What is the difference between a cult and a religion?

M

Mrs.Lucysnow

Valued Senior Member
What is the difference between a cult and a religion?

A cult is defined as "followers of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices".

Religion: "a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny"

So what's the difference between scientology, islam, christianity and buddhism outside of the details of what they believe?

Scientology is recognized as a legitimate religion (even if they think ET is behind everything) and their founder has claimed this in answer to the question of whether they believe in god:

"Scientology is a path to personal spiritual enlightenment and knowledge. Or, as Hubbard phrased it in a discussion with a student on the nature of God in a lecture of 12 February 1957 entitled "Final Lecture: Questions and Answers" (Released as part of the "Anatomy of Cause" lectures):

“Don’t ever miss this in what I teach you – don’t ever miss this: I am telling you how to get there, not what is there….We are studying a way of traveling rather than a series of destinations….”

“We are all denominational rather than non-denominational, and so we should be perfectly willing to include in our ranks a Moslem or a Taoist, as well as any Protestant or Catholic…”

http://www.scientologymyths.info/cult-or-religion/do-scientologists-believe-in-god.php

So what differentiates a cult from a religion?

Is it the amount of time its been around? Meaning can a cult become a religion if they last long enough.

Is it the nature of their fellowship? Jim Jones was considered a cult leader but actually he was a bible thumping christian preacher and his followers considered themselves christians.

Is it the belief in a god? Scientology really do not seem to worship any particular god and yet they are acknowledged as a religion here in the States.
 
In general I'd say there is no difference between the two.

In practice a religion has been around longer and it's superstitions are accepted as "rational" by the majority of society. If everyone where to open gifts on Saint Xenu Day and that was normal and then along came a new "cult" called Xiantiy, well then, a "virgin" birth would seem as strange (/stupid) to them as intergalactic DC7s are to us.

The only other thing I could think is cults usually center around a cult of personality and by the time they are religions that person is dead and gone. So, maybe cults are only the initial phase?
 
People need to stop using "cult" in the colloquial meaning, first off. If you're going to use the term, use it with its sociological and anthropological meaning. One that is devoid of negative connotations.

In sociology, a "cult" is a sub-sect of a sect. It's a part of religion; it's only a matter of scale. In anthropology or comparative religion, "cult" generally means the practices, the behaviours surrounding a religion rather than the religion as a whole.
For example, the mystery cults of the Hellenistic period and Roman era. The reason they are called "cults" is because they were relatively small, and were centred around specific practices and patterns of behaviour relating to their beliefs. And mystery religions because, of course, they were based around hidden or esoteric information.
 
If it was supported and/or reconstructed by a powerful regime (such as Roman Empire, or Islamic Civilization) you get yourself a religion.

If it was not supported by the powerful establishment (a.k.a. "states"), you get a cult...

Same is true for political ideologies: If state is constructed on a certain ideology, it becomes legal and official regime. If anything contradicts the regime of a state or the ideology behind this regime, it becomes illegal, harmful, extreme -just name it- ideology or movement. This formula looks so clear, explanatory and simple to me. If it did not satisfy your quest, you can always welcome to check out historic and contemporary examples all around world...
 
Kapyong said:
If it's someone else in a religion you don't like - it's a cult.
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I think that's probably the best definition yet!! As a selfish, ego-centric species, we're always trying to make ourselves more important and more intelligent and more knowledgeable than our fellows! Geez, we're all a bunch of self-righteous bastards, ain't we? ...LOL!

Baron Max
 
Cult

1: formal religious veneration : worship
2: a system of religious beliefs and ritual ; also : its body of adherents
3: a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious ; also : its body of adherents
4: a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator <health cults>
5 a: great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book) ; especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b: the object of such devotion c: a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion.

Religion

Middle English religioun, from Anglo-French religiun, Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back — more at rely
Date:13th century
1 a: the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness
4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith


Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
 
Thank you for posting that, Cosmic. I agree with those definitions.
In particular, definitions 2 and 4 of Religion are how I've always defined that term.
 
S.A.M. said:
I'd say a cult has a living leader
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Hubbard is dead and scientology continues regardless, there is even talk of his return as some kind of reincarnated messiah.

And at one time all the leaders of christianity, Islam and Buddhism were known to exist.
 
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cosmictraveler said:
Cult

1: formal religious veneration : worship
2: a system of religious beliefs and ritual ; also : its body of adherents
3: a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious ; also : its body of adherents
4: a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator <health cults>
5 a: great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book) ; especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b: the object of such devotion c: a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion.

Religion

Middle English religioun, from Anglo-French religiun, Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back — more at rely
Date:13th century
1 a: the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness
4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith


Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
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So then they are the same.
 
Lucysnow said:
Is it the nature of their fellowship? Jim Jones was considered a cult leader but actually he was a bible thumping christian preacher and his followers considered themselves christians.
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its hard to say what jones was. above all he was a socialist. and every religion has a living leader so i dont think the term cult applies.

afa Hapsburgs comments, words evolve. with events in recent history groups labeled as cults have gone rogue.

http://modern-us-history.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_theology_of_jim_jones
 
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Lucysnow said:
So then they are the same.
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Yes. It's all just a matter of scale.
Or, for other definitions, a matter of practice. Cult denotes the practices of a religion, while religion is the whole shebang: applied philosophy.
 
Lucysnow said:
What is the difference between a cult and a religion?
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To the non religious, nothing really.

To the religious, a cult is a religion you don't approve of.

So what's the difference between scientology, islam, christianity and buddhism outside of the details of what they believe?
Click to expand...

Buddhism doesn't have to be a religion. But as religions, there really isn't much difference.
 
In Islam Believe in GOD and cult are related, so u cant be muslim and pray like a muslim without believe in GOD.
 
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