... and the debate rages on
After being busy all day, I check back on this thread *phew* good debate!
First of all, I agree with Hyghlandyr that as a general definition religion = cult
The context of the word cult in this discussion is a bit different. Several definitions have been given, and analyzed quite well. At this point, the debate seems to be centering around some of the finer points of said definitions.
These are my arguments for debating, not slamming any peeps. If I am challenging your opinion, it is for purposes of enlightenment. I certainly have learned a thing or two by reading the thread thus far.
I would like to address
'coercion' and comparison to the 'moonies' as stated in this paragraph:
one poster said:
And I'm defining cult in the sense of being like Hari Karishnas, Moonies, or commune-type organizations. JWs are
free to leave at any time and aren't coerced to join or stay.
coercion
\Co*er"cion\, n. [L. coercio, fr. coercere. See
Coerce
.] 1. The act or process of coercing.
2. (Law) The application to another of either physical or moral force. When the force is physical, and cannot be resisted, then the act produced by it is a nullity, so far as concerns the party coerced. When the force is moral, then the act, though voidable, is imputable to the party doing it, unless he be so paralyzed by terror as to act convulsively. At the same time coercion is not negatived by the fact of submission under force. ``Coactus volui'' (I consented under compulsion) is the condition of mind which, when there is volition forced by coercion, annuls the result of such coercion. --Wharton.
| Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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So, the legal definition includes moral force as coercion.
Having been raised in this cult, I can tell you that the coercion begins at a very early age. The child is completely isolated from the world until the age when it is deemed appropriate for the child to join in field ministry.
For me this was age 4. Yes, I was reading and writing and preaching door-to-door at AGE 4. I didn?t start school for 2 years after this, at age 6. Don't tell me this doesn't happen cause it was my life.
School was a necessary evil perpetrated by Satan. There was no choice ? the law said I had to be in school till I was a certain age. At age 14, I was taken out of school so that I could pursue the Ministry. Mind you, by age 14, I was already half-way through high school.
The school said I was gifted, both intellectually and musically. But no education was allowed, I had to preach the word. No piano playing allowed, I had to preach the word.
The elders in the congo even tried to get my jr. high school to change their curriculum because they felt the books that were required reading for English, notably "The Other" by Michael Korda, and "A Clockwork Orange" were SATANIC. (both important works of fiction)
When I stopped believing, it came with a bang. I lost my faith. Then I went into a still unexplained 3-month long semi-coma. My mind was broken, it just shut down. I was a vegetable, lying in a bed slipping in and out of consciousness and being kept alive by mom, who spooned enough liquids into me to keep me alive.
Well, I guess any LURKERS can figure me out now. Oh well, then BITE ME
After that, I completely rejected the teachings of JW. I no longer believed in the doctrines, in prayer, or G*d himself. My logic took over, and I never looked back.
Now here?s the scary part. Over 20 years later, I was in the emergency room bleeding to death, and could not sign the consent form to have a blood transfusion. I was frozen in terror ? my hand would not sign the form. So I gave over power of attorney to my domestic partner, cause he would sign it for me (just a RC boyo). If that?s not moral coercion through mind control, then what is?
As for the Moonies. Well, you meet them. They love bomb you. Invite you to the compound. Once there, you undergo intense programming. When they feel you have had enough indoctrination (ie, they are now in control of your mind), they will send you out to gather funds, make converts. These people are not being kept physically captive ? they can walk away anytime they want, just like the JWs. Once again, moral coercion.
So, sistahs and brudders, that?s my ?talk?
A brief story. About 10 years ago, someone told me they thought JW was a cult. I thought that was going a bit far, you know, extremist, alarmist thinking. So I went to the local library, pulled every Cult Reference Book from the stacks, and started reading.
There they were, in every book, JWs ? right next to the Moonies (Unification Church), Jonestown, Koresh, to name a few. I was shocked, to say the least. But I read every one, and finally came to my own conclusion - JW is a CULT and an extremely dangerous one at that.
We can debate this till the cows home, but I urge those of you who are truly interested in the question to do your own research from reliable sources that have no stake in the argument, with an open mind. You may find it very enlightening. Then again, you may dismiss it as claptrap.
One note of caution: I stayed away from research coming from religious centres and focussed on books written by clinicians, academics and those recognized by the psychiatric community as experts. This was to ensure that I was not reading material that was religiously biased..
my two ... just food for thought
tal