Dwayne Waden, whose Facebook profile identifies him as pastor of Elevated Life International Ministries and a semitruck driver, was arrested after the incident at a High Point, North Carolina, McDonald's.
To me at least, the primary difference is time and size.
If the founder/god/messiah/prophet/messenger is still alive or died recently, folks call it a cult.
If the founder/god/messiah/prophet/messenger died a long time ago, folks call it a religion.
From my point of view it’s all the same, it’s just easier to add to the myth after a long time has passed. That and religions are widely accepted throughout wider culture as basic reality, and cults are considered fringe.
If those cults grow to represent wider culture, they’ll stop being called cults and instead be called religions.
This doesn’t take legal status into account or anything. It’s just an observation.
To me at least, the primary difference is time and size.
If the founder/god/messiah/prophet/messenger is still alive or died recently, folks call it a cult.
If the founder/god/messiah/prophet/messenger died a long time ago, folks call it a religion.
From my point of view it’s all the same, it’s just easier to add to the myth after a long time has passed. That and religions are widely accepted throughout wider culture as basic reality, and cults are considered fringe.
If those cults grow to represent wider culture, they’ll stop being called cults and instead be called religions.
This doesn’t take legal status into account or anything. It’s just an observation.