A Mini-Survey
Jehovah’s Witnesses have used the practice of “shunning” since the early 1940s to punish disfellowshipped former members by denying them contact with their believing friends and family members. Every decade since then
the Watchtower has expanded the punishment to include other persons besides “fornicators” and “evil doers.” Even those who have not been formally disfellowshipped or disassociated from their congregations can now find themselves shunned for a vastly expanded number of reasons – or in some cases for no particular reason at all.
This “mini-survey” asks what course you might take if the Watchtower announced an official end to the practice of shunning. How would you react or change your lifestyle? Please read the questions below and select the answer that best represents what you’d do. As always, we encourage you to comment on this poll and share your thoughts on the subject.
Good survey and interesting
I have no interest in being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses again. However, were it not for the shunning policy, I’d at least visit from time to time, to see everyone. As it is, though, I just can’t stomach being in the building, because of how much I have to keep my mouth shut or outright lie to get anyone to so much as say hello to me.
Many brothers have a rebellious attitude,not willing to listen to orgenization set by Jehovah on earth. It will be up to Jehovah onn the day of armagedon,if he wants those to live or die that day,for humbly listenig to his governing body on earth.
Eddie, how do you feel about witnesses shunning people that disassociate themselves because they genuinly believe that the organisation is not representing God?
Do you think those ones who cannot go along with Watchtower doctrines any more, should be shunned by their friends and family for the rest of their lives?
I sinned, I repented, I turned away from that badness and I am no longer committing that sin. I asked Jehovah God to forgive me, and he has. I am living a Christian life as Jesus instructed us to do. I practice my faith in Jehovah by loving HIM with my whole heart and with my whole soul and with my whole mind. I love my neighbor as myself. Matthew 22:40 says “On those two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets”. Because of Jehovah’s mercy, I have so much peace in my heart now that I can pray to Jehovah God directly and have a close and personal relationship with HIM for the first time in my life. If Jehovah God has forgiven me, how can an “earthly organization” not forgive me? Did I miss the scripture that gave an “earthly organization” more power and authority than Jehovah God himself? How did I ever let “God’s organization on earth” come between me and Jehovah? With Jehovah God’s help, that will never happen to me again.
You should ask your Jehovah to repent, too. He planned raping David’s wifes… in 2 Samuel 12
Spirituality should be a personal connection between a human being and whom ever one chooses to look to as God, Creator, Heavenly Father – Jehovah. I do not believe any other human being has the right to decide for me what my relationship should be. And actually, woe to me if I let anyone else define my deepest connection here. Religious groups should serve to enhance, not define my beliefs…because my beliefs are a part of who I am. I believe God wants me to know my own heart and mind and stand on my own two feet before him. I believe the most important element of faith is love…the golden rule. JWs break this one at heartbreaking levels all over the world. The opposite of love is not hate, it is to ignore…
I believe that Jehovah’s spirit has the power to deal with matters even in the congregation and I’m not so sure any more about the concept of a congregation or justice itself…
1.) The current disfellowshipping rules and regulations are false doctrines not supported by scripture, except for unrepentent ones who are practicing serious sins, and who have not responded to loving guidance. (NOT hateful arrogance from elders with judgmental “holier than thou” attitudes, who act more like vice detectives on the police force)
2.) Disfellowshipping is a control tactic, first used by the Catholic church in the form of “excommunication”, and still used today by other religious groups such as Amish, Scientology, and Mormons, and is a human rights and abuse issue in all religions that practice this in a cult-like manner for the purpose of control.
Dear StillHaveFaith
I like your strong scriptural views you have a good point
warm regards
70wksofyrs
The Watchtower Society (and all its associates, and all the people involved) should be disfellowshipped for:
1) practicing religious deception for the sake of making profit
2) spreading twisted personal interpretations of scripture,
3) presumptuously promoting themselves ahead of Jesus Christ,
4) pushing ahead & teaching “commands of men”,
5) abusing people’s trust,
6) advocating policies that promote abuse of power,
7) protecting paedophiles and defeating the ends of justice,
8) expressing support for Adolf Hitler and the Nazis,
9) damaging people’s faith and trust in God,
10) tax evasion
11) being part of the world they condemn
12) hypocrisy – teaching one thing, practicing another
It all adds up to a huge case – over 100 years of bringing disrepute on the name of Jehovah, the very One they claim to worship!
Case settled
I think if it was not for the policy to disfellowship anyone who had a view non congruent with the current “understanding” of something, I would have no issue with continuing as a JW. It would be the humble and correct choice. Not only will this control mechanism NEVER be removed, but it will in my belief continue to be abused more and more.
My parents shunned me for 12 years when I left the organization. They missed out on their grandchild’s growing years. Then my folks, for reasons unknown to me, came around like nothing had ever happened. We have a decent relationship now. We share a meal every now and then; exchange emails, etc. My folks continue to worship faithfully as JWs and it makes them happy; I continue my own spiritual journey as I see fit. I don’t see the problem, and I don’t understand why the governing body would want it any different than each of us making the “choice” that Jehovah provided to us individually. My parents are happy with their choice and I leave them alone; and I’m happy with my choice and they let that be. All is well, finally.
It’s very simple. The gov body realize that anyone who has left the organisation has left for a reason. They do not want that person telling others why they left, in case that person leaves as well. So they instigate the shunning process, which kept your parents away from you for 12 years. It’s good you now communicate, but you are one of the lucky ones. Others completely cut of all communication with the disfellowshipped or disassociated one for the rest of their life.
I disagree with the statement that JWs or supporters of Hitler and the Nazis. You’ll recall they were interned in concentration camps duing the Nazis’ tenure.
If they don’t want anything from a disfellowshipped person, why is it in the shepherding book that their testimony could be enough to make a judicial committee? I don’t get it…
The Bible teaching is to disassociate with people that
and there is a list.
Since Jehovah’s Witnesses Follow bible counsel and practice, they dis fellowship.
This step is not taken lightly, there are many meetings with the person before that.
Jehovah’s Witnesses Love their bros and sis, they are not happy when one in our family gets counseled and that is what that is all about, the purpose is to get the brother back.
I am sorry Peter I do not agree that is the case. jw.org states
“Disfellowshipped individuals may attend our religious services. If they wish, they may also receive spiritual counsel from congregation elders. The goal is to help each individual once more to qualify to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Disfellowshipped people who reject improper conduct and demonstrate a sincere desire to live by the Bible’s standards are always welcome to become members of the congregation again”
Rejecting improper conduct is a matter of a man’s opinion not God’s in as far as a judicial committee is concerned. Raising question’s is not improper conduct my brother, it states on pages 8 and 9 paragrph 3 and 4 of the Bible Teach Book
“Think about the question on the cover of this book, the questions raised in the preface, or those at the beginning of this chapter. These are some of the most important questions you can ask. Yet, many people have given up trying to find the answers. Why? Does the Bible have the answers? Some feel that its answers are too hard to understand. Others worry that asking questions could lead to shame or embarrassment. And some decide that such questions are best left to religious leaders and teachers. What about you?
4 Very likely you are interested in getting answers to life’s big questions. No doubt you sometimes wonder: ‘What is the purpose of life? Is this life all there is? What is God really like?’ It is good to ask such questions, and it is important that you do not give up until you find satisfying, reliable answers. The famous teacher Jesus Christ said: “Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you.”—Matthew 7:7.”
The conclusion, Peter, if one keep’s asking this will lead to disfellowshipping, not kind or loving but hypocrisy my brother.
RE: “It is good to ask such questions, and it is important that you do not give up until you find satisfying, reliable answers. The famous teacher Jesus Christ said: “Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you.”—Matthew 7:7.”
AMEN BROTHER!!!! [SMILE]
The Bible admonition is to avoid “fornicators, idolaters, and evil doers,” not those who choose to ask questions, take issue with doctrinal teachings or policies, or those who simply choose not to associate any longer for personal reasons.
The Watchtower has expanded the shunning rules to those who simply disassociate themselves. This is often extended to those who are “marked” or “reproved.” It is also applied even to those who have studied with family or friends but then chose not to convert and become active JWs.
It seems like the Watchtower spends more time disfellowshipping and marking members than they do in actually knocking on doors looking for potential converts. In fact, it has been reported that the two largest groups of JWs being disfellowshipped are baptized children (even as young as 9 years old) and spouses of JWs who initially converted but no longer believe. Those two large categories, being who they are, certainly “contribute to family harmony” – not! – and are divisive and destructive on several levels.
One former brother wrote me and related how he “simply could not believe the fairy tales any longer and wanted out” and DA’d himself. A week later, at the urging of the elders, his wife of 20 years filed for divorce. Where is it in the Bible that elders should encourage a wife to leave her husband? So much for your “Jehovah’s Witnesses follow bible counsel…”
I don’t know if me and my husband are the norm for leaving but we both just felt the congregations have changed so much over the years as in “cold” and not “loving” we had enough and we quit cold turkey so to speak; when our children were very young . Yes we are shunned why who knows.
They shunned my little child years ago who said hello to a sister who had just happened to be walking by in a grocery store parking lot that was cruel to my child who was a innocent child.
It was a witness given none the less a negative one.
My now grown child never forgot how cruel this JW was to them, they a little child and to this day they dislike JW and refuse to even talk to them at the door. Sometimes I think that JW can give a very bad witness.
What are my views? I have been “disciplined” more times than I care to discuss at this point. By “imperfect men” for simply expressing my views. Am I going to stop expressing them? Do I have a new avenue to participate and answer? Anyone care to comment feel free.
I have only posted a few comments thus far, but I want to encourage you to rely on your own research, and if it does not match up to the BIBLE, Jehovah gave us a brain for logical reasoning, and He and His Son have both commanded us not to follow the “doctrines of men”. I discovered a great website by an active witness who writes excellent articles comparing Governing Body doctrines with the Scriptures. I recently read an article there which applies to Daniels Prophecies: http://meletivivlon.com/2012/10/16/daniel-and-the-1290-and-1335-days/
He created a humorous imaginary conversation with the future resurrected Daniel. I have found all of the articles and comments posted there to be very revealing. If you want to avoid being disfellowshipped, you really have no choice but to keep your thoughts and questions to yourself while you are conversing with others at the Kingdom Hall. They don’t even realize it but they have been indoctrinated through repetition and fear tactics to believe that anyone who asks questions is an “apostate”, while they can NOT see the apostacy that is coming from the Governing Body!!!
Dear StillHaveFaith,
Thank you so much for your lovely comment it’s nice to meet you
Warm regards
70wksofyrs xxx
Thanks for the website link. Very interesting.
StillHaveFaith you made a point
>>Jehovah gave us a brain for logical reasoning<>You must also remember that their aim is not JUST to help you study the Bible, but to teach you their interpretation of it<>hateful arrogance from elders with judgmental “holier than thou” attitudes, who act more like vice detectives on the police force<>If you want to avoid being disfellowshipped, you really have no choice but to keep your thoughts and questions to yourself while you are conversing with others at the Kingdom Hall<<
My close friends and family have been saying the same for years to no avail. If I can have a new avenue to express myself that advice would be easier to follow.
By the way its nice to know you still have faith in the Bible Jehovah and Jesus. Me too xx
Hello Brother,
Regarding my statement “If you want to avoid being disfellowshipped, you really have no choice but to keep your thoughts and questions to yourself while you are conversing with others at the Kingdom Hall”, and your response:
“My close friends and family have been saying the same for years to no avail. If I can have a new avenue to express myself that advice would be easier to follow.”
I did not mean to be “criticizing” you in any way. Once we discover that some (not all) of the things we were taught by the WTBTS are “doctrines of men” which are not supported by the scriptures that Jehovah gave us as our “Guide Book”, we naturally want to correct our own wrong thinking, and then share our newfound understanding with other JWs. The ever prevailing problem is that as long as the Governing Body maintains their iron grip on everyone, the fear of being disfellowshipped prevents them from even considering that “something is wrong”, and then because they actually have come to BELIEVE that the GB is “Jehovah’s direct channel of communication”, they think that they are “doing the right thing” by turning you in for “questioning Jehovah’s faithful and discreet slave”. So you have to protect yourself from this unfair and unchristian method of disfellowshipping, if it is going to cause you harm, especially within your own family. If your efforts to reach your friends at the KH are “to no avail”, join the club because that is what so many others are reporting in their posts online. It becomes a matter of “casting your pearls before swine”, not that JWs are “swine” of course not, but just that most of them do not have the ability to appreciate your newfound “pearls” of biblical reasoning and discernment, so they turn against you like an unreasoning animal. They incorrectly BELIEVE that “since we learned all of this wonderful information about Jehovah’s Kingdom from the WTBTS, then EVERYTHING else that they have been teaching us must also be true.”
Disfellowshipping control methods have caused so much harm to so many thousands of people, resulting in many of them abandoning their faith in Jehovah and His Son Jesus Christ. The beginning of my own journey of discovery was when I “coincidentally” ended up on an exJW website reading accounts of disfellowshipping “horror stories”, which I had never had any intention of doing. But the most shocking and disheartening realization of this horrible situation, is that many of these “lost sheep” have lost their FAITH. So many people have lost entire families, their financial stability, and some even their sanity, but what is really the greatest loss for many is their FAITH. However, what I have experienced is that “Jehovah’s arm is not too short that it cannot reach”!!! Jehovah does sustain us when we are persecuted for “preaching the truth” about doctrines of men, but we must also be “as cautious as serpents”, so as not to allow elders or anyone else to “shipwreck our FAITH”. It is a shame that they are not taking their own advice from this Watchtower article:
“How will you respond when pointed statements are made about false religious teachings and corrupt practices? Will you immediately condemn the person or organization making the exposé? Do you feel it is all right to teach lies and misrepresent God’s Word, but wrong to expose the error? Contrary to what some may think, it is not unkind and unloving to lay bare falsehood and corruption.” (Watchtower, March 1, 1966)
You need to admit the governing body is the faithful and discreet slave providing meat in due season as spiritual food for the sheep. No other church even preaches this parable as literal, which proves its true.
Hey StillHaveFaith
I most certainly did not take your comment as critisism. My blogging skills are rank at the moment… I need to aquire better skills…the post went wrong so you didn’t get the “full picture”(they say that too ha ha you gotta laugh)…all the well meaning cousel to shut up in the Hall failed.
It’s too late…we are “back rowed” convicted of reviling………two from our family???? Along with a few fornicators. Actually we have a nice little club on a Sunday after meeting whilst the others are doorknocking
I am glad you still have faith brother….I am actually a sister. I have a question……my youngest thinks all elders are hypocrites and wants to kill certain local ones…..so reasonably safe I suppose……My eldest though is in a different District thinking just the circuit was corrupt….and now wants to climb the animal farm ladder at Bethel to be a more equal pig than the rest of us, I suppose the selfish desire of a “haughty spirit” is the driving force behind that “goal”………….Finally here is my question StillHaveFaith…..How can I reach and save my eldest?
My eldest has made similiar comments to you…………on some level I suppose I am hoping you are my eldest…….and when you ring me on the way to work this morning “to talk to me about necessary business” you will reveal all……..but that’s really pushing faith toooooooo much isn’t it. So in your view brother one step at a time….How can I reach my eldest?
OOPs I just now read this post so my response to your other post might sound a bit confusing. I have a better picture of your situation now.
Re: “It’s too late…we are “back rowed” convicted of reviling………two from our family???? Along with a few fornicators. Actually we have a nice little club on a Sunday after meeting whilst the others are doorknocking”
I sat in the “Back Row” myself for five years after choosing to be disfellowshipped. It is a long story, but the Presiding Overseer was yelling at me on the phone at my place of business right in front of a line of customers, demanding that I attend another judicial committee meeting immediately or else he was going to announce that I was disfellowshipped at the next meeting. I was very emotionally distraught at how he was treating me and crying right in front of all these people didn’t help the situation, so I just said “GO AHEAD” and hung up the phone. This must sound crazy to you, but that actually turned out to be the best thing for me, and I was so relieved of all of the pressures of being a JW, that I went to the meetings for another 5 years without ever becoming interested in getting re-instated. I love Jehovah and Jesus but I realized that I could not cope with being an official JW anymore.
I am glad that you have some good company in the back row. It may actually be easier for those with the “Scarlet Letter” to get re-instated than it will be for you, since the GB is really cracking down on anyone who disagrees with anything, and it doesn’t seem to matter to them if you are in the right or not.
“But we know that all things work towards the good of those who know God and are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Cedars
Thanks so much for this site, I will check out other links soon. But you know “food at the proper time” and all that. Glad you have connected with your DFd family well done brother. I hope my eldest comes after me soon….
Dear Brother Elder,
Low and behold when my eldest disobediently rang me this morning it was not you……. surprise… surprise… However as I am not trained in discresion, I may have dropped the ball.
Interesting point when you stated…..
“How will you respond when pointed statements are made about false religious teachings and corrupt practices? Will you immediately condemn the person or organization making the exposé? Do you feel it is all right to teach lies and misrepresent God’s Word, but wrong to expose the error? Contrary to what some may think, it is not unkind and unloving to lay bare falsehood and corruption.” (Watchtower, March 1, 1966)
So many humble loving elders, in my District and my eldest child’s District have been a wonderful support, some of whom risked being removed. Of course just as the bullied turns into the bully many of our dear elders are suffering from emotional abuse and bullying others is just a symptom. However those who are humble will recieve my true and honest forgiveness.
Some of you are so tired and work so hard you just don’t have time to read the watchtowers every week nevermind, follow autocracy and research 1966 watchtowers.
I care about others I really do, but please brother elder please help me save my eldest, her bubble has burst… and she wont come back to this district….what does it say in your brown elders book that the society should do with congregation hoppers?
Warm christian love please answer me I am begging
Your sister
70wksofyrs
Hello Sister,
I am NOT an elder, but just a female Christian. It sounds like you are desperately seeking advice regarding your eldest child, and of course I don’t have any official elder information regarding “congregation hoppers” to refer to, but I do have my own past experience. In the past when I experienced traumatic and dissapointing situations in my own congregation, I attended meetings in my best friend’s congregation. I needed the support of my girlfriend and her family. It turned out later that her entire family of 7 people eventually quit being Witnesses because of serious problems in their congregation elders. (We all have our “problems with elders” stories don’t we?) However, as you said, there are so many kind and loving elders as well. I am wondering if you misunderstood my intention regarding the 1966 Watchtower quote. This was posted on a JW website regarding the subject of Disfellowshipping of those who have questions and don’t accept every single teaching of the WTBTS as “fact”, unfairly catogorized as “apostates”. I found this quote through online research, which I find very helpful to my own questions, since I am benefitting from the experience and knowledge of others. As you know “technically” we are “allowed” to have any thoughts or questions regarding official Governing Body teachings, so if you tell anyone that you are doing any online research outside of the official WTBTS websites, you are at risk of being disfellowshipped. This is my own personal opinion, but I have come to the conclusion that I have to seek out further understanding of what the scriptures actually teach, and I personally believe that Disfellowshipping is a control fear tactic, that is not supported by the scriptures in their full context.
I don’t know what your eldest child is having problems with, but if they feel more comfortable attending meetings at another congregation, and if that helps them it could be beneficial. But whatever the problems are, I have found that PRAYING TO JEHOVAH FOR HELP is the best solution. The help may or may not come in the form of assistance from one of the elders, but whatever guidance that JEHOVAH sends to you is always superior to human opinions and I have seen that Jehovah’s opinion can be contrary to what elders or the WTBTS claims is “Jehovah’s direction”. The elders are only human, and cannot figure out the solutions to everyone’s complicated problems, but JEHOVAH can. The hardest part is getting the FEAR out of your mind. “For God has given us not a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
I sense your stress and you have my compassion. Whatever is “wrong” it may take a long time to come to a place of “answers”, so in the meantime we have prayer to Jehovah in Jesus name through his sacrafice: “Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrows” Isaiah 53:4
My own daughter was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, however ended up entirely rejecting what she learned from the Bible, and took a job as a bartender, whereby she ended up becoming an alcoholic like her father. She lived that “Drugs Sex Rock and Roll” lifestyle for 20 years before she finally got sober, and I heard the ambulance sirens every night, woke up and PRAYED that she would survive her bad decisions, which thankfully she did. She is a “born again Christian” now, although she is receptive to what I share with her regarding the Trinity and Hellfire, etc. so she does not accept these false religious doctrines. And since my grandson is learning about Jesus from their church, I am able to share the Bible with him and teach him about Jesus’ Father, Jehovah. I know he is listening because he tells everyone that his “Grandma hates Santa Clause and Halloween”. SMILE
I have found that what my dad taught me is true: “You get more flies with honey than with you-know-what”. She is on her own “spiritual path” and I cannot control what she thinks or believes, but only share the scriptures with her, which I am grateful for. I have also learned to be grateful for what her church has done for her and her child. I have slowly but surely learned to let go of my own “judmentalism” which came from my JW background, and Trust in Jehovah to lead all of us according to His Will. My job as a mother and grandmother is to put my Faith in HIM and trust his deliverance, even though it seems to take a very long time. That saying “God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform” comes from a very old hymn (1700’s), and I have seen that this is true. Without knowing your situation, I just hope that what I have written will benefit you, so please forgive me if I have said anything that upsets you, or that you do not agree with. [Feel free to disagree, that is your right!]
StillHaveFaith,
I have sent a reply to your husband to this very lovely reply. If you are British and still up at this hour 1240am, please get some rest my dear sister.
I will be typing away all night probaly
I love your family dearly
agape
xxx
It is so very true! I expressed my doubts and had questions that’s all wrong I have done….now am being shunned for doing the things they and the bible encourages to do. So who is here wrong
I cant remember where at the moment, but the society have said just believing something different from the governing body, makes a person an apostate. No scripture to back it up of course, just like there is no scripture that says you should be shunned if you no longer wish to be a witness, and you understandably tell those that ask why you have left.
“It is so very true! I expressed my doubts and had questions that’s all wrong I have done….now am being shunned for doing the things they and the bible encourages to do. So who is here wrong”
Grab a cookie and cup of coffee and have a seat with the many of us! (- :
yes bro Eddie… they don’t get in their brain that JHWH, in these last days (1914 onward), has decided (now) to speak to mankind thru “a son”, namely THE WATCHTOWER SOCIETY represented by his hiden slaves. jeeeeeh! I mean DISCRET SLAVES whom Him, JHWH, will come to appoint as heirs and masters of his domestics and belongings right before the tribulation!!!!. And then JHWH will also use the slaves to “make” the new things like turning this earth into a Paradise . Bro Eddie, these apostates need to read Hebrews 1:2 . And also, since them only were given the authority to become JHWH’s SONS because they receivED and exercisED Faith in Jesus [John 1:12] (what a long life!!!) they are rightfully put in charge as the last warning to mankind…
Please you apostates, understand and put it in your mind, as Bro Eddie does, that there is NO OTHER NAME, beside the Watchtower OrgEnization (spelling from Bro Eddie) BY WITCH YOU ARE/WILL BE SAVE… Indeed Acts 4:12 talks about this!!!!!!! Why don’t you get it folks!!!!!!??????
You say that this step is not taken lightly, there are many meetings with this person before this happens, not true, I was a learning bible student that smoked, was told in the begining don’t even worrie about smoking right now, after some time my teacher told me that I need to quit, months went by , I was truely trying to quit going 2 wk spans with out having smoked. My teacher set up for me to study with an elder, she said it would be good for him and me, little did I know she was setting me up so he could speak to me about my smoking. The Sun. and Wed. before I thought people were avoiding me some of the older men that always smiled at me were now looking at me angerly the women would look the other way, or not even speak to me the next Sun. at the meeting it was so clear to me that I was being shunned, I could not believe it, this is fruit of the spirit LOVE I have not been back if it had not been for this I would still be attending, I’m so thankful for sites like this to help me see and understand. I was heart broken, doing much better now.
There is only love shown to ones who completely follow what the gov body tell them. Once you disagree with anything, you will be treated differently, and if witnesses ask you why you disagree with something and you tell them, you will very likely be shunned and ultimately disfellowshipped. The love is totally conditional.
I believe there should be a status of limitation. If someone is shunned
and they decide that they don’t want to be a Jehovah’s witness any more or they decide to leave by themselves and become atheists or joint any other religion if after two (2) years they don’t want to return they are free to go . Active Jehovah’s witnesses should apply “You should love you neighbor as yourself. It is not acceptable to shun especially family members for life. The God our Master Jesus revealed is not cruel. Anything else comes from satan and the scribes and pharisees. After all we tell other people it is O.K. to change their religion. Why not apply it to Jehovah’s Witnesses.
For a start it is totally unscriptual to shun someone simply because they have left the religion, and then if someone asks them why they have left and they tell them they are then shunned.
The society tell people to check their religion carefully and ask questions, then when JWs do it to their own religion they are classed as being very spiritually immature.
Articles Re: Disfellowshipping:
Disfellowshipping and Shunning– Incorrect Doctrine
http://jehovah.net.au/incorrect-doctrine/disfellowshipping-and-shunning
Myths of Disfellowshipping:
http://www.jwstruggle.com/2012/08/the-myths-of-disfellowshipping/
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Shunning:
http://www.xjw.com/shunning.html
Repression of Thought:
http://jwreform.org/repression.html
Disfellowshipping and Shunning”
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/disfellowship-shunning.php
Many articles regarding Disfellowshipping Issues:
http://www.freeminds.org/index.php?option=com_finder&view=search&Itemid=676&q=Disfellowshipping
Disfellowshipping Hurts:
http://www.jwstruggle.com/2011/12/disfellowshipping-hurts/
Disfellowshipping (Excommunication) – A Biblical Consideration and Refutation of Jehovah’s Witness Doctrine
http://www.freeminds.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=92:disfellowshipping-excommunication&catid=11:bible&Itemid=698
Institutionally Enforced Shunning
http://jwreform.org/shunning.html
Jehovah’s Witnesses, Shunning and Human Rights
http://watchtowershunning.blogspot.com/
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Shunning
http://www.xjw.com/shunning.html
Raymond Franz [from In Search of Christian Freedom]
http://chretien.et.homo.free.fr/fichiers/rl_rf_2002_en.pdf
What Happened At The World Headquarters Of Jehovah’s Witnesses In The Spring Of 1980?
http://www.freeminds.org/history/whathapp.htm
I haven’t read through the entire list of comments on this page, so if I express a point that has already been shared, please forgive me. I’ve enjoyed reading these comments, and appreciate people taking the time to explore this serious issue which has a life-changing effect on so many. My family has been literally torn apart and impacted forever due to JW practices.
It is my perspective that shunning within the organization will not go away, probably for many reasons. I feel as though the organization is locked into this practice, and can’t change it even if they want to. Can you imagine the feeling that you would have as a practicing witness to learn that it is now ok for families to associate with their disfellowshipped family members? What if you are one of the many witnesses who have severed family relationships that are beyond repair (which I believe is the case for many active witnesses)? This would undoubtedly cause anger in many individuals who have been victims of this practice. I believe that would result in many lost followers. It would also plant a seed of doubt in many witnesses.
With that said, this seems clear to me: the society changing its laws on disfellowshipping = loss of members = loss of organization credibility and integrity.
So, as sad as it makes me to realize this, I feel that shunning is here to stay whether everyone likes it or not.
I wish for nothing more than for this damaging manipulation to end.
RE: Comment by thenextpage (above)
You have made valid and logical points that brings us to the conclusion that “things will never change” regarding this and other WTBTS issues that have damaged so many JWs. But at least this website and others are making it known that this is WRONG and many exJWs as well as active JWs have come to realize the truth about Disfellowshipping and many other problems. The Governing Body has set itself up as a False Prophet and the Evil Slave that is “beating the fellow slaves”. They will be judged when Jesus Christ arrives in His Second Coming. (“Parousia” does not mean “invisible presence” in Greek, but instead the accurate translation is of “arriving” when “every eye shall see him”)
“With that said, this seems clear to me: the society changing its laws on disfellowshipping = loss of members = loss of organization credibility and integrity.”
Hahahaha!
I’m sorry but that was the pick me up that I really needed today!
(- :
John, Excuse me please, but your comment demonstrates that you have apparently been programmed by the WTBTS to believe that everyone who loses their confidence in the Society starts “drinking, drugging, and having sex with prostitutes”. According to reliable sources from those who have spent many years at Bethel or as Elders etc, there is a lot of drinking going on within Jehovah’s Witnesses. Rutherford himself was an alcoholic and encouraged alcohol consumption at Bethel, a questionable tradition that continues to the present day. I do not drink alcohol or use any drugs whatsoever (not even aspirin or antibiotics), so who is more likely to be driven to drink? Active JWs or those who have left? As for the “prostitution” issue, since I am divorced and single, I have not engaged in sex for the past 20 years because that is against God’s Laws, which I still respect. I now have a stronger faith in Jehovah and His Son, much more so than I ever did when I was an active Witness.
StillHaveFaith April 30, 2013 at 12:21 pm
” John, Excuse me please, but your comment demonstrates that you have apparently been programmed by the WTBTS to believe that everyone who loses their confidence in the Society starts “drinking, drugging, and having sex with prostitutes”. According to reliable sources from those who have spent many years at Bethel or as Elders etc, there is a lot of drinking going on within Jehovah’s Witnesses. Rutherford himself was an alcoholic and encouraged alcohol consumption at Bethel, a questionable tradition that continues to the present day. I do not drink alcohol or use any drugs whatsoever (not even aspirin or antibiotics), so who is more likely to be driven to drink? Active JWs or those who have left? As for the “prostitution” issue, since I am divorced and single, I have not engaged in sex for the past 20 years because that is against God’s Laws, which I still respect. I now have a stronger faith in Jehovah and His Son, much more so than I ever did when I was an active Witness.”
Thank You!
I’ll put my life and lifestyle up against any and frankly many that I know of at the Kingdom Hall. I am clean and I live clean according to Jehovah’s standards to the best of my imperfect ability as the miserable and worthless slug that I am!
Duly noted John. Clearly you are an active and pure JW, and adhere to their set laws. But wait.. isn’t surfing on a pagan website which challenges JW laws (such as this one) banned by the WTS? I believe it’s even grounds for disfellowshipping.. OOOOHH!! John you’re going to be in so much trouble for contaminating your pure righteous self with us evildoers!
John April 30, 2013 at 11:50 am
“Would you care to explain why and how this was a “pick-me-up”. I’m sure you need one every day having dismissed God’s True Organisation from your life, and frequently turn to drink, drugs and prostitution for your relief.”
Sorry to burst your bubble there Spanky but I am the happiest and most peaceful, content and fulfilled that I have ever been in my entire adult life!
I would think that the Conti incident, the multitude of litigations, the indictments and criminal investigations, hearings and $3 Billion lawsuit in Australia as well as the many websites and forums such as this and: JWleaks.org or JWfacts.com which have properly informed people as to the goings on within that organization for so long might have something to do with “image and credibility” I know for a fact that JW’s are having a brutal time out in service and at the door so don’t tell me you aren’t hearing this stuff every day! I know you are! I hear it and I’m not even in the organization anymore and I still do have close connections to the organization.
It is a testing time for faith, to be sure, but it is a sign of sheep and goats being separated, so this is why I count time here is the hope of winning back lost sheep to Jehovah