Thread: What's The Difference Between A Religion And A Cult?

Probably already been mentioned, but there's really no denotative difference in the definitions of the two words. They mean the same thing, but cult is pejorative.

Originally Posted by Steve

But they weren't isolated. They ran a web development business in Rancho Santa Fe...

They were socially and psychologically isolated.

Originally Posted by Korimir

Probably already been mentioned, but there's really no denotative difference in the definitions of the two words. They mean the same thing, but cult is pejorative.

There's a slight difference. A religion refers to a specific set of religious beliefs, and the cult consists of those who adhere to those beliefs.

But you're correct in saying that the term "cult" is very often used in a pejorative manner, usually by a member one cult directed towards another cult.

Yeah. It's pretty much "religion" when you're trying to get them to vote for you, and a "cult" when you don't care.

Originally Posted by jviehe

That would work too. Being an aethiest, im biased, but I see no difference between what religions do and what cults do except that lots of people agree with religion. Cult is simply the perjoritive for religion, unless you define religion in terms of beleif in a supernatural power, wheras cults could be defined by a worship of a human figure.

Well, the human figure part most of the time being correct we seem to have agreement. The only real difference between a "cult" and a "religion" is the number of followers and some general level of acceptance of what each case is. But to you and I, they are basically in the same class... nonsense.

I still think people are missing the aspect of cults that involve extreme physical and/or psychological manipulation and coercion.

Originally Posted by Hoplite

I still think people are missing the aspect of cults that involve extreme physical and/or psychological manipulation and coercion.

Whilst that's certainly true, I'd argue that religions also involve psychological manipulation (and certainly in past history, physical manipulation too, albeit several hundred years ago). Religions, on the basis of their doctrine, teach/preach that certain things/behaviour etc is acceptable, and others are not. Let's take homosexuality for example. How many families have been torn apart because a deeply religious parent chose to disown their gay child because it was in contradiction with their religious belief? Wouldn't the disowning of a child seem to go against nature? The "disownment" occurs because of the indoctrination of a particular set of beliefs/teachings, which a parent in this example chooses to adhere to, rather than keep their child as part of their family. Why do some people do this? I don't know, but I suspect it has to do with fear of what might happen if they oppose the teachings - particularly in the afterlife.

I'd just like to be clear though, I'm in no way attacking religions here, I'm simply trying to play devil's advocate when looking at the reasons behind why a religion might be different to a cult (BTW, I was born and raised a Catholic - I've been through the sacraments including baptism, reconciliation, holy communion, confirmation, and was educated at catholic schools - but now consider myself atheist.).

Cults aren't typically lead by men in silly hats religions often are.

Originally Posted by noahath

Whilst that's certainly true, I'd argue that religions also involve psychological manipulation (and certainly in past history, physical manipulation too, albeit several hundred years ago). Religions, on the basis of their doctrine, teach/preach that certain things/behaviour etc is acceptable, and others are not. Let's take homosexuality for example. How many families have been torn apart because a deeply religious parent chose to disown their gay child because it was in contradiction with their religious belief? Wouldn't the disowning of a child seem to go against nature? The "disownment" occurs because of the indoctrination of a particular set of beliefs/teachings, which a parent in this example chooses to adhere to, rather than keep their child as part of their family. Why do some people do this? I don't know, but I suspect it has to do with fear of what might happen if they oppose the teachings - particularly in the afterlife.

I'd just like to be clear though, I'm in no way attacking religions here, I'm simply trying to play devil's advocate when looking at the reasons behind why a religion might be different to a cult (BTW, I was born and raised a Catholic - I've been through the sacraments including baptism, reconciliation, holy communion, confirmation, and was educated at catholic schools - but now consider myself atheist.).

I understand where you're coming from, but I dont think anyone could reasonably argue that a group like the Branch Davidians could be equated with, say, Judaism.

Their actions towards their members are radically different and their treatment of members is radically different.

Originally Posted by Hoplite

I still think people are missing the aspect of cults that involve extreme physical and/or psychological manipulation and coercion.

If being told you are going to eternal torment for thought crime isn't psychological manipulation, what is?

Originally Posted by Hoplite

I understand where you're coming from, but I dont think anyone could reasonably argue that a group like the Branch Davidians could be equated with, say, Judaism.

Their actions towards their members are radically different and their treatment of members is radically different.

Oh certainly not, but I do think that a reasonable argument could be made that medieval relgion could have somewhat resembled Branch Davidians. All religions started somewhere, and I guess that was the point of the OP - to see at which point a religion is 'formed' so to speak.

Originally Posted by JDJarvis

If being told you are going to eternal torment for thought crime isn't psychological manipulation, what is?

No one is going to assault you or kidnap you for rejecting Christianity.

I dont think anyone can say, with any degree of intellectual honesty, that someone who leaves the Protestant or Jewish will be treated the same as a person who tries to leave a group like the Branch Davidians.

Originally Posted by noahath

Oh certainly not, but I do think that a reasonable argument could be made that medieval relgion could have somewhat resembled Branch Davidians. All religions started somewhere, and I guess that was the point of the OP - to see at which point a religion is 'formed' so to speak.

True, and perhaps given enough time, these groups will evolve into more formalized assemblies where the individual is given more freedom however I think until that time the classification of a "cult" is appropriate.

Originally Posted by Hoplite

No one is going to assault you or kidnap you for rejecting Christianity.

That may be true of Christianity, but it isn't true of all Muslim religions at this day and age. Remember, the topic wasn't about when a cult becomes a Christian-based religion, it's just 'a religion'. I wonder what would happen if someone stood in the centre of Mecca and screamed "I reject Allah, and everything he stands for"?

Originally Posted by Hoplite

True, and perhaps given enough time, these groups will evolve into more formalized assemblies where the individual is given more freedom however I think until that time the classification of a "cult" is appropriate.

And I think that's the crux that we seem to be getting too: cults seem to become a religion once they achieve a high number of followers, and over time in which it evolves in social acceptance. That's why cults that exist today aren't religions, but we don't know what they'll be in a hundred years time. I guess we come back to the old chicken v egg thing: do all religions therefore stem from cults?

(As an aside, I have an answer on the question of "which came first, the chicken or the egg." Based on science, birds evolved from reptiles, so therefore the egg came first. I know it's off-topic but I thought it was a bit of useless info for the side ).