What do non witnesses actually think about the evil practice of disfellowshipping?

jambon1

Whenever I have mentioned this practise to people who don't know much about the witnesses (although they should know about them due to the worldwide preaching activity ), most people are absolutely horrified. In all honesty their reaction makes me feel embarrassed that I ever accepted this religion into my life.

To most right thinking people it is absolutely just not an option to have no contact with your immediate family.

One lady said to me "I'd rather rip my heart out".

What has been your experience when people find out that JW's carry out this evil practise?

feenx

I have found the same. Most people don't believe me at first, and they don't quite understand it. And whenever they find out it's possible to go back, after all the red tape one must go through, it seems to make their opinion of it even worse. Then they usually say to eff it all and now I have chosen my family and they'll never turn their back on me. Which is nice to hear

They also laugh when I describe how my parents must view me, based on how they react to my "lifestyle." I think in their minds I'm some kind of drug addict sex addict who is a walking STD reviling in his new found relationship with Satan or something...lol

OnTheWayOut

It depends on how you explain it. A JW tries to avoid explaining DF and shunning, so most outsiders do not know a thing about it.
If you describe it as an "evil practise" then people who are not JW will agree with you.

I generally describe things in the most straightforward, blunt, bizarre way.

Don't be embarassed. Sure, it seems like people will view it as ignorance, something they would never let happen. But most people are actually understanding and okay with it. It even makes you more knowledgeable about the subject of religion because of your bad experiences.

fokyc

Remember you are NOT EVEN allowed to say 'Hello'!

The Watchtower of September 15, 1981, page 25, stated:

"A simple 'Hello' to someone can be the first

step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship. Would we want

to take that first step with a disfellowshiped person?"

What a load of rubbish. This is the true sign of a CULT.

fokyc

daniel-p

The people I've explained it to (co-workers, college friends, etc.) are always astonished at the whole thing. I've had one co-worker ask me "so, tell me how it works again?" because he could just not believe that family would enforce a disfellowshipping like the JWs do. It has nothing to do with "keeping the congregation clean," because any thinking person realizes that you can't set up arbitrary, extra-Biblical rules and be seen as a loving organization, or that excommunicating someone is the best means of making them conform to those rules, or that you even have a right to do so, or that it's even remotely psychologically healthy.

The Prodigal Son didn't have to write his father a letter and wait six months, and then be vetted by a panel of window-washers, did he? his father waited for him, and i don't think if he saw his son walking by, he would have turned up his nose and acted like nothing was there.

worldtraveller

And the Witnesses deny that they "shun". It's like looking at a turd on the ground and calling it a pretty rose. "What would Jesus do"? Sure as hell not that. Glad I am a Worldly person. Glad to have the internet to do the research on these non thinkers. At least they got the "slave" part right.

megs

I was horrified when I found out! I couldn't believe that my friend, who I had a lot of respect for, would treat his loved ones in that way if they chose to no longer be a part of his religion!

jeanniebeanz

The most poignant response I have received from 'normal' folks was this one, "That's stupid!"