Reddit thread Warning young JWs that ‘Spiritual Goals’ are Not a Career!

by LongHairGal 2 Replies latest jw friends

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  LongHairGal

  As somebody who worked full-time when I was in the Witness religion, this topic naturally caught my eye.

  Many of the responses are heartfelt. There are about 90 at this point. From what I read so far.. many are people who woke up before they got old but even these are resentful over their life being derailed with wasted time pursuing spiritual goals and having to start over at a later age getting an education/job.

  I imagine born-in young JWs would be most susceptible to this.. In today’s world, a ‘career’ is something that earns you a living.. As many of the responses there will say: anybody who pursues ‘spiritual goals’ only will end up with wasted time in the end with no money and no retirement plan… I couldn’t agree more.

  It would be a shame if this happens to yet more JWs.
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  blondie

  LHG, I found that this idea about not having a career was applied carefully...saw too many who did not follow this, and were given room to do this (excuses) by the elders. Those who were trying to live up to the written stuff or stuff pushed by other jws (mostly not following the same "advice"") were burned by trying to please humans, and not seeing it was not the same as pleasing their god. I got a good education in high school, learned skills that transferred to several areas of work, and kept getting training through my workplaces. In the WTS language, a career is a job that makes money enough to live on ,not to live in poverty. I found the ones that made these "suggestions" were well set financially, or women whose husbands had very, very good jobs and they could just prance around. When they encouraged me, I would always ask, why aren't you pioneering...they would say I have children, I would point out pioneers that had children and managed to do so...perhaps they could give them some tips. People like that stopped "encouraging" me.
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  LongHairGal

  BLONDIE:

  It sounds like you were viewed more favorably for working than I was. I wonder if you being married was why?.. I also agree about women with cushy lives giving unwanted advice and I had No tolerance for them.

  I think the religion hated single women. They imagined I was going to be groomed to do favors for all the Users there.. Boy, were they mistaken..🤣 I had a non-JW upbringing and it was drilled into my head that both men and women needed to get decent jobs/careers. I had some college and technical courses.

  I am just grateful today that I resisted high pressure back then to quit my job and take up housecleaning/pioneering.. These people certainly were not looking out for MY welfare, that’s for sure.. I doubt they cornered some brother and asked him to do this!

  But, I’m glad I ended up doing the smart thing.. I am sorry for young vulnerable Witnesses today who don’t have any non-JW background or at least one non-JW parent to help them resist unwise advice and keep them grounded in reality.