My name is Jake Reinert and I am a 25-year-old ex-Jehovah’s Witness from Spokane, WA, USA. I was born and raised in the religion and was a 3rd to 4th generation Jehovah’s Witness. Shunning was a theme of the religion that I learned from a young age, and I myself was shunned from every single person I knew at the …
Holy Books in Glass Cases: When Religious Freedom Turns Absurd
Robert U. Rational “Holy Books in Glass Cases: When Religious Freedom Turns Absurd” Ever wondered if your next Bible Belt neighborhood barbecue could legally double as a witch burning, if you claimed it as a religious practice? Of course, before you start planning a themed party complete with pitchforks—or wood stacks, for that matter—let’s consider where we draw the line …
Joining the Fight Against Mandated Shunning: How You Can Make a Difference
By Robert U. Rational In the realm of human rights and personal freedoms, the issue of mandated shunning by high control religious groups remains a deeply concerning practice that inflicts untold emotional and psychological pain on countless individuals. At ShunningIsACrime.org, our mission is to challenge and ultimately criminalize this coercive behavior through legal channels worldwide. However, the success of this …
Beyond Bullying: Mandated Shunning in High-Control Religions
By Robert U. Rational In today’s interconnected world, bullying has become a widely recognized social issue, with considerable attention directed towards its prevention and mitigation. However, there exists a form of social coercion that often flies under the radar, which is mandated shunning from faith-based communities like Exclusive Brethren, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientology, Haredi Jews, Amish/Mennonites, and the Bahá’í Faith. While …
Norway: Jehovah’s Witnesses Lose to the State—Mandated Shunning Means No State Subsidy
BREAKING NEWS: The Norway state subsidy is to be withheld from Jehovah’s Witnesses (Watch Tower), as the Oslo district appeal court upholds their previous decision, deeming it valid. The court acquits the State, citing “serious violations of the rights and freedoms of others” in the exclusion practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Last year, it was announced that Jehovah’s Witnesses would lose …
The Hidden Harms of Mandated Shunning in High-Control Groups
By Robert U. Rational In today’s interconnected world, the importance of community and belonging cannot be overstated. However, not all communities offer the warmth and support we seek. High-control groups, often masquerading as havens of spiritual enlightenment or personal development, use various techniques to maintain their grip on members. Among these, mandated shunning is one of the most psychologically damaging …
Patrick Haeck Talks to OnionUnlimited About the “Lost” Belgium Court Case
The Shunning is a Crime team highly recommends watching and listening to this entertaining and informative podcast about mandated shunning. It features an engaging conversation between two ex-JW elders, Patrick Haeck and Daniel Torridon, who compare this form of shunning to a social death sentence and stoning. In one hour, get caught up on why mandated shunning should be treated …
Over 500 Responses to the SIAC Survey
It has been just two and a half months since the shunning is a crime survey was launched. In that short time over 500 survey responses have been received. Thank you! Here is a snapshot of some of the findings
SAWS Requests Meeting to Discuss Mandated Shunning With High Control Group
The Foundation Against Watchtower Shunning (SAWS), registered in Aalten, Holland has sent 7 letters to the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (CCJW) in the Netherlands inviting them to enter a dialogue with all those who continue to suffer because of the religious mandated shunning policy. A press release has been circulated stating that if the CCJW Directors or representatives ignore the …
Lee Marsh: The Shunning Policy Hurts People Who Need Support
I was baptized in 1969 when I was 17 years old. Married at 18 and had a baby before I was 20 and another, 4 years later. My husband became an elder after about 7 years. He had one personality for the congregation, kind, helpful, and knowledgeable about the Bible, and another when he was at home, distant, demanding, and …
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