I'm happy to concede that the word "cult" is a mostly subjective and somewhat 'damaged' bit of vocabulary. It is commonly ~ but not always ~ used to express a gut feeling that a group is perceived negatively or with some suspicion and circumspection, or at least unsympathetically. I will leave the er... absurdly sweeping 'it means that you're saying someone is your enemy' stuff to Philokalia.
Whether a group is perceived this way - more often than not, in discourse like ours here - depends on how its members and their purpose fare in the face of biased or subjective scrutiny of [1] their dogma, [2] their carefully cultivated and self-reinforcing sense of "otherness" and exceptionalism, and [3] the resulting intellectual and interpersonal behaviour.
I also concede that I think the word "cult" is of somewhat limited efficacy in a discussion between people who disagree over [1], [2] and [3], aside from how it either signals the disapproval [in the mind of the person using the word] or it is shorthand for whatever conclusion one has reached after taking a look at [1], [2] and [3].
That's my take on the use of the word in our context.
There is also the take on cults ~ more objective and academic than mine, I think ~ found here: http://www.icsahome.com/ where they explain that the International Cultic Studies Association is a global network of people concerned about psychological manipulation and abuse in cultic and other high control environments. And there's lots of interesting material to peruse.
Their library of articles is here: https://www.icsahome.com/groups/jehovahswitness
@fmf saidI like this definition from Oxford:
I'm happy to concede that the word "cult" is a mostly subjective and somewhat 'damaged' bit of vocabulary. It is commonly ~ but not always ~ used to express a gut feeling that a group is perceived negatively or with some suspicion and circumspection, or at least unsympathetically.
"A relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister."
@galveston75 saidWhether or not the fisherman's fish is rotten is not for the fisherman to say.
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1994121
-Removed-So I see Laurel & Hardy have shown up... Lol.
Just like clock work the two of you always revert to this some old smear topic when you can't come up with the proof I ask for on those so called factual lies you two come up with at least once a year. Aren't you getting tired of this yet? Yawn!!!
(- Having no fringe - one is either in or out. )
Not true at all. No one is out unless Jehovah tells that to us.
(- Strictly adhered to set of religious beliefs, doctrines, tenets and rules)
And what is wrong with that? The opposite one who does not adhere to the rules in the Bible and does as they see fit is not a Christian.
- High threat of coercion for non compliance of above.
Never heard that one from the stage or at all ever. If this were true one would think I would have heard that joke of a statement by you in my 64 years, huh?
(- Claims of exclusivity of spiritual knowledge, wisdom or insight)
What's wrong with that? Don't you do that too here at RHP?
- Differentiated and acclaimed version of the authorised religious text
Not different, but have just gone in a cleaned up the mess and inaccuracies that have been allowed to exist in it for centuries.
(- Strong heritage and deep reverence of a founding leader)
Jesus is our leader. No man is. I can't even tell you the name of the president of the WTS at this moment. So know he or any man is not our leader............
@galveston75 said"(- Having no fringe - one is either in or out. )
So I see Laurel & Hardy have shown up... Lol.
Just like clock work the two of you always revert to this some old smear topic when you can't come up with the proof I ask for on those so called factual lies you two come up with at least once a year. Aren't you getting tired of this yet? Yawn!!!
(- Having no fringe - one is either in or out. )
Not true at all. ...[text shortened]... name of the president of the WTS at this moment. So know he or any man is not our leader............
Not true at all. No one is out unless Jehovah tells that to us."
So, "Jehovah" tells you who to shun?