Take Christianity for example: They try to convert people, they have ceremonies such as baptism and bible readings, can you see what I mean? How is Christianity or Islam or Judaism or any other religion different than a cult? What makes it a Religion?
2006-09-11 10:16:37 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A religion is a worldview so Christianity would fit more into a religion than a cult (just we Christians practice baptism and Bible readings doesn't make it a cult).
A cult is a religious following that strays from the mainstream; Christianity is part of the mainstream so it can't be classified as a cult. Neither is Judaism or Islam as they are all considered mainstream religions.
According to Wikipedia:
"In religion and sociology, a cult is a cohesive group of people (often a relatively small and recently founded religious movement) devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be far outside the mainstream. Its separate status may come about either due to its novel belief system, because of its idiosyncratic practices or because it opposes the interests of the mainstream culture. Other non-religious groups may also display cult-like characteristics."
Take Scientology and Islam for example. Islam is more mainstream, however, the majority of its' followers live in the Middle East. Scientology is not widely accepted and its' beliefs are really out of mainstream spiritual thought.
2006-09-11 10:27:13 · answer #1 · answered by chrstnwrtr 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
technically your absolutely correct. Their is no functional difference between a cult and a religion. The only difference is the word cult has a negative connotation while religion has a neutral or positive connotation. That's why people do not want to be associated with a cult.
the same can be said about a tyranny and a monarchy. Both are the same form of government just one is a negative term for it.
2006-09-12 05:57:52 · answer #2 · answered by Gamla Joe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only difference between a religion and a cult is it's popularity. If it has enough members to legitimize itself in public... it's a religion.
Early Christianity was in fact considered a cult at one time.
2006-09-11 10:19:47 · answer #3 · answered by ChooseRealityPLEASE 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes, a cult is defined as "a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies." or "a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols. ".. so yes, christianity, or islam or judaism are cults.. but most people see cults as an evil thing where people come to commit suicide for some higher being... so people will be offended by calling their religion a cult
2006-09-11 10:21:52 · answer #4 · answered by bballbadass246 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Cults are usually not mainstream. Anything that has a big impact in world culture is considered a religion. That is why mormonism was considered a cult even thirty years ago. Now it is a very large religion; they are more prominent.
2006-09-11 10:18:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
You'll notice that all the people in these "cults" who answer will answer with "come over to the light" type phrases...they are obviously threatened that you can think for yourself so they must do their brainwashing on you so that you can see "the way of God." Or they will say how offended they are that you would even consider calling thier beliefs cultish and threaten to report you.
2006-09-11 10:28:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
cult/k?lt/ Noun: a million.A gadget of religious veneration and devotion directed in the direction of a undeniable determine or merchandise. 2.a particularly small team of human beings having religious ideals or practices recognized with the help of others as unusual or sinister. seems to me that's precisely what they're. different than the "small team" bit, yet you already coated it with the help of specifying vast cults. If say christians have been truer to their faith, they could sacrifice animals and whatnot which would be perceived as unusual with the help of primary human beings. regrettably, in assessment to smaller faith followers, decrease than 10% of christians have actual study the bible, so this is in user-friendly terms organic for them to haven't any thought what they're doing.
2016-12-18 08:42:05 · answer #7 · answered by menjivar 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The way I look at it a cult is a distortion of another religion or the worship of a charismatic leader.
2006-09-11 10:21:12 · answer #8 · answered by Cybeq 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Read the bible to find out about Christianity.
2006-09-11 10:26:33 · answer #9 · answered by robert p 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think each belief system is like a private club. The outsiders are looked down upon.
2006-09-11 10:24:29 · answer #10 · answered by a_delphic_oracle 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋