Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1997, page 73
Yes, apostates publish literature that resorts to distortions, half-truths, and
outright falsehood. They even picket Witness conventions, trying to trap the
unwary. Hence it would be a dangerous thing to allow our curiosity to move us to
feed on such writings or to listen to their abusive speech!… What would you expect
from the table of demons? (“At Which Table,” 1994, p. 12)
An apostate, by WTS definition, is one who “rebels against God and rejects his truth,” that
is, a person who disagrees with WTS‟s version of “truth” (Watchtower Society, 1971, p. 91).
Another article states that
Some apostates … reject teachings or requirements set out in his word. Others
claim to believe the Bible, but they reject Jehovah‟s organization…. True Christians
share Jehovah‟s feelings toward such apostates they are not curious about
apostate ideas. On the contrary, they feel a loathing toward those who have made
themselves God‟s enemies, but they leave it to Jehovah to execute vengeance.
(“Search Through Me,” 1993, p. 19)
Members who choose to leave because of disagreement over doctrine, or who are forced out
of the organization because of nonconformist behavior, are subject to disfellowshipping --a
form of shunning that does not allow any current member to associate with the
disfellowshipped person. The Watchtower states:
Baptized servants of Jehovah who deliberately follow a wicked course and refuse to
change must be viewed as unrepentant and thus unfit for Christian fellowship….
They must be expelled….it removes from their midst one who could exercise a bad
influence on them. It also protects the purity of the congregation.
(“Disfellowshipping,” 1995, p. 25)
If the disfellowshipped person disagrees publicly in any way with WTS teachings, he or she
automatically becomes an “apostate.” Since members are not allowed to associate with
disfellowshipped members, information potentially critical of WTS is handily kept out of
members‟ reach by not allowing them to discourse with former members about their
reasons for leaving the organization.
Shunning as a Form of Control
Disfellowshipping in WTS does not simply bar a person from practicing religious rites, but
also serves to cut the victim off from friends and family, who are not allowed to speak with
that person except, in some cases, to deal with “important family business.” Members are
encouraged to “loath” the individual in question. In personal and professional contacts, the
first author is familiar with a number of cases in which family members --including children,
grandchildren, and parents --have completely shunned a disfellowshipped person for years
she has also experienced this herself.
Members are condemned to suffer this extreme punishment for reasons that include a wide
range of behaviors from adultery and criminal activity, to such things as cigarette smoking,
disagreeing with doctrinal points, celebrating birthdays or holidays, attending another
church‟s services, and accepting a blood transfusion, to name a few. One respondent
expressed a common sentiment, writing, “I was never good enough, if I said the wrong
thing I would be disfellowshipped, I was forced to wear a „mask‟ so none would see how I
really felt.”
Disfellowshipping is a serious and often psychologically devastating punishment. Members
of the congregation are required to treat the disfellowshipped as if they were dead. Lifelong
friends no longer acknowledge former members when they see them on the street. Eye
contact is avoided. Socializing in any form with a disfellowshipped person may lead to
censure and possible disfellowshipping of the current member. The disfellowshipped person
Yes, apostates publish literature that resorts to distortions, half-truths, and
outright falsehood. They even picket Witness conventions, trying to trap the
unwary. Hence it would be a dangerous thing to allow our curiosity to move us to
feed on such writings or to listen to their abusive speech!… What would you expect
from the table of demons? (“At Which Table,” 1994, p. 12)
An apostate, by WTS definition, is one who “rebels against God and rejects his truth,” that
is, a person who disagrees with WTS‟s version of “truth” (Watchtower Society, 1971, p. 91).
Another article states that
Some apostates … reject teachings or requirements set out in his word. Others
claim to believe the Bible, but they reject Jehovah‟s organization…. True Christians
share Jehovah‟s feelings toward such apostates they are not curious about
apostate ideas. On the contrary, they feel a loathing toward those who have made
themselves God‟s enemies, but they leave it to Jehovah to execute vengeance.
(“Search Through Me,” 1993, p. 19)
Members who choose to leave because of disagreement over doctrine, or who are forced out
of the organization because of nonconformist behavior, are subject to disfellowshipping --a
form of shunning that does not allow any current member to associate with the
disfellowshipped person. The Watchtower states:
Baptized servants of Jehovah who deliberately follow a wicked course and refuse to
change must be viewed as unrepentant and thus unfit for Christian fellowship….
They must be expelled….it removes from their midst one who could exercise a bad
influence on them. It also protects the purity of the congregation.
(“Disfellowshipping,” 1995, p. 25)
If the disfellowshipped person disagrees publicly in any way with WTS teachings, he or she
automatically becomes an “apostate.” Since members are not allowed to associate with
disfellowshipped members, information potentially critical of WTS is handily kept out of
members‟ reach by not allowing them to discourse with former members about their
reasons for leaving the organization.
Shunning as a Form of Control
Disfellowshipping in WTS does not simply bar a person from practicing religious rites, but
also serves to cut the victim off from friends and family, who are not allowed to speak with
that person except, in some cases, to deal with “important family business.” Members are
encouraged to “loath” the individual in question. In personal and professional contacts, the
first author is familiar with a number of cases in which family members --including children,
grandchildren, and parents --have completely shunned a disfellowshipped person for years
she has also experienced this herself.
Members are condemned to suffer this extreme punishment for reasons that include a wide
range of behaviors from adultery and criminal activity, to such things as cigarette smoking,
disagreeing with doctrinal points, celebrating birthdays or holidays, attending another
church‟s services, and accepting a blood transfusion, to name a few. One respondent
expressed a common sentiment, writing, “I was never good enough, if I said the wrong
thing I would be disfellowshipped, I was forced to wear a „mask‟ so none would see how I
really felt.”
Disfellowshipping is a serious and often psychologically devastating punishment. Members
of the congregation are required to treat the disfellowshipped as if they were dead. Lifelong
friends no longer acknowledge former members when they see them on the street. Eye
contact is avoided. Socializing in any form with a disfellowshipped person may lead to
censure and possible disfellowshipping of the current member. The disfellowshipped person
