Signs of the Times - May 2021 by Adventist Media

MAY 2021

TRUTH OR SCARE? UNDERSTANDING THE COVID-19 VACCINE

IS THE BIBLE HISTORY?

A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD TODAY

IN THIS ISSUE

MAY 2021

MOTHER-DAUGHTER CONFLICT, AND WHY WE HATE THOSE WE LOVE

Appreciating your mother

every day PAGE 6

6 CURRENT

4 WHAT IN THE WORLD 32 TRUTH OR SCARE? Understanding the

Covid-19 vaccine

WELLBEING

12 TOXIC FRIENDSHIPS: Why sometimes we

need to 'break up' with our friends 18 FREEDOM FROM GLUTEN: THE INSIDER ACCOUNT OF A COELIAC'S LIFE 22 BETTER HEALTH FOR EVERY BODY Health news that makes a difference

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

46 BACK FROM THE BRINK:

SCIENCE & TECH

A DOCTOR'S STRUGGLE WITH DEPRESSION 60 RECIPE: GNOCCHI WITH SPINACH AND WALNUTS

52 CUTTING EDGE Engineering, science

FAITH

54 FURIOUS FRANCHISE,

26 THE GOOD NEWS IN

GRASS Watering plants and growing in Jesus

BIG QUESTIONS

38 IS THE BIBLE HISTORY?

Fact or fiction?

/SIGNSMAG

and technology news

CULTURE

FANTASY MASCULINITY Fast and Furious drives masculinity close to the edge

FUN

62 CROSSWORD AND

SUDOKU Have you been paying attention?

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY The second Sunday in May is a time where, for one special day, we focus on showing our mothers how much they mean to us. They often work tirelessly for their families throughout the year and, for this one day (or weekend) we honour them! I know I wouldn't be the man I am today without Mum's influence in my life. She passed on a love of reading and a creativity that has turned into a writing career for me. Perhaps you can point to how your life has been influenced by your mother or maybe she demonstrated some quality or value that you've always appreciated. Mother’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate some of the strongest women in our lives. But I want to also pay tribute to those who aren’t mothers. I have aunties I love who have been like a mother to me and don’t have their own children. There are women in our communities who invest in us with their time and energy—some choose not to have children, others don’t have a choice. Like so many of life’s celebrations, Mother’s Day holds tinges of sadness—for those who have lost children, those who have lost mothers, those who can never be mothers. Let’s remember the mourning and the marginalised—they are close to God’s heart. And at times like this, they need to be held close to ours. In this issue, Maryellen Hacko looks at some of the tension and love that exists in child-parent relationships (p6). There is plenty more in this magazine, you'll have to read on and find out. Maybe you could even gift a Signs subscription to your mother as a Mother's Day present?

Jarrod

JARROD STACKELROTH Editor

VOL 136 NO 5 ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Jarrod Stackelroth ASSISTANT EDITOR Daniel Kuberek COPYEDITOR Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Pau'u Talia Valderrama PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsofthetimes.org.au WEBSITE signsofthetimes.org.au ADDRESS Adventist Media PO Box 1115, Wahroonga New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONE +61 3 5965 6300 Australia/New Zealand, $A26; South Pacific countries, $A41; Other countries $A51 Published since 1886, Signs of the Times is printed 11 times a year by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is registered as a periodical. Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ABN 59 093 117 689 NOTE The inclusion of a person or their image within does not imply their endorsement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church or its beliefs. Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, Anglicised. Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton. All rights reserved worldwide. COVER PHOTO: Strelciuc Dumitru —Getty Images

MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

R RENT

WHAT IN THE WORLD MDMA AND MENTAL HEALTH A recent Global Drug Survey has highlighted how psychadelic drugs are being used as a way to self-treat mental illness. Out of 110,000 worldwide respondents, 6500 reported using LSD, MDMA, magic mushrooms and more to treat mental health conditions. The head of Australia's part of the research project, Dr Monica Barratt, recognised mental health workers need "accredited training" to "help support people who take underground psychadelics for self-treatment".—Global Drug Survey

TOP THREE POINTS OF STRESS NEW ZEALAND

A poll of New Zealanders has revealed 50 per cent of residents list Covid-19 as the country's most pressing issue, following by housing affordability and economic stability. Child poverty and a widening pay gap were also listed as concerns, while only 15 per cent saw racism and gun control as the country's most important issue, and 85 per cent of females also believe in climate change action.—RNZ 4

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, AMIN MOSHREFI—UNSPLASH, SASHA LEZHNEV—FLICKR, AUSTRALIAN DIAMOND IMPORTERS

AUSTRALIA

MOTHER'S DAY

GOLD RUSH CONGO

A mountain in Luhihi, Congo, has become an instant "Gold town" as the soil has been reported as 60-90 per cent gold. Video footage has shown hordes of villagers using shovels and other tools as well as their bare hands to extract the metal. The country's mining minister has spoken out against the pressure put on the small village, with mining on the mountain subsequently banned.—Times Now News

Mother's Day originated in 1870 when writer Julia Ward Howe sought to recognise peace and protest war —Mental Floss

It became a holiday in 1914 when Anna Jarvis, who worked amongst poor mothers in the community, sought to recognise and remember them —Mental Floss

Mother's Day has the highest volume of phone calls each year; approximately 122 million

BLOOD DIAMONDS TANZANIA

A Tanzanian mine which has produced diamonds for one of Queen Elizabeth II's brooches has been accused of "serious" human rights abuses by at least 35 Tanzanians. The alleged victims were abused or shot by guards at the Williamson diamond mine, which is in one of the country's poorest regions. Queen Elizabeth was gifted a 54.5 carat pink diamond found in the mine at her wedding in 1947.—The Guardian

—Town and Country Mag

167 countries celebrate Mother's Day—more than half do so on the second sunday of each May —McCrindle 5

R RENT

LIANA MIKAH—UNSPLASH

How favourite colours, late dinners and unwashed clothes can get in the way of the ones who matter the most.

BY MARYELLEN HACKO SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

Mother-Daughter

CONFLICT & WHY WE HATE THOSE WE LOVE MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

BORIS JOVANOVIC—GETTY IMAGES

was sitting in class. A sea of 10-year-olds reached for the sky, waiting anxiously to share their favourite colours. “Pink!” “Blue!” “Purple!” “Rainbow!”, each exclaimed as the teacher pointed at us one by one. My heart pounded. Should I choose one of the four popular options or tell the truth? “Yyyellow?” I blurted out on my turn, blushing, waiting for someone to laugh at me for being different. Instead, one girl put up her hand and said, “I change my mind! I like yellow too!” I was totally over the moon. When Mum picked me up that afternoon, I prattled on about my colour choice with such joy that when I finished, my youngest sister piped up: “My favourite colour is also yellow!” . . . The NERVE! Anger flared up inside of me. “No, it’s not! It’s mine!” I yelled. “It’s mine too!” she retorted. “Well, you can’t have it!” I said. “Pick another one!” She didn’t. And I spent the next few weeks begrudging her for that. I wish I could say this incident with my sister was the only time I was mean-spirited towards my family. But it’s not. As I entered adolescence, my reactions only became (much) more intense, especially toward my mother. My generous, loving and patient mum was the target of countless emotional teenage episodes— slammed doors, rolled eyes, silent treatment for days on end. Usually, these incidents developed from

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

nothing important: me being unable to find a sock, then blaming her for not organising them “properly”; me getting hungry and angry at 7pm, then complaining that she “never made dinner on time”. While I grumbled and fumed, she continued to make my dinner, wash my clothes, drive me to every appointment, to fulfil every need—all without a whisper of thanks. I have often reflected on such moments and wondered why. Why, when a random girl copied me, I was overjoyed, but when my sister did, I reacted so differently? Why, when all my mother did was love me and fulfil my needs, all I did was criticise her, push her away and take it all for granted? Now that I’m much older and hopefully wiser, I realise that it wasn’t my mother or sister who I had a problem with. It was myself, my fragile ego. The ego, as coined by Sigmund Freud in psychoanalytic theory, is the portion of human personality that defines a person through interactions with the external world. According to Oprah Winfrey, it “identifies with our self-image, personality, talents, accomplishments and perceived weaknesses . . . [It] draws a line and separates you from everyone else.” In other words, things like your career, relationship status, cultural background, likes and dislikes, hobbies, all combine to form an ego structure; a unique identity. And when this identity is threatened—by words of criticism, the loss of a job

or being marginalised—our ego acts defensively, often out of fear. It’s in early adolescence that the ego structure is often most fragile, as teenagers become increasingly self-aware, develop new interests and aspirations, and begin comparing themselves to their peers as a source of self-understanding and self-worth. Hence, the troublesome teen years. Dr Shefali Tsabary, clinical psychologist and author of The Conscious Parent, says, “Our children, young ones under the age of five, they’re not attached to, ‘how do I look?’, ‘am I complete?’. They don’t think, ‘I need to become a lawyer or a scientist, go to an Ivy League School’ to give themselves the stamp of approval. We put this ‘lack’ on them. . . and that’s why children revolt. Either they withdraw because they’ve been shackled with compliance or they revolt.” To all the parents dealing with

troublesome teens, rest assured this is not a personal attack, nor a cause-effect equation to say difficult adolescents are always the product of bad parenting. I certainly wasn’t. On the contrary, my parents were nothing but generous and

MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

“

To all parents dealing with difficult teens, know that it will get better

attack, I projected a “perfect” persona to all those I encountered. But despite my best efforts, I couldn’t keep up the act around my family. They saw a different version of me—my real, egoless self—and even though they accepted it, I didn’t. And, so, the emotional outbursts began. It's funny how we often treat the people closest to us—those we love and need the most, whose opinions we care about—the worst. But my hunch is that, as the fragile ego strug10

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

gles to cope with perceived attacks, it looks for someone to blame. And the people closest to us are easy targets. “If you call your ‘false self ’ out by saying, ‘Oh, that’s my ego flaring up,’ you begin to diminish its power,” says Oprah Winfrey. “You begin to recognise that you are not your past, your social status or the shape of your body. The size of your bank account has no bearing on your true self.” Now that I have learned—and am consciously learning each day—to accept myself and keep my ego in check, my perspective has shifted dramatically. Learning this has helped me appreciate my mum: my selfless supporter, incredible listener, generous provider, who is not afraid to tell or live out the truth. It’s freed me to show more love and appreciation to my sisters, my husband, my dad—everyone I interact with. And most importantly, it’s helped me live out my Christian faith in fresh ways. I’ve learned that who I really am, underneath the ego, is a child of God. Nothing can take that identity away—no strained relationship, personal failure, insecurity, job loss or other attack to my ego. So, to all the parents dealing with difficult teens, know that it will get better. More likely than not, your child’s emotional outbursts are a result of a threatened ego. They’re confused; they feel insecure. Be conscious of the pressure you may be placing on them. Make them aware that they are more than what they

IMAGE SUPPLIED

supportive throughout my entire childhood. The complicated part is that it’s not always parents who put pressure on young people. Sometimes it’s culture, friends, teachers or children themselves who learn to “earn” their worth through external accomplishments. In my case, I’d learned to earn my worth. I earned good grades, earned friends by being a people-pleaser. Unconsciously, to protect my ego from

achieve; give them the freedom to fail and support them unconditionally. And tell them all this explicitly. And to all the kids hating on their parents, please, chill. Recognise that your insecurities might be to blame and that you’re not perfect either. Your parents love you more than life itself, and they’re doing the best they can. And finally, to my mother.

Mum, I’m sorry for being such a headache. And thank you for never giving up on me. I love you more than you know. Happy Mother’s Day. Maryellen Hacko is assistant editor for Adventist Record magazine. A talented artist, musician and YouTuber, she lives with her husband in Sydney, NSW. She is pictured above with her husband Josh and her mum Ann.

MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

ELL B EING

TOXIC FRIEND WHY SOMETIMES WE NEED TO

“They’re just not that into you” or “they’re using you”—both may be said about romantic relationships, but they can also be applied to your friends. Here’s how you can deal with it. BY ASHLEY STANTON

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

"BREAK UP" WITH OUR

friends

IZUSEK—GETTY IMAGES

DSHIPS

MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

t’s a beautiful sunny day and you’re out for coffee with your friend, Jill. She is telling you about her current relationship with Jack. He is fun to be around, the life of the party. Jack makes Jill laugh and she really enjoys spending time with him. Unfortunately, Jill hardly gets to see Jack. He is always so busy and frequently ignores Jill’s texts and calls. Last week, Jack finally answered one of Jill’s phone calls. Jill excitedly asks if Jack is free to hang out over the weekend. Jack says he is planning on hanging out with the boys again, but if that falls through then he is free to spend the weekend with Jill. “I love Jack and am willing to accommodate his schedule,” Jill tells you. “Besides, when we do hang out it’s so much fun. And I get that he’s busy. But sometimes it hurts that he always seems to be choosing others instead of me.” Lately, Jill has noticed that despite being “too busy to hang out”, Jack is constantly posting updates on his social media from events he has attended—events that Jill was never invited to. Jill takes a sip of coffee and looks up at you. “I love Jack and enjoy spending time with him, but I’m struggling with our relationship. What should I do?” From where you’re sitting, the answer if very clear. Jack is being a terrible partner to Jill. He doesn’t value her time, she isn’t even close to being his top priority and he leaves

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

Jill feeling worthless. It seems that letting Jack go is a no-brainer. Most people wouldn’t tolerate this behaviour in their romantic relationships. So why do we sometimes endure such poor behaviour from our friends? As children we learn to make friends easily. From the children you became instant friends with on the local park’s play equipment to the child sitting next to you on the first day of kindergarten, most children find it easy to make friends. But a lot of friendships that last longer are circumstantial. They are people we went to school with, played sports with or attended church with. We became friends because of our shared experiences. Sometimes, as we move onto the next stage of life, these friendships fizzle out. That’s not what we mean by toxic friendships. Toxic friendships are the friendship equivalent of red flags in a romantic relationship. According to clinical psychologist Dr Andrea in Women’s Health, it’s time to reconsider your friendships when you are placing different values on the

If you answered negatively to a handful of those questions, chances are it may be time to reassess your friendship. Psychiatrist Abigail Brenner says, “A good friend shows up no matter what. A true friend supports and encourages us, tolerates our shortcomings, accepts us unconditionally, and cares for us no matter what.” But that doesn’t give them permission to walk all over you—nor you all over them. If there CHECKLIST is a problematic friend in your life, perhaps it’s time to raise some of 1. Do they like you for you? those concerns with them. After all, 2. Do you have fun when you hang out? your friendship could be at risk. 3. Do you look forward to hanging out with If you (unfortunately) find that them? you have a toxic friend, there are a 4. Do they make you feel good about yourself? few options for you to take: confront 5. Are they there for you when you need them? them about their actions in the hope 6. Do you feel recharged after spending time of change, take a break from being intertwined in their life or break with them? contact altogether. 7. Do you feel like they really listen to you? An example of confronting them 8. Would you trust them with a secret? about their actions could be in a case 9. Do you feel like you know them well? where you don’t believe your friend (Not just what they like but who they are as a realises their actions are hurting you. person)? If you have a friend who is seemingly 10. Do they often ditch you when something/ ignoring your messages, it may someone else comes along? just be that they are busy or have

JACOBBLUND—GETTY IMAGES

friendship and “there’s a big imbalance between what you’re giving and what you’re getting”. But there’s a difference between a toxic friendship and going through a regular tough patch. ReachOut Australia has put together a list of 10 questions to assess whether your friendship is toxic or just undergoing the ups and downs of life:

MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

FRANCKREPORTER—GETTY IMAGES

forgotten. A conversation may reveal this and it will also reinforce to your friend that replying to your messages is important. Perhaps you feel your friend is constantly draining you of energy. There is a lot more taking than giving, and the idea of hanging out exhausts you. In this instance, setting some boundaries around the friendship and taking a break may be exactly what you need. This could be anything from explaining that you can no longer reply to texts during work hours or that you need your Sundays back to do preparation for the week ahead. Then, when you feel up to it, you could start to initiate contact with this friend again at a point when they are not so reliant on you to sort through their personal life. Breaking contact is the final but sometimes necessary step. If your friend doesn’t value you or treat you the way you deserve and it’s unlikely that will change, your life will often be better off without them in it. This could be anything from realising you’re not their

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

priority to recognising they are using you for what you can give to them rather than for who you are. It's not about demanding perfection from your friends but having mutual respect. They are going to disappoint you from time to time, just like you will disappoint them. That’s just a fact of life and part of being human. But that’s when it’s important to look at the patterns. Are they constantly letting you down? Or is it just the occasional forgetfulness or interference from the busyness of life? Ultimately, your friendships should enrich, not detract from your life. Your friends are the family you choose, the people you turn to for a laugh and a good time, but also the people you know you can rely on to lift you up and surround you in tough times. And you know that you would be there for them in a heartbeat too. Ashley Stanton lives in Sydney, where she works for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in the communication and marketing team.

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Freedom from Gluten THE INSIDER ACCOUNT

IMAGE SUPPLIED

OF A COELIAC’S LIFE

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

For many people like Kylie Banks, abstaining from gluten isn’t about alternative eating “lifestyle” or “culture”. In the case of someone with an intolerance or allergy, eating gluten can have severe consequences.

MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Signs of the Times assistant editor Daniel Kuberek speaks with Sydney mum Kylie Banks, who lives with coeliac disease Daniel: What is gluten? Kylie: It’s a component in wheat to which people with coeliac disease react. For someone like me, I can’t consume it. I can’t have my food prepared where any trace of gluten is present. I can’t buy food that’s produced in the same factory that processes gluten. So, for example, rolled oats (to my understanding), they don’t necessarily have the gluten in them, but they’re prepared in the same factory as wheat. For me, I would need to buy gluten-free rolled oats—and they just happen to cost significantly more. As a rule of thumb, I just remember the acronym BROW: Barley, rye, oats, wheat. They’re the main things where you’re going to find gluten.

frier so there’s no batter that’s going in there?” “Yep, we do, no problems.” I thought I was pretty safe. They were really good chips and I chowed down big time. I had them in the afternoon and by that evening I was feeling absolutely rotten. I went on and did some research, turns out that a lot of chips have wheat added to them. They do it so the chips aren’t so stodgy and that’s why they taste so good too.

“

Just a teaspoon of gluten will take a coeliac more than three months to get out of their system

Daniel: What happens when you

eat gluten?

Kylie: Since my diagnosis I’ve had a couple of unintentional mishaps. I ordered some chips once. I thought I’d done all my due diligence with the shop; it was early on after my diagnosis too. I said to them, “I’m coeliac, I cannot have gluten” and then I explained to them what happens when I do. Basically their chips were my only option. I asked them, “Do you have a dedicated chip 20

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

It took me three months to put that behind me. My stomach felt bloated—it felt like I had two or three footballs in there. Stomach pain, lots of going to the toilet, very soft faeces. I would become so tired, just absolutely smashed. There’d be days where I couldn’t get out of bed; I wouldn’t be awake until 7pm at night and then I’d be back in bed a few hours later. Also, I had a really foggy head—meaning I was ineffec-

tive at work and home. It puts a big strain on my family life. Someone’s got to pick up the slack when you’re like that.

Daniel: If that was just one instance, what would happen if you kept eating gluten? Kylie: If I ate it on a long-term basis, I’d develop all sorts of complications. Just a teaspoon of gluten will take a coeliac more than three months to get out of their system. Coeliacs can suffer from malnutrition because they’re not absorbing the nutrients from their food. They’re susceptible to osteoporosis and also kidney failure. I remember talking to a girl who was diagnosed when she was 18; she ended up in hospital with kidney failure because while she was studying for her high school certificate, she had a cheese toastie binge. You can be susceptible to a whole lot of cancers if you’re not dealing with your coeliac disease properly. You can also have thyroid problems. It is an auto-immune disease and there are plenty of complications that can come from that. Daniel: It’s all about the gut and how it absorbs gluten right? Kylie: My doctor told me in the intestine there’s these bumpy, finger-like structures called villi. They help you absorb fats, sugars and more. In someone with coeliac

disease, those villi are so damaged they’re almost non-existent. Your intestine wall is almost smooth. For 12 months, I’ve abstained from not only gluten, but also dairy, sugars and fructose—all until my villi heal. I was diagnosed earlier in 2020 and I remember getting the phone call from my GP and just hearing, “Did you know you’re a raging coeliac?” I’m sort of like, what? It had never been flagged before. My doctor said to me with these kind of test results I would’ve been a coeliac all my life. When I told my mum, she said, “Huh, that kind of makes sense. When you were a baby, you used to get all these diabolical pooey nappies about eight times a day. We took you to a doctor and he diagnosed you with a lactose and gluten intolerance.” They were living in Papua New Guinea at the time. She said they put me on a special diet for six months and it all seemed to clear up. So she thought I was fine and took me off the diet. But throughout my life up until my diagnosis, I honestly thought I was going nuts. I was so fuzzy, I could not concentrate, I had the attention span of a gnat.

Daniel: Can you move from being gluten intolerant to having coeliac disease? Kylie: Given the right circumstances—the perfect storm—including consuming large amounts MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

of gluten for an extended period of time, combined with a huge stress increase in your life, you could move from being intolerant to coeliac. If you already have a susceptibility to gluten intolerance, you need to cut back on gluten. It’s your body’s way of saying, “I can tolerate a little bit of that, but don’t overload me with it.” You can always get tested by a doctor. Initially it’s a simple blood test, but to my understanding, coeliac disease can’t be diagnosed without a gastroscopy. They need to have a look at your intestines and your villi.

Daniel: What do you recommend to readers who might suspect they have a gluten intolerance?

AJA KOSKA—GETTY IMAGES

Kylie: I would go and get the blood test done. Go to your GP and request they give you a referral. On a long-term basis, you can really do some serious damage to your body if you are feeling bad and you are in fact coeliac. If indeed you are coeliac, you are going to feel so much better once your body is able to get rid of the last traces of gluten in your body

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

and then start to repair itself.

Daniel: Where can people buy gluten-free food? Kylie: These days, supermarkets have a pretty good health food section. There are some great wholesale distributors now that sell a lot of really good gluten-free food. You’ll also find some good food at a health food shop. But it’s important—if you are coeliac—when buying food online and you can’t read the ingredients or fine print (any “may contain” labels), you have to be careful if that is food that’s appropriate for coeliacs. You can also find some good resources on the Coeliac Australia website. They send you a box full of food as part of your membership package. Information in this article is of a general nature and does not substitute the directions of a general practitioner. Please refer to your doctor if you have any questions or suspect you have a gluten intolerance or coeliac disease.

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BETTER HEALTH for every body WITH

DR SIMONE KOOKE

BURDEN OF SMOKING

Smoking has long been known to contribute to health decline, but Australian researchers have uncovered new research to support this. In a study of Indigenous Australians, smoking was found to contribute to 1 in 2 adult deaths, with a smoker’s risk of early death increased by four times. With smoking contributing to the deaths of 10,000 Indigenous Australians in the last decade, this continues to be an important opportunity for improving health.—Oxford Academic

JUST 1 DRINK . . .

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart arrhythmia that can increase the risk of strokes and heart disease. European researchers have found a link between alcohol consumption and increased rates of AF. Just one drink a day increased the likelihood of developing AF by 16%, with increased consumption heightening this risk. —AusDoc 24

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

Emerging research suggests that diabetics who follow a low carb diet are 30% more likely to be in remission after 6 months, with better weight loss and sugar control. A big part of this is sustainability, with more restrictive diet plans resulting in more dropouts. —BMJ

DAN GOLD, EANLAMI, JOHANN TRASCH, AVI RICHARDS—UNSPLASH MOHAMED, NATHAN COLEY—PEXELS

LOW CARB DIET FOR DIABETES

ADHD AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

The diagnosis of children with ADHD is becoming more commonplace. While there are thought to be standalone genetic contributors to this, a link has been researched in mothers who have autoimmune diseases. Type 1 diabetes, psoriasis and rheumatic fevers had the strongest associations. Keeping these conditions and their associated inflammation in check could benefit both mother and child.—JAMA

STRETCHING FOR BLOOD PRESSURE A stretch at the end of a long day feels good—and if your blood pressure is a little high, it could be just the trick to bring it down. Canadian researchers compared moderate intensity stretching to brisk walking; and found stretching was even more effective at lowering blood pressure than walking. Walkers did reduce their waist measurements more than the stretchers, but with the clear benefits of stretching now documented, why not try both?—BMJ

DIET, LIFESTYLE AND REFLUX

Researchers from the US have identified five factors that can significantly reduce the severity of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms by up to 40%. Maintaining a normal body weight, never smoking, 30 minutes of exercise, no more than 2 cups of coffee, tea or soft drink per day and a careful diet all assisted in reducing symptoms up to 50%. Even in those taking medications for their reflux, adhering to these lifestyle measures was beneficial.—JAMA

Dr Simone Kooke is a Sydney general practitioner and mum of two who loves to help her patients and family make simple, practical lifestyle improvements that will increase their longevity and quality of life. MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

FA IT H

THE

S W E N d o o g

PIKSEL—GETTY IMAGES

IN GR ASS

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

Keeping household plants alive in outback Broken Hill gives valuable insight into a life with Jesus. BY JUSTIN BONE

MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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long time to realise that people who have green thumbs put hard work into growing those precious plants. Plants have died under my watch. It turns out you are meant to care for, water and nurture them—ignoring them doesn’t work so well. In fact, plants have taught me a lot over the years.

the seed

Jesus once told a short story about a seed. The kingdom of heaven, He said, was like a mustard seed, a very tiny seed (Matthew 13:31,32) that, when fully grown is the largest of garden plants, so big that birds can perch in its branches. The size of the seed doesn’t predict the size of the plant. When we let the kingdom of heaven in, we really don’t know what we might grow into. And that reminds me of the family cactus. We had a cactus of some kind that lived under the garden tap. It loved the red dirt of Broken Hill, and the water that dripped from the tap kept it happy. It was a little pokey though, and its spikes would threaten to bite every time we tried to turn the tap on. I would complain to dad about it. Life would be better if we took the plant out but it just sat there—a couple of feet of nasty spikes. What was it good for? It never changed. Then one day, after 15 years of inactivity, a stem emerged from the top of the cactus. It grew and grew higher and higher until it stood twice the height of the plant itself. I remember

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re you a so called “green thumb”? I used to envy people who were good with plants—I saw it as a gift you either had or you didn’t. Perhaps this attitude comes from growing up in Broken Hill, a dry, arid area of inland New South Wales. The ground there is unforgiving. The sun bakes the land. The earth is the rich ochre of oxides broken down in the soil by the heat. It’s difficult to grow anything there, and if you attempt to then you have to be ready for a fight. I know this from watching my father watering his lawn. Whether it was by hand or by sprinkler, each inch of grass had to be meticulously watered. Any that was missed, would soon dry and die. But my father was faithful and the soundtrack of my lazy evenings was the hiss of the sprinkler as it thwacked around our front yard. Because of dad’s hard work, the lawn was immaculate. A shining emerald rectangle of barefoot joy among a sea of red dirt and hard rocks. It took me a

garden. Just like the Quandong bush. coming outside about a week later If you’re wondering how to say it, I and the stem had burst into glorious pronounce it KWAN-DONG (I may flower. Vivid purple blooms reached even have that right). It produces a for the sky. It was incredibly beautiful. Turns out all those drips from the round, bright red fruit, about the size of a lychee. Most of the inside tap were doing some good after all. is made up of seed, the pale, yellow When we start following Jesus a flesh only covering the giant seed seed is planted in us. What happens with a small layer of tasty goodness. to it after that depends on whether They are an incredible source of or not it is watered. If you are going vitamin C as well as bursting with to follow Jesus, then that small antioxidants. The taste is similar to “Kingdom of Heaven” seed in your rhubarb, with a sweet and sour earthy life needs watering. How does that tang. You can eat the fruit raw off the happen? tree or you can The Bible dry them and keep likens the word them for years, of God to water but for me they in Ephesians taste best when 5:26, describstewed up with a ing a church bit of sugar and made clean by The size of the seed baked in a pie. a washing with While the the water of the doesn't predict the kitchen was Word. I think size of the plant primarily Mum’s that’s how domain, when we water that cooking the mustard seed of Quandong Dad faith. took over. He would roll up his sleeves and take a whole weekend, growing together producing pie after pie. The stewed We don’t have to grow alone fruit mixed with bright white sugar though. In Ephesians 4:15 the apostle Paul says this growth is something would bubble up in his pot and then be ladled generously into the we all do as a greater whole, a group of people the Bible calls “the church”. pie crust. With a few deft cuts of his pastry knife, he would impress a Jesus is the head of that group, and smiley face into the pie lid for good we grow together when we all grow measure. Then into the oven for to be like Him. We aren’t just off by baking to a golden shine. With iceourselves growing alone. cream there is nothing better. Just like Christians grow better After I had moved away from together, plants grow better in a

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making fruit

Colossians 1:10 says that a life that is worthy is one that bears fruit. 30

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That fruit can be seen in the good things we do for others and in how our character is changed to make us complete and contributing people. Our growth in Jesus should be evident, and something that has a positive impact in the world. My wife helped to really open my eyes to the amazing world of plants and how helpful they could be, the “good fruit” they had. I had been cooking and accidentally seared my index finger on the hot plate. Wonderful! As I was standing there running my finger under the cold tap, waiting for it to feel better, my wife approached with a thick, green cactus leaf she had just carved off her plant outside. She skinned it and slathered the thick juice over my poor finger. That was my introduction to Aloe Vera. Where had this miraculous plant been all my life? From the outside the Aloe Vera plant may be nothing to look at, or even seem spikey and forbidding to touch, but when you see the inside you realise there are hidden riches meant to help and heal. I started telling everyone about Aloe Vera. There might be people with burned fingers who need this important information! The Christian life is similar. Colossians 1:5,6 says that when that seed of hope in Jesus grows, it will bear fruit and grow throughout the whole world. Faith and love will spring out of you because you want to share the good news you have discovered. Paul says the people at

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home, I couldn’t find any Quandongs to eat. I couldn’t see any trees to grow at the local nursery, so I did some research. It turns out that Quandong trees are notoriously hard to propagate. The Quandong bush is hemiparasitic, which means that as its roots grow underground, they join and merge with the roots of neighbouring plants and it uses those roots to feed itself and grow. It can’t grow alone; it needs to grow alongside another tree or bush. This makes the bush hard to grow commercially but perfectly suited to the difficult conditions in the outback. The bush is drought resistant and will survive soil with high salinity. Ephesians 4, verse 16 says “From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” The Him there is Jesus—He is the foundation of all Christian life. When the seed that Jesus has planted in us grows, it grows best with other people around. Lone plants will struggle, but we thrive when we, like the Quandong tree, help each other to grow. That will make us resistant to hard conditions when they come. And as a result, we will be built up in love as each of us supports the other. And of course, it means we will produce fruit.

Colossae understood how good Jesus was and the work of helping to heal, grow and be strengthened in Him—that was why they were experiencing the benefits of life that they saw as they grew into the people God created them to be. So this good news of Jesus really is like a plant —it will spring out of the smallest thing in our lives, help us grow together with others in love, and produce amazing fruit in our lives; fruit that keeps expanding around the world, that tastes good and heals others. Sounds like a plant I would like—I just have to remember to keep watering it! Justin Bone supports and trains pastors and congregations around Victoria for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He is passionate about helping people understand the Bible better.

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SCARE

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Truth

The Covid-19 vaccine is continuing to generate headlines. Some say it’s dangerous, other’s say it’s necessary. What’s the truth? BY JULIE HOEY

here’s a question that’s been doing the rounds on my social media lately: Will you get the Covid-19 vaccine? A range of concerns have been voiced by people who answer “no”. The speed of vaccine development has been one key reason for hesitation. The matter was not helped by the revelation, published in the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere, that in November there had been dosage errors in the AstraZeneca/Oxford trials. Then, there was unease about how this information was disclosed. In mid-January, media outlets including ABC News in Australia reported that a cluster of nursing home deaths in Norway appeared to be caused by adverse reactions to the Pfizer vaccine. Later that month, Newsweek revealed that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had investigated and declared there was no causal link, but uncertainty about the vaccines persists in the community. How long will their protective effect last? Will they stop us spreading the virus to others? Even the vaccine’s designers acknowledge we don’t yet have answers to some of these questions. While the belief that the vaccines are being used to inject us with tracking microchips is obviously absurd, some people are genuinely worried that the vaccines can alter our DNA. How do we make sense of all the conflicting claims and information on this, or any, topic? Has it become impossible MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

to sort fact from fiction? And does Christianity have anything to say about this?

the world we live in

The term “post-truth era” was coined in 1992 and is now commonly used to describe times we live in. There seems to be an increasing reliance on emotion rather than reason. But it’s more than that. With the internet giving a platform to anyone who wants it, the task of sifting out unreliable information can appear insurmountable. Between fake news, social media “chatbot” accounts, misleading and disinformation, clickbait tabloids and sensationalism in reporting, sloppy research, doctored photos and even “deep fakes”, the truth is becoming a very slippery eel. Identifying quality information has become harder as more information is available than ever before. We have learned to question, and not accept things without proof. We have become a society of doubters, a

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culture where scepticism is encouraged and valued. Many of society’s institutions have abused our trust through a variety of scandals, so this scepticism is now aimed at those we once trusted implicitly—government, science, education, corporations, religion and mainstream media. These traditionally reliable entities are now viewed with suspicion and cynicism. At the extreme end of the distrust are people who see themselves as real-life characters from the Matrix trilogy; they’ve swallowed the red pill and they know the truth. “The Awoke people see through the lies! The programmed will follow like sheep! FOOLS!!” (Actual comment from a social media post.) They refer to the “plandemic” and suggest that the Covid-19 vaccines were already conveniently lined up and ready to go. This backdrop of suspicion and mistrust compounds the difficulty in extracting truth from a confusing mire of internet misinformation. Using simple evaluation techniques—checking my sources’ trust-

worthiness, asking about purpose/ biases and authority/expertise—I decided to go hunting for some answers.

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altered DNA

Let’s consider the claim that Covid-19 vaccines can alter our DNA. It sounds frightening—but is it true? TIME magazine (available online through state libraries) published an article in January detailing the various methods used to deliver vaccines: injecting related viruses, weakened viruses, inactivated viruses or a small part of the virus (easier to produce and safer to inject), such as the protein spike on its surface. All these methods enable our cells to develop a defence against that virus—ready to quickly activate that defence if the actual virus ever turns up. More recent technology has aimed to get human cells to make for themselves the protein spike of the virus, rather than injecting it. The DNA in our cells contains instructions for making proteins, but the instructions have to be taken outside the nucleus, into a place in the cell called the rough endoplasmic reticulum (who named that thing?!) A molecule called Messenger RNA (mRNA) runs this errand—taking the instructions from the DNA out into the cell where the proteins are made. And that is the basis of both the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines: injecting mRNA, carrying the recipe for the protein spike, into

the cell. It doesn’t go into the nucleus (that’s the beauty of it; getting stuff into the nucleus is really tricky) so it goes nowhere near the DNA and it certainly doesn’t alter our DNA. It sounds like that fear has been thoroughly debunked. But let’s be cautious and ask is TIME magazine authoritative? Could the article be biased? The author is writing a book on the biochemist who worked out the molecular structure of RNA—so at the very least he has a deep interest in the topic. According to a media bias chart, TIME is reliable for news, but has a lot of opinion content. It also leans a little to the left (progressive rather than conservative). Certainly, in the article referenced above, the author confesses his “deep interest in the wondrous new roles now being played by RNA”(italics supplied), and he glosses very quickly over the problems in the AstraZeneca trials. The article could be a little short on objectivity, though the essential facts are easily verified. To combat concerns about bias, students are advised to read widely, from multiple, good quality sources. Another place to look–easy to read if you don’t have a PhD in science—is The Conversation (available free online), with articles written by university academics, industry professionals and quality journalists. The Conversation claims to have a commitment to reliable, fact-based information, free of commercial or political sway. You can also get online access MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

looking for the EMA Safety Update in which they’d announced the findings but I struggled to find any EMA documentation that mentioned Pfizer. After stumbling around the internet for what seemed like hours, I eventually discovered that the Pfizer vaccine has a name: Comirnaty. This led me to the relevant EMA safety Norway deaths update, and also their Comirnaty fact As a second case study, let’s go sheet. Neither contained the detail back to the nursing home deaths I’d hoped for. in Norway. In Instead, the key mid-January, the points seemed Norwegian Medto be that the icines Agency patients expe(NOMA) reported that 23 rienced known elderly patients side effects, and We need to look had died folthat because the beyond heavily trials included lowing adminpeople in or istration of the biased websites close to the same Pfizer vaccine, or social media age group, the and that adverse situation added reactions may platforms nothing to the have contributed safety knowlto deaths in frail patients. edge base and The European Medicines Agency required no change to the safe use (EMA) investigated, and within advice. Further, the deaths were not two weeks announced via a vaccine deemed to be caused by the vaccine, safety update that the deaths were because pre-existing diseases seemed not linked to the vaccine. How did to be a plausible explanation—"in they determine that? According to many cases”. One of the patients had Newsweek, they “took into account even started palliative care. Would the presence of other medical the patients have died, when they conditions and the death rate for did, if they hadn’t had the vaccine? I the corresponding age groups in the still didn’t feel the question had been general population”. I found that clearly answered. I kept looking. explanation a little unsatisfying so Eventually, on the NOMA website I tried to find out greater detail by (you’ll need to toggle it to English), to many science journals—and other great resources—from your state library. If we’re serious about making well-informed decisions and conclusions, we need to look beyond heavily biased websites or social media platforms authored by individuals with minimal expertise.

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I found weekly reports on adverse reactions, and some of the extra detail I was looking for, including a detailed analysis of one sample case. These reports highlighted the fact that Norway’s vaccination program commenced with an exclusive focus on nursing home patients, a setting in which there are roughly 45 deaths every day in ordinary circumstances. The deaths following vaccination occurred 1–12 days after the injection, and no link to the vaccine was suspected in many of the cases–only in those with adverse reactions. It should be noted that reactions such as fever, and localised pain and swelling, are normal and even desirable responses to vaccination, as are reactions and symptoms caused by actual viral or bacterial infections—it’s evidence of our immune system mounting its defence. By persevering I had eventually found detailed information which filled in most of the blanks.

finding truth

While Christians are sometimes portrayed in the media as dim-witted buffoons (think Ned Flanders from The Simpsons), the Christian tradition encourages earnest study of matters of importance, beginning with an understanding of God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). Wisdom is held in high regard throughout the Bible, most overtly in Proverbs. “How much better to

get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” (Proverbs 16:16). Jesus often taught His followers using puzzling parables, and when His disciples asked Him to “Please explain”, He often layered another cryptic clue on top. He really wanted them to use their brains and think deeply! I’m glad I didn’t put my questions in the too-hard basket and I encourage you to search further than social media hysteria in important matters like this. There are many questions still to be answered. Julie Hoey is a qualified science/maths teacher and librarian. She lives in Mulbring, NSW, with her husband and tween daughter. MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

BIG

E S TI O N S

IS THE BIBLE HISTORY? 38

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tion and want an Puzzled by a "big picture" ques s magazine answer? In 2021, Signs of the Time life’s most on ives pect pers h fres ing shar will be each ors auth new with s, terie contentious mys ence to present a month examining objective evid case for Christianity.

Sure, the Bible’s a holy book for religious people, but does it have any value for the hard-nosed seeker of verifiable fact? BY KENT KINGSTON MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

the basics

Although the Bible is usually presented as a single book, it is in fact a collection of 66 documents, or books, written over a period of 1600 years, between circa 1500 BC and AD 100. Some of the Bible’s 40 different authors wrote more than one book; some books were written by more than one author. Some authors clearly identified themselves; others are unknown. The Bible is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament; 39 and 27 books, respectively. The Old Testament is sometimes referred to by Christians as the Hebrew or Jewish Bible because it contains the scriptures that Jews accept as being from God. The New Testament is accepted by Christians, but not by Judaism, which does not accept its central teaching that Jesus Christ is the prophesied Messiah.

the Bible is—and isn’t—history

Different books of the Bible were written for different purposes. Some 40

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contain sacred songs, poetry and wise sayings; others record prophetic visions or revelations; and others are letters from Christian leaders to believers. And yes, some books are historical records. Historical sections of the Bible often begin by specifying the person, place and date: “This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush: at that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, and in the third year of his reign . . .” (Esther 1:1–3). Obviously, this is quite different from the way a fairytale begins: “Once upon a time, in a faraway land . . .” It’s also fairly easy to tell which parts of the Bible are not history. For example, Jesus used stories as a teaching method—allegories, parables, extended metaphors—and it’s usually easy to tell when He was doing this. For example, one of His stories begins with these words: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses” (Luke 14:16–18). We’re not told the man’s name, the place and time he lived, or even the reason for the banquet. And the fact that every single invited guest refused the invitation is a little too neat and tells us this is unlikely to be historical—although the story contains

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he Bible is the best-selling book of all time. But while people are aware that the Bible exists, these days relatively few know much about it or have taken the time to actually read it. To the lazy contemporary mind, the Bible may be seen as a bunch of ancient moralising fables. But dismissing the Bible as mere myth, legend or religious propaganda risks missing its very real value.

truth in a deeper sense. The historical parts of the Bible are important for at least two reasons. First, they provide a framework and context for the sections that are not primarily about recounting history. Prophets rage against the abuses of various kings, nations and empires, for example, but these portions make little sense unless the reader has some knowledge of who and what is being referred to. And, second, the historical sections of the Bible remind us that its spiritual themes are grounded in the lives of real people, who ate and drank, got married, had kids, experienced ups and downs, and eventually faced death. These are not superhuman demi-gods, but everyday folks like you and me. We expect outlandish things to happen in an ancient myth or fairytale, but it’s confronting when they are described in the context of what is otherwise a fairly sober historical record. In the midst of ordinariness, God intervenes

in people’s lives, and in history, with messages and miracles.

is the Bible biased?

History is never neutral. Historians work with the limited information available to them, seek patterns and threads and begin to construct a story that defines key moments and important people. Thus, some facts become crucial, while others are left on the cutting-room floor. Another historian will look at the same facts, but different patterns will emerge for them. Their interpretation of history may be quite different, highlighting the motivations of other players and the importance of other events. In more recent decades, it’s become accepted for an historian to flag their bias; to make clear that they are examining the data from a certain perspective, or with a particular focus on a previously ignored minority group. The reader understands no claim is being made that the resulting analysis is objective MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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else would you expect in a religious book? But although the Bible contains biased history, it’s not sanitised history. Bible heroes are frequently revealed as flawed human beings. Often, the prophets, after achieving great things in the name of God, fall into despair or drunkenness. Revered patriarchs cheat, squabble and commit incest. Kings become egocentric, commit heinous acts or turn their back on enlightenment they’ve received. The Bible is raw and earthy; its depiction of human beings has the ring of grim truth. A careful reader will notice that, through prejudice and patriarchy, blood and gore, higher principles of love, peace, justice and equality emerge—promises of a better order yet to come. There’s a sense of a maturing spirituality that begins to flower in the New Testament book of Acts as the first Christians— exclusively Jews—are confronted with growing evidence that God loves their non-Jewish neighbours— even their enemies—as much as He loves them. In God’s eyes, “There is neither Jew nor

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or the only reasonable interpretation of the available facts. A diligent student of history will seek a range of different perspectives to develop a well-rounded understanding of their chosen period and place. So, what about the Bible? Is it biased? Is it written with an agenda in mind? The answers have to be yes and yes. Old Testament history is written very much from the perspective of the Hebrew people—it selects their genealogies and their stories. When they win a battle, it’s a triumph. When they lose, it’s a tragedy. Their enemies are the bad guys. The cultural context is nationalistic, patriarchal and often warlike. The New Testament is similar in that it highlights the origins and experience of the fledgling Christian community. It’s assumed the reader will be cheering along as the pioneers of the new movement overcome all kinds of political and spiritual obstacles. And there is a clear agenda. The focus of the Bible writers is on understanding who God is and how we should relate to Him. What

Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). It’s radical—especially in the historical setting of the cultural biases that surround it.

is Bible history accurate?

Blood-curdling battles and a higher spiritual awareness are all very well, but can we really trust that when the Bible reads like history that it actually is history? Answering this question fully would require an examination of every historical fact mentioned in the Bible and comparing it with other available sources—non-biblical ancient writings and archaeological finds. Obviously, there’s not room for an exhaustive analysis here (but I would encourage the academically minded to do some digging), so I’ll be selective in providing the beginnings of an answer. Here are three examples: HITTITES

Archaeologist David Down writes, “according to the biblical record, the

Hittites were a well-recognised and an important and powerful nation. Yet because no ancient historian mentioned them, and because they appeared to leave no archaeological footprint, critics of the Bible relegated them to the realm of myth”. This was the situation up to 1800. But, as the academic discipline of archaeology began to boom through the 19th century, a number of stones bearing a strange semi-hieroglyph script began to attract attention. They were found within ancient city ruins in central and coastal parts of Turkey, as well as over the Syrian border, indicating that this had been a large civilisation. When archaeologist Archibald Sayce announced in 1880 that these were the remnants of the biblical Hittite empire, he was greeted with scepticism. But, as further discoveries were made and the language was gradually decoded, archaeologists and historians found the evidence was overwhelming. Yes, the Bible had preserved an accurate account of this forgotten people. DEAD SEA SCROLLS

The Bible contains prophecies

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about the future; and history has indeed unfolded according to these predictions. A search for rational explanations led many scholars to suggest the prophecies were written after the fact. But then, in 1948, a Bedouin goatherd stumbled across a cache of ancient scrolls in a cave near the Dead Sea, Israel. There were large and small remnants of every Old Testament book, including a complete scroll of Isaiah, which predicted, among other things, the coming of a Suffering Servant who would not protest His mistreatment, die for the sins of the people and be buried in a rich man’s grave, but nevertheless would have “a portion among the great” (53:12)—remarkable parallels with the trial, execution and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But, significantly, the Dead Sea Scrolls were dated about two centuries before Christ’s birth—evidence that goes beyond mere history into His-story. NEW TESTAMENT

Another common criticism is that the Bible’s historical accuracy has been mangled through the centuries—religious adherents have since added their spin to reinforce the beliefs of their faith community. How do we determine the accuracy of the Bible when the original writings have been lost? “For any particular work or collection of works, the greater the number and the earlier the dating of the manuscripts, the easier it is to reconstruct a text closer 44

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to the original and identify errors or discrepancies,” says Sean McDowell, a Bible apologist. That makes sense: the earlier the manuscript, the less opportunities to make changes; the more manuscripts there are, the harder it is to take the original text out of circulation and replace it. So how does the New Testament stack up? According to McDowell, the oldest New Testament fragment we have dates to 130 AD and the latest count of manuscripts stands at almost 24,000—all of which closely parallel the others, as well as the text of the New Testament we have in Bibles today. The next-best-attested text from the same period—Homer’s Iliad—has less than 2000 ancient manuscripts. Considering the last of Jesus’ 12 apostles didn’t die until somewhere between 90 and 120 AD, that doesn’t leave a lot of time to spice up the story in the absence of inconvenient eyewitnesses. None of these three points is a final slam-dunk in the Bible’s favour. Intelligent, well-researched people have come to a range of conclusions about the historicity and accurate transmission of biblical manuscripts. But what is presented here should dispel the kneejerk dismissal of the Bible by a genuine seeker for truth. Are you ready to go deeper? A former editor of Signs of the Times, Kent Kingston supports and advocates for people with cognitive impairments impacted by the NSW criminal justice system. He lives with his wife, Miriam, on the shores of Lake Macquarie.

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a doctor's struggle with depressio

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Suicide among doctors is at epidemic proportions. What is going wrong and what can a medical professional do to pull themselves back from the brink? BY NIGEL BYNG MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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ere’s a disturbing fact: Medical doctors have the highest suicide rate of any profession. It may be uncomfortable to read that, in the USA, nearly 400 doctors take their life every year. So how does a physician find assistance in a system that seems to be clearly failing its own? I sat down recently with Dr Charles, a fitness enthusiast, soccer fanatic and dad, to discuss his own struggle. “I could no longer see my vision.” That’s how Dr Charles expresses his moment of realisation. Fresh out of his residency with a five-year marriage on the rocks, a newborn son he was about to be separated from and a career that seemed to have very little focus, he was burning through money trying to find happiness. “I had gained twenty pounds (9 kg) of fat, was probably prediabetic and was very angry with God,” he says. Suddenly faced with the uncertainty of life, this was a midlife crisis at 30 for a man who, from the outside, seemed to have it all. Dr Charles is not alone. The trend for doctors who struggle with suicidal thoughts is global. Studies have revealed that about 13 per cent of male doctors have depression. The numbers are significantly higher for female doctors at nearly 20 per cent. In Australia in 2017, four junior physicians took their own lives within a matter of months, and the health services immediately took notice. A survey by Beyond Blue noted that young doctors experience levels of psychological distress that

are significantly higher than in the general population, increasing the prevalence of suicide. In an ultra-competitive industry, the 70 to 80-hour work weeks are a norm for many young physicians. “In my profession, there is a relentless pace that begins the moment you start medical school. There is no let down,” says Dr Charles. But while the long hours can lead to burnout, he refuses to list work stress as the main factor for his moment of crisis. Rather, he brushes it off as par for the course. “Every high achiever, or driven person, works very long hours. It may not be as highly stressful, but they possess the same work ethic. Doctors aren’t the only professionals who can claim that badge of honour.” In discussing quite frankly how he chose to work through his battle with despair, Dr Charles wants to give hope to his colleagues. It’s the driving motive behind him telling his story.

circle of support

“Having someone to talk to is key to getting over the hump,” is his first point. Many doctors find it difficult to seek medical help for depression as they risk losing their medical licences, which deters them from speaking up. Indeed, Dr Charles (a pseudonym) has asked that his name, location and medical specialty not be revealed in this article. But for people battling depression, isolation can be a silent killer. “Friendships provide the safe, nurturing space necessary for the

roots of healing to take hold.” Dr Charles stresses the importance of having interactions outside of the workplace and of staying connected to family and close friends. “These friends are my own personal mental health professionals. They help me find balance in the very focused chaos that I live daily.”

time management

The road to recovery was long for Dr Charles, but he started by accepting the reality of things. “I needed to be in control of my time, and my life,” he says. What he decided would set him on a course of action that would revitalise his life and give him a renewed purpose. He made a conscientious determination to find joy in living. “I began by removing the obstacles to what I envisioned would become my new normal. I had heard a lyric from a song that said, ‘concrete and cars are their own prison bars’, so I cut out the long drive to work by moving to within walking distance of the hospital.” Dr Charles also limited his workdays to 12-hour shifts—still long days, but at least the hospital was no longer his home as well as his office. His priority is spending time with his four-year-old son.

health

The change in Dr Charles’ work schedule meant he had time to care for his own wellbeing. So he joined a gym and committed himself to a MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

It's important that stories of hope be shared to save even one doctor from suffering alone strict diet and fitness regimen. “I love weight training and reading—things so crucial for me in maintaining good mental health. I work out daily while listening to audio books.” He was determined to correct the markers in his blood test that showed he was trending toward being a diabetic, so he now embraces a plant-based diet.

the bigger picture

Finding a healthy work/family balance is vital, but what about his spiritual life? “In embracing change, I found the one constant is that God never changes. We change—our jobs change, our lifestyle changes, our acquaintances change, our finances change, but while our experiences with God may change, God remains the same.” He develops this thought further. “I found happiness and contentment in friendships and new experiences, and so my understanding of God was dramatically changing—the changes 50

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

a burden shared

Many of our physicians suffer in silence, and it’s important that stories of hope be shared to save even one doctor from suffering alone. Dr Charles encourages me to read the work of Oregon practitioner Dr Pamela Wible, who is fighting the cause for her colleagues who feel like suicide is the only option left to them. “She is a beacon of change; not just of hope, but real change.” Asked if he has any advice for his fellow young medical professionals in similar distress? “Ask for help, exercise, broaden your life experiences and realise that changes are part of life.” Nigel Byng is a freelance writer based in West Palm Beach, Florida. If you or someone you know needs help, contact: Lifeline Australia 13 11 14, or New Zealand: 0800 54 33 54.

MHJ, SDI PRODUCTIONS—GETTY IMAGES

“

in my life were enlarging my territory.” He’s not talking about financial blessings or a growing real estate portfolio, he’s talking about spiritual growth; his deeper knowledge of God coming from his encounters with God.

1Speak Up and ask for help

— There is no shame in asking for help. Counsellors, psychologists and other helping professionals pride themselves on maintaining confidentiality wherever possible. Try to find someone outside your immediate circle of colleagues—both you and they will find it easier to work through issues objectively.

2Embrace the Necessary Changes — Many doctors forget why they entered the profession in the first place. Healing has so many aspects. Find a practice that offers balance to your own existence.

3Get in shape

— Join a gym, get a personal trainer, manage your diet . . . and stick with it. Your mood and clarity of thinking can be improved almost immediately with the first hit of endorphins, and longer term as you build healthy habits.

4Allow your spirit time to heal

— This begins by allowing those you love to have a space in your life. God, family and friends. These three aspects allow a person to feel whole spiritually and emotionally.

5Enlarge your territory

— Increase the scope of your life experiences. Volunteer your time, your skills, your love and your experiences. See the world, which doesn’t have to mean flying to a foreign country; it could just mean engaging more deeply in your own neighbourhood.

DR CHARLES’

5 Tips

FOR MAKING POSITIVE CHANGE MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

IE N

CE/ TE

MEDICINE INSPIRED BY PARASITIC WORMS Johns Hopkins researchers have created starshaped microdevices that release drugs into the body by attaching to intestinal mucosa. Named "theragrippers" and made of heat-sensitive wax and film, the technology was created after studying intestinal worms.—Scitech Daily

3D PRINTED BONES An Australian research paper from UNSW has found the potential to 3D print replacement bones into a subject. The method would involve using live cells and would avoid harsh chemicals. The research team is currently using a calcium phosphate material to simulate the structure of the bone.—The Debrief

A LITTLE

BIRD SAID ...

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MARCH 2021

SUCCESSFUL CLONING Preserved cells from a black-footed ferret that died more than 30 years ago have been used to successfully clone the animal; the first time a native endangered species has successfully gone through the process. The ferrets were once thought extinct until a small population was discovered in 1981.—ABC

US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE—FLICKR, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE—FLICKR, TO SAVE A LIFE, PIQSELS, LYNCCONF GAMES—FLICKR

SCI-FI

AUCTIONING FIRST TWEET Twitter founder Jack Dorsey's first ever tweet—"just setting up my twttr"—along with a digital signature is being auctioned. Bids for the tweet reached more than $100,000 within minutes, and have since reached millions of dollars. The tweet was posted in March 2006.—Reuters

INTERNET AND MENTAL HEALTH DEPRESSION MEMES Internet users struggling with depression are found to enjoy and look out for memes relating to hopelessness, isolation and sadness. In a study published in Scientific Reports, a group of 43 individuals were surveyed and asked to rank a series of memes. People with depression found depression-related memes funnier than non-depressed people. A similar study by Experimental Brain Research also tracked eye movement and found a similar conclusion.—Psy Post INTERNET USE AND PSYCOPATHY A study in Communication Research Reports has found compulsive internet users have a tendency towards narcissism, psycopathy and machiavellianism; known as the "dark triad". Researchers were also able to link the three characteristics to negative online behaviour; psycopathic and manipulative traits struggled with loss of control and withdrawal. People with narcissistic traits were also found to often update their social media photos and statuses.—Psy Post VIDEO GAMES AND AGGRESSION A study of 3000 young people by Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking has found aggressive video games aren't creating risk factors for mental health problems. The study suggests that violent video games had no influence on personality traits like low agreeableness; which have direct links to developing into aggressive behaviour. The study also monitored and dispelled links between video games and anxiety, somantic symptoms and attention hyperactivity disorder.—Mary Ann Liebert

UNDO SEND Twitter has introduced an "undo" button which features a countdown and allows users to retract a tweet after sending. However, unlike its social media rival Facebook, the platform does not have a feature to edit Tweets.—Yahoo

MISINFORMATION = STRIKE The platform is trialling a multi-strike system for users who post Covid-19 misinformation; including permanently suspending users after a fifth strike. The platform already flags tweets with misleading information, including former president Donald Trump's account after the 2020 US election.—9to5Mac MARCH 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

LT U R E

FURIOUS FR ANCHISE,

THEFASTSAGA.COM

Y IT N I L U C S A M Y S A T FAN

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

Amongst the grunting of engines and squeal of tyres, Fast and Furious is the seventh-highest grossing film franchise ever. It’s what’s under the hood that counts though, and there are questions about how the films have influenced a generation of men. BY MARK HADLEY

MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

The Fast and the Furious—Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker), an undercover cop, infiltrates a street-racing crew that has been hijacking trucks full of electronic goods. 2 Fast 2 Furious—Brian finds himself on the run in Florida. He’s given an opportunity to go back under cover to take down a criminal organisation. Succeed, and he’ll have his record wiped clean. Fast & Furious—Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel), the leader of the street-racing crew, turns up in the Dominican Republic and heists oil to give to the poor. Fast Five—Dom, Brian and Dom’s sister Mia unite to heist $US100 million from a corrupt businessman. Hot on their tailgate is federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson). Fast & Furious 6—Dom and Brian team up with federal agent Hobbs in exchange for another amnesty for their crimes. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift— Young hot-head Sean Boswell is sent

THEFASTSAGE.COM

hen considering the blockbuster franchises of our time it’s easy to stop at the Marvel, Harry Potter and Star Wars storylines. However, a world away from the magical and alien are the heroes of the Fast & Furious franchise. Better known in the movie biz as the “Fast Saga”, this collection of nine films has earned a tidy $US5.8 billion in petrol money. When F9 comes out this year, it’s certain to add to those coffers. It’s also certain to help further cement a way of looking at manhood that is having as singular an effect at home as it is on the streets. Summing up the Fast Saga is certainly not something that can be done at speed. Firstly, the films jump back and forward in time, giving the storyline more turns than the Monaco Grand Prix. Secondly, while the first three films were very much about street-racing culture, the last six have made the jump to high-stakes hijackings, international espionage and cybercrime. But here’s an attempt to put the pieces together in chronological order:

to live in Tokyo where he falls in with local street racers but falls foul of the Yakuza. He’s befriended by Dom’s friend Han.

Furious 7— Decker, the older brother of mercenary Owen Shaw (Jason Statham), is an assassin who comes looking for revenge and threatens Dom’s family. The Fate of the Furious—Dom is blackmailed by cyberterrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) who has taken control of the aforementioned supercomputer. The Fast and the Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw—The agent and the

assassin are forced to team up to recover a killer virus from a cybernetically-enhanced terrorist.

F9—Releasing this year, Dom and his crew face off against Dom’s younger brother Jakob (John Cena), another deadly assassin now working for Cipher. Han returns from the dead, Letty has her memory back and Mia surfaces from retirement, meaning everyone is present to take Cipher on. The franchise has earned steady earnings despite flagging reviews. Fast & Furious is currently the seventh-highest earning film franchise of all time and, with at least three more films to follow F9, is likely to go higher. Add to this the income from theme park rides, live shows, video

games and cartoon spin-offs, which are also turning a healthy profit. All this despite the end of Western society’s love affair with cars. According to the asset management firm Schroders, the number of vehicles per person in the United States is in steady decline. In Britain, fewer drivers under the age of 30 have licences than in the 1990s. Automotive analyst Katherine Davidson says that car sales may never recover to the levels measured prior to the 2009 recession. Somewhat surprisingly, she identifies urbanisation and smart phones as car killers. The majority of the world’s population now live in cities. In the West, the attraction of a suburban lifestyle has been undercut by increasingly clogged highways and longer commute times. Government infrastructure in many countries is favouring increased public transport over freeways. On the whole, millennials place less value in owning a vehicle than previous generations. Davidson writes, “Cars are not as relevant as a status symbol, and getting a licence is no longer a ‘rite of passage’ in the way it once was.” Smart phones have also contributed to the demise of the car through the provision of software that undercuts the vehicle’s essential purpose. Cars provided freedom for a previous generation, allowing members to travel more easily and therefore access friends, experiences and resources. Today, though, a range of apps provide that same level of MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

is a provider, a member of the body politic, a husband, a father, a teacher and a leader. He doesn’t just play the role of a man; he acts it out responsibly. As the Bible puts it, “Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6). Consequently, a man cares about the effects his behaviour has on those around him. And surely on that ground alone the mature man is at odds with the heroes of the Fast & Furious franchise. They laud their friendships but encourage their friends to live dangerously. They talk about family, but they risk the lives of innocent families. Whatever fantasy value emerges from the Fast Saga, the reality is its producers are driving masculinity off a cliff. And it’s hard to object when we’re paying to be in the passenger seat. Cue the squeal of tyres. Mark Hadley is a media and cultural critic who lives with his family in Sydney.

THEFASTSAGE.COM

contact instantaneously and allow access to new vistas without the need for travel. As Microsoft researcher Danah Boyd writes in her book It’s Complicated, “What the drive-in was to teens in the 1950s and the mall in the 1980s, Facebook, texting, twitter, instant messaging and other social media are to teens now.” So, if the desire to own a car is receding and the need for doing so is similarly reduced, we might well ask why F9 is set to crush the box office this year? This is because the Fast Saga has managed to use its unbelievable car chases and outrageous stunts to tap into something very real. Research entitled Driving Cultures by Sarah Redshaw offers an explanation: “Young men... are encouraged to display their masculinity in such ways . . . Skill in handling a car, allied with dangerous unpredictability, is regarded as superior and as more desirable than driving with caution.” In short, the last century of driving has linked the car to the idea of masculinity; and the sorts of excessively risky driving demonstrated by the Fast & Furious franchise are regarded as indicators of a superior manhood. However, the question arises, is fast driving a good indicator of what makes a man? That sort of query deserves its own article. Whatever culture we are considering, though, it should be easy to see that responsibility is one marker of the mature man. However far back we care to look, he

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R E CI P E

GNOCCHI

WITH SPINACH & WALNUTS An autumnal vegan recipe with an exciting contrast of textures combined with soft, traditional gnocchi.

Preparation Time: 5 Mins Cooking Time: 10 Mins

Ingredients

1 ½ tbs olive oil 1/3 cup walnut pieces, chopped 1 small onion, finely chopped 1/3 cup currants 2 garlic cloves, crushed 120g baby spinach leaves ¼ cup vegetable stock, salt-reduced 625g fresh potato gnocchi (can be made or puchased gluten-free) Optional: Vegan cheese

TIP:

Gnocchi are ready once they ha ve risen to th e surface. Also, sultana s can be used as a su bstitute for currants in this recipe.

1. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add walnuts and cook, stirring often, until golden. Transfer to a plate. Set aside. 2. Add remaining oil to pan. Add onion and saute for 3 minutes or until tender. Add currants and crushed garlic. Cook, stirring often, for 1-2 minutes until currants are plump. Add spinach and stock. Gently toss until spinach begins to wilt. 3. Meanwhile, cook gnocchi, following instructions on the packet, until al dente. 4. Drain gnocchi and immediately return to the pan. Add spinach mixture and walnuts. Gently toss and serve. Nutrition Information PER SERVE: Energy 1280 kJ; 306 Cal; Protein 8.0g; Fat 10g; Saturated fat 1.0g; Carbohydrate 44g; Sugars 13g; Fibre 6.5g; Sodium 6-mg; Potassium 586mg; Calcium 70mg; Iron 2.3mg. 60

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

NATHAN DUMLAO—UNSPLASH, SEBASTIAN COMAN PHOTOGRAPHY—UNSPLASH

Method

healthy &

delicious

Recipe courtesy of Sanitarium Health Food Company. Visit sanitarium.com.au or sanitarium.co.nz and subscribe to Recipe of the Week for a delicious plant-powered recipe in your inbox each week. MAY 2021 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

FUN

CROSSWORD

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Hint: 8 Down

EDUCATION.COM

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2021

CROSSWORD CLUES

ACROSS 1 Roll of parchment, papyrus or paper that contains writing 3 World's largest pharmaceutical company 4 Largest city in modern Egypt 6 Electronic buying and selling of products 10 To have high blood sugar levels but not yet Type II diabetic 12 When an event depends on external factors 13 Cooking term for "firm when bitten" DOWN 2 Religious belief in beginning new life in different form or body after death 4 Kingdom described in the Bible; also known as Ancient Ethiopia 5 When two or more things are connected 7 Grain closely related to wheat 8 Austrian neurologist and pioneer in psychoanalysis 9 Finger-like projections in the small intestine 11 Scientists who study chemical processes

SUDOKU EASY

1 6

5 4

7 5 9

HARD

2 3

7 2

How closely have you been 7 6 reading? Each keyword in this 7 is also 1 contained 3 5 puzzle within this edition of Signs of the Times. 1 4 6 9 2 Happy digging!

SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU 63

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Signs of the Times - May 2021

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TOXIC FRIENDSHIPS

THE GOOD NEWS IN GRASS

FREEDOM FROM GLUTEN: THE INSIDER ACCOUNT OF A COELIAC'S LIFE