religion/cults?

Question

what are the differences between mainstream religion and cults? personally i see none.

amazing. there are no differences between the two. thank-you all for the confirmation.

Answer 1

if by "mainstream religion" you mean Christianity, than nothing. Christianity is the world's biggest and oldest CULT.

Answer 2

There are a million definitions out there, but here are 2 that I think are the most useful:

1. Formal - a religion is an established belief system, and a cult is a permutation or altered version. E.g., technically Christianity is a cult of Judaism, and Mormonism is a cult of Christianity.

2. Common - the common understanding is tha a mainstream religion is an established faith held by millions. E.g. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc. A cult in this view would be a dangerous sect that alters the teaching of said religion and usually has more sinister elements like bilking for money, communes that won't allow you to contact your family, ritual abuse of any type, etc.

So, those are really the two best ways to understand the terms. Hope that helps.

Ath

Answer 3

The real differences between cults and a religions are the more critical issues of whether or not they expect you to surrender your possessions, individuality and social connections.

A religion does not do that. Nor does a religion expect you to cut ties to your friends and family.

Any decent religion will also encourage free thought and expression as well as being tolerant of the individuals gender and orientation as well as ethnicity.

The Moonies are part of a cult, while Christianity, as cult-like as some sects behave, is a religion.

There are other things that separate a cult from a religion, but that list is lengthy and is more in keeping with indoctrination techniques.

Answer 4

I think I can answer because I'm a 3rd-generation heretic. My grandparents were Eastern Orthodox at a time that their government viewed any religion as a dangerous cult. My parents became Protestant, and suffered the wrath and persecution of Their parents and friends. When I embraced Pentecostal beliefs, my family thought I had become a wierdo cultist.

To answer your question: A "mainstream religion" person is someone too stuck in the mud to accept my beliefs. A cultist is someone too wacko to accept my beliefs. Anyone who believes what I tell them to believe is "just right."

Answer 5

That depends on the definitions you decide on. When describing ancient polytheistic religions, for instance, we often speak of cults for various gods. These were branches of the main pagan religion that "specialized" on a particular god.

In modern usage, cult has a more ominous meaning. It is proper to use it to describe small, highly centralized religious organizations that seek to brainwash and control their members. These organizations tend to demand their members distance themselves from non-believing family and friends, and they often require members devote huge amounts of time to "the cause" (enough to not have any spare time left over), and also huge amounts of money. The end result is that members become dependent on the cult, and they become dissociated from society.

I guess you're right in one sense: cults are types of religion. But not all religions are cults.

Answer 6

Cults are baby religions. If not nipped in the bud they may spread and 2000 years later the world finds itself with another major religion fighting wars and dictating policy.

Answer 7

Cults are smaller.

Also, cults are generally lead and founded by extremely charismatic people with a lot of influence over their followers, and often contain a strong apocalyptic element. So it's conceivable that Christianity and Islam began as cults. Scientology seems to be inbetween the two, even if it was originally created for profit.

Answer 8

There are many differences. Mainly cults, they replace your family,friends,free time, and free thinking abilities. Not to mention taking any and all money they can. A mainstream religion has balance, a cult doesn't.

Answer 9

Size. If you have a lot of believers, it's a religion; if a few, it's a cult; if just one, it's a delusion.

Answer 10

The following is a starting list of cults and some of their distinguishing false beliefs (please keep in mind that whole books can be written on these cults--these are therefore cursory descriptions).
Children of God/The Family
Jehovah Witness/Russellism
Roman Catholic
Christian Science/The Church of Christ Scientist
Mormon/The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
"BIBLE-BASED" CULTS (including groups like the "Garbage Eaters")
CHRISTADELPHIAN, I CHRISTADELPHIAN, II CHRISTADELPHIAN, III
BOSTON CHURCH OF CHRIST & THE CHURCH OF CHRIST