Newer and Old religious movement s

10:53 AM | BY ZeroDivide EDIT
A new religious movement (NRM) is a comprehensive term used to identify religious, ethical, and spiritual groups, communities and practices of relatively modern origins. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may exist on the fringes of a wider religion, in which case they will be distinct from pre-existing denominations. Scholars studying the sociology of religion have almost unanimously adopted this term as a neutral alternative to the word cult, which is often considered derogatory.[1] Academics identify a variety of characteristics which they employ in categorizing groups as new religious movements. The term is broad and inclusive, rather than sharply defined. New religious movements are generally seen as syncretic, employing human and material assets to disseminate their ideas and worldviews, deviating in some degree from a society's traditional forms or doctrines, focused especially upon the self and having a peripheral relationship that exists in a state of tension with established societal conventions.[2]
A NRM may be one of a wide range of movements ranging from those with loose affiliations based on novel approaches to spirituality orreligion to communitarian enterprises that demand a considerable amount of group conformity and a social identity that separates their adherents from mainstream society. Use of the term NRM is not universally accepted among the groups to which it is applied.[3] Scholars have estimated that NRMs now number in the tens of thousands world-wide, with most in Asia and Africa. Most have only a few members, some have thousands, and very few have more than a million.[4] Although academics occasionally propose amendments to technical definitions and continue to add newly emergent religious manifestations,[5][6] the entities listed have been identified as new religions and new religious movements by scholars in the fields of the sociology of religion, psychiatry, history and theology.

List[edit]

This is an incomplete list that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with entries that are reliably sourced.
NameFounderYear foundedType
3HO[7]Harbhajan Singh Yogi[8]1969[8]Sikhism[8]
Adidam, previously Free Daist Avabhasan Communion, Free Daist Communion, Crazy Wisdom Fellowship, Johannine Daist Community, Laughing Man Institute, Dawn Horse Communion, Free Primitive Church of Divine Communion, Free Communion Church, Dawn Horse Fellowship[9][10]Adi Da[10]1972[10]Hindu-inspired[10]
Adonai-Shomo[11]Frederick T. Howland[12]1861[12]Adventist Communal[12]
Adonism[13]Franz Sättler[13]1925[13]Neopagan[13]
Adventures in Enlightenment, A Foundation[14]Terry Cole-Whittaker1985Religious Science
Aetherius Society[15][16][17]George King[15]1954[15]UFO-Christian[15]
African Church Incorporated[18]Jacob Kehinde Coker[19]1901[19]Anglican Communion
African Independent Churches, also known as African Initiated Churches[20]MultipleStarting in the 4th centuryChristianity; Indigenous
African Theological Archministry, previously Order of Damballah Hwedo Ancestor Priests, Shango Temple, and Yoruba Temple[21]Walter Eugene King[22]1973[22]Voodoo[22]
Agasha Temple of Wisdom[23]Richard Zenor[24]1943[24]Spiritualism[24]
Agni Yoga Society[23][25]Nicholas Roerich[26]mid-1920s[26]Theosophical[26]
Ahmadiyya Movement[25][27][28]Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[29]1889[29]Islam[29]
Aladura[30][31]Josiah Ositelu[32]1930[32]Pentecostal[32]
Alamo Christian Foundation, also known as Alamo Christian Church, Consecrated, Alamo Christian Ministries, and Music Square Church[30][33][34]Tony Alamo; Susan Alamo[35]1969[35]Fundamentalist; Communal[35]
Altruria[36]Edward Biron Payne[12]1894[12]Christian Socialist Communal[12]
Amana Church Society, also known as Church of True Inspiration[37][38]Eberhard Gruber; Johann Rock[12]1714[12]Communal [12]
American Buddhist Movement[39]1980[40]Western Buddhism[40]
American Buddhist Society and Fellowship, Inc.[41]Robert Ernest Dickhoff[42]1945[42]Tibetan Buddhism[42]
American World Patriarchs[43]Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski[44]1972[44]Eastern Liturgy[44]
Amica Temple of Radiance[45]Ivah Berg Whitten[26]1932[26]Theosophical[26]
Ananda Marga[46][47][48][49]Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar[50]1955[50]Hinduism[50]
Ancient British Church in North America[51]Jonathan V. Zotique[52]Homosexually Oriented[52]
Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis[46][53][54]H. Spencer Lewis[55]1915[55]Rosicrucianism[55]
Ancient Teachings of the Masters, also known as ATOM[51]Darwin Gross[56]1983[56]Sant Mat[56]
Anglo-Saxon Federation of America[57][58]Howard B. Rand[59]1928[59]British Israelism[59]
Ansaaru Allah Community[60]As Siddid Al Imaan Al Haahi Al Mahdi[61]late 1960s[61]Black Islam[61]
Anthroposophy[57][62][63]Rudolf Steiner[64]1912[64]Western Occultist[64]
Antiochian Catholic Church in America[65]Gordon Mar Peter[66]1980s[66]Independent Catholic, Monophysite[66]
Antoinism[67]Louis-Joseph Antoine[67]1910[67]Healing, Christian[67]
Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarean)[68]Samuel Heinrich Froehlich[69]1906[69]European Free-Church[69]
Apostolic Christian Church of America[68]Samuel Heinrich Froehlich[69]1830[69]European Free-Church[69]
Apostolic Church[70]Daniel Powell Williams[71]1916[71]Pentecostal[71]
Apostolic Church of Christ (Pentecostal)[72]Johnnie Draft; Wallace Snow[73]1969[73]Apostolic Pentecostal[73]
Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God[74]William Thomas Phillips[75]1920[75]Apostolic Pentecostal[75]
Arcane School[76]Alice and Foster Bailey[77]1937[77]Alice Bailey Groups[77]
Arica School[78][79]Oscar Ichazo[80]1968[80]Sufism[80]
Art of Living Foundation, also known as Association for Inner Growth and Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Preeth[81]Sri Sri Ravi Shankar[81]1981[81]Hinduism[81]
Arya Samaj[82][83]Mul Shankara[81]1875[81]Hinduism[81]
Aryan Nations, also known as Church of Jesus Christ Christian, Aryan Nations[84]Wesley Swift[85]late 1940s[85]British Israelism[85]
Ásatrú[86]Stephen McNallen[86]1970s[86]Neo-pagan[86]
Assemblies of God[87]merger[88]1914[88]Pentecostalism[88]
Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ[82]merger[89]1952[89]Apostolic Pentecostal[89]
Assemblies of Yahweh[90][91]C.O. Dodd[92]1937[92]Adventist; Sacred Name[92]
Assembly of Christian Soldiers[93]Jessie L. Thrift[94]1971[94]Unclassified, Ku Klux Klan-based[94]
Assembly of Yahweh[90][91]Lorenzo Dow Snow
E. B. Adam[95]		1949[95]Adventist[95]
Association for Research and Enlightenment[93][96]Edgar Cayce[97]1931[97]Occultist[97]
Association of Vineyard Churches[98]John Wimber[99]1982[99]White Trinitarian Pentecostals[99]
Aum Shinrikyo, also known as Aleph[100][101][102][103]Shoko Asahara[104]1987[104]Japanese Buddhism[104]
Ausar Auset Society[105]R.A. Straughn[106]mid-1970s[106]Rosicrucianism[106]
Babism[107]Báb[107]1844[107]Islam[107]
Bahá'í Faith[108][109]Mírzá Ḥusayn-`Alí Nuri[110]1863[110]Middle Eastern, Baha'i[110]
Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship[111]Bawa Muhaiyaddeen[112]1971[112]Sufism[112]
Bethel Ministerial Association[113]Albert Franklin Varnell[89]1934[89]Apostolic Pentecostal[89]
Bible Presbyterian Church[114]Carl McIntire[115]1938[115]Reformed Presbyterian[115]
Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ[116][117]schism[89]1957[89]Apostolic Pentecostal[89]
Brahma Kumaris[118][119][120]Dada Lekhraj[121]1936[121]Hinduism[121]
Branch Davidian[122][123]Victor T. Houteff[124]1930[124]Seventh Day Adventist[124]
Branhamism[125]William M. Branham[125]1951[125]Oneness Pentecostal[125]
Breatharians also known as Inedia[126]Wiley Brooks[127]1970s[127]Hinduism-influenced[127]
The Brethren (Jim Roberts group), also known as The Body of Christ and The Garbage Eaters[128]Jimmie T. Roberts[128]c. 1970[128]Unclassified Christian Churches[128]
British Israelism, also called Anglo-Israelism[129][130]
Bruderhof, also known as the Hutterian Brethren andHutterian Society of Brothers[131]Eberhard Arnold[132]c. 1920[132]Communal[132]
Brunstad Christian Church[133]
Builders of the Adytum[134][135]Paul Foster Case[136]1922[136]Ritual magic[136]
Candomblé[137][138]19th century[139]Syncretistic; Neo-African; Divination[139]
Cao Dai, also known as Dai Dao Tam Ky Pho Do[140][141]Ngô Văn Chiêu; Lê Văn Trung[139]1919[139]Syncretistic; Vietnamese Millenarian[139]
Cargo cults[142][143]Syncretistic; Nativist[144]
CAUSA International[145]Sun Myung Moon[146]1970[146]Unification Church[146]
Celestial Church of Christ[147]Samuel Oshoffa[148]1947[148]Nativist Christian Pentecostal[148]
The Centers Network[149]
Chabad-Lubavitch[143][150]Shneur Zalman of Liadi.late 18th centuryChasidic movement in Orthodox Judaism.
Charismatic Movement[151]1950s[152]
Chen Tao, also called God's Salvation Church and God Saves the Earth Flying Saucer Foundation[153]
Cheondoism, also called Chendogyo[154]
Cherubim and Seraphim, also known as Sacred Cherubim and Seraphim Society and Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim[155]Moses Orimolade Tunolase[156]c. 1925[156]African Pentecostal[156]
Christ Apostolic Church[157]T. O. Obadare[158]1941[158]Pentecostal[158]
Christadelphians, also called Thomasites[159][160]John Thomas[161]1844[162]Baptist family[162]
The Christian Community, also known as the Christian Community Church and Christengemeinschaft[163]Rudolf Steiner
Friedrich Rittelmeyer[164]		1922[164]Anthroposophy[164]
Christian Identity[165][166]1982[167]British Israelism[167]
Christian Reformed Church in North America[168]Gijsbert Haan[169]1857[169]Reformed Presbyterian[169]
Christian Science[170][171]Mary Baker Eddy[172]1876[172]Christian Science-Metaphysical;[172] New Thought[173]
Christian World Liberation Front, also known as theSpiritual Counterfeits Project[174]Jack Sparks; Fred Dyson; Pat Matrisciana[175]1969[175]Christian Fundamentalist-Millenarian[175]
Church of All Worlds[176][177]Tim Zell; Lance Christie[178]1962[178]Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism[178]
Church of Aphrodite[176]Gleb Botkin[179]1939[179]Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism[179]
Church of Bible Understanding[180][181]Stewart Traill[182]1971[182]Adventist; Fundamentalist[182]
Church of Daniel's Band[183]1893[184]Non-Episcopal Methodism[184]
Church of God in Christ[185]Charles H. Mason[186]1908[186]Pentecostal[186]
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite[185][187]John Holdeman[187]c. 1870[187]German Mennonite[187]
The Church of God (Jerusalem Acres)[185]Grady R. Kent[188]1957[188]White Trinitarian Holiness Pentecostal[188]
Church of God Mountain Assembly[189]J.H. Parks, Steve N. Bryant, Tom Moses, William O. Douglas1906[188]White Trinitarian Holiness Pentecostal[188]
Church of God of Prophecy[190]Ambrose Tomlinson[191]1903[191]White Trinitarian Holiness Pentecostal[191]
Church of God with Signs Following[192]George Went Hensley[193]1920s[193]Holiness Pentecostal[193]
Church of Israel[194]Dan Gayman[195]1974[195]British Israelism[195]
The Church of Light[196][197]C.C. Zain[198][199]1932[200][201]Hermetism[202][203]
Church of Satan[204]Anton LaVey[205]1966[205]Satanism[205]
Church of the Living Word, also known as The Walk[206]John Robert Stevens[207]1954[207]Fundamentalist; Occultist[207]
Church of the Lord (Aladura)[208]Josiah Ositelu[32]1930[32]Pentecostal Family[32]
Church of World Messianity[209][210]Mokichi Okada[211]1934[211]Shintoism[211]
Church Universal and Triumphant[212][213]Mark Prophet;Elizabeth Clare (Wolf) Prophet[214]1958[214]Theosophical; Occultist[214]
Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles, also known as CARP[215]Sun Myung Moon[216][216]1955[216]Unification Church[216]
Commandment Keepers: Holy Church of the Living God[217][218]Arnold Josiah Ford[219]1924[219]Black Judaism[219]
Community Chapel and Bible Training Center[220]Donald Lee Barnett[221]1967[221]Latter Rain Pentecostal[221]
Concerned Christians[222]
Conservative Judaism[223][224]Sabato Morais,Marcus Jastrow, H. Pereira Mendes[225]1887[225]Mainline Judaism[225]
A Course in Miracles[226][227]Helen Schucman
William Thetford[228]		1975[228]New Thought[228]
Covenant of the Goddess[109][229]merger[230]1975[230]Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism[230]
Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans[231][232]Margot Adler[230]1987[230]Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism[230]
The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord[233][234]James D. Ellison[85]mid-1970s[85]British Israelism[85]
Creativity[235]Ben Klassen[235]early-1970'sPantheism and Agnostic Atheism and White Racialism.[235]
Crossroads Movement[236]1970s[237]
Cyberchurches[238]
Dalit Buddhist movement[239]Bhimrao Ramji Sakpal[239]1956[239]Buddhism[239]
Dances of Universal Peace[240]
Dianic Wicca[241]merger[242]1971[242]Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism[242]
Eckankar[243]Paul Twitchell[244]1971[244]Sant Mat[244]
Elan Vital (formerly Divine Light Mission)[119][245][246]Shri Hans Ji Maharaj[247]1920s[247]Sant Mat[247]
Esoteric Nazism[248]
EST (Erhard Seminars Training)[249]Werner Erhard[250]1971[251][252]Human Potential Movement,[253] Self religions[254]
Evangelical Methodist Church[255]J.H. Hamblen[256]1946[256]Non-Episcopal Methodist[256]
Falun Gong[257]Li Hongzhi[258]1992[258]Taoist[258]
Family International, previously known as the Children of God, the Family of Love and the Family[119][259][260]David Berg[259]1968[259]Fundamentalist,[259] Jesus movementoffshoot,[260] with countercultural andEvangelical beliefs[261]
Fellowship of Isis[262]Olivia Robertson[263]1976[263]Spiritual organization[263]
Feraferia[264]Frederick Adams[264]1967[264]Neopagan, Goddess[264]
Findhorn Foundation[265]Eileen Caddy;Peter Caddy; Alexis Edwards; Roger Benson[266]1963[266]Christian-Anthroposophistical-Rosicrucian[266]
Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas[265]W.E. Fuller[267]1898[267]Black Trinitarian Pentecostal[267]
Followers of Christ[268]Marion Reece (or Riess)[268][269]late 19th century[268]Unclassified[268] Pentecostal [269]
Foundation for A Course In Miracles[270]Kenneth and Gloria Wapnick[271]1983[271]Christian Science-Metaphysical; New Thought[271]
Fraternitas Rosae Crucis[272]Paschal Beverly Randolph[273]1858[273]Rosicrucianism[273]
Freedomites[274]
Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO)[275]Sangharakshita(Dennis Lingwood)1967[275]Buddhism
Fundamentalist Christianity[276]
General Church of the New Jerusalem[277]schism[278]1890[278]Swedenborgianism[278]
Ghost Dance[279]
Global Peace Foundation[280]Hyun Jin Moon[281]2007[280]Unification Church[280]
Grail Movement[282]Oskar Ernst Bernhardt[283]1924[283]Spiritualist, Psychic and New Age;Channeling[283]
Hanuman Foundation[284]Richard Alpert(Ram Dass)[285]1980[286]Hinduism[286]
Heaven's Gate[287]Marshall Herff Applewhite; Bonnie Lu Nettles[287]1973[287]New Age, UFO[287]
Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy[288]Swami Rama[289]1971[289]Hinduism[289]
"I AM" Activity[166]Guy Ballard[290]I AM Groups; Ascended Masters[290]
Independent Fundamental Churches of America[291]R. Lee Kirkland[292]1922[292]Unaffiliated Fundamentalist[292]
Insight Meditation Society[293]Jack Kornfield,Sharon Salzberg,Joseph Goldstein[294]1976[294]Theravada Buddhism[294]
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel[272]Aimee Semple McPherson[295]1923[295]White Trinitarian Pentecostal[295]
International Community of Christ also known as Church of the Second Advent (CSA) and Jamilians[296]Eugene Douglas Savoy[296]1972[296]New Age Occultist[296]
International Society for Krishna Consciousness[297]Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta[298]mid-1960s[298]Hinduism[298]
Jediism[299]2000s[299]Star Wars-inspired New Age[299]
Jehovah's Witnesses[300]Charles Taze Russell[301]1870[301]Adventist; Bible Student Groups[301]
Jesus Army (also known as "Jesus Fellowship Church" and "Bugbrooke Jesus Fellowship")[302]Noel Stanton (split from Baptist Union)[303]1977[303]Fundamentalist, Communal [303]
Jesus Movement[302][304]late 1960s[305]Fundamentalist[305]
Jews for Jesus[306]Moishe Rosen[307]1970[307]Fundamentalist Christianity[307]
John Frum[306]1936[307]Syncretistic; Millenarian[307]
Kabbalah Centre[308]Philip Berg[308]1970s[308]New Age[308]
Kemetic Orthodoxy[309]Tamara Siuda[309]1988[309]Kemetic[309]
Kerista[310]John Presmont[311]1956[311]Communal—After 1960[311]
KopimismIsak Gerson2012Internet religion
Konkokyo[312]Bunjiro Kawate[313]1859[313]Shintoism[313]
Kripalu Center (Kirpalu)[312]Amrit Desai[314]1966[314]Hinduism[314]
Lama Foundation[315]Steve Durkee[316]1967[316]Communal—After 1960[316]
Latter Rain Movement[317]schism led by George Hawtin and Percy Hunt[318]1946[318]Millenarian Pentecostal[318]
Laymen's Home Missionary Movement[317]Paul S. L. Johnson[319]c. 1920[319]Adventist; Bible Student Groups[319]
Lectorium Rosicrucianum[320]1924[321]Rosicrucianism[321]
The Living Word Fellowship[322]John Robert Stevens[323]1951[323]Latter Rain Pentecostals[323]
Local Church movement[324]Ni Shu-tsu (Watchman Nee)[325]1920s[325]Independent Fundamentalist; Other Bible Students[325]
Love Family, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ at Armageddon and Love Israel[326]Paul Erdman[327]1969[327]Communal[327]
Lucis Trust[328]Alice A. Bailey[329]1923[329]Occultist; Theosophical[329]
Mahikari[330]Kotama Okada[331]1959[331]Shintoism[331]
Maranatha Campus Ministries[332]Bob Weiner[333]1972[333]Pentecostalism[333]
Mazdaznan[334]Otoman Zar-Adusht Ha'nish[335]1902[335]Zoroastrianism[335]
Meher Baba followers[246]Merwan Sheriar Irani[335]1921[335]Hindu-inspired[335]
Messianic Judaism[336]
Million Man March[337]Louis Farrakhan[337]1995[337]Nation of Islam[337]
Mita Congregation[338]Juanita García Peraza[92]1940[92]Deliverance Pentecostal[92]
Monastic Order of Avallon[339]Henri Hillion de Coatmoc'han[339]1972[339]Neo-pagan[339]
Moody Church[338]Dwight L. Moody[340]1864[340]Fundamentalist and EvangelicalChurches[340]
Moorish Science Temple of America[341]Timothy Drew[342]1925[342]Black Islam[342]
Moral Re-Armament[343]Frank N. D. Buchman[344]1921[344]
Latter Day Saint movement[345]Joseph Smith, Jr.[346]1830[346]Latter Day Saint movement; Mormonism;
Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness[347]John-Roger Hinkins[56]1971[56]Sant Mat[56]
Namdhari[348]Balak Singh[349]mid-19th century[349]Sikhism[349]
Nation of Islam[350]Elijah Muhammad[351]mid-1930s[351]Black Muslims[351]
Nation of Yahweh[352][353]Hulon Mitchell, Jr.[354]1970s[354]Black Judaism[354]
National Spiritualist Association of Churches[355]Harrison D Barrett, James M. Peebles,Cora L. Richmond[356]1893[356]Spiritualism[356]
Native American Church[357]1906[358]Entheogen Groups[358]
New Apostolic Church[359]Heinrich Geyer[360]1863[360]Unclassified Christian Churches[360]
New Kadampa Tradition[361]Geshe Kelsang Gyatso[362]mid-1970s[362]Tibetan Buddhism[362]
The New Message from God[363][364][365]Marshall Vian Summers1992[366]
New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn[367]1969[368]Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism[368]
New Thought[369]Phineas Parkhurst Quimby[370]mid-19th century[370]Metaphysical[370]
Oahspe Faithists[371]John Ballou Newbrough1882UFO-Christian
Odinism[372]Orestes Brownson[372]1848 [372]Neo-paganism[372]
Oomoto[373]Mrs. Nao Deguchi[374]1899[374]Millenarian Shintoism[374]
Open Bible Standard Churches[375]merger[376]1935[376]White Trinitarian Pentecostals[376]
Opus Dei[119][377][378][379][380][381][382]Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer[377]1928[377]Roman Catholic[377]
Ordo Templi Orientis[383]Carl Kellner;[383][384]Theodor Reuss[384]1895;[383]1906[384]Thelema[384]
Pentecostal Church of God[385]1919[386]Pentecostalism[386]
Pentecostalism[387]
Peoples Temple[388][389]Jim Jones[390]1955[390]Other Psychic, New Age Groups[390]
Philosophical Research Society[391]Manly Palmer Hall[392]1934[392]Occult Orders[392]
Pilgrims of Arès[393]Michel Potay[393]1974[393]
Plymouth Brethren[394][395]John Nelson Darby[396]1830[396]Millenarian[396]
Potter's House also known as Chritian Fellowship Ministries (CFM), The Door, Victory Chapel, Christian Center, Crossroads Chapel, etc.[285]Wayman Mitchell[285]1970[285]Pentecostalism[285]
Radha Soami Satsang Beas[397]Seth Shiv Dayal Singh[398]1861[398]Sant Mat[398]
Raëlism[397]Claude Vorilhon(Rael)[399]1973[399]Flying Saucer Groups[399]
Rainbow Family[400]Barry Adams[401]late-1960s[401]Communal—After 1960[401]
Rajneesh movement[402]Rajneesh Chandra Mohan[403]1966[403]Eastern Family[403]
Ramtha[404]J. Z. Knight[405]1977[406]New Age[404]
Rastafari[407][408]Leonard Howell,Joseph Hibbert,Archibald Dunkley, Robert Hinds[409]1935[409]Black Judaism[409]
Reformed Druids of North America[410]1960s[411]Neo-Paganism[411]
Religious Science[412]Ernest Holmes[413]1948[413]New Thought[413]
Risshō Kōsei Kai[414]Nikkyo Niwano andMyoko Naganuma[415]1938 [415]Nichiren Buddhist[415]
Rosicrucian Fellowship[416]Carl Louis von Grasshof[417]1909[417]Rosicrucianism[417]
Sacred Name Movement[418]Clarence Orvil Dodd1930sAdventist; Church of God (Seventh-Day);
Sahaja Yoga[419]Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi[420]1970[420]Hinduism[420]
Saiva Siddhanta Church[418]Subramuniy[420]1957[420]Hinduism[420]
The Salvation Army[421]William Booth[422]1865[422]Nineteenth Century Holiness[422]
Sant Nirankari Mission[423]Baba Buta Singh Ji1929Sikhism
Scientology[119][424][425][426]L. Ron Hubbard[427]1955[427]Other Psychic, New Age Groups[427]
Self-Realization Fellowship[428]Paramahansa Yogananda[429]1935[429]Hinduism[429]
Semitic Neopaganism[430]Raphael Patai[430]1960s[430]Neo-paganism, Feminism[430]
Seventh-day Adventist Church[431]Ellen G. White[432]1860[432]Seventh Day Adventists[432]
Seventh-day Adventist Reform Movement[433]schism[434]1925[434]Seventh Day Adventists[434]
Shakers[435]Ann Lee[436]1750s[436]Communal—Before 1960[436]
Shepherd's Rod, also known as the Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Association[437]Victor T. Houteff[438]1935[438]Seventh Day Adventists[438]
Shiloh Youth Revival Centers[439]John J. Higgins, Jr.[440]1969[440]Communal—After 1960[440]
Shinnyo-en[441]Shinjo Ito and Tomoji Ito[442]1936[442]Japanese Buddhism[442]
Shinreikyo[439]Kanichi Otsuka[331]post–World War II[331]Shintoism[331]
Shri Ram Chandra Mission[443]Shri Ram Chandraji Maharaj[443]1945[443]Hinduism[443]
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres[444]Kuppuswami Iyer[445]1935[445]Hinduism[445]
Soka Gakkai International[446][447]Tsunesaburo Makiguchi[448]1930[448]Nichiren Buddhism[448]
Subud[449]Muhammed Subuh[450]1933[450]Sufism[450]
Sufi Ruhaniat International[449]Samuel L. Lewis[451]1968[451]Sufism[451]
Sukyo Mahikari[212]Sekiguchi Sakae[452]1978[452]Mahikari Syncretistic[452]
Summum[212]Claude Rex Nowell[453]1975[453]Unclassified Christian Churches[453]
Tenrikyo[454]Miki Nakayama[455]1838[455]Shintoism[455]
Tolstoyan primitivism[456]Leo Tolstoy[456]1901[456]Christian anarchism, Pacifism[456]
Toronto Blessing[457]Randy Clark[458]1994[458]Pentecostalism[458]
Transcendental Meditation[459]Brahmananda Saraswati (Guru Dev), Maharishi Mahesh Yogi[460]1958[460]Hinduism[460]
True Buddha School[461]Lu Sheng-yen[461]Late 1980sTibetan Buddhism/Taoism[461]
Twelve Tribes[462]Gene and Marsha Spriggs[463]1972[463]Communal—After 1960[463]
Two by Twos, also known as Cooneyites, Christian Conventions, the Workers and Friends, the Truth, etc.[464]William Irvine[465]1897[466]Independent fundamentalist family[467]
Umbanda[468]Zélio Fernandino de Moraes[469]1920[469]Spiritism[469]
Unification Church[470]Sun Myung Moon[471]1954[471]Unification Church[471]
Unitarian Universalism [472]consolidation[473]1961[473]Unitarian Universalism[473]
United Holy Church of America[474]Isaac Cheshier[475]1900[475]Black Trinitarian Pentecostal[475]
United House of Prayer for All People[476]Marcelino Manoel de Graca[477]1925[477]African American Pentecostal[477]
United Israel World Union[478]David Horowitz[479]1944[479]Other Jewish Groups[479]
United Lodge of Theosophists[480]Robert Crosbie[481]1909[481]Theosophy[481]
United Pentecostal Church International[482]merger[483]1945[483]Apostolic Pentecostals[483]
Unity Church[484]Charles Fillmore[485]1903[485]New Thought[485]
Universal Great Brotherhood[486]Serge Raynaud de la Ferriere[487]late 1940s[487]Other Theosophical Groups[487]
Universal Life Church[488]Kirby Hensley[489]1962[489]Liberal Family[489]
Universal White Brotherhood[490]Peter Deunov[491]1900[491]Other Theosophical Groups[491]
Urantia Foundation[492]William S. Sadler[492]1934[492]UFO,[492] Spiritualist, Psychic, New Age[493]and Christian occultist[494]
Vajradhatu[495]Chögyam Trungpa[496]1973[496]Tibetan Buddhism[496]
Vale do Amanhecer[497]Tia Neiva[497]1959[497]Spiritualism[497]
Vedanta Society[498]Swami Vivekananda[499]1894[499]Hinduism[499]
Volunteers of America[98]Ballington Boothand Maud Booth[500]1896[500]Nineteenth Century Holiness[500]
The Way International[501]Victor Paul Wierwille[502]1942[502]Independent fundamentalist family[502]
White Eagle Lodge[503]Lady Elizabeth Carey[504]1943[504]Other Theosophical Groups[504]
Wicca[505]Gerald Gardner[506]c. 1949[506]Occultist[506]
Women's Federation for World Peace[507]Hak Ja Han[507]1992[507]Unification Church[507]
The Word Foundation[508]Harold W. Percival[509]c. 1904[509]Theosophy[509]
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. While religion is hard to define, one standard model of religion, used in religious studies courses, was proposed by Clifford Geertz, who simply called it a "cultural system".[1] A critique of Geertz's model by Talal Asad categorized religion as "an anthropological category".[2] Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions andsacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to explain the origin of life or the universe. They tend to derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle from their ideas about the cosmos and human nature. According to some estimates, there are roughly 4,200 religions in the world.[3]
The word religion is sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief system, but religion differs from private belief in that it has a public aspect. Most religions have organized behaviors, includingclerical hierarchies, a definition of what constitutes adherence or membership, congregations oflaity, regular meetings or services for the purposes of veneration of a deity or for prayer, holy places (either natural or architectural), and/or scriptures. Certain religions also have a sacred language often used in liturgical services. The practice of a religion may also include sermons, commemoration of the activities of a god or gods, sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trance, initiations,funerary services, matrimonial services, meditation, music, art, dance, public service, or other aspects of human culture. Religious beliefs have also been used to explain parapsychologicalphenomena such as out-of-body experiences, near-death experiences and reincarnation.[4][5]
Some academics studying the subject have divided religions into three broad categories: world religions, a term which refers totranscultural, international faiths; indigenous religions, which refers to smaller, culture-specific or nation-specific religious groups; and new religious movements, which refers to recently developed faiths.[6] One modern academic theory of religion, social constructionism, says that religion is a modern concept that suggests all spiritual practice and worship follows a model similar to the Abrahamic religions as an orientation system that helps to interpret reality and define human beings,[7] and thus religion, as a concept, has been applied inappropriately to non-Western cultures that are not based upon such systems, or in which these systems are a substantially simpler construct.

Contents

  [hide] 

Abrahamic religions[edit]

Main article: Abrahamic religions
A group of monotheistic traditions sometimes grouped with one another for comparative purposes, because all refer to a patriarch namedAbraham.

Babism[edit]

Main article: Bábism

Bahá'í Faith[edit]

Main article: Bahá'í Faith
See also: Bahá'í divisions

Christianity[edit]

Main article: Christianity
See also: List of Christian denominations
Western Christianity
Main article: Roman Catholic Church
Main article: Protestantism
Eastern Christianity

Other groups related to Christianity[edit]

Some of these groups consider themselves to be Christian, or to be derived from Christianity, but they are considered heterodox or heretical by mainstream Christianity. Some of them are no longer extant.

Gnosticism[edit]

Many Gnostic groups were closely related to early Christianity, for example, Valentinism. Irenaeus of Lyons wrote polemics against them from the standpoint of the then-unified Catholic Church.[8]
Main article: Gnosticism
See also: List of Gnostic sects
The Yazidis are a syncretic Kurdish religion with a Gnostic influence:
Persian Gnosticism
Syrian-Egyptic Gnosticism
None of these religions are still extant.
Main article: Syrian-Egyptic Gnosticism
Neo-Gnostic Groups

Islam[edit]

Main article: Islam
See also: Islamic schools and branches
Kalam Schools
Main article: Kalam
Kharijite
Main article: Kharijite
Shia Islam
Main article: Shia Islam
Sufism
Main article: Sufism
Sunni Islam
Main article: Sunni Islam
Quraniyoon
Main article: Quranism
Black Muslims
Main article: Black Muslims
Ahmadiyya
Main article: Ahmadiyya
Other Islamic groups

Religions related to Islam[edit]

These religions are either descended from Sufi Islam, or consider themselves Islamic, but are regarded as heretical or heterodox by other Muslims.
Sufi and Shia Sects[edit]

Druze[edit]

Main article: Druze

Judaism and related religions[edit]

Main article: Judaism
See also: Jewish Denominations
Rabbinic Judaism
Main article: Rabbinic Judaism
Karaite Judaism
Main article: Karaite Judaism
Samaritanism
Samaritans use a slightly different version of the Pentateuch as their Torah, worshiping at Mount Gerizim instead of Jerusalem, and are possibly the descendants of the lost Northern Kingdom. They are definitely of ancient Israelite origin, but their status as Jews is disputed.[9]
Main article: Samaritanism
Falasha or Beta Israel
Modern Non-Rabbinic Judaism
Historical groups

Black Hebrew Israelites[edit]

Main article: Black Hebrew Israelites

Rastafari movement[edit]

Main article: Rastafari movement

Mandaeans and Sabians[edit]

Main articles: Mandaeism and Sabians

Shabakism[edit]

Main article: Shabak people

Indian religions[edit]

Main article: Indian religions
Indian religions religions are the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent; namely Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism and religions and traditions related to, and descended from, them.

Ayyavazhi[edit]

Main article: Ayyavazhi

Bhakti movement[edit]

Main article: Bhakti movement

Buddhism[edit]

Main article: Schools of Buddhism

Din-i-Ilahi[edit]

Hinduism[edit]

See also: Hindu denominations
Major schools and movements of Hindu philosophy
Main article: Hindu philosophy

Jainism[edit]

Main article: Jainism

Meivazhi[edit]

Sikhism[edit]

Main article: Sikhism

Iranian religions[edit]

Main article: Iranian religions

Zoroastrianism[edit]

Main article: Zoroastrianism

Gnostic religions[edit]

Bábí movement[edit]

Yazdânism[edit]

Main article: Yazdânism
  • Alevi (this is contested; most Alevi consider themselves to be Shia or Sufi Muslims, but a minority adhere to the Yazdani interpretation)
  • Yarsani
  • Yazidi

East Asian religions[edit]

Main article: East Asian religions

Confucianism[edit]

Main article: Confucianism

Shinto[edit]

Main articles: Shinto and Shinto sects and schools

Shinto-inspired religions[edit]

Taoism[edit]

Main article: Taoism

Contemporary Taoism-inspired religions[edit]

Other[edit]

Chinese[edit]

Korean[edit]

Vietnamese[edit]

African diasporic religions[edit]

See also: African diasporic religions
African diasporic religions are a number of related religions that developed in the Americas among African slaves and their descendants in various countries of the Caribbean Islands and Latin America, as well as parts of the southern United States. They derive from African traditional religions, especially of West and Central Africa, showing similarities to the Yoruba religion in particular.

Indigenous traditional religions[edit]

See also: Paganism and Folk religion
Traditionally, these faiths have all been classified "Pagan", but scholars prefer the terms "indigenous/primal/folk/ethnic religions".

African[edit]

Main article: African traditional religions
West Africa
Central Africa
East Africa
Southern Africa

American[edit]

Main article: Native American mythology

Eurasian[edit]

Asian
European

Oceania/Pacific[edit]

Cargo cults[edit]

Main article: Cargo cults

Historical polytheism[edit]

Further information: Prehistoric religion and History of religion

Ancient Near Eastern[edit]

Main article: Ancient Near Eastern religions

Indo-European[edit]

Main article: Proto-Indo-European religion

Hellenistic[edit]

Main article: Hellenistic religion

Uralic[edit]

Mysticism and occult[edit]

Esotericism and mysticism[edit]

Main articles: Esotericism and Mysticism

Western mystery tradition[edit]

Thelema[edit]
Main article: Thelema

Christian mysticism and esotericism[edit]

Main articles: Christian mysticism and Esoteric Christianity

Occult and magic[edit]

Main articles: Occultism and Magic (paranormal)

Modern Paganism[edit]

Main article: Paganism (contemporary)
See also: List of Modern pagan movements

Syncretic[edit]

Ethnic[edit]

New religious movements[edit]

Main article: List of new religious movements

New Thought[edit]

Main article: New Thought

Shinshukyo[edit]

Main article: Japanese new religions

Left-hand path religions[edit]

Main article: Left-hand path and right-hand path

Post-theistic and naturalistic religions[edit]

Fictional religions[edit]

Main article: List of fictional religions

Parody or mock religions[edit]

Others[edit]


------------------
Modern paganism (also known as Neopaganism or "contemporary paganism") encompasses a wide range of religious groups and individuals. These may include old occult groups, those that follow a New Age approach, those that try to reconstruct old ethnic religions, and followers of the religion of Wicca. For organizations, the founding year is given in brackets.

Early movements[edit]

Druids celebrating at Stonehenge.
Pre-World War II Neopagan or proto-Neopagan groups, growing out of occultism and/orRomanticism (Viking revival, Celtic revival, etc.).

Witchcraft[edit]

Main articles: Wicca and Contemporary witchcraft
See also: Category: Wiccan traditions
Wicca originated in 1940s Britain and became the mainstream of Neopaganism in the United States in the 1970s. There are two core traditions of Wicca which originated in Britain, Gardnerian and Alexandrian, which are sometimes referred to as British Traditional Wicca. From these two arose several other variant traditions. Wicca has also inspired a great number of other witchcraft traditions in Britain,Europe and the United States, most of which base their beliefs and practices on Wicca. Many movements are influenced by the Movement of the Goddess, and New Age and feminist worldviews.

Wicca[edit]

A Wiccan ritual altar.

Other[edit]

New Age, Eclectic or Syncretic[edit]

Ethnic[edit]

Further information: Polytheistic reconstructionism

Germanic[edit]

Winternights sacrifice at Öskjuhlíð, inReykjavík.
Main article: Germanic Neopaganism

Celtic[edit]

Main article: Celtic Neopaganism

Italic[edit]

Other European[edit]

Ritual at the Temple of Garni, in Armenia.

Ancient Near East[edit]

See also[edit]

    Other categorisations[edit]

    By demographics[edit]

    Main article: Religious demographics

    By area[edit]

    Further information: Religion geography

    See also[edit]

    References[edit]

    1. Jump up^ (Clifford Geertz, Religion as a Cultural System, 1973)
    2. Jump up^ (Talal Asad, The Construction of Religion as an Anthropological Category, 1982.)
    3. Jump up^ http://www.adherents.com
    4. Jump up^ http://www.parapsych.org/base/about.aspx
    5. Jump up^ http://iands.org/about-ndes/key-nde-facts.html
    6. Jump up^ Harvey, Graham (2000). Indigenous Religions: A Companion. (Ed: Graham Harvey). London and New York: Cassell. Page 06.
    7. Jump up^ Vergote, Antoine, Religion, belief and unbelief: a psychological study, Leuven University Press, 1997, p. 89
    8. Jump up^ http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/irenaeus.html
    9. Jump up^ http://www.livius.org/saa-san/samaria/samaritans.htm
    10. Jump up^ Melton, J. Gordon (2003). Encyclopedia of American Religions (Seventh edition). Farmington Hills, Michigan: The Gale Group, Inc., p. 1112.ISBN 0-7876-6384-0
    11. Jump up^ Melton, J. Gordon (2003). Encyclopedia of American Religions (Seventh edition). Farmington Hills, Michigan: The Gale Group, Inc., p. 1001.ISBN 0-7876-6384-0
    12. Jump up^ Melton, J. Gordon (2003). Encyclopedia of American Religions (Seventh edition). Farmington Hills, Michigan: The Gale Group, Inc., p. 997.ISBN 0-7876-6384-0
    13. Jump up^ Melton, J. Gordon (2003). Encyclopedia of American Religions (Seventh edition). Farmington Hills, Michigan: The Gale Group, Inc., p. 1004.ISBN 0-7876-6384-0
    14. ^ Jump up to:a b "Welcome to Jainworld - Jain Sects - tirthankaras, jina, sadhus, sadhvis, 24 tirthankaras, digambara sect, svetambar sect, Shraman Dharma, Nirgranth Dharma". Jainworld.com. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
    15. Jump up^ Smith, Christian; Joshua Prokopy (1999). Latin American Religion in Motion. New York: Routledge, pp. 279-280. ISBN 978-0-415-92106-0
    16. Jump up^ Melton, J. Gordon (2003). Encyclopedia of American Religions (Seventh edition). Farmington Hills, Michigan: The Gale Group, Inc., p. 841.ISBN 0-7876-6384-0
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