cults vs religion

[DapperDrake]

I think bottom line is that the difference between a cult and a religion is size. (putting aside the semantics for a moment)

Basically a cult is a small group with unique religious beliefs - and this is of course the problem with cults, the leader/priest/prophet of the cult has complete control, where as religions are composed of hundreds or thousands or hundreds of thousands of groups each with its own "priest" who is largely answerable to the censure of the other groups and priests.

Of course religions have established and immutable canon which is something that cults lack, though naturally even with established doctrine extremists can read just about anything they want into it to justify their actions, so the difference isn't as great as it might be.

[jgweed]

By coincidence, I came across this article in The Guardian:
Teenager faces prosecution for calling Scientology 'cult'


http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/ma...d=networkfront

[blazeofglory]

I think bottom line is that the difference between a cult and a religion is size. (putting aside the semantics for a moment)

Basically a cult is a small group with unique religious beliefs - and this is of course the problem with cults, the leader/priest/prophet of the cult has complete control, where as religions are composed of hundreds or thousands or hundreds of thousands of groups each with its own "priest" who is largely answerable to the censure of the other groups and priests.

Of course religions have established and immutable canon which is something that cults lack, though naturally even with established doctrine extremists can read just about anything they want into it to justify their actions, so the difference isn't as great as it might be.

When religion holders become extremists cults originate there.

[Pendragon]

A cult is not necessarily negative.

Name one, please, Nik.

[blazeofglory]

A cult is not necessarily negative.

A cult is not always necessarily negative, but more often than it is negatively inclined for history validates this point.