Cult Vs Religion

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Some take the stance that “no one is qualified to distinguish the differences between cult and religion” (#5). Whether they reach this verdict because they believe there should be no difference, and use the traditional definition or because they believe that everyone has their own versions of right and wrong, so what is a cult to some is not to others. But if we continue this sentiment, how does this connect with law, and practices such as human sacrifice which are near universally reviled? Or is there really no one qualified to judge which is a sinister cult or a religion? Some even take the idea farther, that the line between dangerous and harmless religions can’t be drawn because no religion is completely one or the other. Instead each …show more content…
Television has long been a go-to reference for what to do in order to fit in with society. The right clothes, the current trends, the important celebrity information, and the stereotypes. TV shows have been capitalizing on the cult stereotype since at least 1958 (tv jstor). The stereotype draws audiences and intrigues watchers. Why is it so entertaining for us to watch? Maybe because when we dramatize and cartoonize the real and present danger in some cults, we can convince ourselves that we are safe from such evil influences. Televisions have characterized these cults with fraud, violence, and sexual depravity (tv jstor). This use of stereotype reflects and expands the fear of and derision for cults on the whole, not just the harmful ones. Using the broad term cult in such a narrow sense on TV, a wide medium, has led to the common meaning of the word cult to warp to reflect the stereotype and not the definition. The harmful portrayal as cults has been one of the biggest reasons the stereotype has stuck around so long and spread so far, and contributed to the dissonance between usage and …show more content…
In turn, it has been made clear that the differences causes negative effects like persecution and social hysteria. The evolving of the term shows how the difference came to be, and the attempts to separate the two terms show that there needs to be a clear line to prevent the confusion. However, the one attempt so far has been unsuccessful. So, how exactly do we proceed with the term cult? In simple words, we surrender. The non dictionary meaning of cult has become so ingrained in popular culture that to attempt to revert it would be nigh impossible. Instead, as with the addition of “New Religious Movements” we need to find a new term to refer to the small religious groups that are harmless and undeserving of the negative label. However, creating a new term is not enough. We need to redefine the word cult to mean what we say. A definitive list of qualities that split between the new term and the negative cults is possible and necessary in order to make the new term worth making. Though I am not that person, there are people qualified to make that definition and list. In addition to specificity in definition, the new term needs to be widely publicized and adopted. If the term is not widely used, as with NRM then the point of the term is lost and the confusion continues. Instead the new term and the redefinition of cult
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