Cult or No Cult?

The distinction between a religion and a cult is plain enough:

A religion has at least a creed which, whatever its defects, can be scrutinized. A religion displays its core tenets of belief to the world, where they may or may not be judged as ridiculous.

A cult promises deep revelations, but hides any defects from scrutiny. A cult divulges its core tenets of belief only to initiates who have been properly prepared to receive them. Who have been prepared to receive them uncritically.

There can of course be cults within religions! For example, there are those who claim that deep within this or that established church lurks some ultra-secret cabal secretly espousing beliefs contrary to that church's creed. Such a cabal, being in opposition to the plain creed of the church in question, can hardly be said to be part of the church. Assuming it did indeed exist, it would be a cult plain and simple - most likely nestling within the greater organization as a means to power or influence for its own separate and distinct aims.

There exists within humanity a powerful fascination with "hidden knowledge" - a fascination which pathetically enough, can exert a strong enough pull to keep deep initiates from defecting - even once they gain discernment to see they've been fooled. In the absence of true knowledge, the appearance of knowing can be enough. Many a mystic is satisfied if they can make smugness pass as enlightenment, to the uninitiated.

Cults have been with us from the beginning. It is likely that their seductive methods will always be used by the unscrupulous to gull the gullible.

Of course, some say the same about religions. But religion at least will stand up and say what it believes. It's true that some cultish tendencies can exist even in well-established religions, but speaking generally, the most central, most important truths are left hanging right out there, like a big matzoh ball for all the world to see.

And that's the difference. To which I for one say "amen," and "viva la"!