The Culture of Jehovah's Witnesses
Despite being comprised of over 6 million international adherents from different walks of life, social strata, nationalities, and ethnicities, Jehovah's Witnesses have a culture that is shared among them and which in some instances is unique to them. This culture helps to distinguish them as a group from other groups and it also serves to reinforce many of their personal values and beliefs. In some instances the culture of Jehovah's Witnesses has been deliberately nurtured so as to perpetuate the status quo of the Organization and to fortify established doctrine.
A few things to note about culture:
First, culture is learned (and therefore taught). This learning does not have to be proactive. The learning and teaching of culture may be extremely passive, almost osmotic. But culture is something which for the most part is not inherited or innate.
Second, individuals experience culture differently. Thus, while the unique culture of Jehovah's Witnesses may be painted with broad strokes, we must remember that these are general observations and that an individual's own relationship to, adoption of and transformation by the culture of Jehovah's Witnesses is subjective.
Third, we must distinguish between the culture that is sought or intended and that which is actually produced by the teaching. Among Jehovah's Witnesses this distinction manifests itself as an "idealized culture" and the actually observed culture.
And finally, it should be remembered that because culture is learned and is transmitted from generation to generation or from present members to novices, it is always in a state of flux. Culture is not static but instead it is constantly changing and is changeable by negotiation, circumstance and the will of the group members. Cultural change is not expedient and generally evolves deliberate reaction to changes in the larger extra-group environment.
Linked from the Menu Bar above are several explorations into the rich culture of Jehovah's Witnesses. From Theocratese, the language of Jehovah's Witnesses, to the Publishing Paradigm which patterns the Organization to the Art of Jehovah's Witnesses, it is hoped that these pages will provide you with a thorough understanding of these interesting people. Also, I have an included under this section a detailed analysis as to why Jehovah's Witnesses are not a cult.
Aspects of Culture
Sociologists, scientists who study groups, sometimes break down culture into three categories: Values, Norms and Artifacts.
Values are ideas about what in life is important. They guide the rest of the culture. These values can be grouped into four categories:
- Ethics (good, bad, moral, immoral, amoral, right, wrong, permissible, impermissible)
- Aesthetics (beautiful, ugly, unbalanced, pleasing)
- Doctrine (political, ideological, religious or social beliefs and values)
- Inborn (inborn values such as reproduction and survival)
As a group, Jehovah's Witnesses derive their values from the Judeo-Christian ethic and from their understanding of the Bible as taught to them by the Society or, if you prefer, as they have come to understand it from their own study of the scriptures. Many of the topics linked from the Menu Bar explore the values of Jehovah's Witnesses. Information on Doctrines and Beliefs may be found under that separately titled section of the website.
Norms are expectations of how people will behave in different situations. Each culture has different methods, called sanctions, of enforcing its norms. Sanctions vary with the importance of the norm; norms that a society enforces formally are called laws. (See Punishment & Rewards for how such sanctions are presented within Jehovah's Witness culture.)
The shared belief of what is normal and acceptable shapes and enforces the actions of people in a society. Those who do not follow their social norms are considered eccentric or even deviant and are typically stigmatized. The very fact that others in one's society follow the norm may give them a reason to follow it. Important norms are called mores. Violations of mores are usually punished with severe sanctions, and are often enforced by law.
A norm may or may not have a rational justification or origin. Norms with common sense origins may, over time, lose their original context as circumstance or society changes: an action that was once performed because it was necessary to survive may over the years become a social norm, even once the circumstances that made it necessary for survival are no longer applicable. For example, in my old congregation, it was the practice to set-up and strike the microphone stands at the beginning and conclusion of every meeting and place these away with the mikes and cable in a hidden location. This was originally due to the occasional break-ins to the Kingdom Hall that would occur. But years later, after our hall was remodeled and new very secure doors were installed this practice continued despite these and other new security features. I tried to convince the brothers that the constant wear and tear on the microphones between the three congregations that were sharing our hall was detrimental and that there was no rational reason not to leave the stands and mikes in place but to no avail. It had become part of the norm and part of the local congregations' culture. Perhaps it was meant to give the brothers something to do?
There are at least two reasons for the stability of a norm. First, people are educated via their socialization process to follow a norm and most people will not oppose it. Second, even if a person does not feel like following a norm, it may be in his best interest to follow it anyway.
Artifacts, things, or material culture derive from the culture's values and norms. It is usually artifacts which are the easiest to recognize and which are obvious indicators that a member belongs to a particular culture. Many cultural artifacts become the basis of pride and hallmarks of the group.
Because Jehovah's Witnesses are not confined geographically and are comprised of a plethora of sub-groups, each with their own culture, the identifying artifacts of Jehovah's Witnesses is perhaps, the weakest indicator of culture of these three categories. Nevertheless, a few artifacts of Jehovah's Witness culture are explored in the pages linked from the Menu Bar.
My Categories
I find it simpler to divide the various aspects of Jehovah's Witness culture into two broad categories:
Conspicuous - Material: This category includes all the readily apparent unique group attributes such as dress and grooming, language, behaviors, customs and practices, music, art and other such items.
Inconspicuous - Immaterial: This category includes all the other unique group attributes like values, attitudes, beliefs, priorities, irrational beliefs (aka superstitions) and so forth.
It almost goes without saying that we more easily identify an individual as being a member of a particular culture by observing aspects from the Conspicuous - Material category. But we should note that it is very often the cultural aspects from the Inconspicuous - Immaterial category which are the progenitors and often the impetus for these. Therefore, if one is interested in changing the overall cultural ethos one must start with these Inconspicuous - Immaterial aspects.
Cultural Comparison
This chart shows a brief comparison of certain aspects of traditional American mainstream culture, non-Western cultures, the idealized JW culture and the actual JW culture.
Mental Proceses & Learning
Explicit, direct communication. Emphasis on content. Meaning found in words
"Dress for Success" Wide range of accepted dress.
Linear & exact time consciousness. Value on promptness. "Time is money"
Emphasis on task. Rewards based on individual achievement. Work has intrinsic values.
Focus on nuclear family. Responsibilities for self. Value on youth, age seen as a liability. (Note there are fewer "nuclear" families these days and most familiar forms are "non-traditional")
Individual orientation. Independence valued. Preference for direct confrontation of conflict.
Informal. Handshakes. Personal space varies with setting, formality and relationship.
Linear, Logical, Sequential, Problem-solving focus.
Implicit, indirect communication. Emphasis on context. Meaning found in words.
Explicit, direct communication. Emphasis on word meaning.
Meaning often implied or derived from FDS explanation and not prima facia meaning or contexturally based
Historically, the unpublished touchtone was the "acceptable business class dress of the local community." Acceptable dress conforms to the congregation. Elders occassionally impose personal (or their wives') opinions. Typically, the formal wear, especially for men, would be considered out of fashion and often very tasteless, but this is less true for younger JWs. Casual wear is generally not much different than the world at large.
Dress is "well-arranged", "chaste" and "becoming of a Christian" Standards apply equally to both formal and casual wear.
Dress seen as a sign of position, wealth, prestige. Religious rules a factor.
Elastic & relative time consciousness. Time spent on enjoyment of relationships.
Empahsis on relationships. Rewards based on seniority and relationships. Work is a necessity of life.
Focus on nuclear & extended family. Loyalty & responsibility to family. Age given status & respect.
Group orientation. Conformity valued. Preference for harmony.
Formal. Hugs, bows, handshakes, "call and answer" and other greeting rituals. Personal space varies with cultures but often smaller physical distances than corresponding distances in Mainstream American Culture.
Lateral, holistic, simultaneous. Accepting of life's difficulties.
Value on promptness, order, exact scheduling.
Generally JWs are very prompt and maintain good order and exact schedules. Time counted in field service can be a funny thing.
No special Rewards or Recognitions. "Titles" and "Positions" are "Privileges and Responsibilities" not rewards. No minimal service requirement. Salvation through Grace of God not earned through works.
Positions, titles, responsibilities, privileges, result from successful conformity and obtainment/maintenance of minimum "theocratic service levels. Privileges begin by meeting or exceeding Average Monthly Publisher Hours as published in the KM (approx. 9), can't fail to report at least 1 hour for 3 months in a row. Sometimes, the rewards are "relationship-based depending on relationships to the "power circle of the congregation or kinship. "Theocratic work" expected to be intrinsicaly rewarding and necessary for salvation.
Focus on nuclear & extended family. Responsibility for self. Age given status and respect. Congregation and "fellow brothers and sisters" are very important.
Focus on "spiritual family." Familial bonds meaningless unless also coupled with "approved" JW status. Congregational fellowship, generally just lip service. Most persons in the congregation spend "non-field-service time" with only a few other persons in the congregation. Youth is devalued and viewed as suspicious source of trouble. Youth valuable only for physical labour and supporting ministry activities. Age given status and respect if also coupled with "approved" JW status, otherwise meaningless itself. Elderly persons of the world given no special merit for their experience and wisdom.
Individual choice but conformity to group expected. Individuality allowed, different cultures embraced. No racial preferences. No direct confrontation, conflict or questioning of authority. Loyalty to God is the supreme value.
Conformity to group or else not approved. Virtually no individuality allowed and highly discouraged. No "visible" conflict, questionning or challenging of authority internally, but some secret or private doubt. The Internet already a powerful source for sharing and accessing information for some on the inside but increasingly castagated by Bethel and most JWs comply and refuse to investigate or challenge the leadership. Loyalty to the Organization is the supreme value.
Informal, Handshakes, "Greet with a Holy Kiss" and Warmth expected
Degree of "warmth" expressed is highly situational and dependent upon underlying cultural composition of the members. Disapproved, marked, DF'd, and DA'd kept at physical distance, no eye contact made generally.
"Ponder, reason over teachings." Meditate, study deeply. Linear, logical, sequential. Problem Solving with Prescriptive Triad. Understanding from context, word meaning, interscriptural harmony, "Make the Truth Your Own". Congregation Elders, are present to help ones to gain better understanding, to assist with their problems and serve as loving shepherds.
Do not delve deeply. Personal bible study w/o Watchtower "Study Aids" fruitless at best and dangerous at worse. Do not draw individual/independent conclusions. Do not study non-JW materials, especially of a religious nature. Never study former-JWs materials. Focus on single scriptures (Machine-gun teaching) out of context, deriving the meaning as explained by the FDS. Prescriptive Triad generally given lip-service, problems generally worked out on an individual basis.
