Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Social Sciences
  4. / Religions
  5. / Religious Terminology

by AB-Joel on April 9th, 2004

AB-Joel

Question

Help answer this question below.

What is the difference between a religion and a cult?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by Astaroth on April 9th, 2004

    Astaroth

    A cult is usually defined as a "a religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader", is also often considered as a "obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing". It is also characterized for being "young in years of existence" and having usually "only relatively few followers".

    A religion in change is defined as a "personal or institutionalized system grounded in the belief, worship and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe". It also has a "set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader". Religions are usually "ancient or very old in years" and have "millions of followers".

    Therefore, a religion is not necessarily a cult, but a cult is always a religion. Being a cult a religion usually characterized by radicalism, oddness, obsession, short number of years, small number of followers and guidance by a founder who almost all the times tend to be authoritarian. Another particularity is that in cults, you found that in many cases the cult-followers worship the founder as God himself.

    About the comments (with bad ratings) :( I don't know why some people think that Jehova's Witnesses and Mormons are cults. They comply with every requisite to be religions and not to be considered cults. Besides, I used the words "usually" and "relatively" referrering to the small number of followers. You can't put in the same category the "Mormon Church" and the "Cult of the Followers of the Purple Rose"!

    Comments

    • I do not necessarily agree that a cult is always small in numbers, such as Mormons or Jehovah's Witness.

      catlover

      by catlover on April 12th, 2004

    • ditto

      wfbrad

      by wfbrad on April 12th, 2004

    • A fair characterization

      AB-Joel

      by AB-Joel on April 12th, 2004

    • Concise, good, and accurate answer.

      Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony

      by Andy Is Wicked Married to Penal Colony on April 27th, 2004

    • It is quite easy to see how some Cults become religions in their own right.

      davm20

      by davm20 on September 8th, 2004

    • In France, the government decides who's a religion vs who's a cult. They call the LDS Church a cult, but I can't say I agree

      Too Much Time On My Hands

      by Too Much Time On My Hands on September 15th, 2004

    • A very complete and accurate answer!

      Anonymous

      by Anonymous on February 13th, 2005

    • If you lock yourselves away and have enough weaponry to start a small war, you are a cult.

      RedJohn

      by RedJohn on November 2nd, 2005

    • Actually, originally cults and religions were defined solely by their numbers. Not all cults were radicals, just religious groups that did not have as many followers. Technically, all religions would have been cults at one point or another, before they grew in numbers (See the last answer on this page). The word 'cult' gained a negative connotation generally because religious groups would consider them to be peddling 'false religions', and would consider them to have radical beliefs, whether or not they did.

      Anonymous

      by Anonymous on November 29th, 2006

    • good answer in the u.k the govenment desides whats a religion and whats a cult,last year they decided that sciantoligy was a cult and i agree,although i think theres a very fine line between the two.

      BOOZE HOUND... nothing is nonsence

      by BOOZE HOUND... nothing is nonsence on May 25th, 2008

    • would you say that the difference is a matter of opinion?

      C.Leo

      by C.Leo on September 17th, 2010

    • Like
    • Report

    11 comments | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading What is the difference between a religion and a cult?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company