What is the difference between a religion and a cult?

[manifold]

The size of the congregation.

 

[Shogun]

i'll agree with that definition.

it seems to match the historic pattern of popular dogmas

 

[Paulie]

The corporate media will be sure to clear it up on individual cases, whenever it becomes necessary to push an agenda.

Scientology - not demonized
Branch Davidians - demonized as horrible evil people

But what's the difference between the 2, really?

 

[Shogun]

scientology is not demonized?


im not sure I agree with that at all.

 

[Paulie]

scientology is not demonized?


im not sure I agree with that at all.

In the MSM?

 

[Shogun]

um, yea.

is scientology really something that people admire or smirk about when talking about tom cruise?


glib, yo.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Reading the definition of a cult pretty much ensures every religion falls in the definition.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Here ya go.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cult

 

[manifold]

Reading the definition of a cult pretty much ensures every religion falls in the definition.

I'd say that supports my stated distinction rather nicely.

 

[Dr Grump]

Scientology has been demonised (rightly) by the MSM for a long time. Sometimes newspapers and magazines get put off because the "church" is quite litigious. But they do rightfully cop a lot of bad press - and its "stars" especially so of late!

 

[Shogun]

Reading the definition of a cult pretty much ensures every religion falls in the definition.

which, given the history of every dogma that you can shake a stick at, is true.

Would it be too much to expect a mormon to fathom that?


cult /kʌlt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuhlt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. 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.
6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.
7. the members of such a religion or sect.
8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.

 

[midcan5]

Like pornography I know it when I see it.

http://www.howcultswork.com/

http://www.religion-cults.com/

 

[David_N]

Maybe it's do with the level of choice? You can walk away from a religion or church, but not from a cult.

 

[eots]

The size of the congregation.

and weather or not it pose a threat to the status quo... if you don't play nice with Cesar... you will soon be a cult