The 124 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 9 “Other” Religious Subgroups
I. Summary Chart of 9 “Other” Religious Subgroups | ||||||
Subgroup/ (Total religions in subgroup)* |
Description | |||||
1. | Mail Order / Internet (21) | Religious bodies accessed solely through the internet and/or by post. | ||||
2. | Communal (39) |
“A Commune is a kind of intentional community where most resources are shared and there is little or no personal property….communes…are often referred to as egalitarian communities. These include: Eastern Religious Communes, Christian Communes, Psychological Communes (based on mystical or gestalt principles), Rehabilitational Communes, Cooperative Communes, Alternative-Family Communes, Countercultural Communes (‘hippies’), and Political Communes.” (Wikipedia,”Commune: Intentional Community,” 12/27/05) |
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3. | Rosicrucianism (11) |
“The Rosicrucian teachings strive to create a liveable philosophy incorporating various aspects of science and mysticism and seek to free society of the enslaving power of superstitions… The Rosicrucian path provides the means to awaken one’s innate potential for higher knowledge, which lays dormant without enlightenment. Natural laws are learned and applied which allow one to experience an aware union with Divine or Cosmic Consciousness… Rosicrucian teachings are centered on the ‘mastery of life,”…the belief that man’s success is through his ability to use his mental imaging power to bring forth concrete reality.” (Religious Movements Page, University of Virginia, “The Rosicrucian Order,” https://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu, 12/27/05) [Editor’s Note: The San Jose, CA-based Rosicrucian order named AMORC (Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis) states on its website (accessed Oct. 29, 2012) that Rosicrucianism is not regarded by its adherents as a religion: “Becoming a Rosicrucian student does not in any way require you to leave your church, join a church, or change your religious beliefs… Some Rosicrucian members do not subscribe to any specific religious beliefs at all. For students who do, we encourage them to participate in the religion of their choice.”] |
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4. | Occult Orders (7) |
“There are many definitions of the Occult; no general consensus exists. Some groups divide the Occult into three branches: 1) Divination: Various harmless methods of foretelling the future; 2) Religious and Spiritual Pursuits: These are normally a group of unrelated minority religions; 3) Magick: This is a list that includes ceremonial magick and many other schools of practice involving rituals and spells. They are used to change the environment, in order to reach the magician’s goals.” (Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, “The Occult,” www.religioustolerance.org, 12/27/05) |
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5. | Theosophy / Other Theosophical Groups (18) |
“Theosophy teaches that our world and all others go through numerous rounds of evolution from the primordial to the material to the spiritual, and that in these grand evolutionary cycles all humanity experiences numerous incarnations from less-advanced to more-advanced states of being. According to Theosophists, teachings about the evolutionary history of the cosmos are preserved in partial form in many world religions, carefully guarded by the Masters or Mahatmas, advanced beings who have evolved past the point of dependence on the physical world. Theosophists call this understanding of the world ‘the Ancient Wisdom.’ Theosophy, then, is the study of Ancient Wisdom. Through Theosophy, one finds answers to life’s deepest, most significant questions…A common motto among Theosophists reflects this: ‘There is no religion higher than the truth.'” (Religious Movements Page, University of Virginia, “Theosophy,” https://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu, 12/27/05) |
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6. | Alice Bailey Groups (6) |
“After spells as an evangelical Christian and a member of the Esoteric Section of the Theosophical Society, Alice Bailey founded the Arcane School in 1923… According to Alice Bailey, almost all of her books were dictated to her by the Tibetan, Djwhal Khul…These are textbooks on occult science, astrology, white magic, meditation and general occultism. It has been said that A.A.B.’s books are more inspirational than informational as the works themselves are occult artifacts which have a definite effect upon those who read them.” (Wikipedia, “Alice Bailey,” 12/27/05) |
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7. | I AM Groups (8) |
“The name ‘I AM’ refers to the name that God gave Himself in Exodus 3:14. The basis of the ‘I AM’ belief rests on the idea that every person has a connection to an ‘omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent’ God who controls all. The energy of God, and other divine beings, such as the Ascended Masters, takes the form of light…Each person has a higher self that is connected, by light, to God…Jesus, one of the Ascended Masters, was responsible for releasing the ‘Christ Light,’ which is the ‘Mighty I AM Presence.’ This made the Light available to all who wished to move out of darkness and into the Divine Light of Love…Because God, is present in everyone’s higher being through the ‘Mighty I AM Presence,’ it is simply a matter of tapping into one’s higher self in order to use the power. An ‘I AM’ student, in conjunction with the teachings of the Ascended Masters, can use the Presence to eliminate evil and bring justice to the world….The ultimate goal is to purify oneself, with the guidance of the Ascended Masters and the aid of the Violet Flame [a light generated by the ‘I AM Presence’], so as to leave the human body and become an Ascended Master.” (Religious Movements Page, University of Virginia, “I AM Religious Activity,” https://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu, 12/27/05) |
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8. | Voodoo (7) |
“Vodun, like Christianity, is a religion of many traditions. Each group follows a different spiritual path and worships a slightly different pantheon of spirits, called Loa. The word means ‘mystery’ in the Yoruba language. Yoruba traditional belief included a chief God Olorun, who is remote and unknowable. He authorized a lesser God Obatala to create the earth and all life forms. A battle between the two Gods led to Obatala’s temporary banishment…There are a number of points of similarity between Roman Catholicism and Vodun…Followers of Vodun believe that each person has a soul which is composed of two parts: a gros bon ange or ‘big guardian angel’, and a ti bon ange or ‘little guardian angel’. The latter leaves the body during sleep and when the person is possessed by a Loa during a ritual. There is a concern that the ti bon ange can be damaged or captured by evil sorcery while it is free of the body.” (Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, “Vodun,” www.religioustolerance.org, 12/27/05) |
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9. | Satanism (7) |
“Any individual or group that worships Satan or a precursor/analogue of Satan, either in a literal or figurative form. Satanists in [the Atheistic] tradition believe in, and worship, no deity at all. Instead they honor the spirit of Satan, or at least some equivalent of Satan (such as the ancient Egyptian god Set)…Atheistic Satanists worship the ideals of Satan and present him as an idol whose traits are to be emulated. Satan is often also worshipped simply as a symbol of resistance to dominant Christian ethos. A good example of a group based on these principles is the Church of Satan…Theistic Satanism…involves the belief that Satan or some equivalent does exist, and this satanic deity is the main focus of worship. The Temple of Set…is a church that leans more toward this philosophy.” (Religious Movements Page, University of Virginia, “Satanism,” https://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu, 12/27/05) |
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Total: 124 New Age Religions |
II. Listing of 124 “Other” Religions in America* | ||||||
Name of Religion | Description -each term in this column is defined in the summary chart | Membership (If Known) | ||||
1. | American Fellowship Church | Mail Order / Internet | 15,000 (1991) | |||
2. | Calvary Grace Christian Church of Faith | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
3. | The Church of Seven Planes | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
4. | Church of the Holy Monarch | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
5. | First International Church of the Web | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
6. | Holy Gospel Church IV, Inc. | Mail Order / Internet | 10,000 (1992) | |||
7. | House of F.A.M.E. Mansions of Glory | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
8. | Life Science Church | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
9. | Ministers for Christ Assembly of Churches | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
10. | Praise Christ Ministries | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
11. | Progressive Universal LIfe Church | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
12. | St. Matthew’s Churches | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
13. | Spiritual Life Concepts | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
14. | United Christian Ministries International | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
15. | United Church of the Apostles | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
16. | Universal Life Church | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
17. | Universal Life Mission Church | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
18. | Universal Matrix Church | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
19. | Universal Ministries | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
20. | World Christianship Ministries | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
21. | World Harvest Church | Mail Order / Internet | Unavailable | |||
22. | Amana Church Society (Community of True Inspiration) | Communal | 500 (1997) | |||
23. | Bruderhof Communities in New York | Communal | 2,250 (1997) | |||
24. | Christ’s Church of the Golden Rule | Communal | 65 (2002) | |||
25. | Church of the Brotherhood | Communal | Unavailable | |||
26. | Church of the Saviour | Communal | 165 (1992) | |||
27. | The Colony | Communal | Unavailable | |||
28. | Ecumenical Institute | Communal | 1,000 (1997) | |||
29. | Esoteric Fraternity | Communal | Unavailable | |||
30. | Hutterian Brethren-Dariusleut | Communal | Unavailable | |||
31. | Hutterian Brethren-Schmiedeleut | Communal | Unavailable | |||
32. | The Peace Mission Movement | Communal | Unavailable | |||
33. | People of the Living God | Communal | Unavailable | |||
34. | Shiloh Trust | Communal | Unavailable | |||
35. | Temple Society | Communal | 1,500 (2002) | |||
36. | Aquarian Research Foundation | Communal | Unavailable | |||
37. | Bride of Christ Church | Communal | Unavailable | |||
38. | Christ’s Household of Faith | Communal | 500 (1995) | |||
39. | Church of Jesus Christ at Armageddon | Communal | 100 (2002) | |||
40. | Circle of Friends | Communal | Unavailable | |||
41. | The Family | Communal | 9,937 (1997) | |||
42. | The Farm | Communal | 230 (1995) | |||
43. | The Finders | Communal | Unavailable | |||
44. | Jesus People USA | Communal | Unavailable | |||
45. | Kerista Commune | Communal | 200 (1993) | |||
46. | Lama Foundation | Communal | Unavailable | |||
47. | Mu Farm | Communal | 30 (1988) | |||
48. | Padanaram Settlement | Communal | 200 (1992) | |||
49. | Rainbow Family of Living Light | Communal | Unavailable | |||
50. | Reba Place Church and Associated Communities | Communal | Unavailable | |||
51. | REMAR International | Communal | 15,000 (1992) | |||
52. | Renaissance Church of Beauty | Communal | Unavailable | |||
53. | Salem Acres | Communal | Unavailable | |||
54. | Shepherdsfield Community | Communal | 100 (2001) | |||
55. | Sirius | Communal | 25 (1997) | |||
56. | Solar Logos Foundation | Communal | Unavailable | |||
57. | The Synanon Church | Communal | Unavailable | |||
58. | Twelve Tribes | Communal | 650 (1995) | |||
59. | Universal Industrial Church of the New World Comforter | Communal | Unavailable | |||
60. | West Coast Communities | Communal | Unavailable | |||
61. | Ancient and Mystical Order of the Rosae Crucis | Rosicrucianism | Unavailable | |||
62. | Ancient Rosae Crucis | Rosicrucianism | Unavailable | |||
63. | Ausar Auset Society | Rosicrucianism | Unavailable | |||
64. | Cofraternity of the Rose Cross | Rosicrucianism | Unavailable | |||
65. | Fraternitas Rosae Crucis | Rosicrucianism | Unavailable | |||
66. | Lectorium Rosicrucianum | Rosicrucianism | Unavailable | |||
67. | New Age Bible and Philosophy Center | Rosicrucianism | Unavailable | |||
68. | Rosicrucian Anthroposophical League | Rosicrucianism | Unavailable | |||
69. | Rosicrucian Fellowship | Rosicrucianism | 700 (2002) | |||
70. | Societas Rosicruciana in America | Rosicrucianism | Unavailable | |||
71. | Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis | Rosicrucianism | Unavailable | |||
72. | Astara | Occult Orders | Unavailable | |||
73. | Brotherhood of the White Temple | Occult Orders | Unavailable | |||
74. | Church of Light | Occult Orders | Unavailable | |||
75. | Lemurian Fellowship | Occult Orders | Unavailable | |||
76. | Mayan Order | Occult Orders | Unavailable | |||
77. | Sabian Assembly | Occult Orders | Unavailable | |||
78. | Stelle Group | Occult Orders | Unavailable | |||
79. | Hermetic Society for World Service | Theosophy | Unavailable | |||
80. | Temple of the People | Theosophy | Unavailable | |||
81. | Theosophical Society in America | Theosophy | 5,580 (2002) | |||
82. | The Word Foundation, Inc. | Theosophy | 400 (2002) | |||
83. | Aquarian Educational Group | Alice Bailey Groups | 150 (1995) | |||
84. | Arcane School | Alice Bailey Groups | Unavailable | |||
85. | Meditation Groups, Inc. | Alice Bailey Groups | Unavailable | |||
86. | School for Esoteric Studies | Alice Bailey Groups | 300 (1992) | |||
87. | School of Light and Realization | Alice Bailey Groups | Unavailable | |||
88. | Upper Triad | Alice Bailey Groups | Unavailable | |||
89. | Ascended Master Teaching Foundation | I AM Groups | Unavailable | |||
90. | The Bridge to Spiritual Freedom, Inc. | I AM Groups | Unavailable | |||
91. | Church Universal and Triumphant | I AM Groups | Unavailable | |||
92. | City of the Sun Foundation | I AM Groups | Unavailable | |||
93. | “I AM” Religious Activity | I AM Groups | Unavailable | |||
94. | Joy Foundation, Inc. | I AM Groups | 35 (1992) | |||
95. | Morningland-Church fo the Ascended Christ | I AM Groups | 5,000 (2002) | |||
96. | University of the Christ Light with the Twelve Rays | I AM Groups | Unavailable | |||
97. | Agni Yoga Society | Other Theosophical Groups | 600 (2001) | |||
98. | Amica Temple of Radiance | Other Theosophical Groups | Unavailable | |||
99. | Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience, Inc. | Other Theosophical Groups | 175 (2002) | |||
100. | Anthroposophical Society | Other Theosophical Groups | Unavailable | |||
101. | Church of Cosmic Origina and School of Thought | Other Theosophical Groups | Unavailable | |||
102. | Ecumenical Ministry of the Unity of All Religions | Other Theosophical Groups | Unavailable | |||
103. | Esoteric Mystery School | Other Theosophical Groups | Unavailable | |||
104. | Fraternite Blanche Universelle | Other Theosophical Groups | 2,200 (2002) | |||
105. | Institute of Divine Metaphysical Research | Other Theosophical Groups | Unavailable | |||
106. | Light of Christ Community Church | Other Theosophical Groups | 396 (2002) | |||
107. | Oasis Fellowship | Other Theosophical Groups | Unavailable | |||
108. | Open Way | Other Theosophical Groups | Unavailable | |||
109. | Order of the Cross | Other Theosophical Groups | 96 (1990) | |||
110. | Universal Great Brotherhood | Other Theosophical Groups | Unavailable | |||
111. | African Theological Archministry | Voodoo | 10,000 (2002) | |||
112. | Afro-American Vodoun | Voodoo | Unavailable | |||
113. | Chamber of Holy Voodoo | Voodoo | Unavailable | |||
114. | Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye | Voodoo | Unavailable | |||
115. | Church of the Seven African Powers | Voodoo | 100-200 (2002) | |||
116. | First Church of Voodoo | Voodoo | Unavailable | |||
117. | Voodoo Spiritual Temple | Voodoo | Unavailable | |||
118. | Church of Satan | Satanism | Unavailable | |||
119. | First Church of Satan | Satanism | Unavailable | |||
120. | First Satanic Church | Satanism | Unavailable | |||
121. | Luciferian Light Group | Satanism | Unavailable | |||
122. | Order of Dionysus/Sabazios | Satanism | Unavailable | |||
123. | Order of the Black Ram | Satanism | Unavailable | |||
124. | Temple of Set | Satanism | 500 (2002) |
1 Source: J. Gordon Melton, The Encyclopedia of American Religions, 7th Edition.