I only mention this because a friend was telling me last night of his JW extended family being so resistant to any talk of college for their not so young children. He talked about how these kids are so talented and smart and their plans for after HS are "get a job" and "ministry"
Well, we all know how hard it is to pay for the most basic needs (food, shelter) on the kind of job you get with nothing more than a HS education. I told him about my past growing up as a JW child and how when I was in, we were supposed to be in the New System of Things by 1975. Here it is 2007 and here we all still are in the same old system. I'd think most parents would be practical and impress on their kids to be able to feed and house themselves in the here and now.. and be really happy if they didn't have to because their Paradise Earth had come about.
Anyway, any thought on how to help this message get through?
2007-09-20 08:41:22 · 10 answers · asked by PediC 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
well, it's considered "outreach" Alyssa. Why does it matter to you? Do you want to support these kids later on?
Moises, aren't you an engineer? I'd say you're not using your head in this answer. Try giving up your salary for minimum wage and see if you can feed and house yourself.
2007-09-20 08:50:52 · update #1
practically.. people need to know just how much it costs to live, and then... what kind of jobs can you get on a HS education that would allow you just to exist, no frills. Maybe that's my next project.
2007-09-20 08:53:52 · update #2
good point, Simon. there are ways to do it on your own.. if federal funding isn't cut.
2007-09-20 09:23:17 · update #3
JR, I'm happy to hear that, seriously.
2007-09-20 09:27:30 · update #4
Perhaps they could be shocked into realising the need to waken up to harsh realities by showing them old Watchtower Society literature.
For example, the 1 Nov. 1938 'Watchtower' had an article called 'Fill The Earth', which said that Armageddon was just ahead and the survivors would be privileged to then fulfil the divine mandate to fill the earth. Thus the Jonadabs (a name for the newly 'discovered' earthly class of JWs) should not marry and rear children because of the urgency of witness work. P324-5 said, "It would therefore appear that there is no reasonable or Scriptural injunction to bring children into the world immediately before Armageddon, where we now are." [1938!]
I personally knew a married couple who became JWs in 1934; their 1st born son had just died, and they had no more children until 1946! This was not coincidence, but obedience to that Society instruction! If they had left it 2 or 3 years later, the wife would have been post-menopausal and unable to have any children. This shows how JWs can allow their lives to be controlled by the Wt.Soc.
In 1987, Watchtower mag 15 Nov had articles urging single JWs not to marry or have children but to pioneer! And if they do as urged, leaving school to pioneer, what's the use of higher qualifications? The quicker they leave school, the better! Pioneering should be their career and no secular qualifications are needed for that. Ditto 1993, 15 Apr., 1996 15 Oct.,1997 1 Dec., 1999 15 Jan p11 - 'Today some [JWs] are pursuing... careers' and not said with approval! & 1 Sept. & 15 Nov., 2001 15 March - Bethel service urged, 2002 1 Oct., 2003 1 April, 2004 1 May, 2005 15 July article - Single and Contented in Jehovah's Service p8, & 15 Oct article on education. Lip service is sometimes paid to getting a 'good' education but in practice the pressure is consistently on young JWs to get out of secular education as soon as possible in order to pioneer to work at Bethel.
2007-09-20 10:06:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Am being nice again.
People in Jesus’ day were living under very difficult circumstances. In addition to making a living, they had to bear the harsh rule of the Romans and the oppressive burden of the formalistic religionists of the day. Still, many who heard about Jesus gladly set aside personal pursuits even careers, and became his followers. (Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9; Colossians 4:14) Were those disciples taking a risk and endangering their future? Note Jesus’ words: “Everyone that has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive many times more and will inherit everlasting life.” (Matthew 19:29) Jesus assured his followers that the heavenly Father knew their needs. He therefore urged them: “Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33.
The World Book Encyclopedia suggests, one of the main aims of schooling is to train children for day-to-day living, which includes enabling them to care for the needs of a family one day. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe this is a sacred responsibility.
The Bible itself says: “Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith.” (1 Timothy 5:8) The years spent at school prepare children for the responsibilities they will take on in life. Accordingly, Witnesses feel that education should be taken very seriously.
Witnesses endeavor to live by the Bible command: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23, Today’s English Version) This principle applies to all aspects of daily life, including school. Witnesses thus encourage their youngsters to work hard and to take seriously the tasks assigned to them at school.
2007-09-20 10:55:37 · answer #2 · answered by BJ 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
When you figure out the answer to that, then you'd better be prepared to tell them how to get financial aid from our goverment so they can attend, cuz you know they will not receive one red cent of monetary support from their JW families.
I do have one idea for you though: Perhaps refer them back to the examples of everyone who had to live screwed up adult hoods because they were told to forego higher education, promotions, etc. because the world was going to end in 1975.
2007-09-20 09:14:18 · answer #3 · answered by Simon Peter 5 · 6⤊ 3⤋
Much more important than where they get their education is encouraging them to leave their cult and become Christians. Belonging to a very nice and caring social club masquerading as a Christian church is not the way to get into heaven. Parents who lead children into a cult will answer dearly for it on Judgement Day.
2007-09-20 08:50:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 3⤋
Well first you have to convice the whole USA cause according to statics the majority of them (americans) don´t pursue higher education, in my case I am structural engineer in my country Dominican Republic, but in USA is not necessary.
Yes I am engineer do you want to try me? you can learn a lot of thing inside the construction field that pay sometimes more than an architect. for example the guy who is in charge of a batching plant in the concrete indistry earn mora than a regular engineer and you just need to know the enough math to calculate the weight of materials and cement and the water cement ratio.
I can give you more than 25 different things that you can study to earn good money, inthe university the half of the time is spent in signatures that are almost useless. believe me I know, and if you don´t believe me I can send you the program of my career to see yourself.
2007-09-20 08:47:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
I'm always seeing Jehovah's Witnesses attending small schools and colleges, which don't affect their time in the ministry.
You won't accept any answers a JWs gives you so why brother asking?
2007-09-20 09:11:48 · answer #6 · answered by VMO 4 · 4⤊ 4⤋
I think that the children of Jehovah's Witnesses will do just fine without your help. Why did God die and make you ruler?
Why don't you worry about suporting yourself and leave everyone else alone. What a control freak.
2007-09-20 08:48:59 · answer #7 · answered by cloud 7 · 4⤊ 5⤋
I don't see it as any of my business. If the hog is happy in its wallow, let wallow.
2007-09-20 08:47:09 · answer #8 · answered by B.Hound 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm afraid that in your condition, you are in no position to help anyone.
Do you have any other hobbies besides attacking a particular religion? How about stamp collecting?
2007-09-20 08:51:57 · answer #9 · answered by ? 1 · 2⤊ 5⤋
How can we get you to see that it is none of your business.
2007-09-20 15:31:00 · answer #10 · answered by DEBBO 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋