Information Related to "An Overview of Conditions Around the World - Mar/Apr 2001"
| Audio/Video |
 |
An Overview
of |
The specter of bioterrorism
According to Foreign Affairs magazine, several nations besides the United
States possess biological weapons: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, China, North Korea,
Russia, Israel, Taiwan and possibly Sudan, India, Pakistan and Kazakhstan. Potentially
more serious is that militant political groups around the world seek either to develop
or buy biological weapons for possible terrorist use.
Smallpox would be particularly deadly as a weapon in the bioterrorism arsenal. It
kills one in three of its victims and blinds and disfigures many others. In 1980
the disease was declared extinct by the World Heath Organization. Yet the virus lives
on, legitimately, in hundreds of vials stored in heavily secured laboratories in
Russia and America.
The Times reported that "the threat of a smallpox epidemic caused by
bioterrorism is so serious that the U.S. is pouring money ($177 million a
year) into developing an antidote" (emphasis added). A fresh outbreak would
be particularly devastating because the vast majority of people have no immunity
to the virus, since routine vaccinations have not been available for decades.
That such a threat could even exist in a supposedly civilized world and that some
few could actually contemplate using this and even more horrendous weapons on other
human beings is mute testimony that something is drastically wrong somewhere. No
wonder Jesus Christ urged us to pray "Thy Kingdom come." (Sources: The
Times (London), Foreign Affairs magazine.)
Decline of Christianity in
Britain and Europe
The Scotsman recently observed that "Christianity is clinging on in Britain-but
perhaps for not too much longer." What's behind this grim assessment?
Churches grew in Britain up to the beginning of the 20th century. From then, although
the trend was a decline in growth for 50 years, the statistics occasionally fluctuated
upwards, and church membership rose in the early 1950s. Then the '60s marked the
beginning of a long free fall in church membership and attendance.
Two plausible reasons have been suggested for the decline: the loss of so many British
men during two world wars and the growth of secularism. The archbishop of York, David
Hope, recently said: "There are deep spiritual yearnings, longings. Large numbers
of people say they pray. But they are not into religion." Dr. Hope blamed the
church for not addressing the problem and helping people who find themselves spiritually
adrift.
Of course, the decline is not confined to the British Isles. For example, the phenomenon
is common to Western Europe and Scandinavia. As Newsweek magazine recently
reported: "Modern Europe is a postreligious society. More accurately, what was
once the heartland of Christendom is a post-Christian society. Throughout the Continent
churches stand empty."
To gain a perspective on why Christianity has declined in effectiveness on a global
scale, please request our free booklext The Church Jesus Built.(Sources: Newsweek
magazine (Atlantic edition), The Times (London).)
Understanding the Bible in
America
According to an article in The Washington Times, "most Americans believe
the Bible is more factual than newspapers, but find their daily newspaper easier
to read." A recent survey suggests that many Americans would be more willing
to study the Bible if it could be more palatably packaged and easier to understand.
Many readers found that the most difficult part of the Bible to read and understand
is the creation account in Genesis. Their confidence in its narrative and teaching
is not backed by personal knowledge and understanding.
The United Church of God has always been concerned about the growing gap between
general belief in the Bible and real knowledge and understanding of its contents.
That is why we have prepared and published two free booklets that will help make
God's Word more plain and user-friendly. Please request Is the Bible True?,
which addresses and explains the creation account, and How to Understand the Bible.
(Source: The Washington Times.)
Indonesia plagued by corruption
and vigilantes
Indonesia is a far-flung nation of 17,000 islands. It began as a modern state in
1949, emerging from the Dutch colonial regime. It has a long history of violence.
The English expression "to run amok" comes from an Indonesian term,
amuk, meaning to attack furiously.
Arnold Beichman, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and a newspaper columnist,
writes that Indonesia is listed by "the World Bank as the most crooked state
in the world." Its citizens claim that people must carry out their own justice
because the police and courts do not.
Death penalties are meted out for such crimes as stealing motorcycles, Nike sandals
and even ducks. Punishment is often immediate and on the spot, carried out by street
mobs. Mere accusation is sometimes enough proof. Undoubtedly people have been executed
for petty crimes they didn't commit.
Indonesia sits on the edge of anarchy. Part of the problem lies in the modern roots
of the country. There is no common language, no common culture, no compelling national
identity and apparently no real will for its residents to live together as a nation.
Those privileged to live under the rule of law and at least a modicum of political
stability should thank God. (Sources: The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Times.)
The tenacious grip of syphilis
Los Angeles Times health writer Julie Marquis tells us that "syphilis,
a centuries-old human scourge, sustains itself these days on a noxious brew of poverty,
racial inequality and hopelessness." Yet some people think the disease died
with Al Capone.
Unlike the epidemic of AIDS, syphilis is easily prevented and easily cured when discovered
early. Officials are particularly concerned because the persistence of syphilis reflects
a glaring example of racial disparity in rates of infection. Wrote Marquis: "African
Americans accounted for 75 percent of cases in 1999, with rates 30 times higher than
for whites."
Although high concentrations of syphilis are rare in the United States, they do occur
in certain countries where diabetes, tuberculosis, infant mortality, drug infestation,
prostitution, unemployment and a host of other societal ills happen in frightening
numbers. Today syphilis is a disease that is primarily found in areas of unmitigated
poverty and general ill health. (Source: The Los Angeles Times.)
Prussian revival?
Prussia-a nation that was part of what is today eastern Germany-was dissolved by
the Allies as a country shortly after World War II because it was viewed as a militaristic
and reactionary power contributing to the rise of Adolf Hitler. Yet this year is
labeled "Prussian Year 2001" as Germany suddenly rediscovers a passion
for all things Prussian. Exhibitions and events describing Prussian themes are planned
in museums and other cultural institutions across Germany.
Three centuries ago Frederick III of Brandenburg (near Berlin) had himself crowned
Frederick I, king of Prussia. The state is historically regarded as the dominant
force in the creation of a united Germany in 1871. Today Eberhard Diepgen, mayor
of Berlin (the capital city of old Prussia), is a prime supporter of a plan to reconstruct
the former Imperial Palace of East Berlin, a baroque castle razed by the Communists
in 1953.
Prussian efficiency and military effectiveness are seen as sadly lacking in modern
Germany. But the world cannot afford to ignore any significant movement in Germany
in 2001. (Sources: The Sunday Telegraph (London), Independent on Sunday
(London),The Scotsman. )
AIDS safe-sex campaigns ineffective
"... HIV infections are disturbingly common among gay men of all races in their
20s, especially considering that they grew up knowing how AIDS spreads,"
says an Associated Press report on the recent eighth annual Retrovirus Conference
in Chicago.
One possible reason for this trend is that "homosexual men have grown complacent
about catching HIV because effective treatments can hold the disease in check. Some
of these gay men may be more likely to have risky sex." There is no known cure
for AIDS. Drugs developed over the last few years, though, have proved effective
in prolonging life with HIV, the AIDS virus.
The study, which surveyed 2,401 homosexuals 23 to 29 years old between 1998 and 2000,
found remarkable differences in HIV infections among different racial groups. In
large cities almost a third of homosexual black men were found to be infected, along
with 15 percent of Hispanics, 7 percent of whites and 3 percent of Asians.
When the AIDS epidemic started 20 years ago, most of those with AIDS were homosexual
white men. Now just over half of the 40,000 new HIV infections in the United States
each year occur among blacks. Among women, infected blacks outnumber whites by almost
four to one.
Although African-Americans and other blacks view these statistics with alarm, thousands
of miles away the AIDS epidemic continues to affect large areas of Africa. In some
countries in sub-Saharan Africa more than a quarter of adults are infected. In some
villages virtually all adults in the peak sexually active years (15-45) have died,
leaving grandparents to bring up children, many of whom were born with HIV.
Campaigns to promote safe sex do not seem to be working. The only real answer is
the often-criticized but thoroughly effective biblical solution: no sexual activity
outside of the marital relationship. (Source: Associate Press.)
TV ups dosage of sexual content
According to a study conducted for the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "sexual
content on television has risen sharply since 1997, showing up in two of every three
programs last season." Researchers found "sexual content in 68 percent
of the 1999-2000 (television) shows studied, compared with 56 percent in 1997-98."
An Associated Press report adds: "Such content includes talk about sex, flirting,
kissing, intimate touching and depictions
of intercourse."
Although shows in which teens talk about or have sex "are twice as likely to
include discussion of the risks or responsibilities compared with all other programs
with sexual content," researchers found that "more teen characters are
being depicted engaging in intercourse. In 1997-98, teenagers represented 3 percent
of all characters having sex; in the new study, the figure had tripled to 9 percent."
Christian parents need to be vigilant in helping their children and teenagers make
wise viewing choices. The Bible warns us to "be sober, be vigilant" in
guarding against our "adversary the devil" (1Peter 5:8). Ephesians 2:2
describes Satan as "the prince of the power of the air." Television, movies
and music are ways he negatively influences our youngsters (see "Lead Us Not
Onto Temptation Island," page 12). (Source: Associated Press.)
-John Ross Schroeder and Melvin Rhodes
© 2001-2022
United Church of God, an International Association
Related Information:
Table of Contents that includes "An Overview of Conditions Around the World - Mar/Apr 2001"
Other Articles by John Ross Schroeder
Other Articles by Melvin Rhodes
Origin of article "An Overview of Conditions Around the World - Mar/Apr 2001"
Keywords: bioterrorism syphilis Indonesia
Indonesia: