What's the difference between a cult and a religion? (serious question, don't flame)

Ignorance.


A cult (taken from "occult", meaning "hidden") is any religion considered strange/bizarre by society's norms.

"Society" doesn't refer to the entire human population. It's a subset, and there are others. Accepted behaviors and interests differ from society to society, and strangeness tends to be lost in these variances. As an example, even amongst the collective English-speaking population, there are many who would believe Mormons to share bizarre customs. Based upon this definition, they could be considered a cult to some, even though they are a recognized and established religion with hundreds of millions of followers. Establishment could be what spares them from the word, and with establishment would come tax exempt status.

I think that definition of the word "cult" is silly and I am not ignorant for thinking this way.