When the JW Broadcasting website was first announced at last year’s annual meeting I immediately relished the prospect of seeing Tony Morris in front of the camera in glorious technicolor for an hour-long show.
I consider myself Tony’s number 1 troll. He is, in my opinion, the most deluded, controversial and intellectually-challenged of all the Governing Body members, and I unashamedly thrive on his misadventures.
As Tony’s train-wreck performance at the 2014 U.S. branch visit showed (which has yet to find a place in the “on demand” section of tv.jw.org), his unguarded rants are an Achilles heel when it comes to exposing the authoritarian, backwards thinking of the Governing Body.
I was nearing the end of my recent stay in Belgium when the news came through that the new January 2015 episode of JW Broadcasting was Tony’s slot. I immediately watched the first 10 minutes with one question on my mind: “Would they let him speak his mind, or would they write his script for him and keep him on a tight leash?”
To watch the Tony Morris presentation without my comments, click here.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this was indeed an authentic Tony Morris offering of verbal flatulence of the type other Governing Body members struggle to replicate. Here was a man whose ignorance was on show for all to see; who had no qualms about uttering such ‘pearls’ as…
“If we are in continued association with those who do not believe the same, it can erode our thinking and convictions.”
“It is one thing to work on a job with others, and quite another matter to immerse oneself in an institution of ‘learning’!”
“I have long said: the better the university, the greater the danger. The most intelligent and eloquent professors will be trying to reshape the thinking of your child, and their influence can be tremendous.”
The above three quotes show in a nutshell why Watchtower is so terrified of young Witnesses going to college and university. They know full well that the critical thinking skills gained, which are an essential part of learning, can equip a person to quickly see through their propaganda.
Put simply, education is Watchtower’s enemy. Knowledge is the antidote to their indoctrination techniques.
Nothing spells this out more clearly than the scripture chosen by Tony as a ‘basis’ for the prohibition on higher education. When the Apostle Paul, himself the beneficiary of a good education (or so we are told), spoke about “bad associations spoiling useful habits” he was apparently issuing a call to arms against the Ivy League. (1 Cor. 15:33)
The flimsiness of this scriptural invocation should by itself tell parents and budding students everything they need to know about Watchtower’s motives. Watchtower’s notion of “bad association” in this context is spending time with clever, well-read people who will help you to think for yourself.
But if there is one thing you should never underestimate, it is the potency of Watchtower’s coercion techniques on its indoctrinated prey. And in Tony Morris’ half-hour rant against eduction, these were out in full force.
A classic example can be found between 07:25 and 08:20, where Tony regurgitates a hypothetical scenario (repeated from earlier talks, see video below) in which parents drop off their child to attend university, and enroll him/her at the local kingdom hall only for ‘disaster’ to ensue once the child makes a break for it and starts missing meetings.
“My question is,” bellows an indignant Tony, “who dropped them off at the university?”
Thus the “three F’s” of a Tony Morris talk are deployed:
- FEAR MONGERING – “Let me tell you about a nightmare scenario that could happen to you one day unless you shape up.”
- FINGER POINTING – “Allow me to single out those who fell short of Jehovah’s expectations in this scenario, and who will pay the price for doing so.”
- FAULT FINDING – “Most importantly, here are the main culprits in this whole sad story who bear the most responsibility and need to explain themselves to God.”
- There is a fourth “F” in a quintessential Tony Morris talk, but to spare your blushes I will refrain from telling you it.
As transparent as these methods may be to you and I, it is sad to consider that they will work only too well on Witnesses who are stricken deep within their indoctrination.
As I express in my video rebuttal to Tony’s speech, Watchtower’s prohibition on higher education is an abhorrent manifestation of the organization’s all-encompassing greed and solipsism. To hijack the hope, promise and potential of young people in this grotesque manner by stifling their opportunities and assimilating them into their propaganda machinery as “pioneers” is utterly reprehensible and immoral.
I can only hope that a fortunate few among the ranks of young Witnesses will see straight through Tony’s nasal oratory and seize their chance to make a break for it, and make something of themselves before the opportunity passes them by.
Further reading…
- Friendly Atheist article on Tony’s higher education rant
- Deluded or dangerous? My thoughts on Anthony Morris III following his Rome visit
- After his branch visit performance, is “Tight Pants Tony” now a liability for the Governing Body?
- Watchtower continues crusade against higher education
Related video…
@David, I looked at that thing you posted about what is acceptable dress when visiting Bethel and one of the things it said was “reflecting the decency and DIGNITY that befits dignity of Jehovah God.”
Dignity????
I’ve been thinking about that happy video & I have come up with 3 reasons why it’s been put out.
1. These happy little bethelites are trying to convince everyone (mainly themselves) that they are truly happy & that they are not mind controlled robots.
2. They’re showing the young ones that they don’t have to agree with everything ToMo3 has to say on matters. Which could form a split like the older churches have in the past between orthodox & contemporary.
Or,
3. The Society is having a mass exodus of young ones of late & this is a desperate attempt to keep them thinking that it’s cool & hip to work at bethel.
Either way, the religion is going through many drastic changes to survive. With the ever-changing modern world, they still look stuck in the 50’s.
It will be extremely hard for me to condense what I want to say about this subject… To hear the Society’s lawyer say that it would be a shame for schooling to consume 10 years of a young person’s life?!? Let me tell you something. The WT Society consumed FORTY years of my life, convincing me to put my life of hold because Armageddon was coming within a couple of months or years-that going to college would be a waste of time in view of that. We never made any money over what was needed to survive while we were pioneering, my husband was eldering, going out in service,etc. We did precisely what they are advocating and guess what? We have absolutely no savings for our retirement. We don’t even know how we are going to pay our electric bill or any other bills, for that matter. If any young people are reading this, PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN to this propaganda. You will live to regret it, as our situation only too well shows.
‘The naive person believes every word, but the shrewd on ponders each step.’ Prov.14:15.
Mara
@Mara, we all knew Matthew 24:24-25.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect (American Standard Version).
But Armageddon seemed so close, we didn’t believe Jesus was warning us. After all, we were doing the WARNING WORK, according to the WT.
I can’t get back the years I wasted believing WT lies. But maybe I can prevent other people from making the same mistake.
@Mara & White rabbit .We all feel like you both of sacrificing on the Altar of the Watchtower Decades of the BEST Years of our lives. But as many of us feel , Lets HELP as many as possible to stop making the same mistake !
@Grace . The 3 points you make about the HAPPY You Tube video are all valid. Warwick where the new Bethel & HQ for the GB needs a lot of young fit bodies to complete by end of 2017. But the GB are stooping so low to compromise their former condemnation of RAPPERS like Pharrell Williams & their Worldly Lyrics in most of his music ! ‘No Part of the World’ Hmmm???
LADIES & GENTS! I hope I am mistaken BUT the English version of HAPPY You tube video seems to have been taken down, GONE! The Spanish version is there still! I hope I am wrong & it is me has made a mistake But has the GB tried to do Damage Limitation ??
HAPPY@ Bethel has been taken down because of COPYRIGHT issues!! Complaint by a Bethelite ! Well well well!! Says it all! Will someone be REPROVED !!!
Key into Google ‘Pharrell Williams & United Nations’
He joined up with the UN for an International Day of Happiness in March 2014!This is CRAZY for GB last year at international convention Venues to have allowed this music in Kingdom Halls ??? Are the GB trying to screw up everyone’s mind or are they going MAD (Bi-Polar or Schizophrenic Tony Morris)
@Picked, the one posted under Spanish looks like the same video to me. I downloaded it from youtube, before that one goes missing too. There’s an addon for Firefox that lets you download youtube videos.
Anybody notice the heavy equipment dancing at about 4:14?
After watching the video for the 2nd time, I like it. The GB apparently can’t recognize good publicity when they see it. If they want to censor Bethelites, they should take down all the GB videos. Whenever they speak, they dig a deeper hole. How does that saying go … when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
Pickled Brain, I think that you are on to something. They have literally lost their minds and are scrambling to keep people in especially in the western countries. In our area we had 2 congregations meeting in the 1 hall, in the last couple of years both congs (around 120 publishers in each cong) have ended up with barely 30 attending so they have had to combine the 2. It went well for a while with ones coming out of the woodwork but now it’s deflated again with 50 to 60 or so turning up mid week. (So I have been told as we don’t go anymore). I wonder if the young ones are choosing college instead of cult indoctrination. I certainly hope so. To the younger JW’s take on board what these ones who have been through for your own sake. Don’t waste your life slaving for these sociopathic liars.
@White rabbit& @Grace. Thanks for your comments.
I think David Splane has a MANIC look in his eyes ! He SO LOVES his control of the Bethel Orchestra& Choir! Perhaps David could do a duo with Pharrell … The God of HELLFIRE..Stephen Letts needs to see a DOCTOR that specialises in FACIAL EXPRESSIONS especially when talking about young children. Very, Very disconcerting!Geoffrey Jackson & Tony Morris I think need to see a Psychologist in how to get rid of Narcisstic tendencies! Wonder if they both like SAUSAGES for breakfast in VIETNAM.!!Samuel Herd is the Joker (quite good one liners but BRAINWASHING is not a JOKE) Mark Sanderson is A Liar at 47 became GB member -If 1935 was when the calling for the Anointed stopped& Great Crowd started according to our Great President Adolf Rutherford).. Gerritt Losch- Biggest Coward not wanting to appear before Court on behalf of Watchtower to defend child abuse policies. Gerrit doesn’t answer to Watchtower . Hmmm?? And to think I didn’t eat RED SMARTIES in the 1970s because they had cochineal(beetles blood- blood fractions ) MY CONSCIENCE was finely tuned by Watchtower UNLIKE Dear Uncle Gerrit !! HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO MANIPULATED by these uneducated & wicked controlling MAD MEN???
@Pickled, don’t feel too bad. How many people followed Adolf Hitler? More than 8 million I think.
False christs are not so obvious. Jesus repeated the warning. Once at Matthew 24:5, and again at Matthew 24:24. And he foretold many would be misled.
It could be worse. We could still be blind to it, as many are.
@White Rabbit, in the Emphatic Diaglott published by the Watchtower in 1942 which I have, both Matthew 24:5 and Matthew 24:24, the Greek words for false Christs says at Matthew 24:5:
“Many shall come in the name of me, saying: “I am the Anointed; and many they shall deceive.” Starting at Matthew 24:23 it says in the Greek “Then if any of you should say; Lo here the Anointed, or here; not you believe. Shall be be raised for false anointed ones, and false prophets and shall give signs great and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible even the chosen.”
I just watched an amazing 4 minute video by Joe Torbuy called: Jehovah’s Witness leader tells me a secret teaching about the Christian Church. If anybody has a few minutes you should watch it. He was told by an elder that if there’s only one true God, then it would stand to reason that if people are worshipping and obeying Jesus Christ as their leader, that it would only stand to reason that it would be a trick of Satan the Devil to get people to worship Jesus to take worship away from Jehovah.
Amazingly stupid thinking teaching, but I think that that is a good question to bring up to any elders if you are new in the “truth” to ask the elders about it. If the elders answer that question honestly, that is exactly what they teach.
@mara,yes it’s so true what you say,I feel the same,time and living stolen from people like us who served unquestionly,but however there is another side to it.
I had a lot of good times in the truth as well,I went on some great trips with other bros,I did feel that life had purpose,even if it was a delusion,I found a good wife in the org,as much as I am aware I didn’t bring any harm to anyone,I would say that Ime an ok kind of bloke as would many on this site say the same,so in hindsight I do have something’s to be thankful for and they did come to me via the org.
However things are changing the GB is insisting on things that don’t fit the scriptures and that has become the issue,do you follow them or obey your conscience?
Do the good old days warrant continued devotion to something questionable?
I suppose I have to be grateful that I have had an awakening and it wouldn’t have happened any other way,I had to go through it all to find out what is real,as did you.
So while it may feel that 40 yrs was stolen from you,in fact you where being taught what was real,and probably wouldn’t have found out any other way,it’s not for nothing.
Picked Brain,did you really not eat the red smarties?!!!
Wow are you faithful!!! I love red smarties!!! I all of a sudden feel very unworthy lol
Down side of higher education are well know.In majority of western countries its costly business which left many in debt for rest of life. One thing is direct cost for such education the other story is real demand or need of labor market in respective country.It’s public secret that universities are just another type of business which in recent decades produced more that could be bought therefore also many economists point to this problem as not sustainable also as contributing factor to collapsing world economy.
Having to said that society should never step to this waters.Since they done that it was always causing a bitter blood also it’s example of deliberate misinterpretation & use of scriptures.Now they harvesting what they sow.Simply it’s personal matter and they better stay silent or only do advice of down sides from respectful intellectual and pragmatical perspective.
@David made valid point and I do agree with him it would be better if Cedars would used wording “prohibit” because it’s not the same as “oppose or discourage etc.” different words has different implications in legal context as well which is very important if the statement is legally challenged.Its course of wisdom to be precise in wording if possible.It pays off in long run.
Hard to say who sanction the Happy video.The video appeared few days ago on one private channel and was copied to others.Since then it was removed from that original private ch. also from many others.It’s absent on EN JW ytube channel ,it was posted on Spanish JW with JW logo but after while the comments was disabled.It still exist on few others but I think it will be soon removed for “some reasons”.
On one technical note:
The song Happy by P.W. wasn’t necessarily played at Bethel facilities during filming.Bros could dance just with no music and it was added in post editing.Which is common practice during filming on location.At the same time it must be said it’s hard to dance without music so as director I would played it at least from my phone or any portable device just to get better result for the camera.
Whatever is the case time will show !
We have always tried to be balanced with normal life stuff, life insurance, employment to have a financial future, & we have, but are looked down upon, my Mother who is 75 & dying of cancer is so desperate to see the end, we have said to her that since 1975 she has lived her life as if Armagedon was comming tomorow, well guess what, she has nothing, my wife & i have had to pay for her home & car, lucky we were not pioneers with no money, so many older JW’s are going to end up on the scap heap & time goes on, look ate the new use for KH flats, all kept for old CO’s & Wives cause they got nothing, i sense a lot of anger & desperation in older ones these days, & yes the society are moroe interested in young ones now, particualary the ones raised without brains, god help them all.
I challenge anyone to provide any evidence of Watchtower insinuating any negative repercussions (e.g. shunning, being “marked”, etc.) to members who may attend college, be it in print or in a talk. I’m sure there are a handful of rogue elders who may have done that, or members who did shun college attendees, despite it not coming from the top. We shouldn’t make blanket statements like Watchtower prohibits college by their actions just like we shouldn’t say Islam encourages terrorism based on the words from rogue fringe clerics.
Brother David,
I was in a km school in December 2011 where specific direction from the Governing Body was given that if an elder allowed his wife, son, or daughter to attend college that there would be an automatic review of his qualifications to serve. It was strongly insinuated that if you do support college you will no longer be an elder.
There was a follow up letter to elders as well in The spring of 2012 that reaffirmed this.
It’s true. They don’t want smart people to be part of this organization.
@Bro David
Repercussions are mostly physiological.However as we have current case in our cong. bro starts to attend local university therefore “small extended privileges” like prayer, carry mics,sound console attendant etc …was taken away from him and his father who was an elder was demoted or ask to step down.
Does it sound fair to u?
Yes one can’t be fellowship for that but one could be discourage in great degree which could feel sometimes more painful than to be DS. Moreover if there is no real scriptural base for such approach only “holy internal policies”.
Doesn’t matter whether they shun, mark you, or whatnot. You’re missing the point.
You’re disobedient. That’s the point. You think you can ignore the advice or your leadership and yet do as you please. The only honorable choice is to either obey them, or take a stand and leave the org. But it sounds like you don’t have the courage for that.
You know what they say: lead, follow, or get out of the way.
@Wild olive& @ White rabbit. Thanks for your comments much appreciated. The scripture ‘ He who is faithful in least is faithful in much ‘ kept getting emphasised in 1970&80s . So many of us went to the extreme of avoiding the smallest blood fractions even to avoid RED SMARTIES because of Cochineal in them which was apparently Beetles Blood !! That’s how the CONTROL this organisation can instil in your mind so as to get through ARMAGEDDON . CRAZY when I look back!!
@Brother david. Look at tv.jw.org January monthly lecture from Anthony Morris on higher education . Look at the derogatory & disparaging tone they speak of university education of 3 to 5 year courses! 2 years is alright to be a nurse !! Because you can work part time & pioneer ! Well all congregations had a letter last year in England asking for brothers who were Architects,Civil Engineers,Mechanical system Engineers,Structural Engineers for the new BETHEL at Chelmsford ! You need to have a DEGREE to qualify to work in this field of work & to be at university for 5 years !! Doctors need to be at University for 6 years . DOCTORS SAVE JWs LIVES when they refuse a Blood Transfusion . They are highly trained& SAVE MANY FAT JWs who have to have operations because of OBESITY … Heart Ops, Diabetes complications such as Amputations & Eye problems,Kidney Ops, Cancers ( 50% caused by Bad Diet & Lack of Exercise ) Thank JEHOVAH for DOCTORS who go to University!!!
@Pickled, I never feared Armageddon, but I did believe WT had the truth, and I ought to tell people about it.
When I left the WT, I did not leave God. I believe the flood was real, and I expect this world to end too. But when the shooting starts, if the elders call me, and say go to the KH to be saved, I won’t go. That’s how convinced I am now, that WT is NOT the truth.
I’ll pray and hope for the best.
@White rabbit. Your comments Echo pretty much how I feel.
@White Rabbit. And I wanted to be the perfect JW so no BLOODGUILT was found in me so I wanted to reach as many as Possible to save their LIVES before the END came within THE GENERATION of 70 or 80 years as Psalm 90v10 was constantly quoted in publications in 1970s and even 1980s .AS THE EVIDENCE?? Don’t you LOVE THAT TEACHING!! DIDN’T we LOVE THAT IDEA ?? In the words of David Splane at AGM in 2013 when new light on F&D Slave he said WE LOVE THIS IDEA! Sounds like he got it from the BACK OF A FAG PACKET!!
Ime with you on this one white rabbit,the whole idea that a message to “go to a particular location” sounds very much like the preppers you see on TV,as if there is somewhere to go to escape Gods wrath when the time comes,there’s a recent watchtower that has a picture of that very thing,a group of brothers in a basement hiding.
Like you I won’t be paying any attention to any announcement to “go” anywhere,given the track record of GB advice,anyway the only thing anyone can do is have faith in Jehovah when that time comes,that’s the only preparation that can be made,no one knows what’s going to happen or how it’s going to go down,you are literally in the hand of God,of course if your not in the new covenant it could go badly as there is no basis for Jehovah to deal with you if you haven’t done it the way he said.
What the GB says about higher education is totally odd.
First of all why devine education has to conflict with higher education or the other way around?
Why if I decide to be a doctor should mean that I am not a good Christian? If I have a broken computer I do not see how the Bible can fix it? They are two different things.
Also when I think about divine it comes to mind honesty, beauty, ethic. How can you favour divine education and spread lies? Is the overlapping generation teaching divine?
Is the tactic of putting the JW logo always in front of your face divine? Why the need to put the logo inside an assembly hall? It is to drill the brand inside your brain.
Also if the GB favors divine education why they have been sending Christian to university for decades making their spirituality in sirious danger? Why they needed thousand of letters to undestand that they attitude was and is hypocritical?
Additionaly why the lawyer brother in the interview did not leave the university immediatelly? He completed the university and then afterwards he said it was dangerous. From Russell times they have been against education so why he made that decision?
This riminds me the video about the JW who after focusing on his job understood that money are not important. Anyway the GB used the experience to set the video in an expensive house with a very materialistic america feel. Why they never choose uganda, nigeria or ethiopia for their video? it wont look that attractive!
The real agenda is that they want to promote the JW lifestyle/product.
They want people to riduce time with they relatives, the don’t want people build something for themselves but instead promote a corporation.
Brother David, if you truly think there are no repercussions from wanting higher education in the jw’s, I challenge you to conduct your own test. Tell them you have decided to go to college (or close relative in the org.) and be convincing! Often people can not accept how controlling and restrictive the org. is until it applies to themselves.
Again the wording is just a matter of semantics (prohibit, restrict, frown upon, etc.). The results are the same.
Folks,
A University Education is not the panacea we hope it is. I have a BA and a post grad certificate in education. I met a great many people at University who did not have any critical thinking skills whatsoever. They were not taught to think critically, but to pass exams. I also met a lot of people who were able to think critically too. Sadly, there are plenty of examples of University students being brainwashed by IS, or other extremist groups. Their University education was no impediment to their conversion.
That being said, a University Degree will bring benefits and is well worth doing, if one wants to. It can be a path to a better life.
I have noticed that some folks are going off topic here. It’s ok, I do it too on occasion!
To those who feel they have wasted their time in the WTBTS – no experience is a waste if we can learn positive lessons from it. It is a shame that we all gave our time and hard work to this cult. I hope for all of us that we can find peace and a fresh purpose for our lives. I have a far better life now than I ever had as a JW. I am sure that, despite financial and psychological hardship, others would agree with me.
Take courage, you of Faith, CHRIST conquered the world, and he acts as a guarantor of all he promised. Go, and treat others with love and compassion. 1 John 4
For those of us without faith, let us find a way forward for ourselves that brings us peace and dignity.
Peace be with you,
Excelsior!
@david your comment was excellent ! Yes why can’t we be doctors & still be a Christian .If more JWs become Doctors they could save JWs lives & would understand our medical stance!
@ Brother David who I assume is different post from just david. ‘brother David ‘ sounds like you belong in a MONASTERY . It sounds so Catholic using brother .I know I’m probably being a bit PICKY here but so is your argument about GB definition of education ‘Prohibit or Discourage ‘ ??? Stoned to Death or Hanging from a Stake !! Who cares your Spiritually& Physically Dead !’
@David, you hit the nail on the head. This attitude against higher education goes back to at least Rutherford’s day. He was always railing against educated people. Maybe it’s because in order to make himself look better and smarter, he wanted to make educated people look bad. He was against vaccinations and governments and even what to use for eating utensils. He was like a little guru and he knew it. He had complete control over went out in the Watchtower and Awake magazines and those magazines went world wide and thousands of people hung on every word and took it for gospel. He wasn’t neutral in any sense of the word. He was always against this or that and one of the things he was always railing against was scholarship and science.
Most congregations are filled with 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation Witnesses and that attitude spilled over from generation to generation.
The Society can’t come right out and give any indication that it’s okay to go to college so they discourage it with words like “spiritual”. If a parent is “spiritual”, they will not send their kids to school where they will be led into an immoral and selfish life style and their child will be led astray by “bad associations” etc. It’s all innuendo but the rank and file get the message loud and clear.
It all depends on the congregation and how many born-ins that congregation is made up of. It it’s made up of mostly 3rd and 4th generation Witnesses, which most are, the feelings will be strong against higher education. Most presiding overseers will be probably be older and from that generation. No, it’s not spelled out in black and white that higher education prohibited but the implication is loud and clear.
My husband got a factory job in the late 1960’s against his will. He wanted to pioneer and we didn’t have kids yet but he couldn’t support himself or me and I had to work to support us so he finally got a factory job and I had to listen to him complain about it every day for maybe up to 3 hours at a time so when our children came along, I didn’t listen to him when he insisted our kids weren’t going to go to college. If they wanted to go, I told them they could go. I didn’t “ask” him. I just told them. One of my daughters would cry about it how much she felt like her life would be terrible if she could not go to college, so when he was gone and I didn’t care about his thoughts about how evil it was to go to school and I told her that she could go and her whole attitude changed for the better. Our youngest daughter attended college for 3 years and quit and now wishes she had continued but it was her decision and only her decision. Now if she wants to go back to school, it will be a lot harder because she’s married with children.
So, it’s very wrong to discourage kids from going to college. If later, they can’t get a decent job and they want to get married and have kids, they may very well face a life of poverty and their children will hate them for the way they were brought up like that and most likely, those children won’t want anything to do with the “truth” anyway. I saw that happen over and over again. The parents didn’t let their kids go to school, and every single one of their kids don’t want anything to do with the “truth” at all. Most of these parents were very diligent about studying with their kids. They did the whole 9 yards with these kids, but the kids hate the “truth”.
It’s about the control parents have over their kids and how controlled the parent’s thought are from the society. In the end, it comes back to bite the parents in the butt anyway because the parents didn’t listen to their kids and chose to listen to the Society instead.
The Society is caught between a rock and a hard place. If they now lessen the grip they have on the parents when it comes to discouraging higher education, that means that they will have generations of very irate people who were not encouraged but in fact made to feel ashamed for even the thought of higher education and have nothing but dead end jobs and living hand to mouth.
In the 1960’s and even before that, a college education wasn’t as necessary then as it is not to get a good job but when I graduated from school, you could go for $120 a semester for college and even then, that was a lot of money for some people. Now days, it’s many thousands of dollars so it can load a person down with enormous debts. That is the only thing the Society should talk about. How much it costs. There is nothing wrong with telling about the costs etc. but it should end with that but like I said, if they do that now, they will have an awful lot of people who will be very mad and probably stop going to meetings.
The Governing Body should admit it’s mistakes. People are very forgiving and would understand. They were caught in this quagmire just the same as we all were. They won’t admit their mistakes though. Why is that? Maybe because they want everybody to think they get secret messages from Jehovah?
In an earlier post which got flagged, in my 1942 Emphatic Diaglott printed by the Society, at Matthew 24:5 and 24, in the Greek, it says that many would come in the last days claiming to be Anointed but not to listen to them. You won’t find that word used in the new Bibles though. In the new Bibles, it says many would come in the last days claiming to be the Christ and not to listen to them. But if you look at the old books by Rutherford, the anointed do claim to be the Christ. Ironic, huh?
This is especially bad in the light of the recent letter to elders asking for volunteers with legal backgrounds. “Don’t go to law school! Uh, but if you did already, we could really use your help…”
Thanks Excelsior for the advice of moving forward.
But injustice should be reported. It is something serious that lives and families are destroyed because a person no longer agrees with something has been proven not true.
This is especially wrong when a person does not do any damage to the organization and leaves quietly.
It is amazing that in the modern world is permitted that people foster such cruelties in the name of ideas, arrogance and stubbornness.
@Brother David, are you a Watchtower apologist? Thank you Pickled brain for pointing out just who we are talking with. I didn’t realize we were talking with 2 different Davids. I should have been more careful in my reading.
Anyway, it seems like you are a Watchtower apologist or are you just playing devil’s advocate trying to make sure no misrepresentations are being made here?
W,T, continually implies that a Bible education for everlasting life is
superior to secular learning, Furthermore only they have the Devine
right, and guidance to act as educators. and that individual efforts to
understand will fail. w,t, July 1, 1973, p 402.
What is difficult to comprehend though, is their tortuous, and
convoluted interpretation of that book.– End time prophecies involving
mathematics, and the welding together of disconnected scriptures,
( Prophecies that have manifestly flopped, needing even more
ludicrous notions, to try and keep them afloat.)
Also at least 5 complicated tome’s have been produced in an effort to
explain the highly symbolic book of Revelations, where they choose
what’s literal or symbolic at will, to fit current doctrine.
Their complex presentation of the Bible is successful only in making
people believe they need their help to unravel it.
However one regards Jesus, Devine, or otherwise, he taught simply and
directly and did not embroil the mind in a web of scriptures that
would need constant revision. —— I am the way ,John 14/6, —
the 2 greatest commandments, Love God, and love neighbour, “all the
Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments”. John, 22/37.
( 39 books of the bible summed up in one sentence.)
So if and when Jesus returns, heeding those 2 commands should put
us in with a decent chance. In the meantime steer clear of professed
teachers who take a simple subject and make it almost incomprehen–
sible.
If they were genuine Christians they would say regarding the end that world events seem to indicate that we are near but it is not for us to know the exact time.
The Bible teaches that is wrong to go beyond what is written and to speculate, and that times and seasons are only for God to know. We know that they have produced record failed predictions.
But if they obey the Bible how can they create the physiological dependency? They enjoy to be worshipped and therefore dispense speculations at the proper time.
In 1986, I was accepted into a college. My mother a JW, had a elder come to our home. The elder tried to talk me out of going to school. I was so disappointed. However, I did go. I took the bus because my mother refused to take me. I knew there was something better for me.