Is there a difference between a religion and a cult?

[nebula]

One slight objection: there can be, and are, cults that are fully Christian (believing in the deity of Jesus, etc.) but follow some "vision" over the word, are controlling and manipulative, claim to be exclusive to God's plan, etc.

The Shepherding Movement of the 70's is a good example of this.

I am not sure I would consider groups like that a cult? The problem with something like this is we all have our own view of what constitutes a cult? To you, that may be a cult. To me, in order to be a cult, the group has to deny the diety of Christ, and have a doctrine in place that would guarantee that those who believe in what they teach are lost. If they are Christian enough in their teachings that the congregation could be saved and headed for heaven, I don't consider them a cult. That is just me. I am not saying you are wrong, because this is one of those things where there is no sure definition.

What would you call a Christian group who followed a leader with some special "revelation", was group-exclusive ostracizing the rest of the body of Christ as being outside of God's favor, was manipulative and controlling, etc.?

Just another church, that we can decide to accept or reject. There are Christian churches like that all over the place. I am kind of intrigued by the "special revelation" aspect of it? If that revelation doesn't cause people to lose their salvation, then we should simply judge it in ourselves, but I wouldn't automatically call the person a cult leader? I have seen a lot of ministers, Pentecostal and Independent Baptist, who believe those outside of their group are outside of God's favor, and are manipulative and controlling. That doesn't make them a cult. I guess I would need to see a specific example of someone doing that who still preaches doctrine where the diety of Christ is accepted? I can't think of any cult where they do that?

Well, what you call a "cult" I would simply call a false religion.

When I speak of manipulation and control, I mean that it crosses the threshold into brainwashing. You also have to rely on the leader to know what the Lord is saying; anything you receive from the Lord that contradicts the leader really didn't come from the Lord, and you are punished for listening to the Accuser or to your flesh (some may word it differently, but it's the same idea). You lose your life to this group - to the leader and the leader's vision rather. Remember those people who would come onto the board with bizarre teaching, and when you disagree they would post, "He who hears from God listens to us," as a response? That to me is someone who has been immersed in a cult.

[rich08]

I understand where you are coming from. Thanks for elaborating on it further. The word cult can mean differen't things to differen't people, but most of the time, a group like you described would be thought to be a cult. I tend to agree with you, that someone who acts in that manner would be a cult. I was just picturing certain Independent Baptists and Apostolics with fairly controlling ministers, that don't seem like they meet the criteria for cult status when I read your first post. It is hard to disagree with you when I see it in full context.

Interesting - where do you draw the line between encouragement and support and between control and manipulation?