Jehovah's Witnesses Official Web Site States the following?

Question

Please Tell me how the following quote is not manipulative and Fear mongering

"Many, both young and old, extol the importance of an academic education. Some experts even say that they “fully believe that you will never be able to find a [decent] job without a college degree.” Yet, there are a number of human needs that go beyond material achievements. For instance, does higher learning help you to be a good parent, mate, or friend? For that matter, people admired for their intellectual achievements may develop undesirable personality traits, fail in their family life, or even end up committing suicide."

How in Gods name is this helping the reader ???!!!??

FYI

Fear mongering : is the use of fear to leverage the opinions and actions of others towards some end. The object of fear is exaggerated; those the fear is directed toward are kept aware of it on a constant basis.

ok I guess the use of emphasis here would be helpful .. this also draws to illustrate my fears : it is very subtitle

**** For that matter, people admired for their intellectual achievements may develop undesirable personality traits, fail in their family life, or even end up committing suicide. *****

LineDancer: There is nothing wrong with that statement .. ....

You know I've read most of your answers and your posts.. using pages of pages of quotes .. references etc. and yet I get 2 lines from you and basing of others ..

Have I left you speachless... do you have nothing to defend ..

You can honestly say that this comment is not manipulative in any way..

Wow

Answer 1

I'm a Christ follower who has had many discussions with Jehovah Witnesses.

My opinion is that they don't want the members of their church to go to college, because they might have their views challenged (and possibly changed).

They might seek the background information about the Jehovah's Witness's history. They might meet someone who knows about the Jehovah Witness's beliefs
and has the proof that shows how they have been mislead.

Answer 2

John 8:54 and SB22 gave good answers. I just want to add that we (Jehovah's Witnesses) avoid reading twisted teachings, as you said. But you do realize that avoiding something is different than being completely isolated from it, don't you? Even Jesus "prayed in behalf of his followers: “I request you, not to take them out of the world, but to watch over them because of the wicked one. They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:15, 16) (Also see 2 Cor. 6:17; 1 Pet. 4:3, 4.) We do not associate with liars, slanderers, false teachers and instigators! But because we live in a world where we cannot be completely isolated from those kinds of people, we avoid them as much as we can. That is why we don't click on apostate websites links or argue senselessly with apostates that are here on Yahoo Answers. But as Jesus followers we do not avoid taking a stand for our faith, nor do we avoid talking about God's Kingdom as Jesus directed us to do. If we occasionally run into twisted teachings on Yahoo Answers, then we avoid it, its not difficult to do. We do it because we DO love the God of truth, NOT of twisted teachings. We can maintain an active presence on Yahoo Answers while at the same time fully abiding by our Bible based teachings. You may want to clarify your understanding of the Watchtower you referenced. Jehovah's Witnesses avoid "twisted teachings that contradict God's word the Bible!" Isn't that something all Christians would want to take to heart? Your statement that it is "a recent ruling by our governing body" is therefore incorrect. What it is is clear direction from God who wants us to be protected from those who post twisted teachings, it's not any one leadership making a new rule for a particular group of people.

Answer 3

Well let's see, for one thing it sounds like only the first paragraph. Also, it is true, life exists outside of college.

Example, I have had friends and family who both did and didn't go to college. Of those some have good lives, some don't.

If a happy life were as simple as getting a good education meaning happiness, I'd imagine more people would go to college, wouldn't they.

Answer 4

Dear Wondering Faith,

I cannot tell you how said quote is not manipulative and Fear mongering.

I can only tell you that my Watchtower witness mom told me when I graduated from high school that I should not go to college because Armageddon was going to happen soon and ... It DIDN'T did it?

Fortunately my dad, a Christian, insisted that I go to college and go I did.

I didn't go straight through because I married and we moved a lot. I didn't finally graduate until the year my son graduated from high school. But I have to tell you that higher learning was a very important part in being a good parent, mate and friend.

Edit:
I am in no way saying that higher education is the most important thing. Being born again and reading the Bible from cover to cover are far more important.

But I also know that the discipline involved in my college studies helped me to understand the Bible and to have a HEALTHY self-esteem and to overcome depression that goes along with hypothyroidism and 43 years of Type 1 Diabetes..

For His glory,
JOYfilled

Answer 5

The Meek Shall
Inherit the EarthIn this series:

The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth
“As in Heaven, Also Upon Earth”
Related topics:

What Is God’s Purpose for the Earth?
What Will the Future Bring?
“I imagine that nature will be transformed and reconciled. . . . Not tomorrow morning, but in an immensely far-off age, when there will be a new heaven and a new earth.”—Jean-Marie Pelt, French environmental specialist.

Why don´t you better talk about this topic? this one is more inportant and also is the main topic of the bible.

Answer 6

Not much to add to this. You make a good point. Living life out of fear is not God's will. Making statements linking college education to suicide is just, well....wrong to put it politely. I wonder what Jim Jones and David Koresh had to say about education?

Answer 7

it advocates balance and understanding. i have a college degree, i have a good job, but my family and loved ones come first. i'm not greedy or overly ambitous (the unsavory traits that some people develop). the statement is not meant to terrify the reader. it is meant to point out some of the less appealing consequences that can develop over time.

Answer 8

This is helping the reader to see that, rather than unnecessarily getting higher education, it is better to spend the time getting spiritually educated, which will truly make your life happy,unlike any degree/diploma gained through higher education.

There is no harm in getting higher education if you need it to support yourself. Whether a person seeks higher education is between them and their parents. But Witnesses believe in keeping the doing of God's will first in their life, which involves spending time talking to others about God's ways. Sometimes, going into higher education can result in a person being diverted from putting God first in their life, which can lead to an unhappy life.(Matthew 6:33; Matthew 28:19,20)

Jehovah's Witnesses try to help people. not harm them. The material you obtained from the website was truthful, even if some of what it said was unpleasant. Sometimes the truth is not pleasant to hear, but I'm sure you would agree that it still must be told.

Answer 9

Uh oh, you've struck a nerve using watchtower.org to question their practices instead of an "apostate" website.

I remember my JW mother coming to me about a year ago so excited, saying "oh, being a Witness is not the same as it was when you were in.. they've changed their views on education and blood!"

yippee. I'll join again when they make a hefty contribution to my 401k for all those years I spent getting an education I couldnt' get while I was in instead of working in my field.

the website is using shame and innuendo. I also understand The Society sends select members of their Bethel Family to college on their dime, so I'm guessing those fortunate few, educated souls have developed "undesirable personality traits, fail in their family life, or even end up committing suicide."?

Edit: Stephen P or Heavenly Eyes below, I think you should stay right where you are. You bring down the organization IQ average about 30 points. In fact, you sound just like Elder material. Maybe even Governing Body material. I feel sorry for anyone in your congregation over whom you have influence.

Answer 10

Why don't you quote the whole statement.

It points to both sides the the issue of higher education.

Higher education is not the cure all many people make it out to be.

Getting a higher education is not the rosy picture many people claim it to be.

I did go on to college, yet in six months of working I learned more than the 3 years I attended college.

Is it brainwashing to tell a child to look both ways before crossing the street?

Is it brainwashing to tell a child a stove may be hot?

.

Answer 11

You would think that JWs would gain credibility by advocating higher education. I find it very odd that they dismiss it as irrelevant, as if they want to keep their flock "dumbed down." That's suspicious to me. Very suspicious.