This is why no one but furries like furries.
Ultimately, cult behavior will always be the litmus for what a cult is, whether the primary deity be Jesus or Vishnu. I'd love to say my experience was unique but that doesn't bear out given the plethora of testimony you can find out there. My grandmother herself was disfellowshipped when my grandfather refused to join the JW along with her. He said they were a cult then and maintained that stance until his death, though he just said it because they seemed to demand everyone think exactly alike.
No organization regardless of their views of Jesus should ever encourage a member to sever all ties with family over the family's views or refusing to join. No organization is above judgement, either, but questioning of elders is explicitly prohibited.
Even a group with "perfect doctrine" can be a cult if they conduct themselves as such.
ENOUGH SERIOUSNESS! MORE MEMES!
No speech is ever truly free, at least I've learned that from my propensity to use words to start shit.
The world can barely handle gentle suggestions, let alone the verbal maelstrom I unleash whenever I get a bug up my ass.
I am not "always right" and I never will be. But I try my best to inform opinions on two things: Data and "live and let live". If people are doing things I want no part of, I don't jump down their throats about it unless it's encroaching upon the rights of others.
I also shoot straight and refuse to gloss over details, especially damning ones.
That said; TAX THE CHURCH.
"Celebrity" as a word enables Harvey Weinstein levels of fuckery. It's the worst cultural phenomenon.
That's awesome. I want to go back. I had an amazing time.
Oh man, you're not aware of their practices, eh? Disfellowshipping is real. It rips families apart. It's also one of the pillars of what defines a group as a cult. It's also one of the ways the group as a whole suppresses allegations of sexual assault.
If you're ever by Cancun; This water park is better than every water park in the US.
If you're ever in Thailand I want to encourage you to pick up a case of this delicious elixir. It'll only set you back like $6, but it's delicious.
I have an intimate awareness of house cults operate due to growing up in a family of Jehovah's Witnesses. Fucking Waco and Ruby Ridge all wrapped into one, except JW's don't stockpile weapons. Their primary weapons are propaganda and breaking up families.
My grandparents lived next to a whole family of them, and she encouraged me to go over there and play with them because they were "deeply spiritual people" and it's exactly as creepy as it sounds. 😂