Do the Jehovah's Witnesses disfellowship and shun members who find the bible disagrees with Watchtower doctrine?

Answer 1

Yes. If a member of the JW Church commits an offense, or is accused of doing so, a disciplinary council will by called by the church to try the individual. If this person is found guilty of an offense by a disciplinary council, he or she may be excommunicated, disfellowshipped and/or shunned.

A disfellowshipped member may attend public meetings but may not take part in any other way or go on the ministry.

Disagreeing with any of the Watchtower Society's rules or teachings can lead to a life time of shunning by all of the individual's Witness family and friends.

Sources: WFacts - Facts About Jehovah's Witnesses, Jehovah's Witnesses Watchtower Official Web Site. Regarding doctrinal opinions, members that disagree with the Watchtower doctrine will not be disfellowshipped but promulgating or teaching contrary to the teachings of the organization (as published in their magazine "The Watchtower") while at the same time claiming to be part of said organization, could be judged as "apostasy" and would therefore be a disfellowshipping offense.

Our 'Reasoning' book explains ''Apostasy is abandoning or deserting the worship and service of God, actually a rebellion against Jehovah God. Some apostates profess to know and serve God but reject teachings or requirements set out in his Word. Others claim to believe The Bible but reject Jehovah's organization.''

Answer:We must first assume a member does find something in the Bible that disagrees with Watchtower doctrine as he sees it. If he keeps those findings to himself then he won't be disfellowshipped and shunned. If, however, he spreads those findings to other members and doesn't accept counsel from local elders to desist then yes he would be disfellowshipped and shunned as this would be viewed as apostasy.

Answer 2

In fact, Witnesses believe the Bible, from beginning to end, is the inspired word of God. and most, but not all, the Bible is interpreted literally. The Bible of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is known as the New World Translation, which differs in some respects from traditional translations such as the King James Bible. Some former Witnesses say that they have identified deliberate errors in the New World Translation, but this is far from clear. All English translations of the Bible differ to some extent in the way they are translated. Witnesses do reject some Christian ideas, such as the Trinity, as non-biblical, a position that is arguably true.

Presumably, members who read the New World Translation Bible will not find it disagrees with the teachings of their Church. However, it has been said that, although Witnesses are adept at quoting the Bible when they deliver sermons at the doorstep, these scriptures are invariably misinterpreted and miscontextualised. The greater risk may be when members recognise the misinterpretations. Perhaps disfellowship is not applied automatically to members merely for seeking clarification, but any Witness found reading literature that attacks Watch Tower theology does risk disfellowship.

Recent figures show an annual average of about 40,000 disfellowed members worldwide, so for whatever reason it is imposed, disfellowship is a real threat to dissidents. Disfellowship is the ultimate sanction but does not mean permanent exclusion. On repentance, the majority of disfellowshipped members are allowed to return. Although disfellowshipped members are free to attend Kingdom Hall meetings, they are shunned by the congregation.