What is the Difference Between a Church and a Cult?

Discussion has grown in the social media and among fellow Jamaican’s regarding the church and cult, after the recent arrest of an alleged cult leader, Dr. Kevin O. Smith. This comes after a cult-like ritual by the leader of Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries in Albion, St. James, and his flock resulted in the death of two congregant. The Constitution of Jamaica establishes the freedom of religion and outlaws religious discrimination. A colonial-era law criminalizing obeah continues to exist, but has rarely been enforced since independence. 

Registration with the Government is not mandatory for religious groups, which means that there are very few barriers for entry into a sector that has profound influence over people’s lives. However, repeated acts of criminality within the ranks of organizations purporting to be religious has once again raised the question of how the public is able to differentiate between the church and a cult?

Professor Donna Hope, Professor of Culture, Gender and Society at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus and retired Jamaica Baptist Union Pastor and author of  A Controversial Clergyman and Revelations on Ras Tafari, Reverend Clinton Chisolm; joined the CVM Live Panel Discussion to share on this topic.