Funny title you might think but consider this point and apologies if i am covering old ground here...its not intentional.
I was raised by my mother who was and is a devout JW and as such until i was 20 (10 years ago) i was the same...trying my best to fit into the social environment i clearly was not made for but benefiting from good wholesome association with fellow brothers and sisters (note the sarcastic tone...make what you will of it).
Althought at the time i didnt realise it but i was what others consider intelligent and quite academically able; i had a mind like a sponge and would spend hours in the JW library at the KH (which surprisingly enough contained non JW literature)...it was this that i read and would digest endlessly where i could.
One of those books (why it was there i dont know), was what i later undertood to be criminal law reports concerning cases that had gone before the courts. My childish thirst for knowledge was intrigued...(i was then about 12). The legal arguments i hadnt a clue what they meant but the facts surrounding these crimes were good reading.
I then knew i wanted to be a lawyer and that was what i said when an elder asked me what i wanted to do when i grew up; i mentioned trusting this man that i had read a book in the KH library and found it interesting...and that i wanted to be lawyer...i remember him smiling and saying that it was better to pioneer rather than seek a highly paid job...personally i didnt know what he meant properly but i felt a bit sad...and demotivated...i later in the week went back into the library and found the book had gone...!!
Later as i left school at 16...i was not able to further my education i felt obligated to pioneer and work full time in the ministry...i ended up taking a job and working full time instead of pursuing my education...because i was not from a well off family.
Looking at what i know now i share my findings with you about a theory i have and perhaps there are a few of you that agree.
JW's frown upon education because it creates and encourages people to be subservient or what they call 'meek' me personally i call it 'low self esteem' and that allows them to thrive and mould people into their doctrines.
Academic ability encourages free thought and debate...and constant questioning and more importantly an open mind...which has to be the only reason as to why the JW disapprove...in fact i will hand it to them...they admit it.
How so i hear you say? Well dont they say that further education lays open young and impressionable minds to the teachings of the world?...if that isnt an admission then i dont know what is.
I am now a lawyer and i specialise in employment and human rights and i have a further story to tell about my time in the 'truth' but maybe that is for another day.
Has anyone else had similar experiences to the above?