Religions, philosophies, and cults. Oh my!
@keddaw:
A philosophy is a belief, or belief system, usually dealing with ethics.
A religion is a philosophy with a mythos, or a belief in a higher power.
A cult is simply a religion who's founder is still alive.
Cults are religions, religions are philosophies. not all Philosophies are religions, and not all religions are cults.
Ergo, Judaism is not a cult.
I get a kick out of the fact that people can accept the "3 major religions" as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism; all three are of the same philosophy, grouped as "Abrahmic Tradition," because all three follow The God of Abraham.
I also find it ironic, and hilarious, that the Abrahmic Traditions get separated out, and are never combined, despite their similarities; but pagan religions, which range from duothiesm (Wicca) to pantheism (Norse\Egyptian revival-types), are lumped together as if they were all the same.