CoderDrag0n8

The short answer is that a cult is just a religion that the person using the word doesn't like.

Now there are some things people try and use as distinctions: separation from friends and family, demanding of all monetary gain and so forth. The thing is that one can find such precepts in real religions like Buddhism or monastic Christian traditions, which would not be considered cults.

Now when are certain religious practices harmful? That is really hard to say.

Why do you ask?

Just wondering.

I see your points on cults. I personally consider a cult to be any religon that is harmful to you, or any religon that you would find it hard to escape from.

The escape part is just what I would use, because you are never going to think that your religon is harmful, but if you try and think about escaping (or leaving) and find it would be hard or challenging (in a theoretical world where you would want to try) than I think at the very least, you should try and escape