Jehovah's Witnesses and Shunning: Is it a Form of Tough Love or Cult Manipulation?

Shunning, a practice used by Jehovah's Witnesses, involves members being cut off from their community and family. The organization's leaders often portray this as a form of lsquo;tough loversquo; intended to protect members. However, many individuals and former members view shunning as a coercive and harmful tactic. This article explores this controversial practice and whether it can truly be considered a lsquo;lovingrsquo; arrangement.

The Use of lsquo;Tough Loversquo; as a Justification

The leaders of Jehovah's Witnesses, particularly those in America, often tell members that shunning is a form of ldquo;loving arrangement.rdquo; They liken the practice to a hiker on a cold, snowy day who is likely to fall asleep and die of hypothermia if not kept awake by slaps from a companion. This analogy is used to justify the stinging, albeit potentially lifesaving, nature of the practice.

However, the analogy is often seen as problematic. While a person can die of hypothermia, no one has ever died due to not obeying the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses. The opposite might be more accurate; it suggests that the organization is more interested in compliance and control than in genuine concern for the well-being of its members.

The Experience of Shunning: A Cult Practice

Many current and former members report that shunning is not a feeling of love or support but, rather, a forced and painful isolation. The practice involves completely cutting off contact with shunned individuals, making them feel like they are not even seen or recognized in public. This manifests as deliberate ignoring, such as pretending a shunned person is invisible or not noticing them. The instructions for surviving shunning are often as harsh as the practice itself:

The attitude you're supposed to have goes like this: 'They dropped their bags right in front of you, fuck 'em. Let them pick them up themselves.' Or, 'That little old lady slipped on the ice, fuck her. She's disfellowshipped.' Even pregnant women walking six miles in the snow to the Kingdom Hall are to be ignored, as in, 'Fuck her. Just drive past her.'"

For many, shunning feels far from loving. It is a form of social isolation that can lead to severe emotional and mental distress, including the contemplation or even the act of suicide.

Conclusion: A Cult or a Community?

The practice of shunning among Jehovah's Witnesses is often seen as a coercive and punitive measure rather than a ldquo;lovingrdquo; one. The supposed lsquo;lovingrsquo; provision of the governing body is viewed by many as dehumanizing and manipulative, aimed at instilling fear and control within the community.

The question remains: is it truly a form of tough love, or is it simply a manifestation of the cult-like nature of the organization? The answer lies in the intentions and outcomes of the practice, rather than in the flawed analogies used to justify it.

For those who have experienced or witnessed shunning, it is anything but a loving environment. It is a scenario in which the individual's autonomy and well-being are sacrificed for the sake of group conformity and control.