Occult = "The term is also used as a label given to a number of magical organisations or orders, the teachings and practices taught by them, and to a large body of current and historical literature and spiritual philosophy related to this subject ." - Wikipedia
Cult = "Scholars and non-academic researchers who use the term do so from explicitly critical perspectives which focus on the relationship between cult groups and the individual people who join them. These perspectives share the assumption that some form of coercive persuasion or mind control is used to recruit and maintain members by suppressing their ability to reason, think critically, and make choices in their own best interest." - Taken out of context, just as the WBTS do. Source - Wikipedia
Now, let's get to the root of why I created this thread.
When I first read (late 2008) that the organisation behind the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Watch Tower, Bible & Tract Society (WTBS), were coined as a cult, I dismissed it outright. I had made up my mind that I was leaving the organisation at that time, therefore it wasn't as if I was brainwashed into thinking that the organisation couldn't possibly be a cult, or was I?
Since fully leaving, I have been having mind break-through's. This happens to ones like us, especially if the teachings of the WBTS were embedded from birth. As our minds have broken free, some of the teachings swirl around in our subconscious and sometimes seep into our conscious mind.
As I said, I have been having break-through's, or flashbacks if you will. Today, I remembered various (notice the plural) talks given by elders in relation to cults. What surprised me though, was that I remembered that when the elder mentioned the word "cult", he also mentioned the word "occult" within the same sentence or paragraph.
Why do this? Both words may sound alike, but sounding and being are two very distinct things. As I have detailed above, "cult" & "occult" share two very seperate labels.
I haven't done any research into this coincidence. Maybe it's just that, a coincidence. I do find it strange though, that even though I hated the WBTS, I still got angry at the fact that it was being called a cult, for (and here's the crux of this thread) "the Jehovah's Witnesses weren't demon possessed".
Ah, there you have it. By mentioning these two words; words that sound alike, our mind, understood the two to be inseparable.
I spoke with King Agag today about this and he to remembers that both "cult" & "occult" were used together during talks. Do any of you remember this also? Are there any other words that they, the cult, also known as the WBTS, used/use?
I am sure there is a psychological term used to describe this form of mind control, does anyone know what it is? I recently ordered the book, Combating Cult Mind Control: The Number 1 Best-selling Guide to Protection, Rescue and Recovery from Destructive Cults, by Steven Hassan (notice how he put "The Number 1 Best-selling Guide..." in the books title....this guy is clever as that's a form of mind-control right there!) and can't wait to read it.
Kind regards
RAB
Have a very Merry Christmas and an exceedingly good New Year!
