what's the difference between a religion and a cult?

Question

to you... how do you define each...and the difference?

Answer 1

Well they both "believe" some doctrine, religion is more excepted by society, the only power each has is the power the person gives it, for the "truth" is in ones self.

Answer 2

Counterfeit Christianity is probably the best description I can give for a cult. Counterfeit Christianity is an imitation of real Christianity. Bible terms like "Jesus Christ, Resurrection, Salvation, and Atonement" are used by the Cult, but entirely different meanings have been assigned to these terms by the various cult groups.
Like counterfeit money which is sometimes difficult to detect, so it is difficult to detect counterfeit Christianity, since it looks like the real thing. Experts examining counterfeit money often hold it up to a strong light and look for identifying marks. Counterfeit Christianity also has identifying marks which can be seen when held up to an even stronger light, the light of God's word, the bible.
We are at an advantage if we know what to expect from a cult. Cultists are very well trained to appear "Christian", and indeed believe they are the true church, and you need the deliverance! Therfore, be bold and ask the question, "Do you believe the group you represent is the only true church on the face of the earth?"
If they reply that they are, or if they are evasive, making remarks like "Well, every church has a measure of truth but...", you have made an early detection of a Cultist.
Every true Chistian, if asked the same question, regardless of his denomination, would reply that the true church is comprised of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and HE (not some organization) is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, (John 14:6). No legitimate denomonation would claim that they alone and their members have salvation exclusively, but the cults (the counterfeits) do.

Answer 3

The difference between a cult and a religion, in our common use of the words, involves a number of factors. Christians will tell you that any faith besides their own is a cult, but I would encourage you to skip those kinds of answers and discover the actual truth. I am listing an excellent resource that is easy to use and helps one recognize a dangerous cult.

Scroll down to skip the intro and take a look at the characteristics of true cults. The greater the extent to which a group has such characteristics, the more dangerous a cult they become. This is an extremely valuable tool!

Answer 4

This is my personal view. The differences are:

1. A Religion has a clear long history whereas a cult is normally recently established or without clear long history. For example, Christians, Islam and Judaism are considered religions as they have a clear long history whereas certain New Age Movements are considered cults as they are recently established.

2. A Religion normally emphasize (among others) on morality whereas a cult may have ritual that is against morality.

3. A Religion has clear basic principles for the followers to learn, follow and practice whereas a cult may have weird or odd principles / methods / rituals.

Answer 5

A cult is based on a particular leader, and they generally die with him or her. That's why Christianity was originally considered a cult. It was based on Jesus. But when it didn't die out after the Resurrection, it became a religion. Eventually it became the meta-religion that it is today. Interestingly, the Catholic 'cult' of Mary could, if not discouraged, become a religion in its own right. That would be bad. Mary is no goddess, and never claimed to be such. The Church really needs to think about that, and back off on Marian devotion.

Answer 6

Defining religion is difficult, because there are so many different types. But a very general answer would be, a set of beliefs which join together a group of like-minded people.
A cult usually has a leader who claims to be the ONLY one who can interpret the truth, and he/she is somehow exalted above the followers. Also, cults usually want to insulate themselves from outside influence and seperate the followers from their families.

Answer 7

Well, I consider the Unification Church (Moonies) to be a cult as do many other people, and they have a large following, so the number of members doesn't seem to apply.

I would say that a religion tends to have a positive political and social backing by the community, while a cult doesn't.

Answer 8

I believe that the difference is typically subjective. It's up to the person what they classify a cult in reference to another religion.

In Christian circles, a 'cult' can be referring to any 'unacceptable' form of Christianity that is thought to be in error. If I am talking to Atheists or other than Christian groups, I find that it makes them comfortable to say that Christianity is a cult to Judaism. Which is fine by me, but I would rather refer to Roman Catholicism as a 'cult' to Christianity along with the various forms of animal religions and other tribal religions as 'cults.'

So a cult can be anything as far as a 'religion' goes. It depends on who's talking.

Answer 9

There are 2 kinds of cult definitions : the secular world defines cults as any group or organization religious or otherwise that practices brainwashing on its members with destructive physical, mental, or financial results....Christians define a cult as an organization religious or otherwise that is spiritually destructive, regardless of whether its destructive in other ways...

Answer 10

Cults center around a living, self-appointed leader who designates a revered inner circle. The cult leader often commits serious ethical violations. Some leaders even encourage the stockpiling of weapons and promote violence as a problem-solving option.

Cults use fear or guilt-based "mind-control" techniques including various forms of physical deprivation and guilt-based, ritualistic confession of sins

Cult members normally live in some form of isolation from the greater society and have very little meaningful interaction with non-cult members. Some cults require physical isolation as well.

Cult members often abandon their families, jobs, schools, and lives to protect the cult leader and the cult community. Cult practices often include dangerous rituals such as excessive praying, sleep deprivation, or aggressive, high pressure proselytizing techniques such as constantly and compulsively "witnessing" their beliefs to others

cults, followers are many times unaware of certain cult activities. Cult leaders often issue a "code of silence" about their unethical conduct. Miracles, or phony faith-healings are often staged at group meetings

Answer 11

size and acceptance.
large following and being generally accepted(not necessarily agreed with) makes it a religion. small following and not generally recognized makes it a cult. all modern religions are the ones who survived cult stage, where some religions die out.
a cult as a sub-religion, as in a variation of an existing religion, gets recognized a religion faster than one starting out anew, which is the reason all major religions have branches with varying beliefs.