by BlindersOff1 49 Replies latest jw friends
at one time it was very commen for witness kids to not finish highschool in certain locals due to unbalanced advice from parents and elders. I remember them encooraging trade schools rather than traditional high school.
I was 17 in 1975 batized at 11 in 1967 the above is the whole truth I only got a 9th grade education
What a good video ! This man is open ,honest and what he says is truly heartfelt . That took courage to post and I hope others will find strength from watching what he has to say .
To those of you that question his statements about not finishing High School and young marriages . You have to realize your experience as a Witness differs from those of us raised in the 60's and 70's ! I always say my kids and husband have NO idea what it was like being a Witness when I was a young child . Finishing High School just was not that important in the early 70's when so many were sure the end was so close (1975) .It may not have been exactly promoted from the stage to do so ,however countless times experiences were given of ones putting spiritual goals first over education ,and people Never encouraged more education . Even now in the rural area I live in parents are pulling kids out of High School (because of the bad enviroment ) and so -called home schooling them . Home schooling however in my state is not regulated and many of these teens are instead working for their parents or pioneering instead of schooling ! As far as young marriages goes ,I was married in 1979 the day after I graduated High School ...it was not discouraged ,because most the adults knew the only relief for horny teenagers was to allow them to marry . In our circuit most girls were 17-18 when they wed . They are still continuing that practice today . It was only when I started working outside the home, and associating with non witnesses did I realize how terrible others thought young marriage really was .
mamochan, your right it's overboard but I am tired of all these people calling anyone a Troll. I graduated in 1981, children were told either to "Go to a Trade School after high school or Pioneer". Mom would never have allowed me or my brothers to quit school because I know she never believed 1975 was the "End". Mom told me once, "I don't think I am a good Jehovah Witness because Jesus said nobody knows the day or hour. Why don't these men understand this?" Mother disobeyed her JW Mom and joined Amy Simple McPherson (Four Square Church) and moved into the desert in the late 40s or 50s, she never would talk about this low point of life. What she saw turned her off of religion until she united with the JW family members. Step grandpa and granny attend the Cedar Point, Ohio convention and believed they would never die.
Mamochan, it's time to attack the troll hunters who wish to strangle free-speech or differing opinons. I notice anyone who challenges something said is labled a "Troll", and every negative thing about Jehovah's Witnesses including vicious lies are not confronted. Is this what Simon wants? Mindless drones who believe every negative and wicked attack lodged against JWs? The video is clear with the author saying by suppressing facts, that "all jehovah witnesses were told to quit high school." It's there, just listen to his video again, my remarks about "marry at 14" were not aimmed at the video author, those were for my hillbilly attacker Granny Goodness-Lois Lane! Lois-Granny-Goodness is one of the first JWN users to lodge "TROLL!", maybe she can read the story about "The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf"?
Should all the lurkers, newbies and outspoken long time exJWs who seen false conclusions being drawn from suppressed or slanted facts, just keep their mouth shut so we Watchtower Haters have free reign over Simon's site?
I applaued my lawyer friend who came to this defense, his views with Marvin's thread on Florida's Legal Brief was pure energy! Thank you Chaserous for really being "Fair and Balanced", your thread with Marvin was a "triple read"!
Very well done, sincere, heartfelt video. I could certainly relate to his story. I knew some that sold businesses and houses, took their kids out of school, and went into debt, because they were so sure about 1975. My family wasn't convinced enough to do that to us. Unfortunately, I did leave college in the 80s because we were so convinced by WT that "the end was so close." And I didn't marry or have a family because I should wait to have a perfect marriage and family. Who would be so foolish as to bring children into a wicked world that was soon to end? And I've certainly known plenty of JWs that have killed themselves, like his sister.
I remember when "this generation" changed in 1995. It really did shatter my world, yet I buried those doubts for nearly a decade until I could finally begin to deal with the fact that I'd been deceived by I publishing corporation.
I can't believe that witnesses were actually encouraging people not to finish high school back in the 70's and to pioneer instead. I can't believe it. That blows my mind. I knew that witnesses werent encouraged to go to college but not encouraged to finish high school???? Are you freakin kidding me. I came up as a Witness in the 90's, and by then, I wasnt hearing of too many witnesses not being encouraged to finish high school. But they werent going to college even though the organization was encouraging people to consider a trade or go to a two year college.
This blows me away!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bookmarking this thread for later.
ÁrbolesdeArabia You called into question the validity of the statements made by the Video's author. Is this not calling him a "troll" ? You also posed the questions "How many members on JWN were told to quit high school? JW mothers were often home schoolers at the least, quiting school to join the theocratic army, I don't know anyone who preached this crap from the platform! " As you can see many posters here had similar experiances to the video's author. I understand your being upset rgarding being labeled a troll, however is that not what you where doing to the video's author? You pose the following question in your last post; : "Should all the lurkers, newbies and outspoken long time exJWs who seen false conclusions being drawn from suppressed or slanted facts, just keep their mouth shut so we Watchtower Haters have free reign over Simon's site? "Perhaps we should all be cognizent that are own experiances with the witnesses may or may not be exactly the same as others before we call them out.
BTW I am particularly sensitive to the subject of the discouragement of education due to the fact it was my reality. It indeed led to further straining of an all ready strained relationship with my mother. In some ways I am thankful because it lead me to eventually open my eyes to further examination of the Witnesses and their beliefs. Yes I got my education, I however paid a terrible price due to the witnesses.
In the publications in the ~80s, as quoted earlier, finishing high school was encouraged but college was discouraged.
However, that was doublespeak. It was highly popular and laudable to quit high school and pioneer. I knew some who did and they were praised throughout the circuit.
Some got their GEDs, others "doubled up" by eliminating elective courses and graduating early. They were not considered quite a spiritual as those who quit school.
We all know there was lots of doublespeak in those days, as there is now with the blood issue (publications say it's ok while common practice says it's only for the weak, who get socially sanctioned at the minimum).
You know it is possible something is true, even if you didn't personally experience it.
Rebel I think that the socioeconomic background of the elders in a particular congregation has a lot to do with what is ultimately fed the masses. I know for a fact that while my congregation had lower middle class elders who opposed education, the congregation next to ours had middle to uppe class elders where in no way as opposed. In fact their children often went to college.
I will have to agree that our personal experience with jw's regarding education will vary depending on our particular time and place. My father sold a profitable business in 1968 because he had enough money to last through 1975.
My older siblings were destined to pioneer for at least 2 years after high school and until they married or go to bethel for four years. Even in our city and circuit there were differing congregational opinions depending upon the elders. I know in some congregations that there was more of an influence to get kids out and preaching as early as possible, like 16. My wife's family was like that and she is younger than I, but she did finish high school, but pioneered until she married me and then some bethel. (Gran has also preached to my daughter that she only needs the minimum and to shortly get into pioneering)
Personally, I also finished high school. I took college prepatory courses as my parents did not question me about what courses I was taking. I planned on studying structural engineering and fully disclosed this to Dad in 1979. He enlisted my brother, his son, also the PO to basically hammer me on this. Dad also copied about 30 pages of Wt and Awakes on education, as some have been mentioned these articles here. Basically, the jest of the articles were this system doesn't have 4 years left in it.
Dad hammered also until I told him I appreciated their concern but didn't see any scriptural reason not to continue in my goal to become a Professional Engineer. He then told me that I would have to leave home if I were to go to college. This devestated me, as I would be on the streets.
Believe me, I still regret caving to their bullying. My father apologized before his passing, but my older brother and I haven't talked in over 7 years.
Perhaps some of our friends in Europe could expand on this, as I understand that higher education over there is anything over a 4 year college. They also don't frown on beards as bad as here in the U.S.
Peace
Even in the last two years 2 of my grandchildren have quit school to pioneer. I fought tooth and nail over this only to lose the fight. Currently I have 2 other grandchildren living in my home and I preach furthering their education. I do this with opposition from their mother that says they must pioneer instead.
Thanks for posting this video.
