If one were to shun and ignore Witnesses does that make one just as bad as them?

ThomasCovenant

For all the criticism of Jehovah's Witnesses' shunning policy, if one (an ex JW) were to deliberately avoid contact with Witnesses and, dare I say, shun them, does that mean that one is just as bad?

leavingwt

Mandatory, institutionalized shunning for trivial offenses is what most people object to.

We have the freedom to shun anyone we choose. It is sometime essential, for our own safety.

undercover

My personal opinion, for what it's worth...

We all shun, but we do it based on personal experiences and knowledge and not because someone tells you to. JWs shun ex-members or lapsed members because they're indoctrinated to do so. It's a mandate from their leadership. They can't even give a reason other than, "they're DFd" or "they'll spiritually endanger me".

Be that as it may though, I don't shun JWs on general principles. I shun certain members...people that I finally admitted that I didn't like to begin with, or who crossed me at some point. Other JWs, I have no problem conversing and associating with. If they're willing to associate with me, and they've not done anything to me personally, I'll be as pleasant with them as anyone who was not a JW. It comes down to my personal experience and knowledge of that individual person...just like anyone else not a JW.

Billy the Ex-Bethelite

If I avoid somebody because they've treated me like crap before, it's not a big deal. I'm just the 'one.'

If I announce to hundreds of people, including immediate family members, that they ALL MUST shun someone based on a secret judicial meeting, and that they risk the wrath of Gad Ahlmighty if they speak to this person, well, that's an entirely different matter.

Disillusioned Lost-Lamb

Well-said Billy, there is a big difference between something baseless, forced and mandatory and a personal choice.

@ThomasCovenant: Exes usually don’t have to worry about this, active witlesses won’t come close enough for a good shunning anyway; however I don’t think most exes would shun because somewhere deep down is a bit of compassion for those poor little misguided sheeple, and the fact that you know how it feels.

Personally I avoid someone (in or out) because they were an asshole and I don't care to be around them; everyone else is fine (even if I don’t agree with them).

Chariklo

We have the freedom to shun anyone we choose. It is sometime essential, for our own safety.

Exactly, leavingwt. I'm currently screening all phone calls, for instance. Sheer common sense self-protection, till I feel strong enough to tell them just where to go.

Lynnie

I have a situation where my second cousin who is 30 years old and has not been a witness as an adult but is apparently thinking about going back because she is now shunning me and she's is not a witness and for most of her life has rejected the teaching etc of the JW's. Her father, my first cousin, is an uber elder in the congregation and has two other daughters that are uber witnesses as well. One lives at Bethel with her husband. We had connected last summer and were getting along great and then her grandma died (her dad's mom) and everything changed. But she's living in sin and allowed to walk between both worlds quite a bit. But I can't believe she's actually shunning me and she's not a witness!! I'm pretty sure she got some coaching from her dad but how can she do this when she's not practicing being a witness? I guess she plans on going back if she's shunning me now! Oh and no explanation from her, just no answers to emails and then finally unfriending me on FB. I find this unbelievable! Oh and she's always talking peace and love too! So to me she's worse than the JW's shunning me since she's living in sin etc but backs them up? WTF?

shepherd

I don't agree with shunning. Even if someone has pissed me off that's no reason to ignore them and act as if they are not there. I would not ignore even an enemy, although a greeting may be limited to a nod in passing. I don't think shunning protects you. It's what happens following the initial greeting that matters.

Screening phone calls and avoiding going where someone you don't like is likely to be is not really shunning. Shunning is when you are in a situation where normally you would acknowledge their existence in some way and you don't.

GLTirebiter

Besides the institutionalized aspect, there is another big difference. The mandated shunning is not passive or quiet. It is deliberate, insulting, and "in your face". It's not merely a matter of avoiding contact. It means refusing to so much as acknowledge the existence of a human who is in your presence, not offering a polite reply to "good morning, how are you?", looking through the victim and passing by as if they literally did not exist.

There is a difference between peacefully avoiding an unpleasant situation and deliberately causing one through passive-aggressive behavior.

PaintedToeNail

No.

If one were to shun and ignore Witnesses does that make one just as bad as them?

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