G'day V,
I don't think my comments were that the SDAs are a cult; I was addressing the question which is "are they no better than being a JW?" and on that basis I commented.
I repeat, mainstream christians seem to me (see, I observe too! ) to be just as blind to the error found in the SDAs as they are in the Dubs or the Mormons.
Part of that blind response is to be misled by their smiling faces or their conditional "love".
In the hell hole of Pol Pot's Cambodia, there were examples of peasants being seduced by his winsome smile. (See the book "The Pol Pot Regime" written by historian Ben Kiernan) We all know what happened later!
My point is that tyrants portray themselves as genial benefactors and our being aware of this should guide us in how we viewgroups or organisations.
So, it matters not one hoot how friendly and pleasant are the SDA relatives. Yes, Mrs Ozzie and I have had friendly relations with SDA people too, but it's quite irrelevant. It's whether the code of belief is valid is what matters.
My concern is that searching people may simply be jumping from "the frying pan into the fire" by leaving the dubs and then joining up with some other controlling and/or exclusive group.
Cheers, Ozzie