Posts by JW_Researcher

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The Efficacy of JWs Shunning (Your experiences and analysis)

by JW_Researcher in

im doing a bit of research for an academic paper on shunning and am interested in your response to any or all of these questions.. please think back to when you were a jw (if necessary) or to other jws you knew.. 1) does shunning work?

(for example, does it bring sinners to their senses?

does it keep the congregation clean?

JW_Researcher

burningbridges wrote

The one case I know of whwer shunniog worked, the lady had no other fmaily and no other firends and was a social outcast of sorts, SHe had a real hard time making new frends and was only lonlier then. So in her case, she had no one and reterned. I think shunning is ridiculous. I think it only works if you have no one wlse on the outside, if all your family is in the "truth"

That seems to be the concensus so far, at least of the few who have weighed in.

Since many JWs are in the situation you describe (family in, few friends and support outside of the organization) maybe it does keep folks in line.

Thank you for your observations.

34

The Efficacy of JWs Shunning (Your experiences and analysis)

by JW_Researcher in

im doing a bit of research for an academic paper on shunning and am interested in your response to any or all of these questions.. please think back to when you were a jw (if necessary) or to other jws you knew.. 1) does shunning work?

(for example, does it bring sinners to their senses?

does it keep the congregation clean?

JW_Researcher

Loosie wrote

In my opinion shunning only works if you have no friends or family out in the normal world. If eveyone you know won't talk to you then it can be very hard staying out.

So do you think that folks who are in that position (no other family or friends outside) are less likely to engage in wrong-doing or more likely to be "repentant" (according to JWs)?

In other words, kinda' like Lady Zombie observed above, the more they have to "lose," the better shunning works?

34

The Efficacy of JWs Shunning (Your experiences and analysis)

by JW_Researcher in

im doing a bit of research for an academic paper on shunning and am interested in your response to any or all of these questions.. please think back to when you were a jw (if necessary) or to other jws you knew.. 1) does shunning work?

(for example, does it bring sinners to their senses?

does it keep the congregation clean?

JW_Researcher

HSS1971 wrote

<snip> ....they would call the df'd person a "fool" or a "knuckle-head" or a "dog". I've even heard one elder call a df'd person a "jackass". Outside the hall they are free to act worldy I guess...<snip>

I also observed a certain amount of glee or "vengeance" when someone was DF'd...."She won't get back in so easily this time." Perhaps if they had problems with the one DF'd now they could be totally open about it.

Thank you for the observation.

34

The Efficacy of JWs Shunning (Your experiences and analysis)

by JW_Researcher in

im doing a bit of research for an academic paper on shunning and am interested in your response to any or all of these questions.. please think back to when you were a jw (if necessary) or to other jws you knew.. 1) does shunning work?

(for example, does it bring sinners to their senses?

does it keep the congregation clean?

JW_Researcher

It has been my observations that the efficacy is directly correlated to the amount of emotional investment an individual has, the degree of hardship the DFing will have on the individual, and how much they're isolated from general society.
The ones who were DF'd that came back usually had a majority of family who were JW, or lost a job (they were working for a JW), and didn't have an outside ("worldly" friends/family) support system.
It's emotional and psychological blackmail.

Thank you Lady Zombie for your post. It seems on the money to me.

34

The Efficacy of JWs Shunning (Your experiences and analysis)

by JW_Researcher in

im doing a bit of research for an academic paper on shunning and am interested in your response to any or all of these questions.. please think back to when you were a jw (if necessary) or to other jws you knew.. 1) does shunning work?

(for example, does it bring sinners to their senses?

does it keep the congregation clean?

JW_Researcher

Thank you, Carla.

I find it amusing if you ever give a jw the silent treatment even for a short time, they cannot stand it! They will say you are being insensitive and unchristian, you mean like jw's treat those who disagree, are df'd or da'd?

I recall that the expectation was that all be greeted at the hall in an enthusiastic manner....and if it was a bit off...it was noticed.

Thank you also for the suggestion regarding a board devoted to shunning....am looking for it now.

34

The Efficacy of JWs Shunning (Your experiences and analysis)

by JW_Researcher in

im doing a bit of research for an academic paper on shunning and am interested in your response to any or all of these questions.. please think back to when you were a jw (if necessary) or to other jws you knew.. 1) does shunning work?

(for example, does it bring sinners to their senses?

does it keep the congregation clean?

JW_Researcher

I've seen it work, and I've seen it not work.

Thank you for the response.

When it has worked, did it prevent wrong-doing or did it lead to someone being reinstated?

When it worked, did the person have close family in the organization or close friends....or why do you think it worked?

When it didn't work, why do you think it didn't work?

34

The Efficacy of JWs Shunning (Your experiences and analysis)

by JW_Researcher in

im doing a bit of research for an academic paper on shunning and am interested in your response to any or all of these questions.. please think back to when you were a jw (if necessary) or to other jws you knew.. 1) does shunning work?

(for example, does it bring sinners to their senses?

does it keep the congregation clean?

JW_Researcher

Greetings,

I’m doing a bit of research for an academic paper on shunning and am interested in your response to any or all of these questions.

Please think back to when you were a JW (if necessary) or to other JWs you knew.

1) Does shunning work? (For example, does it bring “sinners” to their senses? Does it keep the congregation “clean”? Does it prevent wrong-doing?)
2) How and why does shunning work or not work?

Obviously these are fairly broad questions and I don’t expect that folks will want to devote hours writing essays on their opinions of and experiences with shunning.

However, if you could share your opinions, observations, and experiences, that would be very helpful and much appreciated.

All responses will be confidential.

If you’d rather interact privately or telephonically, PM me and I can call (my dime) or we can interact via regular e-mail.

Thank you very much for any assistance.

Steve

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