Eustace,
Part of the reason JW's and the WTBTS is considered a cult is due to the fact that there is no 'honorable' way to leave the organization. Personally I feel that the word 'cult' has a great deal of stigma attached to it, but it's a quite a bit different from what the reasoning book has to say. One of the big earmarks is emotional control over an individual, including the disfellowshipping and subsequent shunning of former members of an organization.
Because many elders within the organization will disfellowship 'faders' and inactive ones because of 'brazen conduct' it's kind of proof in the pudding that it is a destructive organization. Further, (and please don't think I'm trying to negate your very appropriate upset by me saying this) the simple fact that you are upset gives credence to the idea that the JW organization is a cult, as years later former cult members will deal with anxiety and upset caused by memories/contact with the cult.
Steven Hassan in his BITE model of cults put this in under the Emotional control heading:
d. Never a legitimate reason to leave. From the group’s perspective,
people who leave are: “weak;” “undisciplined;”
“unspiritual;” “worldly;” “brainwashed
by family, counselors;” seduced by money, sex, rock and roll.
If it becomes known that you're living a normal life (holidays, involvement in the community, etc) and the elders in your congregation are not some of the few liberals out there, they will disfellowship inactive ones.
Honestly I don't know if I've been disfellowshipped yet. As a follow up question, perhaps, If I moved and changed my phone number, but still work in the 'territory' will I be visited and notified if I have been disfellowshipped?
TL;DR:
JW's are considered a destructive cult, elders can and will disfellowship because of policies.
