"Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity."
Aristotle
last night i had jw broadcasting on in the background while i was working, i like to keep up to date with their crap.
which is strange because when i actually was a jw i hated reading or watching their material.. anyway, on the streaming section, anthony morris comes on screen telling me that higher education is bad and "the better the university, the greater the danger".
i never would have believed it if i hadn't seen him say it myself.
"Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity."
Aristotle
jerome over on discuss the truth has picked up on something interesting.. in the july watchtower on page 28 of the article entitled “winning the battle for your mind” the following statement is made “keep in mind that satan does not want you to think clearly or reason things out well.
because propaganda is likely to be most effective, says one source, if people… are discouraged from thinking critically.”.
the quote comes from a book entitled: “media and society in the twentieth century: a historical introduction by lyn gorman, david mclean" the watchtower however, chose to leave out a portion of the quote.. the full quote is "therefore, it is likely to be most effective if people do not have access to multiple sources of information and if they are discouraged from thinking critically.. the following sentence which the watchtower also decided was best not to include states,.
... I personally hold those in the writing dept., who are allowed full access to "outside" scientific and research based articles, to account for the huge con they are pulling on the R&F. - Diogenesister
Therein lies the crux of the matter. You summed it up well!
publication, that is?.
i just found all scripture is inspired of god and beneficial in storage.
i enjoyed studying it, as well as make sure of all things, hold fast to what is fine.. our thinking has changed, of course, but, back then, did you have a wt publication you especially liked?.
Back then my favourite was: Life - How did it get here? By evolution or by creation?
on another forum, a user posted that their partner is being hauled before a jc for asking questions and, that the jc will go ahead regardless if in attendance or not.. the post does not say what questions were being asked.
another user responded with - possibly viewed as 'brazen conduct'.
here is the link to jw.org - brazen conduct: https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-glossary/brazen-conduct/.
On another forum, a user posted that their partner is being hauled before a JC for asking questions and, that the JC will go ahead regardless if in attendance or not.
The post does not say what questions were being asked.
Another user responded with - possibly viewed as 'brazen conduct'.
Here is the link to JW.Org - brazen conduct: https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-glossary/brazen-conduct/
Surely this can't be so?
following from the worldwide campaign to send letters to the russian government: topic covered here.. i started observing a scary trend, i got around 100 messages on multiple messaging apps, facebook and other social media posts encouraging all jws to send letter to the russian government protesting on the ban with the hope they will overturn it.. what struck me is that all are doing it and encouraging others to do it.
so, what if the gb via jw.org request something like street protests, civil disobedience, to the extreme of voting for or against a particular law or fighting (far-fetched).. what would the jw membership do, not the awakened one?
in addition, i feel this exercise exposes the awakened ones.
ambersun ... However, apart from instructing the rank and file to write letters, has there been any mention of Watchtower representatives themselves flying out to Russia to meet with the government to discuss this issue face to face? Surely they should be pulling out all the stops at this worrying time when their own loyal followers are in desperate need of their help and support? If they want an air of legitimacy then this is surely what should be happening ...
One would think that they should take the lead on this. Aside from Geoffrey Jackson appearing once (via video conferencing?) before the ARC, none of the GB would fly to Australia to defend the Org and its "child protection" policies. They would rather others (local elders) do it for them and be 'chucked under the bus'. Can't see the GB taking on the might of the Russian Government in person either. Hence the letter writing campaign. I read somewhere that they want the writers to include their personal details ... I'm guessing name and address.
i am compiling my reasons.
you can add your reasons.. 1. education makes you to develop critical thinking skills..
Competence = Education coupled with Experience
i left school at 16, because i was studying and getting the best " university education" in the world.
.
how did the theocratic ministry school benefit you?.
I posted on a similar discussion thread that I used to have a speech impediment - I stuttered / stammered.
Giving student talks helped me to overcome this impediment. So I am grateful for that.
in my case; 27 years.
7 of which were as a ministerial serpent ... sorry, i mean 'servant' ;).
In my case; 27 years
7 of which were as a Ministerial Serpent ... sorry, I mean 'Servant' ;)
i'm currently disfellowshipped and living at home with my parents, but because they are both still devout jws i have to keep going to the meetings and crap because i don't want to risk getting thrown out until i finish college or find a job that will let me support myself and go to college.. yesterday, my mother rode with me to the meeting and told me how much my best friend and my oldest sister are missing me, and it just tears me apart because during the meeting i was practically counting the minutes till it was over.
it didn't help matters that i had to sit with my family because the library was closed off, thus forcing me to follow along with the meeting on my tablet instead of reading something useful or interesting like i normally do.. when i got home i just cried out in frustration because it feels like no matter what i do, i am making the wrong choice.
either i have to keep pretending to support an organization that has caused so much pain to so many people, or i have to abandon my family and friends to it so i can save myself.
Saethydd
Some excellent advice has been offered and I'd encourage you to implement what you think will assist with your situation.
There is an old adage which I think sums up what everyone has already stated:
'Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes'
The only way out of this situation is to take action!
I wish you all the best with whatever decision you make.
so, on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is absolutely pro-jw, 5 is neutral and 10 is youtubing nutjob apostate, where do you stand?.
i'm probably around a 6. i have the view that jws are a nothing marginal religion.
if i hadn't been brought up as one i doubt they would have ever entered my consciousness.. the reasons it's a 6 and not a 5 is that i have some concerns over their child baptism and safeguarding procedures, but i think it's down to them being a bit dim rather than any pro child abusing ethos.
I don't 'hate' the individual JW however, I detest the Organisation for some of its down right evil policies and practices which have caused untold misery for many, many people over the years.
So consider me a 10.