Differences between sect and religion

Unfortunately, many Serbs do not know what a sect is and what a religion is, and many use these words incorrectly.
Members of various sects often lie to others and themselves that they are not sectarians or that it does not matter because supposedly all religions were once sects until they were widespread and publicly accepted, which is a deception. There are religions that are not widespread and are not sects, as well as sects that are publicly accepted, such as the Indian sect Harem Krishna.

In short, the basic characteristics of sects, by which they differ from religions, are:
- organized recruitment (manipulation);
- punishments for apostates;
- rigid dogmatism (exactly defined meaning of the rules of the commandments);
- emotional isolation;
- fanaticism (condemnation of sinners and control of every aspect of the life of believers).

The main purpose of sects is to benefit from the members of the sect.
The main purpose of religion is to unite people of the same faith.

Some religions have many similarities with sects, such as Islam. In some Islamic countries, those who leave Islam are punished with death... The fact is that throughout history, Islam has spread mostly by sword and fire, that is, by force, and it is impossible to force someone to believe in something... Orthodoxy has almost never spread by force, although there have been many military conflicts with heretics and non-believers.

Source, more details and examples:
https://youtu.be/-m02MsAaUnY

When God created the celestial hosts … He established that the angels must be in an uninterrupted relationship with mankind. Among those angels, the guardian angels are the most kind and loving because they begin their mission in the world by taking care of children. They are sweet like children; they are gentle like children; and they are vulnerable and shy, just like children...
And if the judgment be against you because of your many sins, do not forget that your guardian angel will not abandon you even if you are in "the pool of tar." He will sustain a hope for your salvation until the Last Judgement, when the mercy of God may shower upon you and you may be called to the Kingdom of our Father, through the prayers of your guardian angel, amen.

+ Fr George Calciu