what's the difference?

Question

what are the differences between religions and cults? for some reason religious folk seem to get mad when you refer to their belief system as a cult i'm just trying to figure out why. as far as i know they're the same thing.

Answer 1

in their beginnings all now major world religions were cults. the main differences is that cults tend to be new, religions old, cults are very small minorities, religions are global or at least national.

you will note that the ancient Romans, before Constantine's conversion to Christianity, (and before the emperor Trajan lifted the ban on Christianity) accused the followers of the "cult of Jesus" of corrupting the "traditional moral values" of Roman society. no kidding, the Latin translation are those EXACT words. some things never change.

Answer 2

I once heard a quote from some one of some repute, whose name eludes my recollection, that the only difference between a cult and a religion is that one has more real estate. The statement is not only amusing, but also insightful.

After all, cults ask their members to blindly subscribe to a set of implausible and irrational principles, and submit to the authority of an elite few who claim to have exclusive access to the revelation of such principles. Religions likewise ask for the same sheepish conformity to the unbelievable, and to those authorities that claim a monopoly over these absurdities.

No religious person, who truly contemplates the issue objectively, should become indignant when one compares a cult and established religious movements. Both traditional religions and cults are exactly the same; the only difference is that the former is more widely embraced than the latter.

Answer 3

JUST! Religions and cults are the same, You've mistaken Christian as a religion or cult, it's not. Christianity is Life in Christ! That's after one has starting believing in God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost! Have a good day! Jimmy.

Answer 4

The religious people of his day considered Jesus and his followers to be a cult. They thought that he was of the devil and that he broke the law, was unorthodox.

The bible says that few will find the way that leads to life, that broad is the way that leads to distruction. Walking in the broad way means that you exclude yourself from the way of life.

Society at large is against the truth. The truth reveals our sin and demands a change. That would make calling those who confess belief in the risen Lord and state that without holiness no one will see God a cult.

Answer 5

CULT
A religion sect that is considered to be false, unorthdox, and extreme under a charistmatic leader which live out of society.

RELIGION
A set of beliefs and practices generally greed upon by a number of people or sects.

Religions are not necessarily cults. There are cults in religions. Also, there are people who believe and practice what they believe in that do not belong to these extreme cults.

Following God and living Christ-like is not a cult. People who say to kill themselves to get to know all the answers of God is a cult.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!!!

Answer 6

Shortest & Simplest answer...
Religion: Large number of followers.
Sect: Part of a Religion or Cult.
Cult: Small number of followers.

All religions *are* cults. *Most* cults are religions. Go figure.

The "legal" definition is a Cult is somthing not recognised by society in general.

Example: Islam or Christianity are Religions. Scientology is a cult.

Answer 7

Basically speaking, a cult is the results of taking something from the Bible totally out of it's contextual setting, then building an entire dogma or theology on that one item.

It is also taking the Bible and redefining high-powered words, such as "God", etc.

For instance, the Bible declares that God is eternal and infinite, and transcends both space and time. ONE cult declares that God was once a man, and men can become gods.

Do you see how the very definition of the term "God" was changed from the Biblical? THAT is what makes it a cult.

This, of course, is but one example.

Answer 8

A cult is usually associated with a group of people who practice
some form of idol worship, and their practice is said to be made up of false doctrine, and including some form of demonic worship.

The reason many religions get mad at accusations throw at their religion for being called a cult, is because that is offensive to them. The reason it's offensive to them, because it degrades their way of life, which they're living because they believe it to be true.
So it's blasphemy to their beliefs which make up who they are as a person.
No one wants to think of themselves following a worthless practice characterized by demonic worship.

Yet a religion is merely just a way of life for some people, a system of belief that people practice, where they can walk and live their lives in freedom. Whereas, cults are binding people to themselves and cause them to live in restriction, and subject to a demonic false doctrine.

Answer 9

Those "religious folk" probably haven't looked up the definition of "cult" - now-a-days it's refered to as something bad because the only ones the news media ever talk about usually include mass suicide or murder.

Answer 10

A cult keeps their ranks in-line by physical force if necessary.

When a Catholic or Presbyterian or Methodist says they are moving away, everyone just says so long.

When a cult member says they are moving away, strong arm tactics used.

Cults are generally closed envornments not open ones.

Cults keep outsiders out and insiders in.