Education Double Standard (page 2)

Bugbear

"They are simply irritated that others have surpassed them in the education department and this makes them feel inferior. They can't have this so they demonize education and want to drive the educated person away fron them."

What the GB are fearing the most is people with "humanistic" education, such as History, Archeology, History of Science, Sociology, psyciatric. They also hate people who have from a professional wiev have studied "higher Biblecritisism". Everyone of these people can easily understand that the thesis of the BWTC, that the "wholy scriptures" is the Word of God, its noncence.

They take the support of their theory, from very old ideas that todays research and science have proven false. And if they meet people with hard scientific facs they realize that their whole business operation are in danger. That is why they do not take part in public debates in media. They only want to speak to people who is nat aware or are undereducatd.

Bugbear

wha happened?

There are no double standards in Jehovahs Organization. There just progressive standards. Keep up with the latest new light

Miss Fitt

Completely agree with this. It infuriates me.

My sister and her husband were subjected to the most vicious browbeating from an elder in their congregation when their son went to university. My mother (pillar of the congregation) was too embarrased to admit that her grandson was going on to further education. I told her in no uncertain terms that my nephew is an extremely intelligent young man and cannot be expected to clean windows for the rest of his life. I also told her that the organisation will be quick enough to use him once he's qualified.

I see it as a form of child abuse when children are held back from achieving their full potential acedemically. How many end up struggling to make ends meet when they could have had an easier and less stressful life in a well-paid job? Both my husband and I were born-in and during the 70s when we were leaving school, further education was so discouraged that it never even crossed our minds that we could go on and achieve additional qualifications. At that time teenagers were being pushed into leaving scholl before sitting their exams to they could pioneer (before the end came in 1975!!) so even staying in school long enough to take your exams was seen as a bit weak. My husband and I have had to work extremely hard to achieve a very modest lifestyle as we were under-qualified for the well paying jobs.

One other thing I said to my mum is that the elders who protest the most about further education are the ones whose kids are too stupid to get accepted to university. I think that made the point very well he he!

pronomono

As an active JW, I've always had my doubts about the Society's firm stance on higher education, but at the same time I can see the moral snares of placing yourself in a University environment.

When I first graduated HS, I was lost. I didn't want to pioneer, but I didn't qualify for a "real" job, one that could support me. I was a ministerial servant at my local hall and wondered how pursuing higher education would affect my standing in the congregation. Fortunately for me, I had a University in my hometown to which I applied, was granted a scholarship, and attended. My loving father, who is not a JW, lovingly supported me in financing the costs that the scholarship didn't cover.

I had to be very meticulous in arranging classes so that they didn't interfere with "spiritual pursuits". I was able to do so all but one semester. I came up with some good excuses and reasoning to use with my elders on why I was missing our midweek evening for four months straight, and how I was attending another congregations meetings on another night (all true). And somehow with my attitude towards the situation, I was allowed to continue serving. Apparently, I was a likeable person and the congregation maintained their respect for me in how I handled the situation.

Now I have a college education, which doesn't guarantee much in today's society. I also have a full time job working for that university now. I have since gotten married and moved to another congregation. I was given an excellent letter of recommendation as a Ministerial Servant, which baffled the elders at my new hall, especially since I used the opportunity to stop exherting myself in light of my doubts. After serving for 10 years, it has been a relief to not have the responsibilities of an appointed brother, which I know I was never appointed because I never made a dedication to Jehovah, yet I still rose through the ranks. I tried to reason that Jehovah was using me based on my ability to fulfill his will, no matter how wicked my actions were. But after reading the KS-10 Shepherd the Flock of God book, I realize that skill is not a qualification of a ministerial servant, so I was never appointed by holy spirit. I was selected because the elders and the congregation liked me and my family.

Long story short, there are loop holes for a JW to get a higher education. In fact, many of us here do. You just have to maintain the respect of your congregation and the elders. Do not get defensive about why you are seeking a college education. And do not seek out extracurricular activities that would put you at risk for "bad assossiation".

skin

We recently had the CO visit, as per usual, he touched on the subject of Higher Education. This time the reason we don't need a higher education, is because we won't be needing it in the new system, and this is so close now. I can think of many other things that the WBTS make us do now, that wont be needed in the new system. An other thing the CO told us is that no body can make anyone go to meetings...so why do they make us feel guilty if we don't go to a few meetings?

Tech49

I thought I would bring this topic back up to the top, considering the new letter that will be read to the congregations this coming week, asking for help on the Warwick project.

It never ceases to amaze me, that if you just step back and look at things from a different perspective, the double-talk and hypocrisy becomes blatantly obvious.

Tech49

PS.. after re-reading the comments in this and other threads, I am continually impressed at the deliberate, articulate, concise and artful display of ya'lls posts.

Cudos to you all, and thank you for being out there in cyber-space to hear our rants.

ILoveTTATT

Hi Tech49, I am soooooooo grateful to my parents that they had this ONE THING which was unchangeable, and that was going for higher education was a MUST. Not that I did not want to, but my mother and I had to struggle with the guilty feelings of going to University. As an aside, where I live I remember brothers asked me once to write a statement agreeing for the Watchtower to be a student group so that they could put in a table and do preaching there. They were having a hard time finding TEN people in a HUGE University!! This shocked me quite a bit... I find that the anti-university stance is just in North America/Europe/1st world countries. In third world countries, the "advice" to not go to university comes in through one ear and out the other for 99% of witnesses. Go to Mexico, Colombia, or any Latin-American country, go up to the elders and ask them what they do for a living, and most, if not a large percentage, will tell you they have a college/university degree of some sort. Do the same in Canada/US and most are window cleaners/plumbers/carpenters/etc... I hate the double standard, and I am so sorry to anyone who stopped going to University because of the pressure. I almost did. I am definitely glad I didn't listen to such utter nonsense. ILTTATT

Chaserious

Definitely a big double standard. There was a brother in my congregation years ago who actually had an engineering degree and became a JW when he was in his early-mid 20's not long after graduating college. He got married and he and his wife got recruited to move to Bethel. I got the sense they didn't really like it that much and Bethel really kissed their asses to get them to stay. He got appointed as a Bethel elder very quickly, they got a nice room with a great view, he got a corner office with a view of Manhattan, and the wife got taken off her cleaning job after a short time and got assigned to an easy office job. There has to be a real shortage of people with that kind of education thanks to their double standard. But this couple left after a few years anyway. I can't imagine how the rank and file Bethelites felt who didn't get all the amenities because they followed the WT counsel on education while the educated ones get the preferred treatment. You have to really be indocrinated to be able to swallow or ignore the double standard.

I gave up a full scholarship to stay in the WT as well. Of course, I wasn't allowed to move away to the school that offered it to me. Probably should have cut ties right then. As it turned out, I had to take night classes well into my mid-20s that I mostly paid for myself to get my BA. Even so, I count myself as happy and fortunate to have gotten out relatively early.

Narcissistic Supply

That was an awesome rant, Tech49, BTW.

Education Double Standard

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