While reading an article about the polygamist FLDS community in Northern Arizona I began to wonder about excommunication which was key to control of its members. I’d like to avoid this being pushed to GDs so I want to ask a focused question: what religions/churches/sects have the concept of excommunication defined as: excommunication as explusion of a member and denying them sacrements/blessings/rituals deemed neccessary for salvation. I believe this definition applies to the mainstream LDS church as well as the Roman Catholic church but I’d appreciate any clarification if this is not correct.
The Eastern Orthodox churches also have the concept of excommunication. I believe the Catholics and Orthodox had excommunicated each other for a while.
Judaism as well has the concept of excummunication. But without a central authority, there is no mechanism of enforcement today.
Zev Steinhardt
AH yes, Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah. As a former media person in the area, I was out in those cities several times in the 1980’s. Very strange place.
You are right on about excommunication being a punishment in both the FLDS and the mainstream LDS religion. The mainstream LDS has used the tactic not only to punish members who have not lived up to their “covenants with the Lord,” but to silence those who “explore and…challenge LDS doctrine.”
There were six scholars who were excommunicated in September 1993 for having articles about the church published in non-church approved publications. In order for this to not become a GD thread and stay here, I’ll leave it up to the link-reader to make the conclusions.
Speaking as an Orthodox Christian, I can say that “excommuncation” for us is different from what it usually means in the West. In Orthodoxy, one can be excommunicated very easily–indeed, if one hasn’t fasted at least from the night before the Liturgy until Communion, one is supposed to excommunicate oneself for that Liturgy, at the very least. Likewise, not having at least one Confession a year means that one is excommunicated (unless the circumstance warrants otherwise). These sorts of excommunications can be just as easily reversed. Have a formal Confession, etc. Likewise, some acts (like killing a human being) are supposed to result in excommunication for months, a year, or possibly longer. Yes, that means that soldiers are technically excommunicated if they kill in war. It’s not because they have “become evil”, but that they need to “ready themselves” after performing such serious acts. In a way, it’s to drum home that killing, even if warranted by circumstance, is never to be taken lightly. These people are not considered “damned” but are not to take Communion.
Orthodoxy has “anathema” for those who refuse all correction. Even in this case, the person is not “damned”. The Church does not claim tha power. Instead, the person is “offered over” (the meaning of “anathema” to God’s judgement without further intercession from the Church. An anathemized person could still theoretically get into paradise.