Education gets yet another bashing!!

Gill

Education takes yet another battering in the May 1st Watchtower.

The Mag gives this example:

Young Christians today face similar challeges. matthew, who serves at a branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses recalls: 'When I began serving as a pioneer, my father was extremely disappointed. He felt that I had wasted my education by taking a job as a cleaner to support me in my ministry.' He would taunt me, reminding me of how much I could earn if I took a full time job.' How did Matthew deal with that opposition? 'I kept up a solid Bible reading schedule and constantly prayed, especially at moments when it would have been easy for me tot lose my temper.' Matthew's determination has been rewarded. Over time, hjis relationship with his father improved. Matthew has also drawn closer to Jehovah.....'

Para 17 'A subtle challenge to your pursuing spiritual goals may even come from fellow believers. 'Why be a pioneer?' sme may ask. 'You can lead a normal life and still share in the preaching work. Get a good job and guarantee your financial security.' This may seem to be sound advice, but would you reallyb e training yourself with a godly devotion as your aim if you were to follow it?'

Para 19 'Rather than making a life of ease your goal, cultivate a self sacrificing spirit. 'Be ready to do without the comforts of life, as one of the army of Christ Jesus.'

I wondered why the Governing Body feel it necessary to travel first class and live in luxurious conditions. Shouldn't they also do without the comforts of life, as one of the army of Christ Jesus?

diamondblue1974

What utter shite, I am sorry but they suggest that through prayer his relationship with his father improved; course it would, he has a decent father who just learned to accept his sons decisions no matter what he felt about them personally and he gave up in the end. It was nothing to do with prayer or how much crap he read in the watchtower publications.

Perhaps this isnt normal in the JW land because usually when a son or daughter goes against their fathers/parents wishes this results in being ostracised and shunned - what fine example that father has shown the watchtower society and their members!

Accept your childrens choices and dont judge them for it - what a novel concept!

Gary

Gill

Hi DB1974!

I agree! It was funny to read that they recommended 'more bible reading and more prayer' for a problem.......yet again!

They did make an interesting quote in a tiny paragraph from the 'Moralia,1 (Ancient greek history book).

'Greek society placed a high value on eduation. Plutarch, a contemporary of Timothy, wrote: 'To receive a proper education is the source and root of all goodness.....It is this, I say, which leads on and helps towards moral excellence and towards happiness... All other advantages are human, and trivial and not worth our serious concern.'

An excellent ancient thought and concept, totally bashed by the 'all knowing' WTBTS!

Zico

I wondered why the Governing Body feel it necessary to travel first class and live in luxurious conditions. Shouldn't they also do without the comforts of life, as one of the army of Christ Jesus?

It does seem pretty easy for them to say this with their livelihoods. Though, the GB would have spent decades as those part-time cleaners, and without any comforts to get to where they are. Perhaps this is why they expect it from others?

Gill

Zico - True that as young pioneers the GB may have lived poorly BUT on advancing to CO, DO etc, they will have received many a 'handshake' from members of congregations which will never have been taxed. Doubt that they ever turned these 'little gifts' down!

dedpoet

matthew, who serves at a branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses recalls: 'When I began serving as a pioneer, my father was extremely disappointed. He felt that I had wasted my education by taking a job as a cleaner to support me in my ministry.' He would taunt me, reminding me of how much I could earn if I took a full time job

His father was right, he should have listened to him. Isn't that scriptural, listening to your parents? I don't read the bible, but I seem to remember a verse in Proverbs...

How did Matthew deal with that opposition? 'I kept up a solid Bible reading schedule and constantly prayed,

Yeah,like praying to a false god and reading the bible will pay the bills and put food on the table

Over time, hjis relationship with his father improved

His father probably had better, more rewarding things to do than try and talk sense into a brainwashed wts clone.

Matthew has also drawn closer to Jehovah.....'

More like closer to the wts and the elders in his cong. I bet they think of him as a real hero, a shining example to his bros and sisters.

The wts should be ashamed of themselves, publishing this crap, and encouraging youths to sacrifice their careers just to sell a few more books to boost the profits of a publishing company posing as a religion. And if "Matthew" is a real person and not just another jw urban legend, I wonder how he will feel in 20 to 30 years time, when there is still no paradise, and he's scraping a living for his family?

dedpoet

blondie

The first thing I wondered was how long ago this happened and how old this "Bethelite" is. I also wonder how long he pioneered. Back in the days when pioneering was required of Bethel candidates, males would start pioneering just before and shortly after graduation from hs then at 19 they would apply, making it about 2 years at the most. The next question, what is the rest of the story, how long did this person stay at Bethel, and did they return to pioneering when they left?

They keep hammering this because young JWs and their parents are not "listening" to the "great teacher" the GB. The last time any large portion of the JW male population regular pioneered was during the military draft era of the Vietnam War. The WTS should try and get the draft reinstated. But then of course JWs today can "choose" alternative military service and avoid prison altogether all without any WTS sanctions against them such as da'ing.

The children today are children of those who "obeyed" and skipped their education. They know what they missed and don't want their children to go through the same thing. Young JWs are not getting baptized and if they do, are quickly getting df'd or leaving and are not returning when they reach their late 20's and have become parents.

Blondie

Gill

I think you are right about the majority of 'life time' dubs and their aspirations for their children, Blondie.

However, there are still some foolish ones to consider. I have a relative who has benefited from the fact that her elder husband has always had a good job and trained to be an architect. They have an incredibly intelligent 14 year old son. What do they want for him? They are encouraging him to be a plumber, so that he can learn his trade, then pioneer, and work part time as a plumber and work for free as a watchtower slave at quick builds.

Some still have ludicrous aspirations for their children, and bizarre hopes to live forever in a fantasy that will NEVER be fulfilled.

blondie

Plumbers in the US have to take 4 to 5 years of full-time schooling and training to qualify as a licensed plumber. Training is through the unions here. I would have no problem with one of my children choosing a trade like plumbing or electrician...they make good money, more than some with university degrees. I take it less schooling and training is required in the UK to be a licensed plumber.

The local union says:

Most apprenticeship training programs are three to six years in length. Apprentices work on-the-job in their trade under the supervision of qualified journeymen. They take courses in math, science and other technical subjects related to their craft. Most related classroom instruction takes place at the local vocational education colleges. Apprentices are paid on a progressive wage scale beginning from 40% to 65% of the journeyman's rate, depending on the specific trade.

At least if he does qualify as a plumber it will be easier to expand his work hours later when pioneering is no longer an "option."

Blondie

OnTheWayOut

matthew, who serves at a branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses recalls: 'When I began serving as a pioneer, my father was extremely
disappointed. He felt that I had wasted my education by taking a job as a cleaner to support me in my ministry.'

Why don't they ask former-Bethelites no longer serving at HQ about this? Imagine the article:

Theodore recalls: 'When I began serving as a pioneer, my father was proud. He felt that I had not wasted my time getting an
education, but instead took a job as a cleaner to support me in my ministry.' He was thrilled that I got accepted to Bethel.
I worked there for 18 years from age 22 to age 40. The family was so proud. They knew I was going to spend my life in this
safe environment.

When the pink slip came, they were shattered. Here I was at the age of 40, without a career, nothing to speak of in
retirement or health benefits. I had to go back to cleaning. Dad was so upset when I moved back into the basement. They hope
to help me find a sister with a good career and a home, so she can be my sugar-momma, and then they can hold their heads
high if I keep pioneering. I hate it now, I only do it for them.

Instead, they give us their fantasy article. Everything is fine for Matthew. He followed our instructions and we haven't
canned him, yet.

Education gets yet another bashing!!

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