Shunning - I just can't get my head around it

by jambon1 23 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  jambon1

  Let me first state that I have never been shunned. I faded from the org very quickly & my life hasn't been blighted by this practice.

  I have been out of the organisation for over 6 years. Most of the things I left the religion for, I have came to terms with. I no longer feel rage & anger about stuff like the blood issue, the inner politics of the congregations, the worship of a god who wants to destroy billions of people, etc, etc. It isn't for me. I disagree with these beliefs/practices, but if people want to believe these things & live their life this way then that is their own business.

  What I cannot rationalise at all is how any parent can shun their own flesh & blood. It absolutely disgusts me.

  Over the years, I have read experiences & life stories of what it is like to be on the receiving end of shunning. It upsets me to think that young men & women have become suicidal due to feeling excluded & unloved by their own family. Many have sadly succeeded in taking their own lives due to feelings of rejection & exclusion. Others are consumed by anxiety, depression & abject misery. Disgusting!

  How can they justify it? How can they possibly believe that this is 'god's will.' How can they believe that it is 'loving?'

  JW's who are practicing this should take a good look at themselves.

  You are devoid of even the most basic form of humanity.

  You are the very people the bible spoke of when it talks about individuals 'having no natural affection.'

  Hang your heads in shame.
• 

  DesirousOfChange

  It's a control tactic.

  Doc
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  00DAD

  You raise a lot of good points.

  I had an elder tell me that it is loving to shun someone. I thought, "Really? Then why don't you go home and give your wife the silent treatment for a while ... just so she knows how much you love her!"

  Let's review: It's a cult!

  00DAD
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  DaveS

  Correction: It's a Fucking cult!
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  cobaltcupcake

  Amen.

  Shunning

  Scottleblog - The Odd Life of Jehovah's Witnesses
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  Xanthippe

  I totally agree with everything others have said here that shunning is shameful and a cult control tactic.

  Have you found though as you meet new people in 'the world' that lots of folks say they have relatives they don't talk to?

  I think it is a very ancient tribal device to control family that you dont get on with.

  Some say they haven't talked to their brother, father, mother etc for years.

  It is quite primitive and a device used by dysfunctional families to punish or manipulate people they dont agree with.

  Sometimes when I look at my family I can see the dysfunctional personalities and the grudge-holding that has been there for years.

  Of course cults target damaged people so it is hardly surprising that they adapt to weird ideas.

  Nevertheless it is a wicked thing to do to break up families that are already suffering from past trauma.

  It is hardly ' binding up the broken-hearted' is it?

  More like give me your broken heart and I will turn it to stone so you will never hurt again.
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  steve2

  Well, whether you can or cannot get your head around it is immaterial.

  From the JWs point of view, shunning is used because it is scriptural and it works.

  It protects members from corruption by unrepentant sinners and leads to significant proportions of sinners stopping their sinning, repenting and no longer being shunned.

  Sure, it drives some sinners more completely into their life of sin. But that is likely because they are beyond help.

  To the JWs, there is nothing to get your head around. Those who cannot understand it are very likely already corrupted.

  I should add that the above is a load of hogwash - but it relevantly captures the punitive heart that underlies the JW mentality.
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  Finkelstein

  What I cannot rationalize at all is how any parent can shun their own flesh & blood. It absolutely disgusts me.

  Its just indicative to just how much a controlling religiously inspired cult it is.

  One must remember that since the WTS. has taken the position of god's (YHWH) personally chosen earthly organization,

  the WTS. has positioned itself to try to emulate the controlling fundamental laws which existed out of that particular ancient Hebrew civilization.

  These laws were uncompromisingly brutal and unjustifiable, such as putting to death rebellious children, killing people who worked on the Sabbath,

  stoning to death people who opposed the laws set by the hierarchical priesthood. The list could on and on ...

  With those kind of laws to emulate from, is it any wonder the WTS. came up with strictly enforced shunning laws. Add in the fact that the WTS.

  has been trying to protect its set about and acquired power, as it has self proclaimed itself toward the public, it becomes quite obvious

  to why the WTS. instilled its stickily enforced shunning laws .

  Retrospectively we should be grateful they aren't killing people in their attempt in emulating this very old ancient Hebrew civilization.
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  steve2

  Retrospectively we should be grateful they aren't killing people in their attempt in emulating this very old ancient Hebrew civilization.

  Make no mistake: the ONLY reason fundamentalist Christian groups don't enact a more literal interpretation of "Holy Scripture" is because of the supremacy of secular law over religious law. We should not be grateful that the JWs (patiently ) leave matters in "God's" hands. Rather, we should be grateful we live in countries that champion secular law and human rights - otherwise we'd be bird food for the religious nutters who admiringly cite Scripture to justify divine retribution. Three boos for religious law and three cheers for secular law!
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  Black Sheep

  If a cult leader can get people to do things that they would abhor under normal circumstances, he will gain a lot of allegiance from them. Charlie Manson used drugs, sex and murder, the Watchtower uses shunning and blood related deaths.

  The longer you have been shunning your children, the bigger the cajones you need to admit to yourself that you've destoyed your relationships with them because you've been scammed by a bunch of Doomsday loonies who have never had any guidance from their imaginary friend.

  Would you want to admit you had made a poor judgement call if you had influenced a decision resulting in a death, especially of a family member?

  Mind control as an art form