Quick Question

[The Lioness]

What is the difference between a religion and a cult?

[Cosmo]

Originally Posted by The Lioness

What is the difference between a religion and a cult?

This is the moment when you realise you've escaped the Matrix.

[ReluctantPegasister]

The size. There is no other difference.

[Squidgy]

I agree with Maeve, sometimes cult's can be more strict about their rules.

[Megan1]

Literally speaking, the word "cult" just means "a religion and it's rites/ceremonies". So if we are speaking on literal terms, there isn't much of a difference.

However, when people say cult, that usually isn't what they are referring to. They are usually referring to one of two things:

1. a group (usually a religious group, but it doesn't have to be) that controls people with force, strict rules, causing harm to others, and often illegal practices/rituals

2. a group that teaches false religion/false teachings

When I use the word "cult", I am usually referring to #2. When people use it in everyday language without giving it much thought, they are usually referring to #1. But literally speaking, the word cult basically means religion...so I think they would technically be the same thing. Only technically though, because most people don't use it in it's proper context.

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

The only difference is the name.

Originally Posted by Megan1

2. a group that teaches false religion/false teachings

What defines a false religion versus a true religion?

[Eldora]

Originally Posted by The Man And XX Master

The only difference is the name.



What defines a false religion versus a true religion?

Just for the record, I'd really like to hear this one, as well, though I think I might have a bit of a guess.

I believe she might be referring to a so-called 'false religion' in the sense of a religion that was created so that the clergy of that religion -- that is to say, priests or preachers -- use their religion to manipulate or scam money out of large groups of people, or use their religion to explain away crimes that they do to or with their followers.

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

Originally Posted by Eldora

I believe she might be referring to a so-called 'false religion' in the sense of a religion that was created so that the clergy of that religion -- that is to say, priests or preachers -- use their religion to manipulate or scam money out of large groups of people, or use their religion to explain away crimes that they do to or with their followers.

Wouldn't Christianity be a false religion because there was a whole lot of killing and other crimes in the bible that was "justified" by stating the deceased did something against god, such as believe in a different religion?

[Megan1]

When I said false religion, I was referring to a religion that isn't true or teaches things that aren't true. So a "true religion" would be a religion that teaches only truth. Yes every religion has some hypocrites who mis-use it, but that's not what I'm talking about....I'm talking about "false religion" as being one whose actual doctrine teaches you to believe things that aren't true.

Again, I know that isn't the literal definition of cult, but that is one way that people often use the word.

[Cosmo]

Originally Posted by Megan1

When I said false religion, I was referring to a religion that isn't true or teaches things that aren't true. So a "true religion" would be a religion that teaches only truth. Yes every religion has some hypocrites who mis-use it, but that's not what I'm talking about....I'm talking about "false religion" as being one whose actual doctrine teaches you to believe things that aren't true.

Again, I know that isn't the literal definition of cult, but that is one way that people often use the word.

How do you tell if it's true or not?

[TheNumber42]

Originally Posted by Megan1

2. a group that teaches false religion/false teachings

In other words, no different than religion.

[Cosmo]

Originally Posted by TheNumber42

In other words, no different than religion.

This assumes that all religion is objectively false, something I hope you realise is a ridiculous claim to make.

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

Originally Posted by Megan1

When I said false religion, I was referring to a religion that isn't true or teaches things that aren't true. So a "true religion" would be a religion that teaches only truth. Yes every religion has some hypocrites who mis-use it, but that's not what I'm talking about....I'm talking about "false religion" as being one whose actual doctrine teaches you to believe things that aren't true.

There is no way to establish an objective measure of truthfulness in religion, which is what you're implying. You can say a religion is true because you have faith it is true but that's a different story than this. For example, I can say Greek mythology teaches things that aren't true while saying a certain sect of Theistic Satanism teaches things that are true but this is purely subjective. Likewise, you could say Greek mythology is true but again, it's subjective.

People have been battling over religious differences for fuck knows how long, each side saying they're true and the others are false. You're implying you, some random teenager somehow stumbled upon an objective measure, which everyone would like for you to explain.

This also begs the question, can there be more than one true religion?

[Megan1]

I wasn't trying to say which religions are/aren't true. Other than through faith, you can't know which one is true. You already know that I am a Christian and believe that only completely-bible-based Christianity is true...but that's not the point that I was trying to make and is irrelevent to this. I only know through faith, and other than through faith you can't really know which one is true.

But the point is, some people use the word "cult" to describe a religion that isn't true. Whether you can or can't know which one is true is not the point- the point is that some people (myself included) mis-use the word cult.