Whats people's opinion on the difference of a religion and a cult, and when does a cult turn into a religion?

Question

Whats people's opinion on the difference of a religion and a cult, and when does a cult turn into a religion?

Answer 1

all i know about the two is that they produce great music.

Answer 2

Every religion is a cult, but not every cult is a religion.

cult:

1. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.

2.a. A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or bogus. b. Followers of such a religion or sect.

3.a. Obsessive devotion or veneration for a person, principal, or ideal, esp. when regarded as a fad. b. The object of such devotion.

4. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric interest.

-- The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition

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Answer 3

Hurrah word: Religion.

Boo word: Cult.

The Jews at the time of Jesus would have considered his followers a cult.

Members of a religion need not all live together, but cult members always do.

Answer 4

As soon as you have to part with cash to join, it's a cult. As soon as there are more than 10000 of you, it's a religion.  

Answer 5

alot of religions are cults, trust me iv been in one. thank God im out..

the difference is cults will make up man made doctrains and pass them out to be bibilical, like you have to cut your hair or you cant wear pants if your a woman or you will go to h**l bla bla bla..  and they tend to exalt a man more then jesus.. Jesus said if i be lifted up i will draw all men unto me. also it tends to use alot of fear tactics to brainwash its members.. id say the main reason good churches turn into cults is pride and money.. leaders loose focus of there first love which is jesus christ..  

Answer 6

tax-exempt status.

Answer 7

There is only one religion and that is Christianity. The rest is a sin against God.

Answer 8

Each and everyone of them are cults they just consider other religions that don't have their same beliefs a cult.

Answer 9

Cult: Small unpopular Religion.

Religion: Large popular Cult.

Answer 10

Cult is pretty much a term for all the 'good' religions to call the 'bad' religions. It's all stupid, if you ask me.

Answer 11

i think there is a certain amount of members you need

befor a cult can be called a religion

Answer 12

All religions are cults, it's just some are in more control than others.

Answer 13

I would say a cult is when the leader tries to get you to drink the magic coolaid.  But in my opinion all religions are cults in some way.

Answer 14

A cult honors and idolizes a human being as God. They start to force large sums of money out of your pockets.

A religion honors an all-powerful being or essence as Supreme Ruler.

Answer 15

The difference is:

when a cult becomes socially excepted, it becomes a religion.

Or

By how much real estate they own

Answer 16

A religion leads a person on a right path , which our God want us to.

So i guess religion is far better than being a cult.....cult suffer at the end for sure n they r the right ful owner of the h**l while the people who follow up the religion and pay the duty towards God are the rightful owner of the Heaven

Cults will surely turn into a religon of Islam....

Coz Isa ( Jesus , PBUH) will surely return to earth n is goin to rule the world for 40 years and in the mean time he will spread the Islam everywhere and after that....when every single person in the world becomes muslim...........The Judgement day is goin to arrive

Thats not what I say....its wat the God say in Qur'an n I truly believe in it  

Answer 17

No, a religion is a cult, by definition.  

Answer 18

Dictionary definitions are accepted as opinion?

All religions are cults.

If you look up the word, you will find that it is the root word for "culture".

It has gained negative connotations in the past 100 years since people have taken the bible and other holy writings and practices (like Buddhism) carte blanche and made them into their own version.  Usually people with power lead weaker people astray.

However, the real negative thing is not "cult" per se, but the occult, which is something diametrically opposed to cult and established religion.