Abstract
This research explores qualitatively the experiences of individuals shunned by the Jehovah’s Witnesses community. Four key themes emerge from the 21 semistructured videoconferencing interviews which form the research data analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun et al., 2019). These themes, namely Reasons for Being Shunned, the Judicial Committee, and Consequences of Religious Shunning and Reinstatement, shed light on the events and behaviour which led to the public announcement of the participants’ formal shunning and on the controlling environment the religious community has created by endorsing a culture based on fear, guilt, and shame. Although research conducted to explore the experiences of religious shunning is not abundant, the findings of the current study are in line with previous research, highlighting that the individual’s journey from being a member to leaving the community is a multifaceted experience, influenced by several factors, which has a detrimental impact on their well-being.
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Notes
Being an elder is a position of authority that is male privilege.
‘Worldlings’ or worldly people are all those who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their companionship is viewed as potentially contaminating the moral and spiritual standards of members.
An apostate is a member who defects from the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ teachings. This is someone who ‘turns aside’ and who speaks out against the teachings, organisation, or directives of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
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Special thanks to Professor Maddie Ohl, director of studies at the Graduate Center, University of West London, for her invaluable expertise and advice throughout all aspects of the research.
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Grendele, W.A., Bapir-Tardy, S. & Flax, M. Experiencing Religious Shunning: Insights into the Journey From Being a Member to Leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses Community. Pastoral Psychol 73, 43–61 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-023-01074-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-023-01074-y