Why does the world seem to be spinning out of control?

The Bible says: “It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.”​—Jeremiah 10:23.

This issue of Awake! explains why many believe in a better future for our world.

THE year 2017 began with a dismal proclamation by the scientific community. In January a group of scientists declared that the world just got closer to the worst catastrophe ever. Using the symbolic Doomsday Clock to illustrate mankind’s proximity to a global disaster, scientists moved the clock’s minute hand forward by 30 seconds. The Doomsday Clock is now set at merely two and a half minutes to midnight​—nearer to a global catastrophe than at any time in over 60 years!

In 2018, scientists plan to evaluate again how close we are to the end of the world as we know it. Will the Doomsday Clock still signal an impending and unprecedented catastrophe? What do you think? Is the world out of control? You might find the question somewhat difficult to answer. After all, even experts are divided on this subject. Not everyone believes in an inevitable doomsday.

In fact, millions of people believe in a bright future. They profess to have evidence showing that mankind and our planet will survive indefinitely and that our quality of life will improve. Is that evidence credible? Is the world out of control or not?

IF YOU are apprehensive or scared outright by the barrage of bad news, you are not alone. In 2014, Barack Obama, who was then president of the United States, suggested that because of all the bad things reported in the press, many conclude “that the world is spinning . . . fast and nobody is able to control it.”

Yet, shortly after making that statement, he spoke passionately about current strategies to fix many of the world’s problems. He called certain government initiatives “good news” and said he was “fundamentally hopeful” and “profoundly optimistic.” In other words, he pointed to noble human endeavors as the means to control the world and avert a global catastrophe.

Many share his optimism. For instance, some put their trust in science, predicting rapid advancements in technologies that promise to fix the world. One expert in digital technology and innovation confidently predicted that by the year 2030, “our technology will be a thousand times more powerful and by 2045, it will be a million times more powerful.” He added: “We’re doing pretty well. While the problems we face have never been greater, our capacity to meet challenges is outpacing them.”

Exactly how bad are world conditions? Are we really at the brink of a great global disaster? Although some scientists and politicians preach a hopeful message, many people still feel uncertain about the future. Why?

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. Despite their best efforts, the United Nations and other organizations have failed to bring about nuclear disarmament. Instead, defiant leaders scoff at arms-control laws. Countries with a history of nuclear weaponry are frantically upgrading their old bombs and creating new deadlier ones. Countries that once had no mass-destruction capabilities are now able to destroy huge swaths of humanity.

This unprecedented nuclear preparedness makes the world a very dangerous place, even in times of “peace.” “Lethal autonomous weapons systems that make ‘kill’ decisions without human input or supervision, for example, would be particularly worrisome,” warns the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

OUR HEALTH UNDER SIEGE. Science can take us only so far when it comes to good health. High blood pressure, obesity, air pollution, and drug abuse​—all risk factors for disease—​are increasing. More people are dying from an array of noncommunicable diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and diabetes. Growing numbers are disabled by other diseases, including mental illness. And recent years have witnessed the unpredictable outbreaks of such dangerous epidemics as the Ebola virus and the Zika virus. The bottom line: Sickness is out of the control of humans, and the end of it seems to be nowhere in sight!

HUMAN ATTACKS ON NATURE. Factories continue to pollute earth’s atmosphere. Millions of people die every year from breathing contaminated air.

Individuals, communities, and government agencies continue to dump sewage, medical and agricultural waste, plastics, and other pollutants into the oceans. “These toxic pollutants poison marine animals and plants, as well as humans who eat contaminated sea life,” explains the Encyclopedia of Marine Science.

And we are running out of fresh water. British science author Robin McKie aptly warns: “The world faces a water crisis that will touch every part of the globe.” Politicians admit that water scarcity is largely a man-made problem and that it poses a grave danger.

NATURE’S ATTACKS ON HUMANS. Storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons, and earthquakes bring about devastating floods, crushing landslides, and other types of destruction. More people than ever are killed or are otherwise adversely affected by these forces of nature. A study published by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration points to a greater potential for “more intense storms, deadly heat waves, and more extreme flood-drought cycles.” Will nature deal humankind a deathblow?

Surely you can think of other grave threats to our survival. Yet, you will not find satisfying answers about the future by analyzing all the bad things happening today. Some may say the same about listening to politicians and scientists. As mentioned in the preceding article, many have, however, found convincing answers to questions about world conditions and the future. Where are such answers to be found?

For instance, consider the following Bible prophecies:

• “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another.”​—Matthew 24:7.

• “In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural 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 3:1-4.

Those prophecies describe a world that some might say is spiraling out of control. In a sense, our world is indeed out of control​—out of the control of humans. According to the Bible, humans simply do not have the wisdom and power to bring about a permanent solution. This is highlighted in the following scriptures:

• “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”​—Proverbs 14:12.

• “Man has dominated man to his harm.”​—Ecclesiastes 8:9.

• “It does not belong to man . . . even to direct his step.”​—Jeremiah 10:23.

Left to its own devices, the world could very likely face a global catastrophe. But that is not going to happen! Why? This is what the Bible says:

• God “has established the earth on its foundations; it will not be moved from its place forever and ever.”​—Psalm 104:5.

• “A generation is going, and a generation is coming, but the earth remains forever.”​—Ecclesiastes 1:4.

• “The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it.”​—Psalm 37:29.

• “There will be an abundance of grain on the earth; on the top of the mountains it will overflow.”​—Psalm 72:16.

These Bible teachings provide clear answers. Mankind will not die off from pollution, lack of food and water, or a global pandemic. The world will not be destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. Why not? God is in control of our planet’s future. Granted, God has allowed humans to exercise free will. However, they will reap the consequences for their decisions. (Galatians 6:7) The world is not like a runaway train, completely out of control and heading to a catastrophic end. God has established boundaries, or limits, on how much damage humans can inflict on themselves.​—Psalm 83:18; Hebrews 4:13.

But God will do more. He will bring about an “abundance of peace.” (Psalm 37:11) The positive outlook explained in this article is just a glimpse of the bright future that millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses have learned about by studying the Bible.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are a global community of men and women of all ages and of every ethnic background. They worship the one true God, whose name is Jehovah, as revealed in the Bible. They are not afraid of the future because the Bible says: “This is what Jehovah says, the Creator of the heavens, the true God, the One who formed the earth, its Maker who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, but formed it to be inhabited: ‘I am Jehovah, and there is no one else.’”​—Isaiah 45:18.

THE CHALLENGE

• Your son is behaving arrogantly​—and he is only ten!

• He expects everyone to treat him as special.

‘What has got into him?’ you wonder. ‘I want him to feel good about himself​—but not to think that he is better than everyone else!’

Is it possible to teach a child humility without damaging his or her self-worth?

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

In recent decades, parents have been encouraged to yield to their children’s desires; to praise them generously, even if they did nothing praiseworthy; to withhold correction and discipline. It was thought that if children were made to feel special, they would grow up with healthy self-esteem. But what have the results shown? The book Generation Me states: “Instead of creating well-adjusted, happy children, the self-esteem movement has created an army of little narcissists.”

Many children raised with unconditional praise have grown up unprepared for disappointments, criticism, and occasional failure. Because of being taught to focus on their own desires, they find it hard as adults to form lasting relationships. As a result, many of them suffer from anxiety and depression.

Children develop real self-worth, not by being constantly told that they are special, but through genuine accomplishments. That requires more than just believing in themselves. They need to learn, practice, and refine chosen skills carefully. (Proverbs 22:29) They also need to care about other people’s needs. (1 Corinthians 10:24) All of this requires humility.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Give praise when it is truly deserved. If your daughter scores well on a school test, commend her. If she gets a low grade, do not automatically blame the teacher. That would hardly help your daughter learn humility. Instead, help her to see how she may do better next time. Reserve praise for actual accomplishments.

Give correction when necessary. This does not mean that you should criticize your child for every mistake. (Colossians 3:21) But serious errors should be corrected. The same can be said about wrong attitudes. Otherwise, these may become more deeply ingrained.

For example, suppose your son is showing a tendency to brag. Uncorrected, he could become conceited and begin to alienate others. So explain to your child that boasting makes him look bad and that it could set him up for embarrassment. (Proverbs 27:2) Explain, too, that a person with a balanced view of himself does not feel the need to broadcast his abilities to others. By giving such correction in the spirit of love, you will teach him humility without hurting his self-respect.​—Bible principle: Matthew 23:12.

Prepare your child for life’s realities. Indulging a child’s every wish can cause him to feel entitled. So, for example, if your child wants something you cannot afford, explain why it is necessary to live within a budget. If you have to cancel an outing or a vacation, you could explain that disappointments are part of life and perhaps discuss how you deal with such disappointments. Rather than shield your children from every hardship, prepare them for the challenges they will face as adults.​—Bible principle: Proverbs 29:21.

Encourage giving. Prove to your child that “there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.” (Acts 20:35) How? Together you might prepare a list of people in need of help with shopping, transportation, or repair work. Then take your child along as you assist some of them. Allow your child to see your joy and satisfaction as you care for the needs of others. That way you will teach your child humility in the most powerful way​—by example.​—Bible principle: Luke 6:38.

IT WAS likely about 800 years ago that Maori tribes traveled across thousands of miles of ocean and settled in New Zealand. There they discovered a terrain that was totally unlike the tropical islands of Polynesia that they had left behind. Here was a land of mountains and glaciers, thermal springs and snow. Another race of settlers arrived about five centuries later, this time from distant Europe. Today most New Zealanders acknowledge traditions of both Anglo-Saxon and Polynesian origin. Almost 90 percent of the population are city dwellers. The city of Wellington has the distinction of being the southernmost capital in the world.

With diverse and spectacular scenic beauty, it is no surprise that, despite its relative isolation, New Zealand attracts up to three million tourists yearly.

New Zealand boasts an odd assortment of wildlife, with more species of flightless birds than anywhere else in the world. It is also home to the tuatara, a lizardlike reptile that can live for up to 100 years! The only indigenous mammals are a few species of bats and some large marine mammals, including whales and dolphins.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have been active in New Zealand for almost 120 years. They teach the Bible in at least 19 languages, including the Polynesian tongues Niuean, Rarotongan, Samoan, and Tongan.

Alhazen was born in Basra, now in Iraq, about 965 C.E. His interests included astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, music, optics, physics, and poetry. What in particular do we have to thank him for?

A DAM ON THE NILE

A story about Alhazen has circulated for a long time. It concerns his plan to regulate the flow of the Nile River almost 1,000 years before the project was actually carried out at Aswân in 1902.

As the story goes, Alhazen laid out ambitious plans to alleviate the cycle of floods and droughts in Egypt by damming the Nile. When Cairo’s ruler, Caliph al-Hakim, heard of the idea, he invited Alhazen to Egypt to build the dam. Yet, on seeing the river with his own eyes, Alhazen knew that the project was beyond him. Fearing punishment from this notoriously unstable ruler, Alhazen pretended to be insane until the caliph died some 11 years later, in 1021. In the meantime, Alhazen had plenty of leisure time to pursue other interests while confined for his feigned mental illness.

THE BOOK OF OPTICS

By the time of his release, Alhazen had written most of his seven-volume Book of Optics, considered to be “one of the most important books in the history of physics.” In it he discussed experiments into the nature of light, including how light splits into its constituent colors, reflects off mirrors, and bends when passing from one medium into another. He also studied visual perception and the anatomy and mechanics of the eye.

By the 13th century, Alhazen’s work had been translated from Arabic into Latin, and for centuries thereafter, European scholars cited it as an authority. Alhazen’s writings on the properties of lenses thus laid essential groundwork for European eyeglass makers who, by holding lenses one in front of another, invented the telescope and the microscope.

THE CAMERA OBSCURA

Alhazen identified the principles that underpin photography when he built what could amount to the first camera obscura on record. This enclosure consisted of a “dark room” into which light entered through a pinhole-size aperture, projecting an inverted image of what lay outside onto a wall inside the chamber.

In the 1800’s, photographic plates were added to the camera obscura to capture images permanently. The result? The camera. All modern cameras​—and indeed the eye itself—​use the same physical principles as the camera obscura.a

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

An outstanding aspect of Alhazen’s work was his meticulous and systematic research into natural phenomena. His approach was most unusual for his day. He was one of the first investigators to test theories by experimentation, and he was not afraid to question accepted wisdom if the evidence did not back it up.

A tenet of modern science can be summed up by the dictum: “Prove what you believe!” Some consider Alhazen to be “the father of the modern scientific method.” On that basis, we have much to thank him for.

What is God’s name?

WHAT SOME PEOPLE SAY

Many professed Christians believe that God’s name is Jesus. Others claim that since there is only one Almighty God, using a personal name for him is unnecessary. Still others argue that using a proper name for God is inappropriate.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

Almighty God’s name is not Jesus, since Jesus is not God Almighty. In fact, Jesus taught fellow worshippers to pray to God saying: “Father, let your name be sanctified.” (Luke 11:2) Jesus himself prayed to God: “Father, glorify your name.”​—John 12:28.

In the Bible, God declares: “I am Jehovah. That is my name; I give my glory to no one else.” (Isaiah 42:8) “Jehovah” is an English translation of the four Hebrew consonants YHWH, which constitute the divine name. That name appears some 7,000 times in the Hebrew Scriptures.a It is used more often than any title, such as “God,” “Almighty,” or “Lord,” and more frequently than any other name, such as Abraham, Moses, or David.

Nowhere in the Bible does Jehovah prohibit the respectful use of his name. Instead, the Scriptures reveal that the divine name was freely used by God’s servants. They included it in the names they gave their children, such as Elijah, which means “My God Is Jehovah,” and Zechariah, which means “Jehovah Has Remembered.” And they did not hesitate to use God’s name in daily conversations.​—Ruth 2:4.

God wants us to use his name. We are encouraged to “give thanks to Jehovah, call on his name.” (Psalm 105:1) He even takes favorable note of those “meditating on his name.”​—Malachi 3:16.

What does God’s name mean?

Some scholars believe that in Hebrew the name Jehovah means “He Causes to Become.” That definition implies that God can cause himself or his creation to become whatever is needed to accomplish his will. Only the almighty Creator could live up to such a name.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU

Knowing God’s name will change the way you think about him. You will find it easier to draw close to him. After all, how can you be close to someone whose name you do not know? Why, the very fact that God has revealed his name to you shows that he wants you to draw close to him.​—James 4:8.

You can be certain that Jehovah will always live up to his name as a God who makes things happen. That is why the Bible states: “Those knowing your name will trust in you.” (Psalm 9:10) You develop that trust as you learn that Jehovah’s name is inseparably linked to his qualities, such as loyal love, mercy, compassion, and justice. (Exodus 34:5-7) How reassuring to know that while Jehovah will always keep his promises, he will never act contrary to his qualities.

Clearly, to know Almighty God by name is a privilege. It can open up blessings for you now and in the future. God promises: “I will protect him because he knows my name.”​—Psalm 91:14.

“Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”​—Joel 2:32.

ANIMALS AND PLANTS

• Arctic Tern: No. 4

HEALTH AND MEDICINE

• Teen Depression: No. 1

HISTORICAL FIGURES

• Alhazen: No. 6

HUMAN RELATIONS

• ‘Good Name Is Better Than Great Wealth’: No. 4

• How to Show Appreciation (marriage): No. 1

• Importance of Chores (parents): No. 3

• Teaching Children Humility (parents): No. 6

• Thrill-Seeking Worth the Risk? (young people): No. 5

• When a Parent Dies (young people): No. 2

• When Children Grieve: No. 2

• When the Children Are Gone (marriage): No. 4

• Your Smile​—A Gift to Share: No. 1

INTERVIEWS

• Brain Pathologist Explains His Faith (Rajesh Kalaria): No. 4

• Software Designer Explains His Faith (Dr. Fan Yu): No. 3

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

• “Touched to See Such Love” (Nepal earthquake): No. 1

LANDS AND PEOPLES

• Kazakhstan: No. 5

• New Zealand: No. 6

• Spain: No. 2

MISCELLANEOUS

• Are You Doing Too Much? No. 4

• Energy Conservation: No. 5

• What Is Behind the Supernatural? No. 2

RELIGION

• Bible Really From God? No. 3

SCIENCE

• Brilliant Blue of the Pollia Berry: No. 4

• Compound Heat Shield of Saharan Silver Ant: No. 1

• Enteric Nervous System: No. 3

• Landing Strategy of the Honeybee: No. 2

• Sea Otter’s Fur: No. 3

• Shape of Seashells: No. 5

THE BIBLE’S VIEWPOINT

• Abortion: No. 1

• Angels: No. 3

• God’s Name: No. 6

• Temptation: No. 4

• The Cross: No. 2

• War: No. 5

WORLD AFFAIRS AND CONDITIONS

• When Disaster Strikes​—Steps That Can Save Lives: No. 5

• World Out of Control? No. 6

Help your children learn to tell the truth.

(Look under BIBLE TEACHINGS > CHILDREN)

The Bible describes clearly how to tell the difference between true and false religion.

(Look under BIBLE TEACHINGS > BIBLE QUESTIONS ANSWERED)