*** w94 2/15, p 4 ***
The language used in a joint resolution of the 100th Congress of the State of Maryland, U.S.A., also conveys the derogatory connotation of the term cult. The resolution states that “a cult is a group or movement exhibiting excessive devotion to a person or idea and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control to advance the goals of its leaders.”Clearly, cults are generally understood to be religious groups with radical views and practices that clash with what is accepted today as normal social behavior. Usually they conduct their religious activities in secrecy. Many of these cultic groups actually isolate themselves in communes. Their devotion to a self-proclaimed human leader is likely to be unconditional and exclusive. Often these leaders boast of having been divinely chosen or even of being themselves divine in nature.

*** w94 2/15, p 5 ***
What about today? Would it be accurate to refer to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religious group with radical views and practices that clash with what is accepted as normal social behavior? Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a cult?

Let’s take a look and see.

*** w94 2/15, p 6 ***
Cult members often isolate themselves from family, friends, and even society in general. Is that the case with Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Yes,  read their own literature to see the instructions for Jehovah's Witnesses

*** w94 2/15, p 24 ***
We must also be on guard against extended association with worldly people. Perhaps it is a neighbor, a school friend, a workmate, or a business associate. We may reason, ‘He respects the Witnesses, he leads a clean life, and we do talk about the truth occasionally.’ Yet, the experience of others proves that in time we may even find ourselves preferring such worldly company to that of a spiritual brother or sister.

*** km 6/89 1-2  Enjoying Theocratic Association ***
WHOLESOME ASSOCIATION
5 One cannot walk with God while running in association with those of the wicked and sick society that approves of everything that God abhors. The Bible warns: “Bad associations spoil useful habits.” (1 Cor. 15:33) Some in the congregation may be inclined to invite worldly acquaintances and unbelieving relatives who have no interest in the truth to social gatherings, thinking that this will encourage them to accept the truth. However, is this wise and in harmony with the Scriptures? 6 We have been counseled to be cautious in our dealings with men of the nations, unbelievers, and ordinary persons. (See the November 15, 1988, issue of The Watchtower, pages 15-16.) Why should we have unnecessary social contact with people who still pursue worldly ways and who have not become worshipers of Jehovah? (2 Cor. 6:14, 15) Some who are negligent spiritually may seek out others who also hold on to worldly thinking and ways instead of seeking association with mature Christians who could help them become strong in the faith. They fail to appreciate that attendance at social gatherings with worldly, unprincipled people can weaken their faith and corrupt them.—Compare 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 15.

The Society encourages all Jehovah's Witnesses to have very little association with non JW neighbors, workmates, schoolmates and relatives.

*** w94 2/15, p 7 ***
Admittedly, the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses are different from those provided by the churches. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jehovah is the almighty God and that Jesus is his Son, not part of a triune deity. Their faith is anchored in the belief that God’s Kingdom alone can bring relief to suffering humanity. They warn people of the imminent destruction of this corrupt system of things. They preach about God’s promise of an earthly paradise for obedient mankind. They do not venerate the cross. They do not celebrate Christmas. They believe that the soul is mortal and that there is no hellfire. They will not eat blood, nor will they accept blood transfusions. They abstain from involvement in politics and participation in warfare. Have you ever asked yourself why the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses are so different?

Yes their teachings are very different. Yes they did warn people by predicting the following dates as  the battle of Armageddon.

1. Zion’s Wt,1/15/1892,pg1355reprint ... “battle” is definitely marked in  Scripture as October, 1914.
2. The Time is at Hand 1908,pg101....the “battle of the great day of God Almighty” (Rev.16:14) which will end in A.D. 1914, with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership, is already commenced.
3. The Finished Mystery 1917, pg 398,399,485   ........the people who are the strength of Christendom shall be cut off in the brief but terribly eventful period beginning in 1918 A.D. A third part are “burned with fire in the mist of the city.” .....After 1918 the people supporting churchianity will cease to be its, supporters, be destroyed as adherents,...Also in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by the millions....
4. Vindication  1, 1931,pg146,338,339 ...years 1914,1918 and 1925 ..... they also learned  to quit fixing dates for the future and predicting what would come to pass on certain dates....
5. Wt,9/15/41,pg288...in the remaining months before  Armageddon.
6. Wt,5/1/68,pg273Chart of dates 1975 end of 6th 1000-year day...2975 end of 7th 1000-year day....
7. Aw,1/22/69,pg16Other Bible prophecies clearly foretell God’s purpose to bring this wicked system to an end in a few years.
8. Aw,5/22/69,pg15If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things.   .....all evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years.  ....as a young person you will never fulfill any career that this system offers.  If you are in high school and thinking about a college education,  it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone!
9. Wt,10/15/69,pg622,623  ....seventh millennium from man’s creation by Jehovah God  would begin in less than ten years.
10. The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah,1971,pg 216Shortly, within our  twentieth century, the "battle in the day if Jehovah" will begin against modern antitype of Jerusalem, Christendom.
11. Wt,1/1/89,pg12   The apostle Paul was spearheading the Christian missionary activity. He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century. (This quote was later changed in the  WT bound volume to: He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our day.)
12. In 1995 the generation of 1914 that would not pass away has changed to a contemporary generation.

*** w94 2/15, p 7  ***
Who Is Their Leader? It is precisely because of this close adherence to Bible teachings that the veneration and idolization of human leaders so characteristic of cults today is not to be found among Jehovah’s Witnesses.

No not individually, but idolization is directed toward the Organization and the "Faithful & Discreet slave"

*** w57 6/15, p 370 ***
It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the “slave” as we would to the voice of God, because it is His provision.

*** w57 5/1, p 285 ***
16 With thankful hearts we acknowledge God’s mercy and gratefully and willingly show our respect for Jehovah’s organization, for she is our mother and the beloved wife of our heavenly Father, Jehovah God.

*** w76 7/1, p 400 ***
Jehovah sees to it that all the “sheep” are taught through his wifelike organization, their “mother,” so that they may have abundant peace and be firmly established in righteousness.—Isa. 54:13, 14; Gal. 4:26.

*** w94 2/15, p 7 ***
They reject the concept of a clergy-laity distinction. The Encyclopedia of Religion aptly states about Jehovah’s Witnesses: “A clergy class and distinctive titles are prohibited.” They follow Jesus Christ as their Leader and as Head of the Christian congregation.

Can Jesus be our Mediator per the Society?

*** w79 4/1, p 31  Questions from Readers ***
At a time when God was selecting those to be taken into that new covenant, the apostle Paul wrote that Christ was the “one mediator between God and men.” (1 Tim. 2:5) Reasonably Paul was here using the word “mediator” in the same way he did the other five times, which occurred before the writing of 1 Timothy 2:5, referring to those then being taken into the new covenant for which Christ is “mediator.” So in this strict Biblical sense Jesus is the “mediator” only for anointed Christians.

*** Worldwide Security 1986, p110  par13 The "Prince of Peace" Turns to Those Outside the New Covenant ***
And in our time, millions of the “other sheep” are already benefiting from the ministry of the new covenant, as rendered by the anointed remnan under the Mediator, Jesus Christ.

So the Anointed are rendering to the other sheep instead of Jesus directly.

*** w89 8/15, p 31  Questions From Readers ***
The people of all nations who have the hope of everlasting life on earth benefit even now from Jesus’ services. Though he is not their legal Mediator, for they are not in the new covenant, he is their means of approaching Jehovah.

For more information on the Mediator

*** w94 2/15, p 7 ***
It is clear that Jehovah’s Witnesses are as far from being a cult as Jesus was from being a glutton and a drunkard. Admittedly, not everyone who was influenced by the false reports about Jesus and his disciples fell into the trap of slandering him. Some may simply have been misinformed. If you have questions about Jehovah’s Witnesses and their beliefs, why not get to know them better? The doors to their Kingdom Halls are wide open to all who seek truth.

Let the Society tell you what they want you to hear, don't take a peek at other publications.

*** w94 7/1, p 12 ***
12 Yes, apostates publish literature that resorts to distortions, half-truths, and outright falsehood. They even picket Witness conventions, trying to trap the unwary. Hence, it would be a dangerous thing to allow our curiosity to move us to feed on such writings or to listen to their abusive speech! While we might not think it a risk for us personally, the hazard remains. Why? For one thing, some of the apostate literature presents falsehoods by means of “smooth talk” and “counterfeit words.” (Romans 16:17, 18; 2 Peter 2:3) What would you expect from the table of demons? And while the apostates may also present certain facts, these are usually taken out of context with the goal of drawing others away from the table of Jehovah. All their writings simply criticize and tear down! Nothing is upbuilding.

** w94 7/1, p 12-13  ***
As loyal servants of Jehovah, why would we even want to peek at the propaganda put out by these rejecters of Jehovah’s table who now verbally beat those who are helping us take in “healthful words”?—2 Timothy 1:13. 15 Some may be inquisitive about accusations that the apostates make. But we should take to heart the principle at Deuteronomy 12:30, 31. Here Jehovah through Moses warned the Israelites about what to avoid once they dispossessed the pagan inhabitants of the Promised Land. “Watch out for yourself for fear you may be entrapped after them, after they have been annihilated from before you, and for fear you may inquire respecting their gods, saying, ‘How was it these nations used to serve their gods? And I, yes, I, will do the same way.’ You must not do that way to Jehovah your God.” Yes, Jehovah God knows how human curiosity works. Remember Eve, and also Lot’s wife! (Luke 17:32; 1 Timothy 2:14) Let us never give ear to what the apostates are saying or doing. Rather, let us be busy building people up and loyally feeding at the table of Jehovah!

*** w67 6/1, p 338 ***
But in Jehovah’s organization it is not necessary to spend a lot of time and energy in research, for there are brothers in the organization who are assigned to do that very thing, to help you who do not have so much time for this, these preparing the good material in The Watchtower and other publications of the Society.

*** w83 1/15, p 27 ***
Fight Against Independent Thinking
19 As we study the Bible we learn that Jehovah has always guided his servants in an organized way. And just as in the first century there was only one true Christian organization, so today Jehovah is using only one organization. (Ephesians 4:4, 5; Matthew 24:45-47) Yet there are some who point out that the organization has had to make adjustments before, and so they argue: “This shows that we have to make up our own mind on what to believe.” This is independent thinking. Why is it so dangerous?

***Qualified to be Ministers 1955,pg156***
If we have love for Jehovah and for the organization of his people we shall not be suspicious, but shall, as the Bible says, ’believe all things,’ all the things that The Watchtower brings out, in as much as it has been faithful in giving us knowledge of God’s purposes.....

*** w52 2/1, p 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. The truths we are to publish are the ones provided through the discreet-slave organization, not some personal opinions contrary to what the slave has provided as timely food. Jehovah and Christ direct and correct the slave as needed, not we as individuals. If we do not see a point at first we should keep trying to grasp it, rather than opposing and rejecting it and presumptuously taking the position that we are more likely to be right than the discreet slave. 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 pit against Jehovah’s channel their own human reasoning and sentiment and personal feelings.