141 things Jehovah’s witnesses can’t do
In this post we’ll be bringing you a brief history of the Jehovah’s witnesses and a list of things Jehovah’s witnesses are not suppose to do.
Jehovah’s Witnesses had its origins in the Bible Student movement, which developed in the United States in the 1870s among followers of Christian Restorationist minister Charles Taze Russell.
Bible Student missionaries were sent to England in 1881 and the first overseas branch was opened in London in 1900. The group took on the name International Bible Students Association and by 1914 it was also active in Canada, Germany, Australia and other countries. The movement split into several rival organizations after Russell’s death in 1916, with one—led by Russell’s successor, Joseph “Judge” Rutherford—retaining control of both his magazine, The Watch Tower, and his legal and publishing corporation, the Watch Tower Bible and Bible Tract Society of Pennsylvania.
However, the movement has some very stringent rules the members have to adhere to. As rigid as these rules may seem, the true and faithful Jehovah Witness members are sticking to them to the last letter. Here are the 140 things Jehovah Witnesses can’t do:
List of things Jehovah’s witnesses can’t do:
(1) Belong to another organization or club for the purpose of socializing with non believers.
(2) Have best friends and activity buddies who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses.
(3) Associate with people outside their organization when it is not necessary.
(4) Attend social functions sponsored by their employer unless attendance is required
(5) Associate with coworkers after business hours in a social settings
(6) Disagree with their organization’s rules and code of conduct.
(7) Disagree with their organization’s doctrines.
(8) Contribute to the Presidential Campaign Fund on their tax return
(9) Join the armed forces and defend their country
(10) Say the Pledge of Allegiance
(11) Salute the flag
(12) Vote
(13) Run for leadership in their organization. (JW’s are ‘appointed’ and invited to be leaders.)
(14) Run for leadership in any organization 15.Take a stand for any political issue inside their organization
(16)Take a stand on any political or ‘worldly’ issue outside of their organization
(17) Campaign for a political candidate
(18) Hold political office
(19) Discuss politics
(20) Be a union steward or shop steward
(21) Actively be involved in a union strike
(22) Use a gun for protection against humans
(23) Become a police officer if a gun is required
(24) Wear military uniforms or clothing associated with war
(25) Take yoga classes and practice the discipline of yoga.
(26) Smoke tobacco and cigars 27.Work full time selling tobacco and cigars
(28) Attend Alcoholics Anonymous
(29) .Donate blood
(30) Have blood transfusions
(31) Read books, magazines, publications, and literature from other religions.
(32) Buy anything from a church store
(33) Buy something at a church garage sale
(34) Donate items to a church run store
(35) Shop at the Salvation Army
(36) Work for the Salvation Army
(37) Work for another church
(38) Play competitive sports on a school team
(39) Play competitive sports professionally
(40) Run for class president
(41) Become a cheerleader
(42) Go to the school prom or school dance.
(43) Attend class reunions
(44) Be hypnotized
(45) Accept Jesus as their mediator
(46) Join the Boy Scouts
(47) Join the Girl Guides
(48) Join the YMCA
(49) Serve on jury duty
(50) Study psychology, philosophy, sociology, and viewpoints that might shake their faith
(51) Attend other Christian churches
(52) Attend nondenominational churches
(53) Attend non Christian churches
(54) Get married in another church
(55) Dating non believers is discouraged
(56) Casual dating is discouraged
(57) Dating someone without the intent of getting married
(58) Having sex before marriage
(59) Breaking an engagement, separation, and ‘unscriptural’ divorce may result in disciplinary action
(60) Marriage to non believers is not recommended
(61) Be gay or lesbian. Homosexuality is not acceptable.
(62) Throw rice at a wedding
(63) Get divorced unless the reason is adultery
(64) Can’t remarry unless their ex commits fornication first
(65) Toast drinks
(66) Buy a raffle ticket
(67) Play bingo
(68) Gamble
(69) Sing any holiday songs
(70) Sing the National Anthem.
(71) Celebrate Christmas – Why?
(72) Celebrate New Years Eve – Why?
(73) Celebrate Easter – Why?
(74) Celebrate Mother’s Day – Why?
(75) Celebrate Father’s Day
(76) Celebrate birthdays – Why?
(77) Celebrate Thanksgiving
(78) Celebrate Flag Day
(79) Celebrate Veteran’s Day
(80) Celebrate Independence Day. Why?
(81) Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day
(82) Celebrate Valentine’s Day
(83) Celebrate Halloween – Why?
(84) Celebrate Hanukkah
(85) Accept holiday gifts – Why?
(86) Celebrate any holiday except the death of Jesus – Why?
(87) Partake in the bread and wine that represents Christ unless they are part of the 144,000
(88) Make holiday artwork for school
(89) Engage in holiday parties at school
(90) Take on a leadership role in school
(91) Porneia
(92) Do suggestive and immodest dancing in a public place
(93) Attend a class, workshop, or seminar, sponsored by another church 94.Attend social events or fund raisers sponsored by another church
(95) Use of bad language (curse words) is discouraged
(96) Wear blue jeans, shorts, and overly casual clothing at the Kingdom Hall. See Dress Code
(97) Wear pants at a Kingdom Hall if you’re a woman
(98) Wear revealing clothes or skirts that are too short (looked down upon)
(99) Wear long hair or facial hair if you’re a man (depends on the local customs of the country you live in)
(100) Body piercing are discouraged
(101) Tattoos are discouraged
(102) State or imply that the Watchtower is not run by Jehovah God.
(103) Have discussions and express Bible based viewpoints that contradict the organization’s beliefs
(104) Say anything negative about their organization. JW’s must ‘speak in agreement’ and be ‘like-minded’.
(105) Consider other religious beliefs as valid and truthful.
(106) Acknowledge any prayer spoken by a non believer as valid
(107) Take another Jehovah’s Witness to court (with exceptions)
(108) Wear or own a cross
(109) Own any religious picture
(110) Own any religious statue
(111) Engage in idolatry
(112) Believe in miracles (except those found in the Bible)
(113) Believe in ghosts
(114) Witchcraft
(115) Black magic
(116) White magic
(117) Consult with a psychic or become one
(118) Study tarot cards, get a reading or give a reading
(119) Study numerology or get a reading
(120) Dabble in ESP (extrasensory perception), dowsing, or divination
(121)Use a tool such as a pendulum to access information from the spiritual realm
(122) Attempt to communicate with departed spirits.
(123) Attend a seance
(124) Believe in good luck or say things such as ‘Good luck to you’. Why?
(125) Believe or say anything superstitious
(126) Prophesy
(127) Speaking in tongues
(128) Laying on of hands
(129) .Energy healing such as Reiki
(130) .Read their horoscope
(131) Study astrology or zodiac signs
(132) Combat training, boxing, or martial arts
(133) Go to heaven unless they are part of the 144,000
(134) Worship Jesus as God
(135) Idolize any celebrity or love and admire them to excess
(136) Women can’t be elders
(137) Women can’t be ministerial servants (assistants to the elders)
(138) Divulge secret information to enemies and those not entitled to know.
(139) Greet or talk with disfellowshipped persons (with some exceptions)
(140) Associate with disfellowshipped persons except for immediate family living in the same house
(141) Keep secrets from the organization. Jehovah’s Witnesses report friends and family members breaking the rules.
