What's the Difference Between Cults and Religion?: Crash Course Religions #3

In this episode, we describe the death of Joseph Smith as a direct result of his teachings. However, there were also ongoing conflicts between Smith, his followers, and the State of Illinois, culminating in Smith being arrested and declaring martial law. Smith's death was as much about politics and power as it was about his religious beliefs.

Social acceptance. When enough people adhere to a cult it become a religion.

Holy crap!! Devil’s Advocate is epic! 🤣😂🤣😂

interestingly me and my friends were debating this topic a few weeks ago and just came to the conclusion there is no discernable difference between religion and cult

I really appreciate the nuance in this video. Overall very well done. Just a clarification the church is actually called the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” and using the full correct name is important to many members.

I did a paper on cults and so much of my research really got hung up on this same issue of actually defining a cult. Not on new religious movements are harmful and some very legitimate religious groups are. It's a very complicated word. I loved this video. Thank you for these religion courses!

I just wanted to say that as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this was a fair treatment of my religion, and I greatly appreciated it. Thank you!

I guess I am a member of the cult of the all encompassing nothing.

"What's the Difference Between Dialects and Languages?"

Fun, terrifying, fact: the heaven's gate website is still up.

The difference between a cult and an organized religion is... numbers of members.

I was raised as one of Jehovahs Witnesses and a lot of former members think it's a cult. I personally don't. To me, it's no different than belonging to any other religious sect.

Love the thought bubble. Very informative and interesting.

All religions are cults, not all cults are religious.
Some are benign, while some are malicious (often not by intent)

Its ok if you need religion or a group in your life to help give a purpose or comfort, just dont have your blinders on 😅.

Thank you for this informative discussion on a fascinating (to me) topic!!

Thank you so much for handling this so respectfully

The difference between a Cult and a Religion:
The number of people in attendance.

the ABC’s that define a religion: “Assure, Believe, Convert." Religions assure salvation; religions believe in a precise theology; and religions convert nonbelievers

This was well done. Thank you for making a video about this.

I was Mormon for 26 years and have experienced religious trauma. There are a lot of good people in Mormonism as any religion.

There just needs to be better safe guards and education to protect people from the harms of religious control.

Loving the addition of Devil's Advocate! I already love how this series is flowing!

One problem is that “cult” can mean several different things, including anyone who follows a ritual.

Thanks!

Great episode as always!

I'm liking this Devil's advocate character.

This quote. Thank you for this quote: "Some scholars argue that the 'cult' label reveals less about the group itself and more about who's using the label."

Joseph Smith and Mormonism are fascinating modern case studies of how religions form.

Ive always thought of cults as doing harm but by the definition, I feel like we under use the term for a lot of organized religions that naybe should be called cults

I've seen people using the phrase "high control group" over cult and (a) that's probably a good idea and (b) that's how I've used the word "cult." Also, I generally like to point out that "cults" (i.e. high control groups) don't have to be religious. The Revolutionary Communist Party can be seen as a cult around Bob Avakian. Hell, Cross-fit can be pretty cult-like and they're a bloody exercise group.

Finally at a point in my life where I can watch CrashCourse videos not in preparation for an exam but rather for pure enjoyment of learning.

This is incredible

Very insightful. Thank you for adding context to the MOVE.

Thank you for making this nuanced video. As an atheist who grew up in a secular household, I always found that there's a blurred line between "religion" and "cult". Some people end up in small religious communities that provided them with comfort and a healthy lifestyle, while others end up being part of a major world religion but have a toxic relationship with some other members of that religion. It's reassuring to find out that the distinction is fuzzy and maybe not particularly helpful.

In a cult there is a person who started it and knows that it is all fake and lies; in a religion that person is dead.

The only difference between a cult and a religion is the number of followers.

The accepted definition of the difference between religion and a cult by the survivors and their supporters is in how you answer the question, "How do they treat you when you try to leave?"

Religion = state cults + time

I have considered this question for some time, but lately my thoughts are that I don’t believe there is a difference. Well, not exactly no difference, just more that we are more used to the beliefs and practices of the larger religions than we are the small cults. They are equally as strange and potentially as risky with the worlds religions as it is with the smaller more typical cults we are used to. If I had never heard of Catholicism and I heard my brother was regularly meeting up with a group that regally got together to repetitively chant and sing about its leader, prepare for their “next life”, be made to feel “broken”, and ritualistically and/or symbolically eat the body of their leader and drink his blood… I mean I would be quite concerned.

Go Crash Course , Go!

Current "Mormon" (LDS) here. As always, thank you for an impartial, accurate, and complex take. I was hoping for an honorable mention in this particular video, honestly.

Nothing.

Uh-oh! You said please don't sue us to Camera 2. That means you were joking and DO want them to sue.

First time following a crash course series as it gets released each week rather than cramming. I think I might actually be processing retaining the information. Wild

Has "Me From the Past" grown up into the 'Devil's Advocate" ?!! spoopy and I love it

IMO, the only difference is size. If enough people join a cult, suddenly it becomes a religion.

All religions are cults.

I learned about the Philly thing about a decade ago. It's sickening, I think more about race than a spiritual belief.

Damn! I love CrashCourse!

Arguments for not separating religions and cults are compelling, but logically they lead to calling every religion a cult instead of none of them

How did our Eastern folks handle it?

State recognition and acceptance of liturgy