Cult vs. Culture — What's the Difference?

An intense devotion to a person or idea, often with a small group.

The shared customs, arts, and social institutions of a group.

A group often seen as unorthodox or extreme.

The way of life for a community or society.

A system of religious veneration centered on a figure or object.

A set of shared attitudes and values.

Exclusive group with shared beliefs and rituals.

The collective manifestation of human intellectual achievement.

Focused community with strong internal bonds.

Practices and beliefs passed down through generations.

In modern English, a cult is a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, or by its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal. This sense of the term is controversial, having divergent definitions both in popular culture and academia, and has also been an ongoing source of contention among scholars across several fields of study.

Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Humans acquire culture through the learning processes of enculturation and socialization, which is shown by the diversity of cultures across societies. A cultural norm codifies acceptable conduct in society; it serves as a guideline for behavior, dress, language, and demeanor in a situation, which serves as a template for expectations in a social group.

A system of religious veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object

The arts, beliefs, customs, institutions, and other products of human work and thought considered as a unit, especially with regard to a particular time or social group

A person or thing that is popular or fashionable among a particular group or section of society

These arts, beliefs, and other products considered with respect to a particular subject or mode of expression

A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.

The set of predominating attitudes and behavior that characterize a group or organization

The followers of such a religion or sect.

Mental refinement and sophisticated taste resulting from the appreciation of the arts and sciences

A system or community of religious worship and ritual.

Special training and development

The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.

The cultivation of soil; tillage

A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.

The breeding or cultivation of animals or plants for food, the improvement of stock, or other purposes.

Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.

The growing of microorganisms, tissue cells, or other living matter in a specially prepared nutrient medium.

The object of such devotion.

Such a growth or colony, as of bacteria.

An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

To cultivate (soil or plants).

A group, sect or movement following an unorthodox religious or philosophical system of beliefs, especially one in which members remove and exclude themselves from greater society, including family members not part of the cult, and show extreme devotion to a charismatic leader.

To grow (microorganisms or other living matter) in a specially prepared nutrient medium.

The veneration, devotion, and religious rites given to a deity (especially in a historical polytheistic context), or (in a Christian context) to a saint.

To use (a substance) as a medium for culture

(informal) A group of people having an obsession with or intense admiration for a particular activity, idea, person or thing.

The arts, customs, lifestyles, background, and habits that characterize humankind, or a particular society or nation.

Of or relating to a cult.

The beliefs, values, behaviour and material objects that constitute a people's way of life.

Enjoyed by a small, loyal group.

The conventional conducts and ideologies of a community; the system comprising the accepted norms and values of a society.

Alternative form of kvlt.

(anthropology) Any knowledge passed from one generation to the next, not necessarily with respect to human beings.

Attentive care; homage; worship.

(botany) Cultivation.

A system of religious belief and worship.

(microbiology) The process of growing a bacterial or other biological entity in an artificial medium.

A system of intense religious veneration of a particular person, idea, or object, especially one considered spurious or irrational by traditional religious bodies; as, the Moonie cult.

The growth thus produced.

The group of individuals who adhere to a cult (senses 2 or 3).

A group of bacteria.

A strong devotion or interest in a particular person, idea or thing without religious associations, or the people holding such an interest; as, the cult of James Dean; the cult of personality in totalitarian societies.

(cartography) The details on a map that do not represent natural features of the area delineated, such as names and the symbols for towns, roads, meridians, and parallels.

Adherents of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices

(archaeology) A recurring assemblage of artifacts from a specific time and place that may constitute the material culture remains of a particular past human society.

An interest followed with exaggerated zeal;

(euphemism) Ethnicity, race (and its associated arts, customs, etc.)

A system of religious beliefs and rituals;

(transitive) to maintain in an environment suitable for growth especially of bacteria cultivate}}

(transitive) to increase the artistic or scientific interest in something cultivate}}

The act or practice of cultivating, or of preparing the earth for seed and raising crops by tillage; as, the culture of the soil.

The act of, or any labor or means employed for, training, disciplining, or refining the moral and intellectual nature of man; as, the culture of the mind.

The state of being cultivated; result of cultivation; physical improvement; enlightenment and discipline acquired by mental and moral training; civilization; refinement in manners and taste.

The cultivation of bacteria or other organisms (such as fungi or eukaryotic cells from mulitcellular organisms) in artificial media or under artificial conditions.

Those details of a map, collectively, which do not represent natural features of the area delineated, as names and the symbols for towns, roads, houses, bridges, meridians, and parallels.

To cultivate; to educate.

A particular society at a particular time and place;

The tastes in art and manners that are favored by a social group

All the knowledge and values shared by a society

(biology) the growing of microorganisms in a nutrient medium (such as gelatin or agar);

(bacteriology) the product of cultivating micro-organisms in a nutrient medium

A highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality;

The attitudes and behavior that are characteristic of a particular social group or organization;

The raising of plants or animals;

Culture is generally inclusive, reflecting the shared heritage and values of a community, though it can also include subcultures and countercultural movements.

A cult is defined by its religious or ideological devotion, often centered around a specific figure or set of beliefs, with exclusive practices.

Yes, the practices and beliefs of a cult can be seen as a subset of a larger culture, though they are often distinguished by their intensity and exclusivity.

Culture encompasses the broad patterns of behavior, traditions, and practices of a group or society, while a cult is more narrowly focused on specific beliefs or figures.

Cults can sometimes isolate themselves from mainstream society or challenge dominant cultural norms, creating alternative communities with distinct beliefs.

Yes, cultures are dynamic and can evolve with societal changes, incorporating new ideas and influences while retaining traditional elements.

Cults are often viewed with skepticism or concern due to their intense devotion and sometimes radical practices, contrasting with the broader acceptance of cultural diversity.

Individuals are typically born into a culture and absorb its values, norms, and practices through socialization. However, one can also adopt a new culture through immersion and adaptation.

Cults often have charismatic leaders who centralize authority, while culture lacks specific leadership, being shaped collectively by the community.

Yes, individuals can belong to multiple cultures, a phenomenon known as cultural hybridity, where they blend and navigate between different cultural identities.

Cults can be controversial due to their unconventional beliefs, secretive practices, potential for manipulation by leaders, and the impact on members' autonomy and well-being.

Globalization leads to cultural exchange and fusion, resulting in more interconnected and hybrid cultures, but it can also threaten the preservation of traditional cultures.

Cults are characterized by their exclusive beliefs, intense devotion to a specific figure or ideology, and often, a high level of commitment from members.

Cultural identity is shaped by various factors, including ethnicity, nationality, language, and the shared beliefs and practices of a community, providing a sense of belonging.

Not all cults are religious; some may center around secular ideologies, charismatic leaders, or specific lifestyles, focusing on philosophical or social principles.

Some cults have evolved into mainstream religions over time, gaining broader acceptance and a larger following, which can lead to a shift in societal perceptions.