Watch Tower Society
Disfellowshipping and Shunning
Jehovah’s Witnesses disfellowship those deemed unrepentant wrongdoers, for practices such as disagreeing with Watchtower doctrine, smoking or fornication. A disfellowshipped person is to be shunned by all family and friends, usually for the remainder of their life, so go through tremendous emotional suffering. Although there is Scriptural precedence to limit association with wrongdoers, Watchtower application of disfellowshipping seriously deviates from Bible guidelines in multiple ways. – JWfacts: https://tinyurl.com/y9a3gkm3
Wikipedia – Jehovah’s Witnesses employ various levels of congregational discipline as formal controls administered by congregation elders. Members who engage in conduct that is considered inappropriate may be counseled privately by elders and congregational responsibilities may be withheld or restricted. If initial counsel is not accepted, elders may present a talk to the congregation about the type of behavior, alerting other members already aware of the individual’s conduct to limit social interaction with that person. Hearings involving “serious sin” are performed by formal judicial committees, in which guilt and repentance are determined by a tribunal of elders. A variety of controls can be enforced, from reproof and restriction of congregational duties to excommunication, known as disfellowshipping, which includes shunning by the congregation. Individuals who are disfellowshipped may be reinstated after an extended period if they are deemed to demonstrate repentance. The practice of disfellowshipping has been criticized by many non-members and ex-members: https://tinyurl.com/zfyv3wp
Cult Survivors 