The Watchtower Society Is Definitely Not A Cult

Combatting Cult Mind Control : The #1 Best-selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cultsby Steven HassanISBN: 0892813113
In his book, he uses a model called the "BITE" model: The "BITE" model of a cult is: Behaviour Control/Information Control/Thought Control/Emotional Control. Under each type of control, he lists identifying traits to determine if your group is being manipulated with any of the controls listed above (1-4). What I have done is taken each type of control (#'s 1-4 above) and taken each identifying trait under each one and supported each trait with quotes from the Society's publications.
The identifying traits of a cult from the book are in RED and the Society's quotes are in GREEN and BLACK.
Behavior Control
Most groups have a stringent schedule for members. There is always something to do in these groups. It has its own distinctive set of behaviours that bind it together.
KM 1/95 "Always Plenty To Do
"We must prepare for and attend weekly congregation meetings. We are encouraged not to let a week go by without having some share in the field ministry. Sufficient time must be regularly set aside for personal and family Bible study. Elders and ministerial servants have many congregation assignments. At times we are asked to help worthy ones in need. Occasionally, some of us may feel overwhelmed by all that we have to do. Yet, the busiest people can be among the happiest if balance and proper perspective are maintained.6 There is an added benefit in having plenty to do. When we are busy pursuing a healthy spiritual routine, time seems to go by much faster. Realizing that each day that passes brings us closer to the new world, we gladly accept the full life we enjoy now. We also realize the wisdom of staying busy, inasmuch as we have less time to get involved in futile worldly pursuits.
w94 9/1 p 13 Despite Being Made of Dust, Push Ahead!
20. Now, during the concluding years of Satan's world system, is not the time to slow down, not as far as Kingdom preaching is concerned and not as far as developing more fully the fruitage of God?s spirit is concerned. In both areas we have "plenty to do." Now is the time to push ahead because we know our "labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58) Jehovah will sustain us, for of him David said: Never will he allow the righteous one to totter. (Psalm 55:22) What a joy to know that Jehovah is permitting us personally to share in the grandest work imperfect human creatures have ever been assigned to do?and this despite our being made of dust!
Watchtower July 1, 1943 pages 204-6
Righteous Requirements
The territory now being covered one to two times in six months could very easily be covered four to six times in the same period if everyone took his Kingdom responsibilities seriously.
Constant reminding it's Followers of the authority of the Leaders
Watchtower 2001 August 1 p. 14 Make Your Advancement Manifest
8. First, since "oneness" is to be observed, a mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and "the faithful and discreet slave." By regularly taking in the spiritual food provided "at the proper time"--through Christian publications, meetings, assemblies, and conventions--we can be sure that we maintain "oneness" with fellow Christians in faith and knowledge.--Matthew 24:45.
Watchtower 1983 January 15 p.27
Armed for the Fight Against Wicked Spirits
Fight Against Independent Thinking
Really, can we get along without the direction of God's organization?" No, we cannot!
The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1981
We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the faithful and discreet slave' organization.
Watchtower July 1, 1943 pages 204-6
Righteous Requirements
There is only one organization on earth today fulfilling the righteous requirements outlined in this commission from the Lord. The Society, represented by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, is the only one.
Obedience to human representation is the most important lesson they teach.
The Watchtower November 15, 1981, p.26"
Your attitude toward the anointed is the determining factor whether you go into everlasting cutting off or everlasting life.
"The Watchtower December 1, 1981 p.21"
Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication (the Society - my notes) that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do."
The Watchtower, February 1, 1952, pp. 79-80
We should eat and digest and assimilate what is set before us, without shying away from parts of the food because it may not suit the fancy of our mental taste...We should meekly go along with the Lord's theocratic organization and wait for further clarification, rather than balk at the first mention of a thought unpalatable to us and proceed to quibble and mouth our criticisms and opinions as though they were worth more than the slave's provision of spiritual food.
Theocratic ones will appreciate the Lord's visible organization and not be so foolish as to put against Jehovah's channel their own human reasoning and sentiment and personal feelings.
Controlled behavior makes the group feel particularly spiritual and appear spiritual to outsiders
g94 7/22 p27 Where Parents and Children Listen and Learn Together
An elementary-school teacher, saw something different at the convention. Those children were sitting up straight for long periods of time. And what is more, they were holding their pencils tight in their hands and taking notes, writing characters correctly despite having to write on their laps. The Witness children are different from other children, even at school, in their way of speaking and listening and in their dress and grooming.? She then added: I think it is because of their daily training, their praising Jehovah, and their families working together toward one end.w02 11/1 p12 Maintain Fine Conduct The success of most of Jehovah?s Witnesses in maintaining exemplary standards is seen in comments about them that have been published over the years. For example, Il Tempo of Italy reported: People who have Jehovah's Witnesses as workmates describe them as honest workers, so convinced of their faith that they may appear obsessed by it; nevertheless, they command respect for their moral integrity.? The Herald of Buenos Aires, Argentina, said: Jehovah?s Witnesses have proved through the years to be hardworking, sober, thrifty, and God-fearing citizens. The Russian scholar Sergei Ivanenko stated: ?Jehovah?s Witnesses are known throughout the world as impeccably law-abiding people and particularly for their scrupulous attitude toward paying taxes. The manager of a facility in Zimbabwe used by Jehovah?s Witnesses for their convention said: I see some Witnesses picking up paper and cleaning toilets. The showgrounds are left cleaner than before. Your teenagers are principled. I wish the whole world was full of Jehovah?s Witnesses.?
The leaders link their control of behavior to "special" spiritual insight of scripture.
The Watchtower; July 1, 1973, pp. 402
Only this organization functions for Jehovah's purpose and to his praise. To it alone God's Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book.
The Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967. p. 587.
Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible.
If a person has trouble conforming (especially young ones) they may be urged to become more like an older group member; to follow the leaders' "example".
Awake! May 22, 1998 p. 13 Young People Ask . . .Who Should Be My Role Model?How a Good Role Model Can Help YouBut usually it?s not hard to figure out who in the congregation are truly ?walking in the truth.? The principle at Hebrews 13:7 states: ?As you contemplate how their conduct turns out imitate their faith.? For most of your peers, how their conduct will turn out remains to be seen. But there are older ones in the congregation who have proved their faithfulness, and it?s wise to get to know them.
Our Kingdom Ministry July 1994 p. 2
Younger Ones Need a Good Example
We rejoice to have with us a growing number of young people who are praising Jehovah?s name.(Ps. 148:12, 13)
Many of them are still quite young in years. Their progress is largely determined by the training and example provided by their parents and other older ones in the congregation.
WORDS THAT MAKE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES FEEL SPECIAL:
More words to make JW?s feel special. Publisher, District Overseer, Circuit Overseer, Kingdom Hall, the Truth, the Society, Service Department, Field Service, turning in your Time, Return Visit, Placement, Magazine route, Territory Card, perfection / imperfection, Paradise earth, anointed, little flock, other sheep, bethel home, bethel elder, Bethelite, monthly average, national average, inactive, Field service report, conversation stopper, elder meeting, theocratic ministry school, talk assignment, spirit-directed Organization, whole-souled service, Pioneer, Need-Greater, Ministerial Servants w/ specific titles (e.g. Literature, Accounts), Shepherding Call, Reinstate, Disfellowship, Disassociate, Private Reproof, marked, Judicial Committee, Appeal Committee, Governing Body, Faithful and Discreet Slave, Spiritual Virgins, Channel (also Channel of Holy Spirit), Envoys (underlings of the Ambassadors of Christ), worldling, sticktoitiveness, Wait on Jehovah!, Opposer, Foregleam, Divided Household, NEW LIGHT, Mother organization, Honest hearted-one, Old system of things. (To those whom claim that the Watchtower strictly follows the Bible, it seems to me that the entire religion was built by going beyond the teachings of the Bible)