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

Question

What differentiates cults from an organised religion? Always wondered why some faiths are labeled as cults

Answer 1

A "religion" is a cult, legally recognized by the government. Other than their "legal"status, there is no difference. All religions are cults, but not all cults are religions.

Answer 2

Religion - a. Doesn't change, add or subtract to it's tenets to agree with what's popular or modern; stands the tests of time, b. Is open to everyone, c. Is not created for personal gain, d. Is not practiced in secrecy, e. Anyone can leave at any time without fear of harm, f. Does NOT insist that members break ties with friends &/or family, g. Does NOT insist that their group's doctrine is the only way to reach 'Heaven'.

Cults do any or all of the above.

UPTDATE: Most of the answers, including mine are incomplete. There are theological, sociological & the dictionary's definitions of 'cult' & 'religion'. I was trying to use the universal definition. Hope the following webistes help with the explanations.

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/c09.html

http://www.ex-cult.org

http://www.icsahome.com

Also, beware that many of the internet sites dedicated to educating the public about cults have had frivolous lawsuits brought against them & / or their domain sites taken over by cults or their members. Be careful what you believe after reading some of these websites. For example:

4 November 1996
Important Notice
Re: Cult Awareness Network

To Whom it may concern:

On October 23, 1996 the law firm which has represented the Church of Scientology for years purchased the logo and license agreement of the Cult Awareness Network (CAN).

Accordingly, any publications or communications using the CAN name or logo after October 23rd (1996) should not be regarded as emanating from or having the approval of the Cult Awareness Network personnel or officers who were associated with CAN before 23 October.

Sincerely,
Herbert L. Rosedale, Esq.
President AFF

New CAN Reports
Cult Awareness Network Files Sold - http://www.csj.org/announce/annoucement_archives/canarchives.html

Answer 3

A cult is generally anything that a larger 'organised' religion says it is, and is normally quite small. This need not always be the case however. For instance, the Unification Church (or Moonies) is still regarded as a cult, even though its numbers range in the estimate of 250,000 to 3 million.

A common charge levelled at cults it that they engage in brain-washing possible adherents, but this is where it does have a link to more mainstream religion. After all, isn't Sunday School at church merely a form of juvenile brain-washing?

Answer 4

Wikipedia has an excellent description of the distinction between these two related terms:

"In religion and sociology, a cult is a term designating a cohesive group of people (generally, but not exclusively a relatively small and recently founded religious movement[1]) devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be outside the mainstream. Its status may come about either due to its novel belief system, its idiosyncratic practices, its perceived harmful effects on members, or because its perceived opposition to the interests of the mainstream culture. Non-religious groups may also display cult-like characteristics."

A religion is more than a 'belief system' in that anyone can create a belief around anything, that does not make it a religion. Also, cults tend to create a sense of exclusivity which either actively or passively prevents its members from creating variations on that system of belief. The perception of 'harm' done to members of a cult is almost always based on how the larger society in which it exists views it; i.e., a parent or spouse of a converted cult member will tend to see the intrinsic changes in their 'loved one' as being psychology or spiritually harmful to that individual, as well as the family structure.

Hope that helps...:)

Answer 5

A cult usually small groups that branches off from the "normal" religious group in an area. The focus of a cult is either the worship of an icon, or the glorification of one tenet from an older doctrine.
At one point, Christianity was considered a cult.
But now, it is a religion because it has become the "norm."
I suppose a cult becomes a religion when they become a widespread, organized group.

That's how I see it.

Answer 6

There isn't much difference. In general cults have fewer followers than organised religions do. But the agenda is the same.

Answer 7

A cult doesn't become a religion until it's 100 years old.

Answer 8

I happen ti like beta_fishy answer. It is so true. A cult is a label people give to other religions that are different then theirs. Not all people do that only the intolerant people.

Answer 9

Little difference apart from perception, number of followers/members, and propaganda.

Cults usually quite new, religion usually been around years. Religions are acceptable to society as a whole. Cults usually perceived as risky to society, their members, and/or the "status quo". Cults seen to exploit their members.

Answer 10

The only difference is on which side you stand. If it is your religion then it can never be a cult.