How do you categorise the Society - Cult or High control religion

by UnshackleTheChains 49 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Simon

  I think they are high control, they do lots of cultish things but people's usual idea of cults is that it's a small group following an individual charismatic leader. They grew past that stage and large enough to drop the label but retail many of the traits, mostly the desire for control.

  But use of the word "cult" in wider society has watered down the original meaning. People describe Apple devotees as a cult and so on. So I think to many, the WTS, Mormons and Scientologists are as much cults as they are religions.

  Same for Catholics and Islam ... in fact, isn't any religion really just a cult?
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  UnshackleTheChains

  It's interesting reading everyone's answers here. From a personal perspective, I think watchtower has done a good job desensitizing their members to the word 'cult'. Perhaps, its articles they have written in which a question might be asked ' are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult? and then go on to give reasons backed up by scripture to say why they are wrongly accused of such.

  For me, 'High control religion' or as the ARC more recently described the organisation as a 'captive religion' seems to fit more aptly. I often view the organisation this way and use these categories when discussing the organisation.

  I do however take the points from many on here why 'cult' can also be applied.
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  OUTLAW

  I think watchtower has done a good job desensitizing their members to the word 'cult'.

  Absolutely..

  I have no problem telling JW`s their religion is a cult..

  I`ve done it many times,I get the same response..

  ..................................................................

  NO IT`S NOT..

  

  ................................................

  Well that was convincing..LOL!!
  
• 

  breakfast of champions

  OUTLAW -- It's more like NO IT'S NOT. . . It says so on jw.borg!
• 

  Heaven

  Cult because they use B.I.T.E. (Behaviour, Information, Thought, Emotion) control methods.
  

  I told my Father a few years ago:

  "Any organization that does not allow you to have anything to do with your family or friends who refuse to join said organization is a cult."

  He didn't like what I said but had no rebuttal.
  
• 

  tepidpoultry

  I've often thought there should be a second E in BITE

  An E for EXIT

  One should be able to leave a group at will

  without punishment

  Otherwise

  You're a cult

  :0)
• 

  Vidiot

  I think the line between "cult" and "authoritarian high-control religion" is pretty fuzzy.

  I prefer the latter, though...

  ...in no small part because when you break it down to its individual components, I think even the most staunch JW loyalist would be hard-pressed to deny the label, even though said label is - in its own way - even more damning than the former.
• 

  UnshackleTheChains

  Lol outlaw...

  There was a dude in my hall many years ago with that same greacy smile 😀
• 

  Vidiot

  @ Unchackle...

  Oh yeah, I met more than one over the years, too.

  Funny how often they were "anointed", huh? :smirk:
• 

  Vidiot

  I'm in a cult.

  It's for movie/model-building/rock-music devotees.

  It's called "Moviemodelrockianism", or "MMR".

  It has one member... me.

  No one else is allowed to join.

  Mostly because I don't feel like organizing, having meetings, or sharing.