I seriously doubt that anyone could actually live strictly by the JW rules and "suggestions" give by the Society and the congregation. Like the Catholic Church, there are now so many rules you cannot follow them all. Unlike the Catholic Church, the Dubs to not allow you to use your head and deviate when you want.
I remember my first wife struggling to live by Dub rules. I was out of the JW religion by then. I had been a studious JW then, and knew most of the rules we were to live by. I felt bad for her when she joined a group of women to catch a bouquet of flowers...she did not know it was not allowed. I didn't bother telling her.
There are any number of stupid rules that get in the way:
Don't tip your hat to a lady;
Don't toast; how rude!
Don't celebrate holidays or birthdays.
Don't give gifts in same month as holidays or birthdays.
No sex except missionary position. And make even that as boring as possible.
If your wife cuts you off of sex (because she is gay?), no masturbation, no adultery...try that for 15 years!
Don't lie...yeah, right! Many a sister has been 'misdirected' when it was time to take her to a surprise baby shower...
Read newspaper & listen to radio every day.
Don't buy at garage sales;
Don't keep religious items, even if they have sentimental value.
Don't dress overly attractive, especially sisters.
Don't kiss or hold hands with your date.
Don't date until you are ready to marry...there's a dumbass rule if I ever heard one....how do you know who you are compatible with if you don't date many people with no pressure?
Don't have sex before marriage...that way you can ensure you and your spouse will have lousy sex forever...especially if your spouse is gay.
Don't be gay (my previous comments assumed heterosexual marriages)...this one has caused untold suffering for gay JWs....and for heterosexual marriages because gay JWs may also be trained to deny that part of their sexuality. You know, a homophobic gay JW.
Go to field service and meetings as often as you can.
Always be doing something thoecractic.
Always read/talk about somethin theocractic...no wonder JWs are so dull to talk to.
Don't leave your husband if he is bad to you.
Never divorce...suffer for the rest of your life for a decision you made when you twenty. When my ex told me that that was the only reason she didn't leave, I told her that we should break up; that is the stupidiest reason for being together.
Keep going to mind-numbing meetings and assemblies even though you know every bit of material by heart, and could give the talks without notes.
If you are fortunate enough to have left your marriage mate, never remarry unless your former mate had sex. A recipe for misery for life.
Marry only another JW, another recipe for misery, esp. for many sisters. And then they are supposed to wait until the brother is at least an MS...something that is rarely followed as marriable brothers are at a premium.
Avoid the Internet, especially sites that challenge the JW faith; a sure-fire way of letting people know that the JW faith cannot stand up to scrutiny.
Believe dumbass things like: The earth was originally created to be tropical and hence very warm. Also, at that time, Jehovah specifically designed polar bears to withstand extreme cold.
Anyway, I have raved enough. Of course, most JWs survive by ignoring the rules. Many today do not even know the rules because most are not studious.
Richard