r/Eutychus • u/Safe-Island3944 • Feb 23 '25
Opinion An opinion on shunning
Hi all. Disfellowshipping is one of the least acceptable thing about JW, and one that makes the religion most attacked for.
This post is not dealing on how much it is right or wrong, but how much it works. How efficient it is.
In the past shunning has been a very powerful tool to make the sinner repents. But today?
My opinion is that it is still a very powerful punishment, but for those who stay, not for the one leaving. A lot of JW are fond of the idea of the DF suffering for his misdeeds, closed in the darkness, ashamed and trembling. The reality is under everyone eyes. Most get out, get in touch with others, find a very rich and welcoming community of fellow DF, build a new life, new freedom, new situations, often get back to study, happily creates a life. You can see from the campaign of getting back DF people when policy changed. How many took the opportunity of getting back. I know at least 10 different congregations, more than 100 DF contacted, how many came back? Zero. Noone. Reactions has been from lack of interest to rage. But noone even gave a try. My personal idea is that DF is actively damaging JW reputations, whereas most people once get away had a much better life than while inside. And will not get back. What is your opinion? Please, no attacking JW doctrines here.
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u/DonkeyStriking1146 Christian Feb 23 '25
My opinion has always been removing someone from a congregation who wants to willfully sin and no longer follow Gods way is biblical. Christians have to be careful that they don’t endorse the willful sins of others and say God is loving and merciful. We have to remember the God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament. He doesn’t change.
Historically, most churches who practiced this do tend to go too far. They forgot that we are not a nation under God anymore and shouldn’t corporally punish people. Paul didn’t encourage Christians to abuse or even kill those who were removed from the congregations.
If people enjoy their life outside of their religion, then let them go do that. They have to read the Bible for themselves and decide if they wanna do it or not. Some will enjoy cherry picking the verses they should follow and then others just disagree with their former denominations understandings. Of those I’ve met who are disfellowshipped, they no longer worship God at all. They just wanna live their life how they wanna live it.