Editing Jehovah's Witnesses practices (section)

==Separateness==
Jehovah's Witnesses are told they should remain "separate from the world" in harmony with Jesus' description of his followers at John 17:14–16. Watch Tower publications define the "world" as "the mass of mankind apart from Jehovah’s approved servants" and teach that it is ruled by Satan<ref>''Reasoning From the Scriptures'', Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, pages 435–436.</ref> and a place of danger<ref>"Live a Balanced, Simple Life", ''The Watchtower'', July 15, 1989, page 11.</ref> and moral contamination.<ref>{{Harvnb|Holden|2002|pp=12}}.</ref> Witnesses manifest their world-renouncing beliefs in many ways. They avoid involvement in social controversies,<ref>''What Does God Require?'', Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1996, page 13.</ref> remain politically neutral, and do not seek public office. The Watch Tower Society has stated that voting in political elections is a personal conscience decision,<ref>Questions From Readers, ''The Watchtower'', November 1, 1999, p. 28, "As to whether they will personally vote for someone running in an election, each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses makes a decision based on his Bible-trained conscience and an understanding of his responsibility to God and to the State.</ref> though a Witness who takes any action considered to be a "violation of Christian neutrality" may face religious sanctions.<ref>''Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock'', page 140.</ref> 

They refuse participation in ecumenical and interfaith activities.<ref>''Jehovah's Witnesses Proclaimers of God's Kingdom'', Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1993, page 188)</ref><ref>''Reasoning From the Scriptures'', Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, pages 269–270.</ref> They abstain from celebrating religious holidays, and reject many customs they claim have pagan origins. They do not work in industries associated with the military, nor serve in the armed services.<ref>''Worship the Only True God'', Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2002, p. 159.</ref> They refuse national military service, which in some countries may result in their arrest and imprisonment.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jw-media.org/region/asia_pacific/south_korea/english/releases/conscientious_obj/kor_e071004.pdf |title=Watch Tower Press Release, October 4, 2007 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013182250/http://www.jw-media.org/region/asia_pacific/south_korea/english/releases/conscientious_obj/kor_e071004.pdf |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They do not salute or pledge allegiance to national flags or sing national anthems or other patriotic songs.<ref>''Education'', Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2002, pp. 20–23</ref>

Witnesses are urged to minimize their social contact with non-members, even if they possess "decent qualities",<ref>{{cite journal | last =Weddle | first = David L. | title =A new "generation" of Jehovah's Witnesses: Revised interpretation, ritual and identity | journal =Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions | volume = 3 | issue = 2 | page =363 | publisher = University of California Press | date = April 2000 | doi = 10.1525/nr.2000.3.2.350 | jstor = 10.1525/nr.2000.3.2.350 }}</ref><ref>"Train With Godly Devotion as Your Aim", Watchtower, August 15, 1985, page 19.</ref><ref>"Have a Full Share in the Great Spiritual Harvest", ''The Watchtower'', July 15, 2010, page 19, "Do you avoid unnecessary fellowship with schoolmates and fellow workers who do not share your beliefs? ... Your faithful compliance in such matters will bring excellent results."</ref> because of perceived dangers of worldly association.<ref>''Survival Into a New Earth'', Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1984, page 168.</ref><ref>"Each One Will Carry His Own Load", ''The Watchtower'', March 15, 2006, page 23.</ref> Sociologist Andrew Holden indicated they are highly selective in choosing with whom they spend leisure time, generally choosing the company of other Witnesses. Many Witnesses interviewed by Holden reported tensions and ostracism at work because of their religious beliefs.<ref>{{Harvnb|Holden|2002|pp=109–112}}.</ref> He reported that many Jehovah's Witness converts required some social adjustment as they gradually reduced contact with non-Witness friends.<ref>{{Harvnb|Holden|2002|pp=69}}.</ref> 

Association with those outside the organization, commonly termed by Witnesses as "worldly" and "not in the Truth", is acceptable only when it is viewed as an opportunity to preach.<ref name="Franz p409">{{Harvnb|Franz|2007|p=409}}</ref><ref>"Keep Clear of False Worship!", ''The Watchtower'', March 15, 2006, page 30, "Should we hold ourselves completely aloof from those who do not share our faith? The answer is no. The second of the two greatest commandments states: 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' We certainly display love for our neighbors when we share with them the good news of the Kingdom."</ref> Witnesses are under considerable pressure from the Society to show outsiders they are people of high moral fiber. Holden claims that as a result, Witnesses working with "worldly" colleagues tend to closely adhere to Watch Tower teachings.<ref>{{Harvnb|Holden|2002|pp=123}}.</ref>

Sociologist Ronald Lawson has suggested that it is the group's intellectual and organizational isolation—coupled with the intense indoctrination of adherents, rigid internal discipline and considerable persecution—that has contributed to the consistency of its sense of urgency in its apocalyptic message.<ref>Ronald Lawson, "Sect-state relations: Accounting for the differing trajectories of Seventh-Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses", ''Sociology of Religion'', Winter 1995, "The urgency of the Witness's apocalyptic has changed very little over time. The intellectual isolation of the Witness leaders has allowed them to retain their traditional position, and it is they who continue to be the chief purveyors of the radical eschatology ....This commitment (to principle) was bolstered by their organizational isolation, intense indoctrination of adherents, rigid internal discipline, and considerable persecution."</ref>