llbh, I understand exactly what CD was saying. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I did not appreciate her insinuating that I was promoting the idea that the guy who did this was justified in any way. No one is justified in walking into a Kingdom Hall (or anywhere else) with a machine gun and opening fire---or in this case, trying to open fire. I tried explaining that over and over again but CD apparently preferred to ignore that, and simply continued to assert that this guy must have had a violent history to pull a stunt like that and that the shunning policy played no role in it whatsoever.
What I said was that the Society's shunning policy has and does, push people to the brink and that it should not be legal. Rather than recognize that disfellowshipping is nothing but a form of mental abuse, CD decided to label me as "unbalanced" when I said that if anything good could come of this, it's exposing the shunning policy that tears families apart. That was all.
Mary,
I could not agree with you more on this as we both know someone who because of being shunned had considered his way out was SUICIDE !
Yes I totally believe that being shunned can push some people over the edge, not all people but it is a fact that it can indeed push some over the edge. This does not mean that it is an excuse by any means but there are some people who cannot cope with the idea of being closed off from their family and friends.
There was a situation back in my past where I was accused of something horrible, something that I would of never considered doing and I was accused by some in my family who were witnesses and the reason for it was their way of back firing as I had told them that their religion was a cult and a lie. I had lost some very close friends because of this accusation but I endured until the real truth came to light and now the witnesses who accused me are now back tracking their asses for their wrongful accusations.
Now this did not push me over the edge because I am stronger than that and it would take a lot more for me to commit the act of murder, I am also very strong in my beliefs and that controls my actions more than my anger, but like I said I have known some JW's who have went over the edge and yes it was because of the actions of the society. Some people are stronger than others and some can control their emotions better than others and not all people are the same. This still does not make an excuse for killing someone no matter what and the person who commits murder should no matter what their reason should be punished. The guy who murdered his wife should have gone through some mental evaluations and if it was found that he cracked because of his actions then maybe the punishment should be a little lighter.
Really the whole thing is not for me to judge but for the rule of law and the rule of mental behaviour.
