[Wikipedia-l] Re:Culte, cult, secte, sect

[sgilbert at nbnet.nb.ca]

Matt M. (that's what the header says, but I think it may have been 
Anthere) wrote:

> That is a tricky word, not to mistranslate
> unintentionnally :-)

It's a tricky word to use, too. One person's "cult" is another's 
religion. Many conservative Christians consider the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ("Mormonism") a cult, but I doubt 
such a label would stand in the state of Utah.

Some people argue that a cult is simply a newer religion that hasn't 
yet established itself. The word "sect" is more neutral; the term 
"new religious movement"  is sometimes used in academic 
research. In most cases, when we call a group a "cult" in 
Wikipedia we should probably attribute it.

Stephen G.