Eduardo said: I don't see anything wrong with the directions provided. The idea is to present that JW kids are interested in other things other than spiritual things which is certainly the case. In this way a Court can see that JWs are not religious fanatics, that their faith is important to them, perhaps the primary thng in life, but certainly NOT the only thing in life.
Oh bullshit Eduardo. The JWs are religious fanatics and everyone on here knows it. Witness youths most certainly are not encouraged to have interests outside the extremely narrow views of what the WTS deems "acceptable". Hell, even normal interests are squashed. I remember not that many years ago at our Hall, the CO lashed out at everyone and anyone for daring to miss Saturday morning Service and the Sunday meeting, by going skiing for the weekend. They banned costume parties, declaring they were "too much like Hallowe'en parties" and they banned 1950s parties, because "the 50s were an age of rebellion" we were told. The real reason, was that we were having FUN and following in Rutherford-the-Grinch's footsteps, they don't like to see you have too much fun.
Witness children are not allowed to have normal social contact with "worldly" kids at school, nor are they allowed to attend any birthday parties, or even regular parties of any non-Dub out there. And of course, there's all the other fun stuff that you're not allowed to participate in that normal children are. My brother was interested in becoming a hockey player and his Guidence Counsellor saw that he had extraordinary talent and encouraged him to pursue this goal. My parents let him practice after school for a while and the coach wanted him on the school team. Unfortunately, the elders found out and put a stop to this "interest" he had.
There are countless other examples which show beyond any doubt that Witness kids are not allowed to have "normal interests". If it wasn't such a threat to the WTS being exposed in court as a bunch of mind controlling thugs, they wouldn't even have to have a brochure telling kids what to say or do in court.
True, Witnesses believe their faith should be most important, but it is also true that Witnesses are encouraged to be well-rounded and that their lives are spent in a variety of activities, many of them not having anything to do with theocratic activities or Witnesses' faith.
Ya.......sure they are:
w 2004 8/15 p. 24 Tired but NotTiring Out *** One married couple decided to eliminate some of their hobbies and nonessential personal projects. They actually went through their things and literally packed all the materials related to such projects and put them out of sight. Periodically, we can all benefit from taking inventory of our habits and possessions, putting off every unnecessary weight so that we may not get tired and give out in our souls.***w 2002 8/1 p. 31Earnest Effort—When Is It Blessed by Jehovah?*** Today, the pressures and difficulties we face may be just as frightening, frustrating, or even depressing. The temptation is to give up in the struggle and become another casualty of Satan’s assault. He may use any of the means at his disposal, be it entertainment or recreation, sports or hobbies, careers or material prosperity, to achieve his designs
***w 1989/1 p.21 Be Sure to Put First Things First!*** On meeting nights the children do their homework as soon as they return home from school. Hobbies and other activities are not permitted to interfere with congregation meetings. As a husband and father, do you give meeting attendance priority? As a wife and mother, do you try to plan your responsibilities to leave room for the meetings? As a teenager, do you schedule your homework around the meetings or the meetings around your homework?
***w 1954 8/15 p.508 Endurance Through Hope*** Hobbies are so varied today that they range from the sedate stamp-collecting to the vigorous athletic exercising. By way of illustration we shall take the common hobby called "photography." A brother finds that this hobby furnishes him much pleasure. His camera records many delightful theocratic assemblies and personal experiences. His "own interests" tell him he needs to keep up with all aspects of this hobby. He buys numerous magazines and reads them. Soon he starts to read books on this hobby, spending more and more time on a "lawful" pursuit. Meetings may be missed to keep up with the latest "camera" magazine. He may even feel it necessary to associate with those outside the truth to learn more about his hobby. This brother’s "lawful" interest has grown to a point where it threatens to undermine his hope. If his "own interest" is not checked and put in its theocratic place, shipwreck is ahead.
Be careful they don't all say that they are going to be pioneers. Plans can be trade, getting married and having children, journalism, and all kinds of other things.
This is soooo hypocritical it's not even funny. Since when has there EVER been a demonstration or a part on the meeting of someone who went on either to college, university, built up a prosperous business, but who is "only" a publisher? It doesn't happen. The only career any Witness is ever encouraged to pursue is that of being a pioneer, missionary, or a C.O. The only time it is ever acceptable to go on to college is when you have pioneering in mind---end of story.
The goal of presenting an accurate account of how JWs spend their time is not intended to mislead the fact-finder or evaluator but rather to counter any preconceived bias or misconceptions that they may have about JWs.
LMAO......ya, gee, I can't imagine where "worldly" people would get any "misconceptions" about JWs. Maybe from the WTS's own literature where something simple, like associating with co-workers or 'speculating on scriptural matters is viewed as practically demonic?
*** km12/2003 p.5Theocratic MinistrySchoolReview*** ‘Drifting away’ from the truth is effortless and could start innocently with a few material things, worldly association, or speculation on Scriptural matters.
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w 19942/15 p.24 KeepYour DistanceWhenDangerThreatens*** And even when a business is booming, it will likely absorb much time and mental energy, and it may require considerable worldly association.
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w 19693/15 p.170What InfluencesDecisionsinYour Life?*** The whole world is going in the way of destruction, but Christians cannot afford to turn and follow it in its mad race toward rebellion, hate and finally death........At our place of employment have we been influenced by fellow workers to join in competitive sporting groups or leagues that rob us of our time for Bible study and for preaching the good news of God’s kingdom? This is unnecessary worldly association that can influence us to make wrong decisions and can easily lead to acts of immorality.
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w 1983 8/15p. 28 Our Fight toCounteractPermissiveness*** At many places of employment it is customary to hold office parties or celebrate birthdays and holidays. Usually on such occasions alcoholic drinks are served. There may be music and dancing. If a Christian does not fight to counteract permissiveness in such areas, an erosion process can get a start. Socializing with worldly persons on the job has led some Christians into dating, committing fornication and other wrongdoing.
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w 1971 9/15p. 562Set Apartfromthe World*** Though a little time remains to live in this world, we do not have to associate with it unnecessarily. We need not let our guard down by hobnobbing with worldlings at office parties, in outings or in sports groups.
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w661/15pp.50-51GuardAgainstBadAssociation*** In connection with their secular employment, there are bowling leagues, swimming teams, office parties and the like, which would throw one into company with bad associates. These could be exciting, enjoyable and relaxing occasions, no doubt, but also dangerous to maintaining Christian integrity
Regarding the issue of "pioneering" as a goal, in the literature or from the platform, that "goal" is tossed out as an encouragement to all, YET it is clearly understood that not all persons can do it or should do it. That is why it is always stated as a matter of whether a person can make it possible to do it.
It it not just "tossed out as an encouragement", it is the only career they encourage. No one is encouraged to go to college, university or do anything other than pioneer. And everyone on this board knows it:
***km 7/1983 p.3 What Makes a Pioneer? *** Young people of high school age have to consider their long-range goals in life and how they will use their varied resources. Why not aim for pioneering? Older ones who are retired or nearing retirement age can consider pioneering. The way we use our opportunities makes a big difference in the blessings we receive.—Luke 8:18.
Are you positively trying to make room for regular pioneer service in your life? Are you satisfied with your present priorities? If not, why not reevaluate them? Ask yourself, ‘What is there that prevents me from getting into the pioneer service?’ Do you want to? (Col. 3:23, 24) If you do, there is a good possibility that you, too, have what it takes to be a pioneer.
The vast majority of Witnesses have other goals and desires in life pursuits, trades and how they will make a living, and since 1995 have the "socially blessed" goal of higher education.
Uh, perhaps you haven't been keeping up with "new light", but the October 1, 2005 Craptower study, once again slammed higher education: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/98319/1.ashx
And if that's not enough, here's a few more articles they've had which clearly show their views on higher education:
***w 2001 4/1 p. 8 India—A "Unity inDiversity" *** Following an extended court case that ended with a landmark victory for pure worship, Bijoe went back to school. He also went on to college. However, the immoral atmosphere there bothered his conscience, so he quit in his first term. Now after ten years in Bethel, he feels that he has benefited more from being a member of the diverse but united Bethel family than he would have by pursuing higher education.
***w 1996 12/1 p. 19Youths Who Remember Their Creator *** If you pursue secular education beyond what is required by law, wisely examine your reason for doing so. Is it to make a name for yourself and to get material riches? (Jeremiah 45:5; 1 Timothy 6:17) Or is it your goal to use supplementary education to share more fully in Jehovah’s service?
***w 1995 3/1 p.18 Living Up to Our Dedication"Day After Day"*** A 14-year-old boy in Japan dedicated himself to Jehovah and symbolized this dedication by water baptism. Later, he wanted to pursue higher education and become a scientist. He never thought of the full-time ministry, but as a dedicated servant, he did not want to leave Jehovah and his visible organization. To realize his career goal, he attended a university. There he saw graduates of the university being forced to dedicate their entire life to their companies or to their studies. He wondered, ‘What am I doing here? Can I really pursue their way of life and dedicate myself to secular work? Am I not already dedicated to Jehovah?’ With renewed appreciation, he became a regular pioneer. His understanding of his dedication deepened and moved him to determine in his heart to go wherever he was needed. He attended the Ministerial Training School and received an assignment to serve as a missionary overseas...............Dedication involves our whole life. We must disown ourselves and "day after day" follow Jesus’ fine example. (Luke 9:23) Having disowned ourselves, we do not ask Jehovah for a leave of absence, a furlough.
***w 1992 8/15p.28 Have YouCounted theCost?*** Such things as climbing the corporate ladder, pursuing higher education to advance one’s position, courting unbelievers, or engaging in questionable business schemes can easily lead to a loss of faith and an eventual fall from Jehovah’s favor.
***w 1992 9/15 p.23J ehovah’s Use of "Foolishness" to Save Those Believing *** Soon, at Armageddon, Jehovah God will cause all "the wisdom of the wise men" to perish. He will shove aside all "the intelligence of the intellectual men" who made predictions of how their new world order would bring better conditions for mankind.
***w 1992 11/1 p.20 Education With a Purpose*** If Christian parents responsibly decide to provide their children with further education after high school, that is their prerogative. The period of these studies would vary according to the type of trade or occupation selected. For financial reasons and in order to enable their children to get into the full-time service as quickly as possible, many Christian parents have chosen for them short-term study programs in vocational or technical schools. In some cases youths have needed to be apprenticed to some trade but always with a full life of service to Jehovah as the goal.
If additional courses are taken, certainly the motive should not be to shine scholastically or to carve out a prestigious worldly career. Courses should be chosen with care. This magazine has placed emphasis on the dangers of higher learning, and justifiably so, for much higher education opposes the "healthful teaching" of the Bible.
***w 1992 12/1 p. 4What Kind of People Do You Favor?*** What, then, about education? Does a long list of degrees and titles after a person’s name guarantee that he is honest and upright? Does it mean that he should be looked upon with favor? Granted, education can broaden one’s horizons, and many who have made use of their education to benefit others are deserving of honor and respect. But history is replete with examples of exploitation and oppression of the masses by the educated class
***w 1988 8/15p. 6 Success—At All Costs? *** Are parents who direct their children primarily toward material goals and worldly careers following this counsel? Is emphasis on worldly success worth the cost if children abandon the truth and adopt unchristian life-styles? Is it worth it to sacrifice or, at the least, to jeopardize their spiritual lives for the sake of "treasures upon the earth"? Parents who do this often find even they are ‘stabbed all over with many pains’ out of concern for their children and of regret over the spiritual—and sometimes physical—loss of them.
*** w 1982 7/15 p.14 Education—What It Costs, What It Offers *** But, it may be objected, not everyone who goes to university loses his Christian faith or dies of a drug overdose. This is true. Some graduates have become valued and hardworking members of the Christian congregation. But consider, it is also true that not every child who plays on a busy street will get killed by a passing automobile. Some survive to grow up. But would you let your children play in the street in traffic because of that?(This is the stupidest reasoning I've ever heard and I'm pretty sure you're not going to find this quote in the WTS's "custody" book.)
***Young People Ask chap. 22 p.177 What Career Should I Choose?*** A university degree may or may not improve your employment prospects. But one fact is indisputable: "The time left is reduced"! (1 Corinthians 7:29) For all its presumed benefits, would four years or more in a university be the best use of that remaining time?—Ephesians 5:16. Would a university education steer you toward or away from your spiritual goals? Remember, a high income is not a Christian priority.
***yb 1993 pp.203-204 Honduras*** The "Integrity Keepers" District Convention, in 1986, was another outstanding occasion. The drama "Your Future—A Challenge" moved some brothers and sisters to think more seriously about pioneering. One young brother had been planning to go to university after the convention but changed his mind and looked for secular work that would allow him to be an auxiliary pioneer.
So yes, in light of the WTS's own words and views on things like hobbies, recreation and higher education, they most certainly are encouraging their youth to 'slant the truth about The Truth', lest they inadvertedly expose the mind control which is at the helm of this cult, along with the knowledge that Witness youths are not allowed to have a normal childhood, normal fun or even normal goals.
