Have you ever heard a dub say that they are not a cult because they don't live in a commune? (aside from all the other reasons they are a cult- see other thread about wt mind control) My question is, isn't Bethel rather like a commune? and what about the wt farms?
We're not a cult because we don't have communes
by carla 38 Replies latest jw friends
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leavingwt
Cults often re-define the meaning of common words. This is an example of them re-defining what the word "cult" means.
In this case, you can use the term "high-control group" or "authoritarian group".
Take a look at these criteria for Mind Control (or Thought Reform):
http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/articles/BITE.htm
-LWT
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VM44
No communes?
What about the "Watchtower Educational Center" at Paterson, New York?
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JeffT
Good point about redifing words. They also say they're not a cult because the don't follow a single leader. Yes, there's a big difference between following one guy and following a committee.
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Quotes
Good point, I've used that in the past: "So then, by your 'commune is necessary ingredient for cult' rule you would agree that for people in Bethel, it is still a cult".
The Reasoning book's answer the the question "are jws a cult" is classic case of redefining a word. They say "we don't follow a single human leader", ignoring that slavishly following the whims of "The Society" is the exact same thing. They say "we don't live in communes", ignore both Bethel, and also the self-imposed virtual commune they live in by having "no part of the world".
Another way to make the point: if they agree that Scientology is a cult, is it a cult for every member? Or only or those that live in the "Sea Org" or other commune?
Usually at that point the JW just gets angry and offended and ends the discussion.
~Q
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OUTLAW
How many days a week do they sit in thier windowless box called a Kingdom Hall and sit for hours doing nothing but listen to WBT$ Propaganda?..
....................LOL!!...OUTLAW -
Witness 007
We have "mental" communes in our mind, which keep us seperate from worldly people....some walls are not made with bricks and mortar!
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carla
The 'single leader' issue has been dealt with in many books about cults, a group of men can and certainly do act as one entity in the case of jw's.
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Lady Lee
When you define your own language it is easy to deny anything and everything
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cameo-d
Would anyone like to start an Ex-JW commune?
It doesn't have to be full time. People could come and go as they please. Just stay for awhile, meet and share, and help others who are exiting?
Do you think we could start a Ex-JW commune/halfway house?
....................LOL!!...OUTLAW