Cults for fun and profit.

First of all this is a great poll. Thanks.
There are several points to make here. First of all I do not belong to any cult or religion. Incidentally, what's the difference?
However, I frankly believe we must have religious freedom in society. Yes, it may well mean people worshipping the flying spaghetti monster or whatever, but so what? If that's what they want to do. let them. You cannot go allowing some religions and banning others. Please remember that Christianity was a bizarre cult when it started. The Romans used to throw them to the lions, remember? Today, it's the world's most prominent religion (although Islam is catching up).
You mention Scientology. I have a truly excellent knowledge of that sect, having been in it, and having studied it. A lot of people try it, but most leave quickly. Those that stay in it, seem to believe, sincerely, that they are getting something out of it. I don't approve of the high-pressure sales techniques that they use, but they are not all bad.
I think the only religions to absolutely avoid are those which are breaking the law. That is unacceptable.
Remember that in the days of the Soviet Union, they tried for years and years to suppress religion, but people clung to it more than ever. You cannot get rid of it. Humankind is spiritual by nature. Cults are just religions without the political power of the big fish in the pond.

Thanks for your comments and compliment. I also strongly believe in religious freedom as long as such freedom doesn't take away the freedom of other people. I would be the first person to defend someones right to believe whatever they want to. I know this poll is kind of obnoxious, but my goal besides humoring myself is actually getting people to think about things more. This poll is actually very "tounge in cheek"- I really don't hate people just because of their beliefs and I understand it's a sensitive subject, but I am truly wondering what distinguishes a cult from a religion among other things.

Totoro

Thanks for this poll. I found it enlightening. I would not have said I ever belonged to a cult BUT on reflection I was a christian evangelist before I saw the light (realised I was being fed lies and in turn feeding those lies on to others) and in answering this poll the truth was revealed unto me.

Verily christianity is a cult. Mine eyes have been opened and the darkness hath fallen away. I no longer stumble blindly but stride forward in the sure and certain knowledge that there is no god.

You missed out humanism by the way.

BJake:

Thanks for yet another compliment-I was expecting to mostly get hateful messages, so it's refreshing to get compliments instead. I wrote the poll mostly because of hearing some comments about Scientology which got me thinking about cults in general. Then I started wondering what really distinguished a religion from a cult. Because of my recent Misterpoll addiction (yes, it's like a drug), I figured that it would be a good topic for a poll. I knew that comparing religions to cults would upset people so I tried to make it somewhat humorous.

As I mentioned before, I don't care what people believe as long as they don't try to take away other peoples rights. The problem is that I know first hand as a gay person that there is a major effort to take away the rights of myself and millions of other gay people because of an unproven belief system. Religion can also negatively affect many other people and groups of people just like cults can.

I know that I missed zillions of cults and cultlike religions, but there was only so much room (and time).

In conclusion, I would really hope that someone explains in a post the actual differance between a religion and a cult. The dictionary didn't help much.

Having thought about it since my last posting here, I don't think there is a difference between cult and religion. They are just different words for the same thing.