Shunning facts for kids

Shunning is when a group of people stops talking to, ignoring, or avoiding someone. It's like being completely cut off from friends and family. This often happens in some religious groups. They might shun people who don't believe the same things or follow the group's rules. Shunning has also been used in other situations, like during strikes at work or as a punishment in certain societies.

Religions and Shunning

Many religious groups have used or still use shunning. They believe it helps keep their community strong and focused on their shared beliefs.

The Catholic Church

Before 1983, the Catholic Church had rules about how to deal with people who went against their teachings. This sometimes involved cutting people off from the church community.

Amish

The Amish are a group known for their simple lifestyle. They also use shunning, which they call "Meidung." If an Amish person breaks important rules, they might be shunned by their community. This means others will not eat with them or do business with them.

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses also practice shunning. If someone leaves their faith or breaks their rules, they might be shunned. This can mean losing contact with friends and even close family members. Some people stay with the group because they are afraid of being shunned and losing their loved ones.

Church of Scientology

The Church of Scientology uses a practice called "disconnection." This means members are asked to stop all communication with people they call "Suppressive Persons." These are people the Church believes are against Scientology. The Church has tried to say that disconnection is a protected religious practice. However, courts have sometimes disagreed. This is because members are often pressured to disconnect, so it's not always a free choice.

Islam

In Islam, leaving the faith is called apostasy. This means a Muslim person abandons Islam by their words or actions. It includes changing to another religion or not accepting the faith. This applies to people born into Muslim families or those who previously became Muslim. There are different ideas among Islamic scholars about how this should be handled.

Why Religions Get Tax Benefits

In many countries, religious groups get special financial benefits. They often don't have to pay taxes, or their taxes are much lower. This is a big advantage for them.

Taxes in the United States

In the United States, the government cannot make churches pay taxes. This rule comes from the US Constitution. It says that the government cannot set up or support any religion. In 1947, the US Supreme Court said that no taxes can be used to support religious activities or groups. This is why organizations like Scientology want to be recognized as religions. It helps them avoid paying taxes.