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

the US distinguishes between them by population of members. Religions have a lot of members. Cults do not.

Originally Posted by reality

the US distinguishes between them by population of members. Religions have a lot of members. Cults do not.

Source?

As you wish...

Originally Posted by tsquare

The word cult pejoratively refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre.

Would 'Hope and Change' fall under that?

Maybe...

I can quote WIki, too:

The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices.

Sounds a lot like religion...

The word was first used in the early 17th century denoting homage paid to a divinity...

Sounds a lot like religion.

There's nothing in this discussion which needs to be political. If that's your intent (and it certainly seems to be), I would ask that you refrain...

Originally Posted by Steve

Source?

Don't have one. It was the answer I received from my 8th grade history teacher when I asked. I've never seen anything refuting it, and it makes a certain amount of sense. I mean the mormons were a cult until they got too many members for them to be suppressed. Scientology seems to have made the leap as well from cult to religion (at least in the legal context) or to at least be well on its way.

There are certainly exceptions to this rule, usually having to do with destructive practices (a suicide cult would be stopped no matter it's size. can't be killing off the tax base) towards and of its members.

Originally Posted by reality

Don't have one. It was the answer I received from my 8th grade history teacher when I asked.

You'll excuse me if I dismiss an unsubstantiated answer from an eighth grade history teacher. I'm really looking for something a bit more concrete.

Was that a public school, by chance?

I've never seen anything refuting it, and it makes a certain amount of sense. I mean the mormons were a cult until they got too many members for them to be suppressed. Scientology seems to have made the leap as well from cult to religion (at least in the legal context) or to at least be well on its way.

I suppose I can see how it could make some sense.

Then again, in the case of the Mormons, I think it's actually more accurate to say that they were incorrectly labeled as a cult when, all along, they were a valid religion.

After all, with that position, it would make sense to say that had Manson not been caught, and grew his following in numbers, that it would be a legitimate religion, or that Jim Jones, had he not shot up a Congressman and killed all of his followers, could've had a very valid religion, yet he was the object of worship...

Originally Posted by Steve

You'll excuse me if I dismiss an unsubstantiated answer from an eighth grade history teacher. I'm really looking for something a bit more concrete.

Was that a public school, by chance?



I suppose I can see how it could make some sense.

Then again, in the case of the Mormons, I think it's actually more accurate to say that they were incorrectly labeled as a cult when, all along, they were a valid religion.

After all, with that position, it would make sense to say that had Manson not been caught, and grew his following in numbers, that it would be a legitimate religion, or that Jim Jones, had he not shot up a Congressman and killed all of his followers, could've had a very valid religion, yet he was the object of worship...

Steve don't cut the last paragraph out of my response and then talk at me like I didn't ALREADY answer your objection. Destructive practices (especially illegal ones like say Murder or mass Suicide) tend to put a nix on it no matter the size. Hence my comment about SUICIDE cults in that missing paragraph.

Originally Posted by reality

Steve don't cut the last paragraph out of my response and then talk at me like I didn't ALREADY answer your objection. Destructive practices (especially illegal ones like say Murder or mass Suicide) tend to put a nix on it no matter the size. Hence my comment about SUICIDE cults in that missing paragraph.

I saw no reason to include it, because I had no need to address it...

Originally Posted by Steve

What is the difference between a religion and a cult?

The respective dominant religion, which changes from region to region declares all other rival religions to cults.
Thats the difference.

Originally Posted by Steve

I saw no reason to include it, because I had no need to address it...

That's funny cause you just brought up jim jones and charles manson. Go back, read the 2nd paragraph and answer your own question.

Originally Posted by Tuco

The respective dominant religion, which changes from region to region declares all other rival religions to cults.
Thats the difference.

except buddhism and islam are considered mainstream religions. so is hinduism. None of those are Christian. Definition fail.

Originally Posted by reality

the US distinguishes between them by population of members. Religions have a lot of members. Cults do not.

Unfortunately that is all to often true.

A better answer would be that a religion offers a symbiotic relationship between the individual, family, and congregation, while a cult is parasitic, with the command structure feeding on the family/individual without any real return on investment.

Of course that begs another question: What would you consider to be a blessing?

Originally Posted by Commodore

Unfortunately that is all to often true.

So were the Mormons, originally, a cult? It's been said that a cult doesn't have many members, and that would be descriptive of the Mormons early on. Come to think of it, it could be quite descriptive of christianity, too...

A better answer would be that a religion offers a symbiotic relationship between the individual, family, and congregation, while a cult is parasitic, with the command structure feeding on the family/individual without any real return on investment.

In all the definitions I've found of "cult", none of them mentioned anything about paratic command structures feeding on the family/individual.

Could you provide something which supports that, or is that merely your opinion?