I always thought a cult was a group having a charismatic leader, attracts followers who are in some way disenfranchised from the mainstream of society and collapses upon loss of the charismatic leader. Because the JWs have survived multiple leadership changes, I think it more accurate to view them as a sect.
they are not saved,
I thought only God knows who is and is not saved. Why do you believe they are not saved?
anything not saved is a cult, theres no gray area here.
From where do you get your definition of cult?
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
I should add that Jehovah's Witnesses also believe that all non-Jehovah's Witnesses are going to hell too, so it's not like the sentiment is one-sided...
Jim Jones was everything you described.
It is positively scary how someone can lure people in like that.
A cult is anything that leads you off the path to salvation. God does know who is saved, but the bible is also clear on how that happens. JWs don’t believe that. It’s pretty cut and dry.