Hacker News Reader

> one is no more sacred to another

In the article these hats were associated with a “sun cult” not a “sun religion”.

Generally the way the words cult and religion are used, one has a connotation of legitimacy And reverence and the other a negative connotation suggesting illegitimacy.

View on HN

The word mostly retains its historical (descriptive), not modern (pejorative) connotations when used in the context of history.

I think their is ample evidence showing in the historical context some beliefs are referenced as religions and some as cults.

In fact especially in a historical context cult is akin to a social movement and don’t refer to religions at all. And the word cult is only aligned with religion in the modern context.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com