What is the difference between a religion and a cult?

Question

What do they mean and what are their differences?

A more precise answer than 'nothing' please?

Answer 1

Meaning of Cult? Here it is.
cult

cult [kult]
(plural cults)
noun
1. religion: a system of religious or spiritual beliefs, especially an informal and transient belief system regarded by others as misguided, unorthodox, extremist, or false, and directed by a charismatic, authoritarian leader
2. religious group: a group of people who share religious or spiritual beliefs, especially beliefs regarded by others as misguided, unorthodox, extremist, or false
3. idolization of somebody or something: an extreme or excessive admiration for a person, philosophy of life, or activity (often used before a noun)
the cult of youth
a cult hero

4. object of idolization: a person, philosophy, or activity regarded with extreme or excessive admiration
5. fad: something popular or fashionable among a devoted group of enthusiasts (often used before a noun)
has taken on cult status

6. cultural anthropology system of supernatural beliefs: a body of organized practices and beliefs supposed to involve interaction with and control over supernatural powers
7. sociology elite group: a self-identified group of people who share a narrowly defined interest or perspective


[Early 17th century. Directly or via French < Latin cultus "worship" < colere "cultivate"]


-cult·ic, adjective
-cult·ish, adjective
-cult·ish·ly, adverb
-cult·ish·ness, noun
-cult·ism, noun
-cult·ist, noun

religion

re·li·gion [ri líjjən]
(plural re·li·gions)
noun
1. beliefs and worship: people's beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life
2. system: an institutionalized or personal system of beliefs and practices relating to the divine
3. personal beliefs or values: a set of strongly-held beliefs, values, and attitudes that somebody lives by
4. obsession: an object, practice, cause, or activity that somebody is completely devoted to or obsessed by
The danger is that you start to make fitness a religion.

5. christianity monk's or nun's life: life as a monk or a nun, especially in the Roman Catholic Church


[12th century. Via French < Latin religion- "obligation, reverence"]


-re·lig·ion·less, adjective
get religion (informal)
1. U.S. to stop flouting the rules, regulations, customs, and expectations of society
2. to become a believer or join a religious organization, and, usually, start to lead a life that follows its teachings

jtm

Answer 2

There are many differences, however there is one main difference that ties everything together. That is a cult is when people follow a human being and not God. They look to man only for answers, and they follow anything he says even if it is against the laws of God or man. They also tend to isolate from the rest of society. They do not use the Bible as a guide for their lives even though those in a cult usually claim to be followers of God of some sort.

Hope that helps. I am not to versed on cults, so I don't know to much about them.

Answer 3

This is actually a better question for sociology then R&S but here goes.

A cult is a group that has one or few leader(s) who usually have absolute control over the followers and usually center around a fixed idea. However once the leader(s) dies off that ends the cult.

A religion is a personal or institutionalized set of ritualized belief and worship of a Divine, in one form or another.

Blessed Be )O(

Answer 4

i do no longer think of all religions are cults. There are churches interior of religions that use cult strategies. Cults use strategies administration strategies and manipulation to empty their followers of money and components. the distinction between a cult and a faith is which you serve the cult, the cult does no longer serve you. there is likewise in many cases a loss of transparency, The nearer you get to the "midsection" or the better you progression in a cult, the greater unethical and immoral pastime might grow to be obvious. A recruit might desire to teach themselves earlier being allowed to progression and earn rank. The greater you question unethical pastime the greater probably you would be singled out and expelled. there is in many cases a charismatic chief who's idolized and dealt with like Jesus, his words and movements are in no way puzzled. in many cases adult men recover from excited with this point of authority and sleep with their followers. followers are exploited sexually, financially, and so on.

Answer 5

The only difference is point of view. Christianity was referred to as a cult, when it was starting out. I've heard many Christian denominations still called cults. It all depends on the view of the person who is asked.

Answer 6

Honestly, it has to do with the social acceptability of being a member.

Belonging to a church, synagogue, or mosque is socially accepted, therefore you belong to a religion.

Following a man who claims that you need to ride a comet to heaven; or that he is the son of god and needs to arm himself...these are examples of socially unacceptable religious behavior.

Both religions and cults are basically the same...a set of rituals to worship a higher being. They may do different things, but at the end of the day, they are the same thing.

Answer 7

With a proper religion, your freedom and the proper operations of your intellect remain intact, as you serve a greater good and receive the proper reward for that.

With a cult, on the other hand, these are circumvented as everything is based upon deception and manipulation for the purposes of the cult leader (s).






.

Answer 8

A cult is a religious group with extreme beliefs and practices - beliefs that are often contrary to science and logic but they are believed as "obvious" truth by the cult members.

Answer 9

A cult gains the status of "religion" when it becomes popular and widely accepted....such as christianity and scientology.

Answer 10

Check a dictionary for an exact meaning. I CAN tell you that "Buddhism" classifies as a relgion, whereas Christianity is a "Cult religion".