Notos 666

[Midareyukki]

False. Jehovah’s Witnesses have none of the characteristics of being a cult. There is no ‘charismatic leader’ with no accountability. No one is paid for any work and there is clear openness when it comes to anything pertaining to money. All meetings are open to the public. Nothing secret or hidden. If a person wants to leave the religion, it is very easy for them to do so and no one will bother them again. No ‘exit’ or support organization is needed.
(...)
So to conclude:
Jehovah’s Witnesses are most certainly not a cult. That is a falsehood spread by those who are either misinformed or who wish to slander the religion for whatever reason. If it is something that is not for you personally, that is all well and good. I hope you find what is right for you. But please only state true facts when talking about JWs. There is too much wrong information around that makes people have a groundless negative viewpoint. Thanks and take care.

Yeah, there's a very specific set of rules for something to be considered a cult. And even within that, you still have people who disagree (Branch Davidians :x). Jehova's Witnesses are no different a religion than Mormonism or Catholicism. It is a religion, through and through.

They do have some behaviours which can provide a negative viewpoint though, but "uncomfortable behaviours" don't translate to cult. And this isn't just my experience with Jehova's Witnesses (my best friend in middle school was one and her parents were ridiculously strict), but the experience of many that have come forward about it, including also some core beliefs which get in the way of basic modern survivability and health. The one I tend to see thrown around the most is being against vaccines because they're injecting stuff into their blood. But they aren't the only ones, and a lot of other religions have such experiences as well. My overall outlook on them is the same as my outlook toward all religions: common sense, personal and community wellbeing, and science above superstition and dogma. Because so many people forego those, and they not only harm themselves, they harm their loved ones. Religious Trauma exists, and while, again, it happens in every religion, Jehovah's Witnesses tend to be the ones I see suffering from it the most where I come from. And I do mean "all" religions. Not just those that stem from the Abrahamic ones. So if you're Hindu, Buddhist, Pagan, whatever, I'd say the same to you.

I will say though, that I don't know enough about JH to know whether such behaviours mare a local thing or if they're widespread and a part of the community. I just know what I see and hear from people around me. And I wouldn't tell them to stop their worship, I'd just tell them to really consider their life choices a bit as to not endanger themselves and others. I'm sure their God would understand.