How many different "rules" do Jehovah's Witnesses have to obey? Can you count them?

Balaamsass2

All the big changes for JWs since this last fall brought me back to this site, and got me and the wife talking. Just HOW MANY things were we not allowed to do growing up as Jehovah's Witnesses? We were so used to all the rules, customs, and traditions, that we became used to them.

One site I found claims there are 141 unique rules!! I didn't believe THAT so I went over them with 3rd Gen...DANG! !!!!! What do you think...did the writer forget any??? lol :)

141 Rules. Things Jehovah's Witnesses Can't Do. http://thejehovahswitnesses.org/things-jehovahs-witnesses-cant-do.php

The religion has many rules but these are learnt by Jehovah's Witnesses over a long period of time instead of all at once. Even though the rules can seem overly restrictive, Jehovah's Witnesses (JW's) don't see it that way.

1. Belong to another organization or club for the purpose of socializing with nonbelievers. See Religion First

2. Have best friends and activity buddies who are not Jehovah's Witnesses. See Friendship with Nonbelievers

3. Associate with people outside their organization when it is not necessary. See Friendship With A Jehovah's Witness

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. See Can Jehovah's Witnesses Disagree?

7. Disagree with their organization's doctrines. See Can Jehovah's Witnesses Disagree?

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. See Is Yoga For Christians? 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, 1 Timothy 2:5. See 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

Balaamsass2

The list goes on....and on...lol. :)

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 piercings 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) See Miracles 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. See What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe About Death? 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 ( 144000 ) 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. See Theocratic Warfare 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 who are breaking the rules Three More Things Jehovah's W

Balaamsass2

oops...a few more. :)

Three More Things Jehovah's Witnesses Can't Do.

1. Women cannot assume the role of a male and instruct the congregation. See Women Keep Silent

2. A woman should not pray in the presence of a baptized male JW. WT July 15, 2002, Questions from Readers

3. Jehovah's Witnesses can't be part of this world. They must be separate from the world

4. They can't believe anything former Jehovah's Witnesses say, - even if it's factual. See Apostate Lies

5. Unless they're an Elder, Jehovah's Witnesses can't read this book, - 'Shepherd the Flock of God' - 1 Peter 5:2

Does this ring a bell? "

127. Speaking in tongues
128. Laying on of hands
129. Energy healing such as Reiki

So... just like everyone else?

I like the list in general, but it looks like they added some stuff just to pad the length.

Drearyweather

92. Do suggestive and immodest dancing in a public place
98. Wear revealing clothes
95. Use of bad language (curse words) is discouraged

Many decent people, apart from JW's don't do the above three.

Just a list of a lot of repetitive stuff, for e.g.:

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. 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

Vidiot

We’re gonna need a bigger server.

FedUpJW

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How many different "rules" do Jehovah's Witnesses have to obey? Can you count them?

Balaamsass2

Balaamsass2

Balaamsass2

Matthew 23:4 New King James Version (NKJV)

Vanderhoven7

markweatherill

skin

TonusOH

Drearyweather

Vidiot

FedUpJW

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