Dear Mrs. Peck
The problem with Disfellowshipping™ is that the average JW does not know the reason why someone is DFd. There is no transparency to the proceedings that allow for the actual process to be critiqued and ensure that appropriate measures have been taken. The punishment is the same whether the "crime" was something like smoking in private - which harms nobody but the person doing it - or actual crimes like child molestation or murder which put people in the congregation and general public at risk.
Far too often people who have committed crimes get away with their criminal activity under the WTS's insane Two Eyewitness™ rule - thus being sheltered from having justice served, while at the same time keeping perpetrators in proximity to their victims and in a position where they can victimize other people.
Why should someone like me, whose only "crime" is a fundamental, conscientious disagreement with WTS policy be punished more severely than someone who molests a child and claims to be Repentant™?
Powerful post. The bible is full of individuals who were considered good folks in God's eyes, yet had disfellowshipable offenses. David would have been convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, and disfellowshipped considering all the circumstances. Abraham had his fair share of women, so did Solomon and Samson. Ok, so they weren't Christians, but they were all listed by the WT as fine representatives of God's chosen people.
If we're discussing disagreement with the WT's beliefs, what about Jonah openly disagreeing with God? What about the disagreements early Christians had with one another and the fact that gray areas such as circumcision could be left up to one's conscience in consideration of one's background and also the fulfillment of the Law. With the WT today, there are no gray areas. They view you poorly for growing facial hair, or wearing a blazer instead of a full suit. Or when it comes to areas that aren't even gray, but rather black and white such as them being dead wrong on 607 B.C., they force you to accept what they say. Not only accept it, but promote it to other people as truth even though you know its friggin wrong.
My personal opinion, when it comes to individuals who call themselves Christians, and have developed an outrageous reputation for sinful behavior, to the point that outside people can look at him/her and sarcastically say, "he's a good Christian", then I can understand some kind of sanction by his church/congregation. I still don't agree with disfellowshipping as its done now. It doesn't get to the root of the matter, all it does is enforce uniformity, even if the problem remains hidden. If you believe in Christianity, and the ransom, then you believe that we're all inherently sinful as were all the people listed in the bible were, although they were still listed as fine representatives of God's organization. They had worse offenses than the average person gets DFd for today.
It is particulary sad that someone can force themselves sexually on a child and face less sanction from the WT, than one who disagrees with 607 vs 587.