Flipper,
I've been a McCartney fan for about 50 years now. Of course, I did boycott early Wings b/c of his messing with the Beatles. Spent thousands of dollars on good seats for every one of his performances in NY. It was worth every penny magnified by about 1,000.
Sometimes John would be my favorite. Sometimes Paul. Paul was my first celebrity crush and my most enduring. I thought they would be popular for six months. Ha. He is touring now. I can't buy a ticket and see a ballet performance this summer. My gut is to see the ballet which has me wondering if I need to go to a psych er,
My point is that specific knowledge is not as important as the ability to think in a focused way about everything in life. My freshman college class was horrible. I came from an urban ghetto. Other women were the daughters of ambasssadors. They assumed we had English comp skills. My high school was very different. I received As for knowing the names of the main characters and a rough idea of the plot. The private skill crowd so glib about character development, drawing parallels to other authors, musicians, etc. I absolutely freaked. If I took the course today, I could fake my way. I don't know more facts. Maybe some self-confidence.
I was preparing to go to court for a foster parent order so my father would not pull me from high school to bag groceries as a good Witness. It was very embarassing. It is hard to articulate. Whatever the world called up, the society called down. It confused me no end. I just wanted to please everyone in my life. The Witnesses thought my academic career was trash. If I told my worldly friends what the Witnesses taught and how it affected me, they admonished me for believing the Witnesses who were obviously idiots. Closed case. I had to choose someone's disdain. Basically, I had to say that my parents wre no good and all my child certainties were merely fantasies. As a child, Witness persecution made me feel bonded to the KH. I paid my dues. It was very confusing.
Of course, no one should think or God forbid, read a Bible for yourself. Does it have to be so? Why can't we have sculptors, and chefs, and violin makers? It boils down to time for the Society. I was a teenage candy striper. When i wanted it as setting for MS, my mom explained that no one should know I was a hopsital volunteer. I was completely confused. Teenage hospital volunteers are admired. I was forced to quit as punishment for being worldly. What is paradise on earth with JW music? Is paradise the illustrations from the WT? What is wrong with honing and developing the gifts Jehovah gave us for the benefit of the Society?
Something else besides critical thinking or time is involved. Maybe I can't formulate it now but I feel it my gut. Either people on this board are too sensitive to the issue or the WT is really pressing it? I suggest they press a knowledge of the gospels. Jesus expressed no opinion about education. He was highly skilled yet certainly his carpentry was a total waste of time b/c he knew he was going to be crucified and rise. Paul was extremely educated. Why can't JW use these skills for the glory of God.
