Awake!, November 8, 1978

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Awake! — November 8, 1978

Source: jw.org

Contents

Page Two

What Is Your View of the Dead?

Spiritistic Religion—Why It Appeals to Many. Is It for You?

Listening to Gossip

Plan Well for Your Travel Abroad

A Soft Ride—Long Sought, Now Possible

What Is Behind Those Superstitions?

Education That Encourages Success

Factory-built Houses—Which One Would You Buy?

Sydney’s Home for the Arts

Do We Suffer for Our Sins?

Watching the World

Aid to Bible Understanding

Can Unseen Spirits Help You?

Page Two

3 WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF THE DEAD?

The viewpoint of many is reflected in festivities and solemn rites in which they share. Is your viewpoint one that provides a genuine sustaining hope? It can be

5 SPIRITISTIC RELIGION—WHY IT APPEALS TO MANY. IS IT FOR YOU?

Conventional religion is being abandoned by large numbers of persons in favor of those that feature supernatural experiences. Are these truly of God? How can you know for sure?

What Is Your View of the Dead?

A WOMAN stands mourning at the grave of her husband, who was killed in an accident. It is November 2, known throughout Christendom as All Souls’ Day. On this occasion millions of persons the world over visit cemeteries to decorate graves with flowers and garlands.

What is the reason for this? Many feel that their presence at the graves on that day can benefit the “souls” of dead loved ones. Roman Catholics believe that certain religious activities and prayers on All Souls’ Day can bring relief for souls suffering in “purgatory.” According to Catholic teaching, purgatory is a place of temporary punishment to purify the soul before it can gain admittance to heaven.

Though not advocating belief in purgatory, some Protestant churches also observe All Souls’ Day. In fact, it is the last of three consecutive days that Christendom views as having a special relationship to the dead. The day before, November 1, is All Saints’ Day, in honor of the souls of “saints,” who are thought to have already made it to heaven. And the previous day, October 31, is called “Halloween,” and it gets its name from being the eve of “All Hallows’ [Saints] Day.”

Halloween, too, bears a relationship to the dead. On the calendar of the ancient Celts October 31 was New Year’s Eve. The Celts with their priests, the Druids, believed that on the eve of the new year souls of the dead roamed the earth. It was held that food, drink and sacrifices could appease these wandering souls. Too, Halloween featured bonfires to drive away evil spirits.

Concerning bonfires at that time of year, we read in Curiosities of Popular Customs: “Fires were also used at different times and places on All Saints’ Night, which is the eve of All Souls’ Day, and on All Souls’ Day itself, the 2d of November. In these cases the fires were regarded as typical of immortality, and were thought to be efficacious, as an outward and visible sign at least, for lighting souls [that is, helping them get free] from purgatory.”

What is your view of the dead? Do you believe that their souls are still alive in some invisible realm, experiencing pleasure or pain? Can the dead, if not appeased by certain religious acts or sacrifices, harm persons on earth? Can the living benefit the dead in any way?

You may be surprised to know that the Bible does not say that humans have a soul that separates from the body at death. Instead, we read that “man came to be a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7) The soul is the entire person, not an invisible part of him. That means that when a person dies, the soul dies. (Lev. 23:30; Num. 31:19; Ezek. 18:4, 20; Luke 6:9) As for the condition of the dead, the Bible describes it as one of total unconsciousness, saying: “As for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all.”—Eccl. 9:5; Ps. 146:3, 4.

But though the dead are unconscious, there is a marvelous hope for them. The Word of God assures that “there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Acts 24:15) Does that sound hard to believe? Actually, the Scriptures mention several resurrections that have already occurred. Let us consider three that were performed by Jesus Christ. Concerning the first of these, we read:

“He traveled to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd were traveling with him. As he got near the gate of the city, why, look! there was a dead man being carried out, the only-begotten son of his mother. Besides, she was a widow. A considerable crowd from the city was also with her. And when the Lord caught sight of her, he was moved with pity for her, and he said to her: ‘Stop weeping.’ With that he approached and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still, and he said: ‘Young man, I say to you, Get up!’ And the dead man sat up and started to speak, and he gave him to his mother. Now fear seized them all, and they began to glorify God, saying: ‘A great prophet has been raised up among us,’ and, ‘God has turned his attention to his people.’ And this news concerning him spread out into all Judea and all the surrounding country.”—Luke 7:11-17.

The second recorded resurrection by Jesus concerned the daughter of Jairus, presiding officer of a synagogue in Galilee. As the girl was dying, Jairus implored Jesus to enter his house to cure her illness. (Luke 8:40-42) The Biblical account relates:

“While [Jesus] was yet speaking, a certain representative of the presiding officer of the synagogue came, saying: ‘Your daughter has died; do not bother the teacher any longer.’ On hearing this, Jesus answered him: ‘Have no fear, only put forth faith, and she will be saved.’ When he reached the house he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter and John and James and the girl’s father and mother. But people were all weeping and beating themselves in grief for her. So he said: ‘Stop weeping, for she did not die but is sleeping.’ At this they began to laugh at him scornfully, because they knew she had died. But he took her by the hand and called, saying: ‘Girl, get up!’ And her spirit returned, and she rose instantly, and he ordered something to be given her to eat. Well, her parents were beside themselves.”—Luke 8:49-56.

Though Jesus resurrected both of these individuals shortly after they died, this was not the case with his friend Lazarus of Bethany, near Jerusalem. Lazarus had been dead four days and laid away in a memorial tomb. The Gospel account by John relates:

“Jesus, after groaning again within himself, came to the memorial tomb. It was, in fact, a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said: ‘Take the stone away.’ Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to him: ‘Lord, by now he must smell, for it is four days.’ Jesus said to her: ‘Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?’ Therefore they took the stone away. Now Jesus raised his eyes heavenward and said: ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. True, I knew that you always hear me; but on account of the crowd standing around I spoke, in order that they might believe that you sent me forth.’ And when he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice: ‘Lazarus, come on out!’ The man that had been dead came out with his feet and hands bound with wrappings, and his countenance was bound about with a cloth. Jesus said to them: ‘Loose him and let him go.’”—John 11:38-44.

Scripturally speaking, therefore, you should view the dead as simply unconscious. They experience neither joy nor hardship. However, the resurrections that Jesus performed when on earth give solid basis for faith in his encouraging words:

“This is the will of him that sent me, that I should lose nothing out of all that he has given me but that I should resurrect it at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone that beholds the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life, and I will resurrect him at the last day.”—John 6:39, 40.

Spiritistic Religion—Why It Appeals to Many. Is It for You?

By “Awake!” correspondent in Liberia

THE massive cathedral stands dark and empty, but from a small church on a back street sounds of singing, rhythmic handclapping, tambourines and cries of “Praise the Lord!” pierce the night air. Intermittently the exciting tone of frenzied preaching rises above the din. Suddenly the arm-waving ecstatic leader begins spilling forth words in an unknown tongue. As someone responds, the audience senses that contact has been made with the supernatural, and there is expectancy of miraculous healings and prophesyings.

With variations, this scene in an African “healing” church is common in many lands. Some view it as a widespread charismatic movement manifesting man’s heightened spiritual need. Conventional religion of mere rote and ritual has been abandoned by great numbers of people in favor of supernaturalism and “spiritual reality.”

Will such vivid emotional experiences satisfy your spiritual need, or will they subject you to dangerous influences? The distress of our times impels many to seek a positive response from God. Whereas some seek out “healing” churches, others look for this response by contacting spirit personalities through mediums, as did King Saul of old.—1 Sam. 28:4-8.

But spiritistic religion is deceptive and dangerous, because it is getting in touch, not with the true God, but with malevolent spirit creatures ruled by the one “who is misleading the entire inhabited earth,” Satan the Devil. (Rev. 12:9) It is God-condemned spiritism. (Deut. 18:10-12) And do not forget that unchristian heathen of ancient times also received the “spirit,” enabling them to heal, speak in unknown tongues, and “prophesy”! Churches that pretend to approach God by stirring up audiences to states of ecstasy or hysteria are imitating the heathen. Consider how they go about it.

Induced Ecstasy

One way of inducing ecstasy is by means of drugs, as explained by Tylor’s Religion in Primitive Culture:

“By smoking tobacco, the sorcerers of Brazilian tribes raised themselves to ecstasy in their convulsive orgies, and saw spirits . . . North American Indians held intoxication by tobacco to be supernatural ecstasy, and the dreams of men in this state to be inspired.”—Vol. 2, p. 503.

Because of its use in spiritistic religion’s approach to the demons, tobacco was referred to as the “holy herb.” Comparing drug-induced ecstasy with what is carried on in churches, Tylor points out that fanatical preachers at “revivals” often produce the “very fits and swoons to which for untold ages savage tribes have given religious import.”

Frenzy can be built up at church services so that some come into a condition of hysteria, with eyeballs turned up and hands clenched with thumbs inverted, followed by muscle spasms, struggles and a throwing of themselves about. Does such a condition parallel the first-century Pentecostal outpouring of holy spirit?

By no means! (Acts 2:1-11) The operation of God’s spirit produces, not uncontrolled hysteria, but just the opposite, the fruits of mildness and self-control, according to the Bible, at Galatians 5:22, 23. In a state of hysteria, persons lose self-control and are known to have been “haunted by visions, their fancies conjuring up spirits whose names they shrieked out.”

It is clear that frenzied and ecstatic religious feelings can easily get beyond control as the limitations of the flesh are set aside. Little wonder that Hastings’ Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics acknowledges the responsibility of Christianity to keep “ecstasy in the background as a danger to the mind and to the will.”

Fixations

The Bible counsels Christians to “persevere in prayer” and to keep their minds “fixed on the things above.” (Rom. 12:12; Col. 3:2) This does not mean, however, that one should concentrate the mind on a single idea or object for an extended period of time in expectation of some emotional experience. In some churches prospective converts kneel for hours at a “mourners’ bench” praying for “religion.” But herein lies great danger, for fixing one’s mind on one thing, accompanied by repetitious prayers, is the very practice that Jesus condemned. (Matt. 6:7) It can result in a state of trance or self-induced hypnosis. In such a condition, a person may receive mental suggestions, or the emotional response may be so vivid that he feels that he has been touched by God. This approach parallels the posture-concentration exercises of Yoga, a form of spiritism producing extrasensory impressions.

Whereas the Bible, at Philippians 4:6, 7, promises that God will ‘guard mental powers’ in response to prayer, those who seek “religion” by fasting and fixations find that they must blank out their minds and throw off the restraints of their mental powers of reasoning. “Your mind is too rational. You don’t get it until you let go and let the Holy Ghost get through,” admitted Marcus Bach in his book The Day I Spoke in Tongues—the Inner Ecstasy.

This ‘letting go’ was once recommended in these words:

“You must be able to subdue your mind, quiet it. . . . Allow your mind to wander or just to blank out. . . . Mistakes can be avoided by listening carefully each day at meditation for the inner voice . . . and the help from higher planes.”

Is this counsel from the Bible? Not at all. Rather, it is what a demonic “voice” told a lady who used a Ouija board. This incident demonstrates that clearing the mind through improper concentration in order to hear voices or to be touched emotionally is an invitation to the demons to rush in. It is just such a “swept clean” mind, not refilled with spiritually wholesome thoughts, that Jesus said would be occupied by demons.—Luke 11:24-26.

Spiritistic Healing

Employing principles common to witchcraft, a psychometric healer obtains some hair, a piece of fingernail, or even some saliva on a piece of paper to use as a contact bridge for diagnosis and healing influence. Such practices, as well as the healings effected by the psychic powers of Yoga and the spiritistic healing movements like that of Harry Edwards in England, led one investigator to comment: “Magic healing is the commonest form one meets today.”

In Africa a magical healer accomplishes his work through fetishes or amulets. Objects dedicated to Satan, such as stones, are used in some areas. Now, if this principle of magic is adopted by “Christian” churches, can we say that the power behind it now comes from God and not from Satan?

Actually, various charms are used even in some churches of Christendom in connection with healing. Says Hastings’ Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics: “In Western Christianity the Apostles’ Creed holds a position parallel with the Lord’s Prayer. It is used for healing, especially in exorcism.” Prayers, religious formulas and Bible texts have been converted into magic spells, exactly as is done in pagan religions. Christian Science healers use Bible texts in conjunction with autosuggestion. The sign of the cross still is superstitiously regarded by many as the “surest defense against demons, and the remedy for all diseases,” says Dr. Kurt Koch in his book Demonology Past and Present.

Magnetic and “Hot Hand” Healers

Then there are magnetic healers with strong powers who claim to restore health simply by making stroking movements with their hands. However, a magnetic healer himself explains: “Whoever has powers of healing magnetism to treat more than two people a day is plugged in to the underworld.” Are we to assume, then, that those possessing the weak “natural” magnetism are not demoniacally influenced? Such healers may not dabble directly in spiritism and may work “in the name of Jesus.” Shedding some light on this, Dr. Koch, during 30 years of dealing with cases of occult subjection, discovered that whenever he came across a person possessing a magnetic “gift,” either his parents, grandparents or great-grandparents had dabbled in magic or spiritism!

In Germany a church member found that he could “heal” by means of his “hot hand.” The minister of the church praised this ability as a “gift from God.” But what about a certain magician in the Philippines who, through occult power, makes his hand “hot” whenever he wishes? And there is also a master of Yoga who by autosuggestion causes the circulation in his hand to increase so that blood comes through the pores, a feat of mental concentration causing a change to take place in his physical body. Would the minister also praise these latter spiritistic phenomena as ‘gifts from God’? Such a religious leader offers little protection against dangerous spiritistic religion.

Healing by Suggestion

Many faith healers employ the principle of suggestion. This is not really divine healing at all, but depends on the extent to which a person’s emotional state is capable of changing his physical state. Such “cures” usually are not permanent. At an emotion-charged revival a healer convinces an arthritic in a wheelchair that he has been healed. On the power of that strong suggestion the trembling invalid stands and walks, only to relapse later into a worse physical state.

Even if the healer in such cases is not under demonic subjection, he deceptively misrepresents religious suggestion as divine healing accomplished by the power of holy spirit. On the part of one who is concerned it is a matter of testing the statements of the healer to see whether they really originate with God. (Compare 1 John 4:1.) True worship is not based on a lie, but “true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth.”—John 4:23.

Satisfying One’s Spiritual Need

If you have been groping for God, what more could you ask than to find the source where “you may be filled with the accurate knowledge of [God’s] will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension”? Then your spiritual need will be fully satisfied. This requires that one conscious of his spiritual need put forth effort in a sincere, open-minded search of the Bible itself. If you do this, you will come to know the truth, which Jesus said will “set you free.”—Col. 1:9; John 8:32; Matt. 5:3.

Listening to Gossip

When next tempted to give ear to the tidbits of gossip that someone has to relate, remember that a person who delights to gossip to you about the faults of others probably will gossip to others about your faults. How true the words of Solomon: “He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.”—Prov. 17:9, “New American Standard Bible.”

Plan Well for Your Travel Abroad

By “Awake!” correspondent in the Federal Republic of Germany

“HELLO. Your passport, please. Would you open your luggage, please? Do you have anything to declare?”

If you have ever been a part of that huge friendly army of people that annually floods across borders in cars, buses, trains and, in ever-increasing numbers, in planes, then these requests and questions certainly will be nothing new to you.

The renowned traveler Marco Polo as well as Alexander von Humboldt, a noted German naturalist and traveler of the 18th and 19th centuries, would turn green with envy could they see the distances tourists travel nowadays and how quickly they flit from continent to continent by jet airplanes.

Travel-Happy

In recent years German vacationers have greatly swelled the ranks of international travelers. The favorable exchange rate of the German mark has encouraged this development. Each year hundreds of millions of D-marks flow into tourism’s coffers. This business of “faraway places” is booming. Ever more Europeans are spending their supposedly “most precious weeks of the year” in exotic lands and on southern beaches. Nearly 60 percent of all 1976 vacationers from the Federal Republic of Germany traveled abroad, the majority of them to the sunshine countries of the Mediterranean. In the same year they spent approximately 22,540,000,000 D-marks.

But relaxation is not the only reason to travel abroad. Several thousand of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Germany and other German-speaking countries in Europe will soon be traveling abroad for another reason, namely, to attend international assemblies that are being held in the winter of 1978/79 in the southern hemisphere.

Prepare Well

Not every trip proves to be successful, nor does every expectation go fulfilled. This is especially true if proper preparation for the trip is not made. A trip to a foreign country can be an unforgettable experience. But you can also squander precious time and hard-earned money if you are careless about preparing properly for your “trip into adventure.”

A travel agency can assist you, but it cannot do everything. For example, it can provide you with a guidebook, but it cannot provide you with a knowledge of the language. Nor can it make you adept in handling pesetas, lire, escudos, crowns, francs, pounds or dollars. Many difficulties can be avoided by your taking time to acquaint yourself with the land of your dreams, with its inhabitants and their customs.

Climatic Difference and Time Changes

Everyone who purposes to visit a country with an unfamiliar climate must realize that his general condition, his capacity for work and also his mood will be influenced. Nor may one overlook the effect of time changes on the body in long-distance flying.

The numerous processes of the human body are patterned on a day-night rhythm dependent on an inner biological clock. It should not be difficult to understand that changing one’s location quickly in either direction, west or east, tends to disturb this rhythm. On an intercontinental flight from Frankfurt to New York there is normally a time difference of six hours, and on a jet trip to Sydney, Australia, the difference is nine hours. How confusing when on arrival your already strenuous day of travel suddenly becomes six, eight or even more hours longer. Since the human body can only compensate (some say) for a two-hour difference a day, you can easily figure out how long it will take your inner clock to become properly regulated again. After your return home the entire procedure will take place again in reverse.

If you are dependent upon certain medication (for example, insulin or blood-thinning medicines) you must give particular attention to the conditioning factors of time difference. Discuss your travel plans with your doctor. He will be able to give you good advice. Other information can be obtained from the book entitled “Ärztlicher Ratgeber für Flugreisende” (Medical Counselor for Plane Passengers [in German only]) by Dr. H. Baark, who discusses these problems thoroughly in a chapter called “The Proper Time for Taking Medicines in Intercontinental Flight.”

Health Takes Precedence

You may feel “fit as a fiddle” and have no thought of getting sick on your trip. But since you can never rule out the possibility, take reasonable precautions to keep the risk at a minimum. An upset stomach or digestive system can certainly dampen your joy while you are traveling.

An article by Dr. P. Wright, “Traveling in Good Health,” appearing in the Reader’s Digest, issue of June 1968, had the following to say about this complex subject: “99 percent of the cases of diarrhea are caused by water or food contaminated by bacteria, protozoa or viruses. Most hotels will serve bottled water on request. . . . Avoid putting ice in your drinks. . . . Also, use only safe water for brushing your teeth.”

Don’t take it for granted that health regulations in all places will meet up to the standards of your own country. In the Mediterranean area, the Near East, in tropical and subtropical countries, it is imperative to exercise caution when enjoying the customary dishes of the country. Don’t be too generous in “surprising” your digestive system. Avoid salads and raw vegetables, as well as raw meat, if possible. Forgo tasty treats made from milk or cream products if there is any doubt that they have been stored or cooled properly.

Tips for Hot Countries

Remember that when visiting hot countries you can do yourself much harm by being careless. For example, if you leave a European winter in January or February and arrive in the midst of a South American summer, be especially careful. Otherwise the change may be so sudden that, paradoxical as it may sound, your stay in the tropics may well begin with a bad case of the sniffles. Enjoy the sun in small doses, at least until your body has adjusted. If you perspire a great deal, do not neglect to eat enough salt with your meals. Also remember the increased risk of skin infection in hot countries.

In tropical lands your clothing should be of absorbent materials. This should especially be true of underwear. Also shirts, blouses or dresses should not hinder perspiration. Cottons and linens are the best. If possible, change underwear twice a day and make sure that your other clothing is comfortable, lightweight and easily washable. If at all possible wear shoes with leather soles and do not forget to take along a wide-brimmed hat.

Get Adjusted for Your Trip

Along with other essential things in planning a trip, do not forget mental preparation. Make sure your “luggage” contains a healthy amount of balance and anticipation of unforeseen occurrences. Don’t let your joy be dampened by unexpected incidents like, for example, a delay or a security check. Don’t get irritated when things do not go as planned. “A person travels, not to get where he is going, but just to travel,” is a sensible German adage. Oftentimes it is just those very “mishaps” that you have during vacation that turn out to be the nicest experiences! You talk about them for years thereafter and never tire of laughing at them over and over again.

The Hamburger Abendblatt of April 15, 1976, gave this good advice: “Germans [and this applies to all travelers] when on business or pleasure trips should show more understanding for the customs and habits of the people in other countries.” Certainly you will want to do that. Always be friendly and polite. Adjust to the way of thinking of the native population, be carefully observant, listen attentively and, most assuredly, you will be richly rewarded. Spiritual blessings will also come your way if you attend one or more of the many international assemblies of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

A hectic chase of aimless sight-seeing will not be enjoyable. A well-planned trip, on the other hand, will provide you with much pleasure, and afterward you will be able to look back on a really successful trip abroad.

[Box on page 11]

Make your trip abroad a success by:

Checking your passport to see that it is up-to-date. (If visas are necessary, observe carefully all regulations and deadlines.)

Observing carefully the customs regulations (especially the limit on duty-free wares and the various import and export restrictions).

Taking into consideration foreign currency laws (for example, limits or prohibitions on bringing money into the country).

Observing for your own benefit health regulations and advice (smallpox, cholera and yellow-fever vaccinations and preventive medicine against malaria and typhoid).

Taking out necessary travel insurance (health insurance in a foreign country, luggage insurance).

Placing, inside all your luggage, a slip of paper with your name and home address written plainly on it.

A Soft Ride—Long Sought, Now Possible

By “Awake!” correspondent in Trinidad

SEVERAL thousand years ago, in the Mesopotamian valley, wheeled carts were used to transport goods and people. The well-made solid wooden wheels consisted of thick planks fastened together, and they were thicker at the hub than at the rim. Some even had metal rims or were studded with copper nails. Can you imagine the kind of ride you would have had on such a cart? Every stone or rough spot a wheel would pass over would be transferred to the passenger as a jarring jolt. This was a far cry from a soft ride.

About the middle of the second millennium B.C.E., military men decided that wheels could be used to an advantage in battle. Hence, crude and, later, very effective chariots appeared on the field of battle in areas where there were plains on which to maneuver. These chariot wheels soon were very well constructed. They usually had spokes—four, six or eight—and were complete with rims of metal or leather, or were nail studded. As a chariot was generally very light, a pair of galloping horses could get its riders over the ground at a fairly rapid rate. In such a chariot charge, every bit of uneven ground must have been bone-shaking.

Passenger Transportation Grows

Aside from being used to some extent for passenger transportation, the military chariot remained popular for centuries. In fact, it was during the days of the Roman Empire that its use as a military weapon lost favor, and it became restricted largely to the circus and races. During this time, wheeled vehicles for passenger service became more and more plentiful. The fine road system of the empire had much to do with this.

An early form of the modern type of wagon appeared in Denmark. The remains of one of these vehicles, known as the Dejbjerg wagon, has been found. Even crude wooden roller bearings were used in the hubs of this wagon.

Other peoples also made their contribution toward improving the wheel. To produce a better wheel, the Scandinavians used heat to bend the wooden rims or fellies. The Chinese seem to have been first in making a dished wheel. Hungary contributed toward the development of the coach, which made its appearance during the latter part of the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, a soft, comfortable ride still was a long way off.

Modern Improvement Comes

The 19th century, however, saw many developments that led to a softer, more comfortable ride. Some experimenting had been done with suspending the body of a vehicle by chains or by leather belts to take some of the jolting out of the ride. At the beginning of the century, steel springs were invented and applied to the various types of wheeled wagons and carriages of the day. A little later came the invention of macadam roads, which went a long way in making possible a more comfortable ride. But the really big breakthrough came in 1839, when Charles Goodyear accidentally, by the introduction of sulphur, changed raw rubber into an elastic material. This process, known as vulcanization, opened the way for putting a tire of rubber on the rims of wheels, making possible a softer and quieter ride.

By 1845, the Englishman Robert William Thomson patented a pneumatic tire to be used on the English brougham. It had an outer cover and a rubber inner tube. A set of these “Aerial Wheels” would last about 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) on a brougham. The public, however, was not ready for this tire and preferred to get along with solid-rubber tires. This situation continued on for some 40 years, until John Boyd Dunlop invented a pneumatic bicycle tire in 1888-89.

It was about this time that the automobile began to appear. A pneumatic tire was just what was needed to suit the growing development and popularity of this “horseless carriage.” Early tires were like bicycle tires, being just a single tube of canvas coated inside and out with rubber. They were not very durable, as the square-woven fabric caused a lot of friction and rapid deterioration. Clincher tires appeared in 1892 and were used for many years on some autos. These carried a high pressure. About 1900 this pressure usually was about 65 pounds (29 kilograms). The tires were small and so did not contribute much toward a soft ride. Nor did they last long, only about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) at first. By 1920, this had increased to about 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers). Then came the steel-spoked and disk wheels that were smaller in diameter and had tires with a bigger cross section and much less pressure. The “balloon” tires from the early 1930’s onward did last longer and were much more comfortable. By 1957 a tire could last as long as 35,000 miles (56,000 kilometers) under favorable conditions.

How Tires Are Made

Have you ever wondered how a modern tire is made? My opportunity to find out came when the manager of the Dunlop factory in southern Trinidad arranged for me to tour their plant. A parting suggestion over the telephone was: “Be sure to wear some old clothes.”

Entering the plant with my guide, I at once realized why the old clothes were suggested. Instead of there being a shining array of machinery, everything had a dingy, black appearance. Why was this? Well, a principal component of a tire is carbon black—and is it black! It is a fine powder that penetrates everything that is not closed off.

As I passed by large piles of various tire components, it appeared that I was in a large chemistry shop instead of a tire factory. The guide explained that many different chemicals are used in making a modern tire and that these chemicals are varied in amount and kind to produce the type of tire suited to perform well under the road conditions that a driver is likely to encounter. Some tires use much natural rubber. This is because natural rubber dissipates heat better than do synthetics and in severe cold also stands up better than do synthetics. However, since its introduction in the 1930’s by the Germans and in the United States by DuPont, synthetic rubber has been used in ever-increasing amounts. For this plant, sulphur comes from England, carbon black from Venezuela and natural rubber from Malaysia, while synthetic rubber comes from the Netherlands. Rayon and nylon cord may come from Japan, Germany or England. So, making tires here is really an international project.

The first step in making a tire is to mix all the polymers and other compounds or chemicals in a huge mixing machine called a Banbury mixer. A sample of the mix is tested in the laboratory to determine whether it has the characteristics desired for the particular type of tire being manufactured. A rubber can be produced that will grip very well on a wet road but may not do well on a dry road. It may have high rolling resistance and not wear well. So a compromise must be made. Most roads are wet some of the time and dry at other times. The mix must result in a tire that gives reasonably good service on a variety of road surfaces. Many different mixes are produced by this machine. Now the material is fed through an extruder to make the tread and sidewalls of the tire. Again what makes the tread may be different in composition from the sidewall in order to meet the different situations encountered as the tire revolves and also to withstand sun and weather conditions.

Over there is a complicated piece of machinery. What does it do? Fabric is being fed into the machine to produce the plies that make up the carcass of the tire. Rayon cords are used in many tires, as are cords made of nylon and, more recently, polyester. Why is it that the cords running lengthwise (the warp of the fabric) are so much thicker and more numerous than those running crosswise? Well, that is to prevent heat buildup from friction when the tire is revolving. This machine coats the plies with rubber and cuts them so that they will form a crisscross pattern in making up the casing. This is the oldest and most common type of tire in use today. If you were to cut such a tire in two and strip back its tread, you would see these angled plies. These are the cheapest and the easiest tires to manufacture. They perform well and last for many miles but do not do as well as a more recent type that has become very popular in many countries.

A short distance away a workman is making cross-ply tires. The plies are put on layer by layer, with rubber solution being added between each ply. Why only two plies on passenger-car tires when we used to have four or six? The more plies, the more friction and the quicker the tire casing deteriorates. Besides, modern cords are much stronger than the old cotton cords of former years. The cooler a tire runs, the longer it lasts. The plies are wrapped around the wire hoops called the bead, and some chafer strips are added to give more strength where the tire fits the rim of the wheel. Now the tread is bonded to the casing, and the tire is complete. Complete? Why, it looks like a little barrel, anything but a tire! Oh, yes, it must go into a mold to be shaped and cured.

Heat and pressure complete the making of the tire. After a curing time in the huge molds, out comes a brand-new tire. Notice the tread. There are many designs for various purposes. In the early 1930’s, a tread of round knobs appeared, to be used for driving in the rurals off the highways. To a large degree, it did away with the need for chains. Later came treads with large lugs (to be used in snow), and then tungsten studs were inserted into the tread to make driving on the ice safer. In Trinidad we have neither ice nor snow, and so treads are smoother and give a softer, more silent ride. There are large grooves running around the tire, with many small slits or sipes running crosswise. These are to drain off water and give the tire better traction and cornering ability. You will do well to choose a tread to suit your driving needs, perhaps a winter and a summer set of tires in some climates. Remember, heavy treads make noise on a highway or an expressway and do not stand up well at continuous high speed.

Now, we see another type of tire being made, and the demand for it is increasing. It is the radial tire, so named because its plies run at right angles to the circumference of the tire. The radial tire is very flexible in the sidewalls but rigid in the tread due to its casing and a belt of several cross-plies underneath the tread. Because of this characteristic, it is a safer tire under most driving conditions, and it usually outlasts the cross-ply by many thousands of miles. The radial tire is more difficult to manufacture and so is more expensive. Nevertheless, there is an increasing demand for it.

A third type of tire is the belted cross-ply that is not made in this plant. A hybrid between the cross-ply and the radial, it is popular in the United States and other countries. The belted Polyglas tire has a casing of polyester cords and two belts of fiber glass. And, of course, there are the popular steel-belted tires.

After manufacture, tires are checked for roundness, balance and other requirements. Most tires with brand names will give good service if used for the purpose for which they were made.

As is evident from this tour, man has come a long way in making it possible for all of us to enjoy a soft ride. But whether it will be a safe ride largely depends on the drivers. Hence, for a safe ride, a person should buy tires to suit his driving needs and should drive to suit the tires he buys. Additionally, excessive speed, drugs, drunkenness and carelessness must be avoided.

[Picture on page 13]

Bearing

[Picture on page 14]

Bias-ply body

Radial-ply body

[Picture on page 15]

Tread

Belts

Radial Plies

Bead

Chafer

Fabric or Rubber

Sidewall

Shoulder

Rib

Groove

What Is Behind Those Superstitions?

BY “AWAKE!” CORRESPONDENT IN BRAZIL

A STORM is threatening. At the first flash of lightning a woman rises hastily and covers all mirrors in the house. An elegantly dressed society woman wears a gold chain with a little wooden figa, or amulet, around her neck. A university student surreptitiously slips a rabbit’s paw into his pocket at exam time. While a hotel guest in the United States may refuse accommodations on the 13th floor, many persons in Brazil consider 13 to be a “lucky” number. Why?

All these people have one thing in common—superstition. But what really is superstition? It has been defined as an “unreasonable religious belief or practice.” One writer denounced superstition as being based on “foolishness, futility” and said that it is “almost always ridiculous.” (The Natural History of Nonsense by Bergen Evans) Many superstitions are widespread, such as associating good luck with a horseshoe. Others are peculiar to certain countries or regions.

Statues, “Holy” Water and the “Figa”

The following random selection gives some examples of currently held superstitions:

● A statue of an elephant with its trunk pointing upward and tail pointing toward the door will bring money into a home.

● Mirrors cause paralysis of the face if looked into after one has been eating. If a mirror breaks, it means death of a family member.

● A glass of “holy” water placed behind the door wards off any evil spirits that may wish to enter a room.

● One should not sleep while exposed to moonlight, as it weakens eyesight and causes insanity.

Perhaps the most common superstition in Brazil involves use of the figa, an amulet shaped like a fist with the thumb between the index and middle fingers. According to the publication Vocabulario de Crendices Amazonicas by Osvaldo Orico, this amulet represents sexual intercourse. Nevertheless, it is used to guard against the “evil eye,” sterility and other forms of “bad luck.” It can be seen in necklaces and bracelets, on car bumpers, behind doors, or used as ashtrays and lampstands and as a decoration in humble as well as wealthy homes.

Do you know of any other such practices or beliefs? Likely you do, for superstitions are very numerous in all parts of the earth. One director of a study center found more than 400,000 examples and expects to come up with at least that many more.

Birth and the Menstrual Cycle

Some customs and “do-nots” have been shown by modern science to be fallacies. For example:

● A woman who has just become a mother should refrain from washing her hair for 30 days or more after giving birth; she should refrain from taking a bath for 40 days if the baby is a girl, 41 if a boy.

● A new mother may not eat eggs, pepper, acid fruits, or even rice.

● She must avoid going out at night, as the evening dew may cause insanity.

These are but a few of the taboos that well-meaning friends and relatives urge new mothers to heed.

In some parts of Brazil, birth is surrounded by superstitious rites and practices known as simpatias. Some examples are:

● If a woman begins labor, she is told to make an infusion. This is done by boiling in water two railway signal flags, a red one and a green one, and then drinking the water. The red flag is believed to be good for stopping hemorrhage, and the green one supposedly shortens labor.

● Keeping three twigs of rue root under a new baby’s pillow will stave off harm from the evil eye as well as disease.

● Putting red wool on the baby’s forehead can cure its hiccups.

● When en route to the location where birth will take place, do not tie ribbons to clothes that the baby will wear, for this will delay birth.

The menstrual cycle is another thing that has given rise to many superstitions. Some believe that a woman should not wash her hair during menstruation; and certain women fear to take a bath at this time. But these normal hygienic procedures have no ill effects on the menstrual cycle. Regarding the fear of washing hair during menstruation, a doctor in Rio de Janeiro states: “Among enlightened women this fear is giving way to the reality that menstruation is a normal, physiological fact, not a sickness.” And Claudia, a popular Brazilian women’s magazine, remarked in its January 1976 issue: “A [menstruating] woman can and should eat everything, acid fruits, boiled eggs, fish, pork, greens, cheese. All this is part of a healthy diet and has nothing to do with stopping the flow during the menstrual period.”

Some attribute control of the menstrual cycle to the moon, because of the average cycle’s being 28 days. But the late Bergen Evans, author of the book The Natural History of Nonsense, claimed that this was an unwarranted deduction and quoted doctors who had observed that menstruation occurs at all times of the month, regardless of the lunar cycle, and that there is no justification for associating the date of menstruation with lunar phenomena.

Superstition has it that the approach of a menstruating woman may parch plants, dim mirrors, blunt knives, kill bees and make cakes fall. This is ridiculous. Yet, as Evans shows, women at the time of menstruation are naturally nervous, irritable and depressed. Hence, they easily do such things as breaking dishes, scolding the children and weeping at the slightest provocation.

Religion’s Role in Superstition

By their religious leaders, people have been led to believe that God and the Devil are divinities that can be cajoled, flattered and bribed. So people try to find out the plans of such divinities and then proceed with efforts to influence them.

In Brazil it is common to see Casas de Umbanda. These are stores where one can buy magic herbs, incense, beads, amulets, hog’s-tooth necklaces, charms, books on voodoo arts, and parts of doll’s bodies for use in casting spells and as a means of determining the future. At these stores the “Virgin Mary,” Jesus, and the horned “Devil” stand side by side with other images.

On Friday nights, at about 11 o’clock, people place at street crossings black chickens, bottles of beer and cheap brandy, cigars, candy and fruit to curry the favor of “spirits.”

One tale about the horseshoe comes from England. According to legend, while “Saint” Dunstan was working as a blacksmith, he was sought out by the Devil to fix one of his shoes. Dunstan, so goes the story, tied him to a wall and treated him so violently that Satan begged for mercy. Dunstan let the Devil go, but only after making him promise never again to enter a place where a horseshoe hung. Of course, the story is absurd. So why trust in a horseshoe?

Why Are People Superstitious?

When asked this question, usually people shrug their shoulders and say, “I don’t know.” Or they may quote their parents, or grandparents, whose word they accept unquestioningly. In Brazil, the mixture of Indian, African and European cultures has produced a vast number of myths and legends.

There are two factors, though, that nearly always lie behind superstitions—fear and ignorance. Fear of God’s wrath, the Devil, sickness, death and many other such things regularly promotes superstitious beliefs and acts. People will grasp at straws to ward off calamity. Brewton Berry writes in You and Your Superstitions: “Superstition is nothing more than another chapter in history’s years of research to conquer security. And since education, prohibition, sermons, satires and science have failed miserably in their fight against superstition, only SECURITY will succeed in destroying it.” Closely related to fear as a cause of superstition is ignorance of the true cause of many calamities and especially ignorance of the Biblical view of many woes that afflict mankind.

An Antidote to Superstition

While showing that most religious beliefs are indistinguishable from superstition with its taboos, Brewton Berry writes: “But there exists another kind of religion that supports [the belief] that the Cosmic Power is constant and is not subject to whims, does not give in to flattery, is not deceived by charlatans, does not cater to favorites. This Power makes it rain and shine over good and bad alike. It does not favor those who recite creeds and light candles. Man’s duty is not to prod . . . this Power so as to get from him what he wants, but rather [man should] try to discover the truth about the universe, the paths that should be followed and prepare himself for them. This belief was never popular. Its followers were insulted and forgotten and at least one of them was crucified.”

The writer here refers to unpopular true Christianity. Like the faithful Israelites of old, Jesus and those who pattern their lives after him have never put their faith in “Lady Luck,” omens or superstitions. Rather, they have sought guidance in life from the written Word of man’s Creator, Jehovah God.—Deut. 18:10-12; 2 Ki. 21:6; Isa. 8:19; 65:11; Acts 16:16-24.

How do you feel about superstitions? You can break free from them. The best way to do so is by making a careful study of the Holy Bible and by molding your life according to its principles.

Education That Encourages Success

‘BY HAVING deep love for Jehovah God and by being convinced of his love for you, you can make your way successful.’ How do you react to such a statement?

An audience of 1,899 gathered at the assembly hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Long Island City, New York, on Sunday, September 10, was in full agreement with this thought. It was expressed by W. L. Barry at the graduation exercises of the 29 students making up the 65th class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. These students had completed a special five-month training course to prepare them for missionary work in foreign fields.

Years earlier, Barry had attended Gilead School and had thereafter enjoyed many years of working with missionaries in Japan. His encouragement to view a missionary assignment as an expression of God’s love was, therefore, fortified by a rich background of personal experience. He was very realistic in pointing out that problems would be faced in a foreign assignment. There would be a need to get accustomed to a ‘new language, new foods, a new missionary home arrangement and even new sicknesses.’ Yet, by faithfully sticking to the work because of love for their Maker, Gilead-trained missionaries, strengthened by God’s Word and prayer, can be successful.

The educational program of Gilead School had been designed to assist the students from both a spiritual and a practical standpoint. Calling attention to this, Don Adams referred to the special practical instruction that they had received about handling laundry and preparing meals in a missionary home. It is hoped that this new feature in the curriculum will contribute toward making missionary service more enjoyable for all concerned. Of course, this practical training is only incidental to the education that equips Gilead students to become better teachers of Bible truths. And, as Don Adams pointed out, a good attitude determines whether a missionary will be happy. Concern for the spiritual welfare of people and personal contentment would play a big part in their being missionaries who would faithfully stick to the work.

Another speaker, M. S. Allen, shared thoughts that were helpful in making a proper evaluation of success. He used as his theme the following question that Jesus Christ directed to John and Andrew: “What are you looking for?” (John 1:38) Allen noted that the motive for what we do is very important. For a successful Christian missionary that motive cannot be recognition, a wish to stand out as being better than others or the desire to be numbered among a privileged few. A missionary can benefit from the example of Andrew who was willing to take second place and who introduced others, including his own brother Peter, to the Messiah. Thus, if a person can find joy in humbly serving God by acquainting fellow humans with Jesus Christ, he can be a good missionary.

In a number of the lands to which the graduates would be sent, many people are illiterate. Therefore, Richard Wheelock encouraged the use of the illustrations in a recently published book. Thus, after learning the local language, the new missionaries could succeed in reaching even an illiterate populace with the Bible’s message.

K. A. Adams, an instructor in the school, cautioned against viewing people from a human standpoint, for Jesus Christ said: “Stop judging from the outward appearance.” (John 7:24) Response in a particular territory might be slow, but God may see in the people something that we do not. For example, after many years of working in Italy and Spain, Jehovah’s Witnesses saw little progress. However, during the past few years there has been tremendous growth. This was good encouragement for new missionaries to remain in their assignments.

Similarly, U. V. Glass, the school’s registrar, highlighted the importance of patience. On reaching a foreign assignment, a missionary is like a plant that has been transplanted and may experience a setback. Yet, by remaining there, being patient, he will eventually experience blessings.

The school’s president, F. W. Franz, placed considerable emphasis on the personal effort that the graduates would have to put forth to remain divinely approved. To this end, he used the words of Jesus Christ: “Pay attention to what you are hearing. With the measure that you are measuring out, you will have it measured out to you, yes, you will have more added to you.” (Mark 4:24) Hence, the measure of undivided attention and profound respect that a person shows toward the Master, Jesus Christ, will determine the measure of his spiritual growth. The individual must also watch his associations so that nothing will interfere with his advancement as a Christian. Hence, the students were strongly warned about keeping company with persons who could contaminate them with worldliness.

The program that was later presented by the graduates also highlighted essentials for success. Especially was this true of the two Bible dramas. Among other things, the first one revealed the importance of faith in and obedience to God’s direction in order for a person to share in the blessings that will result from the fulfillment of divine promises. The second drama dealt with events from the reign of King Jehoshaphat and emphasized that his success depended on total reliance on Jehovah God.

Truly, the graduation exercises of Gilead’s 65th class reflected the fact that the chief objective of the school is to help the students to make a success of missionary work. At the same time, the entire program served to encourage all in attendance to look to Jehovah God for aid in making their way successful.

Factory-built Houses—Which One Would You Buy?

JOHN liked Michael’s house plans. “I want to give my builder the same plans and have him build my house exactly like yours.” John did. When finished, the two houses looked alike. But they were not built alike. Michael had ordered his house ready-built from the factory. It was delivered in two long halves. A crane lifted each of the halves or sections off the flatbed conveyers and set them side by side on the foundation. A carpenter joined the sections by closing in the gables and covering the interior seams with molding strips. Within two weeks after Michael’s foundation was prepared, his house was finished and landscaped and ready to be occupied.

John’s house took months to complete. His contractor used the conventional “stick-built” method of building the house right there on the site.

John mused: “Maybe Michael was smart to order his entire house ready-built. . . . But I was suspicious that all he was getting was a fancy mobile home.” Most people think like John, that the only sort of dwellings to come out of factories are cheap, flimsy “house trailers.”

But during the past 10 years especially, a growing number of “house shops” have appeared. Usually they are small, independent single-plant manufacturers compared to giant mobile-home corporations with chains of plants. The houses they build, so long as the style and shape are kept fairly clean and simple, are hard to tell apart from conventional houses whether finished in wood, metal or masonry veneer. How, then, can the houses they build be distinguished from their forerunners, the mobile homes?

Michael’s “Shop-Built” House

It is a matter of building codes and standards. Some American states have administrative boards to supervise factory-built housing. The state or its agency takes responsibility to inspect the houses as they are built on the factory assembly line. It requires them to meet the same general construction standards as “site-built” houses of the same type. Structures meeting its standards are then “deemed to comply with the requirements of all ordinances or regulations enacted by local government,” quoting from “Rules of Georgia State Building Administrative Board” regulating Factory Built Housing, Chapter 90-2-7(4).

This means that a house bearing that state’s emblem or decal of approval can be sited just about anywhere the owner pleases within the State of Georgia, because state ordinances overrule local ordinances that might prohibit, for instance, a mobile home. It is very important to make sure before contracting for a manufactured house that it can be sited where you want it. An unbelievable number of people buy a manufactured house only to discover to their dismay that it cannot pass some local ordinance restricting it to a mobile-home rental park or mobile-home subdivision.

The house Michael ordered meets conventional building codes for houses. Mobile homes are built to a different code. For example, part of a mobile home is the steel underbridging with axles, wheels and pulling hitch. While the “running gear” can be removed, the underbridging or chassis cannot. It is part of the floor construction. Now, Michael’s house had no underbridging attached. His two house sections were delivered on conveyance platforms called “lowboys.” When the crane lifted the sections off the “lowboys” there was nothing underneath but conventional wood-floor joists to rest on the foundation. The “lowboys,” or delivery flatbeds, are returned to the factory.

Fred’s “Modular” House

John and Michael have another friend, Fred. Fred bought a “modular” house. Fred’s house was the same size as theirs, 24 feet (7 meters) wide and 70 feet (21 meters) long. (There is a wide range in sizes.) Fred’s house has a gable roof like theirs, and rough wood siding. By the way, Fred got his house fully furnished, with everything color coordinated by a professional decorator. When the area was landscaped a casual observer could not distinguish Fred’s house from theirs.

What is the difference? There might be a host of minor differences that appear on closer scrutiny. For example, Fred’s partition walls might be thinner than Michael’s. But when Fred looks under his “crawl space” he sees one obvious difference. The bottom of his house includes the big steel underbridging. The steel chassis rests on the foundation piers and the perimeter walls, and the wood subfloor rests on the chassis. Fred boasts that his house has two foundations, one wood, one steel.

Think of Michael’s “shop-built” house and Fred’s “modular” house as representing two layers on a cake. Michael’s is the top layer because it is built to a code similar to that of conventional housing. Fred’s is the next layer. His house meets a different building code. It is one of three national building codes, either UBC, BOCA, or SBCC. One or the other of these codes is represented by an insignia or decal somewhere on Fred’s house. It testifies that the codes people or their “third party” agency are responsible for inspecting the house on the assembly line. If city and county governments want to, they can prohibit a “modular” house like Fred’s from being sited in just any area he might choose. On the other hand, they might not consign it to mobile-home locations. It usually ends up in areas zoned for lower-cost housing or in agricultural areas.

Ralph’s “Mobile” Home

Ralph also bought a house. It is the same size as Michael’s and Fred’s. It has a gable roof and rough wood siding. Set on a permanent foundation and landscaped, it looks much like their houses. But Ralph’s house is the third and bottom layer of the manufactured housing cake: it is a “mobile” house, a “doublewide.”

Since June 1976 manufacturing of mobile homes in the United States has come under supervision of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Ralph’s house wears the HUD emblem. It signifies that HUD or its “third party” agency is responsible for inspection of the house on the assembly line.

While HUD standards are not the same as the standards for modular houses, at least the standards are uniform everywhere. But while HUD has established a uniform national standard, no state or local authority has to accept the HUD-approved structures. Most cities and counties relegate mobile homes to strictly defined areas such as parks, where lots are rented, or to special subdivisions where lots are sold.

…

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Awake!, November 8, 1978