Cult

The spelling c-u-l-t has at least nine defined meanings divided among positive, negative, and neutral connotations:

• Positive: In common or popular usage, "cult" has a positive connotation for fan groups of art, music, writing, fiction, and fashion devotees (see Cult following). "Cult" also has a positive connotation when used in the original and classic sense of veneration by any group of worshipers, though this meaning is usually applied to groups known from antiquity, including historic cults of the major religions (see Cult (religious practice)).
• Negative: Also in common or popular usage, "cult" has a negative connotation for new religious, extreme political, questionable therapeutic, and pyramidal business groups. Theological cults also have a negative connotation as defined by fundamentalist Christians to include both new and major religion groups. For these reasons, most, if not all, non-fan groups that are called cults reject this label.
• Neutral: In twentieth century and some current scientific usage, "cult" is a technical term with a neutral connotation (see Sociology of religion). Neutral usage of "cult" in sociological science has been partly replaced by the phrase new religious movement (NRM) – but not entirely: because not all sociologically-defined cults are new or religious, there was a formal objection to the term-replacing campaign as "politics of representation", and ultimately the public didn't accept the replacement term.

Etymology of the word -Cult

1617, "worship," also "a particular form of worship," from Fr. culte, from L. cultus "care, cultivation, worship," originally "tended, cultivated," pp. of colere "to till" (see colony). Rare after 17c.; revived mid-19c. with reference to ancient or primitive rituals. Meaning "devotion to a person or thing" is from 1829. From the Online Etymology Dictionary.

Cult Having Sikhism view

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Cult vs Religion

1. Religions respect the individual's autonomy whereas Cults enforce compliance.
2. Religions try to help individuals meet their spiritual needs whereas Cults exploit spiritual needs.
3. Religions tolerate and even encourage questions and independent, critical thinking whereas Cults discourage questions and independent critical thinking.
4. Religions encourage psycho-spiritual integration whereas Cults "split" members into the "good cult self" and the "bad old self.”
5. Conversion to religions involves an unfolding of internal processes central to a person's identity whereas Cultic conversion involves an unaware surrender to external forces that care little for the person's identity.
6. Religions view money as a means, subject to ethical restraints, toward achieving noble ends whereas Cults view money as an end or as a means toward achieving power or the selfish goals of the leader.
7. Religions view sex between clergy and the faithful as unethical whereas Cults frequently subject members to the sexual appetites of the leaders.
8. Religions respond to critics respectfully whereas Cults frequently intimidate critics with physical or legal threats.
9. Religions cherish the family whereas Cults view the family as an enemy.
10. Religions encourage a person to think carefully before making a commitment to join whereas Cults encourage quick decisions with little information.

References

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult#Word_origins
• "Guidelines for Clergy" by Rev. Richard L. Dowhower