2006-06-17 11:40:19 · 25 answers · asked by that_maaan 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Not much if any. In some cases, I'd say the only
effective diff is "tax-exempt status" but cases differ.
Mormons were a 19th C cult, look at 'em now.
Cult: A group or doctrine with religious, philosophical or cultural identity.
Cultic: Pertaining to a cult or the methods of cults; of or related to organized religion and public worship.
Religion (one of several definitions): Anything that involves the association of people in a manner resembling a religious institution or cult.
2006-06-17 12:10:28 · answer #1 · answered by Bender 6 · 7⤊ 1⤋
The only difference between a cult and a religion is time.
Ever notice that the word culture is an offspring of cult?
2006-06-17 11:55:01 · answer #2 · answered by sticky 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess the biggest difference that we can see outwardly from a Cult and a Religion is freedom to move from one to another.
What I mean is, if you go to a Baptist Church for a couple of years, you have no one stopping you from attending any other Church or religion either during that time or after you leave.
A Cult on the other hand, demands your allegience to them and them alone, and will take steps to prevent your leaving.
Look to the ones we have labled as Cults and you will see this common bond.
Koresh comes to mind, he let all leave except the women who had born him children and the children they bore. Yes, at the end he let some women leave as long as they left the child fathered by him there. But the common bond was , he decided who could come and who could leave.
Jamestown: The members who refused to take the poison and die, were force fed the stuff (murder). Not exactly an easy in, easy out way of life.
There are many more, but really the common bond is that a Cult will woo you in, but will not let you leave by your own free will.
Hope this helps a bit.
2006-06-17 11:50:29 · answer #3 · answered by cindy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion is what they try and shove down your throat, usually from birth as this is when you are most vunerable.. Spirituallity is within you , it's been with you since birth.. All humans have it , some are just apt to be more Spiritual than others.. I am a Wiccan High Priest , I live and breathe Wicca every moment of the day.. I don't personally classify Wicca as a religion, more a belief system and a way of life.. I will say here and now that if I considered Wicca to be a religion I would be more religious than than the Pope in Rome... Love and Light .. Blessed Be
2016-05-19 23:18:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cult is a negative label put on the little religion by the more popular ones. Does it mean it is falsified? Not necessarily. Even Christianity started out as a cult in the eyes of humanity.
I hope you find exactly what you are looking for.
good luck and God Bless.
2006-06-17 11:43:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The difference between a cult and a religion is in the perception of others and the deviance from what is commonly accepted by the mass public.
2006-06-17 11:46:54 · answer #6 · answered by tonyaponte2001 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basically cults are often based on "actual" religions, but fanatic branches of it that often distort the teachings. Anything fanatical involving major life change, brain washing, living on a compound, or committing suicide is considered a cult. Basically they just don't have the numbers for people to take them seriously.
2006-06-17 11:44:40 · answer #7 · answered by tomservo552 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, by one deffinition of "cult" there is nothing. To me, a cult is just a religion with less followers than religions that are not cults.
2006-06-17 11:44:27 · answer #8 · answered by Joe Shmoe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A religion allows you to make your own choices. A cult controls everything.
2006-06-17 11:49:11 · answer #9 · answered by cj_justme 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What ever religion you are is a religion and everything else is a cult.
2006-06-17 15:00:43 · answer #10 · answered by Dustin Lochart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋