Blurred Boundaries: Religion vs. Cult

Fine lines proceed to subsequently blur the separation between a religion and a cult. Throughout history, the label cult has consistently succeeded in disparaging numerous religions including Christianity. To bring a standstill to the confusion amidst all personages, the narrow slash between these two matters need to be entirely divulged and established. Distinctions separating a religion and a cult are elucidated primarily by their treatment of individuals and relations. Variances can be seen through examples of behaviors, the “Moonies” cult, and the works of the Christian religion. Eliyahu Federman, civil rights militant and penman, describes his conception of how a cult and a religion contrast. He states, “Any religious community can

Using this example, one can also see what it is like to be just a religion, not a cult, when being compared to the Christian Religion and all its churches. According Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the formal definition of Christianity is the religion thats foundation is set on the person and lessons of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus of Nazareth, in summary, went his life helping others and spreading the words of the Gospel. Nowhere in the Bible or in Jesus’s teachings did kidnapping, force, or abuse become encouraged. In fact, the religion revolves around free will and setting ones life to help others. Some examples can be seen throughout the book of Matthew. “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42). “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay” (Matthew 10:8). “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25: 42). The book of Matthew is only one of many that states Christian believers jobs are to help and assist others, even if these others are not believers themselves. Most predominately, the Bible shows that violence, ostracizing, judging, and

Christianity is a religion, but the “Moonies" is a cult in regards to such criteria. Based off the technicalities represented by Eliyahu Federman, a religion can become a cult, but a cult is not a religion. Furthermore, David Adler describes how mistreatment of people through physical, verbal, and mental abuse can turn a set of beliefs into an out of control cult quickly. Adler continues to show how Christianity is different from cults, most specifically Sun Myung Moon, in how Christian beliefs do not go against the free will of all people. The blurred line between the two can be seen to all in a crispy and clear light. Now, many may see their mistakes in confusing the two and see how the term cult can offend a numerous amount of