What is the difference between a sect and a religion?

Answer 1

While the two words are often used interchangeably there is a distinct difference.

Sects can mean two things:

1. A subset or breakaway group of/from a larger religious body (the theological definition) or a social community with distinct custom and identity within that group.

2. A non-religious group (e.g. a political or lifestyle group)

The problem with the word 'sect' is that it is subjective, for example, some Roman Catholics may refer to the Protestant confessions as being sects, while they in turn may be referred to as such by the Orthodox church.

Some may say that Christianity is a Jewish sect, or that the Shi'ite and Sunni confessions within Islam are sects. The problem in attempting to define a 'sect' by asking whether the institution as such is recognised by the state or receive benefits also leads one into subjectivity, in that a mainstream institution in one country may not be across the world. The Baptists, for example, are mainstream in the US, but are considered to be a sect in Russia as they have not been registered there for fifteen years. One man's religion is another man's sect.

The word 'sect' doesn't tend to be neutral. It tends to be a term of abuse by those who belong to the 'mainstream' institution, a government wary of small/new groupings, and a sensationalist press.

Cults can also mean two things:

1. A movement of devotion,rituals,customs to elements not sanctioned in a community or religion to which the group in the community belongs to. Examples include Pagan worship,sacrifices or a distinct ritual,laws,customs,code of conduct,loyalty to the leader of the cult group.

2. A movement which is often built around a personality,mysticism,magic,symbolism,prophesy etc .It may pick up elements from other religions, but tends to have very unique beliefs, often centered around the unique character of the founder who started the cult. Eg. David Koresh , Jim Jones, Osho cult etc

As with the word 'sect', the term 'cult' also tends to be used as a term of abuse. There are stringent rules for assessing whether a movement is a cult or not:

• Three ideas seem essential to the concept of a cult. One is thinking in terms of us versus them with total alienation from "them." The second is the intense, though often subtle, indoctrination techniques used to recruit and hold members. The third is the charismatic cult leader. Cultism usually involves some sort of belief that outside the cult all is evil and threatening; inside the cult is the special path to salvation through the cult leader and his teachings.

  The indoctrination techniques include:

  Subjection to stress and fatigue;

  Social disruption, isolation and pressure;

  Self criticism and humiliation;

  Fear, anxiety, and paranoia;

  Control of information;

  Escalating commitment;

  Use of auto-hypnosis to induce "peak" experiences.

Cults are absent of the betterment of the individual person but rather than leader only. Cults try to subvert the human will with total and complete obedience to the leader of a group or sect

Conclusion

While the term 'sect' is quite subjective, there are clear guidelines for defining what a cult is. A body considered to be a sect can turn into a cult when the above named criteria for measuring whether the group is a cult or not are met. This can also be the case with 'mainstream' religions, for example, the 'Nine o'clock service' group in Sheffield within the Anglican church was a cult, led by its leader Chris Brain.

Answer 2

Religious denominations are different groups within a religion, e.g. the Presbyterian Church is a denomination of the Protestant Church. Sects are subdivisions of denominations which are not sufficiently significant to be considered as new denominations.

Answer 3

There really isn't any actual difference. Most people will get caught up on the negative views that society has placed on cults and the idea of what a "cult" is. If you actually look at the definition for cult you'll find that it is very similar to a church or religion in general.

Also in the very early days of Christianity it was considered a cult. In Roman religion they often had religious organizations known as mystery cults. There were tons of mystery cults but all of them had a few things in common. They pretty much always promised a better version of the afterlife. Some sort of heaven, resurrection etc. Christianity was basically just thought of as being another mystery cult that promised a life after death. The reason it became so popular and eventually lost the term cult is because it was open to anyone. Most mystery cults were restricted to certain people military, men, women, the wealthy, farmers, etc. Since anyone could join it grew in popularity and eventually turned into what we know today.

Answer 4

The sects have their faith based on belief, like those set by Jesus. But cults are to the order of one person.

Answer 5

Sects are usually a subset of any religion.

The problem is setting the "base" group. Are Baptists a Protestant sect. Are Protestants a Christian sect. Are Christians a Jewish sect.

Answer 6

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