How many religions do you know? Everybody knows such traditional religions as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism.
But in fact, there are other, little-known religions practiced by people from different parts of the world. Below you will find a list of 25 most unusual, unique and interesting religions.
1. Raelism
The movement was founded in 1974 by a French journalist and former rider Claude Vorilon, nicknamed Rael. His followers believe in the existence of aliens. According to this doctrine, once upon a time scientists from another planet arrived on our Earth, who created all forms of earthly life, including the human race. Raelists advocate for the development of science and promote the idea of cloning people.
2. Scientology
This religion was founded by the science fiction writer L. Hubbard in 1954, she calls to explore the true spiritual nature of man, to know oneself, relationships with relatives, society, all mankind, all forms of life, the physical and spiritual Universe, and, finally, with a higher power . According to the teachings of Scientologists, man is an immortal spiritual creature whose existence is not limited to one life. Followers of this religion are such famous personalities as John Travolta and Tom Cruise.
3. Yahweh
The Yahweh Nation is one of the most controversial offshoots of the religious movement of "black Jews and Israelis". Its name was given to the current in honor of the founding leader Ben Yahweh in 1979. The sect's teaching is based in part on the interpretation of the Christian Bible, but at the same time it is clearly opposed to the generally accepted ideas of Christianity and Judaism. Sometimes followers of this religion are called a group of haters or a cult of black superiority.
4. Church of All Worlds
The church of all worlds is a neopagan religion founded in 1962 by Oberon Zell-Ravenhart and his wife Morning Glory Zell-Ravenhart. Religion originated in California - its spread began with a narrow circle of friends and lovers, inspired by a fictional belief in the science fiction novel "The Stranger in a Strange Country" by Robert Heinlein.
5. Subud
Subud is a religious movement based on the performance of spontaneous and ecstatic (associated with the state of ecstasy) exercises. The sect was founded by Indonesian spiritual leader Mohammed Subuh in the 1920s. The current was banned in Indonesia until the 1950s, after which it spread to Europe and America. The main practice of subud is "latihan" - spontaneous hour-long meditation, which must be done at least 2 times a week.
6. The Church of the Flying Macaroni Monster
Also known as Pastafrianism - parodic movement appeared after the publication of an open letter of American physicist Bobby Henderson. In his address to the Kansas Education Department, the scientist demanded that in the school curriculum, along with the theory of evolution and the concept of creationism, a subject for studying faith in the Flying Macaroni Monster appeared. To date, Pastafarianism is officially recognized as a religion in New Zealand and the Netherlands.
7. Movement of Prince Philip
One of the strangest religions in the world is probably the movement of Prince Philip. The sect is supported by members of the Pacific tribe of the island state of Vanuatu. It is believed that the cult originated in 1974 after the country was visited by Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip. The locals took the duke for the pale-faced son of the spirit of the mountain and since then have worshiped his images.
8. Aghori Shiva
Aghori - an ascetic cult, a breakaway from traditional Hinduism in the 14th century AD. Many Orthodox Hindus accuse the followers of the aghori of committing insane and even forbidden rituals that are contrary to conservative traditions. What are these rituals? Sectarians live in cemeteries and feed on human flesh. In addition, these people drink from human skulls, like cups, tear off the heads of living animals and meditate directly on the bodies of the departed to gain spiritual enlightenment.
9. Pana Wave
The Japanese religious movement Pan Wave was founded in 1977 and combines the doctrines of three different teachings - Christianity, Buddhism and the religion of the "new century". The current is famous for its unusual attitude to electromagnetic waves, which, according to the followers of Pan Wave, are the cause of global climate change, environmental destruction and other serious contemporary problems.
10. People of the universe
The people of the universe are a Czech religious organization founded in the 1990s by Ivo Benda, also known under his cosmic name Astar. The leader of the sect claims that he had several times communicated with extraterrestrial civilizations, which prompted him to found a new religious movement. Propagating love and a positive attitude, the People of the Universe are struggling against modern technologies and bad habits.
11. The Church of the Incomplete (Subgenius)
The Church of Subgenius is a parodic religion founded by the American writer and filmmaker Aivon Stang in the 1970s. The sect neglects the idea of absolute truth, but instead extols the free way of life. The Church of Subgenius preaches a mixture of many very different teachings, and its central personality is the prophet and "best seller of the 50s" Bob Dobbs.
12. Nuoububianism
The movement of the Nubaubianists was a religious organization founded by Dwight York. The doctrine of the sect was based on the idea of the superiority of blacks, the worship of the ancient Egyptians and their pyramids, belief in UFOs and the conspiracy theories of the Illuminati and the Bilderberg club. In April 2004, the action of this sect ceased, since York was sentenced to 135 years in prison for financial fraud, child molestation and many other crimes.
13. Discordianism
This is another parodic religion, which is also called the religion of chaos. The current was founded by a pair of young hippies, Kerry Thornley and Greg Hill, in the 1960s. Discordianism became a world-famous movement after the American writer Robert Anton Wilson took advantage of the ideas of the religion of chaos in writing his science fiction trilogy Illuminatus !.
14. The Etheric Society
This movement was founded by the Australian yoga teacher George King, who announced a meeting with extraterrestrial civilization in the 50s of the XX century. The sect of the Etherius is a religious movement, the philosophy and doctrine of which was allegedly derived from an advanced extraterrestrial race, although it also includes the ideas of Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism.
15. The Church of Euthanasia
The only religion against humanity, and the official political organization, the euthanasia church, was founded in 1992 in Boston by the Rev. Chris Korda and pastor Robert Kimberk. The current propagates the decline in the population of people, as this can solve the problem of overpopulation of the Earth, as well as environmental and many other problems of our planet. The famous slogan of the church "Save the planet - kill yourself!" Can often be seen on posters during various social events.
16. Happy Science
Lucky science is an alternative Japanese teaching, founded by Riuho Okavaon in 1986. In 1991, this cult was recognized as an official religious organization. Followers of the current believe in the god of the Earth named El Kantare. To attain the state of true happiness, also known as enlightenment, members of the church profess the teachings of Rio Okavona by praying, reflecting, studying the necessary literature and meditating.
17. The Temple of True Inner Light
The Temple of True Inner Light is a religious organization from Manhattan. Its members believe that psychoactive substances, including marijuana, LSD, dipropyltryptamine, mescaline, psilocybin and psychedelic fungi, are the true divine flesh, the taste of which gives special knowledge. According to the members of the Temple, all world religions appeared due to the use of psychedelics.
18. Jedaism
Jediism is another new religious movement that unites thousands of fans of the Star Wars saga around the world. The philosophical course is based on the fictional principles of Jedi life. Members of this teaching argue that the same "Force" is a real energy field that fills the whole Universe. In 2013, Jedaism became the seventh most populous religion in the UK, gaining 175,000 followers.
19. Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest monotheistic (one deity) doctrines, founded by the prophet Zarathustra in ancient Iran about 3,500 years ago. Almost 1000 years this religion was one of the most influential in the world, and from 600 BC to 650 AD it became the official faith of Persia (modern Iran). Today, this religious trend is no longer so popular, and now only about 100,000 followers are known. By the way, here it is worth mentioning that this religion was confessed by such a famous person as Freddie Mercury.
20. Haitian Voodoo
The widespread religious teachings of Voodoo in Haiti originated among African slaves who were forcibly brought to the islands and converted to Catholicism in the 16th and 17th centuries. After a time under the influence of Christianity, the modern teachings of Voodoo Haitians became a mixture of traditions. By the way, 200 years ago it was this mysterious religion that inspired local slaves to revolt against the French colonialists. After the revolution, the Republic of Haiti became the second independent state of the North and South Americas after the United States. At the heart of Voodoo's teaching is the belief in the one God Bondyeu, in the spirits of the family, good, evil and health. Followers of this faith actively practice the treatment with herbs and magic spells, guess and evoke spirits.
21. Neuroidism
Neo-Norwegianism is a religion that propagates the search for harmony, extols nature and teaches to respect all living beings on the planet. The current is partly based on the traditions of the ancient Celtic tribes, but modern druidism also includes shamanism, love of the Earth, pantheism, animism, worship of the Sun and faith in reincarnation.
22. Rastafarianism
Rastafarianism is another fairly young religion that first appeared in Jamaica in the 1930s, following Haile Selassie's proclamation as the first king of Ethiopia. The Rastafarians believe that Haile Selassie is the true God, and that one day he will bring back to Negro Africa all Negroes exported to other continents against their will. Followers of this current extol naturalness, brotherly love, deny the foundations of the Western world, wear dreadlocks and smoke marijuana for spiritual enlightenment.
23. The Church of Maradona
The church of Maradona is a whole religion dedicated to the famous Argentine football player Diego Maradona. The symbol of the church is the abbreviation D10S, because it combines the Spanish word Dios (God) and the athlete's shirt number (10). The church was founded in 1998 by fans of the Argentine, who claimed that Maradona is the greatest football player in the history of mankind.
24. Aum Shinrikyo
Aum Shinrikyo literally translates as "the highest truth." This is another young Japanese sect, founded in the 1980s and propagating a mixture of Buddhist and Hindu teachings. The leader of the cult, Shoko Asahara, declared himself both Christ and the first "enlightened" since the time of the Buddha. However, over time, the group became a real terrorist and extremist cult, whose members were preparing for the end of the world and the impending Third World War. Followers of the sect believed that in this apocalypse they will survive only. Today Aum Shinrikyo is officially banned in most countries.
25. Frisbittarianism
Perhaps, one of the most shocking religions in the world, Frisbittarianism is a comic belief in life after death. The founder of the movement was the famous American actor and comedian George Karlin, who defined the main postulate of the new faith in the following words: "when a person dies, his soul rises and is thrown up like a frisbee on the roof of the house where she sticks once and for all."