Professor talks about JWs in my 1st college course

by writerpen 16 Replies latest jw friends

  • writerpen
    writerpen

    Okay, I was sitting there just learning (this is my first college course toward my B.A.), and all of the sudden the professor asks, "Is anyone here a Jehovahs Witness?" (This is a required religion course). I didn't get that excited/shocked feeling that I got as a Witness whenever I heard JWs mentioned in the "world" - I must be recovering. Anyway, I stated that I had been raised one and just left a year ago at the age of 29.

    He went on to demonstrate why Jehovahs Witnesses seem to have success in recruiting folks. (I was thinking, actually their success is diminishing, but I left it alone. I try very hard to appear neutral in settings like this.) He stated as an example that the normal Christian believes in everlasting/eternal life, but could not show someone from the Bible scriptures proving their belief/interpretation. The professor then asked a woman in the front row to give him a scripture that talks about everlasting/eternal life - she could not. He then turned to me, and I said Psm. 37:29. There, he had proven his brief point. But then he went on to say that Witnesses use proof texts to support their interpretation of the Bible. Therefore, when they show up at the average Christians door, who really does not know the Bible, they awe the person with their ability to show scriptures that support their belief. Therefore, the average Christian may begin to see what they are saying as truth.

    Okay was this irony - my first college course and this topic comes up?

    Edited by - writerpen on 27 August 2002 12:42:38

  • JBean
    JBean

    Hi! Wow... very interesting. ; I'm back in school now also, and I have my first Religion course starting this Fall. I wonder if JW's will be mentioned in any of my classes discussions! Jbean
  • waiting
    waiting

    oooooooooo, the irony of it. Go to college to get an education - and learn about the recruiting methods of JW's.

    He went on to demonstrate why Jehovahs Witnesses seem to have success in recruiting folks.

    And I agree with you - the jw's are having less success in recruiting folks. And it's a known fact that many, if not the majority of recruits, are leaving after having a "taste of The Truth." Bitter crap, to say the least.

    Another interesting tidbit is that the majority of recruits are people just like you - who were bred & raised a jw.

    Congratulations for going to college - a big step in anyone's life, but particularily for an xjw! Hope to see you around here more

  • Mary
    Mary

    I think it's Satan persecuting you....heh-heh-heh-heh.............

    Yep, total irony that this is your first class. This is the only category on "Jepordy" where I get all the answers right. After all, who else is gonna know who the hell Shadrak, Meshak and Abendigo were???

    I plan on taking a Religious Studies class in the Winter Term. It's about Cults. Think I'll pass???

    Edited by - Mary on 27 August 2002 12:1:35

  • gsx1138
    gsx1138

    Grats on college. At thirty three I'm back in class as well. However, I've been out of the WTS for about 13 years so I would not have bee able to prove the prof's point. I have considered taking a theology class. Do they teach about other religions besides Christianity?

  • Mary
    Mary

    gsx1138 said: "Do they teach about other religions besides Christianity?"

    Your college or university will almost certainly teach other religions besides Christianity. They probably offer courses on Judaism, Islam, Buddism, Hindu, as well as some ancient religions.

  • sunshineToo
    sunshineToo

    Is your professor going to talk about why the JWs are losing their members as well?

    That would be very interesting.

  • writerpen
    writerpen

    LOL at Mary - "I think it's Satan persecuting you."

    gsx - this class is "Religious Quest," thus all religions are being discussed. Interesting that while we refer to religion as JWs, Catholics, Episcopalian, etc., the actual Latin word means "to tie back." Anyway, according to the professor, religion is Christianity, and all these various denominations are of the same religion. Other religions are going to be studied as well: Hinduism (which is the oldest, can you believe that), Islam, Indigenous ways, Judaism etc.

  • gsx1138
    gsx1138

    Sounds cool, given the current state of the country the last thing I'd want to pay for is a course in christian propoganda. It is nice that you get to learn about so many different religions though. I knew Hinduism was old but I didn't know it was the oldest. As far as I knew Paganism was the oldest. I don't remember the Assyrian/Babylonians practicing Hinduism.

  • outnfree
    outnfree

    LOL, writerpen.

    My Catholic high school-attending son had me helping him by doing the typing of an outline he had to do on the Bible and creationism. He was learning about literal and contextual interpreters of both creation accounts. Guess who was the example of literalist interpreters who see "day" as being an era rather than a 24-hour period? You got it! Jehovah's Witnesses!!!! He was surprised they were in the book. I was surprised the religion book had the JW teaching on creation right.

    Have fun in class! I start my fall semester on Thursday!

    outnfree

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