Satanism - worshippers of Satan
Religion can be understood largely as an attempt of a group of individuals to understand Existential questions based on a set of cultural practices specific to that group.
Sometimes these practices may not seemingly conform to our normal expectations from a 'religion'.
Worshippers of Satan can broadly be categorised as spiritualists for whom Satan is an actual deity and atheists for whom Satan is a figure symbolising crisis of faith, individualism and free will. Certain sects are notorious for their activities. Like the 'Beasts of Satan' committed murders in Italy between 1998-2004.
Church of Euthanasia - rising against the evil of exponential population growth
The 'Order of Nine Angels' affirmed human sacrifice (1960s). The public practice began with the establishment of the Church of Satan in 1966.
The constant increase in human population and a simultaneous decrease in morals and values led to the birth of this church whose sole commandment is " Thous shalt not procreate ".
Rastafarianism - voice against oppressive colonialism
It identifies itself with slogans like " Eat a Queer Fetus for Jesus"
The Rastafari believe that the Ethiopian King Haile Selassie is the God of All.
Raëlism - believe that an extraterrestrial species is responsible for the genesis of humans.
The aim of the religious movement is to restore pride in African identity which suffered because of the forces of colonialism.
Claude Vorilhon formed the religion in 1974 as a U.F.O. religion.
Iglesia Maradoniana - pray to the legend of football, Maradona
Raëlians believe that a humanoid species of extraterrestrials, Elohim are responsible for the genesis of the human race. They believe that the Elohim misinformed humans that they were angels and that Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed and others are Prophets of Elohim.
Diego Maradona is a legend to say the least. His fans started a religion for him in the year 1998 and has more than a million followers in more than sixty countries.
The Body of Christ - Belief in God's will
The supporters of the Maradonian Church count the years since the football legend Maradona's birth in 1960.
This group denounces the 'seven systems of mainstream society which include education, government, banking and religion. In 2002, the pastor of The Body of Christ sect and his wife were charged with murder along with her husband for starving their child.
Aum Shinrikyo - belief that only followers will survive the nuclear Armageddon
This pseudo-Christian cult believes in the power of faith healing.
Founded by Shoko Asahara in Japan (1984) who claimed to be "the lamb of God".
Scientology - answering questions of religion through science
He claimed that he could cleanse his followers of all sins and help them survive the End of the world-a nuclear Armageddon of which the USA would be the harbinger.
The Church of Scientology was established in 1954 by Ron Hubbard. The religion makes an attempt to restore the balance between Man’s knowledge of himself and Man’s knowledge of physical sciences which was disrupted because of the advancement in science in the 20 th century.
Christian Science Church - Belief in the healing powers of faith
Scientology treats man as a spiritual being.
Founded in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy. The followers believe that pain does not exist.
Jediism - Believers of the Force
"The only reality of sin, sickness, or death is the awful fact that unrealities seem real to human, erring belief, until God strips off their disguise".
Pastafarianism - Worshippers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
A religion inspired by George Lucas's 'Star Wars', Jediism was founded by Daniel Jones and his brother Barney in 2008.
Frisbeetarianism - Idolize George Carlin
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has only one dogma- No dogma!
Aetherius society - Belief in extraterrestrial intelligence
Frisbeetarianism is the universal belief that when you die your soul goes up onto the roof and stays there for eternity as described by the comedian George Carlin and that "the soul stays stuck up there until someone knocks it down with a long pole and your new life begins".
George King combined U.F.O.
Vampirism - Drinkers of blood
claims with ideas from Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity to develop this religion in the 1950s when he claimed he was approached by an extraterrestrial intelligence called Aetherius.
Though people are mostly skeptic about the identity of Vampirism as a religion, the adherents believe it is. Vampirism is derived largely from the depiction of vampires in popular culture especially Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' (1897).
Cao Dai - believe that Earth is only four spots away from Hell
Vampires can be described as active vampires-who indulge in feeding on blood from a human or an animal and psychic vampires- who indulge in feeding on another person's aura. Sexuality and its representation have a big role to play.
The religion believes that there ar e 36 levels of Heaven. They further believe that of the 72 planets having intelligent life, Level 1 is closest to Heaven while level 72 is closest to Hell with Earth being positioned at level 68.
The symbol of the religion is the left eye of God.