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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

Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1997, page 72
increasingly demoralizing atmosphere, and at the same time prepare them for life in a new
system as well” (“Second Thoughts,” 1967, p. 5). Another article warns students that
Many schools now have student counselors who encourage one to pursue higher
education after high school, to pursue a career with a future in this system of
things. Do not let them “brainwash” you with the Devil‟s propaganda to get ahead,
to make something of yourself in this world. Make pioneer service, the full-time
ministry your goal. (“What Influences,” 1969, p. 169)
Members who defy these instructions are not necessarily expelled from the congregation,
but typically lose status among their peers and are seen as being “weak in the faith.” Until
recently, most of the membership did not pursue higher education, and some members
dropped out of high school to pursue preaching work. In recent years WTS has stopped its
wholesale discouragement of higher education and now leaves the decision to the discretion
of the individual. This, of course, does nothing to comfort older Witnesses who sacrificed
their chances for education because of organizational instructions such as those cited above.
Even now, WTS reminds students that “your goal in pursuing an education should not be to
equip yourself for some secular career. Rather, it should be to learn skills that will prove
useful to you in your career as a minister of God” (“Young People Ask: What Can,” 1993, p.
14).
Sacrifice of Personal Health Required
Besides the personal sacrifices involving career advancement, material success, time spent
preaching, and so on, members are commanded to make another sacrifice. They are
required to refuse blood transfusions for themselves and their children, regardless of the
consequences, because Witnesses are taught that God prohibits the intake of blood. At one
time this prohibition extended to vaccinations (Reed, 1993) and organ transplants (WTS
referred to transplants as “cannibalism”) (“Questions from Readers,” 1967). WTS has since
reversed its policy on these issues, although it is unknown how many deaths and disabilities
resulted during the time period these policies were in effect.
The prohibition on blood transfusions, however, even if not having one would lead to certain
death, remains in effect. It is estimated that as many as 1,150 deaths a year worldwide
could be attributed to WTS‟s stance on blood transfusions (Reed, 1993), a figure that over
time quickly outweighs even the Jonestown tragedy, where more than 900 followers of Jim
Jones died. In fact, WTS regularly publishes articles that glorify the deaths of children who
died refusing transfusions (see, for example, “Youths Who Have,” 1994, and “Wyndham‟s
Faith,” 1992).
Any WTS member who has a transfusion or allows their child to have one is punished by
disfellowshipping. Reed (1993) cites one instance where a member was disfellowshipped
while still in the hospital following a blood transfusion. He died several days later, and his
friends and relatives were forbidden to attend his funeral on pain of being disfellowshipped
themselves (pp. 103-104). Clearly, using the threat of disfellowshipping to keep members
from turning to life-saving medical procedures constitutes a very high degree of control
exercised by WTS over a very personal issue in the lives of its members (whether to live or
die if in need of a blood transfusion).
Control of Information
One defining characteristic of a high-control group is the prevention of access to information
that can be interpreted as critical of the group in any way. Jehovah‟s Witnesses receive very
clear instructions about exposing themselves to any kind of information, whether through
written materials or in discussion, that may reveal problems or inconsistencies in WTS. WTS
has a tendency to demonize and dehumanize its critics, as seen in this example: