If shunning loved ones is scriptural, why does Watchtower publicly deny the practice?

Shunning deniers: Veikko Leinonen (center) is the latest Watchtower representative to downplay the shunning policy in front of the media
Shunning deniers: Veikko Leinonen (center) is the latest Watchtower representative to downplay the shunning policy in front of the media

Watchtower representative Veikko Leinonen recently made an appearance on Finnish television in which he essentially denied that Jehovah’s Witness parents shun children who leave.

Asked whether a young Jehovah’s Witness can leave freely and start his own life, Leinonen replied “Absolutely, absolutely freely and we hope they will return freely and there will be no obstacles.”

Further pressed by the journalist to clarify whether such a person would be shunned, Leinonen emphatically replied “no” several times – perhaps wary that Jehovah’s Witnesses have recently been under fire in Finland for their judicial policies.

In dismissing the issue of shunning, Leinonen followed in the footsteps of other Watchtower representatives from various countries who have similarly found it necessary to misrepresent Witness beliefs to the media.

Regardless of his motives, those who are familiar with Watchtower doctrine will recognize Leinonen’s denial as a total contradiction of the way Witnesses are instructed. The July 15, 2011 Watchtower (to cite just one example) went so far as to liken disfellowshipped teenagers to Nadab and Abihu, the errant priests who were struck down by God for offering illegitimate fire.

“Today, Jehovah does not immediately execute those who violate his laws,” the article observed. “He lovingly gives them an opportunity to repent from their unrighteous works. How would Jehovah feel, though, if the parents of an unrepentant wrongdoer kept putting Him to the test by having unnecessary association with their disfellowshipped son or daughter?” (see w11 7/15 p.32)

It is this and other coercion from Watchtower that has a tangible impact on countless families, which are needlessly ripped apart whenever a family member decides to no longer subject himself or herself to the Governing Body’s self-proclaimed authority.

But Witnesses would do well to consider why it should be necessary for their representatives to employ evasion and deception when confronted on this issue. After all, is not the disfellowshipping arrangement supposedly a commandment from Jehovah? Should it not, on that basis, be something Watchtower representatives should be eager to explain fully and transparently, regardless of the PR ramifications?

Consider the following passage from a 2008 Watchtower…

“For more than 40 years, Jeremiah contended with apathy, rejection, ridicule, and even physical violence. (Jer. 20:1, 2) At times, he felt like giving up. Yet, he persevered in declaring an unpopular message to a largely unreceptive people. In God’s strength, Jeremiah accomplished what he could never have done on his own.—Read Jeremiah 20:7-9.” – w08 7/15 p.7

If Jeremiah supposedly persevered with an “unpopular message” under threat of physical violence, should this not serve as an example to Watchtower and its PR personnel? If a Jehovah’s Witness fails to expound on a commandment of Jehovah when directly questioned on the subject simply because this command is “unpopular,” is he not yielding to fear of man and revealing a shame of God himself?

There can be no doubt that Watchtower’s policy of shunning family members is “unpopular” with the public, and with good reason. It is a sadistic means of utilizing a person’s family as a weapon of punishment for leaving his or her religion, and as such represents a breach of basic human rights.

But rather than face the music and extoll the perceived virtues of their cruel practice whatever the backlash, Watchtower buckles under the slightest media scrutiny. Its devious denials and attempts at evasion are both cowardly and vulgar.

Though their crude tactics may throw the occasional journalist off the scent in the short term, there are some of us who are taking careful note and will continue to hold this organization to account.

 

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Further reading…

113 thoughts on “If shunning loved ones is scriptural, why does Watchtower publicly deny the practice?

  • June 25, 2014 at 1:13 pm
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    Great article and great job Cedars.
    My guess is you have more than a handfull of readers from JW headquarters’ Writing and Service departments secretively studying your material. If anything it gives those SOBs something to think about.
    I wonder how many COs, Congregation Elders, Ministerial Servants, wives and Pioneers hang out here.
    Visits to your website can only go one way…up and up!

  • June 25, 2014 at 1:15 pm
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    Very interesting that witnesses expect tolerance from others when it comes to calling on their homes at inopportune times, or with respect to children not participating in holiday celebrations at school, or medical treatments, or for every other man made pharisaical rule that governs their lives. However, they are completely intolerant of others and will shun their own families if they detect any sign of disloyalty to the “organization”. I guess Brooklyn trumps everything and everyone.

  • June 25, 2014 at 1:17 pm
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    Not to go off topic.
    Cedars will you be commenting on the new JW video…’These Words Must Be On Your Heart’?

  • June 26, 2014 at 7:36 am
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    Rob, you didn’t get the memo? You are absolutely right, they are the only ones that entitled to this sort of treatment. They are also entitled to argue and vilify your beliefs but don’t you dare try and question theirs. They are absolutely the only ones entitled to fight for their rights all the way up tot eh supreme court but don’t you dare try to fight for your own.

    LOL!

  • June 26, 2014 at 8:47 am
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    Hey,tracy;pickup on this!!you don’t even have to be DF to get shunned!!let me tell you this for a fact,i am being shunned over and over again and i am not DF.IF YOU ARE NOT COUNTED AMOUNGTH THE ELITE CLASS NOW OF BEING AN ELDER,A MINISTERIAL,A CLASS A/B PIONEER WORKING WITH THE DISPLAYS YOU ARE SHUNNED PERIOD.WHAT A SHAME AND A DOWNRIGHT SHAM!!! Shunning is more wide spread than they are going to admit.The truth is it’s there but they just don’t care.

  • June 27, 2014 at 3:10 pm
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    Someone can just mail the media a few WT mags to show that shunning is a practice observed my members. Doesn’t the person who made the statement realize that?

  • June 27, 2014 at 5:11 pm
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    Jworg..FAQ do Jw shun…i copied this part from it and it says it on there site…………….We do not automatically disfellowship someone who commits a serious sin. If, however, a baptized Witness makes a practice of breaking the Bible’s moral code and does not repent, he or she will be SHUNNED or disfellowshipped. The Bible clearly states: “”Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.””—1 Corinthians 5:13…………..Does that say Shunned?yes and that’s why i changed it to Capitals and this is on there site Jworg..under FAQ do Jehovah,s witnesses shun ..END OF..!!!!

  • June 28, 2014 at 12:42 am
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    Here is a sad reality, JW’s are literally afraid to use their brains to think. For most, the reason they do not leave being a JW is the fear of what will they do with their life if they do not have someone telling them what to do. Sound strange? Take a look at the evidence.

    The vast majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses are codependents. The earmarks of codependency are, self denial, excessive compliance and low self esteem. Several articles written on codependency clearly state that Narcissists are magnets for Codependents.

    Consider these facts:

    Self denial:
    Jehovah’s Witnesses are told to be “self sacrificing”

    Low self esteem:
    Jehovah’s Witnesses are reminded repeatedly to not think too much of themselves. They are told that they are “slaves” of the master. When following the instructions of the Narcissistic GB they are told they are ‘doing what they should have done’ and are a “good for nothing slave” TRULY SICK!

    Excessive compliance:
    Jehovah’s Witnesses are repeatedly told to not question the direction of the Narcissist GB even in the smallest detail. In everything they are to be compliant and take it as coming from the “Almighty God” himself.

    Magnetism to narcissists:
    Codependents by virtue of these traits seek the approval of the Narcissist and feel the need to follow the direction of the Narcissist for that approval. This codependency only exaggerates the Narcissist selfish controlling ways, empowering the Narcissist to feel strong in his/her conviction that he/she is right and does not need to change their extremely selfish ways. Describes the GB perfectly

    Folks, whether we like it or not, the biggest challenge we face is not our families religious views, but their codependency with the GB/Watchtower. The facts that we have acquired are obvious to everyone that the GB and its Watchtower mouthpiece are liars and total frauds. We were the only ones surprised by the facts as we ended our codependency. No one outside the JW religion is surprised at all. Just as the abusive, selfish husband harms not only his codependent wife and therefore enables him to harm his children, or the alcoholic whose wife/husband does not leave and who is a codependent causes the children to suffer. Our families are just as responsible as the GB, is the sad truth. When we bring to light the facts they seek to protect the GB, their abuser, enabling the GB to abuse us.

    Consider one more fact. Ask local law enforcement why they hate domestic dispute cases. It is because when they go to arrest the abuser, very often the codependent seeks to protect the abuser and at the very least is almost always the one bailing them out. (I work with attorneys and know this to be a fact) Essentially they show up and risk their lives and often the victim never presses any charges. Many officers lament that they would not even go if were not for the children.

    What I am talking about is called cognitive dissonance, that is when a person holds to two very different and conflicting ideas. More specifically cognitive dissonance refers to the emotional stress caused by holding to two different ideas. To illustrate, have you ever noticed that when you try to reason with a loved one who is a JW on the facts, they get really stressed out. How about this, think back to when you left, how surprised you were that you could reason on the facts and it no longer bothered you, but it bothered them, get my point?

    Here is the rub. We must hold our families accountable if there ever is to be change. By holding them accountable we may awaken their powers of reason and alert them to their need for help and therapy. Otherwise, just like the abuser who is bailed out of jail, by his/her victim. If our loved ones continue to bail out the GB, the GB will be viewed as harmless and will continue to evade trouble.

    I choose to hold my family accountable for their support of this heinous viper of an organization and all of its lies. I choose to withhold my approval of them and their beliefs that harm my family and others. Change must start with us not being codependents of our families and making excuses for their abuse! Shunning is evil, who cares what lies the WT tells. I don’t care what some tribal leader tells his people to do. I only care about the evil choice my family has made to please their narcissistic leaders. They are guilty and should be held accountable! I do not feel sorry for their mentally sickened state any more than I do an alcoholic. Both need to change and neither should get our concern, love or support until they acknowledge what they are doing is wrong. The first step in any recovery program is admitting they have a problem, without admitting they will never seek help nor change. Not holding them accountable is like trying to put all the makers of whiskey out of business because our parents are alcoholics, when the vast majority of people who drink are not alcoholics. The solution also is not to support their bad behavior and hold them accountable until they get help.

    To be clear, I am not challenging anyone who exposes the GB or its agencies and agents. In fact I applaud you for providing the facts, as it helps others to stay away. However, what consistently seems to be missing from our discussions regarding shunning is the fact that our families are guilty and need to be held accountable and made to see they have a serious problem or things will never change. Even if the WT dissapears they will find another narcissist to control them leaving us bewildered until we admit that they have a problem and stop being their codependents.

    Yes everyone here deserves to be loved, but not a lie of love by an abuser, even if it is our own family.

    With all due respect and warm regards to everyone.

  • June 28, 2014 at 12:44 am
    Permalink

    Here is a sad reality, JW’s are literally afraid to use their brains to think. For most, the reason they do not leave being a JW is the fear of what will they do with their life if they do not have someone telling them what to do. Sound strange? Take a look at the evidence.

    The vast majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses are codependents. The earmarks of codependency are, self denial, excessive compliance and low self esteem. Several articles written on codependency clearly state that Narcissists are magnets for Codependents.

    Consider these facts:

    Self denial:
    Jehovah’s Witnesses are told to be “self sacrificing”

    Low self esteem:
    Jehovah’s Witnesses are reminded repeatedly to not think too much of themselves. They are told that they are “slaves” of the master. When following the instructions of the Narcissistic GB they are told they are ‘doing what they should have done’ and are a “good for nothing slave” TRULY SICK!

    Excessive compliance:
    Jehovah’s Witnesses are repeatedly told to not question the direction of the Narcissist GB even in the smallest detail. In everything they are to be compliant and take it as coming from the “Almighty God” himself.

    Magnetism to narcissists:
    Codependents by virtue of these traits seek the approval of the Narcissist and feel the need to follow the direction of the Narcissist for that approval. This codependency only exaggerates the Narcissist selfish controlling ways, empowering the Narcissist to feel strong in his/her conviction that he/she is right and does not need to change their extremely selfish ways. Describes the GB perfectly

    Folks, whether we like it or not, the biggest challenge we face is not our families religious views, but their codependency with the GB/Watchtower. The facts that we have acquired are obvious to everyone that the GB and its Watchtower mouthpiece are liars and total frauds. We were the only ones surprised by the facts as we ended our codependency. No one outside the JW religion is surprised at all. Just as the abusive, selfish husband harms not only his codependent wife and therefore enables him to harm his children, or the alcoholic whose wife/husband does not leave and who is a codependent causes the children to suffer. Our families are just as responsible as the GB, is the sad truth. When we bring to light the facts they seek to protect the GB, their abuser, enabling the GB to abuse us.

    Consider one more fact. Ask local law enforcement why they hate domestic dispute cases. It is because when they go to arrest the abuser, very often the codependent seeks to protect the abuser and at the very least is almost always the one bailing them out. (I work with attorneys and know this to be a fact) Essentially they show up and risk their lives and often the victim never presses any charges. Many officers lament that they would not even go if were not for the children.

    What I am talking about is called cognitive dissonance, that is when a person holds to two very different and conflicting ideas. More specifically cognitive dissonance refers to the emotional stress caused by holding to two different ideas. To illustrate, have you ever noticed that when you try to reason with a loved one who is a JW on the facts, they get really stressed out. How about this, think back to when you left, how surprised you were that you could reason on the facts and it no longer bothered you, but it bothered them, get my point?

    Here is the rub. We must hold our families accountable if there ever is to be change. By holding them accountable we may awaken their powers of reason and alert them to their need for help and therapy. Otherwise, just like the abuser who is bailed out of jail, by his/her victim. If our loved ones continue to bail out the GB, the GB will be viewed as harmless and will continue to evade trouble.

  • June 28, 2014 at 12:47 am
    Permalink

    Here is a sad reality, for most, the reason they do not leave being a JW is the fear of what will they do with their life if they do not have someone telling them what to do. Sound strange? Take a look at the evidence.

    The vast majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses are codependents. Bold statement I know, but consider the three earmarks of codependency, self denial, excessive compliance and low self esteem. Several articles written on codependency clearly state that Narcissists are magnets for Codependents.

    Consider these facts:

    Self denial:
    Jehovah’s Witnesses are told to be “self sacrificing”

    Low self esteem:
    Jehovah’s Witnesses are reminded repeatedly to not think too much of themselves. They are told that they are “slaves” of the master. When following the instructions of the Narcissistic GB they are told they are ‘doing what they should have done’ and are a “good for nothing slave” TRULY SICK!

    Excessive compliance:
    Jehovah’s Witnesses are repeatedly told to not question the direction of the Narcissist GB even in the smallest detail. In everything they are to be compliant and take it as coming from the “Almighty God” himself.

    Magnetism to narcissists:
    Codependents by virtue of these traits seek the approval of the Narcissist and feel the need to follow the direction of the Narcissist for that approval. This codependency only exaggerates the Narcissist selfish controlling ways, empowering the Narcissist to feel strong in his/her conviction that he/she is right and does not need to change their extremely selfish ways. Describes the GB perfectly

    Folks, whether we like it or not, the biggest challenge we face is not our families religious views, but their codependency with the GB/Watchtower. The facts that we have acquired are obvious to everyone that the GB and its Watchtower mouthpiece are liars and total frauds. We were the only ones surprised by the facts as we ended our codependency. No one outside the JW religion is surprised at all. Just as the abusive, selfish husband harms not only his codependent wife and therefore enables him to harm his children, or the alcoholic whose wife/husband does not leave and who is a codependent causes the children to suffer. Our families are just as responsible as the GB, is the sad truth. When we bring to light the facts they seek to protect the GB, their abuser, enabling the GB to abuse us.

    Consider one more fact. Ask local law enforcement why they hate domestic dispute cases. It is because when they go to arrest the abuser, very often the codependent seeks to protect the abuser and at the very least is almost always the one bailing them out. (I work with attorneys and know this to be a fact) Essentially they show up and risk their lives and often the victim never presses any charges. Many officers lament that they would not even go if were not for the children.

    What I am talking about is called cognitive dissonance, that is when a person holds to two very different and conflicting ideas. More specifically cognitive dissonance refers to the emotional stress caused by holding to two different ideas. To illustrate, have you ever noticed that when you try to reason with a loved one who is a JW on the facts, they get really stressed out. How about this, think back to when you left, how surprised you were that you could reason on the facts and it no longer bothered you, but it bothered them, get my point?

    Here is the rub. We must hold our families accountable if there ever is to be change. By holding them accountable we may awaken their powers of reason and alert them to their need for help and therapy. Otherwise, just like the abuser who is bailed out of jail, by his/her victim. If our loved ones continue to bail out the GB, the GB will be viewed as harmless and will continue to evade trouble.

  • June 28, 2014 at 12:52 am
    Permalink

    I choose to hold my family accountable for their support of this heinous viper of an organization and all of its lies. I choose to withhold my approval of them and their beliefs that harm my family and others. Change must start with us not being codependents of our families and making excuses for their abuse! Shunning is evil, who cares what lies the WT tells. I don’t care what some tribal leader tells his people to do. I only care about the evil choice my family has made to please their narcissistic leaders. They are guilty and should be held accountable! I do not feel sorry for their mentally sickened state any more than I do an alcoholic. Both need to change and neither should get our concern, love or support until they acknowledge what they are doing is wrong. The first step in any recovery program is admitting they have a problem, without admitting they will never seek help nor change. Not holding them accountable is like trying to put all the makers of whiskey out of business because our parents are alcoholics, when the vast majority of people who drink are not alcoholics. The solution also is not to support their bad behavior and hold them accountable until they get help.

    To be clear, I am not challenging anyone who exposes the GB or its agencies and agents. In fact I applaud you for providing the facts, as it helps others to stay away. However, what consistently seems to be missing from our discussions regarding shunning is the fact that our families are guilty and need to be held accountable and made to see they have a serious problem or things will never change. Even if the WT dissapears they will find another narcissist to control them leaving us bewildered until we admit that they have a problem and stop being their codependents.

    Yes everyone here deserves to be loved, but not a lie of love by an abuser, even if it is our own family.

    PS sorry for the duplicate comment. I would delete it, but do not know how to.

  • June 28, 2014 at 2:37 pm
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    Tiger

    Thank you for your comment, which I concur with wholeheartedly. I actually believe that Narcissism is a common thread throughout Watchtower.

    I have witnessed this personality trait in many who hold positions of power within the Watchtower, such as Elders, COs, and of course (thanks to Cedars website) especially so to the GB.

    On the other hand I have seen first-hand too how many in the congregation (more specifically the women) are the co-dependents; totally unable to think for themselves, subservient and controlled.

    Research about NPD shows that this disorder can develop in some people due to problems at an early age and who underneath their Narcissistic exterior have fragile self-esteem.

    Both are the very types that Watchtower preys upon – those who are damaged and vulnerable and those who are emotionally needy and who are afraid to think for themselves; and so they get drawn into Watchtower’s web, which then only fuels and exacerbates these personality weaknesses at either end of the spectrum.

    This is a very harmful Cult, it has caused endless emotional damage and will continue to do so until the real Truth about it is exposed to such an extent that our JW families and those under it’s control are forced to face up to the facts and can no longer remain blinkered.

  • June 29, 2014 at 12:58 am
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    Tigers
    Thank you, I concur wholeheartedly with your comment. I actually believe that Narcissism is a common thread throughout Watchtower.

    I have witnessed first-hand Narcissism throughout the organisation, especially those in positions of power – Elders, COs and (through Cedars Blog) the GB.

    At the other end of the spectrum are those who cannot think for themselves (most specifically the women within the Org) and so they are controlled by the Narcissists.

    Watchtower fuels and exacerbates these personality traits.

    I am quoting an article that I found written about JWs and Narcissism; –

    “JWs can be classified as two types of people:
    1. Walking talking narcissists
    2. Inverted mirrors of the narcissists that provide narcissistic supply; co-dependents.
    Everybody else gets cut off and thrown away by the JW narcissists because they don’t provide narcissistic supply.

    All of the JW behavior is determined by narcissistic supply and the availability of narcissistic supply.
    Spouses of JW narcissists develop Stockholm syndrome and sympathize with their captors.

    If you are a victim of the JW narcissist the only thing you can control is the narcissistic supply that you provide to the narcissist.

    If you leave the JW narcissist it will not matter. They are no longer receiving the narcissistic supply and they will turn instantly devaluing whatever they previously held to be of value. They will devalue what they previously valued to the same degree that they previously held it to be esteemed.”

  • July 2, 2014 at 3:29 am
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    I watched a youtube video entitled Jehovah’s Witnesses Elder lying in court parts 1 and part 2 dealing with shunning and now I am wondering if they are all lying sacks of s***t?

  • July 4, 2014 at 5:42 pm
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    they have been lying since the beginning of their time…whether it was to save their own hide’s, or to attract members. and please believe they didn’t let just any ol’ elder speak in their behalf…it was one that has been groomed to calmly represent satan.

  • July 8, 2014 at 12:56 am
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    Very well written. The watchtower leadership are cowards. If they truly believed in their message and truly trusted in the power of their God to save them and protect his message, they wouldn’t shrink back from fear whenever someone shines a spotlight upon them.

    It’s not bad enough that many of their policies are hurtful and hateful but that they can’t even muster the courage and integrity to live what they preach. Truly shameful.

  • July 9, 2014 at 12:53 am
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    I left almost 30 years ago. I was never df’ed I just ran away from home basically. I have not had any contact with any JW since except my mom. Recently she told me I am to be viewed as someone who is df’ed and I will be shunned although she didn’t like that word. She told me Jehovah disciplines those he loves and that is what this is “discipline”. So apparently at least this case the purpose is only to sever family ties and/or coerce me to return.
    My offense: celebrating holidays

  • July 17, 2014 at 10:49 am
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    Shunning an act of love,- I think George Orwell, must at some time have read W,T, articles, in his book 1984, the,Big
    Brother organisation has a department for “Persecution, and
    Execution, of all dissenter’s, And what is it called?,
    “The Ministry of Love”.

  • August 5, 2014 at 9:24 am
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    So a few weeks ago my elders got me at home at night when I didn’t know they were coming, wondering why I haven’t been going to meetings lately and not in service so I unloaded on them. The next Sunday, I had called in to the meeting on the phone lines and got cut off before the Watchtower study and tried several times and couldn’t get through so thought maybe I was cut off deliberately? Now my daughter tells me that she was told by somebody in her congregation (45 miles away) that I have been “banned” from calling in to the meetings (not that I found it all that interesting anyway).

  • August 7, 2014 at 2:53 am
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    I started associating with Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1964 and became baptized in 1966 at the age of 19. In 1965, the Watchtower had an article on page 575 on questions to the readers. I thought it reasonable to disfellowship a person for unrepentent wrongdoing against Bible laws and principles and I thought that before disfellowshiping a Witness for apostasy, they had to be insisting on preaching a doctrine contrary to the Bible from the article that they printed about disfellowshiping. I am quoting the article word for word. From this article, you will see that what they actually practice and what they put in print are not the same. We were lured into an organization that does not practice what it preaches.

    1975 Watchtower page 575 under the question:

    “At 2 Thessalonians 3:24, 15, was the apostle Paul discussing disfellowshiping?

    Apparently not. He was telling the congregation how to deal with professed Christians who, although they did not deserve to be completely cut off from the congregation, were not good company. This is born out by the context,
    In Verse 6 he says: “Now we are giving you orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition you received from us.” Of what did that disorderliness consist? The apostle Paul said that they were ‘not working at all but were meddling with what did not concern them.’ He urged them as members of the congregation not to be lazy, expecting other people to supply their physical needs and using their time to meddle in affairs that did not concern them, but to show that they were willing to work and to provide their own necessities.
    Then to the faithful ones in Thessalonica he said: “For your part, brothers, do not give up in doing right. But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked, stop associating with him, that he may become ashamed. And yet do not be considering him as an enemy, but continue admonishing him as a brother.” (2nd Thess. 3:13-15). If one who professed to be a Christian was not obedient to the teachings of the Christian congregation, but preferred to hold to his own personal ideas and to conduct himself in a way that promoted his own selfish purposes, the responsible ones in the congregation should take note of that person, they should “keep this one marked.” He should not be given assignments that would put him before the congregation as a teacher or as an example for others to follow.
    Such a person would not be one that a spiritually-minded Christian would choose as his close companion. Listening to the ideas of one who had such an outlook would not be upbuilding, and spending time with him might lead to picking up his habits. So the apostle urged the brothers to avoid his company, both for their own protection and so that he might come to realize that the faithful ones did not approve of his course.
    Yet Paul did not say, as did the apostle John of persons who forsook Christian teachings, that they should not even say a greeting to him. (2 John 9-11) No, he was still their brother, and they were to “continue admonshing him as a brother,” urging him to make his mind over in harmony with God’s Word.
    However, if that person insisted on spreading his ideas in the congregation, so causing disunity, then what? When writing to Titus the apostle Paul gave this counsel: As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition; knowing that such a man has turned out of the way and is sinning, he being self-condemned.” – Titus 3:10,11.
    So the congregation is not anxious to expel individuals from it’s midst. It endeavors to help them, if possible; but when they persist in a course specifically condemned by the Scriptures, then out of respect for Jehovah God and for the protection of his people, the responsible servants must take action to keep the organization clean.”

    In order to be disfellowshipped in Jehovah’s Witnesses, all a person has to do is show one fellow Witness just one time, any article in one of it’s publications that is “old light” such as what is in the book “The Finished Mystery” published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society that might show that Jehovah and Jesus Christ chose an organization that taught such and such a thing between 1914-1919 and chose it as his mouthpiece to mankind anyway such as the cross. Jesus and Jehovah chose an organization as his spokesman, that said that Jesus died on a cross but today, the Watchtower says no, he died on a stake instead.” Who are the real apostates?” If a Witnesses is hauled before a committee for apostasy and is not “repentant” for showing “old light” from Watchtower publication, to a fellow Witness, then that person could be disfellowshiped for not being repentant for apostasy. This is a very unreasonable and deceitful religion and should be disbanded as an insidious and dangerous cult.

    If I had realized IN 1964, just what the Society is REALLY LIKE AND NOT WHAT IT SAYS IN THE PUBLICATIONS, THERE IS NO WAY THAT I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!

  • August 20, 2014 at 4:45 pm
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    20 years now without a family. It’s like a living bereavement. The family are all alive although as far as I’m concerned I might as well be dead.

    20 years not sharing good family times with one another.

    20 years of not going on vacation with my family.

    20 years of being met with a wall of silence.

    20 years with no emotional support whatsoever.

    20 years not seeing my family smile, hug one another freely as most other families take for granted.

    20 years and not a single day out with the family.

    20 years of being told I’m not worthy of my families attention.

    20 years of not being invited to family weddings or funerals or other major life events which most families take for granted.

    20 years of being reminded that I’m an apostate.

    20 years being reminded that I am the scum of the earth, being told that I am filthy spiritually all with disagreeing with Watchtower doctrine.

    20 years of not being viewed as acceptable association by my family.

    20 years not seeing my son grow up and become a young man.

    20 years of my family not telling me they really love me for who I am.

    It’s hurts. It hurts like mad. But nobody really cares. Life goes on. We’re just the silent sufferers.

  • August 20, 2014 at 4:51 pm
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    Obviously do not post this comment up only I just noticed a typo above:

    “20 years being reminded that I am the scum of the earth, being told that I am filthy spiritually all with disagreeing with Watchtower doctrine.”

    Should have read:

    20 years being reminded that I am the scum of the earth, being told that I am filthy spiritually all for disagreeing with Watchtower doctrine.

    Would you mind correcting the error please Cedar and deleting this reply altogether?

    Many thanks,

    Mark

  • August 26, 2014 at 7:34 am
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    The Watchtower condemns itself in it’s own words. The Watchtower denounces religious intolerance when it comes to other churches when it comes to dissidents as expressed in articles such as the Watchtower July 15, 1987, page 28 when it said “Christendom has had it’s fanatics-from people who set themselves on fire in political protest to individuals acting intolerantly towards those holding different religious views.”

    This intolerance towards dissidents toward the Catholic Church resulted in the Inquisition of the middle ages. Commenting on the Inquisition, this is what the Sept. 1, 1989 Watchtower page 3 had to say: “No one was free to worship as he pleased or to express opinions conflicting with those of the clergy. This clerical intolerance created a climate of fear throughout Europe. The church established the Inquisition to root out individuals who dated to hold different views. Considered heretics, they were brought before inquisitors, who tortured them for confessions. Often, those found guilty were burned at the stake.
    Regarding clergy rule in Spain, the Columbia History of the World states: “Wars and the crusading ideology had welded together an orthodox and snobbish aristocracy and clergy which held all the reins of power in the state. Intellectual life had been crippled by censorship and the Inquisition, which had been used against anyone protesting against either official theology or state policy.”

  • August 26, 2014 at 7:50 am
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    continuing from my last comment:
    The articles such as the above give the IMPRESSION that the Watchtower is tolerant towards members who might hold differing religious views within the Org. and even defends their right to express opinions that might conflict with official teachings of the Watchtower but this is how the Watchtower ACTUALLY views dissidents within the org. who might have differing views from the April 1, 1986 Watchtower page 30, 31 in answer to the question on why the Watchtower disfellowships for apostasy, even those who still believe in God, the Bible and Jesus Christ:

    “Those who voice such an objection point out that many religious organizations claiming to be Christian allow dissident views…However, such examples provide no grounds for our doing the same…Teaching dissident or divergent views is not compatible with true Christianity.”

    The only difference between the Inquisition of the Catholic Church of the middle ages and the Watchtower is that today the Watchtower uses elders to be the “Inquisitors” in the form of judicial committees and the way of “killing” and torturing it’s dissidents is to disfellowship them, in effect killing them emotionally. The physical killing would be at Armageddon, or at least that is what it’s followers believe.

    If anyone of Jehovah’s Witnesses disagrees openly with the Society such as the 607 theory that proves the Society to be incorrect such as Carl Olaf Johnson did, then the only thing the Society can do is to “kill” that person by shutting them up permanently by disfellowshipping that person such as what happened to Carl Olaf Johnson.

    What this does to all of these followers of the Watchtower is for all of them to relinquish all authority to the rulers or in this case the Governing Body, their right to THINK, SPEAK AND ACT FREELY. If anyone proves the Society to be wrong in anything at all, it is a threat to overthrow the authoritarian claims of the Society’s claims of Divine rulership and destroys the unity of the congregations. This is an ENFORCED unity based on FEAR and not LOVE and this is EVIL.

    That is why the Society is ashamed to admit openly on j.w.org, it’s real doctrine on disfellowshipping.

  • August 26, 2014 at 10:34 am
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    I should do a better job of proof-reading before hitting post.

    In my first comment above where it starts with: This intolerance, it should have read about half-way through “This clerical intolerance created a climate of fear throughout Europe. The church established the Inquisition to root out individuals who DARED (not dated like what I wrote by mistake) to to hold different views.”

  • September 29, 2014 at 6:28 pm
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    The bloke from Finland answered the question correctly. He was not asked about the status of being baptized or baptized. He just answered the questions put to him. My two sons (16 and
    23 at time) have waked away one still lives at home and smokes pot, the other went to a Pentecostal church because his girlfriend did. Neither were baptized JWs and neither are shunned by any JW.

    Any person can leave or stop being a JW and not be “shunned” Even a baptised JW can walk away and start a “new life” without being disfellowshipped. A JW can stop being “active” and start living a life wherfe the moral code does not comply with the Bibles standards and not be “shunned”.

    It is ONLY those, like your self, that publicly say that they no longer want to be a JW or those that are disfellowshipped that are, to use your words “shunned”.

    It is NOT the WTS policy to “shun” but the Bibles.

    http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20061115/accept-jehovahs-discipline/

  • January 27, 2015 at 2:49 am
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    @tiger123 ,what you say re the family is the best thing I’ve heard,very much a fight fire with fire situation.
    One of the things that I realised when my awakening happened that fighting the watchtower on its terms is a defeat in the making,as Ekhart Tolle puts it”you become what you fight against”
    A lot of lateral thinking and the strategy of not allowing yourself to be a victim and not allowing others to make you a victim I think has a lot going for it.

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