Knocking PBS site now admits WT discourages college education

by cabasilas 2 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • cabasilas
    cabasilas

    The Knocking site at PBS has a "Myth or Reality" page fielding various questions on JWs at:

    http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/knocking/myths.html

    The one on JWs and college has had a few changes over the past few months. Originally, it went like this:

    Jehovah's Witnesses made many erroneous predictions that the world was ending by a certain time, which financially ruined the lives of members who never sought college education or careers.

    MYTH OR REALITY?

    Over the course of the Witnesses’ 130-year history, there have been periods of Armageddon predictions. Witnesses felt their belief in the imminent end of this world and the start of God’s Kingdom was not compatible with the need for a higher education leading to a lucrative career in a doomed, manmade system. Also, the preaching work of Witnesses did not require a college degree, therefore the pursuit of higher education was discouraged. But in 1995, the Witnesses officially ended their belief that tied the coming of Armageddon to the lifespan of anyone alive today. Now, many young Witnesses attend college.

    You can read some discussion and info on how the page was updated to meet criticism at:

    http://discussions.pbs.org/viewtopic.pbs?t=74362

    The most recent statement still left much to be desired. Up until yesterday, the answer read:

    Over the course of the Witnesses’ 130-year history, there have been periods of Armageddon predictions. Witnesses felt their belief in the imminent end of this world and the start of God’s Kingdom was not compatible with the need for a higher education leading to a lucrative career in a doomed, manmade system. Also, the preaching work of Witnesses did not require a college degree, therefore the pursuit of higher education was discouraged. But in 1995, the Witnesses officially ended their belief that tied the coming of Armageddon to the lifespan of anyone alive today, saying instead it is coming "soon." Witnesses whose circumstances allow are encouraged to do full-time ministry; about 10 percent do so. Now, many young Witnesses attend college.

    The reply on the "Myth or Reality" section has just been changed. It isn't as strong as I'd like it to be, but at least there is an acknowledgement that Witnesses are "strongly encouraged" to replace college with full-time ministry.

    http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/knocking/myths.html

    Over the course of the Witnesses' 130-year history, there have been periods of Armageddon predictions. Witnesses felt their belief in the imminent end of this world and the start of God's Kingdom was not compatible with the need for a higher education leading to a lucrative career in a doomed, manmade system.

    Also, the preaching work of Witnesses did not require a college degree, therefore the pursuit of higher education was discouraged. But in 1995, the Witnesses officially ended their belief that tied the coming of Armageddon to the lifespan of anyone alive today, saying instead it is coming "soon." Since then, more young Witnesses began to attend college classes and many still do. Recently, Witnesses have been strongly encouraged to replace higher education goals with ministry work. Witnesses whose circumstances allow are encouraged to do full-time ministry; about ten percent do so.

    I think part of the problem for the people at Knocking is they did most of their filming before the 2005 WTs that restated the opposition to college. So, they were meeting many JW youth who were going to community colleges in the congregations they visited. But, the most recent anti-college pronouncements from the Governing Body (like the recent Gerrit Losch video recently posted here) are too pointed to ignore.

  • SirNose586
    SirNose586

    I'm still pissed about that Losch video. What a hypocritical bastard.

  • monophonic
    monophonic

    that documentary was all about $$$. what an awesome scam to continually beg congregations to go see the film over and over so PBS would get on board to screen it.

    i know emails went out to every congregation member, even inactive ones b/c the director himself solicited the support so people could 'see the faith'.

    w/o sucking a lot of ass to the witnesses, there would have been no audience for it, and access would've been cut off and limited w/ anyone participating in line for being df'ed.

    or maybe the director is so ignorant he doesn't realize that his being homosexual is a death sentence and god WILL kill him as far as any jw is concerned, including his active mother.

    oh, and the $$$ from sales to individual witnesses of the dvd....everyone's wet in their undies to get the word out.

    at least the site changed up w/ the education thing, BUT, all that was done was change in wording, NOT, 'they could two years ago and now they can't and they couldn't 15 years ago'. he's bought into the screwy word play of wtbts.

    i hope he's getting flack from the homosexual community for this bs.

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