The 'C'-Word Debate: What Is a C-U-L-T
Whether a religious group like Jehovah's Witnesses qualifies for being defined as a cult is an on-going debate, even among former members of the religion. To some people, the word 'cult' conjures up images of strange-dressed people with shaved heads and tamborines chanting on a busy street-corner, or a small band of extremists holed up in a remote farm house, or the mass suicide of a group of religious zealots with a charismatic leader. Yet by other definitions, even Jesus and His disciples would ostensibly be described as a cult among the Jews in their day. Generally speaking, dictionary definitions of the word make little distinction in meaning from merely a 'sect' or any group of adherents to a particular belief system. Acknowledging this diverse perception about cults, The Watchtower Society responded to charges made by some anticult organizations that Jehovah's Witnesses are a 'cult' in the February 15, 1994 Watchtower. In an article titled: "Cults--What Are They?" on page 4, we read:
What Is a Cult?
The term "cult" is used loosely by many who may not be fully aware of its connotations. To prevent confusion, some theologians actually avoid using the term.
The World Book Encyclopedia explains that "traditionally, the term cult referred to any form of worship or ritual observance." By that criterion, all religious organizations could be classified as cults. However, in general usage today, the word "cult" has a different meaning. The same encyclopedia notes that "since the mid-1900's, publicity about cults has altered the meaning of the term. . . . Occasionally, anticult organizations and the media have referred to Jehovah's Witnesses as a cult. A number of recent newspaper articles lump the Witnesses with religious groups known for their questionable practices. But would it be accurate to refer to Jehovah's Witnesses as a small fringe religious group? Cult members often isolate themselves from friends, family, and even society in general. Is that the case with Jehovah's Witnesses? Are the Witnesses using deceptive and unethical techniques to recruit members?
Cult leaders are known to use manipulative methods to control the minds of their followers. Is there any evidence that Jehovah's Witnesses do this? Is their worship cloaked in secrecy? Are they following and venerating a human leader? Pointedly, are Jehovah's Witnesses a cult?
So it is in this "general usage today" meaning of the word that the Watchtower Society asks whether it is fair to label Jehovah's Witnesses as a 'cult.' (Jehovah's Witnesses should be as discretionary about the word 'apostate' as they are about the word 'cult'--but that is a topic for another time). It is not my objective in this little series draw a conclusion on the issue of whether Jehovah's Witnesses qualify as a bonafide 'cult,'. That depends on how you define it.
In two previous posts on this topic, we considered the experience of a former Moonie, Steve Hasson, from his book about it titled "Combatting Cult Mind Control." As mentioned, Hasson was himself a member of the Unification Church (better known as the "Moonies") for several years. After being taken from them and deprogrammed, he was motivated by the experience to make an exhaustive study of what he calls the "cult phenomenon" and has since become a prominent exit counselor and authority on the subject in America. On page 35 of his book he notes:
"Over nine hundred people--men, women, and children; white and black--lying face down in the mud at Jonestown, Guyana. Mention "cults" to someone and these are the image you'll evoke. . . Yet these images do not represent the overall destructive cult phenomenon as it has become today."
Nevertheless, on page 37 he states:
"Not all groups which might be called "cults" because they appear to incorporate strange beliefs and practices are necessarily destructive. A destructive cult distinguishes itself from a normal social or religious group by subjecting its members to persuasion or other damaging influences to keep them in the group."
Hasson identifies four qualifying components of mind control and stresses the point that "Mind control is not brainwashing." [p.55] On page 66 of his book, he outlines four components of mind control:
Behavior control, thought control, emotional control, and information control: each form of control has great power and influence on the human mind. Together, they form a totalistic web, which can manipulate even the strongest-minded people. In fact, it is the strongest-minded individuals who make the most involved and enthusiastic cult members.
To be fair, let us examine the very questions posed in the February 15, 1994 Watchtower article:
QUOTE: Would it be accurate to refer to Jehovah's Witnesses as a small fringe religious group?
Considering that the Watchtower organization began from a small congregation of "Bible Students" started by C.T. Russell in the late 1800s, which sprang out of a congregation of Second Adventists, we might ask: At what point in time or numbers did the Watchtower Society advance beyond the point of being a small fringe religious group? Was it before or after they were chosen by Jehovah God to be His channel of communication to the whole world through the pages of The Watchtower in "these 'last days' before Armageddon"?
QUOTE: Cult members often isolate themselves from friends, family, and even society in general. Is that the case with Jehovah's Witnesses?
Is it not true that Jehovah's Witnesses discourage their members--especially their children in school--from associating with "worldly" friends and relatives, saying Witnesses "are no part of this world"? (John 15:19) What is meant in the Reasoning From the Scriptures book, on page 189 under "Bad associations" where 1Cor.15:33 is cited to discourage friendship with anyone not among Jehovah's Witnesses? Are Jehovah's Witness children in school allowed to participate in the extra-curricular clubs and social activities, including sports?
QUOTE: Do the Witnesses use deceptive and unethical techniques to recruit members?
Perhaps it may depend on what one considers deceptive or unethical. If you were to out-right ask a Jehovah's Witness--who has either come to your door in the house-to-house "witnessing" work, or got your name as a survivor of someone deceased out of the obituaries--if you ask whether the Witnesses are there hoping to recruit you into Jehovah's Witnesses, they would usually deny it. However, ask them if it is true that their mission is to find "other sheep" to bring them into the Watchtower's fold before Armageddon, because everyone living except Jehovah's Witnesses will be destroyed--how might the average Witness respond? They will try to impart the impression that you have the hope of seeing your deceased loved ones very soon in a paradise earth--but will have to be pressed to admit this is only if you join them and survive Armageddon.
QUOTE: Cult leaders are known to use manipulative methods to control the minds of their followers. Is there any evidence that Jehovah's Witnesses do this?
Based on the information presented in the previous posts about the techniques of cult mind control, one must determine whether the Watchtower Society employs any number of these tactics to direct and bind the loyalty of Jehovah's Witness members to the organization.
QUOTE: Is their worship cloaked in secrecy?
According to the book Crisis of Conscience by former Governing Body member, Raymond Franz, most of their organizational policy making regarding doctrine, worship and disciplinary actions, including disfellowshipping procedures, is done in closed meetings of the Governing Body.
QUOTE: Are they following and venerating a human leader?
Does the Watchtower Society teach that the Governing Body and the "annointed" remnant are the collective mediator between the majority of Jehovah's Witnesses and Jesus Christ?
QUOTE: Pointedly, are Jehovah's Witnesses a cult?
Well, considering the The World Book Encyclopedia definition, various dictionaries, the Watchtower Society's definition, or that of recognized cult-awareness advocates, it would seem to depend on your preferred definition of the word 'CULT.'
Ros
"A religion that teaches lies cannot be true"--The Watchtower, 12/1/91 pg. 7
