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

by LongHairGal 19 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.
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  jhine

  I have read that as a Christian your priorities are God , spouse, children , parents , work , church in that order.

  Having God first in your life doesn't mean abandoning your responsibilities to those around you . It means discharging those responsibilities with love, integrity and honesty in a balanced way .

  Making time to meet with other Christians for worship and learning is important . However working for the church shouldn't mean that you abandon your earthly duties .

  Jan from Tam
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  WingCommander

  @LHG: You didn't post the link to the Reddit thread?

  As a child of the 80's, education was heavily "frowned upon." Nobody cared about it. Oh sure, my parents wanted me to get the best grades possible, but furthering my education? Not necessary; The End would be upon us at any moment. I was told from the cradle on up by my parents, older influential ones in the Congregations, and of course right from the stages at Assemblies and CONventions that I didn't need to worry about education, a career, or retirement plans as the New Order would be here before I ever had to worry about that.
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  fulano

  LonghairGal.

  ” 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.”

  Absolutely! I hate my time spent in service. I am approaching 66 now and due to 9 years and something missionary-service I have a gap of 18% in my Dutch state pension. Luckily I moved to Belgium in 2004 and institutions are helping me trying to fix it.

  At the end you can only blame yourself.
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  LongHairGal

  WING COMMANDER:

  Sorry, I had trouble posting the link. The thread is five days old started by PIMQ-Elder.

  FULANO:

  I hope you are able to make up for that gap in your pension. When you say ‘At the end you can only blame yourself’ this is unfortunately true. However, people who were influenced at a young vulnerable age and who were in a secluded ‘cult like’ situation didn’t have much control over it. If they ‘woke up’ when they weren’t too old, maybe they could catch up to some degree.

  For somebody like myself who came into the Witnesses as a young working adult, there would be even less excuse if I harmed myself by doing something stupid like quitting a good job to pursue poverty in the ministry and doing pt. time work.. Who would feel sorry for me if I did this?? 🤣 The religion would laugh at me and I would be told that ‘nobody forced me’ and that ‘I didn’t use discernment’ or some such garbage that is said to Witnesses who got burned. They followed unwise advice and caved in to peer pressure in the religion’s culture.

  In the end, I was left feeling I dodged a missile. This was still an uncomfortable feeling because I thought of the terrible predicament if I had listened all those years ago!
• 

  HiddlesWife

  @LHG [+ other members]➡ This cultporation DEMONIZING higher education---+ & also other training programs in order to obtaining better employment---is HEINOUS on so many levels. This cultporation, which is a MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR corporation, has its leadership PERSUADING its membership to STAY POOR & UNDEREDUCATED for the rest of their lives. The TITLES within don't amount to a hill of beans/NO VALIDITY in the real world--corporate or governmental. Many D.W.Ts*, including Bethellites, had to resort to attending educational training programs later in life to ensure that they have some viable income to support themselves: Specifically since WT is REFUSING to support their followers in these individuals' times of need, which in the majority of cases are not any fault of their own. It's damningly sad that this EXTREMELY WEALTHY COMPANY continues to cry out for MONETARY ASSISTANCE, DOESN'T WANT TO PAY TAXES---but OTOH, D.G.A.D. if their parishioners experience HARDSHIPS during their own lifetimes. UNGODLY & UNCHRISTLIKE to the maxing core!

  {*D.W.Ts➡ Dubs With Titles.}
• 

  fulano

  LONGHAIRGAL.

  ”However, people who were influenced at a young vulnerable age and who were in a secluded ‘cult like’ situation didn’t have much control over it. ”

  I think it has to do with your caracter as well. I was always too serious, baptised at 14. Raised in the truth.

  A couple of years ago I met my first girlfriend I had at about 20. She was also raised in the religion but even at the age we were fiancés, she was about 19 and was planning to leave at that age, daughter of an elder. Of course she was a very “worldly” woman now.

  But I the bloody full had to throw away 39 years of my life. I still think I have to be happy I discovered real life at 40 and left the BS and started a business and I am oké now. Beautiful and lovely wife much younger and a daughter.
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  Ugot2bekiddingme1

  LHG- I Graduated from High School and worked some unskilled jobs and Pioneered. Came to the realization that this does not work and practical. So, I enrolled in a few local community College courses. The elders went ballistic. I was forced to move out of my parents home. I enlisted into military service. I stayed in it and left as decorated Officer. Now, there is two Bozo Elders that want to be all buddy buddy because I have the house, the vehicles the business and my life together and they want a piece of that.