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Japanese Happy Science Cult has an Idol Group

NeonZ

Member
What's the difference between a religious cult and a religion? Why is this one a cult?

Religions centered around a person who is still alive (or their immediate family or chosen successor) are generally called "cults".

There's also a sense of holding private knowledge and teachings, and controlling the personal lives of the followers compared to more mainstream religions, but that's very subjective, since obviously standard "religions" can gain control over people too.
 

Theonik

Member
Religions centered around a person who is still alive (or their immediate family or chosen successor) are generally called "cults".

There's also a sense of holding private knowledge and teachings, and controlling the personal lives of the followers compared to more mainstream religions, but that's very subjective, since obviously standard "religions" can gain control over people too.
I mean, one could have said that Jesus and his disciples were a cult by that measure.
 
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