Posts by Nicodemus

You make a valid point. For a specific example of this concept that can be documented in a written publication of Jehovah's Witnesses, please see the following link:

http://nicodemusjw.blogspot.com/2007/03/jehovahs-witnesses-and-education.html

54

Public Talk & Bookstudy Changes - the real reason

by bud2114 in

i havn't been able to keep up with all the discussion in this forum as to why the gb has suddenly decided to implement these changes and perhaps someone has mentioned this already, but to me the most obvious reason has nothing to do with control, or money.

it has everything to do with the serious shortage of qualified brothers who can (or who are willing to) be used.

i have been involved in the organzation for 40 yrs and i have never seen the level of apathy and disillusionment among those serving in some capacity in this organization.

Nicodemus

For an alternate view, see http://nicodemusjw.blogspot.com/.

23

Jehovahs Witnesses and Education A Brief History

by Nicodemus in

jehovahs witnesses and education a brief history .

it is only the ignorant who despise education.

publilius syrus, moral sayings, first century b.c.e.

Nicodemus

Essay re-posted at http://nicodemusjw.blogspot.com/.

48

Was Simplification the Downfall of the Watchtower?

by NotBlind in

a thought i had daydreaming while at the recent convention .

old timers in the organization often reminisce about the way the wts was many years ago.

attending a convention meant (a) getting hot meals, (b) orchestra music before and during sessions, and (c) two, three, or even four dramas.

Nicodemus

Tristram,

Good to see you, you old devil!

Now what's a nice boy like you doing in a nasty old place like this?

N

48

Was Simplification the Downfall of the Watchtower?

by NotBlind in

a thought i had daydreaming while at the recent convention .

old timers in the organization often reminisce about the way the wts was many years ago.

attending a convention meant (a) getting hot meals, (b) orchestra music before and during sessions, and (c) two, three, or even four dramas.

Nicodemus

NotBlind,

Thanks for a most insightful post. You ask some very good questions and I believe you have identified a very real factor in the stagnancy of developed lands.

Add to that this question that I have pondered at length: How many "faithful" brothers and sisters are now aware of at least some of the damaging information on the internet? Maybe it's the blood issue? The UN matter? The general shakiness of certain doctrine/dogma? Most, likely, would be too afraid to even bring such matters up in conversation with fellow Witnesses. Thus, at some level, they suffer in silence. Yet, for a variety of reasons, they may elect to stay with the organization. But the question is: "Is their whole heart, or whole soul in it any more?" What is even more fascinating to me is that I am convinced there is a subset that still loves Jehovah and his Son Jesus with their whole heart and whole soul (Mt 22:37; Mr 12:30-33), but is not so convinced about the organization. This subset holds that the group known as Jehovah's Witnesses is still, overall, the group that still best represents what they believe, but that they are no longer simply blindly going along with every last directive handed down from Brooklyn.

23

Jehovahs Witnesses and Education A Brief History

by Nicodemus in

jehovahs witnesses and education a brief history .

it is only the ignorant who despise education.

publilius syrus, moral sayings, first century b.c.e.

Nicodemus

Follow-up: Jehovah's Witnesses and Education - The Credibility Dilemma
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/119909/1.ashx

8

Jehovah's Witnesses and Education - The Credibility Dilemma

by Nicodemus in

"it is only the ignorant who despise education" - publilius syrus, moral sayings, first century b.c.e.. .

as quoted in awake!

of march 8, 1998

Nicodemus

"It is only the ignorant who despise education" - Publilius Syrus, Moral Sayings, first century B.C.E.

As quoted in Awake! of March 8, 1998

The special September 2006 issue of Awake!, entitled "Is There a CREATOR", exposes, perhaps unwittingly, one of the dilemmas with respect to the current tightening position with respect to education. (For more on the history of this issue, please see my post "Jehovah's Witnesses and Education - A Brief History" here: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/98701/1.ashx)

On pages 21-23 of this Awake!, there can be found an article entitled "Why We Believe in a CREATOR." In this article, 5 different Jehovah's Witnesses are interviewed as to why they personally believe in the existence of a Creator.

The first point that may jump out at the thinking reader is that it happened to be five highly-educated Witnesses who were selected to be interviewed. While their specific educational credentials are not listed, it seems safe to assume that individuals actively working in the fields of genetic mutation in plants, laser physics, planetary geology, molecular biology and microbiology, and theoretical physics--and for the employers listed--are the possesors of college degrees, possibly even advanced degrees. At the very least, it could be considered a badge of honor within the Witness community to be directly quoted in an issue of Awake!, particularly a special issue such as this one. At least in this instance, a quality education led to this privilege.

But it seems to me that there is another underlying issue that should be mentioned. Some time back, speaking to a group of assembled elders, a senior Bethel representative went to great pains to explain that the Society was not anti-education. He clarified that individuals could take trade courses, technical courses, all manner of things to pick up skills. However, the Society seemed to take the position that it was the process of obtaining "a four-year degree," with all of the associated general education and other requirements, that should be considered undesirable. (See paragraph 6 of the article " Parents—What Future Do You Want for Your Children?" in the 10/01/05 issue of The Watchtower)

The "credibility dilemma," however, is that in many fields it is precisely the acquisition of such a degree that makes one employable, that opens the door to opportunities in the field.

In this Awake! issue, there isn't one carpenter, janitor, truck driver, landscape maintenance technician, or similar included in the article referenced above. Why? Because they lack the credibility needed to make the point the article wished to make. And it's not necessarily a matter of intelligence, or understanding. It's a matter of credibility. For example, it is entirely possibly that there is a brillant truck driver among Jehovah's Witnesses. This man (or woman) may have a keen mind, a fascination with the question at hand, may have done extensive personal reading, and be quite able to converse eloquently on the topic.

But, for the goal the article was trying to accomplish, and the target audience it was attempting to reach, such a person would simply not have had the necessary credibility.

If the writers of Awake! felt they needed a level of credibility to reach their target audience, why ask a young person to invest the time taking courses to develop a skill, but not follow it through to the extent of obtaining the very thing necessary to be credible to their target audience?

23

Jehovahs Witnesses and Education A Brief History

by Nicodemus in

jehovahs witnesses and education a brief history .

it is only the ignorant who despise education.

publilius syrus, moral sayings, first century b.c.e.

Nicodemus

Jehovah’s Witnesses and Education – A Brief History
“It is only the ignorant who despise education.” —Publilius Syrus, Moral Sayings, first century B.C.E.
– As quoted in Awake! of March 8, 1998

Once again, parents among Jehovah’s Witnesses have some tough decisions to make with respect to the education of their children. In its October 1, 2005 issue of The Watchtower, the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society (hereafter WTS) has published an article entitled Parents-What Future Do You Want for Your Children? With this article, the WTS has evidently decided to attempt to reverse, at least to some extent, a landmark change that was presented in the November 1, 1992 issue of that same magazine.

The goal of this essay is to acquaint the reader with approximately 40 years’ worth of history on this topic. It is written from the perspective of the
1966 In the publication Life Everlasting—In Freedom of the Sons of God, the year 1975 is held forth as the end of 6,000 years of human history. For Jehovah’s Witnesses accustomed to believing that the Thousand-Year reign of Christ (the “Millennium”) would follow shortly after the conclusion of this 6,000-year period, this date engenders a sense of extreme excitement and urgency. It also leads to a “date-oriented” view towards many other matters of life, including housing, planning ahead for the later years of life and, yes, education.

1969 With respect to the question of how youths among Jehovah’s Witnesses just finishing high school should plan the next years of their lives, The Watchtower states the following:

w69 3/15 p. 171 What Influences Decisions in Your Life? The influence and spirit of this world is to get ahead, to make a name for oneself. Many schools now have student counselors who encourage one to pursue higher education after high school, to pursue a career with a future in this system of things. Do not be influenced by them. Do not let them “brainwash” you with the Devil’s propaganda to get ahead, to make something of yourself in this world. This world has very little time left! Any “future” this world offers is no future! Wisely, then, let God’s Word influence you in selecting a course that will result in your protection and blessing. Make pioneer service, the full-time ministry, with the possibility of or missionary service your goal. This is a life that offers an everlasting future!

1970 – 1975 The 1975 expectations build to a “fever pitch.” The phrase “stay alive till seventy-five” is coined.

Some Witnesses adopt extreme viewpoints and engage in unwise behavior, such as taking on debt they never intended to repay or foregoing helpful, even necessary, medical treatment. While the WTS did not necessarily advocate these extreme views or actions, they certainly do nothing to dampen the “urgency” of 1975 in other areas, including decisions with long-term consequences related to housing, finances, employment, and education. Long-time Witnesses may remember this comment from Our Kingdom Ministry:

km 5/74 p. 3 How Are You Using Your Life?
Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world’s end. (Bold mine)

The view of education in the midst of that environment continues to be about what one might expect:

w71 9/15 p. 563 Set Apart from the World
All worldly careers are soon to come to an end. So, why should today’s youth get interested in ‘higher education’ for a future that will never eventuate? The colleges are falling into chaos, anyway. The essentials of education for a useful life can be obtained by studying well at high school, and beyond that there is also the ‘highest education’ that Jehovah provides through his organization, preparing for a satisfying career of full-time service that goes on forever.

1976 – 1992 The year 1975 comes and goes, and it becomes clear that the hoped-for events with respect to “the end” had not come to pass.
Despite this, the negative view of education continues, even toughens. The few that do send their children to college are viewed askance by most of their brother and sisters. The WTS keeps the pressure on parents to conform, as illustrated by the following quote from 1987:

w87 12/1 pp. 13-14 Fear of God—Can It Benefit You? Parents must also strive to impress on the minds and hearts of their children that they themselves, as parents, are “fearers of Jehovah.” (Psalm 22:23) One way in which they can do this is by applying theocratic counsel when training and disciplining their children. This is the third factor to be considered. Ask yourself: . . . ‘Have I accepted what has been said by Jehovah’s organization about higher education?’ ‘Am I instructing my children accordingly?’ ‘Are the goals that I have set for my children ones that will help them to have “godly fear”?’ (Bold mine)

Does this view of education within the organization yield good fruitage? Not in all cases. While accounts can always be related concerning “exceptional” young ones, the reality for a larger percentage of Witness youth is not as stellar. Early marriages become more and more common, where two young Witnesses, often fresh out of high school, decide to marry at 18 or 19 years of age. Poorly prepared to deal with the workplace or the “real world” in general, many suffer. The situation worsens if children follow shortly behind. Witnesses that enter middle-age begin to find their education a real limitation with respect to the options available to them. Those that were able to work at some form of physical labor while in their 20’s discover that they can’t keep up the pace as their bodies age and begin to break down. Others, due to their limited education and the correspondingly limited wages they are able to command, find themselves having to work two jobs, or overtime, just to keep up. Finally, many face their later years without anything approaching sufficient preparation for retirement. These find themselves working well into their 70’s, even 80’s, in some cases at physical labor, since this is all they have known. 1992 Is the above description of prevailing environment simply the opinion of this author? Keeping in mind that admissions of difficulties within the organization are always couched in the gentlest of terms, consider these comments from a watershed article that appeared in the November 1, 1992 issue of The Watchtower.

w92 11/1 pp. 15-21 Education With a Purpose Education With a Purpose How much education does a young Christian need in order to respect these Bible principles and meet his Christian obligations? This varies from country to country. By and large, however, it seems that the general trend in many lands is that the level of schooling required to earn decent wages is now higher than it was a few years ago. Reports received from branches of the Watch Tower Society in different parts of the world indicate that in many places it is difficult to find jobs with decent wages after completing simply the minimum schooling required by law or in some countries even after finishing secondary or high school. (Bold mine)

Space does not allow quoting extensively from that article. But suffice it to say that the article faced head-on, and dealt with, the real-world situations existing among Jehovah’s Witnesses. It dealt with the typical questions that had been directed at parents who wished to send their children to college, such as: Is higher education really necessary? Won’t this be expensive? Won’t certain college courses tear down their faith? What about the moral environment in the colleges?
While providing encouragement that a youth not allow this to turn them aside from serving Jehovah -- even stating at one point that extra education would be “with the specific goal of full-time service” -- the article was fair, balanced and realistic. Careful readers noticed that the concepts in the article had relevance even for those not in full-time service. For example, in an apparent acknowledgment regarding the circumstances that affected older, married brothers with families, the article stated:

w92 11/1 pp. 15-21 Education With a Purpose
If married, a man should be able to provide properly for his wife and any children that may be born, with a little extra to give to those in need and to support the local and worldwide preaching work

1995 – approximately 2001
In The Watchtower of November 1, 1995, the WTS alters their long-held understanding of “this generation.” The idea that the “generation” Jesus spoke of is tied to 1914 is removed, although the year 1914 is still stressed as important.

During the subsequent months, the concept that “we don’t serve for a date” takes on greater emphasis. Many observe that evidence of a “kinder, gentler” organization begins to appear in the publications. Love is emphasized to a greater degree; at least some allowance for freedom of conscience seems to be promoted, leading to hope of a “softening” in certain rigid positions.

In this environment, the general attitude toward education stays positive. While comments are occasionally heard which reveal a less than complete understanding of the changes, these tend to be minimal. Positive comments, even entire articles, with respect to education continue to appear in the publications in the years that follow. As just one example, here is a brief excerpt from an article that appeared in the March 8, 1998 issue of Awake!:

g98 3/8 The Bible’s Viewpoint: Does the Bible Discourage Education?
A Matter of Personal Choice
Just as was true in the first century, a wide variety of educational backgrounds exist among Christians today. Under the guidance of their parents, young people who complete their obligatory schooling may choose to pursue additional secular education. Likewise, adults interested in improving their means of providing for their families may view such additional schooling as a viable means to that end. Some aspects of traditional academic education lay emphasis on developing general intellectual capacity rather than professional or vocational skills. Thus, a person may find that even after investing much time in acquiring such an education, he lacks marketable skills. For this reason, some choose to pursue studies in vocational programs or technical schools, with a view to more readily filling actual demands in the job market.

At any rate, such decisions are of a personal nature. Christians ought not to criticize or judge one another on this matter. James wrote: “Who are you to be judging your neighbor?” (James 4:12) If a Christian is considering pursuing additional schooling, he would do well to examine his own motives to make sure that selfish, materialistic interests are not the driving force.

It is apparent that the Bible encourages a balanced view of education. Christian parents recognize the surpassing value of a spiritual education based on God’s inspired Word and give balanced counsel to their children regarding supplementary education. (2 Timothy 3:16) Being realistic about life, they acknowledge the value of secular education in gaining the skills necessary for their grown children to provide for themselves and their future families. Therefore, in determining whether supplementary education is to be pursued, and to what extent, each Christian can make sound personal decisions based on devotion to Jehovah God, which “is beneficial for all things, as it holds promise of the life now and that which is to come.”—1 Timothy 4:8.

Approximately 2001 - 2004 Some start to notice evidence of a ‘negative’ view of higher education reappearing in certain program parts on Special Assembly Days, Circuit Assemblies, and District Conventions. Comments seeming to disparage higher education appear with greater regularity. Whereas, in the 1990’s, youths who were pursuing higher education, while still exemplary in serving Jehovah, were featured on such assembly and convention programs, this seems to decrease. The idea of moving very quickly into “full-time service” right out of high school, or shortly thereafter, seems to make a comeback.
Still, nothing overtly negative appears in the pages of The Watchtower, the official doctrinal journal of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Alert publishers in the ‘field’ start to wonder whether a ‘tug of war’ of sorts is going on at Bethel with respect to this issue.
2005
At the ‘Godly Obedience’ District Conventions, a drama about the life of Timothy is presented. Some take the contrast presented in this drama between Timothy and a fictional contemporary who pursues higher education in the Roman system as further evidence that the organization’s view of “higher” education is once again turning negative. Still, without further commentary in The Watchtower, the matter seems left to some level of interpretation.

That changes with the arrival at Kingdom Halls of the October 1, 2005 issue of The Watchtower, and the article Parents-What Future Do You Want for Your Children?
Meanwhile . . . The eighteen-year-old who graduated high school in the year 1969 turns fifty-four. He has children that are older than he was that spring day in 1969, when he was told “this world has very little time left.”
[Edited on behalf and at request of Nicodemus.]

23

friend getting DFed tonight and my upcoming meeting....

by red so deep in

well it looks like my friend's dfing is getting announced tonight.

she decided not to try an appeal because she really doesn't want the stress of telling the story all over again, and she's heard horror stories from one of her friends that was dfed about 12 elder appeal committies and whatnot.

i've really been trying to help her out and let her know that it's going to be incredibly difficult but that i'll be there for her even though i'm baptized (when i was 11 years old..great decision...) pretty much all of her friends will be cut off from her, except for the few "worldly" friends she has, but it doesn't sound like her mom will really allow any association with them either.... so we'll see how the weeks ahead turn out... i also have a meeting thursday night with two elders in my hall.

Nicodemus

Red,

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