Cult and Religion-Is there a Difference?

DC · 09-11-2010, 10:04 AM

Re: Cult and Religion-Is there a Difference?

Entire article Here

Many ideas surrounding the definition of a cult are shaped by the media. When most people think of cults, religious groups that engage in dangerous, criminal, unethical, and devious practices pop into their mind.

Groups typically considered cults, including the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS), Church of Scientology, Branch Davidians, Jim Jones’s Peoples Temple, Manson Family, Solar Temple, and Heaven’s Gate, have received or are still receiving a lot attention on TV, in newspapers, and on the internet.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Neutral and Negative Meanings of the Word “Cult”</span>

In the neutral sense of the term, a cult is simply a religious group. The word “cult” can designate a new and small group of people devoted to particular religious doctrine, ideas, and principles. A cult may grow into a religion. For instance, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started out as a cult in the 1800s, when it was founded by Joseph Smith, but has since developed into a religion with nearly 14 million members.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Difference Between a Cult and a Religion</span>

In his article “The Difference Between Cults and Religions,” Rabbi Brad Hirschfield remarks, “The fact that pretty much every religion has done all of these things [typically ascribed to cults] at some point in history of the group means the line between cults and religions ... is not fixed or static.” The rabbi references the Hebrew Bible story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac to God as evidence of cultish threads that run through religions.

The rabbi notes, “Most religions can and do slip into cult-like behavior from time to time.” For instance, many religions claim to be the only true church, use fear of damnation to dissuade members from questioning or leaving the organization, and shun members who do leave.

The line between religions and cults can indeed be blurry at times, so how is it possible to tell the difference between the two? The main difference is the degree to which a religious group or organization engages in negative cult-like practices. The second major difference between cults and religions is that, generally speaking, religions are accepted by mainstream society, while cults are not. Religions typically have many followers, while cults have relatively few.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Dangerous Cults</span>

The term "cult" means different things in different contexts, but in its usual and popular sense, it refers to a manipulative and fringe religious group. Religious groups deemed dangerous cults hold powerful sway over their members. Cults engage in subversive, deceitful, and back-handed practices to control adherents by claiming to have a monopoly on answers to all of life’s questions and problems and by teaching that salvation is only attainable by following the cult’s particular path.

**f0rTyLeGz** · 09-11-2010, 06:19 PM

Re: Cult and Religion-Is there a Difference?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Silent_River</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Entire article Here

Many ideas surrounding the definition of a cult are shaped by the media. When most people think of cults, religious groups that engage in dangerous, criminal, unethical, and devious practices pop into their mind.

Groups typically considered cults, including the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS), Church of Scientology, Branch Davidians, Jim Jones’s Peoples Temple, Manson Family, Solar Temple, and Heaven’s Gate, have received or are still receiving a lot attention on TV, in newspapers, and on the internet.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Neutral and Negative Meanings of the Word “Cult”</span>

In the neutral sense of the term, a cult is simply a religious group. The word “cult” can designate a new and small group of people devoted to particular religious doctrine, ideas, and principles. A cult may grow into a religion. For instance, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started out as a cult in the 1800s, when it was founded by Joseph Smith, but has since developed into a religion with nearly 14 million members.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Difference Between a Cult and a Religion</span>

In his article “The Difference Between Cults and Religions,” Rabbi Brad Hirschfield remarks, “The fact that pretty much every religion has done all of these things [typically ascribed to cults] at some point in history of the group means the line between cults and religions ... is not fixed or static.” The rabbi references the Hebrew Bible story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac to God as evidence of cultish threads that run through religions.

The rabbi notes, “Most religions can and do slip into cult-like behavior from time to time.” For instance, many religions claim to be the only true church, use fear of damnation to dissuade members from questioning or leaving the organization, and shun members who do leave.

The line between religions and cults can indeed be blurry at times, so how is it possible to tell the difference between the two? The main difference is the degree to which a religious group or organization engages in negative cult-like practices. The second major difference between cults and religions is that, generally speaking, religions are accepted by mainstream society, while cults are not. Religions typically have many followers, while cults have relatively few.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Dangerous Cults</span>

The term "cult" means different things in different contexts, but in its usual and popular sense, it refers to a manipulative and fringe religious group. Religious groups deemed dangerous cults hold powerful sway over their members. Cults engage in subversive, deceitful, and back-handed practices to control adherents by claiming to have a monopoly on answers to all of life’s questions and problems and by teaching that salvation is only attainable by following the cult’s particular path.</div></div>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc">[*]The group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.

&#8234; Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.

&#8234; Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, and debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).

&#8234; The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (for example, members must get permission to date, change jobs, marry—or leaders prescribe what types of clothes to wear, where to live, whether or not to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).

&#8234; The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s) and members (for example, the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).

&#8234; The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.

&#8234; The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).

&#8234; The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members' participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (for example, lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).

&#8234; The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt iin order to influence and/or control members. Often, this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.

&#8234; Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.

&#8234; The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.

&#8234; The group is preoccupied with making money.

&#8234; Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.

&#8234; Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.

&#8234; The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave (or even consider leaving) the group.[/list]
This checklist will be published in the new book, Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias (Berkeley: Bay Tree Publishing, 2006). It was adapted from a checklist originally developed by Michael Langone.

http://www.csj.org/infoserv_cult101/checklis.htm

I think that your little article is a little soft. People have had a clear notion of what cults are and are not for decades. Your authors second definition is trouble in my book... "The second major difference between cults and religions is that, generally speaking, religions are accepted by mainstream society, while cults are not." Scientology, clearly a cult... has been granted religious status in America. That is ridiculous decision because anyone who has spent any time within Scientology KNOWS it is a cult.

Check out http://www.rickross.com/ if you are interested in destructive cults. Rick Ross has been around for decades... I think he ought to have a "realty" TV show where someone infiltrates cults.

**britisha** · 09-12-2010, 08:21 PM

Re: Cult and Religion-Is there a Difference?

Mr Legz...

**franksterr** · 09-13-2010, 10:50 AM

Re: Cult and Religion-Is there a Difference?

All religions started out as cults, religions are just established and accept cults.

Cult and Religion-Is there a Difference?

Cult and Religion-Is there a Difference?

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