John Davis - Why are you calling this an academic article? She does not reference any studies or other academic resources other than dictionaries. She did not indicate her academic credentials nor a thesis, nor was it published in a peer-reviewed journal. Her assertions are correct but this is not an academic article it is an opinion piece.
John, I did not call this an academic article. I stated "this is how many academic articles are written."
Sarah Mills cites a number of references in her article, including: mental health councillor Steven Hassan (both his book and an article he wrote for the American Psychological Association), psychiatrist Robert J. Lifton, and Dr Arthur Dole a professor in psychology.
Mills also refers to both The Watchtower and Awake! magazine but we can dismiss them easily.
Mills lists her credentials if you click on the link to her name. She is a journalist.