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note how Awake! magazine (one of WTS‟s two primary publications, along with The
Watchtower magazine) basically bans the computer game Doom in the following
statements: “Many computer games are thinly disguised violence, bloody massacres, or
even blatant pornography”. Is this type of game appropriate for peace-loving Christians?
Parents, have you checked the home computer games your children use lately? Need we
say more?” (“Is This the Game,” 1995, p. 25).
Some statements can be very influential without actually prohibiting an activity, such as
“The latest movie, video or disc may look appealing”. How might it affect you to expose
yourself to such entertainment?” (“Young People Ask: How Can I Get,” 1994, p. 17). A well-
trained Jehovah‟s Witness knows the answer without having to ponder the question further.
Another example of how WTS sets rules for the membership is found in an Awake! article in
which “heavy metal” music is defined as a satanically-inspired activity: “Heavy metal is to
heavy drug use as lotteries are to compulsive gamblers--a youngster becomes easy prey to
Satan‟s influence when sanity is flushed from his brain and thoughts of perversion and
violence take its place” (“Satanism‟s Handmaidens,” 1994, p. 8). This article goes on to link
heavy metal music to murder, gang rape, mayhem, and drug use. Another article reminds
members that “music is one of the means Satan uses to mislead young people” and
intimates that the devil “is trying to poison your outlook and attitude” with modern music
(“Alternative Rock,” 1996, pp. 22, 23).
Another example of “rules by suggestion” is found in The Watchtower‟s condemnation of the
celebration of birthdays, explaining that “the only two birthdays the Bible does mention
were for rulers who were enemies of God...[and] included an execution” (“Birthday
Celebrations,” 1994, p. 25). As former Jehovah‟s Witness Randall Watters (1994) states:
These guidelines are never phrased in terms of rules, but rather in terminology
such as “would it be wise to wear a beard ...” or some other phrase that pretends
to show the “choice” one has in a moral matter, whereas in reality the phrase
indicates a new unspoken rule for Witnesses to follow. Fear of punishment by God
and/or the organization is used to enforce these unspoken rules. (p. 1)
While marriage is not forbidden, remaining single is encouraged because single people can
devote more time to preaching, the staple activity of the Jehovah‟s Witness. The
Watchtower states this reason for preferring singleness to marriage:
Single Christians can focus on Jehovah‟s service with greater concentration.
Compared with those who are married, single Christians are in a better position to
be in “constant attendance upon the Lord” without distraction. (“Singleness,” 1995,
p. 29)
You may be in a better position than you would be if you were married and
responsible to provide for children. The difficulties you face now are temporary
they will be done away with in God‟s new system. (p. 30)
In this way a strong influence is exerted on members to forfeit fulfillment in their present
lives in order to serve Jehovah and therefore earn their way into “God‟s new system” and
paradise.
Relationships with Outsiders Frowned Upon
WTS is generally suspicious of outsiders, referring to them as “worldly people.” Jehovah‟s
Witnesses tend to avoid associating with nonmembers except as necessity demands, or to
try to convert them. A popular and common WTS saying is “Bad associations spoil useful
habits.” Witness children are warned not to develop friendships with “worldly” children and
are not allowed to participate in many clubs, activities, or celebrations (birthday and
holiday) that would bring them into contact with non-Witnesses. Adults are encouraged to

Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1997, page 71
keep their necessary relationships with outsiders on superficial levels, yet are expected to
always keep an eye out for an opportunity to “bear witness” to try to convert outsiders.
The freedom to choose one‟s mate is also restricted. Awake! magazine is very clear about
who is not to be chosen: “It would displease God for one of his servants to get romantically
involved with someone who has not dedicated his or her life to Jehovah” (“Young People
Ask: What If,” 1994, p. 19). In a discussion about romances with unbelievers, WTS states
that “such a relationship is not only displeasing to God but also a serious threat to one‟s
happiness and well-being” (“Young People Ask: How Can I Stop,” 1994, p. 17). One former
member wrote in her survey response that she resented “the restrictions on friends and
dating” that she experienced during her membership. Another said, “Having children was
strongly discouraged as Armageddon was coming. Because my husband was not --a
Witness, I was doubly looked down upon for having children.” This woman also poignantly
stated her fears “that because my husband wasn‟t a Witness, God was going to kill him,
that I would fail and God would kill my children.”
Professionalism Discouraged in Favor of Group Activities
An example of how the group discourages professional careers is found in the following
excerpt from The Watchtower:
Peter „realized that it would not be wrong for him to study with a view to becoming
a neurosurgeon. But what was most important to him? It was his activity in the
Christian ministry, considering the urgency of this work‟. Peter decided to specialize
in radiology and to do ultrasound scans. Some might consider this a less
prestigious position, but it would allow him more time to devote to spiritual
pursuits. (“Seize This Unique,” 1996, p. 22)
Many times former members have expressed their anger and disappointment over the fact
that they gave up career opportunities while in WTS. “I feel like those years are wasted,
now I have to start all over with a career and I feel like it‟s too late,” one former member
stated. One woman wrote that she had difficulty working while a Witness because she was
“afraid [my] job would take me away from God.” The Watchtower discourages career
advancement by providing examples such as the following:
[He] continued to follow the popular course --striving to get rich and get ahead
[which] led to his going out on drinking sprees [which] soon led to a stroke. [Later
he] put on the Christian personality and adjust[ed] his view of material
possessions. As a result his values changed, and his health improved. (“Principle or
Popularity,” 1993, p. 28)
One former Witness woman wrote that “females weren‟t allowed to have responsibility.”
Women do work outside the home, but as a married member of a group for ex-Jehovah‟s
Witnesses stated in a counseling session, “Getting a job was something I had to do out of
necessity when we caught up financially, I felt pressured to quit my job so I could spend
more time in service (preaching). People considered it strange that I would actually want to
continue to work, when my husband could support us both.” Another survey respondent
wrote that she “was encouraged to not work while a single parent --[but to] pioneer
[preach full-time] instead.” Because WTS women are not as active in the workforce as are
the men, women tend to perform the lion‟s share of door-to-door preaching activities. A
married woman who chooses to work when her husband can support her financially is often
seen as taking time away from God‟s work and perhaps even lacking in faith.
Higher education has traditionally been discouraged for Jehovah‟s Witnesses. Statements
such as that found in the Awake! are typical: “So by guiding their children away from so-
called „higher‟ education of today, these parents spare their children exposure to an