Whats the difference between religion, cult and sect?

Answer 1

In brief:
RELIGION: An overarching faith system that provides a basic idea of a deity or deities' relationship with humanity and with the universe. Examples: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism

SECT: A segment of the population that practices a particular religion, but that may have certain disagreements with other sects on any variety of contentious issues, including theology, organizational structure, authority, or social issues. Examples: Roman Catholics or Methodists in Christianity, Sunni and Shi'ite in Islam, Mahayana or Theravada in Buddhism.

CULT: A highly enthusiastic but often small and secluded sect or religion that holds unique ideas of theology & social practice. Most forms of religion have begun in a rather cultish fashion until they have attracted larger numbers of followers. Examples of religions that have come from cults include The Unification Church and Scientology. Examples of cults that ended tragically include David Koresh's commune in Waco, Texas and Jim Jones' Jonestown in Guyana. The poligamist off-shoots of the LDS church are often described as cults.

Answer 2

A religion is a belief system. It's a way a person can get closer to God. For example: Taoism.

A sect is a division within this belief system. For example: Shi'a Muslims.

A cult is a religion with particular focus on one thing or person. This is often used negatively, but is not necessarily a bad thing. For example: The Cult of Aphrodite.

Answer 3

A religion is a cult with political influence.

A sect is a branch of a religion

Answer 4

A cult is a religion that people view as weird or mystical, a sect is a division of a religion.

Answer 5

Religion - a belief system based on worship of god/s
Sect - a division into parts within one religion
Cult - Worship of a personality.

So by the above posters own rules - that makes christianity a cult.

They do worship the person of Jesus.
Catholics also worship the person of Mary and the saints

There is NO difference at all.

Answer 6

"Religion", from "re-ligare", means "to tie back, tie fast, tie up"... to get in contact with God.
- Religion is a system of faith in and worship of a Supreme Being, or a god or gods... or a system of denial of any god. To believe in Jesus is a Religion
- Religion is the relation of a person with God, with a code of ethics governing personal and social conduct, and a doctrine and goal for life on earth and the after death… religion is universal, man is a religious animal: Every man, sooner or later, asks the questions, who am I?, where do I come from?, where do I go to?…

"Sect", the past pass of "sectum", means "to cut, divide"... it is a small group which is an offshoot of an established religion. It holds most beliefs in common with its religion of origin, but has a number of novel concepts which differentiate them from that religion.
Founders of Christianity and Denominations

-Of course, there are secular and religious sects.
Practically: If a "religion" was founded by God, it is a "Religion"; if it was founded by a man or a woman, with known date and place, it is a "Sect" or a "Cult".

The Dictionary gives us several definitions:

A group of people forming a distinct unit within a larger group by virtue of certain refinements or distinctions of belief or practice.
A religious body, especially one that has separated from a larger denomination.
A faction united by common interests or beliefs.


- "Cult" is the past pass of "colere", which means "to cultivate, dwell, worship"; anything to do with worship or ritual.

The Dictionary gives us several definitions:


A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
The followers of such a religion or sect.
A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.

Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
The object of such devotion.
An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

Answer 7

a religion is a large grouo who worships a supernaturla being and try to get into heaven, or whatever higher place. a cult is grouo that practices things such as sorcery or witchcraft and usually try to segregate from the world. a sect is a group that is similar to a religion with a few diiferences, so they break off from the main group

Answer 8

Sects are smaller parts of the same religion (Episcopalian, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, etc.), and religions are cults with more members.

Answer 9

a cult in dictionary is >>>a religious grp with rituals(so it can be applied to any religious group)....sect is if they separate themselves from society>>>>>>>>>..although these meant differently..they are often used as a derogatory remark rather than describing one religion which often one who uses it,does not know the meaning of it

Answer 10

Religion - what people turn to in time of need.
Cult - where people who need too much end up.
Sect - what people who learn all about the cult start up.