Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, 11th Edition definition of cult:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cult

It is a bit ambiguous, but I think you will see how it relates to the word religion.

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, 11th Edition definition of religion:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion

From these definitions, what can we say about the two concepts?

Would it be fair to say that a cult has many fewer followers and in most cases do not have support from their particular government where as a religion has drastically more followers and in many cases became religions BECAUSE they were supported by their particular government?

There are cults that became religions and then subsided into cults again. One example is Zoroastrianism.

The scientists and others who investigated at length (and continue the investigation even today) the Christian religion's beginnings would say that Christianity was probably a cult, and, at some point, because it was supported by the cult follower's government, it grew from a cult into a religion.

So the only real difference between cults and religions is that religions are/were supported by their government when they were a cult and with that support grew into a religion.

Sometimes ambiguity is a bitch and the majority is blind to the obvious until you point it out.

The crazy man has spoken!!!