According to Wikipedia’s definition ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_group), a hate group is an organized group or movement whose primary purpose is to promote animosity, hatred, hostility or violence toward members of a race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc.… The Southern Poverty Law Center explains that inclusion of a group in the list does not imply a group advocates or engages in violence or other criminal activity.
Under the category of religious hate groups, Westboro Baptist Church was cited for promoting hatred toward homosexuals. Creativity Movement and Aryan Nation were mentioned as promoting racial hatred.
Is it a stretch to categorize the Watchtower’s rhetoric toward “apostates” as that of a hate group? Keeping in mind that promoting or engaging in violence is not required to be identified as a hate group, does the constant degradation of other religious philosophies, organizations and adherents constitute hate speech?