The rest of the religious bunch do not destroy your mind
Nor do they alienate your family and friends, nor do they require that you give them loads of money.
It is simple to make the difference between a religion worthy of the name and a cult that is out for you :
- a religion gives you its doctrine freely, and encourages you to come and listen to its scholars to gain deeper insight into its meaning, after which you are invited (not mandatory) to contribute to its church, all the while leaving you free to decide what your opinion is and how far you want to go
- a cult demands your presence, your money and your devotion to a doctrine that you must work towards in order to receive the full enlightenment, while convincing you that anyone who voices a critical opinion of it is working against your best interests which are to always give it more time and resources until you belong to it
The problem with cults is that people need to belong to a group, and a cult provides a cushy environment where everyone is certain that they are the same, guaranteeing to its followers that they will attain a superior status by following its rules.
A religion, on the other hand, requires critical thinking and personal interpretation, is open to debate on its foundation, its goals and its means, and generally does not guarantee anything in this life.
Frankly, I don't see how anyone with a modicum of intelligence cannot see that.