I was born and raised in the cult, and while I'm not convinced they as a religion are on the same level as HC, they do have quite the past.
The cult is run by 7 men known as the "Governing Body" amongst R&F members. They are considered to be God's spokesmen, and it's with them being perceived this way, they make all the cult like rules, in their personal interpretation on the Bible.
Some of their fucked "rules" are shunning people who leave the cult. Family, friends, you name it - done.
No blood transfusions - ever. ( they take "blood fractions" though if you can beleive that) Transfusion = disfellowshipping.
The list goes on, but I have a little something more that's going to appeal to US.
Recently a "Governing Body" member gave a speech after inaugurating a new Convention Hall they worship in.
"Then he said (I'm quoting him best I can remember, but you'll get the idea): "Imagine if next week I go back to US and you see in the news that the whole GB was arrested for no reason. How'd you react? Well, surely you'd say to your coworkers or neighbours: "Jesus warned us. They were arrested for no reason." You would feel bad for us but be proud because you are sure it's persecution from Satan and that we're innocent."
The link to this is right HERE over on reddit. It's in the r/exjw subreddit.
Now, I'm thinking this week coming might be a big one.
Most people on reddit are too busy not knowing the bigger picture here.
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Cc1914 ago
JESUS CHRIST was accused of being a drunkard, a glutton, a Sabbath breaker, a false witness, a blasphemer of God, and a messenger of Satan. He was also accused of being subversive.—Matthew 9:34; 11:19; 12:24; 26:65; John 8:13; 9:16; 19:12.
After Jesus’ death and resurrection, his disciples were likewise the target of serious accusations. One group of first-century Christians were dragged to the city rulers by people crying out: ‘These men have overturned the inhabited earth.’ (Acts 17:6) On another occasion the apostle Paul and his companion Silas were taken to the authorities and charged with greatly disturbing the city of Philippi.—Acts 16:20.
Paul was later accused of being a “pestilent fellow and stirring up seditions among all the Jews throughout the inhabited earth” and of trying “to profane the temple.” (Acts 24:5, 6) The principal men of the Jews in Rome accurately described the situation of Jesus’ followers when they acknowledged: “For truly as regards this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”—Acts 28:22.
Evidently, this new group established by Jesus Christ was considered by some to be a religious group with radical views and practices that clashed with what was accepted in those days as normal social behavior. Undoubtedly, many today would have considered the Christians a destructive cult. The accusers were often prominent and respected members of the community, and this seems to have added weight to the allegations. Many believed the accusations against Jesus and his disciples. Yet, as you probably know, every one of these charges was false! The fact that people said these things did not make them true.