I thought of something at the golf course right now, once upon a time the WASPs could exclude everyone they wanted from their club house. Mormons refused to allow the blacks a dignified position in their Church, refused to allow them into the Priesthood of Melchezidek and even said they were "CURSED Of CAIN or Canaan". The threat of political pressure and a possible challenge to their "tax exempt" status made them have a change of heart and "new light" came to the President of the LDS Church in 1979. Political pressure and money are the only constants that will make this group dump their mindless mob mentality!
The concept of "Shunning" is awesome when you are one of the most righteous son's of a bitch in the Organization, there's nothing like seeing a lowly sister down on her luck and we pass her by with our heads and nose held high! This ain't the case with the compassionate Witnesses who are confused what the Christian thing to do is, but they have made many "conditional friends" and fear losing them if they don't follow the group dynamics.
To attack the Watchtower for "Shunning" is to attack a large population of JWs who feel they are part of a Club, Membership or Coitre of the tradition of High Priest Caiphas of old Judaism. It feels so good to shun the lowly brother who has problems with drugs or sexual addiction, instead of help or words of comfort, we run as fast as we can to avoid eye contact.
Can you imagine Jesus Chirst (Of Nazareth) shunning the harlots, tax-collectors and sinners? John-the-Baptist was surprised when he heard Jesus was eating with the "sinners" and not following the traditions of men "fastings, ceremonially cleaning their hands from evil spirits, praying in public to be heard" and John sent his discipes to ask Jesus "Are you the One or we to expect another?" because Jesus Christ's approach to healing the spirutally tormented and neglected was unlike anyone the Jewish Watchtower Society of the 1st Century had ever seen!
The Governing Body and the Governing Body of the High Priest and religious leaders would have gotten along well! The sheer volume of rules and "commandments of men" to impose on their sheep or congregants, might even make the Pharisees blush!
