I was describing Jehovah's Witnesses to a family member who had no idea whatsoever about them. I may be straightforward and describe things in terms I have learned since reading about cults, but I was not over the top in any way. I was simply stating the facts in a way that did not try to put any positive spin on anything.
My family member said, "So they are basically the Amish but with televisions and electricity." I wasn't quite there with her, so I asked for an explanation.
"There are some Amish who would like to be isolated from the rest of the world, they generally think outsiders are the scum of the earth, but they put a big smile on their faces and go out there and welcome outsiders to buy their pies, baskets, quilts, furniture, and the like. They don't tolerate any independence in their ranks and they shun anyone who doesn't follow their rules."
I thought further about this. JW's put that big smile on their face and welcome outsiders to "buy" the literature. Other than the recruiting factor, it is similar to the Amish.
Also, community is everything to the Amish. They do isolate themselves when they are not selling their pies. Not all Amish work with/for other Amish. They work for outsiders often. Like JW's, they sponge off of society and allow others to protect them, fight wars for them, establish law and order and community services for them, then despise those that provide all this for them.
Young people tend to leave the Amish, just as with the JW's.
Like all comparisons, this one isn't perfect. Still, it would save time to tell people that JW's are like the Amish, but with electricity. They have dress codes and behaviour codes and don't tolerate members straying from the rules.