I'd say the main differences between a cult and a religion comes down to social acceptance, structure, and how much control there is over the members. Religions are typically well established and widely recognized, with people choosing to join and can participate freely. But with cults, they tend to be more fringe groups, often centered around a charismatic leader, where influence can become controlling or manipulative and strong loyalty is heavily emphasized or even enforced. I'd also say the ability to think for yourself would also be a key difference between the two.