Quote Originally Posted by Saraide View Post
*snip* Your cartoonish depiction of what you think a cult is is irrelevant. Please stop trying to drag others into this cult if you cant leave yourself.
My cartoonish depiction? I simply explained the facts why the faith itself cannot meet that the definition of a cult as set forth in secular sources (not my own). Anyone can leave the religion when they want and will not be bothered anymore about it. And I am not trying to drag anyone into anything. I just do not like misinformation spread. There is too much of it already and one of the reasons for the hate.

Quote Originally Posted by Midareyukki View Post
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. *snip*.
You are correct about the set criteria of a cult and then there are religions. I am sure that many see JWs as being strict. Living fully by Bible principles is not easy in this world today. But there are misunderstandings about health and such. No, JWs will not take any whole blood products, but will accept many non whole blood alternatives and things like cell salvage machines. JWs will also take vaccines. I just had my flu shot and am about to go get my COVID booster. Regarding blood and JWs, it is because of this that so many breakthroughs in non-blood surgeries for everyone have become so successful.

I apologize to anyone if I have offended them with my posts. I agree it has been a strange thread, but it began as a weird one. I started out explaining the number 666 as it is in the Biblical sense (which is what the topic began on), but then misinformation about JWs was posted and I just corrected it. I think anyone would defend something they cared about if incorrect information was being given out about it. Thanks for your responses.