What's your guess?
2006-12-27 13:48:13 · 24 answers · asked by Rosebee 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Whether or not you follow it.
If you do, it is a religion.
If you do not, it is a cult.
: )
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2006-12-27 13:50:54 · answer #1 · answered by Chickyn in a Handbasket 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
There is no difference between a cult and an Organized religion... a cult is an organization and when it is center around a spiritual belief it is a religion. Perhaps the only consideration for differentiating between the these two "wording choices" might be argued over the popular connotations applied to the relative size of a group - where religion is assumed to be a larger body and a cult is assumed to be a smaller body, one might choose to apply names to two groups of equal belief and practices but dissimilarity of size appropriately according to size alone. Either way, both "cult" and "organized religion" are the same thing. Additionally, for the name "cult" there is an attached popular connotation which for some suggests "having a sinister-like quality."
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2006-12-27 22:12:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A cult is actually defined as: a small cohesive group (sometimes referring to a religion or a religious sect, but not always there are many cults that are not religious in nature) generally considered to be extremist in views outside the mainstream sometimes reaching the point of taboo, with idiosyncratic practices, perceived to have harmful effects on members, or because it opposes the interests of the mainstream culture. Often characterized with high tension situations with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
Organized religion is defined as adherence to codified beliefs and rituals that (generally) involve a faith in a spiritual nature and a study of inherited ancestral traditions, knowledge and wisdom related to understanding human life. Sociologically and anthropologically it is seen as an abstract set of ideas, values, or experiences developed as part of a cultural matrix.
The difference between a religion and a cult lies in the freedom of will of the members, perceived tensions, not being against social conventions or social norms and mainstream interest.
So my guess would be that this answer, no matter how factually and academically correct, will be rejected because the purpose of the question is to hear and have people express that they are one in the same.
2006-12-27 22:00:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
A cult is a radicalized form of a belief. It is usually led by a charismatic person. Other churches back away from them, warning them that they are getting into the quicksand. The hierarchy gos - religion, sects, cults. Sects are mostly area of belief that contain most of the teachings of Christ and His disciples. Cults are a group that is deceived and ends up worshiping the words of the leader, even if they contradict what we know
2006-12-27 21:55:06 · answer #4 · answered by TCFKAYM 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A cult is defined as any religious group that adds or subtracts from the original 66 Books of the Bible. Their outcome is found in Revelation 22
2006-12-27 21:54:57 · answer #5 · answered by Stormchaser 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Cults are the religious version of fads. Of course, if they last long enough and have enough followers, then they can be deemed a religion. So really, all religions started as cults.
2006-12-27 21:53:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
One way of looking at it is that religious people have faith. They believe, even though a belief is just that; it is something not proven. For instance Christ rising from the dead is an article of faith, it could never be proven.
Cults on the other hand think their beliefs are absolute fact. Cultists do not believe, they "know" -- (at least they think they 'know')
Cultists actually have a lack of faith. They are completely convinced that their version of reality is the ONLY concrete reality, and only they 'know' this.
Religious people can admit to the idea that there can be an element of truth to other religions.
2006-12-27 23:02:10 · answer #7 · answered by Bob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cult, dirived from the latin word Occultus "to be hidden, that which is hidden"
A techniacally is any faith or religion that chossed to be hidden, but in todays terms, A cult is anything that follows one leader without question or opposition.
2006-12-27 21:52:21 · answer #8 · answered by DrewM 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The evolution of faith.
Every religion begins as a cult. When a cult waters down, what's left is religion. When religion waters down, what's left is habit. When habit waters down, what's left is reason.
If reason should water down and fail, cults begin again.
2006-12-27 22:00:33 · answer #9 · answered by DrEvol 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Whether or not the person yelling Cult belongs to the religion in question.
2006-12-27 21:50:12 · answer #10 · answered by saopaco 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Religion is about growing in faith and love of God; cults are about fear and control over people.
2006-12-28 01:21:49 · answer #11 · answered by Danny H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋