Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

Why does the Watchtower discourage teenagers to go to college or university to follow their dreams. In the magazines from the Watchtower they indirectly make youngsters feel guilt from wanting to have high paying careers that require years of study or even wanting to be in Sports or acting or singing careers.

They don't directly say you can't be a Doctor or a Lawyer or a proffesional football player, but they do make you feel guilty for wanting such things.

But the funny thing is that Jehovah's Witnesses, although discourage their kids in becoming wealthy and popular, JW's do enjoy going to the movies, concerts, sport events. So they don't want JW's to be actors, etc, but at the same time they enjoy that other humans have dedicated their lifes to these type of careers.

What is that?

Answer 1

Because a higher education would expose them to critical thinking and they might begin to question the validity of the things they have been taught in the religion. If they get too smart, they'll leave and there will be no one left to sell magazines door to door.

Answer 2

We dedicate our lives to Jehovah and we know that this world is temporary and whatever future we might attain in this world will eventually dissapear so why use our time in gaining lots of money when we can just spend our life serving Jehovah our heavenly father.

I am attending college to be an ECG technician and I am a Jehovah's Witness. The thing about my schooling is that it doesn't take all my time I can make my own schedule and so I work around the meetings and service and also personal study and, yes, I attend regularly!

Being an actor and a sport superstar takes time and that is what you spend your whole life doing, its not like you can say hey, I can't be in this movie I have meeting. I don't think that would go over well with the director. So that is why and plus the movie business is not morally clean and we as Jehovah's people strive to maintain clean morally and spiritually. We like watching sports and going to concert and movies because we are normal people that like having fun in our spare time.

Hope this answered your questions!

Answer 3

There are a lot of JWs that go onto higher education. I became a public accountant and yax agent, friends of mine are becoming teachers and nurses.

The general enviroment in many collages / universtites are not good. balance is the key word between our dedication to do Gods will and maintaining a life now.

The most imprtant work a follower of Jesus could do is to follower the path he took and prach the good news of Gods Kingdom. BUt every ones circumsatances are different so balance is the key here.

Answer 4

I know of two self made millionaires in my congregation (Jehovahs Witness church). How do you think they get that far, with no education? No, they made their own businesses in different subjects / fields. They are not weak Christians either.

Jehovahs Witnesses are encouraged to be as Christ-like as possible. Did Jesus accept the invitation to be the most famous king in history on earth when the Jews tried to make him one? Did Jesus make a lot of money? No, he wanted to concentrate on the preaching work and serving God.

If a Jehovahs Witness wants to have a "good" career that's up to their own conscience. But like you said, the Jehovahs Witness society does try to promote your "career" with GOD rather than materialistic things, this is what being a Christian is all about ("picking up your cross/stake and becoming self sacrificing").

Unfortunately, riches and fame USUALLY does distract Christians from their worship to God. It becomes hard to "serve God with your WHOLE heart". Read the Gospels. E.g. the "Sermon on the mount".

Answer 5

It's all an investment of 'time'. it is a personal choice on where you want to invest your time. It's not that doing the thing is wrong...how could being good at sports be wrong?
What a funny thing to say...
how obtuse! Opaquely so...
George Benson, oh, why bother...just go to Famous Jehovah's Witnesses on Google, there's lots...some chose to stop investing their time in what they had been doing in turn for something they preferred more.
Is that unacceptable? Does this indicate that you know best for the rest of us? Have you made an informed decision for Jehovah's Witnesses? And what if the tables were turned? Instead of asking you if you'd like to learn more from the bible, we just told you to...like Hitler...not a very 'free' lifestyle, after all...

MATO: I'll have to tell your comment to my friends, Pat and Laurie; they are both Professors at S.F.U.
I'm sure they'll get a real chuckle out of your 'higher learning' criticism...lol...

Answer 6

Your entire line of reasoning is twisted. Kids go to school to further their education, to be a well rounded thinking person, to get a well paying job in the future. As well as possibly being married & having kids, in the future you still have to provide for them. Now, if you don't go to college, that does not mean you can't get a well paying job. You can work your way up in a company. Get raises, and all that. The point is to put Kingdom interests FIRST. That Jehovah knows we need these things is not a mystery, and He will provide for us, as we put Kingdom interests FIRST.

What does the Bible, God's written word say about the matter? He is after all, the final authority in all matters.

Answer 7

Jehovah God wanted us to use his name. Matthew 6:9, Jesus told us that we should pray: "Our Father in the heavens, let your NAME be SANCTIFIED." Also Isaiah 43:10 also brings out that Jehovah said, "You are my WITNESSES." God is a Title. Even with Arabs. A good dictionary will show you, “Allah” is a shortened form of the Arabic term meaning “the god", this is not a name. The title “God” is neither personal nor distinctive. In the Hebrew Scriptures the same word (ʼElo‧him′) is applied to Jehovah, the true God, and also to false gods. The Imperial Bible-Dictionary says: “It is everywhere a proper name, denoting the personal God and him only; whereas Elohim partakes more of the character of a common noun, denoting usually, indeed, but not necessarily nor uniformly, the Supreme. . . . The Hebrew may say the Elohim, the true God, in opposition to all false gods; but he never says the Jehovah, for Jehovah is the name of the true God only. He says again and again my God . . . ; but never my Jehovah, for when he says my God, he means Jehovah. He speaks of the God of Israel, but never of the Jehovah of Israel, for there is no other Jehovah. He speaks of the living God, but never of the living Jehovah, for he cannot conceive of Jehovah as other than living.” Hope This Helps

Answer 8

I know of many faiths that enjoy movies and whatnot, however, to use the example of being an actor, it is VERY hard to do that and follow the life of a Christian.

Our prioraties in life as Christians, should be, surprise, being Christian.

I personally know several Witnesses who went to college, some benefitted, others didn't.

I personally have never felt guilt in my plans/ideas of going to college. The point of education should be, to some extent, to get a job to support one's self.

Consider, Christ was perfect, he could've been many things, what was his priority?? It was the ministry. Why do people go to religious services if they aren't going to be preachers??

Answer 9

Jehovahs Witnesses dedicate their lives to Jehovah God and the doing of his will.
We are very much aware that what this world has to offer is only temporary at best and what Jehovah promises is everlasting.
Money and riches cannot buy salvation.
We do not encourage sporting activities as they promote a fiercely competitive spirit which does not reflect Christian qualities.
Gal.5:26:"Let us not become egotistical,stirring up competition with one another."
Just because Witnesses dont encourage each other to become actors and singers is no reason why they cant go to the movies or enjoy a opera!! If someone wants to become an actor or singer that is their choice.And as Witnesses it is our choice not to.
What is your problem with Jehovahs Witnesses. Why dont you question the Catholic Church about the blessing of soldiers prior to going to war.Or Muslims for encouraging murdering non Muslims??
Good grief.Is this the worst Witnesses can do - go to the movies because they dont become actors - get a grip!!

Answer 10

I always found it interesting that witnesses despise getting involved in sports meaning playing sports, or attending college but they regularly attend major sports events as a form of "entertainment". If it is not ok to join sports organizations because of too much pride, contention and competitiveness, etc., then why go sit and sideline the very thing that is detestable to [Jehovah] God?

They say a man must have a good job and be a proper provider for his home and family, but then they oppose college?? The same rules that go for those that don't attend college should be for those that do: Watch your associations and keep up your personal study and meetings.

Something is wrong.

Answer 11

Look at what the world has to offer and Look what Jehovah has to offer. Would you like to store up treasures on earth or store up treasures in heaven?

Can Money Bring You the Real Life?
Your money or your life?
http://watchtower.org/e/20010615/article_01.htm
Appeared in The Watchtower June 15, 2001
Money Mania
Among human desires and passions—legitimate or otherwise—the love of money vies for the lead. Unlike the desire for sex and food, the mania for money can be constant and unending. Old age does not seem to assuage it. In many cases advancing years may actually increase a person's interest in or concern about money and what it can buy.

Greed seems to be escalating. The main character in one popular movie said: "Greed works. Greed is good." Although many referred to the 1980's as the Age of Greed, what came before and after shows that human reaction to money has changed little through the years.

What probably is new is that so many people see opportunities to satisfy instantly the desire for more. It seems that much of the world most of the time spends most of its energy producing and acquiring more and more things. You may agree that having material possessions and spending money have become a passionate—and often most imaginative—endeavor in modern-day life.

But are people happier as a result? Answering that question, wise and very wealthy King Solomon wrote 3,000 years ago: "A mere lover of silver will not be satisfied with silver, neither any lover of wealth with income. This too is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 5:10) Modern social studies provide similarly interesting conclusions.


Money and Happiness

One of the most surprising findings regarding human behavior is that the accumulation of money and material things does not necessarily provide a corresponding increase in satisfaction and happiness. What many researchers have come to realize is that once a person reaches a certain level of affluence, his sense of well-being is independent of how many material goods are available to him.

Thus, the unbridled pursuit of material goods and money leaves many wondering, 'We seem to enjoy each of the new things we buy; yet, why is it, when all is said and done, that these pleasures do not add up to any greater sense of satisfaction?'

In his book Happy People, author Jonathan Freedman notes: "Once some minimal income is attained, the amount of money you have matters little in terms of bringing happiness. Above the poverty level, the relationship between income and happiness is remarkably small." Many have come to realize that what really matters for individual happiness is that one has spiritual assets, meaningful pursuits in life, and moral values. Also important are human relationships and freedom from the conflicts or constrictions that could prevent us from enjoying what we have.

Many see at the root of most of the present social ills the tendency to try to use material prosperity to solve what are really inner troubles. Some social commentators speak of a general mood of pessimism and discontent. They also note the increased tendency of people in affluent societies to consult therapists or to seek meaning and inner harmony from gurus, cults, and quasi-therapeutic groups. This attests to the failure of material goods to add real meaning to life.
Power and Powerlessness of Money

Granted, money has power. It can buy fine homes, elegant wardrobes, and dazzling furnishings. It may also buy adulation, compliance, or flattery, even producing a few temporary and obliging friends. But that is about as far as the power of money goes. What we need most, money cannot buy—the love of one true human friend, peace of mind, a crumb of heartfelt solace in the hour of death. And for those who cherish their relationship with the Creator, money cannot buy God's approval.

BTW I accidently gave a thumbs up to what Franklin said.....not my intention to do that. Wish we can un thumbs up the person that we mistakenly thumbs up! So I give him a *thumbs down*