To VampireDCLXV, Retrovirus and jwfacts ...Thank you to each of you for taking the time to write these explanations. They are all very helpful and I appreciate your responses very much.
To jwfacts...My sincere condolences for the way you have been treated by family and friends... it's despicable and totally unjust. No doubt those who have shunned you will one day have to answer for the way they treated you, although I feel pity for them as they obviously know no better and are doing what they think is right because they allow the WT to define for them what is right and wrong. Funny enough, some of us are born/raised with a conscience rather than religion and manage to determine right from wrong by listening to our own hearts... mine tells me this practice of shunning/disfellowshipping is NOT right... not at all. May peace and love be with all of you!