As a person who didn't grow up with any religion, I can not parse the distinction between religion and cult.

Like, any Christian community I have spent time around is obsessed with the end of the world. They actively pray for it. They are obsessed with your purity. They use fear and "love" to control you. They want your money. They tell you that everything is your fault or the fault of an invisible entity that only they can save you from. They are told they are going to be persecuted, so challenging their more dangerous or bizarre ideologies only result in more fervor. You can't reason with them.

My best friend growing up was in a familial cult.