Other

Black Hebrew Israelite organisation founded by Yahweh ben Yahweh (Hulon Mitchell Jr.) in Miami (1979). Mitchell convicted in 1992 of federal racketeering including conspiracy in 14 murders. Functionally defunct.

Family of religious traditions teaching that African Americans are descendants of the Hebrews. The mainstream Black Israelite movement is theologically idiosyncratic but non-coercive. The CLCI applies to extreme variants (Israel United in Christ, Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge, the Nation of Yahweh) classified by SPLC as hate groups.

Religious-front organisation marketing 'Miracle Mineral Solution' (chlorine dioxide bleach) as a cure for autism, cancer, COVID-19, and other diseases. Founder Mark Grenon and three sons convicted in US federal court 2022–23.

1960s–70s southern California occult commune deriving from Aleister Crowley's OTO. The 1969 'Boy in the Box' incident — in which a child was kept in a small wooden box at the Lodge's desert property — produced criminal convictions and the Lodge's collapse.

Umbrella entry for the diverse 2020s phenomenon of online radical-religious influencer communities — Telegram-based prophets, prepper-religion fusions, anti-LGBT crusaders building parasocial high-control followings. Distinct from but overlapping with QAnon (covered separately).

Continuation of online radical-religious influencer phenomenon through 2026. Multiple new Telegram and Substack-based prophet figures continue to recruit.

Umbrella entry for online figures who built cult followings via opportunistic exploitation of humanitarian disasters (COVID, post-disaster vulnerable populations). Substantial financial extraction documented.

Rare umbrella for documented NGO / aid-worker cult cases (e.g. various Christian-mission NGOs with documented severance patterns).

Umbrella entry for documented high-control Vietnamese religious movements beyond mainstream Cao Đài / Hòa Hảo / Buddhism.

Splinter movements from the parent Tenrikyo (Honmichi 1925, Honbushin 1961, others). Distinctive prophetic-succession claims and moderate-control patterns.

Korean new religion derived from Kang Il-Sun's Jeungsanism (founded 1969 by Park Han-Gyeong). Distinctive cosmology centred on cosmic 'reordering of heaven and earth' (Daesoon). Substantial financial demands documented for senior members.

Japanese new religion founded by Yoshikazu Okada (1959) practising 'okiyome' palm-radiation purification. Split into multiple successor branches after Okada's 1974 death.

Umbrella entry for the documented high-control variants of the Japanese iemoto (hereditary-master) system in tea ceremony, ikebana, classical dance, noh, and certain martial arts schools — secret transmission, lifelong fee structures, lineage severance.

Mainstream organisations transmitting G.I. Gurdjieff's 'Fourth Way' teachings (Gurdjieff Foundation in NYC, Institute Gurdjieff in Paris, etc.). Voluntary participation; specific high-control sub-groups (notably Fellowship of Friends) covered separately.

Strictest Rastafari Mansion founded by Prince Emmanuel Charles Edwards (1958). Distinctive black turbans / robes; insular community at Bobo Hill, Jamaica.

Historical French-American utopian-communal movement (1848–98) following Étienne Cabet's 'Voyage en Icarie'. Multiple US communities; all defunct by 1898.

Historical American Fourierist secular-communal movement (1840s). Brook Farm (1841–47), North American Phalanx (1843–55), various other Phalanxes. All defunct by 1860s.

Brazilian Christian-syncretic churches that use ayahuasca sacramentally — Santo Daime (founded 1930s) and União do Vegetal (UDV, 1961). US Supreme Court 2006 ruling protected UDV ritual ayahuasca use. Mostly low-control; specific high-control sub-chapters exist.

Japanese new religion founded by Nakayama Miki (1838) teaching faith in Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto. Headquartered in Tenri City, Nara Prefecture. Practises distinctive sacred dance (Otefuri) and pilgrimage to the Jiba (sacred axis).

Japanese new religion founded by Deguchi Nao (1892) and developed by her son-in-law Onisaburo Deguchi. Spawned multiple successor groups including Sekai Kyusei Kyo and Aizen-en. Distinctive emphasis on art, world peace, and Esperanto.

Indonesian-derived spiritual movement founded by Muhammad Subuh ('Pak Subuh', 1947). Distinctive 'latihan' practice — group spontaneous spiritual exercise. Low-moderate control with strong family-cultural integration.

Vietnamese syncretic religion founded by Ngô Văn Chiêu and Lê Văn Trung (1926) blending Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Christianity, and Vietnamese folk religion. Headquartered at the Tây Ninh Holy See.

Ancient indigenous religion of the Yazidi people, primarily in northern Iraq. Closed-membership: no conversion in or out, strict endogamy. Subject of 2014+ ISIS genocide recognised by UN and multiple national governments.

Surviving ancient Gnostic monotheist tradition centred on John the Baptist as the chief prophet. ~60–70k adherents historically rooted in southern Iraq and Khuzestan, Iran; now largely diaspora after post-2003 violence.

Umbrella for Japanese government 2023+ religious-policy reform context following the 2022 Abe assassination. Substantial scrutiny of Japanese new religions including Unification Church.

Cross-reference entry — see primary Cao Đài entry.

Umbrella entry for the 100+ Japanese new religions beyond the specific named entries (Tenrikyo, Oomoto, Konkokyo, Kurozumikyo, Soka Gakkai, Aum, Mahikari).

Umbrella entry for the diverse indigenous and syncretic spiritual movements globally — Native American, Andean, African Traditional, Polynesian, etc. Mostly low-control mainstream reference points. Specific high-control facilitator-led variants exist.

Jamaican Afrocentric religious-political movement (1930s+) venerating Haile Selassie I as God incarnate. Distinctive dietary (Ital), dreadlocks, ritual cannabis use. Mostly low-control with strong cultural identity.

Rastafari Mansion founded by Vernon Carrington ('Prophet Gad', 1968). Most globally diffuse Rastafari group; Bob Marley was a member.

Historical Melanesian religious movements (1940s+) emerging from colonial contact. John Frum (Vanuatu), Vailala Madness (PNG), various others. Mostly dormant or transformed into mainstream religious practice.

Oldest Rastafari Mansion (1930s+). Distinctive Nyahbinghi drumming traditions. Mainstream traditional Rastafari.

Haitian Vodou diaspora communities in NYC, Miami, Montreal. Mainstream low-control extension of Haitian Vodou tradition.

Indian Zoroastrian community descended from 8th–10th century Persian refugees. ~50,000 in India today; endogamy disputes are a major intra-community fault line.

South Carolina intentional community founded by Walter Serge King / Oba Efuntola Oseijeman Adefunmi (1970) practising Yoruba traditional religion.

Broader umbrella for Brazilian Eastern-religion imports — Soka Gakkai Brazil, Seicho-no-Ie, PL Kyodan, Perfect Liberty. Brazil has one of the largest non-Asian memberships of multiple Japanese new religions.

Umbrella for African syncretic religions blending Christianity, Islam, and indigenous traditions.

Umbrella for Caribbean syncretic religions (Obeah, Espiritismo Cruzao, Trinidadian Orisha tradition).

Surinamese Afro-syncretic religion combining West African traditions with European elements.

Historical Jamaican Afro-syncretic religion; precursor to Revival Zion and Pukumina.

Korean Shamanism (Mu) mainstream tradition. Female mudang priestesses; substantial historical and continuing role.

Umbrella for Mexican syncretic folk religion — Curanderismo healing tradition, Santa Muerte veneration, various local saint cults.

Mexican Santa Muerte (Holy Death) veneration. Among the fastest-growing religious movements in the Americas. Substantial mainstream popular following plus documented presence in narco / cartel contexts.

Cuban diaspora variant of Yoruba Traditional Religion. Distinctive orisha worship, animal sacrifice, and substantial financial commitment for full initiation. Mostly low-control with some moderate patterns.

Brazilian diaspora variant of Yoruba Traditional Religion. Distinctive orixá worship in terreiros (community houses). Mostly low-control mainstream tradition.

Haitian syncretic religion blending West African (Fon, Yoruba, Kongo) traditions with Catholic iconography. Distinctive lwa veneration and houngan/mambo priesthood. Mostly low-control mainstream tradition.

Intentional community in Findhorn, Scotland (founded 1962). Foundational New Age centre with substantial educational and ecological programmes. Voluntary participation; low control. Notable historical incidents include the 2021 financial crisis and the closure of the Universal Hall.

Mainstream Yoruba Traditional Religion / Ifá and its diaspora variants (Santería in Cuba, Candomblé in Brazil) are low-control reference points for African Traditional Religion.

Mainstream online support communities for people leaving high-control evangelical contexts (Exvangelical podcast, The Bible for Normal People, etc.).

Mainstream peer-support community for ex-LDS Mormons. Reddit r/exmormon (1+ million members), Mormon Stories podcast, multiple support orgs.

Umbrella for broader religious-exit online support communities (r/exjw, r/exmuslim, r/exchristian, r/exscientology, etc.).

Okinawan / Ryukyuan indigenous religion centred on utaki sacred sites and noro priestesses. Mainstream low-control voluntary tradition.

Diverse Aboriginal Australian Indigenous spiritual traditions. Distinct nation-by-nation traditions across 250+ language groups.

Māori Indigenous spiritual traditions of Aotearoa / New Zealand. Distinctive iwi-based traditions across many tribes.

Umbrella entry for the diverse Pacific Islander Indigenous spiritualities (Polynesian, Melanesian, Micronesian beyond Māori).

Umbrella entry for the diverse Native American Indigenous spiritualities across 500+ federally recognised tribes plus many more unrecognised.

Federally recognised Native American Church (incorporated 1918) practising sacramental peyote use. American Indian Religious Freedom Act (1978, amended 1994) protects peyote use.

Modern Nigerian Yoruba Isese / orisha revival movement. Mainstream voluntary tradition.

Chinese folk religion umbrella encompassing ancestor veneration, local deity temples, and ritual traditions. Hundreds of millions of adherents.

Major Chinese folk religion temple network venerating Mazu / Tianhou (sea goddess). Concentrated in coastal China and Taiwan.

Open-membership religious organisation that ordains anyone, online, free of charge. Used principally by people who want to legally officiate weddings without belonging to a traditional denomination. Effectively no doctrinal or behavioural demands.

Liberal religious tradition (1961 merger of Unitarian and Universalist denominations). Among the lowest-control religious organisations globally. No required doctrine.

Secular humanist religious organisation founded by Felix Adler (1876). Very low-control reference.

Mainstream secular Humanist organisations — American Humanist Association (1941), Humanists UK (1896 as Ethical Society). Very low-control reference.

Mainstream atheist / freethought organisations — Freedom From Religion Foundation, Atheist Alliance International, Center for Inquiry. Very low-control reference.

Cross-reference — see Footsteps in primary recovery resources.

Mainstream academic cult-recovery research community — ICSA, INFORM (LSE), CESNUR, plus various university-based research programmes.

Mainstream cult-aware therapist network — ICSA directory of licensed mental-health professionals with specific cult-recovery training.

UK-based mainstream cult-recovery education charity. Educates on coercive control across high-control groups and abusive relationships.