A new religious movement (NRM) is a religious, ethical, or spiritual group or community with 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. 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.[1]:29[2][3]
A NRM may be one of a wide range of movements ranging from those with loose affiliations based on novel approaches to spirituality or religion 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.[4] Scholars have estimated that NRMs now number in the tens of thousands worldwide, with most in Asia and Africa. Most have only a few members, some have thousands, and very few have more than a million.[5]:17 Academics occasionally propose amendments to technical definitions and continue to add new groups.[1]:vii–xv
Name | Founder | Year founded | Type |
---|---|---|---|
Adonism[6] | Franz Sättler[6] | 1925[6] | Neo-pagan[6] |
Adventures in Enlightenment, A Foundation[7]:28–29 | Terry Cole-Whittaker | 1985 | Religious Science |
The African Church[8]:26 | Jacob Kehinde Coker[9] | 1901[9] | Anglican |
African initiated churches[8]:26–27 | Multiple | Sincretistic Christian-Indigenous | |
African Theological Archministry, previously Order of Damballah Hwedo Ancestor Priests, Shango Temple, and Yoruba Temple[7]:31 | Walter Eugene King[10]:934 | 1973[10]:934 | Voodoo[10]:934 |
Agasha Temple of Wisdom[7]:32 | Richard Zenor[10]:764 | 1943[10]:764 | Spiritualism[10]:764 |
Agni Yoga (Roerichism)[11]:6[7]:32 | Helena Roerich, Nicholas Roerich[10]:876 | mid-1920s[10]:876 | Neo-Theosophical[10]:876 |
Ahmadiyya[11]:6[7]:32–33[8]:27–28 | Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[10]:985 | 1889[10]:985 | Indian Islam[10]:985 |
Aladura[11]:7[8]:28–29 | Josiah Ositelu[10] | 1930[10]:517 | Pentecostal[10]:517 |
Alamo Christian Foundation, a.k.a. Alamo Christian Church, Consecrated, Alamo Christian Ministries, and Music Square Church[11]:7[7]:33–34[8]:29 | Tony Alamo; Susan Alamo[12]:13 | 1969[12]:13 | Fundamentalist
Communal[12]:13 |
Altruria[7]:34–35 | Edward Biron Payne[10]:707 | 1894[10]:707 | Christian
Communal[10]:707 |
American Buddhist Movement[7]:35–36 | 1980[10]:1116 | Western Buddhism[10]:1116 | |
American Buddhist Society and Fellowship, Inc.[7]:36 | Robert Ernest Dickhoff[10]:1102 | 1945[10]:1102 | Tibetan Buddhism[10]:1102 |
American World Patriarchs[7]:37–38 | Uladyslau Ryzy-Ryski[10]:309 | 1972[10]:309 | Eastern Orthodox[10]:309 |
Amica Temple of Radiance[7]:38 | Ivah Berg Whitten[10]:876 | 1932[10]:876 | Neo-Theosophical[10]:876 |
Ancient British Church in North America[7]:43 | Jonathan V. Zotique[10]:1142 | Homosexually Oriented[10]:1142 | |
Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis[11]:11[7]:42–43[8]:31 | H. Spencer Lewis[10]:841 | 1915[10]:841 | neo-Rosicrucianism[10]:841 |
Ancient Teachings of the Masters, a.k.a. ATOM[7]:43 | Darwin Gross[10]:1054 | 1983[10]:1054 | Sant Mat[10]:1054 |
Anglo-Saxon Federation of America[11]:13[7]:43–44 | Howard B. Rand[10]:651 | 1928[10]:651 | British Israelism[10]:651 |
Ansaaru Allah Community[7]:44 | As Siddid Al Imaan Al Haahi Al Mahdi[10]:986–987 | late 1960s[10]:986–987" | Black Islam[10]:986–987 |
Antiochian Catholic Church in America[7]:47 | Gordon Mar Peter[10]:241 | 1980s[10]:241 | Independent Catholic
Monophysite[10]:241 |
Antoinism[11] | Louis-Joseph Antoine[11] | 1910[11] | Christian Healing[11] |
Apostolic Christian Church (Nazarean)[7]:47–48 | Samuel Heinrich Froehlich[10]:548 | 1906[10]:548 | European Free-Church[10]:548 |
Apostolic Christian Church of America[7]:47–48 | Samuel Heinrich Froehlich[10]:548 | 1830[10]:548 | European Free-Church[10]:548 |
Apostolic Church[11]:15 | Daniel Powell Williams[12]:23 | 1916[12]:23 | Pentecostal[12]:23 |
Apostolic Church of Christ (Pentecostal)[7]:48 | Johnnie Draft; Wallace Snow[10]:464 | 1969[10]:464 | Apostolic Pentecostal[10]:464 |
Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God[11]:16 | William Thomas Phillips[10]:465 | 1920[10]:465 | Apostolic Pentecostal[10]:465 |
Arcane School[8]:38 | Alice and Foster Bailey[10]:857 | 1937[10]:857 | Neo-Theosophical[10]:857 |
Arica School[11]:17[8]:38–39 | Oscar Ichazo[10]:971 | 1968[10]:971 | Sufism[10]:971 |
Arkeon[13] | Vito Carlo Moccia[14] | 1999[14] | Reiki
Roman Catholicism[13] |
Art of Living Foundation, a.k.a. Association for Inner Growth and Ved Vignan Maha Vidya Preeth[10]:1004 | Ravi Shankar[10]:1004 | 1981[10]:1004 | Neo-Hindu[10]:1004 |
Arya Samaj[11]:18[8]:40–41 | Mul Shankara[10]:1004 | 1875[10]:1004 | Neo-Hindu[10]:1004 |
Aryan Nations, a.k.a. Church of Jesus Christ Christian, Aryan Nations[8]:91 | Wesley Swift[10]:654 | late 1940s[10]:654 | British Israelism[10]:654 |
Ásatrú Folk Assembly[15] | Stephen McNallen[15] | 1970s[15] | Neo-pagan[15]
Polytheistic reconstructionism |
Assemblies of God[8]:41–42 | merger[16]:106 | 1914[16]:106 | Pentecostal[16]:106 |
Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ[11]:18 | merger[10]:466 | 1952[10]:466 | Apostolic Pentecostal[10]:466 |
Assembly of Christian Soldiers[11]:21 | Jessie L. Thrift[10]:1131 | 1971[10]:1131 | Ku Klux Klan[10]:1131 |
Association for Research and Enlightenment[11]:21[8]:42–43 | Edgar Cayce[12]:31 | 1931[12]:31 | Occult[12]:31 |
Association of Vineyard Churches[11]:316 | John Wimber[10]:446 | 1982[10]:446 | Trinitarian Pentecostal[10]:446 |
Aum Shinrikyo, also known as Aleph[11]:23[8]:44–45[17][18] | Shoko Asahara[10]:1073 | 1987[10]:1073 | Japanese Buddhism[10]:1073 |
Ausar Auset Society[11]:24 | R.A. Straughn[10]:842 | mid-1970s[10]:842 | neo-Rosicrucianism[10]:842 |
Azali or Azali Babi[19]:246 | Subh-i-Azal | 1863 | Babism |
Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship[8]:50–51 | Bawa Muhaiyaddeen[10]:972 | 1971[10]:972 | Sufism[10]:972 |
Bethel Ministerial Association[11]:32 | Albert Franklin Varnell[10]:466 | 1934[10]:466 | Apostolic Pentecostal[10]:466 |
Bible Presbyterian Church[11]:33 | Carl McIntire[10]:370 | 1938[10]:370 | Reformed Presbyterian[10]:370 |
Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ[11]:34[7]:77 | schism[10]:466 | 1957[10]:466 | Apostolic Pentecostal[10]:466 |
The Blackburn Cult, also known as the Divine Order of the Royal Arms of the Great Eleven[20]:35 | May Otis Blackburn[20]:1 | 1922[20]:1 | Neo-pagan
New Thought[20]:1 |
Brahma Kumaris[11]:37[8]:56–57[21] | Dada Lekhraj[10]:1006 | 1936[10]:1006 | Neo-Hindu[10]:1006 |
Brahmo Samaj, also known as the religion Adi Dharm[22][23]:1028–1030 | Ram Mohan Roy | 1828 | Neo-Hindu |
Brahmoism (Brahmo Dharma)[22]:43–57 | Debendranath Tagore | 1848/1850 | Neo-Hindu |
Branch Davidians[11]:38[8]:59 | Benjamin Roden[10]:617 | 1930[10]:617 | Seventh Day Adventist[10]:617 |
Branhamism[24]:37–40 | William M. Branham[24]:37–40 | 1951[24]:37–40 | Pentecostal[24]:37–40 |
Breatharians also known as Inedia[8]:60–61 | Wiley Brooks[25]:30 | 1970s[25]:30 | Hinduism-influenced[25]:30 |
The Brethren (Jim Roberts group), also known as The Body of Christ and The Garbage Eaters[10]:1131–1132 | Jimmie T. Roberts[10]:1131–1132 | c. 1970[10]:1131–1132 | Unclassified Christian Churches[10]:1131–1132 |
British Israelism, also called Anglo-Israelism[11]:39–40[8]:61–62 | |||
Bruderhof, also known as the Hutterian Brethren and Hutterian Society of Brothers[8]:63–64 | Eberhard Arnold[26]:709 | c. 1920[10]:709 | Communal[10]:709 |
Brunstad Christian Church[11]:269–270 | Johan Oscar Smith[27] | 1905[27] | Evangelical
Non-denominational Christian |
Builders of the Adytum[11]:41–42[8]:67–68 | Paul Foster Case[10]:891 | 1922[10]:891 | Ritual magic[10]:891 |
Cao Dai, also known as Dai Dao Tam Ky Pho Do[11]:44[8]:69–70 | Ngô Văn Chiêu
Lê Văn Trung[12]:61 |
1919[12]:61 | Sincretistic
Vietnamese Millenarian[12]:61 |
Cargo cults[11]:45[8]:70 | Sincretistic
Millenarian-Indigenist[12]:62 | ||
Celestial Church of Christ[8]:73 | Samuel Oshoffa[12]:64 | 1947[12]:64 | Indigenist
Pentecostal[12]:64 |
The Centers Network[8]:73–74 | |||
Chabad-Lubavitch[11]:206,368[8]:70 | Shneur Zalman of Liadi. | late 18th century | Chasidic |
Charismatic Movement[8]:78 | 1950s[24]:70 | Pentecostal | |
Chen Tao, also called God's Salvation Church and God Saves the Earth Flying Saucer Foundation[8]:78–79 | Hon-Ming Chen[28] | 1955 | UFO religion |
Cheondoism, also called Chendogyo[8]:80–81 | Choe Je-u | ||
Cherubim and Seraphim, also known as Sacred Cherubim and Seraphim Society and Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim[8]:79 | Moses Orimolade Tunolase[12]:65 | c. 1925[12]:65 | African Pentecostal[12]:65 |
Christ Apostolic Church[8]:82–83 | Joseph Ayo Babalola[10]:479 | 1941[10]:479 | Pentecostal[10]:479 |
Christadelphians, also called Thomasites[11]:50[8]:81–82 | John Thomas[24]:48 | 1844[10]:107 | Baptist family[10]:107
Restorationism |
The Christian Community, also known as the Christian Community Church and Christengemeinschaft[8]:83 | Rudolf Steiner Friedrich Rittelmeyer[12]:70 |
1922[12]:70 | Anthroposophy[12]:70 |
Christian Identity[11]:138[8]:84 | 1940s[29]:48 | British Israelism[10]:652 | |
Christian Reformed Church in North America[8]:86 | Gijsbert Haan[10]:365 | 1857[10]:365 | Reformed Presbyterian[10]:365 |
Christian Science[10]:741[8]:86–87. | Mary Baker Eddy[10]:741 | 1876[10]:741 | Christian
New Thought[30] |
Christian World Liberation Front, also known as the Spiritual Counterfeits Project[8]:87–88 | Jack Sparks
Fred Dyson Pat Matrisciana[12]:76 |
1969[12]:76 | Christian Fundamentalist-Millenarian[12]:76 |
Church of All Worlds[11]:58[8]:88–89 | Tim Zell
Lance Christie[10]:909 |
1962[10]:909 | Witchcraft
Neo-pagan[10]:909 |
Church of Aphrodite (defunct)[11]:58 | Gleb Botkin[10]:911 | 1939[10]:911 | Witchcraft
Neo-Pagan[10]:911 |
Church of Bible Understanding[11]:59[8]:89–90 | Stewart Traill[12]:79 | 1971[12]:79 | Adventist
Fundamentalist[12]:79 |
Church of Daniel's Band[11]:61 | 1893[10]:395 | Non-Episcopal Methodism[10]:395 | |
Church of Divine Science[31]:326 | Malinda Cramer | 1888 | New Thought |
Church of God in Christ[11]:62 | Charles H. Mason[12]:85 | 1908[12]:85 | Pentecostal[12]:85 |
The Church of God (Jerusalem Acres)[11]:62 | Grady R. Kent[10]:437 | 1957[10]:437 | White Trinitarian Holiness Pentecostal[10]:437 |
Church of God Mountain Assembly[11]:63, 65 | J.H. Parks, Steve N. Bryant, Tom Moses, and William O. Douglas |
1906[10]:437 | White Trinitarian Holiness Pentecostal[10]:437 |
Church of God of Prophecy[11]:62–63 | Ambrose Tomlinson[10]:438 | 1903[10]:438 | White Trinitarian Holiness Pentecostal[10]:438 |
Church of Israel[11]:65 | Dan Gayman[10]:653 | 1974[10]:653 | British Israelism[10]:653 |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | Joseph Smith | 1830 | Latter-day Saint Movement-Millenarian |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)[32] | Joseph Smith James Strang[32] |
1844[32] | Latter-day Saint Movement |
Church of Satan[31]:401–410[8]:91–92 | Anton LaVey[33]:508–509 | 1966[33]:508–509 | Satanism[33]:508–509 |
Church of the SubGenius | J.R. "Bob" Dobbs | 1979 | Parody |
Church of the Creator[10]:668 | Rev. Dr. Grace Marama URI | 1969 | Liberal family[10]:668 |
Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster[34][35] or Pastafarianism | Bobby Henderson | 2005 | Parody |
Church of the Living Word, also known as The Walk[8]:92–93 | John Robert Stevens[12]:386 | 1954[12]:386 | Fundamentalist |
Church of the Lord (Aladura)[8]:93 | Josiah Ositelu[10]:517 | 1930[10]:517 | Pentecostal Family[10]:517 |
Church of World Messianity[11]:94, 371[8]:94 | Mokichi Okada[10]:1120 | 1934[10]:1120 | Shinto[10]:1120 |
Church Universal and Triumphant[11]:281[8]:94–95 | Mark Prophet | 1958[12]:97 | Theosophical |
Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles, also known as CARP[8]:71 | Sun Myung Moon[36][37] | 1955[37] | Unification Church[37] |
Commandment Keepers: Holy Church of the Living God[11]:74[7]:180 | Arnold Josiah Ford[10]:951 | 1924[10]:951 | Black Judaism[10]:951 |
Community Chapel and Bible Training Center[11]:75 | Donald Lee Barnett[10]:496 | 1967[10]:496 | Latter Rain
Pentecostal[10]:496 |
Concerned Christians[8]:96 | Monte Kim Miller[38] | ||
Conservative Judaism[11]:76[8]:97 | Sabato Morais
Marcus Jastrow H. Pereira Mendes[10]:943 |
1887[10]:943 | Mainline Judaism[10]:943 |
Core Shamanism, The Foundation for Shamanic Studies[33]:580[39] | Michael Harner | 1980 | Neoshamanism |
Covenant of the Goddess[11]:98[8]:48–49 | merger[10]:915 | 1975[10]:915 | Goddess
Neo-pagan[10]:915 |
Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans[11]:99[8]:99 | Margot Adler[10]:915 | 1987[10]:915 | Witchcraft
Neo-pagan[10]:915 |
The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord[11]:78[8]:99–100 | James D. Ellison[10]:654 | mid-1970s[10]:654 | British Israelism[10]:654 |
Creativity[40] | Ben Klassen[40] | early-1970's | Pantheism
Agnostic Atheism White Racialism.[40] |
Crossroads Movement[8]:100 | 1970s[41]:100 | ||
Cyberchurches[8]:103 | Non-denominational Christian | ||
Dalit Buddhist Movement, also known as the Neo-Buddhist movement or Navayana Buddhist movement | B. R. Ambedkar | 1956 | Neo-Buddhism (Navayana) |
Dances of Universal Peace[42] | Samuel L. Lewis | ||
Dianic Wicca[11]:84 | merger[10]:916 | 1971[10]:916 | Witchcraft
Neo-pagan[10]:916 |
Discordianism | Greg Hill, Kerry Wendell Thornley[43] | 1963 | Absurdism, Greek Mythology |
Eckankar[11]:91 | Paul Twitchell[10]:1056 | 1971[10]:1056 | Derived from Sant Mat but denies connection[10]:1056 |
Emin | Raymond Armin | 1971 | New Age |
End Time Survivors Jesus Christians[44] | David McKay[45] | Fundamentalist Millennialism | |
Esoteric Nazism[46]:17 | Occult | ||
Evangelical Association of the Israelite Mission of the New Universal Covenant[52] | Ezequiel Ataucusi Gamonal | 1968 | Sincretistic Messianic Judaism-Indigenous |
Evangelical Methodist Church[11]:97 | J.H. Hamblen[10]:396 | 1946[10]:396 | Non-Episcopal Methodist[10]:396 |
Falun Gong[53] | Li Hongzhi[10]:1126 | 1992[10]:1126 | Qigong movement |
Family International, previously known as the Children of God, the Family of Love and the Family[12]:133[21]:126[54] | David Berg[12]:133 | 1968[12]:133 | Fundamentalist,[12]:133 Jesus movement[54]
countercultural evangelical[33]:185 |
Fellowship of Isis[11]:103 | Olivia Robertson[10]:888 | 1976[10]:888 | Neo-pagan
Goddess[10]:888 |
Feraferia[55] | Frederick Adams[55] | 1967[55] | Neo-pagan
Goddess[55] |
Findhorn Foundation[11]:104 | Eileen Caddy
Peter Caddy Alexis Edwards Roger Benson[12]:138 |
1963[12]:138 | Christian-Anthroposophistical-neo-Rosicrucian[12]:138 |
Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas[11]:104 | W.E. Fuller[10]:482 | 1898[10]:482 | Black Trinitarian Pentecostal[10]:482 |
Followers of Christ[10]:1137 | Marion Reece (or Riess)[10]:1137[56] | late 19th century[10]:1137 | Unclassified[10]:1137 Pentecostal[56] |
Fourth Way[31]:259–266[47]:42 | George Gurdjieff | c. 1913 | Esoteric Sufism |
Fraternitas Rosae Crucis[11]:108 | Paschal Beverly Randolph[10]:843 | 1858[10]:843 | neo-Rosicrucianism[10]:843 |
Fraternity of the Inner Light[33]:217–219 | Dion Fortune | 1924 | neo-Hermeticism
Esoteric Christianity[33]:217–219 |
Freedomites[11]:272 | |||
Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO)[57] now known as Triratna Buddhist Community | Sangharakshita (Dennis Lingwood) | 1967[57] | Neo-Buddhism |
Fundamentalist Christianity[11]:113–114 | Christian | ||
General Church of the New Jerusalem[11]:117 | schism[10]:763 | 1890[10]:763 | Swedenborgianism[10]:763 |
The Genesis II Church of Health and Healing | Jim Humble | 2009 or 2010[58] | UFO-New Age inspired |
Gentle Wind Project[62] | John "Tubby" Miller and Mary "Moe" Miller | 1980 | Spiritualism |
Ghost Dance[11]:119 | Neo-pagan
Native American religion | ||
Global Peace Foundation[63] | Hyun Jin Moon[64] | 2007[63] | Unification Church[63] |
Godianism, a.k.a. Chiism[33]:242–43 | K. O. K. Onyioha | 1949 | Afrucan Indigenist Neo-pagan |
Grail Movement[11]:122–123 | Oskar Ernst Bernhardt[10]:786 | 1924[10]:786 | Sincretistic Christian
Channeling[10]:786 |
Hanuman Foundation[11]:129 | Richard Alpert (Ram Dass)[24]:51 | 1980[10]:1013 | Neo-Hindu[10]:1013 |
Heaven's Gate[65] | Marshall Herff Applewhite
Bonnie Lu Nettles[65] |
1973[65] | Syncretistic Christian[66] |
Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy[11]:133 | Swami Rama[10]:1014 | 1971[10]:1014 | Hindu[10]:1014 |
Huna[7]:406–407 | Max Freedom Long | 1936 | New Thought |
I AM Activity[11]:138 | Guy Ballard, Edna Anne Wheeler Ballard[10]:873 | early 1930s | Neo-Theosophical[10]:873 |
Iglesia ni Cristo[67] | Felix Y. Manalo[68] | 1914[68] | Restorationism
Unitarianism |
Isha Foundation[69] | Jaggi Vasudev | 1992 | Hindu |
Independent Fundamental Churches of America[11]:142 | R. Lee Kirkland[12]:179 | 1922[12]:179 | Unaffiliated Fundamentalist[12]:179 |
Insight Meditation Society[11]:143 | Jack Kornfield
Sharon Salzberg Joseph Goldstein[10]:1067 |
1976[10]:1067 | Theravada Buddhism[10]:1067 |
International Society for Krishna Consciousness also known as ISKCON | A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada | 13 July 1966 | Hindu |
International House of Prayer also known as (IHOP or IHOPKC) | Mike Bickle | 1999 | Charismatic Movement
Post-tribulational Historic premillennialism |
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel[11]:108 | Aimee Semple McPherson[10]:451 | 1923[10]:451 | White Trinitarian Pentecostal[10]:451 |
International Community of Christ also known as Church of the Second Advent (CSA) and Jamilians[24]:139 | Eugene Douglas Savoy[24]:139 | 1972[24]:139 | New Age[24]:139 |
Ivanovism (the Ivanovites)[70]:128–145 | Porfiry Ivanov | 1933 | Sincretistic
Neo-pagan Slavic Native Faith |
Jehovah's Witnesses[11]:150, 152–153 | Charles Taze Russell[10]:637 | 1870[10]:637 | Adventist
Bible Students[10]:637 |
Jesus Army, also known as "Jesus Fellowship Church" and "Bugbrooke Jesus Fellowship"[11]:153 | Noel Stanton[72]:149–163 | 1977[72]:149–163 | Fundamentalist
Communal[72]:149–163 |
Jesus Movement[11]:153[73] | late 1960s[12]:196 | Fundamentalist[12]:196 | |
Jews for Jesus[11]:155 | Moishe Rosen[12]:197 | 1970[12]:197 | Fundamentalist[12]:197 |
John Frum[11]:155 | 1936[12]:197 | Syncretistic
Millenarian[12]:197 | |
Joy of Satan Ministries[74]:448 | Andrea Maxine Dietrich | 2002 | Satanism |
Kabbalah Centre[33]:322–323 | Philip Berg[33]:322–323 | 1970s[33]:322–323 | New Age[33]:322–323 |
Kalki cult (a.k.a 'Oneness Movement' and 'Oneness University')[75][76] | Kalki Bhagawan (Vijay Kumar Naidu) | 1989 | Indian Religions - inspired
2012 phenomenon - inspired Neo-Hindu |
Karma Triyana Dharmachakra[11]:157–158. | the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa[10]:1108 | 1976[10]:1108 | Tibetan Buddhism[10]:1108 |
Kemetic Orthodoxy[77] | Tamara Siuda[77] | 1988[77] | Polytheistic reconstructionism
Kemetic[77] |
Kerista[11]:158 | John Presmont[10]:730 | 1956[10]:730 | Communal—After 1960[10]:730 |
Kopimism | Isak Gerson | 2012 | Internet religion |
Konkokyo[11]:161 | Bunjiro Kawate[10]:1122 | 1859[10]:1122 | Shinto[10]:1122 |
Krishnamurti Foundations[78] | Jiddu Krishnamurti | 1928 | Neo-Theosophical |
Kripalu Center (Kirpalu)[11]:161 | Amrit Desai[10]:1019 | 1966[10]:1019 | Hindu[10]:1019 |
Lama Foundation[11]:164 | Steve Durkee[10]:731 | 1967[10]:731 | Communal[10]:731 |
Latter Day Saint movement (Mormonism)[11]:190, 192 | Joseph Smith[24]:187 | 1830[24]:187 | Christian restorationism |
Latter Rain Movement[11]:165 | George Hawtin
Percy Hunt[12]:209 |
1946[12]:209 | Millenarian Pentecostal[12]:209 |
Laymen's Home Missionary Movement[11]:165 | Paul S. L. Johnson[10]:639 | c. 1920[10]:639 | Adventist
Bible Students[10]:639 |
Lectorium Rosicrucianum[11]:165–166 | Jan van Rijckenborgh; Zwier Willem Leene; Catharose de Petri[33]:338–339 | 1924[10]:844 | neo-Rosicrucianism[10]:844 |
The Living Word Fellowship[79] | John Robert Stevens[10]:506 | 1951[10]:506 | Latter Rain Pentecostal[10]:506 |
Local Church movement[11]:169, 171 | Ni Shu-tsu (Watchman Nee)[10]:609–610 | 1920s[10]:609–610 | Independent Fundamentalist
Other Bible Students[10]:609–610 |
Love Family, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ at Armageddon and Love Israel[8]:90–91 | Paul Erdman[12]:216 | 1969[12]:216 | Communalism[12]:216 |
Love Has Won[80] | Amy Carlson[80] | c. 2005[81] | New Age[80] |
Lucis Trust[11]:172–173 | Alice A. Bailey[12]:217 | 1923[12]:217 | Neo-Theosophical[12]:217 |
Madkhalism[82][83] | Rabee Al-Madkhali[84][85] | early 1990s[86][87][88] | Islam[89][90] |
Mahikari[11]:176 | Kotama Okada[10]:1123 | 1959[10]:1123 | Shinto[10]:1123 |
Makasol (Wind Nation), a.k.a. Paliau movement[33]:482–85 | Paliau Maloat | c. 1970s | Papuan Indigenist
countercultural |
Maranatha Campus Ministries[11]:178 | Bob Weiner[12]:223 | 1972[12]:223 | Pentecosrtal[12]:223 |
Martinus´ Spiritual Science[91] | Martinus Thomsen[92] | 1932 | Western esotericism[93] |
Mazdaznan[11]:181 | Otoman Zar-Adusht Ha'nish[10]:991 | 1902[10]:991 | Zoroastrianism[10]:991 |
Meher Baba followers[94] | Merwan Sheriar Irani[10]:991 | 1921[10]:991 | Hindu-inspired[10]:991 |
Messianic Judaism[11]:184 | Christianity and Judaism[33]:399 | ||
Million Man March[95] | Louis Farrakhan[95] | 1995[95] | Nation of Islam[95] |
Mita Congregation[11]:186 | Juanita García Peraza[10]:462 | 1940[10]:462 | Deliverance Pentecostal[10]:462 |
Modekngei (Ngara Modekngei)[96] | Tamadad from Chol | c. 1915 | Syncretistic Christian-Indigenous |
Monastic Order of Avallon[97] | Henri Hillion de Coatmoc'han[97] | 1972[97] | Neo-pagan[97] |
Moody Church[11]:186 | Dwight L. Moody[10]:602 | 1864[10]:602 | Fundamentalist
Evangelical[10]:602 |
Moorish Science Temple of America[11]:186, 188 | Timothy Drew[10]:988 | 1925[10]:988 | Black Islam[10]:988 |
Moral Re-Armament[11]:188, 190 | Frank N. D. Buchman[12]:233 | 1921[12]:233 | |
Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness[11]:194 | John-Roger Hinkins[10]:1054 | 1971[10]:1054 | Sant Mat[10]:1054 |
Namdhari[11]:196 | Balak Singh[12]:243 | mid-19th century[12]:243 | Sikh[12]:243 |
Nation of Islam[98] | Elijah Muhammad[12]:245 | mid-1930s[12]:245 | Black Islam[12]:245 |
Nation of Yahweh[99]:217[11]:200 | Hulon Mitchell, Jr.[10]:952–953 | 1970s[10]:952–953 | Black Judaism[10]:952–953 |
National Spiritualist Association of Churches[11]:197 | Harrison D Barrett, James M. Peebles, Cora L. Richmond[10]:772 | 1893[10]:772 | Spiritualism[10]:772 |
Native American Church, also known as Peyotism[11]:202 | 1906[10]:809 | Native American religion Indigenist Entheogen Groups[10]:809 | |
Native Ukrainian National Faith, also known as RUNVira or Sylenkoism[70]:130 | Lev Sylenko | mid-1960s | Neo-pagan
Slavic Native Faith |
New Apostolic Church[11]:205 | Heinrich Geyer[10]:1139 | 1863[10]:1139 | Catholic Apostolic Church
Unclassified Christian Churches[10]:1139 |
The New Message from God[100] | Marshall Vian Summers | 1992[101] | UFO religion |
New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn[11]:207 | 1969[10]:923 | Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
Neo-pagan[10]:923 | |
New Thought[11]:208[31]:325–330 | Phineas Parkhurst Quimby[12]:258 | mid-19th century[12]:258 | Metaphysical[12]:258 |
Noahidism[102][103] | 1990s | ||
Oahspe Faithists[104] | John Ballou Newbrough | 1882 | UFO religion |
Odinism[105] | Orestes Brownson[105] | 1848[105] | Neo-pagan[105] |
Oomoto[11]:216 | Mrs. Nao Deguchi[12]:266 | 1899[12]:266 | Shinto-Millenarian[12]:266 |
Open Bible Standard Churches[11]:217 | merger[10]:454 | 1935[10]:454 | White Trinitarian Pentecostal[10]:454 |
Opus Dei[21]:126[33]:427–428[106][107]:3, 122–123[108][109][110]:251 | Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer[33]:427–428 | 1928[33]:427–428 | Roman Catholic[33]:427–428 |
Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.)[12]:270 | Carl Kellner;[12]:270[33]:430Theodor Reuss[33]:430 | 1895;[12]:270 1906[33]:430 | Western esotericism
Neo-Hermetism |
Pentecostal Church of God[11]:225 | 1919[16]:109 | Pentecostal[16]:109 | |
Pentecostalism[11]:224–225 | Holiness movement | ||
People Unlimited, also known as Eternal Flame Foundation, People Forever, and CBJ[7]:95-96[111] | Charles Paul Brown, Bernadeane Brown, James Russell Strole[7]:95-96 | 1982[111] | Immortalism, Christianity [7]:95-96 |
Peoples Temple[11]:226[112] | Jim Jones[10]:832 | 1955[10]:832 | Psychic-New Age[10]:832 |
Philosophical Research Society[11]:228 | Manly Palmer Hall[10]:849 | 1934[10]:849 | Occult[10]:849 |
Pilgrims of Arès[113] | Michel Potay[113] | 1974[113] | |
Plymouth Brethren[11]:228–229[8]:61 | John Nelson Darby[12]:281 | 1830[12]:281 | evangelical
Millenarian[12]:281 |
Potter's House also known as Christian Fellowship Ministries (CFM), The Door, Victory Chapel, Christian Center, Crossroads Chapel, etc.[24]:51–52 | Wayman Mitchell[24]:51–52 | 1970[24]:51–52 | Pentecostal[24]:51–52 |
The Process Church of the Final Judgment[114] | Mary Ann MacLean and Robert de Grimston | 1963 | Satanism |
Radha Soami Satsang Beas[11]:234 | Seth Shiv Dayal Singh[10]:1059 | 1861[10]:1059 | Sant Mat[10]:1059 |
Raëlism[11]:234 | Claude Vorilhon (Rael)[10]:806 | 1973[10]:806 | UFO religion[10]:806 |
Rainbow Family[11]:234, 236 | Barry Adams[10]:732 | late-1960s[10]:732 | Communal[10]:732 |
Rajneesh movement, a.k.a. Osho movement[11]:236, 238 | Rajneesh Chandra Mohan[10]:1051 | 1966[10]:1051 | Indian religions-inspired[10]:1051 |
Ramakrishna Mission, also known as Ramakrishna movement or Vedanta Society[115]:57–58[11]:314 | Swami Vivekananda | 1897 | Neo-Hindu
Neo-Vedanta[12]:382 |
Ramtha[116] | J. Z. Knight[117] | 1977[118] | New Age[116] |
Rastafari[11]:241,243[119] | Leonard Howell, Joseph Hibbert, Archibald Dunkley, Robert Hinds[10]:954 | 1935[10]:954 | Jewish and Christian-influenced Afro-centric[10]:954 |
Reformed Druids of North America[11]:244 | 1960s[12]:299 | Neo-pagan[12]:299 | |
Reiki, also Usui Shiko Ryoho System of Healing[33]:528–529 | Mikao Usui | 1922 | Energy medicine
Japanese Buddhism |
Religious Science[11]:245–246 | Ernest Holmes[12]:301 | 1948[12]:301 | New Thought[12]:301 |
Risshō Kōsei Kai[11]:248 | Nikkyo Niwano
Myoko Naganuma[120] |
1938[120] | Nichiren Buddhist[120] |
The Rosicrucian Fellowship[11]:249 | Carl Louis von Grasshof[10]:845 | 1909[10]:845 | neo-Rosicrucianism[10]:845 |
Sacred Name Movement[11]:251 | Clarence Orvil Dodd | 1930s | Adventist
Church of God (Seventh-Day) |
Sadharan Brahmo Samaj[22]:43–57 | Anandamohan Bose, Sivanath Sastri, Umesh Chandra Dutta | 1878 | Brahmoism |
Sahaja Yoga[121] | Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi[10]:1029 | 1970[10]:1029 | Neo-Hindu[10]:1029 |
Saiva Siddhanta Church[11]:251 | Subramuniy[10]:1029 | 1957[10]:1029 | Hindu[10]:1029 |
The Salvation Army[11]:252, 254 | William Booth[10]:419 | 1865[10]:419 | Holiness movement[10]:419 |
Saminism Movement, Samin movement[122]:207–240 | Samin Surosentiko | 1889 | Abrahamic religions
Indigenist |
Sant Nirankari Mission[11]:210 | Baba Buta Singh Ji | 1929 | Sikh |
Santa Muerte Cult[123] | 2000s | Syncretic Folk Catholic | |
Scientology[31]:385–392[21]:126[124][125][126] | L. Ron Hubbard[10]:816 | 1955[10]:816 | UFO-Psychic |
Sekta Niebo[127] | Bogdana Kacmajora | 1990 | Christian |
Seicho-no-Ie[33]:568–569[128] | Masaharu Taniguchi, Fenwicke Holmes | 1930 | Religious Science-Shinto |
Self-Realization Fellowship[11]:261 | Paramahansa Yogananda[10]:1031 | 1935[10]:1031 | Neo-Hindu[10]:1031 |
Semitic Neopaganism[129] | Raphael Patai[129] | 1960s[129] | Neo-pagan |
Seventh-day Adventist Church[11]:262 | Ellen G. White[10]:621 | 1860[10]:621 | Adventist[10]:621 |
Seventh-day Adventist Reform Movement[11]:262–263 | schism[10]:622–623 | 1925[10]:622–623 | Seventh Day Adventists[10]:622–623 |
Shakers[11]:263, 265 | Ann Lee[10]:724 | 1750s[10]:724 | Communal—Before 1960[10]:724 |
Shengdao, also Tongshanshe[130] | Peng Tairong (Ruzun) | early 20th century | Chinese salvationist |
Shepherd's Rod, also known as the Davidians, officially, the Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Association[7]:189 | Victor T. Houteff[10]:619 | 1935[10]:619 | Seventh Day Adventists[10]:619 |
Shiloh Youth Revival Centers[11]:266 | John J. Higgins, Jr.[10]:734 | 1969[10]:734 | Communal—After 1960[10]:734 |
Shinji Shumeikai, also Shumei[128] | Mihoko Koyama | 1970 | Church of World Messianity |
Shinnyo-en[11]:266–267 | Shinjo Ito
Tomoji Ito[10]:1081 |
1936[10]:1081 | Japanese Buddhism[10]:1081 |
Shinreikyo[11]:266 | Kanichi Otsuka[10]:1123 | post–World War II[10]:1123 | Shinto[10]:1123
Syncretistic |
Shri Ram Chandra Mission[131] | Shri Ram Chandraji Maharaj[131] | 1945[131] | Hindu[131] |
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres[11]:268–269 | Kuppuswami Iyer[10]:1035 | 1935[10]:1035 | Neo-Hindu[10]:1035 |
Slavic Native Faith, also known as Rodnovery[70]:112–127 | Władysław Kołodziej, Jan Stachniuk | 1920–30s | Neo-pagan
Polytheistic reconstructionism |
Soka Gakkai International[11]:271[132] | Tsunesaburo Makiguchi[10]:1082 | 1930[10]:1082 | Nichiren Buddhism[10]:1082 |
Spiritualism, Spiritism[31]:331–338[133]:248 | Kate and Margaret Fox | 1848 | Psychic-Mediumship |
Subud (Susila Budhi Dharma)[11]:279[31]:267–274[33]:607–608 | Muhammed Subuh[10]:981 | 1933[10]:981 | Kejawèn
neo-Sufism[10]:981 |
Sufi Ruhaniat International[11]:279 | Samuel L. Lewis[12]:342 | 1968[12]:342 | neo-Sufism[12]:342 |
Sukyo Mahikari[11]:281 | Sekiguchi Sakae[12]:344 | 1978[12]:344 | Mahikari Syncretistic[12]:344 |
Summum[11]:281 | Claude Rex Nowell[10]:1141 | 1975[10]:1141 | Unclassified Christian Churches[10]:1141 |
Syntheism[134] | Alexander Bard[134] | 2012[134] | Pantheist |
The Satanic Temple[135][136][137] | Lucien Greaves
Malcolm Jarry[138] |
2012[139] | Satanism |
Tenrikyo[11]:287–288 | Miki Nakayama[10]:1124 | 1838[10]:1124 | Shinto[10]:1124 |
Tensegrity[33]:581[39] | Carlos Castaneda | 1995 | Neoshamanism[33]:581 |
Terasem[140] | Martine Rothblatt | 2004 | Transhumanism |
Thelema, also known as the A∴A∴ order[47]:41–42 | Aleister Crowley | early 1900s | Occult
neo-Hermetism Western esotericism[47]:41–42 |
Theosophy or Theosophical Society, a.k.a. 1882 as Theosophical Society Adyar[31]:315–324[33]:624–625[141] | Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Henry Steel Olcott, William Quan Judge[141] | 1875 | Occult
Eastern and Western esotericism[33]:624–625[47]:40–41 |
Theosophical Society Pasadena[31]:315–324[141]:blz. 427 | William Quan Judge | 1895 | Theosophical |
Toronto Blessing[143] | Randy Clark[72]:122–123 | 1994[72]:122–123 | Pentecostal[72]:122–123 |
Transcendental Meditation (TM)[11]:292–293, 295–296 | Maharishi Mahesh Yogi[10]:1045 | 1958[10]:1045 | Neo-Hindu-inspired[10]:1045 |
Triratna Buddhist Community (formerly FWBO)[57] | Sangharakshita (Dennis Lingwood) | 1967[57] | Neo-Buddhism |
True Buddha School[144] | Lu Sheng-yen[144] | Late 1980s | Tibetan Buddhism |
True Gnostic Church[145] | Azrael Ondi-Ahman (Archie D. Wood)[145] | 1979[146] | |
Twelve Tribes[11]:212, 334–335 | Gene and Marsha Spriggs[10]:737 | 1972[10]:737 | Messianic Jewish Communal—After 1960[10]:737 |
Two by Twos, also known as Cooneyites, Christian Conventions, the Workers and Friends, the Truth, etc.[11]:298 | William Irvine[8]:330 | 1897[147] | Independent fundamentalist family[10]:611 |
Umbanda[11]:299 | Zélio Fernandino de Moraes[148] | 1920[148] | Spiritism[148] |
Unarius Academy of Science[11]:300, 302–303 | Ernest Norman, Ruth Norman | 1954 | UFO Religion |
Unification Church, also known as the Moonies[11]:300, 302–303 | Sun Myung Moon[12]:365 | 1954[12]:365 | Syncretistic Christian[12]:365 |
Unitarian Universalism[41]:335 | consolidation[24]:308–310 | 1961[24]:308–310 | Unitarian Universalism[24]:308–310 |
United Holy Church of America[11]:304 | Isaac Cheshier[10]:487 | 1900[10]:487 | Black Trinitarian Pentecostal[10]:487 |
United House of Prayer for All People[11]:304–305 | Marcelino Manoel de Graca[12]:371 | 1925[12]:371 | African American Pentecostal[12]:371 |
United Israel World Union[11]:305 | David Horowitz[10]:959 | 1944[10]:959 | Other Jewish Groups[10]:959 |
United Lodge of Theosophists[11]:305 | Robert Crosbie[10]:855 | 1909[10]:855 | Theosophical[10]:855 |
United Pentecostal Church International[11]:287–306 | merger[10]:476 | 1945[10]:476 | Apostolic Pentecostals[10]:476 |
Unity Church[11]:306–307 | Charles Fillmore and Myrtle Fillmore[12]:373 | 1889/1903[12]:373 | New Thought-Christian[12]:373 |
Universal Great Brotherhood[11]:310 | Serge Raynaud de la Ferriere[10]:883 | late 1940s[10]:883 | Other Theosophical Groups[10]:883 |
Universal Life Church[11]:311 | Kirby Hensley[10]:680 | 1962[10]:680 | Liberal Family[10]:680 |
Universal White Brotherhood[149] | Peter Deunov[10]:880 | 1900[10]:880 | Other Theosophical Groups[10]:880
Esoteric Christianity |
Urantia Foundation[24]:319–322 | William S. Sadler[24]:319–322 | 1934[24]:319–322 | UFO religion[24]:319–322 |
Vajradhatu[11]:313 | Chögyam Trungpa[10]:1115 | 1973[10]:1115 | Tibetan Buddhism[10]:1115 |
Vale do Amanhecer[150] | Tia Neiva[150] | 1959[150] | Spiritualism[150] |
Volunteers of America[11]:316 | Ballington Booth
Maud Booth[10]:420 |
1896[10]:420 | Holiness movement[10]:420 |
The Way International[11]:318 | Victor Paul Wierwille[10]:608 | 1942[10]:608 | Independent fundamentalist family[10]:608 |
The Way of the Livingness (Universal Medicine)[151] | Serge Benhayon[151] | 1999[151] | Neo-Theosophical[152] and/or "Socially harmful cult".[153] |
White Eagle Lodge[11]:319 | Lady Elizabeth Carey[10]:884 | 1943[10]:884 | Other Theosophical Groups[10]:884 |
Wicca[31]:339–346[47]:55 | Gerald Gardner[24]:338 | c. 1949[24]:338 | Neo-pagan
Witchcraft[31]:339–346 |
Wotansvolk[154] | David Lane | 1990s | neo-völkisch paganism |
The Word Foundation[11]:320 | Harold W. Percival[10]:856 | c. 1904[10]:856 | Theosophical[10]:856 |
World Peace and Unification Sanctuary Church[155][156] | Hyung Jin Moon
Yeon Ah Lee Moon |
2015 | Unification Church-based
ultra-Orthodox/Fundamentalism |
Yiguandao[33][130]:702–703 | Wang Jueyi; Chang Thien Ran | late 19th century | Chinese salvationist-Millenarian |
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