To many, the notion that churches in "Christendom" could be zealous - in contrast to the indifference of the Watchtower Society -
might seem radical. However, there is a recent, powerful example concerning marriage and divorce.
A number of churches are developing "marriage mentor" programs or other premarital counseling plans to reduce the divorce rate.
Examples include PREPARE ( Premarital Personal and Relationship Evaluation) and FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication
Understanding and Study). Many of these churches are reporting dramatic declines in divorce among couples that have been trained
in building a stable marriage. There is also a program called PREP that counsels couples how to deal with conflict that claims a 3%
divorce rate after five years compared to a 16% rate in a control group.
Why shouldn't couples be strongly encouraged to receive training before they get married? Why should such a central part of most people's
lives be entered into without solid preparation?
Of course, the indifferent ( and lazy ) approach would be ignore the problems with Witness marriages, try to punish people who stray,
and generally proclaim the fantasy that they live in a "spiritual paradise" ( not unlike the "worker's paradise" promised by Communists)
And then there's education: Lots of churches actually encourage higher education! (gasp!) They may build universities like
Notre Dame or BYU.................and there's a darn good reason why. The Wall Street Journal of March 25, 2006 pg A8 reported on the
average annual earnings by amount of education as provided by the US Census Bureau:
high school diploma 27,915
College Degree 51,206
Advanced Degree 74,602
Note that the difference between high school and an advanced degree is getting near a 3 to 1 ratio !!! What does this tell you about the
stress that will be placed on "loyal" Witnesses and their marriages?
Of course, once again, the lazy and careless way to deal with this issue is exactly what Watchtower Central is doing: discouraging
higher education and proclaiming "the Lord will provide, brother" ....... while funding the Circuit Overseer's car, expenses, auto insurance
and health insurance .. and maybe even a little pension.
and they call themselves "zealous"? for who? themselves?
metatron