I understand that this is not a biblical practice, but?

Question

Can anyone name the Non Biblical reasons that Jehovah's witnesses would disfellowship a person? Here are Just a few, to get the list started:

Smoking
Reading religious material that is not approved by the Jehovah's Witness Society
Leaving The Jehovah's Witnesses
Disagreeing with witness doctrine
Talking to ex Jehovah's Witnesses..(this is a biggie)....

amen Shirley!

Answer 1

If I understand the question, I believe the list goes deeper and longer than most people, even JW's understand.

Looking at pornography
Engaging in sodomy even within the marriage
Accepting blood transfusions
Working in the capacity to administer blood transfusions
Having an abortion
Working in the capacity to perform or assist an abortion
Masterbation
Frequenting a strip club or adult establishment
Working at an establishment that has as it's primary function selling or manufacturing cigarette
Reading anything that the particular elders in the area view as apostate material
Associating with apostates (here again it is at the discretion of the local elders to judge a person as an apostate)
Openly disagreeing with stated dogma within the congregation (this is considered running ahead of the organization and the elders)
Spending the night with a known homosexual if you are of the same gender, even if NOTHING happened (guilty until proven innocent is their motto)
Stepping foot within a church or religious building that is not a kingdom hall (even if it is for a wedding or funeral)

The list is even longer for even more stupid reasons to be called in front a judicial committee.
I was called in for me and my children being barefoot in the grocery store.

As I think of more, I'll edit my answer.

Joining fraternities such as the Free Masons
Voting
Running for political office (as an adult or even as a school student running for a school class office)
Registering to vote
Saluting the flag
Publically speaking out against the society even for obvious wrongdoing within the organization that you can prove
Publically disagreeing with the decision of a judicial committee
gossiping
testifying in court against a JW member, the body of elders, the WBTS or any representative thereof
Joining the military (any branch, any country)
Supporting the military
Joing girl/boy scouts (it's a "mormon organization" they say)

Answer 2

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES 'R THE FAMILY WRECKERS OF THE WORLD

"If my family has any contact with me they will be justifying my ungodly lifestyle"

Ring a bell? It's not from the Jehovah's Witnesses it's an excerpt form the discovery channel documentary on 'doomsday cults' describing the practice of the *Roberts group* a disturbing cult.

See all cults like JW's have a shunning shame device to control members.. To be treated like a man of the nations (gentile) or as a tax collector does not mean that i am viewed as 'dead' by my mother.

Everything about the Watchtower's shunning protocol is twisted and demonic.
The shunning by other religions for comparison is irrelevant as the Watchtower claims that it's disfellowshipping is at the direction of the holy spirit so it must be infallible.This is outright blaspheme.

In just one year 1987 i calculated by the Watchtower's own stats that 4.4 men woman and children were disfellowshipped per hour as the world turned on it's axis.

Get this,the Watchtower asserts that every single one was @ "the direction of the holy spirit"
This is utter blaspheme by the watchtower/elder leadership.

How many blasphemes do you charlatans need to be eternally damned?One,or how about 37,000 for that year of 1987?These are wrecked and ruined lives people.

Matthew 18:10 Jesus dire warning to his high ranking apostles;"see to it that you do not despise one of these little ones,for i tell you their angels in heaven always behold the face of my father who is in heaven."

The written and oral directives of the flunky elders is one priority,that is to intimidate and save face with the followers and to stonewall a potential civil lawsuit.

Look either it's the Holy Spirit or it ain't da Holy spirit.They told me even when they are wrong in Judgment i must consider it a test of my faith and bite the bullet.What kind of mealy mouthing gobbledygook is that?

No it's blaspheme.

http://www.dannyhaszard.com/shunning.htm

Answer 3

We do not fellowship with smokers because they STINK@@@

People are not disfellowshipped for "Reading religious material that is not approved by the Jehovah's Witness Society". What is the Jehovah's WItnesses Society anyway?

Why would people fellowship with people that leave the religion of the true God? They are not disfellowshipped for that as they voluntarily removed themselves from fellowship.

Ditto for disagreeing with Witness doctrine. That is disruptive to the congregation. But they voluntarily remove themselves from fellowship.

Why would people want to talk to ex JWs? Note that this does not include debating with them and showing them the foolishness of their ways. But people are not disfellowshipped for that. Why would people want to do such a foolish thing as being an exjw or leaving the faith when Jesus had done so much for them to that they just throw that away.

And dyslexic one. Enough of your slander against the religion that you know nothing of and these other detractors know nothing of.

Answer 4

there is ability in words no count if in blessing or in cursing and it is a diffused ability that isn't obvious to the worldly techniques and heart. basically as a results of fact the weakest ability interior the Universe is the single that holds the comprehensive of it in stability so the flexibility of words, however spectacular diffused, is the flexibility that manifests our very own little very own universes, the state wherein we are residing. putting it into words is between the a thank you to convey it into variety, to make it actual in our wisdom. think of how no longer undemanding it is for some to convey to the exterior something that motives them soreness. Like saying, "i'm sorry," or, "I forgive you." yet as quickly as we do it is going to become extra significant and take place interior the international. God Speaks, and this creation Is take place from that notice. in order that, if we are made in God's photograph, as quickly right now we convey forth our very own creation interior God's. we are co-creators in a feeling. We create our little dream of existence interior God's Dream of existence. And as quickly as we see what we've dreamed up we see that we are conversing conflict, hate, worry, resentment, doubt, greed, foolishness.... Thank God for those few who talk Peace, Love, exhilaration, wish and another high quality that God has Graced us with. Namaste'

Answer 5

The reasons are always biblically based.
1. Smoking. We should always consider our bodies temples not to be polluted. and who wants lung cancer.
2. Reading material not approved by the Society. The Society supplies plenty of bible based material plus news of worldly events to satisfy anyone. Many people accept the AWAKE magazine for just this purpose.
Many decent people who are NOT J.W'S will refuse to read porn and similar stuff.
And the society has a very good working knowledge of the beliefs of all the world's religions.
3. Leaving the Society. Sadly, this has happened , but unless a letter of resignation is received, they are NOT disfellowshipped.
5.Following this, some parents, whose children have left, just by non attendance, and with NO letter to the elders, are still able to have normal family relations with their children.
Once a person, though, is disfellowshipped, contact is minimalised, with emphasis on social gatherings and religious discussion.
Necessary family business is not ignored though.
4.And because the Society is totally Bible based, if anyone disagrees with the teachings, they would be disagreeing with the Bible.
No dialogue is entered into with DISFELLOWSHIPPED ones and in many cases this prompts those ones to make the effort to try and be reinstated. this has happened many times.
Meetings casn be attended but during this period no privileges are granted.

Answer 6

While they have some good points they are still very far out in left field with their doctrine.

The only reason would be so that other witnesses would not be tainted by anything other than JW doctrine.

If someone smokes the JW person might figure out that person is still OK.

If it is a former JW then they wouldn't want their believers learning any other doctrine that may conflict with their own. They do not welcome changes to their doctrine much.

Also it is very suspect having their very own special translation of the bible. It was certainly translated to back their doctrine.

This is why they are still considered a cult by most.

Answer 7

They might disfellowship a person for proclaiming the truth....

Which would be a good thing.

It's a cult in every sense of the word

Answer 8

i forgot "running ahead of the elders" FLASHBACK. I think I have post traumatic distress disorder!

but seriously, I can't add anything to what was said in earlier answers. comprehensive list there, Carol D. whew.

Answer 9

Did it occur to you that its their organization and that the people in it understand the rules when they join and really even though its unbiblical they can do what they want?

By the way putting people out of the church for a time because of sin is not unbiblical.

Answer 10

Immorality, adultery