Do all religions begin as cults?

Answer 1

In a nutshell, yes they do.

Actually the main difference between a cult and a religion is a hierarchy structure, usually this is some sort of priesthood or something close there too.

However, since religions start out small, why would there be a heirarchy?

Its just to bad that the word cult has become such a negative term and often confused with the term occult.

Ah, just for clarity, let me look up some definitions here:

Religion: social institution that includes a set of common beliefs and practices generally held by a group of people, often codified as prayer, ritual, and religious law.

Cult: quite apart from its sacred writings its theology or myths, or the personal faith of its believers, is the totality of external religious practice and observance... Cult is literally the "care" owed to the god and the shrine. Now also refers to small spiritual/religious groups.

Occult: Some religious denominations view the occult as being anything supernatural or paranormal which is not achieved by or through God. The word has negative connotations for many people, and while certain practices considered by some to be "occult" are also found within mainstream religions, in this context the term "occult" is rarely used and is sometimes substituted with "esoteric".

Answer 2

I think all religions ARE cults. And yet, they all view the world and God in a certain way, so they must have some truth, if they're honest attempts. But, every religion has been used at one time or another to do harm to groups of people. Whether the Christian Inquisition, The Pagan Roman Dictators of the World, The Taliban, or the Shaolins in bed with local despots in the 19th Century, all religions have a dark side.

Answer 3

No, many do. To be a cult it has to be lead by an outspoken leader teaching against the traditional religious views of the area. As these religions spread to multible areas the cult label is no longer appropriate. Popular examples of past cults-Wicca, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism(suprises many people, but the Buddha preached against many Hindu concepts in a then largely HIndu India).

Answer 4

no, the first religions were not cults. The shamanistic ways were not meant to control man's life in every way possibile. But as man developed and developed greed the religions did turn into cults so that some people can get rich off of others.

Answer 5

In the original sense of the word, yes. In the modern sense, not so much.

Cult used to just mean sect or small religious group. Of course all religions began as cults. Now it has a bad connotation because of some suicidal groups.

Answer 6

Yes. In fact, although cults have come to be synonymous with shifty fringe with bizarre agendas, like Heaven's gate and Scientology (burn), the original meaning of cult just meant a small group, or order, usually religious in nature, that was basically a fledgling of a religion before it gains influence beyond its small, limited initial group of followers. So yes....you can read into that all you like...

Answer 7

A cult is a subdivision of a religion; religion->sect->cult

Answer 8

Why yes, they do. I bet if you asked Romans about Jesus 2000 years ago, they would have labeled it as a cult.

Answer 9

they ARE cults. The Catholic church is a cult. Every church and religion is a cult.
That's where the word "culture" comes from.
What you probably don't want to get into is the "occult"

Answer 10

Yes. Good observation. They are only a religion once they have been established and put up a few brick and mortar buildings.