hmm I was also sickened when I read the passage in bible when God commanded someone to sacrifice his son to him.

Killing or letting a child die in the name of religion is wrong.....period.

I think cults and religions are often the same thing.They break people down telling them they are worthless sinners and can only be redeemed by following their religious leader who is all wise and powerful.

In a Cult You get to 1) dance around a lot, 2) raise money and 3) wear funny clothes.
In a Religion you get to 1) complain about those who dance around a lot, 2) pay money and 3) wear Sunday clothes.

Hmmmm?

MindReader! That-was well said!

There is no difference between Cult and Religions...
--Except that Religions have more members.

A great lengthy statement to say that a "religion" started as a cult first and by that they are still cults but with more "believers".

i see them both as the same. they have both killed in the name of what they believe(d)

cult leaders blow.

for frank iero from McR do it!!!

What is the difference between cults and religion?

There really isn't a difference deep down at it's core.

A cult is technically (as defined by sociologists, anthropologists and psychologists) a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.

Nothing more, nothing less.

The ideology followed could be political, religious and so on...

Now what the popular definition of cults has been shaped into is entirely different; the popular definition state that cults are a religion or sect that they believe to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader or leaders.

One could argue that one person's religion is another person's cult due to what they perceive to be the 'right' faith versus the 'wrong' or variations of that.

During it's infancy, Christianity was deemed a cult by people around at the time. As time progressed, opinion changed due in large part by adoption of Christianity by important figures in history, and Christianity is now a religion; such was the same situation with Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and so on.

So my opinion on the matter is this; as is the case with a lot of things, it all depends on how you perceive things.

Based on the following excerpt from the article, it just confirms my thoughts about many Obama followers being caught up in the Obama cult. The actions of the followers fit perfectly with the behaviors seen in soda head and on other forums. ( Not I don't mean every one who voted for O is in the cult either - but those who put his importance at the level mentioned in this article.)

Cults are typically defined by five characteristics. First, cults tend to centralize power in the hands of a single individual or small group that is considered beyond questions. Second, they treat all questions about the group and its beliefs as intolerable challenges to the group's authority and authenticity. Third, they demean all those who do not share their beliefs and sow fear and mistrust amongst their believers about all such people. Fourth, they typically cut off all or most opportunities for members to interact freely with those outside the group. And finally, they take revenge upon those who choose to leave the group, in ways which include, cutting them off from all relationships with those who remain inside, confiscation of material goods and even physical harm.

Hmmmm....kind of like.......The pope?......

I agree with Brad in many aspects of this Discussion with a caveat thought. Established religions have larger groups of people who practice there religion in a founded socially accepted way. At some point in time during the founding of these religions they were small groups with one focus; later gaining small acceptance with differing beliefs. Once a new religious group starts to gain members some will adopt their new faith whole heartedly and others may blend other religious ideals / their own ideals. Until a religion has established set rules and roles collectively small cells may have cult-like actions when the majority is operating as a religion. This is true in "established" [majority] religions today. Small social circles create their own doctrines separate from their very own secular religious affiliation and act as a cult. This incidentally has others (usually of other religious views) see that particular religious group as a cult or associated with a cult. Many times the truth is people are individual even in a group, and will act as individuals when they feel the need to.

Cults and Religions, is there really a difference?

Of course there is - the definition of a "cult" is; "anyone who doesn't believe like me."

I once heard Ted Patrick comment that the biggest difference between a Cult and a Religion was time and acceptance.

Christian Scientists, Mormons, and a few others are not "breakaway" or "Protesters" as they are Cults based on 'alternate" theories. Time and numbers have gained them acceptance - hence "Religion" rather than "Cult"

So the easy answer is yes - and no. The harder answer.... well, do people know what the origin of those fish they display so openly on their cars actually is?

I've never actually seen the distinction between cults and religions when you get down to the basis of them