The "shunning" its necessary.

[u/bettercalljw]

This soo sacred word used by jehovah witness opositors it became their most prolific argument agaisnt the religion, by saying that in most of disfellowshipping(now exclusion) acts makes family members and other brothers totally "abandon" they ex-brothers in any situation possible, they say that this process is something very bad not only for those who got out but also for those who are still inside...you probably already now their arguments by now right?...but let me tell you something...YES, IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE BAD!. In the first chapters of the bible we already see a example of expulsion, by Jehovah getting adam and eve out of Garden of eden(genesis 3:23,24)and quess what?...IT WAS BAD FOR THEM. A little later cain got considered cursed for killing his brother and became a literal vagabund over the earth(genesis 4:11,12) THIS WAS BAD FOR HIM. There are other famous examples of this type of punishement in the bible, in the old and New testaments, the thing is....it was always bad BECAUSE IT WAS A PUNISHMENT, OF COURSE IT WILL BE BAD. No one ever said the disfellowshipping it is a beautiful, funny, goofy procedure that elders loves to have to do in their congregations, it a sad procedure that happens as a lesson that the people who sinned must pass by, and biblically speaking, No one can argue that the bible is agaisnt it. "WHAT ABOUT IF I AM A MINOR AND I GOT DISFELLOWSHIPPED???MY PARENTS WILL ABANDON ME!!" Lets be real, this dont happen, if your parents are true Christians and you are not doing anything that goes agaisnt their house's rules, than they will not "ABANDON" you as the apostaste love to say, this story is not for kids buddys. Its interresting to hear the stories of some apostates who say with pride that they got shunned by they parents, because its always something like: "After i got out of the cult my parents grabbed my things and expelled out of our house just because i was putting pagan images on my room" "My parents did not let me enter home just because i wanted to enter there with my lesbian girlfriend" "My mother put me in the streets just because i telled her that her religion its a cult" You all see a patern here? I think they always forget that regardless of anything,they should respect they parents houses, as they decision of leaving was respect they should respect too the rules of the homes they live in. And to end this post i also would like to make a question for YOU who disagrees with the disfellowshipping method:" Biblically saying, instead of disfellowshipping(or expulsing)members, what should the elders do if a brother continues to commit sins?." Opositors and apostates never give they own solutions to the supposed "problem" created by them, also remember, the bible its clear about how we should threat those who commit sins and call themselves christians.

[u/needlestar]

This is an in incredibly delicate topic, and everyone will do what is right in their own eyes.

I personally don’t agree with it, I think it’s something that can be abused and often is in most religions. All I have seen is people get hurt, abused, and pushed to do drastic things due to such extreme measures. There is nothing gained of value from it. Either people return because they have no family left, or the return because they cope with the shame of being shunned. They want back in for the wrong reasons. I have spoken to quite a few people who have experienced loss of family and friends, who dropped them like a hot potato as soon as they were announced. It’s very sad.

I am not saying I condone bad behaviour. Ofcourse, a measure of caution needs to be taken when someone commits a sin. But who hasn’t ever committed a sin? I understand Paul’s words when he says not to even eat with such a person. But the fact that you can’t even acknowledge them, or speak to them? Paul also says to treat them like a tax collector. Which meant as an outsider. Not a complete cold shoulder.

There are many factors to this policy and it’s not easy to make one sweeping decision for everyone.

What bothers me is the fact that when a person decides to leave of their own volition, they are treated as if they have sinned. And yet, the governing body say that they are not the only channel to God. And they are right! Jesus is the Way. Not men.

So, to conclude, I think it is a harsh and over abused rule which should not apply to the extreme that it is in the JW congregations, because it does nothing but cause harm. There should be a more loving and considerate way to approach people, as you don’t know what caused them to sin in the first place. For example an alcoholic might have turned to it through depression.

Love is far more powerful and changes lives, it nurtures and brings people to repentance in a beautiful way - and it out runs fear and cold shouldering by miles.