Shunning

Shunning is the rejection of a person. It is usual in some religious groups to cut people off if they do not believe the beliefs or follow the rules of the group. It has been used in industrial action (strikes) and as a punishment in certain societies.

Religions which use or have used shunning

Catholicism

The Catholic Church used shunning until the Code of Canon Law of 1983 was enacted. The practice of inquisition is famous.

Amish

In the Amish religion, shunning is a form of church discipline.^[1] It is used to punish members who have broken rules.^[1]

Jehovah's Witnesses

According to author Andrew Holden, many Jehovah's Witnesses who want to quit the church choose to stay because they fear being shunned and losing contact with loved ones.^[2]

Church of Scientology

The Church of Scientology asks its members to quit all communication with Suppressive Persons. (These are people who the Church identifies as critics or opponents of Scientology). The practice of shunning in Scientology is termed disconnection.

In the United States, the Church has tried to argue in court that disconnection is a constitutionally protected religious practice. However, the court rejected this argument, saying the pressure put on individual Scientologists to disconnect means it is not voluntary.^[3]

Islam

In Islam, if a Muslim abandons Islam through their words or actions, they have committed apostasy (Arabic: ردة, riddah or ارتداد, irtidād).^[4][5][6] Examples of apostasy include converting to another religion or non-acceptance of faith^[7] by a person who was born in a Muslim family or who had previously accepted Islam.^[8]

Classical Islamic law called for apostates to be executed, but Islamic scholars disagree about how apostasy should be punished in modern times.^[8][9][10]

Tax implications

In many countries, religions get huge financial advantages by being recognised as religions. They are not taxed, or have much reduced taxes. In the United States, the Establishment Clause of the US Constitution prevents the US government and (through the Bill of Rights) the 50 state governments from imposing church taxes. In 1947, the US Supreme Court ruled that "No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion."^[11] This explains why organisations such as Scientology wish to be classified as religions.