Why is it that you take such offense to the claim that the JW religion is a cult? They say the same of us evangelical and Catholic christians. Nothing personal.
What makes for a cult? Certainly control. You are forbidden to "think independently" (mind control); you are perscribed what medical treatment you can have (body control); and rank-and-file witnesses are taught that without a good-standing with the Organization they cannot have eternal life (spiritual control).
Another "quality" of this cult would be its dishonesty. It can get away with flip-flops on any given issue, without so much as dealing with the consequences. (This reminds me of how you deal with issues.) If, for instance, a person who accepted, say, a cornea (sp?) transplant at the time transplantation was deemed by the Organization to be "canibalism" would have been subjected to that painful process that you seem to ignor....disfellowshipping.
That same person would not so much as receive an apology when the Org. changed their minds and allowed transplants. Sad, too, are the folks that did OBEY the Org., thinking that they were OBEYING God, and refused the transplant and went blind. Kenyata...just because all you know is what you've seen does not make informed.
This is more than just my "opinion". You are every bit as duped as your mother, except that she perhaps is living the life she thinks is correct. Getting a rise out of you is my goal here. Out of that emotion you might "THINK", rather than parrot the Witness crooked line of reason.
"Disgusting and degrading" remarks about JWs? Not quite. The focus must be on the leadership that enslaves its victims, not the victims themselves. Hitler was both disgusting and degrading, and any comments about the JW religion is likewise a horrible thing to have to say. Does that mean I should not say anything. That would be worse, would it not?
I'm sure some German folks were offended by calling their beloved leader nasty but accurate names, such as "Murderer." All cults are the same in that sense.
AGAPE