It is surprising to me that so many people struggle with this. Cults and religions work on the same wave length, but I’m opposite directions. The wave length in this instance, is self awareness. The cult equates awareness of the self with awareness of the cult. Whereas religion promotes awareness of the individual separate from awareness of the religion.
The difference plays out when the individual is required to make their own choices. A cult member will think how does my choice reflect on the cult. A religious person thinks how do my actions reflect on me.
It has nothing to do with true origins or group think. The truth can be used as a tool to negate self awareness. And group think can be harnessed to promote individual choice.