LatAm

Mexico-based Christian Restorationist movement founded by Eusebio Joaquín González (1926). Current leader Naasón Joaquín García was convicted in California in 2022 on multiple counts of child sexual abuse and sentenced to 16 years.

Catholic religious congregation founded by Marcial Maciel (1941). Vatican confirmed in 2010 that Maciel sexually abused seminarians and fathered children with multiple women. Major institutional reform followed.

Brazilian neo-Pentecostal mega-church founded in 1998 in São Paulo by Valdemiro Santiago de Oliveira after his split from IURD. Operates 4,500+ branches in Brazil and ~50 countries. The 2020 'miracle COVID-19 bean' incident drew international attention.

Mexican former physician who popularised the inhalation of vapor from the Sonoran Desert toad (Bufo alvarius / Incilius alvarius, 5-MeO-DMT) globally. Multiple in-ceremony participant deaths and Mexican criminal investigations.

Brazilian Pentecostal megachurch founded by Edir Macedo (1977). Owns Brazil's second-largest TV network (Record). Subject of multiple Brazilian money-laundering and tax-fraud investigations over decades.

Umbrella entry for high-control cell-church / G12-style networks. Mainstream G12 (Cesar Castellanos) is moderate; specific high-control sub-networks exhibit shepherding-style discipleship patterns.

Western Karma Kagyu Tibetan Buddhist organisation founded by Danish lama Ole Nydahl (1972). Aligned with the Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje. Documented patterns of cult-of-personality around Nydahl, sexual relationships with students, and political controversies.

Historical Trotskyist sect founded by J. Posadas (1962). Distinctive doctrine combining Trotskyism with UFO contact theories. Small surviving network.

Generic name covers many Mexican Christian denominations. The CLCI applies to specific high-control sub-currents documented in Mexican press, particularly some independent Pentecostal congregations with documented severance and financial-extraction patterns.

Umbrella entry for the diverse set of Western-facing ayahuasca retreat facilitator circles (often Peru, Costa Rica, USA) that exhibit high-control patterns. Distinct from the established Brazilian Santo Daime / UDV churches.

Umbrella entry for high-control Western 5-MeO-DMT facilitator circles (the powerful psychedelic from Bufo alvarius toad secretions). Multiple documented sexual misconduct and severance patterns.

Umbrella entry for documented high-control sub-cells within Latin American Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Specific cases include various house-church cells under individual charismatic leaders.

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

Brazilian Pentecostal church founded by David Miranda (1962). Distinctive strict modesty code (no alcohol, smoking, dancing, jewellery). Substantial Latin American and diaspora presence.

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

Japanese new religion founded in 1930 by Taniguchi Masaharu blending New Thought, Shinto and Buddhist elements. Substantial nationalist political associations under Taniguchi; significant moderation since 1985.

Broader Brazilian neopentecostal boom umbrella. Hundreds of denominations beyond IURD / Assemblies of God. Collectively tens of millions of Brazilian adherents.

Guatemalan evangelical political right. Historical 1982–83 Ríos Montt presidency associated with Ixil genocide; evangelical political involvement continues.

Umbrella for Latin American evangelical denominations beyond Pentecostal mega-denominations.

Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Latin America (originally a 1960s US movement) — mostly low-control with substantial Vatican approval. Specific high-control sub-circles around individual charismatic priests have been documented.

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.

Largest single Brazilian Pentecostal denomination. Estimated 12+ million members. Mainstream Pentecostal low-moderate control.

Broader Latin American Pentecostal boom umbrella beyond Brazil. Mainstream low-moderate control. 200+ million adherents across region.

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.

Brazilian Afro-syncretic religion (1908) blending Spiritism, Candomblé, and Catholic elements. Substantial Brazilian following.

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

Mainstream French / Brazilian mediumship religion founded by Allan Kardec (1857). Substantial Brazilian following (millions). Distinctive doctrine of reincarnation and progressive evolution.

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 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.

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.

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

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

Latin American Catholic base-community movement (Comunidades Eclesiales de Base) emerging from 1960s liberation theology. Mainstream voluntary Catholic tradition.