Greetings:
I had no idea that the resistance, governance, and duplicity I am experiencing as a Jehovah Witness is actually part of a bigger behavioral issue that permeates the entire Jehovah Witness culture.
I was troubled by the fact that many persons who have been crushed by the unfair practices of JW leadership described themselves as former members of the JW cult, and, or, apostates. The latter bothered me to a greater degree because I felt the word apostate has been overused by JW's leadership and members. Anyone who disagrees with anything the governing body does or says is assigned the label an apostate. I was concerned that persons who have been already treated unfairly were accepting that label.
In terms of individuals who referred to the organization as a cult, I felt I needed more information to understand why they felt the term applied to the JW religion. The next step for me was to find a credible resource on cults and cult behavior. My first stop was the Federal Bureau of investigations, I figured if anyone would have a good, impartial, resource on cults it would be them.
I found an article in the FBI's Bulletin, September, 2001: Interacting with “Cults”A Policing Model, page 17. The entire issue can be downloaded here: https://leb.fbi.gov/2000-pdfs/leb-september-2000
_______________________________________________________
Below I will highlight some of the key features that were helpful:
In sociological terms, a "cult" may be defined as a movement that is foreign to the culture in which it lives.(2) Thus, Americans would define a "cult" as a group, generally with a religious foundation, whose beliefs and practices are unfamiliar to the majority of U.S. citizens.
Defining a group as a "cult" generally has much more to do with the way society perceives the group than it does with the characteristics indigenous to the group itself.
Most scholars of religion avoid the word "cult" altogether because it carries with it a set of negative connotations: "cult" leaders are con artists; "cult" followers are brainwashed sheep; "cult" beliefs are bizarre or ludicrous; and "cult" movements are dangerous, tending toward suicide or violence.(4) These scholars instead refer to cults as "new religious movements" or "NRMs" because the majority of "cults" are young religious movements still in their first generations.
Brainwashing stands as the most common allegation leveled against NRMs. Even the existence of brainwashing, however, is debated fiercely among behavioral scientists.(9) Clearly, in cases where movements physically coerce inductees (e.g., depriving members of food or preventing them from freely leaving), definite grounds exist for law enforcement concern. In the majority of instances, though, NRMs try to attract members through the same methods used by missionaries in mainstream churches or secular movements. NRM members may approach strangers or distribute pamphlets in the hope of enticing the uninitiated to attend a series of classes or lectures about the group's belief system.
_______________________________________________________
Having gained a good understanding of the definition of a cult from reading the entire article. I focused on cult behaviors Tips and/or Red Flags. The Cult Education Institute's website offered useful information:
Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe http://culteducation.com/warningsigns.html
1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
7. There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.
8. Followers feel they can never be "good enough".
9. The group/leader is always right.
10. The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.
_______________________________________________________
Ten warning signs regarding people involved in/with a potentially unsafe group/leader. http://culteducation.com/warningsigns.html
1. Extreme obsessiveness regarding the group/leader resulting in the exclusion of almost every practical consideration.
2. Individual identity, the group, the leader and/or God as distinct and separate categories of existence become increasingly blurred. Instead, in the follower's mind these identities become substantially and increasingly fused--as that person's involvement with the group/leader continues and deepens.
3. Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as "persecution".
4. Uncharacteristically stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms, cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior.
5. Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to think independently or analyze situations without group/leader involvement.
6. Hyperactivity centered on the group/leader agenda, which seems to supercede any personal goals or individual interests.
7. A dramatic loss of spontaneity and sense of humor.
8. Increasing isolation from family and old friends unless they demonstrate an interest in the group/leader.
9. Anything the group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or harmful.
10. Former followers are at best-considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences. They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.
_______________________________________________________
Ten signs of a safe group/leader. http://culteducation.com/warningsigns.html
1. A safe group/leader will answer your questions without becoming judgmental and punitive.
2. A safe group/leader will disclose information such as finances and often offer an independently audited financial statement regarding budget and expenses. Safe groups and leaders will tell you more than you want to know.
3. A safe group/leader is often democratic, sharing decision making and encouraging accountability and oversight.
4. A safe group/leader may have disgruntled former followers, but will not vilify, excommunicate and forbid others from associating with them.
5. A safe group/leader will not have a paper trail of overwhelmingly negative records, books, articles and statements about them.
6. A safe group/leader will encourage family communication, community interaction and existing friendships and not feel threatened.
7. A safe group/leader will recognize reasonable boundaries and limitations when dealing with others.
8. A safe group/leader will encourage critical thinking, individual autonomy and feelings of self-esteem.
9. A safe group/leader will admit failings and mistakes and accept constructive criticism and advice.
10. A safe group/leader will not be the only source of knowledge and learning excluding everyone else, but value dialogue and the free exchange of ideas
_______________________________________________________
Lastly, I found an extensive compendium on news stories and other content on Jehovah Witness on the Cult Education Institute at this link: http://www.culteducation.com/group/1267-jehovah-s-witnesses.html
It includes the following:
1. Historical background
2. Personal Stories
3. Jehovah Witnesses And The Law
4.Sexual Abuse 5. Witnesses And Blood
6. Jehovah Witnesses And Holdings
Thank you for the opportunity to contribute this post.