Cult vs Religion

It has always been natural for everyone to worship something at some point in their lives. There
was at first animism, which evolved into the major world faiths we have today. There are
around a dozen major faiths in the world today, according to some, but others argue that there
are hundreds, if not thousands, of diverse religious beliefs and practices around the world.

Traditional Definition of Cult and Religion

 A cult is a new religious movement with a small number of adherents and rituals that
are either mysterious or undesirable.
 Cults are frequently formed through coercive persuasion. To some extent, a person is
told that joining a cult is the greatest approach to fix his difficulties. The cult and its
leader then show them unconditional affection while excluding them from their other
friends and relatives.
 "Religion" is a way of thinking that aims to bring man's life to life by bringing him into
contact with a greater power through stories, rituals, and beliefs.
 In most cases, religion is a matter of family. A child will be nurtured in a religious
tradition and will progress through the stages of initiation and full membership.
Ceremonies such as bar mitzvahs and confirmations are examples of this. Before being
legally recognized, an adult who intends to convert to another faith must immediately
approach the leaders of that religion to seek advice and study.
 People can find acceptance and belonging in both cults and religions. They provide a
framework for their users to comprehend the world around them. They have a set of
exterior rituals and beliefs that have been formalized. Cults, on the other hand, are
virtually universally reviled, except by their own members, whereas religions mutually
appreciate each other.

Summary:
1. Cults and religions are ways for people to connect with God and the rest of the world by
being a part of a group.
2. Religion, on the other hand, is open and respectable, but cults are often thought to be
secret and illegitimate.
3. Religion is often hereditary, whereas cults are coerced into joining.
SOURCE: http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-cult-and-religion/
 Difference Between Religion and Cult

A new religious movement is known as a cult.

A religion is a formal, organized group of people who, in most cases, meet the following criteria:

 Belief in a superior entity or principle that you believe in.

 Belief in the value of certain spiritual texts as spiritual truth sources. (Bible, Qu’ran,
Bhagavad Gita)
 A set of guidelines for how members should live their lives.
 Religion is frequently linked to one's ancestry or bloodline.
 A well-established religious organization, often with a priestly hierarchy.
 The existence of holy sites to visit on a geographical scale.
The term "religion" is almost always linked with major religions that have been around for
hundreds or thousands of years. In the primary religions:

 Hinduism
 Buddhism
 Christianity
 Islam
 Sikhism
 Taoism
There are many subdivisions of distinct religious branches within these religions, for
example, within Christianity. we see, the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox and the
various Protestant churches.

Cult
It's difficult to describe what a cult is. There was a period when the term 'cult' was used
to describe a specific type of religious devotion rather than a negative connotation. The
Catholic church, for example, would allow the devotion of a particular cult (of a certain
saint) etc.
The term cult, on the other hand, has taken on a negative and pejorative connotation
throughout the twentieth century. 'Brainwashing,' conversion, and abuse are all
examples of bad connections.
A wide range of various groups, movements, and sects are involved in these new
religious movements. In most cases, however, it is the following that occurs:

 A new spiritual movement.

  Different teachings to established religions.
Except for extreme types of manipulation and mind control, such as David Koresh's Branch
Davidians, many researchers no longer use the term cult.
The definition of mind control, on the other hand, will alter depending on who you ask.
To become a monk or nun in a Catholic church, for example, you'd have to give up a lot of your
personal freedoms and submit to the abbot or Mother Superior. According to its supporters,
surrendering one's ego is required for a spiritual life that leads to ultimate freedom. 'Cultish'
behavior is associated with this type of outer and inner discipline, according to critics. It is
frequently stated that when new religious movements give similar doctrines, it is proof of
cultish behavior. The term "cult" is rarely used to describe established faiths that follow such
tight rules.

Source: https://www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/articles/difference-religion-cult.html