Regular pioneering ... not going to college or university is a wise decision that will make you happy. Watchtower June 15, 2012

Wow...are you sure this wasn't published back in the early 70's ?

It's like Deja Vu, it sure inspired me to Reg. Pioneer pre-Armageddon.

Oddly, out of all my JW relatives *I* am the only one who sees this hypocrisy.

Does it matter that it took 30 years...? 

Proofreading didn't get properly done on that paragraph. Here, let me make some corrections...

If you are a young Christian JW who is close to finishing your schooling, you probably have good health, and few responsibilities, and are still pretty niave. Have you thought seriously about regular pioneeringbecoming a pawn for a multi-national printing corporation? Your teachers probably believe that going to college or university is the best way that you can plan your future, rather than planning for our future. Their trust is in human organizations and in moneycritical thinking skills and wanting you to become a productive, independent member of society. But we hope that these have no future, and that you have no future outside of Watchtower Corp. If you make Jehovah's service to the JW Governing Body your career, you will be usingwasting your time well and will be doing something that will give you us a lasting future. You will be imitating the perfectour fabricated example of Jesus. This is a wise decision that will make you us happy. It will protect you us. It will show that you will not let anything, like facts, information, or reality, stop you from keeping your promise to serve Jehovah the Governing Body of Watchtower Corporation.

There, I think that's more accurate.

I have to say I love you all.  Hilarious!  Bethlehem State!  I am laughing out loud at work!

LOL with Botz.  I must say that the new Botzwana is a much more likable character than your first incarnation.

Cheers 

Chris

I loved that billy

smiddy

Oh to be still living in Cloud Cuckoo Land!

Bill.

Cults require their people to give over their lives, money, or time to the cult's goals.  Religions give people hope and courage in which to fulfill (not thwart) their talents.

I remember hearing a preacher speak once.  So different from the Watchtower.  His gist was that God made each of us as INDIVIDUALS, having different talents and abilities.  It is a slap in God's face to not use one's talents and abilities to glorify God.  Some people are good at science or math.   To serve God, going to college, becoming an engineer, doctor, scientist, professor, IS serving God.   Even a plumber who goes to trade school is glorifying God.  A mother who stays at home to raise her kids is glorifying God; as is the career woman who shows her kids that women are valued in the marketplace.

This is just like the bird that flies, glorifies God.  The whale that migrates the oceans, glorifies God.  And, the man who achieves his talents glorifies God.  That man, is a happier person and produces a happy, loving world.

But, to the Watchtower Society, the only way to glorify God is to forego one's owns talents to sell magazines & books. Well, nowadays, it's to get a new convert who will buy up all those magazines and books.  Oh wait, it's a publishing comany.  Now, it makes sense!  They need foot salesman, not scientists or engineers!

Skeeter

Yeah, Bethlehem State really wanted Jesus.  He was perfect at shooting 3 pointers.

JK

Their trust is in human organizations and in money.

Don't you see there's no need to plan ahead.

If you imitate Jesus you'll die by age 35.

Problem solved!

This is horrifying to read, notice how they have gone backwards too... Now college is a no no again. These are people's lives they are flip-flopping with!

Education is not all about making money or getting amazing jobs, only JWs and conservative oldies are preoccupied with this idea. It's about knowledge, self development, expanding a passion, meeting people from around the world, finding your strengths and weaknesses and interests and for me, most importantly, learning how to critically appraise information. Not to mention the countless academic and sport activities outside your degree.

 I am still in my degree but thanks to the university ethos of positive development, access to information, research facilities, research grants and  networks of intellect and experience.... I am now an inventor, with a patent. I have a business with a Russell Group University as a partner (50/50). I have lead research for the invention with government funding, I have written papers, I hope to publish  papers and audit healthcare policy next year. Most exciting, in may I have free reign to start my own 9 week research project, where I will make my first contribution to the worlds knowledge. What a privilege!  There is less geeky stuff too, I have had the cool experience of working at cool sporting events too (f1 etc) and saving the best until last... I have helped people. This being by far the most rewarding! I spent my youth wanting to save lives, I help do it daily, all day now.

The invention has been evaluated to potentially prevent hundreds of thousands of people having a reduced  quality of life and disease annually in the Uk. Also  halting amputation and preventable irreversible damage. It has conservative estimates of saving 3000 lives a year in England and Wales, and saving the equiveant of a crashing jumbo jet full of people every 3 days in the USA ( odd analogy but the numbers equate.) The annual global figures, who knows!? In the uk it will save £300 million to the health service (conservative) a year. In addition to all this it will allow new unique research in saving lives. I am hoping we can build it in the uk and create jobs too. 

Yet according to the Watchtower there is no future in my activities and I could make better use of my time.....

Would I give it all up to become a window cleaner / preacher for a book company again ? Would I swap it for my job back in Bethel? Would I in a million years swap my seat in University in exchange for my life of free labour building halls, assembly buildings, knocking endlessly on empty doors persuading middle aged men they needed a magazine on coping with the menopause, or keeping on the watch or that they just had to read the article on Jamaicas Coconuts, natures milkshakes!  Nahhhhh I wouldn't. 

Education is THE BEST thing you can do with your time, hence from 4 to 16 yrs old, modern society compells you to pursue it. Learning and contributing to the worlds knowledge base is something anyone and everyone can do! How many JWs actually pioneer? How many elders/elders wives pioneer? I don't mean the token 1 month to 3 months a year, I mean believing this shit so much you give your life to it!?  Hardly any.... yet there are not paragraphs talking about the futility of those non pioneering people and their mindless careers and JW businesses!  If a JW doesn't want to pioneer, easily 95%+ of them, then their argument does not stack up, if it's work in a shoe shop 3 years or better yourself with education with POTENTIAL for a better job, then do it! The reality is there are jobs after education, and when post grads can't get jobs, well duh guess who REALLY can't get jobs!? The no high school grades worth peeing on, experience in mowing lawns and public speaking JW!

As for the debt, this is spouted by people without an education debt for if they had been to uni they would know how the payback scheme works and it is perfectly fair (well...it was). If you can't afford it, you don't pay it. If you can afford it, you pay VERY little. I am accumulating  £1300 a year fees to study Medicine + living costs of about £5000 a year. It's a 6 year degree, but the last 2 years are covered by the health service. It's a bargain!

I am shocked to hear how many JW children are taught at home nowadays and so insufficiently  its at the point of being illegal. 7 hrs a day of organised curriculum for 12 years does not equate to baking cakes for cookery, cleaning the yard for DT and an hour of maths after a morning of ministry. It's disgusting and in my eyes tantamount to abuse, they are denying the child a future, autonomy and a fair chance at life!

Knowledge is power....... It's a saying for a reason!

snare&racket,

I can only say "well said."

Bill.

From - The Watchtower (simplified) June 15, 2012 pg. 25 par. 15

Maybe if more JWs went to college they wouldn't need a "simplified" version of The Watchtower.

snare&racket, I have actually tattoed "Knowledge is power" on my arm :) Not regretted it a second. 

Scientia potentia est. -Francis Bacon

Edit:  It is commonly attributed to Sir Francis Bacon, though it is debated. 

Hello everyone,

I could not resist and inspite of poor health I would like to post a remeinder ...published by the mighty WTBS Inc

only...43  years ago!

1***

and 2 ***

I'm sorry for the format, will you please excuse me.

All the best,

J.C.MacHislopp

This is just nutty stuff.  The religion is so damn bi-polar (no offense to anyone that truly suffers from this horrific condition).

Can they ever be pinned down on what they mean?

How does one rectify this future article with the current BOE letter recently offered here ?

Trying to understand the positions of this Organization causes a person insanity.

Uhhh, okay, so, Community College, that is or isn't "higher education" ... an associate's degree, is or isn't higher education ... please tell me mother so I can be an obedient follower ... so 12 years of regular schooling is enough or isn't it, sometimes but not always?  and teachers and counselors are giving good advice to get additional education as long as it is less than four years but if they suggest university and 4 year or longer degrees they are a tool of the devil?  ... WHAT!?