NEED HELP RESPONDING TO THIS EMAIL, REGARDING HIGHER EDUCATION

by whereami 16 Replies latest jw friends

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  whereami

  Help me respond in a way that's not confrontational. I'd like some sound resonable answers to this email, thanks. He's a good freind and i know he means well.
  
  I originally sent this video for him to see, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R4f9ygxDbk
  
  Here's the email:
  
  I really dislike talking about these things on email, but when you talked to me about this I thought it was something else. I listened to it about 4 times, and honestly I don't see what you're saying. He spoke clearly what has been explained in the Watchtowers and did not give his personal opinion. This is what I understood:
  
  Each one has to make their own decisions
  The faithful slave is clearly showing the dangers of university education
  They discourage it because of the extreme "spirtual dangers", not only now but for years. Illustrations showed just how dangerous it is.
  The end is very near, so use your time wisely.

  As far as what people that went or are going feel about this does not change the fact that it's a place that is very dangerous and that it has a very detrimental affect on your spirituality. It also should not impede the faithful slave from continuing to warn everyone of the pitfalls of going to a university. Now if a person decides to do that or not will be up to them, and like he said everyone will have to prestar contas in the end.

  I'll give you a few examples: The faithful slave has talked a few times about the dangers of going to a Night Club, should they stop doing this because some might feel bad that they went? The faithful slave has talked various times about the dangers of the internet and visiting certain sites and of social networks, should they stop warning about the spiritual dangers involved because so many have been to sites that were not good or involved in these types of things? The list could go on and on.

  We both saw the same video, but if you are looking at it with a critical eye, you will not see the love behind the counsel. I know you have your opinion, but please be careful, this is dangerous thinking, and if you start encouraging others to disregard this counsel that's in the publications and start encouraging others to go to a university then you are going in the oposite direction of the faithful slave.

  I couldn't help but see the author of this video - freethinker - Get it? You know who's behind the freethinkers of the world? SATAN. Remember he's the one who told Eve that she needed to be a freethinker, decide for herself what was best - You don't need to let Jehovah tell you what is good or bad. He's the master of independence and he uses others to promote his poison. (Efe 4:14) Also I noticed all the titles of the videos that were under the Related Videos and even though I didn't watch any or read any posted comments - this is pure garbage! Watching these things destroys your faith, your mind and your spirituality. Remember independence from Jehovah's organization and his faithful slave is independence from Jehovah.

  I'm attaching some information that I hope you read.

  I hope this is not too much, but I love you and I hope that you can see that.

  If you want to talk about it more, no problem.
• 

  AudeSapere

  I cannot access YouTube while at work so cannot see the video.

  It also should not impede the faithful slave from continuing to warn everyone of the pitfalls of going to a university.

  There was a WT or KM recently that actually went further than warning of the pitfalls of university. It warned of sanctions upon servants who allowed their own children to attend or those who seemed to encourage rather than actively discourage higher education.

  Those sanctions create a much stronger position than 'warning against the pitfalls'.

  It's stuff like this that just sits so awkward and heavy on my mind and in my heart. I don't offer up info like that or pick apart old literature or new articles to present to witnesses. I prefer to let them create a small place in their own heart to let doubts and questions reside.

  I stick with the 3 points that helped me get over any thoughts I had that the org might have ever been the 'truth':

  1. 607BCE

  2. Mexico/Malawi

  3. NGO status with the UN

  And the one that got me started was a therapist who told me very simply: The only thing I have against the witnesses is that they disfellowship teenagers and completely cut off their support at a time when it's most needed.

  That same therapist wrote a letter to Brooklyn trying to help them understand the horrible damage that disfellowshipping has on a teenager.

  To my knowledge she never got a response from them. But it laid a seed in my heart. and it sat next to my own observations that seemed wrong.

  I don't think I really have an answer for your friend. Seems a pretty 'strong' witness. Surely talks like one.

  Maybe someone else will have a better real reply for you.

  -Aude.
• 

  AudeSapere

  I cannot access YouTube while at work so cannot see the video.

  It also should not impede the faithful slave from continuing to warn everyone of the pitfalls of going to a university.

  There was a WT or KM recently that actually went further than warning of the pitfalls of university. It warned of sanctions upon servants who allowed their own children to attend or those who seemed to encourage rather than actively discourage higher education.

  Those sanctions create a much stronger position than 'warning against the pitfalls'.

  It's stuff like this that just sits so awkward and heavy on my mind and in my heart. I don't offer up info like that or pick apart old literature or new articles to present to witnesses. I prefer to let them create a small place in their own heart to let doubts and questions reside.

  I stick with the 3 points that helped me get over any thoughts I had that the org might have ever been the 'truth':

  1. 607BCE

  2. Mexico/Malawi

  3. NGO status with the UN

  And the one that got me started was a therapist who told me very simply: The only thing I have against the witnesses is that they disfellowship teenagers and completely cut off their support at a time when it's most needed.

  That same therapist wrote a letter to Brooklyn trying to help them understand the horrible damage that disfellowshipping has on a teenager.

  To my knowledge she never got a response from them. But it laid a seed in my heart. and it sat next to my own observations that seemed wrong.

  I don't think I really have an answer for your friend. Seems a pretty 'strong' witness. Surely talks like one.

  Maybe someone else will have a better real reply for you.

  -Aude.
• 

  4mylove

  I have had this conversation with my hubby. How can something so limiting promote any other type of growth. Ask him/her where JW lawyers get their knowledge to fight cases. Bring up the abuse coverups. Yes, they have happened in almost every religion, but his is supposed to be the leader in "truth". How could Jehovah allow such injustices within his "chosen" people?

  Good luck!

  4
• 

  Balsam

  Circular reasoning of the JW's is nearly impossible to get them to reason on. They can't get out of the loop of thinking that has been force fed them until they wake up. So sad the nonsense they continue to teach.

  Balsam
• 

  Billy the Ex-Bethelite

  Hmmm, what to say... It is true that many come out of college with little more than student debt to show for four years. There are those that are reasonably successful without any degree. But then there are those others that actually get something from university.

  Let's say you were in an accident and rushed to the emergency room. How would you respond when asked, "Would you rather be treated by Dr. University that has years of medical training at a University but has only been at this hospital for 3 years? Or would you rather be treated by Mr. GED that has been the janitor here for the last 15 years?" You know, if University is the "House of Satan", maybe you'd better see Mr. GED about stopping the blood that is gushing from your eyesocket, maybe he has some duct tape to fix you up.

  Unfortunately, most dubs will get a glazed look and mumble about professionals not being needed in the Kingdumb. Yeah, in the meantime, stay away from those satanic doctors, lawyers, and engineers. If you get some lump growing on the side of your neck, go see the elders.

  B the X
• 

  leavingwt

  The end is very near, so use your time wisely.

  I would focus on this statement.

  They have been saying that exact same thing for more than 100 years.

  Ask your friend how many dead JWs thought the end was "near".
• 

  wha happened?

  Isn't the video posted an old video that has done the rounds already?
• 

  Olin Moyles Ghost

  How you respond depends on what you're seeking to accomplish and what you're willing to risk. From your friend's response, I assume that you're still a Witness. Your friend obviously buys into the whole Witness thing lock, stock, and barrel. I mean, if he doesn't recognize Losch's gun illustration as 100% CRAZY, then he's got the dub mind-control going on big-time.
  
  I hate to be a pessimist, but I think it's highly unlikely that anything you say to your friend will wake him up. Your friend's response just has that JW/cult tone to it. If it were me, I would just drop it. Perhaps you've planted a seed. But I see a lot of downside with very little upside if you respond.
  
  With that said, if you want to address his comments, here are my thoughts:
  
  Ignore the stuff about night clubs and social networking sites. That's just a distraction. If you do want to touch on those statements, you could dismiss them by pointing out that you don't feed your family based on what you learn in a night club or on Myspace. It's completely irrelevant.
  
  Focus on his statement that the Society has been warning JWs against college for years. Tell him that's your whole point! Perhaps mention the 1969 Awake article that stated forcefully that young people need to face the fact that they will never grow old or fulfill a career in this system. Remind him that high school students reading that article are now almost 60 years old.
  
  If applicable, perhaps mention one or two middle-aged or elderly witnesses that you know who have had financial problems because of following the Society's counsel not to go to college in the 50s/60s/70s.
  
  If you want to "go there" you can next tell him that statements like the one in the '69 Awake caused you to lose confidence in the Society's advice regarding education and careers. From there, you can transition to the history of false predictions. Ask him if he would take career advice from someone who has a 130 year history of being wrong 100% of the time!
  
  Of course, if you say what I wrote in the previous paragraph, you're going to end up in an elders' meeting.
• 

  lancelink

  I had a teenager in my old hall who recently graduated from HS. His testing scores were really good, and Loyola university from
  Chicago Illinois offered him a complete scholarship up to, and completing medical school.
  His parents are the ultra-religious JW type, they convinced him to "reject the worldy way of thinking" and instead pioneer !!
  
  Well, we followed their advice, and he was trotted out this past summer and fall whenever an example of spiritual things first came up.
  fast forward;
  He recently was DF'ed, why? I don't know.
  
  Can he get that scholarship back? unknown. But he has the prospect of being an absolute brain without any higher education right now.
  
  Personally I had an opportunity when I graduated from HS to go to veterinary school on a scholarship also,, since JW's don't do that
  I gave it up.
  One of the worst decisions that I ever made, I kick myself almost everyday because i walked away from that.
  And that was twenty years ago!!