by Quendi 15 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
The Amish are another fundamentalist group who shun members that don’t abide by church rules. A recent case in Ohio shows what can happen when some take matters in their own hands. I can only wonder when we will hear of a similar case among Jehovah’s Witnesses. Point your browsers here:
http://news.yahoo.com/amish-shunning-central-ohio-hate-crime-trial-162300769.html
Quendi
Don't the Mormons also practice shunning? There's another thread asking whether Mormonism could be a positive thing [I'm paraphrasing - lemme see if I can find a link after I've posted this comment], but since they practice a fairly active form of shunning, they aren't very different from the Watchtower Society.
Here's the link...
Somehow, that phrase "in Defense of Mormonism..." sends chills down my spine.
Hi Quendi! Yes, they do shun, But the one thing they have, that JW's do not is "Rumspringer". ( sorry, didn't check the spelling)
So, when the Amish come of age, about 15 or 16, they are permitted to go out in the world and then decide for themselves if they want to follow the faith. JW born-ins, if they were to do the same, testing the waters (smoking, excessive drinking, getting high, association with worldly people, fornication, etc.) would be disfellowshippped.
That sounded very familiar. The damage that has been done in the name of God & religion is terrible. It is a rotten thing to tear families apart in this way. It is hard on everyone, the victim who is shunned, and the family who does the shunning out of fear and having been brainwashed into thinking this is the right thing to do. After having been in a high-control environment I can see why so many (myself included) will never become a part of any religious group again. Their reasons for shunning were eerily familiar to the JW. mindset of it being out of love. If that's love, they can keep it! -Leslie-
Don't the Mormons also practice shunning? There's another thread asking whether Mormonism could be a positive thing [I'm paraphrasing - lemme see if I can find a link after I've posted this comment], but since they practice a fairly active form of shunning, they aren't very different from the Watchtower Society.
Negative. The FLDS church practices shunning, but the LDS and RLDS churches do not. Unlike the Watchtower Society, the LDS "Mormon" church allows members to attend other churches, read other peoples' religious materials, read anti-Mormon literature and discuss critical topics on websites. The FLDS church, on the other hand, are forbidden to read critical materials, read outside news publications, watch television or listen to the radio, wear makeup, criticize the church, talk to outsiders, visit other churches and criticize the head of the church. A number of years ago, they adopted a "one man rule" policy which gave all authority to the leader of the church. He then excommunicated his enemies, closed down all recreation areas, took other mens' wives and awarded his friends other mens' wives. He also kicked out many of the young men so that the older men wouldn't have any competition when marrying 12-16 year old girls. They're an EVIL bunch.
The RLDS church has morphed into the Community of Christ, a very liberal group that has all but dropped Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon in lieu of the touchy feely "Diversity" stuff many other churches are doing these days.
The LDS church does everything it can to keep from excommunicating or disfellowshipping members. It's pretty hard nosed on things like 1) murder; 2) pedophelia; 3) sexual abuse by those in authority; and 4) adultery. Also, if one speaks against the church or its leaders, which it regards as apostles and prophets. It has an apologetics group which is supported mostly by donations and is not controlled by the church. There is no sanctioned shunning anywhere in the church. In fact, shunning is actively discouraged.
CLDS Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
FLDS Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (polygamous cult)
RLDS Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Any of this sound familiar???
"Social
Ex-Mormons who publicly leave Mormonism usually face social stigmatization. Although many leave to be true to themselves or to a new belief structure, they leave at a cost;[8] many leave feeling ostracized and pressured and miss out on major family events such as temple weddings. Based upon a belief that those who leave are in danger of negative eternal consequences (see Latter-day Saint views of ex-Mormons), Mormon peers, church officials, and family members may criticize those who leave and pressure them to return.[15] Family members of some may express only disappointment and sorrow and try to reach out in understanding to their new belief system. Some stay under threat of divorce from spouses that still believe. Still, many ex-Mormons are completely shunned and have given up spouses, children, and the ability to enter Mormon temples to witness life events of family members. Ex-Mormons in geographic locations away from major enclaves of Mormon culture such as Utah may experience less stigmatization, however.[2]
Psychological
Most ex-Mormons go through a psychological process as they leave Mormonism. Former Mormon bishop Bob McCue described his disaffiliation as recovery from cognitive dissonance.[16] Reynolds reports that leaving involves a period of intense self-doubt and depression as disaffiliates confront feelings of betrayal and loneliness, followed by self discovery, belief exploration, spiritual guidance and connection as they leave Mormonism.[10] He argues that leaving may provide a renewed sense of self, confidence and peace.[10] One ex-Mormon compared his disaffiliation experience to leaving a cult,[17] while others called it close to overcoming mind control[18] or adjusting to life outside of religious fundamentalism.[19] Still others compare their symptoms to divorce from marriage.[20] Ex-Mormons may also have to cope with the pain of ostracism by Mormon employers, friends, spouses, and family members. ..."
And as this link points out, it may not be an "official" church teaching to "shun", as it is with the Watchtower Society, but the effects are much the same...
"...Re: Being shunned common?
Yes. Shunning is common. It's not formal shunning as it is in the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Most Mormon friends cannot really see you past their religion. If they feel like you have rejected it AT ALL, then they will probably feel like you have rejected them. It is commonly observed that Mormonism overrides personal identity and family relationships, so that same totalism or absolutism especially interferes with friendships with non-members.
So the "shunning" is something that a Mormon apologist would deny, b/c it's not formally and explicitly condoned or required, but realistically, practically, many exmos have experienced the loss of friendships that had been in place for YEARS simply due to changes in their views about Mormonism. ..."
From: http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/Being-shunned-common-if-you-decide-to-not-join-Mormonism
Going down the replies, many, many people have posted that shunning is very common in Mormonism.
Still, many ex-Mormons are completely shunned and have given up spouses, children, and the ability to enter Mormon temples to witness life events of family members.
Yes, but you took this right off an anti-Mormon website. Why should anyone give credence to it?
But even if there is some truth to this, the “shunning” would be completely different than that experienced by Jehovah’s Witnesses. First, there is no church-sanctioned form of shunning anywhere. If families are torn apart by someone leaving the church and breaking their covenants, yes, there might be the type of shunning found in other types of churches such as the Catholic or Eastern Orthodox faiths. And this is more of a “snubbing” than a “shunning.” To “shun” is to deliberately avoid. To “snub” is to behave coldly to someone. The church sanctions neither of these. In all cases, it’s a family decision. Same thing’s true about employment.
Many people who leave the LDS church leave because they no longer believe the religion. On the other hand, their families are hurt and embittered because they still believe, and in their doctrine men and women are “sealed” not only in this world, but in the world to come. When one spouse quits the church, it has eternal ramifications. It may not be an eternal hell, but it means the family is broken. The same thing is true with the Eastern Orthodox, which shares some interesting parallels to the LDS.
To the same extent we see the effect on the families with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. If a husband leaves the Organization, it means that he will not be resurrected. In that case we may see a church sanctioned shunning, but that’s not true of the Latter-day Saints. In fact, the church strongly discourages shunning, which breaks down communication.
The Exclusive Brethren (who stemmed from the Plymouth Brethren) practise shunning. Their form of shunning is severe, resulting in members taking over businesses run by shunned members, physically preventing ex-members from attending services and even funeral services (they hire security firms to enforce tresspass orders).
Unlike the JWs, the Exclusive Brethren do not make any attempt to publically justify their severe stand or try to make it appear reasonable. There is also stories of the Exclusive Brethren refusing to re-instate ex-members who are repentent and seek "forgiveness".
