Jehovah's Witness: Faith, Family, And Leaving

do jeovahs witness leave family if they leave the faith

Leaving the Jehovah's Witness community can mean losing more than just your religion. Members who choose to leave the faith are often shunned by their friends and family, which can lead to feelings of loneliness, loss of control, and worthlessness. This is because Jehovah's Witnesses believe that those outside the religion can be detrimental to their faith. The act of shunning can have a detrimental effect on mental health, job prospects, and life satisfaction.

Characteristics Values
Shunning Members who leave the religion are shunned by the community, including their close friends and family.
Ostracism Ostracism has a long-term, detrimental effect on mental health, job possibilities, and life satisfaction.
Sexism and patriarchal narratives Problems are amplified in female former members due to heavy themes of sexism and patriarchal narratives pervasive in Jehovah’s Witnesses culture.
Disfellowshipping Members who leave the religion are "disfellowshipped", which means they are excommunicated and shunned.
Emotional manipulation Members who leave are emotionally manipulated by current members, who say they can only reconnect on the condition that they return to the religion.
Information control Independent thinking is discouraged, and members are not allowed to read any material critical of the organisation.
Armageddon mentality Members are taught that the world is ending soon, which discourages them from saving for the future or making material gains.

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Jehovah's Witnesses who leave the faith are shunned by their families and the wider community

Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian fundamentalist religion with over eight million members worldwide. Members who leave the religion are subjected to shunning by the community, including their close friends and family. This is because Jehovah's Witnesses believe those outside the religion can be detrimental to their faith. The act of shunning has a detrimental effect on the mental health of former members, with feelings of loneliness, loss of control, and worthlessness being common after leaving.

The process of shunning involves cutting all ties with ex-believers, resulting in isolation and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts. This is justified by Jehovah's Witnesses using the Bible, specifically the passage: "Remove the wicked man from amongst yourselves". The act of shunning is not limited to those who leave the religion but also extends to members who have sinned in the eyes of the congregation.

The experience of being shunned can be extremely difficult for former Jehovah's Witnesses, as they lose their sense of belonging and self-esteem. The loss of their entire social network, usually without anything outside the congregation to fall back on, can lead to psychological distress and impaired emotional and social functioning.

The story of Andrea, a former Jehovah's Witness, illustrates the impact of shunning. When Andrea decided to leave the religion, her father told her: "If you go to that Church, don't come back. You have no place in this house." This resulted in Andrea losing her family and her home.

Another example is Sarah, who was excluded by the Jehovah's Witnesses through "disfellowshipping" after she refused to remain in an abusive relationship. As a result, her friends and family cut all ties with her, and she was kicked out of her home by her parents. Sarah now has no contact with her family and is planning a wedding that her parents will not attend.

The practice of shunning by Jehovah's Witnesses leads to the isolation and alienation of former members, causing significant distress and contributing to poor mental health outcomes.

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This shunning can lead to feelings of loneliness, loss of control, and worthlessness

Shunning by family and friends can have a severe impact on the mental health of former Jehovah's Witnesses. The practice can lead to feelings of loneliness, loss of control, and worthlessness.

When individuals are shunned, they lose their entire social network, often without anything outside of their congregation to fall back on. This can generate great psychological distress, impairing emotional and social functioning.

The culture of informing on other members within the Jehovah's Witnesses also leads to a continued sense of distrust and suspicion long after leaving. This can make it difficult for those who have left to form new relationships and social connections.

The feeling of loneliness can be particularly acute for those who have been shunned by their families. For example, one former Jehovah's Witness said:

> "I don't speak to any of my family... Because of being 'disfellowshipped', I can have no contact."

The loss of close family ties can be "very, very difficult" to cope with. Those who have been shunned may feel they have no one and can be left feeling suicidal.

In addition to loneliness, shunning can also lead to a loss of control and feelings of worthlessness. Ostracism threatens four basic social needs: belonging, self-esteem, control, and meaningful existence. When individuals are shunned, they are removed from their identified group, threatening their sense of belonging, and creating feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, threatening self-esteem.

The impact of shunning can be long-lasting and detrimental to mental health, job possibilities, and life satisfaction.

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shunspirit

The practice of shunning can have a detrimental effect on mental health, job prospects, and life satisfaction

Shunning is a form of social rejection that can have severe impacts on an individual's psychological and social well-being. Members of Jehovah's Witnesses who do not comply with the stated doctrine or belief system are subjected to shunning by the community, including their close friends and family. This isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness, loss of control, and worthlessness. The sudden loss of one's entire social network can be extremely disorienting and challenging to cope with, often resulting in poor mental health outcomes.

The detrimental effects of shunning on mental health are amplified in female former members due to the heavy themes of sexism and patriarchal narratives pervasive in Jehovah's Witness culture. The pressure to conform to gender roles and the lack of autonomy for women within the religion can contribute to feelings of powerlessness and low self-worth.

In addition to the social and psychological impacts, shunning can also affect job prospects and life satisfaction. Jehovah's Witnesses are discouraged from pursuing higher education and career advancement, as it is believed that the end of the world is imminent. This can result in limited job opportunities and financial instability, further exacerbating the mental health struggles of former members.

The cumulative effects of shunning can lead to "great psychological distress," impairing emotional and social functioning. The fear of condemnation and the need to constantly prove one's faith can also contribute to a constant state of anxiety and distrust, making it difficult for former members to form new relationships and adapt to life outside the community.

The adjustment period after leaving Jehovah's Witnesses can be particularly challenging, as individuals grapple with the realization that their entire worldview was based on a false premise. The process of rebuilding one's identity and support network can be lengthy and arduous, often requiring professional help to manage the mental health consequences of shunning.

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The patriarchal structure of the Jehovah's Witnesses can place severe pressure on families

The Jehovah's Witness community operates within a patriarchal structure, with men occupying all positions of power. This dynamic places severe pressure on families, as husbands and fathers are deemed responsible for their family's spiritual well-being and, by extension, their survival in the predicted apocalypse. This results in families experiencing significant control over their behaviour while in view of other members.

The pressure on men to act as the spiritual leaders of their households is immense, and those who do not fulfil this role are viewed as deficient by their fellow believers. This expectation of patriarchal dominance can have severe consequences for families, as exemplified by the tragic case of a former member whose brother took his own life due to doubts about the religion. The brother, a father himself, did not want to jeopardise his family's chances of surviving the apocalypse and felt that his suicide was the only option.

The patriarchal structure within the Jehovah's Witnesses also contributes to the prevalence of shunning, a practice with detrimental effects on the mental health and life satisfaction of those who are ostracised. When individuals are "disfellowshipped" from the community, they are shunned by all members, including their close friends and family. This often results in feelings of loneliness, loss of control, and worthlessness.

The combination of the patriarchal power structure and the practice of shunning can place immense pressure on families, leading to strained relationships, isolation, and, in some tragic cases, even familicide.

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Jehovah's Witnesses are discouraged from seeking promotions or better job opportunities

The belief that the world will end soon also discourages members from seeking better job opportunities or promotions. They are taught that the end of the world will involve the deaths of all non-believers and that only active Jehovah's Witnesses will be rewarded with a renewed Earth. This belief discourages members from investing in their future in the current world, as they believe it is unnecessary and a waste of time.

The culture of Jehovah's Witnesses also discourages members from seeking promotions or better job opportunities. Members are taught to remain separate from the world outside of their community and to avoid fellowship with non-believers. This separationist ideology makes it difficult for members to network or build relationships with people outside of their religion, which could hinder their career advancement.

Additionally, the high level of control exerted by the organization discourages members from seeking promotions or better jobs. Members are conditioned to relinquish control over their thoughts and actions to the organization and are taught to reject rational analysis, critical thinking, and doubt. This mental control can make it difficult for members to make career decisions independently and pursue promotions or better job opportunities.

The financial implications of leaving the religion can also discourage members from seeking promotions or better jobs. Members who leave Jehovah's Witnesses are shunned by the community and often lose their entire social network, including their families and friends. This can lead to financial instability and make it difficult for them to pursue career advancement.

Overall, the combination of time commitment, doctrinal beliefs, cultural separation, mental control, and financial implications discourages Jehovah's Witnesses from seeking promotions or better job opportunities.

Frequently asked questions

Disfellowshipping is a means of excommunication. When the elders determine that a member is not repentant enough, they make an announcement at the congregation meeting, stating that the member has been disfellowshipped. This means that the member is to be shunned and loses contact with their entire community, including their family.

Going to the police or involving those from outside the religion is heavily discouraged by Jehovah's Witnesses. If a member goes to the police, they may be disfellowshipped, leading to shunning by their friends and family.

Shunning has been shown to have a detrimental impact on mental health, job possibilities, and life satisfaction. It can lead to feelings of loneliness, loss of control, and worthlessness.

Reasons for disfellowshipping include having doubts about the religion, missing a memorial service, and receiving a blood transfusion.

Those who leave the Jehovah's Witnesses may find support through support networks run by former members, such as Terri O'Sullivan, who left the religion 17 years ago.

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