Awake!, August 22, 1986

Awake! — August 22, 1986

Source: jw.org

Contents

Page Two

The Fascination of the Occult

The Mystery Behind the Occult

Solving the Mystery

The Demons Controlled Me

My Folks Work—What Can I Do Alone in an Empty House?

Paradise—Only a Fantasy?

Comfort for the Repentant

More Important Than Possessions

Why Does He Talk So Funny?

Japan Welcomes Six Australian ‘VIPs’

From Our Readers

Watching the World

Can the Dead Help You?

The Mysterious Beasts of Revelation

Page Two

Page Two

There is a growing fascination with the occult because many things still occur that cannot be explained scientifically. How can these mysterious things be accounted for? Is it wise to become involved with the occult? Are there dangers? You will benefit from examining the answers in the intriguing opening articles of this issue

The Fascination of the Occult 3

The Mystery Behind the Occult 5

Solving the Mystery 8

The Demons Controlled Me 11

The Fascination of the Occult

The Fascination of the Occult

WEIRD, mysterious, spooky​—these are words many people use to describe the occult. The term literally means “hidden,” “covered over,” “concealed.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary defines occult: “Something mysterious or supernatural.”

So occultism includes experiences and happenings that cannot be explained in the normal way. Paranormal, defined as “beyond the range of scientifically known or recognizable phenomena,” is another term frequently used when discussing the occult.

Beginning in the 1930’s, Dr. Joseph Banks Rhine pioneered studies of the mysteries of occultism and introduced the term “extrasensory perception” (ESP). He predicted that, “as the enlightenment of scientific research spreads to the dark corners wherein mystery still lurks,” occultism will pass away. “Just as the occult practices of astrology gave way to a science of astronomy, occult alchemy turned into scientific chemistry, magical cures were supplanted by sound medicine,” he said, “so in time will a more reliable foundation supplant the remaining occult systems.”

Yet, even after extensive studies of occultism, mysteries remain unsolved. And the fascination, rather than diminishing, is growing.

Reasons for Fascination

Take the case of Mrs. Rosemary Brown. As a child, she received little musical training. She was not particularly interested in music. Then, in adulthood she began to produce musical scores that she claimed were dictated to her by Beethoven, Brahms, and Schubert. Describing the investigation of her case, the The New Encyclopædia Britannica, 1977, Macropædia, reports:

“When these [musical scores] were shown to outstanding experts they agreed that had these scores been found in some derelict attic they would have been regarded as genuine; each was not simply reasonable pastiche but genuinely expressive of what was known of the composer’s emotion and personality. Apparently even highly trained musical experts could not easily (if at all) have produced work of this calibre; how a simple working-class woman with very little musical training could have done so is baffling, particularly as she was never taught composition.”

For many, such experiences are fascinating. How are they possible? The New Encyclopædia Britannica acknowledges: “The idea of the ghosts of these Germanic musicians queuing up to dictate their recent compositions to this woman in English is not appealing.” And yet the encyclopedia observes: “The facts are undisputed; no obvious explanation is forthcoming. As such, the story is typical of many others.”

Consider also the report from Flixborough, South Humberside, England. A massive explosion at a chemical plant took place at 4:53 p.m. on June 1, 1974. Nearly five hours earlier a young woman living some 25 miles (40 km) away told of seeing a newsflash on television, reporting the explosion as well as the death and injury of workers at the plant. Before 2:00 p.m. that day, she spoke about it to two other people who were visiting her. Then, in the evening the TV news reported the event, giving the time of the explosion as late afternoon. All the TV companies broadcasting in that area denied transmitting any such newsflash earlier.

Are you, along with so many others, fascinated by such experiences?

Then there is a “game” that may seem such an innocent pastime. It is played with what is called a Ouija board. While there are variations of the board, generally it is a rectangle 24 by 18 inches (61 by 46 cm) and a quarter of an inch (0.6 cm) thick. On it are the letters of the alphabet, a row of numbers from 1 to 9 and 0, the word “Yes,” and the word “No.” The most important part is the small, heart-shaped indicator that points to each letter to spell out a message.

Players put the board on their laps and lightly place their fingers on the heart-shaped indicator. Then they ask a question and wait for an answer. Does it really work? Those who say it does are legion. “Sometimes the answers are amazingly accurate,” wrote columnist George R. Plagenz. “The Ouija board has even been known to foretell events which later have taken place.”

The game fascinates millions. In fact, a few years ago it was called “the most popular game in the U.S.​—more popular than Monopoly.”

Growing Popularity

“The occult, the supernatural and the paranormal are big business,” observes U.S.News & World Report, “with people from all walks of life paying top dollar to consult with readers, seers and other self-proclaimed visionaries.”

Among such visionaries are astrologers, psychics, spiritualists, and others of the some 600,000 occult practitioners in the United States, who charge fees of up to $300 for their advice. Millions of dollars are also spent on magazines, books, tapes, and movies that deal with occultism.

The situation is similar in Britain. Mail-order shops supplying books and objects used in occult practices are experiencing a business boom. One of Britain’s leading suppliers reportedly processes “hundreds of orders each week and has some 20,000 regular clients on his books.”

“Five years ago,” reports London’s Guardian of March 6, 1985, “there were thought to be some 60,000 witches in Britain: today the number is estimated by some witches to have grown to 80,000.”

Indeed, the Western world is experiencing what The World Book Encyclopedia calls “a widespread revival of occultism.”

Though the occult fascinates many, what does scrutiny of it reveal? Are there dangers involved? If so, what are they?

[Picture on page 4]

Selling occult objects is a growing business

The Mystery Behind the Occult

The Mystery Behind the Occult

FIVE hundred years ago people accused of witchcraft became the target of the Inquisition. A papal proclamation of 1484 gave inquisitors official backing for their witch-hunt. This led to the publication of the book Malleus Maleficarium (The Hammer of Witches), which classified witchcraft as worse than heresy. As a result, thousands were put to death.

In modern times a dramatically different attitude developed toward happenings that modern science has been unable to explain. This change in attitude has been traced back to 1848 when two girls, Margaret and Kate Fox, in New York State, U.S.A., heard mysterious knockings in their little cottage. Thinking that it might be an effort at contact by the spirit world, they asked for a code so as to allow intelligible communication. Communication was established and messages followed.

News of the experiences spread far afield, and with it interest in the paranormal flourished. One result was that spiritualism became organized into a religion, attracting many who yearned for some contact with their dead loved ones.

Scientific Study of the Paranormal

Another result of these paranormal experiences was the founding of societies for their scientific study. The study of the paranormal is known as parapsychology or as psychical research.

For a long time, mainstream science spurned this research. But, then, in 1882, the Society for Psychical Research was founded in London. Its express purpose was “to examine without prejudice or prepossession and in a scientific spirit those faculties of man, real or supposed, which appear to be inexplicable on any generally recognized hypothesis.”

The image of psychical research has improved in recent times as scientists of high reputation have pursued investigations of the paranormal. Interestingly, on May 18, 1985, Edinburgh University announced the appointment of an American psychologist, Dr. Robert Morris, as Professor of Parapsychology. The Sunday Telegraph dubbed him professor of the unknown. Although the idea of giving such prominence to parapsychology drew criticism, New Scientist noted:

“It is not as if parapsychology is a new subject in British universities. The Society for Psychical Research (SPR), Britain’s leading body in the field, celebrated its centenary a couple of years ago, and has always had strong academic associations. The first president of SPR was Henry Sidgwick, professor of moral philosophy at the University of Cambridge. Since then 28 of the 50 or so presidents have been university professors, and two of them Nobel prizewinners. Eight of the 44 British universities are currently carrying out parapsychological research.”

Of course, parapsychology is still not formally recognized by the great institutions of science as having equal status with the physical sciences. Many, in fact, claim that there is no such thing as a paranormal experience.

Is It Just Trickery?

It is true, some experiences claiming to be products of occult power are nothing but trickery. An example involved a clergyman’s four young daughters and their maidservant. One girl was sent out of the room. The rest stayed in the company of the experimenters. An object, such as a playing card, was chosen. The girl was then invited to return to the room and by thought transference identify the chosen object. The correct description was usually given. Some years later, however, when tested by members of the Society for Psychical Research, two of the girls admitted cheating by using sight and sound clues.

More recently, magician James Randi set up a stratagem to show that even experienced investigators can be deceived. He arranged for two young magicians to get jobs with Dr. Peter Phillips, director of physics at Washington University, who was conducting experiments in the psychic field. “I continue to believe that Mike Edwards [one of the young magicians] bent a key in my hand without ever touching it,” wrote Phillips. But he was apparently deceived, as he later acknowledged. The magicians claim that their extraordinary feats were all done by sleight of hand, not by paranormal power.

Clearly, there have been examples of deception. Yet, Arthur J. Ellison, in his presidential address to the Society for Psychical Research in 1982, maintained that there is “excellent evidence for experiences which do not fit current scientific models representing our normal experiences of this universe.” What is the mystery behind these experiences?

Is It Power of the Mind?

Some believe that the mind has hidden powers that can be summoned to perform extraordinary deeds. But does the mind have power to shake tables, move a pointer on a Ouija board, bend metal objects, or emit a force to accomplish other such things?

In an article entitled “The Secret Behind the Ouija Board Mystique,” magician Henry Gordon wrote: “Well, there is an unseen force, but there’s nothing paranormal about it.

“In psychology it’s called automatism,” Gordon says. “Automatism is a motor behavior, or muscular reaction, to an unconscious thought . . . This psychological process is responsible for many other so-called psychic phenomena.”

This is what is commonly claimed. There are, for example, masters of the martial arts who can exert what they call ki power. “Learn to flow your ‘ki’ or mind by concentrating on the One-Point [lower abdomen] and stretch your arm out,” instructs Black Belt, a martial arts magazine. “Pretend the water or power is flowing out from the one point through your arm and finger.”

“As long as one continues to train his ‘Ki,’” Black Belt says, “his students will never surpass him. The founder of Aikido [one of the martial arts], Master Morihei Uyeshiba, is over eighty years old, but as yet, no one can face him. He is capable of throwing twenty strong men simultaneously. He has become stronger and stronger as he grows older. . . . One must accept ‘Ki’ as an addition to your five senses.”

But is the human mind really the source of such extraordinary power? Does it enable persons to perform exploits that cannot be scientifically explained?

Well, consider a case of poltergeist-type activity in Enfield, London, England, investigated for the Society for Psychical Research. Regarding this type of activity, Brian Inglis, author of several books on the paranormal, explains: “The mysterious bangings, movements of furniture and breakages often go on for weeks; and this enables investigators to convert the premises, up to a point, into a laboratory using a variety of sophisticated recorders.”

In the Enfield case, the person was quite willing to be investigated. However, according to the two researchers, the apparent subject was totally uncooperative. “It took what appeared to be malicious pleasure in frustrating the efforts of observers,” wrote Inglis. “Tape recorders, for example, were subjected to interference and damage, sometimes of a kind the manufacturers had never previously encountered.”

Such experiences strongly indicate that power beyond the human mind is involved. If such power emanated from a person’s mind, why would it want to frustrate the investigative efforts of observers and put their recording equipment out of action, especially since the person was quite willing to be investigated?

Admittedly, the human mind is a marvelous creation about which there is much to be learned. Yet, it cannot emanate power to strike, lift, or move objects, nor does the human mind of itself have the ability to know about things without the aid of the ordinary sensory channels.

Thus, according to scientific research, the phenomenon of ESP in its various forms does exist, although it is not clear how it works. To scientists, the mystery remains.

Is there, then, a solution to the mystery?

[Picture on page 6]

Can the mind project power to move a pointer on a Ouija board?

Solving the Mystery

Solving the Mystery

THAT powers beyond what are normal have enabled people to perform extraordinary deeds is well established. Brian Inglis notes: “Paranormal phenomena are now closer to formal recognition than they have been since medieval times​—when they were considered to be as natural, even if not so predictable, as any other of nature’s forces.”

What is the source of these extraordinary powers? Well, for thousands of years, most of the human family has believed that the souls of the dead live on in the spirit world. And it is commonly believed that these souls or spirits of the dead are responsible for paranormal phenomena. But are they?

Are the Dead Responsible?

If the dead are unconscious​—really dead—​then it would be impossible for them to be the mysterious forces behind the occult. Well, then, what is the condition of the dead?

Describing the creation of man, the Scriptures say: “Man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7, King James Version) Note that there is not the slightest hint here that man was given a soul as one of the components of his being. Rather, the soul clearly is the man himself. So, what happens when man dies?

Of Jesus Christ, the Bible prophesied: “He hath poured out his soul unto death.” (Isaiah 53:12, KJ) And of humankind generally, the Scriptures say: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4, 20, KJ) All human souls die because they have all inherited sin from the first man, Adam, who became a sinner by disobeying God. And the Bible says: “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 5:12; 6:23, KJ) So at death, the soul, the sense-possessing person, dies.a

Is it possible, therefore, for the dead to communicate with the living? The Bible says: “[Man] breathes his last breath, he returns to the dust; and in that same hour all his thinking ends.” The Bible also says: “It is not the dead who praise the LORD, not those who go down into silence; but we, the living, bless the LORD.”​—Psalm 146:4; 115:17, The New English Bible.

Since the dead cannot praise God because their ‘thinking has ended,’ they certainly cannot communicate with the living nor be responsible for any paranormal phenomena. Then who are responsible?

The Mystery Solved

Humans are not the highest form of life. The Bible reveals that long before God created man and woman, he created a multitude of spirit sons, invisible angels. (Job 38:4, 7) Later, one of these began to oppose God, even slandering him, thus becoming Satan (opposer) and the Devil (slanderer). In time, other spirit creatures joined Satan the Devil in his rebellion, forming an organization of rebellious angels, or demons. Are these demons the ones responsible for the paranormal phenomena of occultism?

Yes, they are! In pre-Flood days these spirit “sons of the true God” were able to materialize fleshly bodies and live on earth. (Genesis 6:1, 2; Jude 6) But since returning to the spirit realm, their contacts with humans have been limited to causing the paranormal phenomena that have been so common throughout the history of mankind.

The demons have particularly communicated with living relatives and friends of the dead, causing these persons to believe the lie that the dead are still living somewhere in the spirit world. To impersonate the dead is no problem for the demons, since they can closely observe people while they are alive. Thus, the intimate details of a person’s life, including sound of voice and manner of expression, can then be accurately impersonated.

But, you may ask, what about the loyal angels? Perhaps they communicate with humans today. It is true that God used angels to communicate with humans in earlier times. Today, however, we have the completed Bible as God’s direct and adequate communication to us humans. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) In it Jehovah God specifically forbids humans to attempt communication with the spirits.

Through his prophet Isaiah, God says: “But people will tell you to ask for messages from fortunetellers and mediums, who chirp and mutter. They will say, ‘After all, people should ask for messages from the spirits and consult the dead on behalf of the living.’ You are to answer them, ‘Listen to what the LORD is teaching you! Don’t listen to mediums​—what they tell you will do you no good.’”​—Isaiah 8:19, 20, Today’s English Version.

No wonder that God gave detailed instructions to the nation of Israel on avoiding occult practices. On entering the Promised Land, he warned them not to get involved with the Canaanites’ “detestable customs.” (Leviticus 18:3, 30) Details of these customs or practices are listed in Deuteronomy 18:10, 11. They include employing divination, practicing magic, looking for omens, sorcery, binding with spells, consulting professional foretellers of events, and inquiring of the dead.

Beware of the Occult!

At first glance, those “detestable customs” might seem harmless enough. But danger lurks there. How so? Because those practices can lead to entanglement with the demons. The Canaanites’ depravity and their obsession with sex and violence served as evidence of this.

Today there is a similar danger in pursuing an interest in the paranormal. It could well be the bait leading to ensnarement by demonic forces. You do not have to look far to find reports of sex and violence associated with the occult practices of our day. It is, therefore, in your best interest to heed the warning.

God’s command to Israel of old highlights a still more important reason to shun the occult. “For everybody doing these things is something detestable to Jehovah.” (Deuteronomy 18:12) The inspired Christian Bible writers agree with this fundamental truth. The apostle Paul lists the “practice of spiritism” as one of the “works of the [fallen] flesh.” (Galatians 5:19, 20) And the apostle John penned God’s warning that the portion for “those practicing spiritism . . . will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This means the second death.”​—Revelation 21:8.

Some people may believe that there could not be dangerous consequences from playing with anything that looks as innocent as the Ouija board. Yet, a group of bus drivers in England who played with one during rest periods found that their attitude toward one another began changing. Some became unusually aggressive. This attitude even affected their driving. They reported feeling a strong urge to drive their vehicles into the oncoming traffic for no reason at all.

Then there is the young woman who experimented with a Ouija board and developed an obsession with the past. She believed she was in love with a man who had died 300 years earlier. She kept trying to make contact with him. Her mania finally led her to commit suicide by laying down on a railway track. Police investigating the case found diaries indicating she wanted to die so as to join her beloved.

So even if you think you are not unduly fascinated by the occult, beware! Heed the Scriptural advice: “Keep your senses, be watchful.” Remember who is behind the occult. “Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.” (1 Peter 5:8) Do not let that “someone” be you!

That the Devil and his demons really do exist, and that they can indeed influence a person’s life, is illustrated by the following article.

[Footnotes]

For a detailed discussion, please obtain the book Is This Life All There Is?, advertised on page 31 of this magazine.

[Blurb on page 10]

She believed she was in love with a man who had died 300 years earlier

[Picture on page 9]

Is it the dead with whom they communicate?

The Demons Controlled Me

The Demons Controlled Me

I WAS a spirit medium, a sorcerer, a male witch. I employed divination. I looked for omens. I bound others with spells. I practiced black magic and voodoo. Most of the spiritistic practices condemned in the Bible at Deuteronomy 18:10-12, I engaged in.

The apostle Paul’s traveling companion Luke wrote: “A certain servant girl with a spirit, a demon of divination, met us. She used to furnish her masters with much gain by practicing the art of prediction.” (Acts 16:16) As was the case with that girl, a demon also provided me knowledge of things that could not be known by ordinary means.

For example, before my grandmother died, I knew that her death was imminent. And when a relative would become pregnant, I knew about it before others did. These were not simply hunches that proved true; my knowledge about such things was almost always correct. When I would wish for a fellow student, teacher, or relative to become sick, invariably they would.

Once I became upset with my grandmother and wanted her to be hurt. I called to the demons, asking specifically that she should cut herself​—that afternoon she cut herself with a knife.

Practicing voodoo, I used articles of clothing and made an image of my brother. I wanted to keep him from bothering me. Afterward, whenever he came within ten feet (3 m) of me, he got shooting pains in his chest and had difficulty breathing. So he learned to keep away from me.

Later, an acquaintance scoffed at my ability to summon the demons. I knew he dealt in drugs. So I told him he would be arrested and then be released. The demons did just what I requested. Within two months the man was arrested. Afterward the charges were dropped, and he was released. The man never questioned my abilities again.

Becoming Involved in Occultism

My family was steeped in the religious ritual and paganism of the Ozark Mountains in the United States, where people were users of love potions, and the like. I was born after my parents moved to San Francisco. They really didn’t want children; it interfered with their freewheeling life-style. So I was neglected, shown no affection, battered emotionally. I became a loner, a hater of people.

At an early age I was drawn to the occult. I would watch all the movies and TV programs featuring it. And by the time I was about six, I was a regular user of the Ouija board. I was open to and, in fact, eager for communication with the spirit realm. I knew that demons existed and I felt very comfortable talking with them. And they favored me with special powers and knowledge.

I began reading all the books on occultism that I could get my hands on, obtaining them from public libraries and, in particular, bookstores. One store, operated by a spirit medium, catered especially to those who practiced witchcraft, or black magic. From reading old books on occultism, I learned the names of demons who were contacted in past ages by people who practiced spiritism.

Then, in my communications with the demons, I began using these names when I spoke with them. And it seemed that whenever I dealt with a particular demon, that one’s personality and the way he worked differed from that of another demon I would call upon. I thus came to know scores of demons by name.

From my reading about occultism, I knew that the demons were angels who had lost God’s favor and were not the spirits, or souls, of people who had died. I had sympathy for these angels, and I particularly felt sorry for Satan. I became a worshiper of Satan, yet, contradictory as it was, I would at the same time pray to God. And when my prayers would be answered, I believed God had answered them. Satan had me thoroughly deceived.​—2 Corinthians 11:14.

Although providing me special powers, the demons did not help me to be a good person. On the contrary, they twisted my thinking to hate rather than love. In time, I became a fornicator, thief, drunkard, drug abuser, and homosexual.

In January 1974 my grandmother died. This distressed me very much, since she was the only person I had loved. When I was a child she read to me from the Bible and spoke about the resurrection. Now I wanted to learn more about the resurrection. From childhood on I had wanted to live forever, and the demons had promised that I would. But it wasn’t clear how this would be accomplished.

An Important Encounter

Shortly after my grandmother’s funeral, I happened to mention to a girl named Gwen, whom I worked with, that the end of the world was coming but that no one believed it. Gwen said she believed it and expressed surprise that I knew. I had learned about this from the demons, but Gwen showed me these things from the Bible.

Gwen would always speak of Jehovah and said that he was the One who was going to bring an end to this system. I told her I hated the sound of that name, Jehovah, and asked her not to use it. She was hurt and said that if she could not use the name of the one she loved most, she’d rather not talk to me, because Jehovah is God’s name.

I was taken aback. So that night I went home, and taking the King James Version, the Bible of my deceased grandmother, I began paging through it, searching for the name Jehovah. I knew that if I found it in this Bible, Gwen was right, that Jehovah was God’s name. But I felt sure it would not be there. I was shocked when I came to Exodus 6:3, which reads: “I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.”

I realized in an instant that Jehovah was indeed God and that compared to him Satan was not powerful at all! Seeing the name I hated there in the Bible, as well as hearing about the hope of the resurrection, made me start studying with the Witnesses.

Breaking Free of Demon Control

Shortly afterward Gwen took me to a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The talk was about the wild beast mentioned in the Bible book of Revelation, the one with the number 666. I had learned quite a bit of twisted information about this from the demons, and now it really surprised me that these things were written in the Bible. I was interested, so the following week I began a regular Bible study with the Witnesses.

The demons, of course, didn’t want me to study. But I knew that what I was learning was the truth, and I was not going to give it up even though the demons tried to stop me. They would hit me while I was in bed. Once a blow to the head was so severe that it took hours for the pain to subside. I prayed to Jehovah for help, and after that he kept them out of my room.

However, the demons didn’t give up. From outside my bedroom, they would rattle the windows. They kept it up all night, so that I could only get a couple of hours of sleep. They were trying to wear me down. But I kept praying to Jehovah and going to all the meetings of the Witnesses, and Jehovah helped me.

True, the demons have great powers. They can even kill people, as they did Job’s ten children. (Job 1:18, 19) And I’m sure they wanted to kill me, since I had been their servant to whom they had granted special powers but who had abandoned them to serve their enemy, Jehovah God. So Jehovah’s ability to protect me is proof that we need not fear the demons.

In the summer of 1974 I attended the district convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses at the Oakland-Alameda County Stadium. There I decided that at the next such convention I would be baptized. So, in the same stadium, on July 18, 1975, I was baptized, and I married a fellow Witness that October.

Even after Mari and I were married, the demons harassed us, terrifying my wife on occasion. Mari was part of the congregation where I had begun attending meetings. She knew all about my background before our marriage. She even said she suspected that I was a male witch when I first began coming to the Kingdom Hall. I was really weird. I dressed completely in black and wouldn’t speak to anyone, just come to the meetings and sit there.

At one time we thought that we might not be freed from harassment by the demons until they and Satan were abyssed. (Revelation 20:1-3) Because of our drawing close to Jehovah in prayer and taking advantage of every spiritual provision that he makes through his organization, it has been years since the demons have harassed us as they did at first.

We are blessed to have three lovely daughters, and for the past four years, Mari has been serving in the ministry as a regular pioneer. We truly look forward to the time when Satan and his demons will be gone forever! In the meantime, even though no longer experiencing direct harassment from the demons, we never forget that we have a battle against them, even as the apostle Paul wrote: “We have a wrestling, not against blood and flesh, but . . . against the world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)​—As told by Ralph Anderson.

[Blurb on page 12]

Whenever I dealt with a particular demon, its personality differed from that of another demon

My Folks Work—What Can I Do Alone in an Empty House?

Young People Ask . . .

My Folks Work​—What Can I Do Alone in an Empty House?

“IT CAN get kind of boring.” A 15-year-old named Gary is describing what it’s like coming home to an empty house. “I get home around three. I get a snack, maybe watch some TV or play my stereo.” His father, a single parent, works all day.

Millions of youths​—children of both single parents and two-income couples—​share a similar experience. And they will tell you firsthand that having working parents is not always easy. Like Gary, they may spend a good part of each day alone.

Consider, though, a study recently reported in Psychology Today. Child-care experts feared that youngsters left on their own would develop severe behavioral problems. However, 48 latch-key children were compared with 48 youngsters who were cared for by adults after school.a The results? “Contrary to what might be expected, the researchers found little difference between the two groups. Teachers rated the latch-key children as being as well adjusted socially as the other children. In addition, the latch-key children appeared to be as high in self-esteem and feelings of control over their lives as were those whose after-school hours were supervised by an adult.”

What does this indicate? That while being by yourself after school is surely not ideal, it does not have to be disastrous. What makes a difference is how you handle the situation.

Being Alone​—The Dangers

“Parents used to worry about what their children were up to when out at night,” says writer Vance Packard. “Today, if both parents are working, they are more likely to worry about what the youngsters are up to in the late afternoon when so many houses are empty of adults.” According to Packard, an empty house is often the scene of sexual immorality.

Having the house to oneself can also open the door to other forms of mischief. Gary recalls: “After my parents’ divorce, I lived for a while with my mother [not a Christian]. She left me alone quite a lot. Once while she was gone, I got into her cigarettes.” Fortunately, this was not the beginning of a life-long addiction. “I only smoked one or two,” says Gary.

Of course, the Bible condemns both illicit sex and unclean habits like smoking. (1 Corinthians 6:9; 2 Corinthians 7:1) And while not all children of working parents are dabbling in wrongdoing, many do find being alone intensely boring. The authors of Being Adolescent found that youths are typically passive, drowsy, bored, and unmotivated when forced into solitude. TV watching or ‘hanging out’ at shopping malls and video arcades becomes their major occupation. ‘What’s there to do at home?’ they ask.

The Value of Solitude

Observes the book Being Adolescent: “Great works of art or scientific discoveries are usually made by a person struggling on alone. The personal insights that give life meaning often blossom in solitude. Yet most people are terrified by loneliness, and will go to any length to avoid being alone. One of the major opportunities for growth in adolescence is to learn how to use solitude as a way to reach one’s goals, rather than as something to escape at all costs.”

Jesus Christ made good use of solitude. Before starting his ministry, Jesus went into the wilderness by himself for 40 days and 40 nights. (Matthew 4:1, 2) No doubt he used this time alone to pray and to meditate on the great work ahead of him. Afterward, Jesus regularly sought periods of solitude. (Luke 5:16; Mark 1:35) Not that Jesus was a hermit. The proverb warns: “One isolating himself will seek his own selfish longing.” (Proverbs 18:1) So he balanced periods of solitude with association with people.

You, too, can learn to use solitude productively. Starting right in on your homework is fine. However, one youth who associates with a congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses further says: “I also use the time to read the [Bible-based] magazines The Watchtower and Awake! It’s also a good time to prepare for our [Christian] meetings.” At such meetings he gets needed and upbuilding association that helps to offset his time alone.

Doing Your Part Around the House

A teenage girl named Lecille says: “I look after my little sister and help my mom keep the house straight. This way Mom doesn’t have so much to do on the weekends.” Granted, it may not seem fair to you to have to work when you want to play. But says psychologist David Elkind about handling basic domestic chores: “Surely these are reasonable demands to make on children . . . It may even be said that many children in two-parent homes with only one working parent would benefit from being expected to do more for themselves.” Handling chores is thus one way to fight boredom​—and develop a sense of responsibility.

Gary recalls: “Since I was little, I’ve had to do things around the house, like making my bed and taking out the trash.” He does admit: “I’ve never had to cook, though I do know how to pop some toast in the toaster or make a sandwich!” Doing household chores hasn’t harmed him; if anything, it has contributed to his emotional growth.

Why not, therefore, try to carry your own load when it comes to housework and chores? (Compare Galatians 6:5.) Admittedly, as Dr. Elkind states, parental ‘demands and expectations can get out of hand.’ So if you feel too much is being placed on you, consider what an article in ’Teen magazine suggested: “Sit down with your folks and together work out a schedule that’ll leave you with some free time for friends, school work . . . and at the same time, make things easier on your already busy mom and dad.”

‘I Feel Neglected’

A teenage girl named Melissa complains: “I sometimes feel neglected. Dad doesn’t get home till about seven o’clock. And then all he wants to do is eat and sleep. The same with Mom. She gets home and starts cooking. We never get a chance to talk.” Says yet another youth: “When I was younger and only one of my parents worked, our family was tighter. Now that they both work, our relationship is not as tight as it used to be.”

You may therefore have no choice but to buy out the opportune time to enjoy your folks’ company. (Compare Ephesians 5:16.) That means making the most of what time you do have together. You might, for example, offer to work at some household chores with your parents. Says one working mother: “It draws you closer when you work together.” Gary and his dad have found yet another opportune time to enjoy each other: “We always shop together.”

Eating together is another way to promote good relations with your parents. Avoid raiding the refrigerator the minute you get home; try to wait until you can eat together as a family. You might even learn to cook, and from time to time surprise your mom or dad with a meal! (Proverbs 15:17) Some warm moments at the dinner table may make up for those few hours you have been apart.

Finally, if your parents are Christians, try to have a regular “interchange of encouragement” with them. (Romans 1:12) Says Gary: “My dad and I study the Bible an hour or two every Thursday night.” Could you ask your folks for a similar arrangement? Their mutual interest in spiritual matters has helped keep Gary and his father close.

If your folks both work, likely they won’t be home when you arrive every day. But don’t despair. And don’t become a hermit. Use your time wisely and productively. Not only will you learn to cope but you may even learn to like your brief periods of solitude.

[Footnotes]

“Latch-key children” is a term coined to describe children who must fend for themselves after school while their parents work. See, “Why Isn’t Mom Here When I Get Home?” in the June 22, 1986, issue of Awake!

[Pictures on page 15]

Many creative projects require the concentration that is possible when you are alone

Paradise—Only a Fantasy?

Paradise​—Only a Fantasy?

By “Awake!” correspondent in Hawaii

CLEAR blue skies, warm sandy beaches, rolling surf​—is this your idea of paradise? Palm trees gently swaying in warm tropical breezes, emerald-green mountains rising into the clouds, thunderous waterfalls plunging into cool and secluded pools, colorful rainbows, spectacular sunsets​—visions of paradise are often made of these things.

Of course, a tropical isle may not be everyone’s idea of paradise. A young lady who relocated to a Pacific island said longingly: “I miss the cool, crisp fall days when the trees are flaming in their fall foliage. I miss, too, the still winter nights when everything is muffled under a blanket of fresh snow.”

Though visions of paradise vary, there are certain things everyone would want. One is to have your loved ones there along with you. Another is to enjoy a sense of peace and security, yes, to have the troubles of our present life removed.

But is it realistic to believe that a paradise can be found today? Is moving to an area where one can enjoy the beauty of nature in unspoiled surroundings the answer?

“Pacific Paradise”

Even though many beauty spots around the world are justly admired by visitors as paradisaic, Hawaii is an enduring favorite on most people’s list. Today Hawaii is visited by more than four million tourists a year and has earned for herself the fair name “Pacific Paradise.”

Most visitors are impressed by what they see here​—the breathtakingly beautiful mountains, cliffs, and waterfalls; the crystal-clear, blue ocean waters and white sandy beaches; the profusion of flowers and fruit trees; the temperate climate; and the friendly local people.

Each of the islands in the Hawaiian group has its distinctive attractions. For example, on Kauai, the “Garden Isle,” visitors can marvel at the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” otherwise known as Waimea Canyon. Oahu has its world-famous Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head. The eerie yet beautiful Haleakala Crater, a favorite sunrise observation point, is on Maui. The island of Hawaii, or the Big Island, is where two of the world’s largest active volcanoes​—Kilauea and Mauna Loa—​put on their fiery displays from time to time. Here you will also find the exotic black sand beaches. Everywhere you turn, amazing and beautiful things assail your senses.

But wait! Before you pull up stakes and move your family and belongings here, consider: Is Hawaii truly all that you would expect in a paradise? Granted that it has natural beauty and spectacular scenery, yet is Hawaii really what you would consider a paradise?

A Real Paradise?

“Maybe so in the past,” notes a second-generation native of Japanese descent. “Now, though, we have the same problems everyone else has​—traffic jams, congestion, pollution, and crime.” As a family head and father of three, he observes: “Unemployment problems and the high cost of living make it difficult to provide for your family. Thefts and break-ins add to your concern.”

“Sure, compared to many of the places I’ve been to,” says a Hawaiian-Chinese businessman who has traveled extensively throughout the Orient, the United States, and the Pacific. “However, much of the simpler, trouble-free, uncomplicated life of Old Hawaii is gone.” Reminiscing, he continues: “As a boy, I used to visit freely with my neighbors. Everyone shared what he had, and no one locked his doors. But not any longer. People today are very apprehensive.” Then, touching on a subject that is not often discussed, he says: “One of the real banes of modern Hawaii is a flourishing drug culture. Perhaps this is due to the climate and also the problems of modern society that support the desire for escapism.”

Comments such as these point out what is happening to Hawaii and other “paradisaic” spots around the world. People, in their eagerness to enjoy life in an ‘ideal location,’ have flocked to these fair islands. The result is not only an unprecedented growth and expansion in Hawaii’s population and economy​—along with its share of social problems—​but also a devastating impact on its natural environment.

Actually, pollution of natural resources, as well as other environmental problems, mars every corner of the earth. Crime, drug abuse, and crowded living conditions plague cities around the world. Sickness, old age, and death afflict people everywhere.

Clearly, a true paradise is more than just a beautiful place in which to live. It is the people and the way they live that make a beautiful place a paradise. You may live in the most gorgeous spot in the world, but if crime, unemployment, high prices, and other such problems exist, you are not living in a true paradise.

Does this mean that living in a true paradise is only a dream, a fantasy? Will an earthly paradise​—a global paradise—​ever be a reality?

Basis for Hope

The fact is, the hope of many people for a global paradise is very strong. To them, the words of Jesus Christ, spoken centuries ago, still sound as attractive as when they were first uttered: “You will be with me in Paradise.”​—Luke 23:43.

Is this mere wishful thinking, or hope against all hope, on their part? What is the Paradise Jesus promised? And how is it to be realized?

Jesus made that promise to an apparently repentant criminal who was condemned to die on a torture stake. Out of a contrite heart, the criminal said: “Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom.” In answer, Jesus said to him: “Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise.”​—Luke 23:40-43.

Did you notice in this dialogue what the key to Paradise is? Jesus did not tell the evildoer that he had an immortal soul that would depart into a paradise in another world that day. Even Jesus himself had to wait and be resurrected by God three days later. Rather, Jesus was pointing to a future paradise to be established on earth when he comes into Kingdom power. Yes, the key to Paradise is God’s Kingdom, the one for which Jesus taught his followers to pray: “Let your kingdom come.”​—Matthew 6:10.

But how will God’s Kingdom bring about a global paradise? Is it realistic to believe that it will succeed when all other kingdoms, as well as governments of any sort, have failed?

God’s Kingdom to the Rescue

The Bible clearly outlines the steps that God’s Kingdom will take to restore Paradise to earth. Looking forward to that time, the Bible book of Revelation tells us what must first take place, saying: “The nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time . . . to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.”​—Revelation 11:17, 18.

When Jehovah God looks at the way the nations have fouled the air, water, and land by their selfish exploitation of earth’s resources and their bloody and destructive warfare, there is ample reason for him to feel wrathful and to take action to put a stop to their mindless course. That is why he will “bring to ruin those ruining the earth” before it is too late. This will then allow the natural healing power of the earth to reverse the damage done and to bring the earth back to a paradisaic state.

The Kingdom will also deal with the crime and criminals that rob one of security and happiness so essential to Paradise. “For evildoers themselves will be cut off,” wrote the psalmist, “but those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth.” Under the Kingdom rule, everyone will be a friend and a true neighbor. There will be no more need for locks, security systems, and policemen. “They will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace,” the Bible promises.​—Psalm 37:9, 11.

Old age, sickness, and death​—those great detractors from joy—​will also be things of the past. “No resident will say: ‘I am sick,’” the prophet Isaiah tells us. “And death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”​—Isaiah 33:24; Revelation 21:4.

What about the basic human needs for food, shelter, and rewarding work? Today, food shortage and famine afflict millions. Large segments of humanity live in substandard conditions and are desperately unemployed or unemployable. For a global paradise to be realized, these problems must be eliminated. Will the Kingdom be up to the task? Listen to this marvelous description of what life will be like under the Kingdom rule:

“They will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating. For like the days of a tree will the days of my people be; and the work of their own hands my chosen ones will use to the full. They will not toil for nothing, nor will they bring to birth for disturbance; because they are the offspring made up of the blessed ones of Jehovah.”​—Isaiah 65:21-23.

Is that not what you would envision Paradise to be? These and the many other wonderful things written in the Bible are no mere fantasies or dreams! In speaking of such Kingdom blessings, the Bible frequently adds the expression “the very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this.” (Isaiah 9:7; 37:32) This assures us that Jehovah God, who has the ability and power to ‘satisfy the desire of every living thing,’ is also willing and eager to do so. (Psalm 145:16) Yes, by Jehovah’s will, the hope for a global paradise will soon be realized.

Reaching Out for Paradise

The marvelous prospect of a future paradise on earth may be hard for you to believe. You may even feel it is too good to be true. But our natural desire for peace and happiness tells us that it is not unrealistic to hope for Paradise. Our Creator, who built into us the desire for these things, has shown us how that hope can and will be realized.

World events and fulfilled Bible prophecies indicate that the time for God to restore Paradise to the whole earth is not far off. So, rather than merely fantasizing about living in paradise or spending your time and resources in a fruitless pursuit of a life in paradise by your own means, take the time and effort to see what the Bible has to say on the matter.

Jesus Christ revealed the basis for enjoying life in a true paradise when he said: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3) Gaining accurate knowledge of God’s will and living according to it is the only way of realizing one’s hope of Paradise. Are you reaching out for it?

[Pictures on page 19]

An island paradise marred by a devastating impact on its environment

[Picture Credit Line on page 17]

Hawaiian Visitors Bureau photos

Comfort for the Repentant

Comfort for the Repentant

HAVE you ever erred seriously and later been deeply sorry for your wrongdoing? It can happen even to longtime servants of God. King David of Israel committed adultery, yet when he displayed sincere repentance, God forgave him and upheld him during the difficult years of his life that followed.​—2 Samuel 11:2-4; 12:13.

Where can you receive help and comfort if you have committed a serious moral wrong? The experience of a young woman who, at the time, had recently begun studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses illustrates. She explains:

“My parents were far from what you would call religious. Dad used to comment on the gross hypocrisy of the churches he had personally investigated. Nevertheless, he taught my two older brothers to be gentlemen and me to be a lady. Dad actually had long talks with me, explaining that sexual pleasures should be reserved exclusively for marriage. He was such a fine man; our family felt a deep loss when he died in 1967.

“Six years later, I began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. However, after only a few weeks, my Bible studies were interrupted when a work assignment took me to England. There I fell in love with a close working companion, and, in time, he asked me to marry him.

“But what can happen when an unmarried man and woman, deeply in love, are alone in a beautiful hotel suite with the fragrant aroma of flowers filling the air, soft lights and music in the background, plus an extensive selection of fine wines on hand? First a touch, then a kiss, and one thing quickly leads to another. Then, before one realizes it . . .

“At the time, I really didn’t know what the Bible said about fornication, although I suspected that it didn’t approve. But I was well aware of what my parents had taught me. My conscience began to bother me more and more. I felt so ashamed and disappointed in myself. For nearly two weeks I brooded, until I couldn’t stand it any longer. I wasn’t quite sure where I stood with Jehovah, and it bothered me.

“Finally, I built up courage and arranged to speak with my friend Robin, with whose wife I had arranged to continue my Bible studies. He was a Christian elder of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I don’t know why I wanted to confess. I certainly didn’t look at Robin as some sort of priest. Nevertheless, I felt compelled to seek his advice and counsel.

“Robin listened attentively, patiently, while I literally blurted out to him what I had done. He handed me his clean, white handkerchief so that I could dry my tears. And for what seemed to me like hours, he made no remark at all. Finally, he said:

“‘Oh, you precious child. Don’t you know Jehovah cares for you? I know it took a lot of courage and humility to come to me. These are rare qualities, rare indeed. I’m sure God can mold a person like you and use you. Of course, I’m not saying that what you did was right because it wasn’t. Let’s see what the Bible says about your problem, in hopes that we may both be upbuilt and strengthened. All right?’

“I shall never forget the first Bible text Robin turned to. I could barely read it through my tears. ‘So that, on the contrary now, you should kindly forgive and comfort him, that somehow such a man may not be swallowed up by his being overly sad.’ (2 Corinthians 2:7) So it was that during my last few weeks in London, I received an abundance of helpful Bible counsel and instruction from Robin and his wife.

“I explained to the man I loved my new resolves about meeting God’s standards of moral cleanness and made clear my intentions of eventually becoming one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He hesitantly agreed to my decision, not fully understanding.”

Shortly afterward this young woman was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. And although deeply in love, she told the man that she would not marry him unless he, too, became a servant of Jehovah God. When he did not progress spiritually, she eventually broke off their relationship. She began the full-time pioneer ministry and has been a regular pioneer now for ten years.

[Blurb on page 22]

“First a touch, then a kiss, and one thing quickly leads to another”

More Important Than Possessions

More Important Than Possessions

LAST December 28 Jess and Linda Shull were married in Petaluma, California, and soon afterward left for a honeymoon in Nevada. On their return to their home in Wyoming, they planned to move into a new two-story house.

“I built it all myself,” explained Jess. “I knew I was going to get married soon, and I worked hard to get the house just the way we wanted it.” Shortly before leaving on their honeymoon, they moved many of Linda’s things into their new home in the rural Lost Wells Butte area northwest of Riverton, Wyoming.

While they were in Nevada, on Friday, January 3, their new house caught fire and burned. “Nobody was able to reach us,” Linda said. “But I’m glad they weren’t able to. It would have ruined our honeymoon.”

High winds in the area were apparently a factor in starting the fire. The house, which it had taken Jess over three years to build, was a total loss. And worst of all, it was uninsured.

In a front-page story on January 14, The Riverton Ranger reported what happened after the volunteer firemen left: “A new group of people, about the same in number as the firemen, went out to Lost Wells Butte. . . . The house was a mess, with two feet of sludge and ash settled in the middle of the living room. The bedroom was gone, burned away. It was hard to know where to start.

“But start they did, and within a few hours, they had cleaned up much of the mess.

“Jess and Linda were due back in a couple of days. They still didn’t know what had happened to their new house. . . .

“By Tuesday, Jan. 7, just four days after the house had been declared totally destroyed, the group of 50 Jehovah’s Witness volunteers had a roof over the place. It had been a smelly black hole hours before. . . .

“The Shulls’ friends had put down roofing material, installed new plumbing, ran new electrical wires. They rolled out insulation, hung sheet rock, sprayed wall texture. . . .

“They worked long hours . . . in January, in Wyoming. The temperature near Lost Wells Butte rarely topped 15 degrees. . . .

“The Jehovah’s Witnesses who made sure two young people didn’t come back from their honeymoon to find their house in ashes are mostly dispersed now. They remain anonymous, the kind of people who help a friend for the sake of helping, not for attention in the newspaper.

“But Jess and Linda Shull want people to know the kind of friends they have. ‘When you come back, and you’re told that everything is gone . . . , ’ said Linda, pausing. ‘Well, it just makes you so grateful to realize everything that you do have.’

“The Shulls lost a lot. They almost lost their house, and many of their possessions are up in smoke. But they know now about other things, even more valuable than a pool table or a darkroom, things that money won’t buy.

“Things that, even in a blazing fire, just won’t burn up.”

[Picture Credit Line on page 23]

Riverton, Wyoming, Fire Department

Why Does He Talk So Funny?

Why Does He Talk So Funny?

“MUMMY, why does he talk so funny?” Have you heard a child ask such a question after first meeting someone from overseas or from another part of your own country?

Have you been surprised to hear your own language spoken in the strangest of ways by people from other places? If so, it is because of the existence of fascinating accents.

What Is an Accent?

When used regarding speech, the word “accent” does not refer to the marking of various letters or syllables with accent signs as is done in some written languages. Rather it means speech of those living in other places who speak your language with different inflection and pronunciation from what you are accustomed to hearing. Yet these are people who have spoken the same mother tongue as yours from their birth.

Possibly English is the language for which this commonly occurs because of its being spoken in so many parts of the world. Thus, one can usually distinguish a Scotsman from a Canadian, a South African from an Irishman, an Australian from an American, by the accent with which he speaks his common language, English.

However, the situation is not limited to the English-speaking world, for those speaking other languages may experience the same thing. Many people who speak Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, or Japanese may also consider that those who live in other areas speak their respective language in the strangest ways. For example, the “th” sound used in Castilian Spanish sounds odd to Hispanics who use the “s” sound. Thus, Zaragoza, pronounced “Tharagotha” in many parts of Spain, turns into “Saragosa” for most Hispanics.

Even after many years of living in a different locality or country, adults rarely change their speech accent completely unless particularly setting out to do so. On the other hand, children up to early school years usually, without any conscious effort, adopt the accent being spoken around them by other children.

How Do You React?

Are you fascinated when you hear your language spoken by someone with a different accent? Do you find this appealing? Author Kurt Vonnegut described his feelings: “All these varieties of speech are beautiful, just as the varieties of butterflies are beautiful.” Or do you become irritated and wonder why the stranger cannot speak your language properly? Sometimes prejudice can play its part. Yet, with the constant increase of international travel, an open mind can be such an asset, since we can expect to encounter the situation more and more as time passes.

By far the majority are intrigued and find it a refreshing change to hear their mother tongue spoken with a different accent. Usually the listener is convinced that he himself has no accent​—it is the other person who speaks “strangely.” Of course, this is not the case, and your speech will sound equally strange and, hopefully, intriguing and fascinating to the visitor.

This does not mean that there may not be occasional teasing, or bantering, between people of some countries with the same basic language. This in itself need not be undesirable if done in a good-natured way. Rather, it can improve relations and understanding because of the lighthearted repartee. An example might be the teasing question raised by Professor Henry Higgins in the motion picture My Fair Lady, based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. Because of the variety of accents and dialects in England, he asked: “Why can’t the English learn to speak?” Then, referring to English, he quipped: “In America they haven’t spoken it for years!” Shaw also wrote with wry humor: “England and America are two countries separated by the same language.”

…