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Finding a way to judge the respective merits of their truth claims is, therefore, extremely difficult." (An Introduction to Humanities, Block 4 p52) So even for the spiritual enquirer of religion, the task of understanding religion is far from easy.
There is further clouding of the issue for students when one needs to separate religions from cults. The Church of Scientology has been unable to register its centre as a place of worship in Britain - the closest an organization can get under British law to being recognised as a `religion.' (Block 3, p29) Some regard the Mormon Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,) as a cult.
Generally a modern definition of a cult indicates a quasi-religious organization that holds a strange or dangerous aspect, either to the mental or physical well-being of its followers.
The student of religion must weigh up the cultural, emotional and historical aspects of a religion (sometimes from afar,) and he must realise religion is a very personal thing.
For every person, there will be a different definition. Much of religion is intangible; it can be mystic, spiritual and often so culturally
There is further clouding of the issue for students when one needs to separate religions from cults. The Church of Scientology has been unable to register its centre as a place of worship in Britain - the closest an organization can get under British law to being recognised as a `religion.' (Block 3, p29) Some regard the Mormon Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,) as a cult.
Generally a modern definition of a cult indicates a quasi-religious organization that holds a strange or dangerous aspect, either to the mental or physical well-being of its followers.
The student of religion must weigh up the cultural, emotional and historical aspects of a religion (sometimes from afar,) and he must realise religion is a very personal thing.
For every person, there will be a different definition. Much of religion is intangible; it can be mystic, spiritual and often so culturally