Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The White Hindu

Home
Hindu
Cult or Religion — What’s the Difference?

Cult or Religion — What’s the Difference?

Last updated on: December 19, 2022 at 2:16 pm by Ambaa Choate

Cult or Religion — What’s the Difference? 2022-12-19T14:16:31-05:00 Ambaa Choate

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It can be a very fuzzy line between what is a religion and what is a cult. There are plenty of similarities. A lot of times what I hear people say distinguishes them is time. In other words that religions start out as cults but with enough time they gain credibility and respectability. Give a cult long enough and it becomes a religion.

I can see that but to me the difference between a religion and a cult is slightly different.

It is in how we interact with them. Sometimes within the same organization some people are in a cult and others are not! That can seem like it minimizes the pain of those cults that are directly dangerous. I think that some organizations lean heavier into the cult-like behaviors than others. But you’ll find that there are cult escapees from what we think of as mainstream religions (usually from a fringe sect).

Here are some things that define a cult in my opinion:

A hierarchy where you are not allowed to question those above you
An emphasis on obedience and blind faith
Blaming any pain or uncomfortable experiences on the person having them
An individual leader who is seen as either divine or having unique access to God

If your religion is doing these things, then you are almost certainly experiencing it as a cult.

Cults want to prevent you from questioning. Cult leaders enjoy having power and control over people and expect complete obedience. I think based on my experience that some cult leaders start out with the intention to gain control over people just using religious language as an excuse while others intend to help people and build a good religion but become corrupted over time by the adoration of their followers. Whether they mean to or not they enjoy that adoration and start craving more and more of it.

That third one is a big key in cult tactics. If someone is not finding the enlightenment or happiness or whatever else has been promised by the leader, it must be that they are just not doing it right. There can be no fault in the cult or the leader. If you are unhappy you either aren’t doing this right or you are supposed to be unhappy. The cult may say that unhappiness is a sign that you are being sufficiently obedient and subjugating yourself to God. This is a very sad aspect of cults because people can spend many years punishing themselves for any happiness. If they come out of the cult and realize they’ve been manipulated they feel angry that they were encouraged to be unhappy for such a portion of their life.

Spiritual abuse is a thing. It’s important to watch out for it for yourself and for your children. Be on the lookout for groups/organizations/religions where one person has an extreme amount of influence. We are responsible for our own spiritual growth and we must never turn over control to someone else to think for us. Keep your mind sharp. Be wary of having doubts and questions quashed with the explanation that you are not being faithful and subservient enough.

Even if you have fallen victim to these tactics before, your time was not wasted.

Your dedication and desire to get it right says more about you than about a corrupt leader who manipulated your trust. Your practice of devotion has helped your karma even as it has harmed the karma of the cult leader.

These behaviors come up in cults that are not religion-based too.

This is why some people will refer to direct sales companies as cults. Because there are people who are experiencing them as cults. If someone has become fanatic and unquestioning of whatever leaders say, that’s being in a cult. But people in the same company may not be that way at all.

I think humans are just susceptible to cults. Some people are going to get addicted to having people adore them and think they can say and do wrong and other people are very trusting and want to believe that there are those who know more than them and can guide them to whatever they are lacking, whether that is money or a relationship with God.

No matter what you are doing or who you are listening to, keep your critical thinking with you.

You know deep in your heart when something isn’t right. Don’t let anyone tell you those instincts are to be ignored or pushed down.

Thank you for reading! I would love for you to visit me on my Facebook page: The White Hindu

New to this blog? Check out these posts:

What Makes Me A Hindu?

Did I Start Out Christian?

Why Am I Called “The White Hindu”?

New to Hinduism? Learn more here:

Hinduism 101: What Do Hindus Believe?

Can I Convert To Hinduism?

Your First Visit To A Hindu Temple

Super Simple Daily Puja

(views expressed here are mine alone and do not reflect opinions of my supporters. Links within the text may be affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase something I get a small commission for recommending it. I only recommend things I truly believe in)

Click below to get my ebook for beginner Hindus…

Learn more about Hindusim in Patheos’ library.

Read from top Hindu writers on Patheos.

Philosophy Corner

cult

cult definition

cult like organizations

difference between a cult and a religion

what is a cult

what makes a cult

when is a religion a cult

Previous Post

May 10, 2019

Meditation Is Waiting

Next Post

September 4, 2019 Thoughts About Kashmir And Beyond— A Hindu Perspective

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Club Hindu Holiday How Am I Being a Hindu This Week? Inside the Life Meet a God Meet a Guru Movie Club Philosophy Corner Resources Scripture Uncategorized Wild Card

Select a Month February 2020 September 2019 May 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the Hebrew name for the book of Genesis?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Elohim Bereshit Torah Shema