Did being raised as a witness make you smarter? (page 2)

poppers

I've seen an awful lot of smart people on this board. I like what gopher, Satanus, and BizzyBee had to say about this. And NVR makes a very good point too.

Satanus, you hit the nail on the head. I had a brother (not a witness) who depended on street smarts to get him through tough situations. The many years in the construction trade gave me a big boost in handling tough situations. I've had many, many years of 'worldy' experience. The witness program falls on it's face when it comes to so-called worldy knowledge and experience. How many Bible characters had so-called worldly knowledge, experience and Yahweh used them.

Golf

mentalclearness

I think most people will agree that there is a correlation between reading and developing your intelligence. As JW's we're encouraged to read probably more than most people at an early age. To study with our children, read to them from the bible story or great teacher books..All this encourages reading..Now a whole other ballgame is emotional intelligence. I believe there are 7 (?) types of intelligence altogether..So the one that is measured on IQ tests is just a portion.....

Paralipomenon

It seems unpopular to attribute anything positive to the witnesses, even an unintended benefit.

All the methods for helping to raise a child's intelligence are present in the organization, but not because they are interested in healthy development, but because they treat everyone at the same level. So children would be challenged to communicate at a higher level, but the challenge isn't a sliding scale.

While a child, developing their mind is going to get a much higher benefit from trying to understand Grade 6 literature, an adult will get a negative reaction as their mind isn't being challenged, or stimulated. As children we were exposed to alot of talking, music, singing and interaction. All of these are components of building higher intelligence.

After we get to the grade 6 level, we cease learning from the meetings and then either stagnate or continue on without the organization. Those that continue on growing may find themselves outgrowing the organization.

Higher intelligence doesn't mean socially popular or successful. Hell, it doesn't even mean you use it. :p

BizzyBee

It seems unpopular to attribute anything positive to the witnesses, even an unintended benefit.

Being popular here does not matter to me (as you can tell!) - honesty is everything. I cannot attribute anything positive to the WTS because the price was so high it eclipses anything "positive." (See, while I had my hands around your neck, choking the life out of you, you forgot for a few minutes that your husband has cancer, didn't you? Isn't that good?)

As children we were exposed to alot of talking, music, singing and interaction. All of these are components of building higher intelligence.

Yes, but with creativity, self-awareness, curiosity, critical-thinking being stunted at the same time, these things are just noise. We were brainwashed by lunatics - that can't be a good thing!

tula

Are there any Jdub MENSA members here?

RubaDub

I'm not sure about being smarter, but I became very proficient at the "pioneer walk," .... appearing to walk but taking 10 minutes to get to the house next door.

Rub a Dub

Honesty

Before attempting a reply, would you be so kind as to define smarter?

snowbird

Are there any Jdub MENSA members here?

My "IQ" places me well within MENSA's parameters, but I've never bothered to join. In the recent past, I was too busy with "spiritual" activities.

Sylvia

RisingEagle

At some of the early points of a childs development, say from the toddler stage, there is a benefit to the methods most jw's use that give their children an advantage. I've known many kids that knew all 66 books of the bible, could recite every story almost word for word out of the bible story book and make a pretty good stab at most of the names in the old testament. It needs to be said, though, that that comes from rote memorization which is shown to help with concentration, word association and eventually, reading.

If a parent or care provider that has no jw background would spend the same amount of time reading or having the child memorize words, numbers and pictures in something that has as much interest to them as witling propaganda does to witless parents, I believe that child would be just as far along in the same skills. "Okay, Tommy tonight's bedtime story is 'Mr. Jingles replaces a carburator'. Last night we learned how an internal combustion engine works. Do you remember the firing order for the spark plugs in a Chevy small block? Very good!"

It all seems to come down to willingness to spend time with a child.

Chris

Did being raised as a witness make you smarter?