WheninDoubt,
Since you want to bring the Bible to this discussion, Mark 12:17 states that we should "give back Caesar what is Caesar's". Well, here's what "Caesar" demands:
The European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms states:
Article 9 – Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
- Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
- Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
Article 10 – Freedom of expression
- Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.
- (...)
Article 11 – Freedom of assembly and association
- Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
- No restrictions shall be placed on the exercise of these rights other than such as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. This article shall not prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on the exercise of these rights by members of the armed forces, of the police or of the administration of the State.
Article 14 – Prohibition of discrimination
The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.
When a religious organization terminates unilaterally fellowship with an individual that exercises his right to freedom of thought and of holding opinions, and does so in a way that discriminates such individual against the general population outside that religious group (after all, Jehovah's Witnesses talk, conduct business, and discuss religious matters with the population at large, even proactively), then such religion is practicing discrimination. When a religion instructs its members to discriminate former members by shunning them, it's practicing discrimination. This is clear from the European Directive for Equal Treatment of Persons Irrespective of Religion or Belief, Disability, Age or Sexual Orientation, of 2 April 2009, #12: "Discrimination is understood to include direct and indirect discrimination, multiple discrimination, harassment, instructions to discriminate and denial of reasonable accommodation". Also, the amendment made on Article 2, paragraph 4, says: "An instruction or request, based on a hierarchical relationship, to discriminate against persons on any of the grounds referred to in article 1 shall be deemed to be discrimination within the meaning of paragraph 1". The Watchtower Society goes beyond mere instructions or request to discriminate, and enforces this policy upon its members by threatening with termination of fellowship those who refuse to stop discriminating former members.
As for other religions, they don't concern me. If their members or ex-members feel their rights are being violated, by all means, they should take action against them. Shunning on religious grounds is a horrible way to treat others and should stop.
As for "changing God's laws", one should first ask if we're talking about "God's laws" or human rules written in the name of God. Second, even if what's written in the Bible were to be proven to be from "God", it follows that "disfellowshipping and shunning" don't have biblical support, and are a mere human corporate interpretation of a sacred textbook, concocted to suit a certain theological agenda. The Watchtower doesn't even respect their sacred book, because they go beyond what's written in it to enforce a policy that goes against the teachings of Christ and against the laws of the land, which they are told to respect and abide to.
Finally, if the Watchtower Society had any respect for History, then they would know that the termination of fellowship prescribed by the apostles Paul and John didn't involve shunning as prescribed by the Jehovah's Witnesses today. However, the implications of acknowledging what was involved in the termination of fellowship in the early Christian congregation contemporary to the apostolic letters would be devastating to the theology of the Jehovah's Witnesses, namely their two hopes system. For more information on this item, I advise you to read carefully Valeriy A. Alikin's excellent dissertation thesis: "The Earliest History of Christian Gathering" (2009, Leiden University).
Last, don't be ridiculous, no one is trying to "fulfill prophecy" here. The Watchtower Society and the Jehovah's Witnesses need a reality check, and to understand they can't exist beyond and above the law. Once they stop breaking the law, we're good. Stop being delusional.
You're so wrong on every count, WheninDoubt.
Eden
