The thing that struck me most forcefully while listening to those videos, again, was how the Watchtower Society 'infantilizes' its followers.
The so-called "threats" that college supposedly presents, according to the Watchtower boys, are just normal aspects of growing up...
"Secular education can take years to pay off..."
So does ANY responsible purchase as an adult - buying a car, obtaining a credit card, renting an apartment, buying a home, etc...
"Higher education exposes ones to corrupting influences..."
Well, so does LIFE...!!
[attending college exposes ones to...] "Ungodly conduct, such as binge drinking, sexual immorality..."
Ah, yeah... Like that stuff NEVER goes on in the local congregation...
That "ladder" illustration is tailor-made to stimulate fear in smothering, over-protective, neurotic parents...
"you look up at that ladder, and some of the rungs don't appear to be all that stable... And the wind has begun to blow FURIOUSLY..."
[Like "Jehovah" must be "furious" because little Jane or Johnny is attempting to "make a name for himself" by getting a decent job with a good wage and some employment security, if possible...]
"How do you feel as the parent? Helpless? Has your son or daughter fallen yet? No, but the indication seems to point to danger, doesn't it?"
That's a fairly overt death threat made towards the kid... Sure to send the parent into a non-thinking panic state!!
"...We can liken this to the problems that are often encountered in colleges/universities...by young ones who are away from the loving shelter of their parents' homes. The problems they face there is [are] far more complex and different than the problems they faced in high school while they were in your home..."
Sheeeeesh... That part about the "dangers" of college - and the clear implicaton that the'd better not leave home... Better tie those apron strings tighter around the kid's neck; little Johnny or Jane [at the childish age of 18 - 20...] might fawl down and get a boo boo!!
Then he yammers at the parents,
"Should we knowingly expose our children to that kind of environment for four or perhaps more years..."
"Expose".... Like they're deliberately exposing their own children to a deadly disease... Or leaving the children exposed to the elements to die...
"Is the risk involved worth whatever benefit that the young one could possibly receive.... So we do well to give serious and prayerful consideration to those two questions. ...if we keep the kingdom first and seek Jehovah's interests, that it will help protect us against this possible crafty act of the Devil..."
"Is the risk involved...???" Yeeesh, the Watchtower boys are trying to cripple the kids from learning how to grow up and be independent... No surprise there... And the speaker's english could stand some further education, too... "help protect us against THIS 'possible' crafty ACT of the Devil."...???
Soooo.... ALL higher education is considered ONE "crafty act" of the devil... Whatta buncha LOONS!!!
Zid
