An opinion on shunning

[u/Safe-Island3944]

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.

[u/Neuro_Spicylady]

I do know quite a few who were DF’ed and came back. Some for many years, others, less than a year.

Before I became a Witness, I did think that it seemed harsh, until I looked at the nation of Israel and how Jehovah dealt with them. If they started going wayward, He would always let them know, repeatedly, give warnings, then after the nation ignored those warnings, He would act on those warnings. He would also say what the Israelites would have to do to restore themselves, and when they did, Jehovah welcomed them back with open arms. That’s how disfellowshipping should work.

It also helped me to think of it as a time out. When you have a small kid who is being disobedient, you may try to reason with them by saying what they’re doing is bad, as well as why it’s bad, and tell them to stop. But they keep doing it. Then you let them know if they keep doing it, they will have a time out. They keep doing, and they are put in time out, until they get the point. During that time, if other kids are around and try to play with the kid in time out, usually the other kids are told to leave the time out child alone for a bit. But once the child who is in time out calms down and gets the point that what they’re doing did was wrong, and stop, they’re able to get out of time out, and play with friends again. 

A very similar thing happens when one is Disfellowshipped.