1. Jehovah's Witnesses
1.1. all forms of present day government are controlled by Satan
1.2. Joseph Franklin Rutherford
1.3. Judgement Day
1.4. truth sets everyone free - similar to sin and good deeds
1.5. orthodox in their belief of a new revival
2. Santeria
2.1. combines traditional western African religion with Catholicism
2.2. Rule of Osha
2.2.1. Olorun (1 God)
2.2.1.1. Orisha (saint)
2.3. priest/santeros
2.4. hymns replaced with drumming & chanting => inducing a trance state
2.5. ancestor based
2.6. chanting seems analogous to ancient religions like Hinduism
3. Tenrikyo
3.1. regarded as sects of Shinto
3.2. Founded by: Nakayama Miki (the parent)
3.3. single benevolent God who wishes humans to find happiness in their lives on earth
3.4. follow joyous life & avoiding negative tendencies
3.5. sin => "mental dust" that needs to be swept away by hinokishin
3.5.1. miserliness, covetousness, hatred, self-love, grudge-bearing, anger, greed & arrogance
3.6. clearing away negative energy - definitely a Shinto influence
3.6.1. acts and deeds
4. Scientology
4.1. L. Ron Hubbard
4.1.1. science fiction author
4.2. Self-help system based on elements of psychotherapy with an emphasis on dealing with past traumatic experiences to achieve spiritual rehabilitation
4.2.1. auditing - counseling
4.3. man's true spiritual nature is embodied in an eternal spirit => Thetan
4.4. E-meter to free unconscious minds of images of trauma (engrams) & return to the state of Clear
4.5. Therapy/counseling style of religion - medical based rather than deity based
5. Wicca
5.1. Gerald Gardner
5.1.1. UK
5.1.1.1. witchcraft
5.2. neopagan
5.3. principles of masculine & feminine
5.4. reincarnation
5.5. mediums/ouija boards
5.6. nature-based rituals
5.7. celebrations of the seasons
5.7.1. rites of passage: initiation, wiccaning (baptism) & marriage/sexual union
6. Unitarian Universalists
6.1. formed in 1961
6.2. non-creedal, non-doctrinal religion
6.3. emphasis on humanist search for truth & meaning in this life than on belief in a supreme being and salvation in an afterlife
6.4. personal experience, conscience & reason form the basis for religious faith
6.4.1. opinions of all men & women should be respected
6.4.2. 7 Principles: the inherent worth and dignity of every person
6.4.2.1. Justice, equity, compassion in human relations, acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth, a free, responsible search for truth and meaning, the right of conscience and the use of democratic process within congregations and in society at large.
6.5. "The freedom of the mind is the beginning of all other freedoms"
6.6. experience based
7. Hare Krishna Movement
7.1. chanting Maha Mantra
7.1.1. believers use devotional practices known as bhakti to please & to develop a loving r/s with god Krishna
7.1.2. Hare Krishna, Hare Krisha
7.2. mantra chanted as a means of clearing the mind & cleansing the heart
7.2.1. repeated use of the holy name Krishna consciousness to emerge from the soul
7.2.2. free of the distraction of sensual/physical consciousness
7.3. meditation/modified modern Hinduism
8. Cao Dai
8.1. unify all faiths
8.2. Vietnam
8.3. Combining elements of several religions, esp. Buddhist & Confucian philosophy
9. Sikhism
9.1. Guru Nanak
9.2. Adi Granth - Holy Book
9.3. Sikhs - learner/disciple, guided in their way of life by God and the gurus
9.4. 5 stages: wrongdoing, devotion to God, spiritual union with God, attainment of eternal bliss & freedom from rebirth
9.5. A good Sikh
9.5.1. Conquer the 5 vices
9.5.1.1. lust, anger, greed, emotional attachment & egotism
9.5.2. wear the 5 articles of faith
9.5.3. keep God in mind at all times
9.5.3.1. Must live as saint soldiers
9.5.4. defend the faith & protect the weak & oppressed
9.6. 5 Ks
9.6.1. kesh, kangha, kara, kachara & kirpan
9.7. one of the most equalitarian of all religions
9.8. stepping away from deity, focusing more on humanistic life and the spiritual warrier journey
10. Mormons
10.1. Joseph Smith Jr.
10.2. "gifts of the spirit" - prophecy & vision
10.3. book of Mormon
10.4. polygamy
10.5. Brigham Young
10.6. avoid tobacco, coffee, tea & extramarital sexual activity
10.7. marriage necessary for salvation
10.8. deviation from traditional Christian denominations - more liberal and open to change through the vision and guide of the spirit
11. Baha'i
11.1. Baha'ullah (Mirza Husayn'Ali Nuri)
11.1.1. worldwide peace, unity & justice
11.2. Persia
11.3. divine messengers: Moses, Buddha, Jesus & Muhammad
11.4. Know God through his messengers
11.4.1. messengers practiced by Abrahamic religions
11.5. liberate children of men from darkness of ignorance & guide them to the light of true understanding
11.6. ensure peace & tranquility of mankind & provide all means by which they can be established
11.7. equality, unity & oneness
12. Rastafari
12.1. based on the Christian Bible
12.2. God's chosen king: Ras Tafari
12.3. inspired by Black nationalism & Pan-Africanism
12.4. Old testament's Zion => Africa
12.5. Jamaica 1930s
12.6. Lion of Judah
12.7. "Many discouraging hours will arise before the rainbow of accomplished goals will appear on the horizon" - Haile Selassie
13. Unification Church
13.1. Sun Myung Moon
13.2. South Korea 1954
13.3. Moonies
13.4. Divine Principle & Bible
13.5. Eve's spiritual r/s with Satan before her sexual one with Adam led to all of her progeny being born with defective, sinful natures & Jesus came to rectify this, but he got crucified before he had the opportunity to marry so only achieved partial redemption
14. Falun Dafa
14.1. Li Hongzhi, China
14.2. life-energy cultivation
14.2.1. qigong