What is the difference between a cult and a religion?

Question

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@ Spicoli
so your saying the catholics are very bad?

@ Truth_Spe...
Your describing christianity there buddy. Most other religions also. judaism hinduism Sihk

Answer 1

Spelling.

Answer 2

A cult can mean a small group which if that is the definition you are using could include even Jehovah's Witnesses who are just a few shy of 7 million members. But, most people today define cult as a group which has chosen to follow a man rather than God. A religion, on the other hand would be following God, albeit according to their understanding of him which may or may not be flawed.

Answer 3

In common usage, "cult" has a negative connotation, and is generally applied to a group by its opponents, for a variety of reasons. Understandably, most, if not all, groups that are called "cults" deny this label. Some anthropologists and sociologists studying cults have argued that no one yet has been able to define “cult” in a way that enables the term to identify only groups that have been claimed as problematic


Religion is a system of social coherence based on a common group of beliefs or attitudes concerning an object, person, unseen being, or system of thought considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine or highest truth, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions, and rituals associated with such belief or system of thought. It is sometimes used interchangeably with "faith" or "belief system"[1], but is more socially defined than that of personal convictions.

so i hope u have understood the difference

Answer 4

A cult is any group which teaches doctrines or beliefs that deviate from the biblical message of the Christian faith. It is very important that we recognize cults and avoid any involvement with them. Cults often teach some Christian truth mixed with error, which may be difficult to detect. There are some features common to most cults:
They do not adhere solely to the sixty-six books of the Bible as the inspired Word of God. They add their "special revelations" to the Bible as equally authoritative.

They do not accept that our relationship to Jesus Christ is a reality "by grace through faith" alone, but practice instead a salvation by works.

They do not give Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, full recognition as the second Person of the Trinity, composed of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Some of these groups are Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, the Unification Church, Unitarians, Spiritists, Scientologists, and others.

Answer 5

Cult ids defined as:
-A group or doctrine with religious, philosophical or cultural identity sometimes viewed as a sect, often existent on the margins of society.
-Devotion to a saint.
-A group that exploits members psychologically and/or financially, typically by making members comply with leadership's demands through certain types of psychological manipulation, popularly called mind control, and through the inculcation of deep-seated anxious dependency on the group and its leaders.
Religion is defined as:
-A system of beliefs that involves the existence of at least one of: a human soul or spirit, a deity or higher being, or self after the death of one’s body.

Answer 6

A cult follows the beliefs of one person or group of persons instead of God's Word. That's why the Catholic church is a cult.

A religion is faith-based belief, which describes evolution and atheism as well as all other religions worldwide.

Answer 7

A cult is a system of religious worship or ritual.

A religion is a belief in the divine power.

One is the actions, the other is the belief or Faith.

Answer 8

A religion sometimes developes out of a cult. Check christianity, for instance.....

Answer 9

Not much if anything in my book.
Religious beliefs can/do turn into cults.
And some cults have turned into religions

Answer 10

there's a difference? you mean they aren't synonymous? haha But seriously there is just a fine line. It mainly goes with the public view and legalities of the group. At least in my opinion.