"If the founder is alive, then it’s a cult. After that it’s a religion."

I like that definition.

To my mind, a cult is usually relatively limited in the number of initiates and often believing in an aspect or interpretation of a recognized sacred text - most particularly the Bible - that questions the tenets, and therefore the power, of larger, more established hierarchical religious organizations. Christianity began as a cult until it was seen to serve the purposes of the leaders of a disintegrating Roman empire and so harnessed as a unifying belief system that would extend the period of imperial rule. Had Mithraism been open to women, the United States would be Mithratic rather than Christian (although, coincidentally, still celebrating December 25th as the birthday of its founding figure).

I don't see any difference at all. There might different levels of sanity but it is all the same shit.

That’s a lot of work

All religions are cults with larger following. Christianity is a Jesus Cult, Islam is a Mahhamed Cult.

Don't religions dare call smaller groups cults.

As this diagram shows it. But i want to see a school house rock episode “how a cult becomes a religion”

Cult from a historians perspective simply means a sect of a pre-existing religion.
Cult in modern colloquial meaning describes particularly controling or harmful religious groups.

Religion is based on a god head, and has specific rites and rituals accociated with a given dieity.

None

See my previous post: Jenkins, Philip, 'Mystics and Messiahs".

In a cult there is someone at the top who knows it's all a scam. In a religion that person is dead.

A cult actually believes in their own bullshit. An organized religion is in it for the money.

My definitions: Religion has arisen from the same human techniques as science -observation, hypothesis, conclusion, promotion etc. Unlike science they draw conclusions (or dogma) that cannot be continuously verified and updated, relying of ancient texts, sayings of prophets and FAITH- i.e belief which has no evidence. They try to conserve outdated thinking. You cannot say that about Football, so it is not a religion and many "Passions" fall into that category.
Yes, a cult is the same as a religion but has additional inhuman restrictions on communication with loved ones and other non cult friends in an attempt to conserve obligations and practices.