Shunning

Shunning is the act of deliberately avoiding association with an individual. The historical punishments of ostracism and exile, no longer practiced, were officially sanctioned forms of shunning. Today, shunning in an official, formalized manner is practiced by only a few religions, although it continues to be practiced informally in every sort of human grouping or gathering. Religious shunning is often referred to as excommunication.

A distinct practice sometimes confused with shunning involves the severing of ties between new members and those of their friends and family who disapprove of the faith. Scientologists coined the word disconnection to refer to that practice.

Shunning aims to protect a group from members who have committed acts seen as harmful to the shunning organization, or who violate the groups norms. As the practice may end marriages, break up families, and separate children from their parents (or vice versa), it is particularly controversial.

Policies governing the use of shunning vary from one organization to another.

Catholic Church

Only in rare cases (known as excommunication vitandi) does the Catholic Church expect the faithful to shun an excommunicated member in secular matters.

Anabaptists and Amish

The Anabaptists practice Meidung, following this passage from Matthew 18:15:

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and tell him alone...But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more...And if he shall neglect to hear them, then tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.

The more extreme version of Meidung which Ammann called for was one of the main reasons for split of the Amish from the Anabaptist Swiss Brethren.

Jehovah's Witnesses

The Jehovah's Witnesses refer to the practice of shunning as "disfellowshipping." The organization points to passages in the Gospels to support this practice.