One  of the key roles of parents in any society is to  shape  the thinking  and  aspirations  of their children  for  the  future. Parents  who are Jehovah's Witnesses are admonished to  be especially  keen on guiding their children away from any  unnecessary involvement  in the "world" in order to devote more time  to  the work  of spreading Watchtower doctrine. Ever since the  beginning of  the Watchtower in 1879, its readers have been told  that  the
"end of the world" is right around the corner, and this event was specifically  predicted for the years 1914, 1915, 1918, 1925  and strongly suggested for 1941 and 1975 (1) . In 1941 the Watchtower published  the book Children in which the  fictitious  characters John and Eunice give up having children to go door-to-door in the short time remaining before the End.

Decades  have passed, John and Eunice are still childless and  in their seventies, and the world has not yet ended. Yet even today, the  Watchtower  is  still encouraging young  ones to  sacrifice careers  and  even to forego marriage if it will make  them  more successful  in the "short time remaining before the  End."  What future  is held out for youths today in the Witness  subculture? Publicly, the Watch Tower Society likes to put forth an image  of
happy,  normal youths among their organization. Though many  Witness youth seem to be well adjusted and have normal  aspirations, the  ones held up as models in the congregations are  often  dysfunctional  in their personal lives, some even leading  a  double
life,  morally speaking. What is the future held out for  Witness youth by their leaders?

The  public image is well demonstrated in the Watch Tower  Society's  booklet, Preparing for Child Custody Cases (distributed  by the  Society's legal department as an aid in child custody  battles). It encourages the selection of "spiritually minded"  young Witnesses by the presiding overseer of the local congregation  to testify  "to  show that they are normal."  The booklet  cautions about the rehearsal:

"Be careful that they don't get the impression that they are in a demonstration at the circuit assembly, when they would show  that the first things in life are service [door-to-door preaching] and going to the Kingdom Hall. Show hobbies, crafts, social activity, sports,  and  especially plans for the future.  Be careful  they don't all say that they are going to be pioneers [full-time door-to-door  evangelists].  Plans can be trade, getting  married  and
having children, journalism, and all kinds of other things. Maybe you can show an interest in art and the theater." (p. 43)

At  a  Witness circuit assembly (large  religious  gathering),  a Witness youth would truthfully point out their primary  interests are religious. In court, however, Witness youths are counseled to emphasize  "normal"  activities  and a  "normal"  future  career. Instead  of  pioneering, they should indicate  regular  interests that  other children would have, such as journalism, art and  the theater,  etc. The Watchtower is thereby promoting one  image  to
the public (one of being just like other children) and another in the Kingdom Hall (of sacrificing careers and personal desires for the  sake  of warning others of the imminency of  the  Watchtower message).

The following are quotations from Witness literature showing what is actually taught to young Witnesses, both by example and direct statement.  Material in brackets is added to clarify  meaning  or explain  significance.  Emphasis is added to some  quotations  to
draw  attention to key points. On the Nearness of the New  World: "Most  importantly, this magazine builds confidence in the  Creator's  promise  of  a peaceful and secure new  world before  the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away." [This statement appears on the contents page of every Awake! magazine.]

"...today,  most  of the generation of 1914  has  passed  away... Jesus' words will come true, 'this generation will certainly  not pass  away  until all these things have happened.' This  is  yet another  reason  for believing that Jehovah's thief-like  day  is imminent." Awake!, April 8, 1988, p. 14. [In Witness belief, both Armageddon  and  the New World are due before the  generation  of 1914  passes  away. This present world must be  destroyed before this  New World can become a reality. Only those associated  with the Witness organization can have any hope to survive  Armageddon into the New World.]

[A Witness youth from France named Samuel is quoted with apparent approval:]  "For the year 2000, I visualize a  world  transformed into  a  beautiful paradise! But I don't think  that  either  the present world or its rulers will live to see that day.... We  are living in the last days of the system of things." Awake!,  November 8, 1986, pp. 78.

Higher education is discouraged: "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. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the `last  days' in  1914, Jesus foretold: `This generation will by no means  pass away  until all these things occur.' "Therefore, as a young  person,  you will never fulfill any career that this system  offers.
If you are in high school 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  towards  its finish, if not actually gone! "This is why parents who base their lives  on  God's prophetic Word find it much  more  practical  to direct their young ones into trades that do not require such long
periods  of  additional  schooling.... "True, those  who  do  not understand  where we are in the stream of time from  God's  viewpoint will call this impractical. But which is really practical: preparing  yourself for a position in this world that  soon  will pass  away?  or working toward surviving this  system's  end  and enjoying eternal life in God's righteous new order?" Awake!,  May 22,  1969,  p. 15. [Even though this was written  in  1969,  this policy  is  still  endorsed... as can be seen  in  the  following references.]

Under the subheading "Alternatives to University" in the  article entitled  "Young  People  Ask  ... How do  I  Choose  a  Career?" (Awake!, March 22, 1985, pp. 1718) they say:

"After  consulting their parents, many young people have  decided against  long-term  education because of the uncertainty  of  the future. `The time left is reduced,' says the Bible.... [Vocational  training in high school is then recommended.] "A  Christian's view of the future should also affect his choice of career.  With `the  world passing away,' a career based upon worldly  ambitions is  most  unrealistic. Bible prophecy indicates  how  short-lived such a career would be. "For this reason, many young people among
Jehovah's  Witnesses  are choosing a career in  full  time  Bible education... a volunteer work of helping people to understand the Bible.  `But,' you may ask, `how can somebody make a living  that way?' In order to support themselves financially, many have first
received practical training in a trade."

The  Witness youth handbook, Questions Young People Ask:  Answers That Work spends four pages discouraging a university  education. (pp. 175179) It concludes: "In  view  of  these facts, many Christian  youths  have  decided against a university education. Many have found that the training offered  in  congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses...  the  weekly Theocratic Ministry School in particular... has given them a real edge in finding employment."

At  the  end of this chapter are five questions that  reveal  the tone  of  the argumentation found in this book: "Why  do  secular careers  often fail to bring personal happiness? Why  should  all God-fearing  youths consider a career in the full-time  ministry? What  are the claimed benefits of higher education, and  do  such claims always hold true? What dangers might university  education pose?  What  alternatives  to university education  can  a  youth
consider?" (p.179)

The  Watchtower  of  April 15, 1986, (pp. 2830)  spoke  to  young Witnesses:  "As you think about your future, no  doubt  questions run  through  your mind. Should I go to a university and  seek  a career  as a doctor, a lawyer, or a scientist? Does the dream  of
climbing  the corporate ladder to financial success and  recognition  intrigue  me?  Would I become a famous  name  in  the  arts through  acting  or painting? Or, as a youth devoted to Jehovah God,  should I choose the full-time ministry as my  lifetime  career...?"

After  giving two testimonies... one of a young man who quit  his university  studies after joining the Witnesses so that he  could pioneer  (full-time mission work), and the other of a young  man who  began  pioneering  in his last year of  high  school...  the article concludes:

"Youths,  how will you use your future? For yourselves or fully for Jehovah? Prayerfully consider the goal of full-time  service now in your youth. Imitate Jesus by living the rest of your  life `for  God's will.' It will prove to be a protection from  harmful worldly  ambitions, careers, and associations. Analyze your  circumstances  and  set a specific date as your goal  for  entering full-time  service.  Work toward it. Pray for Jehovah's  help  to attain it." [Pursuing a "worldly career" is viewed as selfish, as opposed  to the goal of full-time service now "for Jehovah."  The idea  that  God might call one to a secular career  that  can  be
dedicated to His glory is foreign to the Watch Tower Society.]

"Keeping  in mind the limited value of physical exercise and  the superlative  benefit  of  godly devotion will help  you  to  make balanced  decisions when it comes to after school  activities.... "How about using your time to help others spiritually?  Interestingly,  some young ones among Jehovah's Witnesses in Japan  start to make the ministry their career while they are still in school. They buy out their time before and after school to help others to know  the  Creator." [From the article "Young  People  Ask...What About After School Activities?" Awake!, December 8, 1986, p.  18. Extracurricular  activities are discouraged. door-to-door  "service" is recommended in its place "before and after school."]

"Putting your years as an unmarried Christian to the best  possible use in Jehovah's service will bring present satisfaction  and peace  of mind. Doing so will also contribute to  your spiritual maturity  and stability. If you remain single for  the  Kingdom's sake until the end of this wicked system of things, Jehovah  will not  forget your self-sacrificing efforts in his sacred  service. "If you diligently pursue Kingdom interests [religious activities like door-to-door work and attending congregational meetings]  as an unmarried man or woman, you will enjoy many blessings. Then if you should get married later in life, you will enter wedlock with greater  experience and a rich spiritual background."  [From  the
article "Singleness... A Rewarding Way of Life." The Watchtower, November 15, 1987, p. 20.]

The Watchtower Society has no stated policy regarding  childbearing.  They  state  the decision to have children  is  a  personal matter.  But, they do remind couples of the nearness of  the  End and  commend those who have decided to remain childless `for  the
sake  of  the Kingdom,' in order to have a fuller  share  in  the Witnesses' religious activities:
"Some  young couples have decided to remain  childless.  Although the wives had maternal instincts just as strong as those in other women, they decided, in agreement with their husbands, to refrain from  having  children in order to devote themselves  to  serving
Jehovah  full-time. Many of them have served as pioneers or  mis sionaries... "Many married couples throughout the world who  have relinquished  the  joys  of parenthood have been  able  to  serve Jehovah  in  the circuit work, the district work, or  at  Bethel.
[Remaining  childless is a condition of continuing in  these  responsible positions.] These likewise look back with  satisfaction over  their lives spent in serving Jehovah and their brothers  in these  special privileges. They have no regrets. While they  have not  had the joy of bringing children into the world,  they  have played  a  vital  part in furthering  Kingdom  interests  in their various  fields of activity... "So the matter of childbearing  in
this  time  of the end is a personal one that  each  couple  must decide  for  itself. However, since `the time left  is  reduced,' married couples would do well to weigh carefully and prayerfully the pros and cons of child bearing in these times." The Watchtower, March 1, 1988, pp. 25 26.

"At  times  the  heart's  desire for what is  good  needs  to  be strengthened.  Parents can do much to aid their children in  this regard...  "An  elder in Korea encouraged his four children to pioneer.  At a circuit assembly [large Witness religious  gathering]  he and the children were interviewed. The  oldest  daughter related  how she had been the highest scholastically in her  high school. She herself wanted to go to college at one point.  However,  her father informed her that, while she was free  to  choose such  a course, she could not expect financial support from  him. She changed her mind about college, and now she is enjoying many blessings as a pioneer. The next oldest, a son, told how he  also at one time wanted to go to college and follow a worldly  course.
But his father sat down and reviewed the Scriptures with him. His father also told him that, if he insisted on following a  worldly course,  he  would also have to find another place  to live.  He heeded his father's counsel and is very grateful that his  father was  kind  but firm in his stand. The two  younger  children  explained  that  they were impressed by what happened  to  the  two older  ones. From the beginning they planned to become  pioneers.
The youngest son gave up his high school education to pioneer."

In  The  Watchtower of January 15, 1952, [p.  47],  parents  were
counseled to:

The  highest career you can  plan  for  your children is that of full-time service as a minister.  ["Minister" here refers to their door-to-door preaching work.] Work and  plan to help them toward that most joyful and successful of  careers." [Even though this article is nearly 40 years old, Witnesses today still follow this practice. Many Witnesses who were raised in the 1950's and 1960's by this advice postponed marriage and then also postponed  having children after marriage, so  that  they  could devote  more  time to their proselytizing work.  Some  are  still single  or  childless.  Most who did eventually  marry  and  have children  found  that  it was too late to  start  a  professional career,  taking  employment  in the blue  collar  field  instead. Still,  these are raising their children with full-time  ministry
as their goal in life.]

"Now, more than a decade later, I can honestly say that I do  not yearn  for  the stage. I am still able to practice  my  art  each year, as a director and an actor, in the Bible dramas that  Jehovah's  Witnesses  present in their  district  conventions...  The difference is that we have performed with a better motive. In the theater  I wanted to be the star, to receive adulation. In  these Bible  dramas it is the story that matters, not the actors.  Thus there is no competition, no upstaging of fellow actors."

"By  1952  I had been studying to be an artist  for  nearly  four years.  What would I do? Returning to Puerto Rico, my  desire  to share what I had learned from the Bible was even stronger than my desire to be an artist. Thus, in August 1952, I began serving  in the full-time preaching activity as a pioneer."

"After  the  summer  vacation period, I returned  to  school  for another semester. But I felt very differently about things  then. The  desire to develop as a musician was not as strong as it  had once  been. I now knew that there was much more to life and  that music could no longer be `number one'... "I also remember clearly my father's reaction to my decision. He pounded on the table  and sternly  told me that I would be put out of the house if  I  left
school.  But  leave  I did. Two months later I  was  baptized  to symbolize my dedication to God, and soon thereafter I entered the full-time  ministry... "I still practice my music but only for  a small  fraction  of  the time I previously devoted  to  it...  "A career in [music] demands exclusive devotion. In this it competes with  our Creator and the doing of his will. Music can be  almost like  a  disease...  "Frankly, I've come to  look  upon  musical
institutions as modern-day temples of worship that require people to devote their entire lives to music. But that is making a god out of it, and surely this does not have the Creator's approval. True,  music is a gift from Jehovah, but it must be kept  in  its place."

The  February 22, 1984 Awake! (pp. 1216) published the  testimony of  a former Lebanese basketball star who forsook both  that  and his university studies to become a full time pioneer. The  December  8,  1984  Awake! (pp. 1620)  published  Herman Pizzanelli's testimony.  He was a leading Uruguayan concert guitarist  in  the 1960's. After joining the Witnesses he canceled his contracts, including  "a theatrical tour of Europe," because "my  conscience moved  me  to take up the far more urgent work of  preaching and other Christian activities."

Footnotes:
1. For documentation concerning the dates set by the  Watchtower, see the book Thus Saith The Governing Body of Jehovah's  Witnesses. (Reprint of the Sep/Oct 1991 Bethel Ministries Newsletter