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