A couple Religious Questions

[DarkHunter]

First:

What defines a religion? What makes it differ from a cult? I just need to know.

How to people manage to spread religion to the corners of the world? How can it best be done?

[MorganaFang]

First:

What defines a religion? What makes it differ from a cult? I just need to know.

How to people manage to spread religion to the corners of the world? How can it best be done?
Religion defined: 1. The outward act or form by which men indicate their recognition of the existence of a god or of gods having power over their destiny, to whom obedience, service, and honor are due; the feeling or expression of human love, fear, or awe of some superhuman and overruling power, whether by profession of belief, by observance of rites and ceremonies, or by the conduct of life; a system of faith and worship; a manifestation of piety; as, ethical religions; monotheistic religions; natural religion; revealed religion; the religion of the Jews; the religion of idol worshipers. From dictionary.com the best one I like.

And it doesn't differ from a cult, really thats how religions began. I think the definition of what a cult is has just changed with the way society has viewed it.

There is no best, right or good way for a religion to be formed. No matter what, its the individuals that are going to make of it what they will.

[phantomroller]

well cults are groups of people that seem to brainwash their followers into thinking something and it's usually hard to escape cults too. with religions, if you don't like the church you go to (or synagouge or mosque or whatever) you can just leave and find a new one or new religion if it seems fit. but with cults it's more of a brainwashing thing where you can't leave.

cults also sometimes hurt their members if they aren't obeident. they'll make the person stay awawke all night and not give them food for days (with some cults people leave their familes cause the leader said so hence more brainwashing and stay at the headquaters of the cult) or punish them in other ways sometimes with physical punishment and mental punishment.

also cults seem to isloate their followers from their families, friends and sometimes society. most cults make their followers feel like no else cares but the cult and it's members so they'll leave their family since no one cares (so says the cult).

a religion doesn't do these things. there's much more things that cults do and relgions don't do. sure religions have guidelines the followers need to follow and go by, but it's not like rules for cults such as no interaction with outside people or other things.

I've studied world religions and cults for a while now and religions and cults are very, very, very different things. true they both involve bleiving in something, but it's the way they handle things is what really spearates them.

[Frostbeard]

Cults worship or center around a living individual, typically of great personal charisma.

Religions (at least those of the "revealed" variety) are cults that continue after that individual's death. Natural religions are a different animal entirely, however.

This is, of course, extremely over-simplified, but there is truth to it.

[Cephas]

If you're looking to start a worldwide cult/religion then I suppose the best way would be to first convert as many people near to you as possible, then send some missionaries to tribes in Brazil or something. Jehovah's Witnesses have to convert something like fifteen other people to join before they themselves are considered a true member (I think).
But you have to remember, Christianity and many of the other world religions have had several thousand years to develop, so you might need to plan in the long term :) .