I also would not say it is criminal ,(intentionally
See, this is where I really disagree. Again, in taking the emotion out of it (or trying) and looking at it as a whole - this is how I see it.
A publisher comes to my door. We start to talk and I ask them about the practice of shunning, because that is my fear and something that I have been told that witnesses use. I'm told by the publisher that this does not happen. ( fraud by lying). I start to study with them. I am not hearing much if anything about the doctrines of the organization. (fraud by intentionally with holding information) We move along and I am pressured to get baptized - after all it's been 6 months. I get baptized, still not aware of every single doctrine and the ramifications that one action will have on my life. I decide after being fully involved for a few years, that I cannot support this religion (fraud for misrepresentation by telling people that the organization follows the bible when instead it follows the society), so I try to leave. I am called in to a meeting and disfellowshipped. I am now shunned. (fraud from the first question). My family and myself are now faced with mounting medical bills due to anxiety, fear, depression as a direct result of the shunning. My wife divorces me as a direct result of the disfellowshipping/shunning. My employer has decided that I will be laid off - a result of disfellowshipping/shunning. I think you get the point.
The way I see it is that baptism in the organization is nothing more than a contract - since it is not a baptism with God but instead it is a contract with an organization. In order for the contract to be valid and binding, it must be clearly spelled out for both parties to understand. So the contract should say smoething like -
1)You and your family are not allowed to seek medical treatment unapproved by the organization regardless of wether or not death is the result. To do so will result in discipline and terminate the contract, resulting in discipline & expulsion by the organization and total shunning by everyone in the organization.
2) Termination of this contract will be at the sole discretion of the organization and for any reason they decide upon. These reasons may include such things as inappropriate dress, addiction, smoking, sex or any association with a person who is not one of jehovahs witnesses. Dating is strictly forbidden unless it is for the purpose of marriage and only dating and marriage within those baptized members of the organization is acceptable. Association with non witnesses is unacceptable therefore, you will not visit any realtives that are not members or the society. This will include grandparents, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles and your children. You will celebrate nothing. Termination of the contract will result in punishment by disfellowshipping and shunning.
3) Discipline will take place in the organization in the form of shunning. This will mean that you will have no contact with any family member including your parents, your children, your grandparents and spouses. You will consider those people dead and they will serve no purpose in your life. Should one of your family members be disciplined, you will treat them as dead. Age is not a factor in discipline therefore, if the discipline should be applied to a minor child or an elderly parent, you will abide by the death sentence applied by the organization.
4) The man of the house will rule as the head of the house in every matter including but not only in matters of finance, travel, organizational activiities and sex. Failure to abide by the rules that the man of the house has set up will result in termination of the contract and you will be punished. In addition to losing your children, you will have no further contact with your parents, your grandparents, your brothers and sisters. Further, you will never marry again nor will you be allowed to have a relationship with anyone for the purposes of marriage or companionship but instead will spend your days in solitary confinement.
5) Anyone can sign and engage in this contract regardless of the age of that person. Any minor who engages in this contract will be bound by this contract and should they change their minds later, they will suffer punishment by expulsion and shunning. Age and misunderstanding of our rules are not an excuse for termination.
Anyway....I think you get my drift. I don't necessarily see each individual as fraudulent - I see the organization as fraudulent and they should be held accountable by misrepresentation that includes theocratic warfare aka lying. sammieswife.