The 127 religious groups shown in the second chart, although divided into subgroups for the purposes of clarity and organization, are considered as distinct religions due to their unique systems of belief rather than as denominations of the various subgroups described.
I. Summary Chart of 5 New Age Religious Subgroups
II. Listing of 127 New Age Religions in America
I. Summary Chart of 5 New Age Religious Subgroups | ||||||
Subgroup/ (Total religions in subgroup)* |
Description | |||||
1. | Swedeborgian Group (3) |
This group believes that, “…God is Love Itself, and…Love is revealed in the personage of the Lord Jesus Christ…The Bible is the Word of God and can be read on many different levels…Life after death is real, and the details about that life have been explained in the teaching of Emanuel Swedenborg’s book Heaven and Hell…The Second Coming of Christ does not mean the destruction of all of creation and a fierce judgment on humankind. The second coming is taking place right now, in a new understanding of Jesus Christ, as revealed in the teachings of the New Church.” (Religious Movements Page, University of Virginia, “Swedenborgian,” https://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu, 12/27/05) |
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2. | Channeling (36) |
“Channeling is generally considered the transmission of messages or ideas from non-human entities, or spirits or souls outside the human body, to and through a human, for translation and transmission to that, or other, humans…Often, but not always, preparation to channel may include the Channeler’s induction to a trance or meditative state, and may or may not require the use of crystals, stones, chakras, or other talismans to encourage the communications. Depending on the particular channeler, communications may come from the spirits of dead people, from otherworldly presences, or from spiritual leaders. A large segment of current Channeling proponents…report and discuss channeled messages from a higher, divine being, though there seems to be a general consensus among channelers that traditional Christian notions of there being just ‘one all knowing God’ is not necessarily so, and that the source of their spiritual messages may well be many spiritual entities.” (Religious Movements Page, University of Virginia, “Channeling,” https://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu, 12/27/05) |
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3. | Flying Saucer Group (20) |
“The term flying saucer religion can be applied to a number of religious groups which invest alien contact with religious significance. Such contact is most often made on a psychic level with a member of an advanced alien race. Generally the benign aliens bring to the human race doctrine concerning spiritual advancement and eschatology. The beliefs of flying saucer religions are characteristically eclectic and often dove-tail eastern and western traditions. This ecumenical feat is accomplished by identifying historic religious figures such as Jesus Christ and the Buddha Gautama with advanced alien beings. The New Testament is a key eschatological influence for most of these new religious movements, and both premillennial and postmillennial groups exist…The leaders of these religions, termed contactees, are those who have established a steady contact with their ‘space brothers.’ Through these contactees, followers have access to spiritual instruction which in turn prepares them for their cosmic eschatological expectations.” (Louisiana State University, College of Arts and Sciences, “Flying Saucer Religions: An Introduction,” https://www.artsci.lsu.edu, 12/27/05) |
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4. | Drug-Related Group (6) |
Religions that use plants or artificial substances that produce psychedelic effects. In some cases substances may be ingested by a priest or other spiritual leader to induce a trance for revelatory purposes. In other cases, substances are taken by groups of people who participate in sacred ceremonies. Drugs and Mysticism The International Journal of Parapsychology, Vol VIII (No. 2) Spring 1966; 295-313 by Walter N. Pahnke |
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5. | Psychic Group (62) |
“The contemporary psychic community is oriented to experience…In being oriented to religious experience, psychics share a lifestyle with mystics and pietists of all ages. Psychics have leaned toward scientific demonstration of the truth of their faith. Psychics see their beliefs proved in the everyday repitition of verifiable psychic events…For some, the truth is in the deep philosophy which comes through an otherwise shalllow person who operates as a channel. For others, the truth is found in the very extistence of an invisible world of psychic perception demonstrated by clairvoyance.” (J. Gordon Melton, The Encyclopedia of American Religions, 1978) |
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Total: 127 New Age Religions |
II. Listing of 127 New Age Religions in America | ||||||
Name of Religion | Description -each term in this column is defined in the summary chart | Membership (If Known) | ||||
1. | General Church of the New Jerusalem | Swedeborgian Group | 3,036 (1997) | |||
2. | General Convention of the New Jerusalem in the United States of America | Swedeborgian Group | 1,601 (2001) | |||
3. | The Lord’s New Church | Swedeborgian Group | Unavailable | |||
4. | Aspects of Light | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
5. | The Association of Love and Light | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
6. | Church of Amron | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
7. | Church of the White Eagle | Channeling | 982 (2002) | |||
8. | Circle of Power Spiritual Foundation | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
9. | Cosmic Awareness Communications | Channeling | 3,000 (1995) | |||
10. | Divine Word Foundation | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
11. | Doctrine of Truth Foundation | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
12. | EarthStar Alliance | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
13. | The Eliosts | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
14. | Family of Abraham | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
15. | Fellowship of the Inner Light | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
16. | Fellowship of Universal Guidance | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
17. | Foundation Church of Divine Truth | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
18. | Foundation Church of the New Birth | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
19. | Foundation for the Realization of Inner Divinity | Channeling | 15,000 (1992) | |||
20. | Grail Movement of America | Channeling | 400 (2002) | |||
21. | HomeWords | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
22. | Light of the Universe | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
23. | Michael Educational Foundation | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
24. | Michael Teachings | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
25. | New Age Teachings | Channeling | 2,000 (1992) | |||
26. | Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
27. | Robin’s Return | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
28. | School of Natural Science | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
29. | Seth-Hermes Foundation | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
30. | Seth Network International | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
31. | SOL Association for Research | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
32. | Spiritual Education Endeavors – The Share Foundation | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
33. | Star of Isis Foundation | Channeling | 50 (1992) | |||
34. | Trilite Seminars | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
35. | Trinity Foundation | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
36. | Universal Association of Faithists | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
37. | Universal Life: The Inner Religion | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
38. | Universal Link | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
39. | Universalia | Channeling | Unavailable | |||
40. | Aetherius Society | Flying Saucer Group | 650 (1987) | |||
41. | Astar Command | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
42. | Association of Sananda and Sanat Kumara | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
43. | Blue Rose Ministry | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
44. | Cosmic Circle of Fellowship | Flying Saucer Group | 41 (2002) | |||
45. | Cosmic Star Temple | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
46. | Delval UFO, Inc. | Flying Saucer Group | 400 (1992) | |||
47. | Extraterrestrial Earth Mission | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
48. | GAF International/Adamski Foundation | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
49. | Interplanetary Connections | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
50. | Last Day Messengers | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
51. | Mark-Age, Inc. | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
52. | Semjase Silver Star Center | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
53. | Star Light Fellowship | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
54. | Unarius-Science of Life | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
55. | United States Raelian Religion | Flying Saucer Group | 250 (2002) | |||
56. | Universarium Foundation | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
57. | Universe Society Church (UNISOC) | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
58. | White Star | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
59. | World Understanding | Flying Saucer Group | Unavailable | |||
60. | The Church of Sunshine | Drug-Related Group | Unavailable | |||
61. | Church of the Tree of Life | Drug-Related Group | Unavailable | |||
62. | Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church | Drug-Related Group | Unavailable | |||
63. | Native American Church | Drug-Related Group | 225,000 (1977) | |||
64. | The Original Kleptonian Neo-American Church | Drug-Related Group | Unavailable | |||
65. | Peyote Way Church of God | Drug-Related Group | 236 (2001) | |||
66. | The Afro-American Social Research Association | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
67. | Alliance of Divine Love | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
68. | American Universalist Temple of Divine Wisdom | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
69. | The Aquarian Academy | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
70. | Association for Research and Enlightenment | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
71. | Astrological, Metaphysical, Occult, Revelatory, Enlightenment Church | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
72. | Chirothesian Church of Faith | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
73. | Christ Ministry Foundation | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
74. | Church of Basic Truth | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
75. | Church of Divine Man | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
76. | Church of Eductivism | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
77. | Church of General Psionics | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
78. | Church of Mercavah | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
79. | Congregational Church of Practical Theology | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
80. | Coptic Fellowship of America | Psychic Group | 3,500 (1992) | |||
81. | Embassy of the Gheez-Americans | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
82. | Emissaries of Divine Light | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
83. | Essene Fellowship of Peace/Spiritual Church of Ataraxia | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
84. | Essene Foundation | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
85. | Essene New Life Church | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
86. | Essene Order of Light | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
87. | Essenes of Arkashea | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
88. | Etherian Religious Society of Universal Brotherhood | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
89. | Foundation Faith of God | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
90. | Foundation of Human Understanding | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
91. | Heart Consciousness Church and New Age Church of Being | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
92. | Huna International | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
93. | Huna Research, Inc. | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
94. | Inner Light Foundation | Psychic Group | 10,000 (2002) | |||
95. | Inner Peace Movement | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
96. | Institute of Cosmic Wisdom | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
97. | Institute of Mentalphysics | Psychic Group | 6,000 (1995) | |||
98. | Interfaith Church of Metaphysics | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
99. | International Church of Spritual Vision, Inc. | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
100. | Kabalarian Society | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
101. | Karin Society | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
102. | Light Institute | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
103. | Loving Hands Institute | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
104. | Mindstream Church of Universal Love | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
105. | New Age Community Church | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
106. | New Age Samaritan Church | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
107. | New Psychiana | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
108. | The Only Fair Religion | Psychic Group | 10,000 (1972) | |||
109. | Planetary Light Association | Psychic Group | 2,700 (1987) | |||
110. | Portal Enterprises | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
111. | Process Church of the Final Judgment | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
112. | Quartus Foundation for Spiritual Research | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
113. | Quimby Center | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
114. | Religious School of Natural Hygeine | Psychic Group | 1,000 (1995) | |||
115. | Savitria | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
116. | Society of Novus Spiritus | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
117. | Spiritual Human Yoga | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
118. | Teaching of the Inner Christ, Inc. | Psychic Group | 500 (1998) | |||
119. | Theocentric Foundation | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
120. | True Church of Christ, International | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
121. | Unification Movement | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
122. | The United Spiritual Church of the Spiritual Advisory Council | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
123. | Universal Brotherhood | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
124. | Universal Oneness United | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
125. | Urantia Book Fellowship | Psychic Group | 1,500 (2002) | |||
126. | Urantia Foundation | Psychic Group | Unavailable | |||
127. | World Catalyst Church | Psychic Group | Unavailable |
1 Source: J. Gordon Melton, The Encyclopedia of American Religions, 7th Edition, (Thomson Gale, 2002).