A cult and a religion are often mistakenly used interchangeably, but they are two distinct entities. Cults are usually considered as a religion, but the two are quite different. A cult is a group of people who follow an extreme set of beliefs, while a religion is a much more organized and structured set of beliefs and practices.
Cults usually lack the structure and organization of a religion and are often seen as a fringe or extreme form of religious practice. Cults often have a single leader who dictates the beliefs and practices of the group, while religions typically have a hierarchy of leadership and a set of beliefs that are generally accepted by the membership. Cults also often have a strong focus on indoctrination of their members, while religions generally focus on teaching the beliefs and rituals that have been in place for many years. Cults often have a strong focus on recruiting members, while religions typically have a slow but steady growth in membership over time. Cults also tend to be more secretive than religions, and their members are often isolated from the larger society.
