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{{short description|Illustrated religious magazine}}
{{about|the religious magazine||Awake (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title  = Awake!
| logo = AwakeMagazine_logo.png
| image_file = Awake!-no5-2017.jpg
| image_size  = 150px
| image_alt  = 
| image_caption = Cover of ''Awake!'' (No. 5, 2017)
| editor = 
| editor_title = 
| previous_editor = 
| staff_writer = 
| frequency  = Triannual
| circulation  = 93,354,000
| category  = Religious
| company  = [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]
| publisher  = [[Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania]]
| firstdate  = October 1, 1919 (as ''The Golden Age'')
| country = [[United States]]
| based = [[Warwick, New York]], United States
| language  = 225 languages
| website   = {{URL|https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/}}
| issn   = 0005-237X
}}

'''''Awake!''''' is an illustrated religious [[magazine]] published every four months by the [[Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania]]. It is considered to be a companion magazine of ''[[The Watchtower]]'',{{sfn|Melton|2019}} and is distributed by [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]. The Watch Tower Society reports worldwide circulation of over 93 million copies per issue in 225 languages.<ref>[https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/awake-no2-2020-jul-aug/ Awake! No. 2 2020 issue, page 2]</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Golden-age-1934-November-21.jpg|thumb|''The Golden Age'' magazine, November 21, 1934]]
The magazine was originally published bimonthly from October 1, 1919 under the title '''''The Golden Age'''''. It was founded for use in the [[Bible Student movement|Bible Students]]' new door-to-door ministry,<ref>{{cite book|title=Jehovah's Witnesses and the Secular World: From the 1870s to the Present|author=Zoé Knox|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan Inc|year=2018|page=37}}</ref> though the founder of the movement, Charles Taze Russell, had indicated in his [[will and testament|will]] that the Watch Tower Society would not publish any periodicals other than ''The Watch Tower''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Apocalypse Delayed|author=James Penton|publisher=University of Toronto Press|year=1985|page=56}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=The Watch Tower|date=December 1, 1916|page=358|publisher=Watch Tower Society|title=Will and Testament of Charles Taze Russell}}</ref> Clayton J. Woodworth was editor of the magazine,{{sfn|Chryssides|2008|pp=140}} and later went on to serve on the boards of several [[corporations of Jehovah's Witnesses]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Announcements|magazine=The Watchtower|date=February 15, 1952|page=128}}</ref>  On October 6, 1937, the magazine was renamed '''''Consolation''''' and continued to be published biweekly until July 31, 1946.

On August 22, 1946, the magazine was renamed ''Awake!'',<ref>''Revelation—Its Grand Climax At Hand'', pages 146–147</ref><ref>''Watch Tower Publications'', Watchtower Publications Index, 2008</ref> drawing its new title from [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] 13:11 ([[American Standard Version|ASV]]): "... it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed".{{sfn|Chryssides|2008|pp=12}} The magazine's editorship then became anonymous. (Autobiographical articles credited to individual members about their experiences and circumstances occasionally appear.)
[[File:Consolation-cover-December-14-1938.jpg|thumb|''Consolation'' magazine, December 14, 1938]]
From 1982 to 1995, each issue of the magazine included a mission statement which stated, "this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new order before the generation that saw 1914 passes away".<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Awake!|date=October 8, 1995|page=4|publisher=Watch Tower Society|title=Why ''Awake!'' Is Published}}</ref> When Jehovah's Witnesses' belief regarding the "generation" of 1914 was changed to a less literal sense, the aim was restated as, "this magazine builds confidence in the Creator's promise of a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things".<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Awake!|date=November 8, 1995|page=4|publisher=Watch Tower Society|title=Why ''Awake!'' Is Published}}</ref>

Until 2005, ''Awake!'' was published semimonthly in major languages (on the 8th and 22nd), monthly in many languages, and quarterly in a few languages. As of January 2006, the magazine was published monthly, and as of 2016 it was published every second month. As of early 2018, it is published every four months, in March, July, and November of each year.<ref>''Our Kingdom Ministry'', March 2005, published by the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, "beginning with its January 2006 issue, ''Awake!'' will be published as a monthly magazine. This will result in considerable simplification in the preparation, translation, and shipping of our literature. This change will affect about 40 percent of the languages in which ''Awake!'' is published. In most languages, ''Awake!'' is already a monthly or a quarterly publication."</ref>

== Content ==
''The Golden Age'' outlined its primary aim in its first issue, stating, "we will point the people to the clear and indisputable evidence in the light of present-day events, disclosing the divinely expressed remedy for the reconstruction of human affairs that will bring the desire of all nations, assuring to the people life, liberty and happiness."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Salutatory|magazine=The Golden Age|date=October 1, 1919|page=4}}</ref> The magazine also contained articles about "social, political, and economic issue and was not confined to purely religious matters".{{sfn|Knox|2018|pp=37}} [[George Chryssides|Georges D. Chryssides]] notes that some articles "were opposed to orthodox medicine",<ref name="Chryssides70">{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses|author=George D. Chryssides|publisher=The Scarecrow Press, Inc|year=2008|page=70}}</ref> particularly against vaccinations,<ref>{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses|author=George D. Chryssides|publisher=The Scarecrow Press, Inc|year=2008|page=133}}</ref> theories about germs and the use of aluminum cooking utensils,<ref>{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses|author=George D. Chryssides|publisher=The Scarecrow Press, Inc|year=2008|page=141}}</ref> "and recommended alternative methods of health care and remedies".<ref name="Chryssides70" />

''Awake!'' contains articles on general interest topics such as nature, geography, family life, and also the Bible and biblical history,<ref>"Awake!" October 2010 page.4</ref> and is overseen by the Writing Committee of the [[Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses#Committees|Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses]].<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=The Watchtower|date=April 15, 2013|page=30|title="Do Not Tire Out"}}</ref> It has presented opinions of various medical conditions, including [[dementia]],<ref name="ReferenceA">''Awake!'', September 22, 1998</ref> [[stroke]],<ref>''Awake!'', February 8, 1998</ref> infectious diseases,<ref>''Awake!'', July 22, 1999</ref> [[bipolar disorder]],<ref>''Awake!'', September 8, 2001</ref> and [[postpartum]] [[clinical depression|depression]].<ref>''Awake!'', March 8, 2003</ref> Many issues claim that mankind is living in the [[end time]]s.

== Distribution ==
The magazine is printed in nineteen countries.<ref>''The Watchtower'', November 1, 2005, page 27</ref> ''Awake!'' has a worldwide circulation of 41,000,000 copies of each issue<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Watchtower—No Other Magazine Comes Close|url=https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/activities/publishing/watchtower-awake-magazine/|access-date=2021-01-14|website=JW.ORG|language=en}}</ref> and is available, in selected languages, online in various digital formats.<ref>[http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/ Jehovah's Witnesses website — Audio recordings and digital formats of magazines]</ref>

The magazine is distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses in the course of their public ministry including door-to-door canvassing, approaching people in public places, given informally to acquaintances and professionals, or left as reading material in waiting areas.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Question Box|magazine=Our Kingdom Ministry|date=March 1988|page=4|quote=Perhaps some back issues of the magazines could be distributed free when visiting nursing homes and hospitals. They could be left at Laundromats or in the lobbies of residential buildings where our work is restricted. However, good judgment should be exercised as to how many and how often magazines are left at one place.}}</ref>

===Cost===
''The Golden Age'' was initially available for $1.50 ({{Inflation|US|1.5|1919|fmt=eq}}) per year on a subscription basis.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=The Watchtower|date=September 15, 1919|page=4|title=Announcing the Kingdom}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=A People for His Name: A History of Jehovah's Witnesses and an Evaluation|author=Tony Wills|publisher=Lulu.com|year=2007|page=110}}</ref> Until March 1990, ''Awake!'' was available for a small charge that varied over time and in different countries. For example, in the United States, the suggested donation per issue was $0.05 in 1950,<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=The Watchtower|date=May 15, 1950|page=4|title=Publication details}}</ref> gradually increasing to $0.25 in 1989.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Our Kingdom Ministry|page=2|date=October 1989|title=Announcements}}</ref> On January 17, 1990, the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] ruled against [[Jimmy Swaggart]] that sales of religious literature were subject to taxation, which introduced ambiguity into the formerly tax-free practice of suggesting a particular donation in exchange for the magazines. The Watch Tower Society supported Swaggart in the case, arguing that the perceived sale of religious literature should be exempt from taxation.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Four Presidents of the Watch Tower Society (Jehovah's Witnesses)|author=Edmond C. Gruss|publisher=Xulon Press|year=2003|pages=72&ndash;73}}</ref>

From March 1, 1990, the magazines were made available at no cost, on a freewill donation basis in the United States, with the stated purpose of simplifying their Bible educational work and distinguishing themselves from those who commercialize religion.<ref name=OKM>{{cite magazine|magazine=Our Kingdom Ministry|date=May 1990|page=7|title=Use Our Literature Wisely|quote=At the end of February 1990, it was explained that magazines and literature will be provided to publishers and to the interested public on a complete donation basis, that is, without asking or suggesting that a specific contribution be made as a precondition to receiving an item.}}</ref> An article in the May 1990 issue of ''Our Kingdom Ministry''&mdash;a newsletter provided to members&mdash;stated that "there are growing pressures against all religious elements" and went on to say that their main concern was to move ahead in the worldwide preaching work, "without hindrance."<ref name=OKM />

The sale of Jehovah's Witnesses' literature was gradually phased out in other countries, and ''Awake!'' has been distributed free of charge worldwide since early 2000, its printing being funded by voluntary donations from Jehovah's Witnesses and members of the public.<ref>{{cite book|title=2001 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses|page=18|quote=Another factor in reaching more people with the good news has been the simplified literature distribution arrangement. ... The voluntary donation arrangement is explained to people, but no charge is made for the literature. As of January 2000, that arrangement was extended to all lands where it was not already in operation.}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Jehovah's Witnesses publications]]
*[[List of Watch Tower Society publications]]
*[[List of magazines by circulation]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Sources ==
*{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Jehovah's Witnesses|first=George D.|last=Chryssides|publisher=The Scarecrow Press, Inc|year=2008|ref=harv|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Xx6nUwZzeCsC|series=Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements|volume=85|isbn=978-0-8108-6074-2}}
*{{cite web|title=Jehovah's Witnesess|last=Melton|first=J. Gordon|date=2019-08-09|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|accessdate=2021-01-22|ref=harv|url=http://www.britannica.com/topic/Jehovahs-Witnesses}}
*{{cite book|title=Jehovah's Witnesses and the Secular World: From the 1870s to the Present|first=Zoé|last=Knox|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan Inc|year=2018|ref=harv|isbn=978-1-137-39604-4|doi=10.1057/978-1-137-39605-1|lccn=2017955670|series=Histories of the Sacred and Secular, 1700-2000|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EtBJDwAAQBAJ}}

==External links==
*[http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/ ''The Watchtower'' and ''Awake!'' magazines]

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