Have you ever encountered a cult??

Well I think you have some passionate thoughts about this matter, but ultimately, many of the conclusions you've come to are not based on accurate information.

Extremist: A person who holds extreme or fanatical political or religious views, especially one who resorts to or advocates extreme action.

I would not consider their choice to live by bible principles to be equivocal to hijacking an airplane and flying it into a building full of people, as you have so suggested.

Saying they are "apolitical" solely because they believe God will destroy the world is inaccurate. They are apolitical because they believe the governments of the world cannot solve mankind's problems and they believe God's government will soon come, not to destroy the world, but to institute a better form of government.

They do not encourage college education because much secular education disagrees with the teachings of the bible. I agree with them. If they feel that their religious beliefs are important enough to protect at any cost then this is a reasonable action.

This "shunning" you speak of is only done to those who have made a solemn vow to follow bible principles and become baptized. Think of it more as a husband vowing to love his wife and marrying her, and then having an affair. The wife and the friends of the wife would, on principle, likely not talk to the man again. This "shunning" as you call it is not done to those who have not made this vow.

The organization is the reason why the people in the organization are the way they are. Claiming that it is "toxic" and labeling the followers as "nice" is misinterpreting the nature of the religion itself.

Also, as a secularly educated person, I am sad to see so many dismissing the religion as toxic when the ideals promote peace and harmony with those both in the religion and outside of the religion.

/r/AskReddit Thread Parent