So what IS wrong with higher Education?

by LoisLane looking for Superman 42 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • Fencing
    Fencing

    Higher education (typically a 4-year degree or above) teaches you critical thinking skills. They teach you how to correctly and objectively analyze data to come to your own logical conclusions. As opposed to primary education and trade schools (or 2-year degrees) which are more about teaching you a specific skillset, but not necessarily the reasoning behind those skills. In other words, advanced education teaches you how to think for yourself, whereas basic education teaches you *what* to think. Which is why the Society has always allowed for the attendance of trade schools. In fact, the Pew study indicated that Witnesses have one of the highest High School graduation rates in the country, but the lowest college education rates.

    Critical Thinking is anathema to the WTS (and, really, all religion because throught history knowledge has always been the enemy of religion) because it eliminates Magical Thinking and faith. I have heard COs say that it is almost impossible to go to a 4-year college and remain a JW afterwards. This is very true, but not for any reaons that the WTS would publically admit - they usually blame parties, drinking, sex, drugs, etc. It's actually because when the Society's teachings are objectively analyzed using proper logical reasoning, the whole thing very quickly falls apart.

    Mormons also faced the same problems, but they addressed differently. Instead of demonizing any pursuit of higher education, they created BYU, which Mormons are encouraged to attend for secondary education, where they can continue to be indoctrinated in Mormon theology and be surrounded by other believers who are all being socially pressured to follow the herd.

  • Heaven
    Heaven

    I had thought this animosity towards higher education was fairly new, but I found similar articles from the 70's.

    jgnat, you are correct.

    As a matter of fact, the May 1969 Awake had the following quote (I was 5 years old then):

    Awake!1969 May 22 p.15 - "If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. ... Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in highschool and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone!"

    In 1975 I turned 12. By the time me and my younger bro were ready to go off to College Armageddon hadn't shown and it was several years past 1975.

    Mom instructed to "get good jobs at good companies". BUT.... we couldn't attend post secondary school education because "the new system was so close".

    Both me and my bro told her we can't get good jobs without further education after high school. We did not heed her advice on the education and went to College. Glad we did.

  • Oubliette
    Oubliette

    Fencing: In other words, advanced education teaches you how to think for yourself, whereas basic education teaches you *what* to think.

    The WT leadership knows this:

    THERE is a difference—a big difference—between education and propaganda. Education shows you how to think. Propaganda tells you what to think. Good educators present all sides of an issue and encourage discussion. Propagandists relentlessly force you to hear their view and discourage discussion . - Awake!, June 22, 2000, pp. 9-11 – [Emphasis added]

  • LoisLane looking for Superman
    LoisLane looking for Superman

    Wow. Great comments!

    Yes...The Society knows what they are doing. Their writing committee knows what propaganda is. All of their literature is full of it

    Just Lois

  • wasblind
    wasblind

    There are two ways to keep people enslaved

    1) Is from the threat of bein' physically separated from loved ones

    and 2) To control the minds of the followers , make them believe

    that it is in thier best interest to do what the Master / Governing Body bids

    I would like to share from my perspective as a woman

    of African decent, who is also an American who still lives in the south today

    The WTS has most definitely taken a page outta the

    Ol' Southern Slave masters playbook. All wraped up in a religion

    to keep what they do legal. Which is force people to work for free

    for a Publishin' Co.

    Slaves were forbidden to be educated. To learn how to think

    apart from the master/ Governing Body. This in its self would posed

    a great threat to the powers that be

    Witnesses teach what they don't rightly understand

    because of constant adjustments in the things they are taught

    They are taught that they don't need to understand. Jus' do it.

    Slaves were not expected to understand what the master/Governing Body

    directed them to do. Again. Jus' do it

    # 32 Sell this crap wit' conviction____Theocratic Ministry School book page 194

    Independent thought's from the master/Governing Body is a No No

    Now lets go foward

    My mom was born in the great depression. In that time

    on up into the 50's and 60's, The only jobs blacks could get

    were the jobs that the WTS encourage thier members to get today

    Jaintors and housekeepers

    Low wage payin' jobs that you could barely sustain a livin' out of

    Non- Witnessess are taught that to improve your lot in life

    Education was the key to do so

    I have a daughter, whose grandmother and great grandmother

    served as housekeepers in the homes of the well to do

    My grandmother only had a third grade education

    My mother dropped out in the ninth, because the family

    had to morgage the farm for her operation, and she had to

    go to work in the homes of the well to do to help pay off that morgage

    When the Equal Opportunity laws were past, my mom finally

    had a chance to get a better payin' job to support her children

    The WTS is a throw back to slavery and the Jim Crow laws of the south

  • goatshapeddemon
    goatshapeddemon

    Very interesting perspective, wasblind. I appreciate your perspective.

  • snare&racket
    snare&racket

    Hello there.... I'd like to sell you this fine new secret formula that when applied in an appropriate way that is being refined nearly every bloody year, it will allow you to live forever... Just put this chain around your neck and if I just staple these rules to your chest.. Now just sign and date here...

    OH WAIT.... Thanks for all this free stuff, the chains and the staples and the rules etc, but I think I'm going to go learn history/law/science/medicine/maths where I will develop my logic/reasoning/critical-appraisal/desicions making/probability skills! Why don't I go there and do that and then come back?

    OHHHHHHHhhhhhhh Noooooooooo...... Hasnt anyone told you? The likelihood is, if you go there and do that.... The secret formula wont work, it will rub off and you will DIE like everyone else attending there. Besides everyone going there come away thinking they are special and above everyone else, why not stay here with us chosen few people and be the only people to survive the end of the world ? Hmmmm? Plus you will only get financially secure, statistically healthier, more content and more rounded as a human being,,.. I mean...look at how sturdy these chains are... Oh and don't forget the secret Formula... You don't want to die do you?

    i once read that everyone dies and that everyone will die....

    well that's from people that have never had OUR secret formula..... Its the kind of thing your 'academics' or lets call them 'nobles' so then we can read the scripture 'do not put your trust in nobles' and pretend it means science.... So yes, it's the kind of thing they say.... And guess what! They all secretly work for the competitor!

    The who?

    Shitan, the seller of evil secret formulas that will give you all knowledge of good and bad for just $6.66 ..... Not a bad price really, considering his import costs and overheads, those new chloride filters he has added must have cost at least....anyway..... He runs the universities and history books and Internet and anything that says i am nuts....

    Hmmmm....

    GET THOSE FUC*ING CHAINS ON BEFORE I CUT YOU OFF FROM YOUR FAMILY... Clunk click.....right....sign there...good, and date it....good.... Now go find a wife, have a baby, come back to me, ill have a cracking deal at 16 years old for when their life begins too... Bye.

    etc etc etc

  • LoisLane looking for Superman
    LoisLane looking for Superman

    Was Blind and Snare&Racket, I really appreciate your perspective because you are both exactly right.

    The WTB&T$ is treating its members like they are the Masters and everyone else down the line are treated like their slaves.

    The WTB&T$ are a con, dispensing snake oil, to a naive, trusting audience.

    It's a TRICK people! Do you in all honesty think you will not die because some loud talkers in Brooklyn say so? Wake up - Wake - up.

    Get an education, get training in what you want to do, to enjoy your life now...yes to its fullest because, sorry to tell you, (everybody else in this world of 7 billion people already know this) YOU ARE GOING TO DIE.

    So get an education, or don't get an education...the choice is yours alone, not the GB. The GB have their retirement plans all made. Do you? They go on vacation every year. Do you? They drive in new shiny chauffeured automobiles for free. Do you? They get their laundry especially done. Do you? Their meals are prepared for them. Are yours? Their apartments are daily cleaned for them for free. Are yours? Do you understand what is being said here? Do you?

    Just Lois...Just trying to Wake - up some humble, trusting souls to think. Thinking is a good thing. Now, what are you going to do about it?

  • GRexBolt
    GRexBolt

    I'm a Jehovah's witness and i know there's nothing wrong with a higher education. It's all about God. When armageddon comes you won't need an education. The only education anyone needs is one towards God."This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one you sent forth, Jesus Christ."-John 17:3

  • Laika
    Laika

    Too much freedom. The ideal in Watchtower World is to live at home with your JW parents until you are married to a JW. Going to University can interrupt that.

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit