What is the difference between a cult and a religion?

Its a matter of perspective

Religion is an organized collection of belief systems, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values.

A cult is a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

So since my Religion/Cult (since they are actually the same thing) believes that all Catholics and protestants and mostly everyone else is a Cult because they have false unbiblical doctrines and man made teachings as part of their believe systems.

They would consider Us a cult because we don't believe in their religious belief system.

Like I said its a matter of perspective.

Cult is any religion that has a central figure of authority, such as Jesus Christ. It is, in the vulgar, a fan club of devoted followers. The number of followers has no bearing on whether or not a particular group is a cult or not, as long as there is a central figure of adoration.

Non-deity-based religions may be considered cults, if they fit one of the following dictionary definitions:

1. a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies.

2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, especially as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

3. the object of such devotion.

4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.

5. Sociology . a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

In other words, there is no difference between _any_ religion and a cult.

Added: The word "cult" is often used in a denigrating manner in religious discussions, mostly to put down a group that has teachings and/or practices that vary from the speaker's group. Without realizing it, the speaker has become a hypocrite in their declaring any other group - other than their own - as a "cult".

The term "sect" has similar connotations, but like the word cult, has a more general and less offensive meaning. Only when the words are used to purposely denigrate others is there a problem.

Are Jehovah's Witnesses a sect or cult?

Some define sect to mean a group that has broken away from an established religion. Others apply the term to a group that follows a particular human leader or teacher. The term is usually used in a derogatory way. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not an offshoot of some church but include persons from all walks of life and from many religious backgrounds. They do not look to any human, but rather to Jesus Christ, as their leader.

A cult is a religion that is said to be unorthodox or that emphasizes devotion according to prescribed ritual. Many cults follow a living human leader, and often their adherents live in groups apart from the rest of society. The standard for what is orthodox, however, should be God’s Word, and Jehovah’s Witnesses strictly adhere to the Bible. Their worship is a way of life, not a ritual devotion. They neither follow a human nor isolate themselves from the rest of society. They live and work in the midst of other people.

A cult is a religion that is said to be unorthodox or that emphasizes devotion according to prescribed ritual. Many cults follow a living human leader, and often their adherents live in groups apart from the rest of society.

Religion

Definition: A form of worship. It includes a system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; these may be personal, or they may be advocated by an organization. Usually religion involves belief in God or in a number of gods; or it treats humans, objects, desires, or forces as objects of worship. Much religion is based on human study of nature; there is also revealed religion. There is true religion and false.

I believe a cult is a group who distort Christianity and while it may embrace parts of Christianity it leads its followers away from the truth.

Many people have been led away by what seems like a legitimate way to follow God only to find the people who run the show have a controlling influence and try to dominate people's thinking and lives as do the Moonies.

Anyone who takes away from the truth of the New Testament is operating as a cult.

Cults are leaders that seek for power and in controlling there followers, by taking away there free Agency. This gift free agency has been given to all of us to make choices in our lives Good or evil we choose the direction we wish to take in this life.

And none has a right to take that away in any way nor does any church. We all have a right to keep Gods commandments or not, it is our choice if we desire to want to return to live with our heavenly father or not, thru our Obedience.

Lucifer wanted to take man's free agency away and for this cause was cast out of heaven for rebelling against our heavenly Father and became the devil.

It is he Lucifer who leads Cults in these last days to destroy the hearts of the lords children in any way he can. be not deceived for the devil shell deceive as many as will permit him to do so.

Remember that the devil works in darkness and God works in light this is how people can Discern the Difference between the devil and God. With God all things are Good and brings great Joy into peoples lives, and with the devil it brings nothing but a lot of deception lies pain and a lot of suffering into ones life.

Cults claim exclusivity and require you to their particular ways.

In other words they seek to control you.

Exclusivity in itself is not necessarily wrong but it is this element of control which defines a cult.

Christ died to save sinners, and from their sin. He died and rose again that any might know God for themselves. Even the least. He therefore also came to save from religion and men and the control of others.

The cult seeks to reverse that and demands allegiance to itself.

Cults such as the Roman Catholic Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Mormon church, Scientology, and of course Islam are the major well known ones, but there are very many out there of all types and ideas and shades and ugliness.

I had never thought of that... but now that I think about it, there is no difference. religion is trying to get to God by following a set of rules and I imagine cult to be the same.

the thing that people don't understand is that God isn't intended to be a religion. at first, with Judaism, the males had to be circumcised and they were under the law of Moses. that's religion/cult but when Jesus came, he broke the law and we are no longer chained to religion but are free to have a relationship with God.

About 150 to 200 years. It's a cult until it stays around for a while.

A cult wants it's followers to only listen to their own teachings , to go outside is taboo, and in many it is grounds for excommunication. With Muslims possibly death, especially if they convert to Christianity.