What is the difference between being religious and being in a cult? The only difference that comes to mind is that cults usually have much more radical and far-fetched beliefs but pretty much all religions have aspects that seem incredibly ridiculous to me.

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It is more patriotic when you don't ask questions

Frankly, it's mostly a matter of size and time.

Christianity was a cult when it first started out. But once it grew big and powerful enough, it became a religion.

Some people include other features in a definition of cult -- led by and focused on a charismatic leader, social/mental control such as limiting or severing ties to family and people who aren't cult members, etc.

I find the latter definition useful when trying to distinguish cults that are dangerous from cults that are simply small religions.

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Man up.

It was a very different and bold group, with an equally bold mission. But as time went on, and we made some big mistakes due to organization and leadership issues, we changed and became much more mainstream. I think most groups go through very similar processes.

All fundamentalist religion is a cult. However, religions that allow for their holy texts to be considered simply parables (liberal protestants, Quakers, etc.) wouldn't necessarily fall under that category.

What church would that be?

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"Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." - Hassan-i-Saba

Cults are religions to which you don't belong.

The International Church of Christ.

I'm not Christian, but I do have a group of friends who are very religious and I sometimes visit their church with them. They are Seventh-Day Adventists, a group that is considered by some to be a cult.

For more information:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/sda.htm

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"If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and all the
impersonators would be dead.
-- Johnny Carson

Depends on who you ask...
Some say it has to do with size and social acceptability.
Some say it has to do with the type of leadership. Cults are run by a charismatic leader. If that leader dies and either the religion topples or a new charismatic leader pops out of the woodwork, it's still a cult. If they come up with a system of succession and a bureaucratic structure, they then cease to be a cult.
I say it's easier to be agnostic. Then there's one less social distinction you have to worry about. I fear the day when there is a such thing as orthodox agnosticism.

There is no difference - that is why God wants individual relationships with people, which is only possible through His Son, Jesus.

here here!
by the way, the major difference between a cult and christianity, which i know is what you are so eloquently aiming at, i in the way we act. Sure, there are some sects of the christian religion that can be pretty weird, but in general, has any christian every intentionally tried to kill anyone? even themselves?

Cults commit mass suicide, while christians try as hard as we can to build, not destroy.

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I'm moving to Canada

Mr-Soviet