What is the real difference between an accepted religion and a religious cult?

You answered your own question. There is no real difference except for size and acceptance. Sometimes cults do really strange things, like having all the members kill themselves, but usually you don't have to look too far back in any religions history to find strange things. I agree with you that all religions start off as cults.

It is probably not the correct way to ask the question.First, all religions do not start of as cults. Although they are most likely small in the beginning. As to what an accepted religion is... the answer would have to be, any system of belief. Atheism, science, etc... And to the question of what is a cult, I guess I would answer that one as being a religion that was set against or antagonistic towards Christianity, or perhaps some other "accepted religion"! Finally it could be said that they both do, in fact, act the same or at least similarly.

You might rethink the question and ask where does God fit into this issue. It will help you define what you are asking.

I believe the real definitions of cult and religion are similar to those of "mountain" and "hill", or in other words, it is very subjective. In the case of "cult", the meaning has morphed over the years to take on a much more negative connotation.

So yes, to answer your question, all religions can be said to start as a cult, specifically Christianity was called a cult in the early centuries. This is also true more recently, LDS was, and still is by some of the Christian community, considered a cult.

Cults today have the connotation of brainwashing their followers and essentially being harmful in some way.

I believe that accepted religion is one that is Bible based and believes in God and Jesus. One that doesn't ask anything of you except perhaps to tithe.

A religious cult is one that has their own book which they call a bible and controls your lifestyle.

Any religion that causes harm to others is a cult.

Any religion that says only they are the true religions and other religions are wrong if they have different beliefs systems is a cult.

No, a cult by definition is different because it involves secrets. Anykind of secret ritual or action that only higher ups (not even some members) can participate in or know about, is occultic in nature. Most religions are open about what they believe and about their practices. Within certain religions there are cults that spring up. It doesn't matter the number of members or how wide the acceptance is, secrecy is the key.

The two words really mean the same thing, more or less: religion from religens, "respect for what is sacred, devotion to the gods;" cult from cultus, "care, cultivation, worship."

But in the popular connotation, you're right - it's the size and general acceptance of a given belief system that determines whether it gets labeled a "religion" or a "cult." Also its age.

Religions can have a cult attached to them. A religion is a philosophy, from metaphysics (view of the nature of reality) up. It explains the universe to you. A cult is merely behavioural, things you do, like being baptized. The cult elements may have symbolic significance, act as a way to remind us of the religious element, but it is separate from the religion.

It from time to time relies upon on attitude. yet i might say that there is not any longer one single definition, yet a series of standards and the extra critieria you meet, the extra possibly which you're in a cult. - a million single charismatic chief that as quickly as he dies.. the team falls aside - a million single chief who's considered as a god and can perform above the and classic morality would not prepare to them - a million single chief who controls the funds of the team - a million single chief who controls each and every component of its participants lives and oftentimes circumstances tells them the thank you to experience and act. - a million single chief who has intercourse with absolutely everyone or each and every person interior the team, as a precise or priveldge - a team which does no longer enable its participants to bypass away - a team who's ideals run opposite to society in some considerable strategies or condones issues that are taboo by potential of societal standards - a team which maintains to be segregated from the the remainder of society in a compound or different actual region - a team which does no longer combine with the the remainder of society and would not carry jobs interior the conventional society nor make contributions to society in different strategies. - a team it extremely is a destroy off or splinter from yet another team over doctrinal matters and holds an interpretation opposite to the team it broke off from. - a team that holds apocalyptic perspectives or predicts the top circumstances. - a team which aggressively markets itself and tries to positive factors hundreds or hundreds of participants in a quick volume of time - a team that forces participants to be decrease off from their families or absolutely everyone who would not convert. - a team that demands great sums of money from its participants and numerous it is funneled to the chief. basically approximately all businesses will demonstrate a number of of of those dispositions, even valid businesses. the factor is that a cult will demonstrate a great sort of those and to a lots deeper volume then different businesses.

The definition of a cult is that it has a leader who exerts a lot of control over its followers.

Religious cult:

It is any teaching which is contrary to the basic doctrines of God's Word, such as the Trinity, the virgin birth of Christ,

the atoning death of Christ, along with His bodily resurrection

and second coming, salvation by grace through faith in Jesus

Christ, the bodily resurrection of all believers and reality of heaven, the eternal condemnation of those who reject Christ.