Comment by Dave G on July 21, 2009 at 1:07pm

The only difference between a cult and a religion is time, size, and to a lesser extent, money.

Comment by Julie on July 21, 2009 at 1:11pm

Really good story. I think that was one of my first questions going back to elementary school; what was the difference between a cult and a religion. It's not a black and white issue, and really it just boils down to numbers.

In high school I had a very good friend who was a Jehovah's Witness. I'd never known one before, so I was interested in what she believed (especially since you hear so many strange rumors about them). I never wanted to convert to her religion, just curious--like I'd be just as curious as to how you inject yourself with heroin, but never wanted to try it. She of course took this the wrong way and started giving me books and pamphlets until I finally had to tell her no. Fortunately she was good about it and our friendship continued.

But it always got me thinking; it really is the numbers. I have many friends who are Christians but they never tried to convert me. Probably because they always assumed I was Christian as well. Even now, especially on twitter, I get Christians coming out angry at me for things I say--but really haven't had any try to "help" me or "pray" for me...just angry people because I'm tweeting atheist articles, etc. But when you're a member of a group that is a minority in the religious world you need to constantly try to increase your numbers I guess.

I guess the same can be said for atheists, though I'm not interested in "converting" anyone to my way of thinking. But if I can recommend a book or if I can dispute some creationist facts I'll do my best. But to me that's more defending common sense and my beliefs (or non-beliefs as it were).

Comment by Reggie on July 21, 2009 at 1:23pm

and then she controlled streetlights with her thoughts!

Oh. Your. God! I can do that, too! Streetlights are always going out when I drive by them at night! Here I thought I was alone in the world, trying to figure out how to fight crime, save the world, or get laid with my bizarre super power. Now I have a home!

You did say that this group has attractive ladies, right?

Comment by Nelson on July 21, 2009 at 1:40pm

how are cults different than religions?:

"A cult is a religion with no political power."
-Tom Wolfe.

"A religion is a cult that succeeded."
-Anon

"The difference between a cult and a religion is that the latter is old. Like, stepping into a pile of dogshit makes you curse, but stepping into a pile of dinosaur shit makes you famous. Despite both being crap."
-Opportunist.

"Cult: a small unpopular religion.
Religion: a large popular cult."
-Anon

but seriously, some of the hallmarks of a cult would be self social alienation, unquestioning excessively zealous adherence to the dictates of a charismatic leader often viewed as a father-figure, those dictates covering how cult members should act, think, and feel; manipulation of cult members, harm, danger, or the threat of harm and danger as a way to keep discipline, not to mention the threat of harm and danger to the family's of cult members should they attempt to intervene; claims to an exalted status for cult members.

when you actually read the hallmarks of a cult they don't seem to differ all that much from Christianity, say. sure, Christians rarely keep discipline with physical danger or harm but if you allow for spiritual danger or harm then the threat of eternal hell fire and damnation is infinitely more powerful than physical danger or harm as a way to keep discipline. it seems on paper to boil down to acceptance. if the cult is accepted as mainstream then it ceases to be a cult and so transitions to a religion. but surely it's not that simple because cults are marked by the zealous extremes they go. like when you compare Christianity to Jonestown, Heaven's Gate, and the Branch Dividians while there are similarities we wouldn't be comfortable lumping Christianity with the other three. there's definitely some overlap and i don't think the line separating the two is as clear as legitimate religions would like to think.

Comment by Morgan Matthew on July 21, 2009 at 6:27pm

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