Mere, I do take your point about those cults you have mentioned. I agree with your concerns on those points. But I do have to say that we would not class ourselves as the same as those although I know many would think the same as you............................of course it is hard for us to make you understand how we work as an organisation if it is something you cannot happily agree with or like...............................Our choices to follow the faith is our own we are not brainwashed we come to conclusions based on information given and researched. We do have a choice to follow or not....................... Anyone can leave whenever they want to. I do agree that disfellowshipping happens but it is not as terrible as it is described, though I do understand and accept the reasons for it.....................................................If you really listen to the principals behind the faith, the reasons for any of the requirements and look at it as a whole and not just snippits here and there you would see it is not a burdonsome way of life. It is a loving way of life where everyone is equal, everyone is loved cherishe and nurtured. Everyone is protectect from harm, everyone is respectful of every else, there is no racial discrimination of any kind. Everyone has the same rights as anyone else. No-one is treated any better or any worse than anyone else, we all have the same hope for the future, everything is positive..............................I will say though, every at present is by no means perfect and we all suffer the effects of illnesses aging and life problems as we have to live in this world at the moment, but we do try to battle through it isn't easy at the moment and sometimes we make mistakes.......................yes I do accept that some even commit serious wrong doing but that is their weaknesses because of being imperfect and open to temptations..................God's principals never change they ARE GOOD. We are a happy people.............xxx