The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ rules are many. They have rules for all types of human activities. These rules govern each and every member of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some of the rules are typical morality rules. Other rules are specific to the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses. And then some rules seem a little bit ludicrous.
Know this: The beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses must be accepted and followed by each and every member. Why? They say it’s to maintain unity. However, to deviate from the beliefs would be to position oneself in a light of apostasy. If any Jehovah’s Witness is deemed to be an apostate, she or he will be disfellowshipped. Therefore, one must recognize that the main rule of Jehovah’s Witnesses is to believe everything that is presented to them by their Governing Body, even if such beliefs were changed from past understanding, or even if such believes will change with future understanding.
Rules One Should Follow vs Rules One Shall Follow
The rules of Jehovah’s witnesses are divided into two sections within this article. There are the rules that a member should follow. These are rules that are not requirements. They can be considered as recommendations. Such rules would not adversely affect a member if she or he were to break them. Then there are the rules that a member shall follow. These rules are requirements. Breaking any of these rules comes with penalties. Such penalties can vary from getting a caution to being outright dismissed from the religion. The effects of these penalties also vary. If one is cautioned, it may or may not affect her social or theocratic standing within her congregation. However, if she is dismissed, or disfellowshipped, she will be socially cast out, or shunned.
Considering that Jehovah’s Witnesses have so many rules, one would do well to consider Galatians 5:14 when reviewing them.
Accommodation
Rules One Should Follow
You should live with fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses only.
You should ensure when choosing to live with Jehovah’s Witnesses, that they are excellent followers of the rules of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not live in a house with someone of the opposite sex unless you are married to them.
You shall not live in a house with someone whom you are divorced from.
Apostasy
Rules One Should Follow
You should accept the definition of apostates as defined by Jehovah’s Witnesses’ literature.
You should accept that apostates are mentally diseased.
You should loathe and hate apostates.
You should believe that baptized members who disassociate from the religion are to be regarded as the “anti-christ”.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not promote apostate teachings.
You shall not entertain apostate ideas.
You shall accept that apostate teachings are propaganda and that the one-sided view from JW.org is not.
You shall not read or listen to any apostate media.
You shall not believe apostates.
Baptism
Rules One Should Follow
Observers of the baptism should listen attentively to the baptismal discourse.
You should treat baptism with an appropriate degree of seriousness. It is not a time for outbursts, partying or hilarity, nor is it a grim or sober time.
You should be rebaptized if at that time of baptism you were engaging in a practice that would have resulted in being disfellowshipped.
You should be rebaptized if you feel you lacked sufficient biblical knowledge at the time of your baptism.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not be baptized in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit.
You shall be baptized in the name of the father, the son and God’s spirit-anointed organization.
You shall dress in a modest bathing suit for your baptism.
You shall be completely immersed under water, even persons with severe disabilities.
You shall not make any special gestures or carry on as if you won a great victory after your baptism.
You shall not have your baptism nullified.
Bible
Rules One Should Follow
You should accept that the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) is the most accurate bible.
You should accept that the entire Protestant canon of scripture is the only accurate compilation of bible books.
You should not believe that the bible supports the idea of unicorns as renowned in legend.
You should meditate on what you read in the bible.
You should read the bible daily.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall accept that any books that may be contained in other bibles, but which are not found in the NWT’s canon, are false. Compare Joshua 10:13 & Numbers 21;14.
You shall believe that the Bible is God’s word.
You shall believe that the bible is historically accurate.
You shall believe that the bible is scientifically sound.
You shall accept that 29 C.E. is a pivotal date in biblical chronology.
You shall believe that the Law Covenant ended and the New Covenant began at Pentecost 33 C.E.
Blood & Medicine
Rules One Should Follow
You should rely on your conscience when accepting a vaccination that contains albumin.
You should not put too much emphasis on your health.
You should weigh the risk/benefit ratio when considering any medical treatment.
You should accept that the bible is the most effective help in handling mental health issues.
You should view mental health practitioners with a certain degree of suspicion.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not eat blood.
You shall not accept any medical product derived from blood or its primary components. Fractions of the primary components are a conscience matter.
You shall not eat foods that contain blood or its primary components. Fractions of the primary components are a conscience matter.
You shall not have a blood transfusion from whole blood or its primary components. Fractions of the primary components are a conscience matter.
You shall put forth a very strenuous effort to avoid a blood transfusion, especially if it is court ordered.
You shall not donate blood.
You shall not store your own blood for transfusion. Hemodilution is a conscience matter.
You shall not engage in illicit drug taking.
Business, Legal & Financial
Rules One Should Follow
You should not take another Jehovah’s Witness to court.
You should not lend with interest to a fellow Jehovah’s Witness who is destitute.
You should formulate a written contract when performing business dealings with fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses.
You should not go into business with non-Jehovah’s Witnesses unless there is no alternative.
You should avoid renting a building which belongs to a religious organization.
You should avoid buying a building from a religious organization but it is not prohibited as long as the building is not used as a place of worship by both parties.
You should desire to meet your financial obligations.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not accept or give a bribe.
You shall accept that making a vow to God is always binding, except where such a vow is contrary to Jehovah’s Witness doctrine.
You shall not give away free copies of commercially licensed copyrighted material.
You shall only file for bankruptcy as a last resort.
You shall not purchase stolen goods.
Creation and Evolution
Rules One Should Follow
You should not believe that the Earth was created in 24 hour periods.
You should believe that the ‘creative days’ were unknown periods of time, each possibly covering thousands of years.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall believe in creation.
You shall not believe in evolution.
Disfellowshipping and Disassociation
Rules One Should Follow
You should limit your association with persons who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses.
You should limit your association with a person who does not preach regularly.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall shun disfellowshipped persons.
You shall shun disassociated persons.
You shall shun an unbaptized publisher (preacher), who unrepentantly breaks God’s laws.
You shall limit your association with persons who are marked.
You shall pray for erring individuals in private only; praying publicly for erring ones may cause some Jehovah’s Witnesses to stumble.
Donations and Volunteering
Rules One Should Follow
You should donate to the worldwide work.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall accept that donations are used for more than the preaching work, including but not limited to, child sexual abuse cases.
You shall volunteer to preach on a regular basis.
You shall not donate to religious organizations other than Jehovah’s Witnesses.
You shall not attend Alcoholics Anonymous.
Dress & Grooming
Rules One Should Follow
You should not grow a facial beard. Well-groomed mustaches are permitted.
You should not wear tight clothing.
You should not wear revealing clothing.
Women should not wear yoga pants.
Skirts or dresses should cover the women’s knees.
Women should not excessively adorn themselves.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not smoke.
You shall not use bad language.
Women shall wear skirts or dresses to kingdom halls and when preaching.
Women shall not wear pants to kingdom halls.
Women shall wear a head-covering when praying in public and males are in attendance.
Women shall wear a head-covering when conducting a bible study where a baptized male is present.
Women shall wear a head-covering in most situations when interpreting religious discourses.
Women shall not pray in the presence of baptized men other than exceptional circumstances.
Men shall wear suits with ties, or similar attire at Kingdom halls and when preaching.
You shall not wear casual clothing to kingdom halls or when preaching.
Men shall not wear female clothing.
You shall not have tattoos, except if your tattoos were obtained prior to becoming a Jehovah’s Witness.
You shall not have body piercings, except ear lobe piercings for women.
Education, School & School Events
Rules One Should Follow
You should prioritize preaching over education.
You should not study subjects that may adversely affect your faith.
If religious education is compulsory in your school, parents should ensure that supplemental biblical education is provided to correct or clarify using Jehovah’s Witness literature.
You should not become a cheerleader.
You should not run for class president.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not attend religious education that is not from Jehovah’s Witnesses.
You shall not join the Boy Scouts.
You shall not join the Girl Guides.
Elders, Ministerial Servants & Judicial Committees
Rules One Should Follow
Elders should not consider boys in their early or mid teens to be ministerial servants.
You should confess your sins to the elders.
Elders should visit members who do not attend meetings regularly.
Elders should visit members who do not voluntarily preach regularly.
Rules One Shall Follow
Circuit Overseers shall appoint Elders and Ministerial Servants.
Elders shall be responsible for marking, reproving publicly or reproving privately an individual who breaks the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ moral code.
Elders shall disfellowship anyone who breaks the rules.
Edlers shall determine if a member is unrepentant.
Elders shall disfellowship anyone who breaks the rules repeatedly.
Elders shall disassociate a member if they or their children have a blood transfusion.
Elders shall not inform the congregation of a wrongdoer’s wrong, even if it may put congregants at risk.
Elders shall obtain a confession or have at least two witnesses to confirm that serious sins have been committed.
Elders shall record disfellowshipping or disassociation on a S-77 form.
Elders shall inform the congregation if a member has been reproved publicly.
Elders shall inform the congregation if a member is disfellowshipped or disassociated by stating “[member name] is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
Elders shall not report serious sins such as rape, child abuse or child sexual abuse to Law Enforcement Agencies unless required to do so by secular law.
Elders shall not prevent or encourage individuals affected by serious sins such as rape, child abuse or child sexual abuse from reporting them to Law Enforcement Agencies.
Elders shall render an account for the way they deal with Jehovah’s sheep.
Elders shall not share letters addressed to the Body of Elders with individuals not authorized to read them.
Elders shall share at least portions of letters addressed to all Congregations.
A minimum of three elders shall serve on a judicial committee.
Women shall not serve as elders or ministerial servants.
Women shall not give sermons at congregation meetings.
Women shall not serve on judicial committees.
Environment
Rules One Should Follow
You should not be oblivious to ecological matters.
You should do your best to keep your environment clean.
Euthanasia
Rules One Should Follow
You should use your conscience when deciding to put down a very sick or old animal.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not take the life of a human, even if she or he is suffering from a terminal illness.
You shall not abort your child, even if it is medically confirmed that the child will be born dead.
Family Worship
Rules One Should Follow
A mother married to a non-Jehovah’s Witness should use tact to emphasize the merits of inculcating children with Jehovah’s Witness doctrine.
If a non-believing father restricts a Jehovah’s Witness wife from inculcating their children with Jehovah’s Witness doctrine, she should exercise her freedom of religion by expressing her belief in Jehovah to her children and impart her knowledge of Jehovah’s Witness doctrine.
Rules One Shall Follow
A father shall provide spiritual training for his family.
A father shall take his family to Christian meetings.
If a father is not a Jehovah’s Witness, then the mother shall provide spiritual training.
Governing Body
Rules One Should Follow
You should not question the Governing Body.
You should believe that elders are spirit appointed.
You should believe that changes in doctrine is new light from Jehovah.
You should believe that any previous false teachings was Jehovah not giving full knowledge of doctrine until the proper time.
You should accept that staying close to Jehovah is to stay close to the Watchtower Society and JW.org.
You should not question the use of male terms when referring to both males and females in Watchtower literature.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall accept that the Faithful and Discreet Slave mentioned in Matthew 24:45 is the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
You shall believe that all of the Governing Body are anointed with a heavenly hope, even though “there is good reason to believe that the number of … anointed Christians was complete decades ago.” (The Watchtower 1996 Aug 15 p. 30 Questions From Readers)
You shall accept that Jesus appointed the Governing Body in 1919.
You shall not disagree with the rules, regulations and doctrines of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Holidays and Traditions
Rules One Should Follow
You should not sing birthday songs, accept gifts or draw/paint such scenes.
You should not sing christmas songs, accept gifts or draw/paint such scenes.
You should not exchange gifts at Christmas or have a Christmas dinner, unless an unbelieving partner requests one and your conscience permits.
You should not wish someone a happy christmas.
You should not sing easter songs, accept gifts/easter eggs or draw/paint such scenes.
You should not consume easter eggs on Easter Sunday.
You should not sing halloween songs, accept treats or give treats on Halloween night. Nor should you draw/paint such scenes.
You should not write valentine’s card, accept gifts or draw/paint such scenes.
You should not wish someone a happy New Year.
You should not celebrate Father’s Day.
You should not celebrate Mother’s Day.
You should not toast.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not celebrate birthdays.
You shall not celebrate Christmas.
You shall not celebrate Easter.
You shall not celebrate Halloween.
You shall not celebrate New Years Eve.
You shall not celebrate Valentine’s Day.
You shall not celebrate Flag Day.
You shall not celebrate Hanukkah.
You shall not celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
You shall not celebrate Thanksgiving.
You shall not celebrate Veteran’s Day.
You shall not engage in interfaith activities such as prayer, rituals and ceremonies.
Funerals
Rules One Should Follow
You should avoid attending a non-Jehovah’s Witness religious funeral service.
You should not give or send flowers if there is a religious connection to flowers at funerals in your locale.
You should use the attendance of a funeral as an opportunity to relay your hope that the dead will be resurrected to a paradise earth.
Elders should use his conscience to determine if he would give a funeral service for a suicide victim.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall believe that the dead are in a state of unconsciousness.
You shall not believe that the soul survives death.
You shall believe that only 144000 will go to heaven.
You shall believe that those who are not of the 144000 have an opportunity to live forever on earth in paradise conditions.
Elders shall not give a funeral service for non-Jehovah’s Witnesses, except unbaptized children of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Elders shall not give a funeral service for those who commit a self-inflicted murder.
Weddings
Rules One Should Follow
You should avoid giving gifts that violate biblical principles defined by jw.org.
You should avoid not attend non-Jehovah’s Witness religious weddings or wedding ceremonies.
You should not get married by religious institutions that are not Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not marry a non-Jehovah’s Witness in a Kingdom Hall.
You shall not marry a close family relative.
You shall not throw rice/confetti at a Jehovah’s Witness wedding ceremony.
Idolatry & Spiritism
Rules One Should Follow
You should not believe in miracles except for biblical miracles.
You should not believe in ghosts.
You should not believe in luck.
You should not believe in luck.
You should not be superstitious.
You should use your conscience when wearing a ring with a certain gemstone or birthstone.
You should consider whether wearing a gemstone or birthstone would stumble a fellow Jehovah’s Witness.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not have religious statues or icons.
You shall not wear religious icons.
You shall not engage in idolatry.
You shall not practice magic in any form.
You shall not study tarot cards.
You shall not play with Ouija boards.
You shall not summon the dead.
You shall not study numerology.
You shall not study astrology.
You shall not practice divination.
You shall not believe that the wearing of a gemstone or birthstone has a good influence on your personality.
Jehovah, Jesus & Holy Spirit
Rules One Should Follow
You should believe that Jesus and Jehovah can read minds.
You should accept that, despite the fact that the Tetragrammaton is not found in any extant Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, or in any extant Hebrew manuscripts of Matthew, or even where the manuscripts quote old testament portions of scripture where the Tetragrammaton would be found, the New World Translation Committee is correct to insert it over 230 times in their bible.
You should believe that Jesus is the mediator only for spirit-anointed Jehovah’s Witnesses and not all mankind.
You should believe that Jesus is mankind’s means of approaching Jehovah.
Those who believe they are not of the 144000, should not eat the bread and drink the wine representing Jesus body and blood.
If those, who believe they are of the 144000, cannot attend the memorial, an elder should visit their house and perform a simple service.
If those, who believe they are not of the 144000, cannot attend the memorial, they should read over appropriate scriptures and pray for the event worldwide.
You should believe that Jesus is the mediator only for spirit-anointed Jehovah’s Witnesses and not all mankind.
You should acknowledge the role of Jesus Christ in your prayers, especially public prayers.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall believe that Jehovah is God’s name.
You shall believe that Jehovah is the creator and the supreme being.
You shall not believe in the cross, instead you shall believe Jesus was killed on a single up-right piece of wood.
You shall believe that the Holy Spirit is not a person but God’s active force.
Literature, Movies and Computer Games
Rules One Should Follow
You should not read literature that may adversely affect your faith.
You should not watch sex movies.
You should not watch violent movies.
You should not watch movies that involve spiritism.
You should not play violent computer games.
You should not play computer games that involve spiritism.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not read non-Jehovah’s Witness religious literature.
Morality
Rules One Should Follow
You should love your neighbor. Terms and conditions apply.
You should not be a glutton.
You should not be greedy.
You should not be jealous or envious.
You should obey your parents.
You should be slow to anger.
You should use self-control.
You should accept that you are a sinner.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall love God.
You shall not covet.
You shall not be a drunkard or rely on alcohol.
You shall not gamble, participate in lotteries or any type of prize draw that relies on luck, even if the money goes to charity.
You shall not lie, but you may refrain from telling the truth to those Jehovah’s Witnesses deem do not deserve it.
You shall not murder.
You shall not steal.
Paradise, Prophecy & Armageddon
Rules One Should Follow
You should believe that only Jehovah’s Witnesses are going to survive Armageddon.
You should believe that the Anglo-American World Power is the seventh world power of bible prophecy.
You should accept that the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11 are all those who take the lead: Governing Body, the Branch Offices, Body of Elders, Circuit Overseers and Recommended Brothers.
You should believe that Romans 11:26 refers to a spiritual Israel, namely Jehovah’s Witnesses.
You should believe that Jehovah’s Witnesses will be the last religion to be attacked by world governments before God initiates Armageddon.
You should believe that the prophecies of Daniel 7:25; 12:7 and Revelation 11:3 have a fulfillment in events carried out between December 1914 to June 1918 with regard to Jehovah’s Witnesses.
You should believe that the seven angelic trumpet blasts of Revelation began to sound in 1922.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall believe that Jesus Christ returned invisibly in 1914 and set up his kingdom invisibly in heaven.
You shall believe that “Babylon the Great” is the world empire of false religion.
You shall believe that Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 607 BCE and not 587/586 BCE.
You shall believe that the number 144000 in the book of Revelation is to be taken literally.
You shall believe that the “little flock” is 144’000 individuals who are going to rule as kings with Jesus Christ in heaven.
You shall believe that the gathering of the “other sheep” began in 1935 and that these ones represent ALL who have an earthly hope, both living and dead.
You shall believe that God is going to turn earth into a paradise where the “other sheep” of Jehovah’s Witnesses will live forever.
You shall believe that our current interpretation of “generation”, including our non-biblical creation of the “over-lapping generation” is the true interpretation of its biblical meaning.
You shall endure as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses until you die, or in the unlikely event Armageddon comes in your lifetime, in order for you to be saved.
Politics & World Affairs
Rules One Should Follow
If you are legally required to vote in political elections, you should use your conscience to void your vote in the polling booth.
You should consider yourself an ambassador of Jesus Christ and therefore remain politically neutral.
You should not recite your country’s national anthem.
You should not campaign for political candidates.
You should not campaign against political candidates.
You should not contribute to political campaigns.
You should not get involved in union strikes.
You should not stand for your country’s national anthem unless you were already standing.
You should be prepared to face the consequences of not reporting for jury duty if done in spite of the insistence of a judge.
You should believe that those destroyed in the Flood and at Sodom and Gomorrah will not be resurrected.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not vote in political elections.
You shall not run for political office or take up a political office.
You shall not pledge allegiance to your country or its flag.
You shall not report for jury duty.
Preaching and Association
Rules One Should Follow
You should attend meetings regularly.
You should pay attention during meetings.
You should pray on a daily basis.
You should not make your prayers repetitive.
You should preach regularly.
You should record the number of hours you preach per month.
You should record the number of number of return visits you make per month.
You should record the number of bible studies you have per month.
You should not associate with non-Jehovah’s Witnesses except for when it is unavoidable. (1 Cor. 15:33)
You should refer to non-Jehovah’s Witnesses as “worldly people”.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not pray the Our Father Prayer. It’s for informational purposes only.
You shall not invite along a bible student in your preaching work.
You shall “qualify as publishers” in order to preach as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Auxiliary and Regular Pioneers shall preach a minimum number of hours per month.
You shall not be a member of a gang.
Pregnancy and Fertilization
Rules One Should Follow
You should use your conscience in deciding on IVF.
You should use your conscience when deciding on sterilization as a form of birth control.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not have an abortion.
You shall not use the sperm or eggs from a person who is not your marriage mate.
Satan, Demons, Lucifer and Hell
Rules One Should Follow
You should not believe that Satan is a creature with horns and lives in hell.
You should believe that Satan and his demons were ousted out of heaven in 1914.
You should believe that Satan and his demons will be bound and abyssed after Jesus’ thousand year reign.
You should pray fervently to Jehovah if you are being attacked by demons.
If you hear voices in your head, you should investigate if it is a physical ailment first before deciding it is a demon attack.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not believe in hell or hell-fire.
You shall not believe that the soul survives death.
You shall believe that Satan is real and rules the world.
Sex and Relationships
Rules One Should Follow
You should only date fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses.
You should only date with a view to marriage.
If you cannot find a suitable marriage partner, you should pray to Jehovah for help to persevere in the single state.
You should not be alone with your girlfriend / boyfriend.
You should not treat a marriage engagement lightly; you should not end an engagement on a whim.
You should not view pornography.
You should not masturbate.
You should not perform anal sex.
You should not perform oral sex.
You should resist divorce from an unbelieving marriage partner if the grounds for divorce do not include adultery.
Rules One Shall Follow
You shall not manipulate the genitals of one whom you are not married to.
You shall not participate in phone sex, sexting or cyber sex.
You shall have only one marriage mate.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not commit fornication.
You shall not commit incest.
You shall not commit pedophilia.
You shall not rape.
You shall scream if you are being raped, even if screaming would result in your death.
You shall not engage in homosexuality.
You shall not engage in bisexuality.
You shall not change your gender.
You shall not divorce unless one marriage partner committed adultery.
You shall not re-marry unless one’s previous marriage partner committed adultery or died.
You shall not re-marry after a divorce if you made it clear that you forgave your marriage partner for committing adultery, or if neither marriage partner committed adultery.
Sports & Entertainment
Rules One Should Follow
You should not practice boxing.
You should not practice martial arts.
You should not practice yoga.
You should not play sport competitively, professional or amateur.
You should not go to a school dance.
You should not attend religious social events.
You should not kill animals for sport.
Work and Wealth
Rules One Should Follow
You should agree that pioneering is the most rewarding career you can have.
You should not put too much emphasis on your career.
You should not put too much emphasis on your wealth.
You should not pursue material things.
You should not have a career as a police officer.
You should not have a career as a judge.
You should not have a career in secret services.
You should not take up a career in professional sports.
You should not take up a career in professional dancing.
You should not take up a career in professional acting.
You should not take up in professional music.
Rules One Shall Follow
Store owners shall not buy or sell religious paraphernalia.
Store owners shall not buy or sell cigarettes.
Store owners shall not buy or sell food produce that contain blood.
You shall not work for a tobacco company, in any capacity.
You shall not work in an abortion clinic, in any capacity. You may accept pay from an abortion clinic if your work has no connection with the abortion clinic.
You shall not prostitute yourself.
You shall not work for a house of prostitution, in any capacity. Public health care workers performing health checks on prostitutes is permissible.
You shall not work for a non-Jehovah’s Witness religious organization, in any capacity.
You shall not join the armed forces, in any capacity.
You shall not accept work that involves being armed.
You shall not have a career in criminal activity.