IMO, wts is a cult. They may not be on the same level as Jonestown or Charles Manson's group but not all cults are of this extreme nature.
It is true that not ALL members follow WT$ precisely and not all members get punished equality. Now all members fall into the same category as we all still had some identity within the Borg. They have a "leader" which may be anonymous per se, but can any JW go and say publicly that GB are full of shit, or even state publicly that some teachings are totally false? No, otherwise you will be talking to 3 stooges in the backroom. GB knows best, they are God's representatives on earth...... We also have to consider the culture that we live in - free society. While I can understand Islam can be compared to a cult, their society doesn't allow them that freedom just like Communist societies didn't allow people freedoms of expression. In those societies some organizations take liberties they wouldn't get away with in the western culture.
wts does ask for money, it may not do so face to face but they do imply it in many ways. Have you ever sat through a part where they want to raise money for whatever cause and need a show of hands? Everyone puts up their hand out of peer pressure and you have that guilt follow you to put your share at the end of the month. When a group instills guilt and fear in you, you apply the counsel to yourself and not to the one sitting besides you. In fact, I heard this from a platform on several occasion that the counsel is for us personally and to apply it to ourselves and not worry about what our neighbor is doing. We are told to "personally" (from platform and magazines but not face to face), to support the "kingdom" work, support KH, publications if we take them (even though they are "free"), if householder takes publication but doesn't contribute we should cover the costs because these aren't free. WTS has yearly reminders how cheerful givers are happy by donating: cash, stocks, gold, property...... Sure, not all of us done so to the same degree but the thought was always there and many times guilt caused us to donate. I know I didn't donate a lot but it was more than I would have donated if I went to a Catholic Church (I grew up RC).
As for chanting, well, we have repeated the same BS every meeting. May not have been outright chanting like some small cult groups do but what did each and every meeting have in common? We are living in the last days, to survive we have to be doing WTS Jehovah's work to the best of our abilities, and those who don't won't make it and will die with the rest of the world who are not JW(implied). This mantra has been repeated over and over so that each active member grows to believe this BS an when they do something wrong, the guilt gets them so they try to return to the wts' acceptable way of following orders.
Physical isolation, like everything else, it's not absolute but you were being made feel guilty about associating with the outsiders. Do you remember 1Tim 3:16 "Bad association spoils useful habits......" Yup, the people at school or at work weren't your friends, they were you associates! That's one of the most fucked up things I ever heard when I was newly recruited that all my childhood friends were not my friends but my associates because they can not help me make it into the new system. We were constantly reminded on this, so while not physically isolated living on some farm, we were isolated from the world. This applies to those 99% believes who are following the WTS while the other 1% would be those living the "double life" or are apostates trapped in it for the family. I don't recall the David Koresh's followers were all lived together in a compound though many died together in the end. Can you imagine a similar situation with JWs taking place? I sure can. Remember, GB are Christ's representatives, KH or assembly halls may be our refuge during big A?? There is 7 numb nuts running the show, what if they don't replace the ones who die and end up with a couple of real crazy members who tell JWs the end has arrived and to go to KHs and wait for further instruction? How many would do so and what could a possible reaction be of authorities? Could the situation escalate to the point JWs were thinking that Gog of Magog is trying to attack Jehovah's people.... Over reaction could lead to Waco standoff on a larger scale. JWs for most part, primarily believe GB through isolation ideology, control of information and instilled guilt and fear.
Would JW's die for GB? JWs are willing to kill their kids because of wts' interpretation, so how much would it take for GB to use some scripture to tell JWs to keep GB alive by any means necessary if needed?
Just few of the points why I view wts a cult
