Jehovah's Witnesses, Is it true that your religion discouraged kids many years ago from getting an education ?

Question

Just finishing high school , if that..But, discouraged college and higher education because Armagedon was ..right around the corner..? I have heard that before..Does your religion still do that? If not..what about all of those young JW's 25 or 30 years ago, that didn't get an education due to Armagedon coming any time now..Wonder what their lives are like now..

I read the web site..and it is not saying what you said..at first it looks like that..but then keep reading..and it says this....Therefore, the Bible offers this counsel: “Quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2) ‘Is it really possible to make the mind over through education?’ you may ask. Making the mind over involves motivating it in a different direction by filling it with the principles and instruction given in God’s Word. This can be accomplished by accepting education that God provides through his Word..

It goes on to talk about how its wonderful that you can get an education through the Bible..etc..

Why don't JW's just tell it like it is...

Answer 1

Yes, they did, I was there, I was a teenager back in the 70's and experienced it.

Though they never come right out and say something direct like that, they know how to get the point across. It's usually done with a rhetorical question

Example - Would a true Christian who believes the end is so near want to risk their spiritual lives going to a college where sex and drugs are rampant, to get a degree that would be useless in god's new order?

It's never direct but always explicit

Answer 2

I'm a Witness and wasn't around when this took place but I can say this is true.

I'm not sure what years this took place, I believe it was in the 60's and 70's that Witnesses were discouraged from going to school. I was born in the mid 80's so I can't tell you what it was like but I have spoken with those who lived during those times and said they were encouraged to not continue after H.S.

The reason for this was not because Armageddon was right around the corner but because they wanted us to focus on more spiritual things, such as preaching and not get involved in persuing material things. With all the immorality and disgusting things that goes on in colleges between the students, they didn't want us to get involved. (2 Timothy 1:1-5)

However, that is not the case today. In Zechariah 13:9 it states "And I shall certainly bring the third [part] through the fire; and I shall actually refine them as in the refining of silver, and examine them as in the examining of gold. It, for its part, will call upon my name, and I, for my part, will answer it. I will say, ‘It is my people,’ and it, in its turn, will say, ‘Jehovah is my God.’” ' We're constantly being refined and being brought more to the truth about what the Bible says.

Today, those who I've spoken with that have told me of when they weren't suppose to go to school have made good businesses for themselves and are doing well. None of them have any complaints. They follow the words of Matthew 6:33 “Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these [other] things will be added to YOU." We trust that as long as we follow Bible guidelines Jehovah God will always provide for us exactly what we need.

I, myself, am going to college to learn a skill I couldn't learn on my own and I've never been discouraged to go to school.

Answer 3

I used to be a Jehovah's Witness from 1973 till 1978 and I know for sure that they did so, though not explicitly. They just discouraged young people by asking them questions that would lead them to the conclusion that education was not something a JW should strive towards. But I think, that is by no means the worst thing, JW's have been doing. Perhaps 90% of all reach people don't have a University Degree. Much worse than that are some other things, like not allowing them to have sexual experience before marriage, or "forcing" them to accept every thing the so-called "Faithfull Servant from Brooklyn" said, which BTW has turned out to be wrong so many times...

Answer 4

My housemate is a Jehovah Witness, and graduated from the university...but she used to be Catholic. From reading her pamphlets, I would have to say yes (and it's still true). I'm not saying none of them go to college, but most don't.
At least not the ones I've met. I think they may think college may "open up their eyes" and have them see things in a new perspective. A lot of religions try to keep you in the dark so as to control you.

Answer 5

The Apocalypse, Rapture, Judgment Day, End times, Armageddon, and the like are always "at hand".

They have been "at hand" for the last 1900 years and nothing has happened yet. Every culture and society always makes the claim and then that generation dies and Jesus never came back. This has been happening for the last 1900 years, and each time the End Times are at hand nothing happens, no Jesus, no Rapture, no nothing.

The details that describe the Rapture and the End Times are all vague and generalized to the point that they can be attributed to any given point in history.

Answer 6

No.

In actuality, Jehovah's Witnesses value secular education. What their publications have done consistently is encourage young people (and others) to be goal-oriented in their education plans, and to maintain proper priorities throughout their lives.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20051015/

Answer 7

hhm.. i have no idea but i should ask them when they come and knock on my door!