You do not loose friends and family. Only those who have been disfellowshiped you lose.It is for the protection of christains. Catholics and many other religons also do this but it is known as "excommunication"
Hi Razor, that shows how much you know. I won't go into the df and shunning practices of the Watch Tower Cult. Hundreds of people on this board can do it much better because they have experienced it.
But let me tell you, some Catholics may be excommunicated from time to time, I have never known any though. A Catholic will not be excommunicated for not agreeing with some rules and regulations of the faith. But most JWs are df and shunned, by friends, former associates and even close family members, because they don't agree with the mighty Watch Tower Society of Brooklyn.
And big difference between disfellowshiping and excommunicating = excommunicated catholics will not be shunned by anyone !