welders, bricklayers, mechanics, machinists, and nurses. Why? Emphasis has been put on higher education, explains the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. “It is absurd to turn an entire generation into doctors and masters of arts and sciences,” states Heikki Ropponen of the Federation of Finnish Retailers. “Vocational training should be more highly valued.”

Favorable Court Ruling in France

On December 1, 2005, the Paris Court of Appeal ordered France’s interior minister to grant Jehovah’s Witnesses access to police documents used to blacklist them as a “cult” in 1996. The list was prepared in closed hearings, and the contents of the documents were kept secret on grounds of ‘State and public security.’ The court found, however, that the “assessments of the effects” of the Witnesses’ activities as found in the documents were of a “trivial nature.” Even so, the list has been used repeatedly to justify prejudicial treatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses in France.

The “Green Great Wall”

Overgrazing, drought, deforestation, and overexploitation of water resources are turning vast areas of China into a dust bowl. Hence, Chinese authorities have begun “the biggest ecological project the world has seen,” says New Scientist. “Under this programme, which has become known as the ‘green great wall,’ trees have been planted on an unprecedented scale to create a barrier that will halt the dust in its tracks.” Grasses and shrubs are also being planted to stabilize dusty soils. Begun in 1978, the project is almost halfway to its goal of covering 86 million acres [35 million ha] of land with trees and drought-tolerant plants.

From Our Readers

Cooperation​—Vital to Life (September 8, 2005) I have to admit that when I first saw the cover of this issue, I did not think that I would be interested in the topic. But I read the whole series, and I loved it! Many times while reading, I stopped to thank Jehovah for the wonderful way in which he created things. It was remarkable to see how the animals work together.

B. K., United States

Young People Ask . . . How Can I Avoid Getting Involved With the Wrong People? (August 22, 2005) I was attracted to a “wrong” person who was not really rooted in Bible truth. The information helped me to understand the danger of associating with a spiritually weak person. It’s good to know that Jehovah cares for us. Thank you for the timely help.

A.B.K., Zambia

This article helped me to see the need to change my associates. Although that was difficult, the article​—which I keep close by—​continues to strengthen me. Thank you for the help and encouragement you give to us young ones.

L. R., United States

The Bible’s Viewpoint​—Should You Pray to the Virgin Mary? (September 8, 2005) I admire Jehovah’s Witnesses because you are irreproachable in your conduct and your magazines have done me much good. However, how can you say that we should not ask favors of Mary? She intercedes with the Father for us so that we can be at peace.

E. R., Spain

“Awake!” responds: As the article explained, nowhere does the Bible authorize us to pray to anyone other than God. According to Catholic priest and writer Andrew Greeley, “the Mary symbol links Christianity directly to the ancient religions of mother goddesses.” Thus, the veneration of Mary has pagan, not Christian, roots. This may be a new thought to many of our readers, and we encourage such ones to examine the Bible to find out what it really teaches. Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses were once Catholics, but, upon studying God’s Word, they learned that God does not want us to pray through anyone except Jesus Christ, our only intercessor. (Hebrews 7:25) For more information, see the book “What Does the Bible Really Teach?”a Chapter 15, entitled “Worship That God Approves,” discusses the importance of conforming our beliefs to the Holy Scriptures.

Facing Illness With a Sense of Humor (April 22, 2005) My wife died of liver failure in December 2002. She suffered for about eight months. Still, she would only talk about positive things and told experiences that made us laugh. Right up to the end, she always kept things upbeat. After reading this article, I can understand why. She needed a positive attitude as much as we did. It must have made her feel better, as was true with Conchi. Thank you for helping me see why my wife acted the way she did.

D. H., United States

From Our Readers I always look forward to the column “From Our Readers.” Sometimes I read a letter from someone and think, ‘I feel the same way!’ At other times I ask myself, ‘Did I miss that point in the article?’ Then I read the article again, and I am often impressed and encouraged by doing so.

M. T., Japan

[Footnote]

How Would You Answer?

WHERE DID IT HAPPEN?

1. In which city did this event take place?

Circle your answer on the map.

Tarsus

Antioch (of Syria)

Damascus

Jerusalem

◆ Who is in the basket?

․․․․․

◆ Why is he fleeing the city?

․․․․․

◼ For Discussion: When might you flee from trouble? Must Christians always run away from trouble? Why do you answer that way?

WHEN IN HISTORY?

Draw a line from the picture to the correct date.

1513 B.C.E. 1512 1473 1450 468 455

2. Joshua 24:1-25

3. Exodus 32:1-6, 19

4. Ezra 8:1, 21, 31

WHO AM I?

5. I was a seamstress; my two names both mean “Gazelle,” and I was raised from the dead.

WHO AM I?

6. I lived by the sea and once had a famous houseguest who liked to fish. We both have the same name.

FROM THIS ISSUE

Answer these questions, and provide the missing Bible verse(s).

Page 8 How should a husband treat his wife? (Colossians 3:․․․)

Page 8 What is the best way to handle marital problems? (1 Peter 4:․․․)

Page 15 Does God live in a specific location? (1 Kings 8:․․․)

Page 25 Where can you find the best career advice? (Proverbs 3:․․․)

Children’s Picture Search

Can you find these pictures in this issue? In your own words, describe what is happening in each picture.

(Answers on page 13)

ANSWERS TO PAGE 31

1. Damascus.​—Acts 9:19, 25.

◆ Saul, later known as Paul.​—Acts 9:17-19.

◆ The Jews wanted to kill him because of his witnessing.​—Acts 9:22-24.

2. 1450 B.C.E.

3. 1513 B.C.E.

4. 468 B.C.E.

5. Tabitha, or Dorcas.​—Acts 9:36-41.

6. Simon the tanner.​—Acts 10:5, 6.

Family Happiness​—Is It Possible?

Last year a young mother wrote to the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mexico and requested help in achieving a happy family life. She explained that she had enjoyed reading Awake! magazine and said:

“I have been married for three years, and I would like to get advice and suggestions on building a good family. My husband and I had a beautiful boy two years ago, and I would also like to bring him up well.”

This mother had heard about the book The Secret of Family Happiness and wrote to request a copy. Thousands of others have done the same. After reading it many have reported how helpful it has been. Among the book’s instructive chapters are “Train Your Child From Infancy,” “Protect Your Family From Destructive Influences,” and “Maintain Peace in Your Household.”

You may request a copy of The Secret of Family Happiness by filling in the accompanying coupon and mailing it to the address shown on the coupon or to an appropriate address on page 5 of this magazine.

□ Without obligation, I request a copy of the book The Secret of Family Happiness.

□ Please contact me concerning a free home Bible study.