Editing Jehovah's Witnesses (section)

===Disciplinary action===
{{Main|Jehovah's Witnesses congregational discipline}}
Jehovah's Witnesses require individuals to be baptized by the denomination in order to be subject to their disciplinary procedures.{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=38}} The denomination does not tolerate dissent over doctrines and practices;{{sfn|Beckford|1975|pages=89, 95, 103, 120, 204, 221}} members who openly disagree with the group's teachings are expelled, shunned,<ref name="Muramoto" /> and condemned as [[apostate]]s who are "mentally diseased".<ref name="Holden163" />{{sfn|Franz|2007|page=358}} Some adherents "fade" and stop attending meetings without being formally subjected to the group's disciplinary procedures,{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=13}} although some former members have still experienced shunning through this method.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ransom |first1=Heather |last2=Monk |first2=Rebecca |last3=Reim |first3=Derek |title=Grieving the Living: The Social Death of Former Jehovah's Witnesses |journal=Journal of Religion and Health |date=2022 |volume=61 |issue=3 |pages=2458–2480|doi=10.1007/s10943-020-01156-8 |pmid=33469793 |pmc=9142413 }}</ref>

Members accused of persistent wrongdoing are brought to the attention of the elders who will then evaluate possible consequences. Members that have violated the group's standards—for example, dating a non-member—but not otherwise committed a serious sin may be "[[Jehovah's Witnesses congregational discipline#Marking|marked]]".{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=38}} Congregation members who are aware of another member's errant behaviour are advised to limit social contact with the marked individual.{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=39}} Elders may decide to form a committee in cases involving serious sin, which may result in the member being reproved or shunned. This process requires three elders to meet with the accused.{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=39}} These cases usually involve sexual misconduct<ref name="alternative"/>{{sfn|Beckford|1975|pages=54–55}} or apostasy.{{sfn|Penton|1997|pages=106–108}} Other serious sins involve accepting blood transfusions (which does not require a judicial committee),{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=23}} smoking,{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=23}} using recreational drugs,{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=23}} divorce (unless a spouse committed adultery),{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=106}} celebration of holidays{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|pages=96}} or birthdays,{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=97}} abortion (which is considered murder),<ref name="holdenmorals" >{{harvnb|Holden|2002|pages=26–27, 173}}</ref> and political activities such as voting in elections.{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=89}} Procedures related to congregational discipline are primarily described in the book, ''Shepherd the Flock of God'', provided only to elders.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bradley |first1=Anusha |title=The rules and culture that keep child sex offenders hidden from followers of the Jehovah's Witness faith |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/495876/the-rules-and-culture-that-keep-child-sex-offenders-hidden-from-followers-of-the-jehovah-s-witness-faith |website=[[RNZ]] |date=August 16, 2023 |access-date=3 July 2024}}</ref> People who formally leave Jehovah's Witnesses are considered to be ''disassociated'' and are also shunned.{{sfn|Chryssides|2008|page=42}} Jehovah's Witnesses can also be disassociated for accepting a blood transfusion.{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=23}}

The practice of shunning may serve to deter other members from dissident behavior.<ref name="Holden163">{{harvnb|Holden|2002|page=163}}</ref> Shunning also helps maintain a "uniformity of belief".{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=13}} Shunned individuals may experience [[suicide ideation]] and often struggle with feelings of low [[self esteem]], shame, and guilt.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Friedson |first1=Meredith |title=Psychotherapy and the Fundamentalist Client: The Aims and Challenges of Treating Jehovah's Witnesses |journal=Journal of Religion and Health |date=2015 |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=693–712|doi=10.1007/s10943-014-9946-8 |pmid=25261980 }}</ref><ref name="Ransom"/> Former members may experience significant mental distress as a result of being shunned<ref name="Ransom"/> and some seek reinstatement to keep contact with their friends and family.<ref name="Grendele"/> Former members may also experience [[ambiguous loss]] or [[panic attack]]s.<ref name="Grendele"/> Expelled individuals may eventually be reinstated to the congregation if deemed repentant by congregation elders, and some seek reinstatement to maintain contact with their friends and family.<ref name="Grendele"/> Reinstatement can be a long process, which may be mentally and emotionally draining.<ref name="Grendele" /> Funerals for expelled members may not be performed at Kingdom Halls.{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=109}}

Baptized children are also subject to the same moral standards and consequences for failing to comply.<ref name="RNS">{{cite web |last1=Post |first1=Kathryn |title=Jehovah's Witnesses go to trial against Norway after state registration is revoked |url=https://religionnews.com/2024/01/16/jehovahs-witnesses-go-to-trial-against-norway-after-state-registration-is-revoked/ |website=RNS |date=January 16, 2024 |access-date=14 April 2024}}</ref> They are allowed to stay with their families until reaching the [[age of majority]].{{sfn|Chryssides|2022|page=40}} Jehovah's Witnesses lost state funding as a religious community in [[Norway]] because of its shunning policy, with the country concluding that shunning, particularly of children, constitutes psychological violence.<ref name="RNS"/> Subsequently, the group made some changes to its shunning policy in 2024; individuals may offer "simple greetings" to shunned members instead of completely avoiding them<ref name="CNE"/> if the individual is not deemed to be an apostate.<ref name="2024 GB update #2">{{cite AV media|title=2024 Governing Body update #2|url=https://www.jw.org/en/news/region/global/2024-Governing-Body-Update-2/|publisher=WatchTower Bible and Tract Society|access-date=April 11, 2024|time=13:12}}</ref> As of 2024, two elders may have a more informal meeting with a minor who is considered to have committed a "serious sin" along with his or her parents before deciding whether a formal committee meeting is required.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=The Watchtower|date=August 2024|page=25|title=Responding to Sin With Love and Mercy|publisher=Watch Tower Society}}</ref> Parents are also no longer prohibited from attending judicial committees with minors.<ref name="CNE">{{cite web |last1=van Vlastuin |first1=Evert |title=Jehovah's Witnesses ease shunning rules after blow in Oslo court |url=https://cne.news/article/4220-jehovahs-witnesses-ease-shunning-rules-after-blow-in-oslo-court |website=CNE |access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref>