I would say in a sincere tone "Why do you feel it would be beneficial to have a NASA engineer to come over and talk with me? I thought the truths of the Bible were supposed to be so simple that any sincere person could understand and teach them - no matter what his education level might be. If it takes a NASA engineer to explain the Bible, then how can JWs baptize ten-year-olds? They certainly wouldn't be able to understand the doctrine."
This kind of mentality among JWs irks me. So they have to get a NASA engineer to come explain the Bible? If such education is needed, then why are seven uneducated men making up the GB? One might say "Well, holy spirit enables them." Well, then, can't holy spirit enable ordinary brothers in the local congregations to teach the supposedly simple, clear truths of the Bible?
Another thing is that most JWs (and, actually, non-JWs, too) don't understand what it means to have an engineering degree or be an engineer. I have had a lot of exposure to science and engineering curricula and classes. I can tell you that one's having an undergraduate engineering degree simply means he took the basic university core curriculum which includes English, humanities electives, history, etc. He also was requred to take the following which is required of all science and engineering majors: the standard calculus sequence of courses, the standard calculus-based physics sequence of courses, and probably a chemistry course or two. He then took a few courses specific to his major. It does not take a genius to get an engineering degree; believe me, I know many who have such degrees. It sounds so impressive to those who know nothing about it. Much of the engineering curriculum is broad, general theory. Much, if not most, of what an engineer does has to be learned on the job. Obtaining a graduate engineering degree would require more course work and, for a PhD, a dissertation. The PhD would require one to become expert in a (usually) very narrow, specific field. It would not make him any more capable of teaching the Bible than an undergraduate degree in economics or really, for that matter, a trade school auto repair course. In fact, it all depends on the person. The auto mechanic might be better at teaching the Bible than the engineer (or scientist) with the PhD.
Apognophos makes a valid point about the difference between scientists and engineers. But even if the guy had a PhD in math or physics or chemistry, I would wonder why he would be needed to explain the Bible. Why would he know more about the Bible or JW theology than a brother in the cong who does manual labor? He might know less. When I took organic chemistry, I had two different instructors with PhD's. They both knew chemistry fairly well, but other than that, they weren't any smarter or more knowledgeable than the average man on the street. They both had bad grammar.
Einstein was obviously brilliant in at least one way, but if he had become a JW, would he have automatically been more qualified than other men in his cong to teach the Bible and JW doctrine? I don't think so. To me, her wanting to have this "engineer" (woooo - smart man) come talk with you betrays a naivete on her part.
Another thing: JWs bash higher ed, but they love to point JWs with higher education as if their being JWs somehow certifies the religion.
