Tragic murder-suicide cases throughout the country have shined light on the controversial Jehovah’s Witness practice of shunning or disfellowshipping, which in essence is a punishment by excommunication.
Mathew Schmalz, associate professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross, offered his expertise in a recent article by the Detroit Free Press, explaining the central beliefs of the religion and cautioning against describing it as a "cult."
"We should look at the Jehovah's Witnesses not as a bizarre religious group, but as a religion that has its own internal means of discipline," Schmalz said. "They can be very harsh and have very unintended and tragic consequences."
Read the full article at the Detroit Free Press.
Related coverage:
Newsweek (via The Conversation), July 19: Why Is Vladimir Putin's Russia so Afraid of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
