Orphism
A mystical religious movement from ancient Greece, centered on the teachings and myths of the legendary poet Orpheus.
Ophites
A Gnostic sect that honored the Garden of Eden's serpent
New Forest Shakers
A 19th-century religious movement founded by Mary Ann Girling, known for its communal living and unique worship practices.
Megiddo Mission
A small American Restorationist denomination with unique beliefs and practices, distinct from mainstream Christianity.
Order of Christ Sophia
A mystical Christian group emphasizing a balance of feminine and masculine aspects of divinity
Obbenites
A 16th-century Anabaptist group, known for its early contributions to the Mennonite tradition and connections to Menno Simons.
New Israelites
A radical Christian sect in the 1790s Vermont, which might have been the precursor to Mormonism
Nazarenes (4th Century)
A Judeo-Christian sect that maintained Jewish laws and customs while accepting Christ's divinity.
Mentuhui
A controversial Chinese new religious movement, often labeled as a cult, with a tumultuous history and substantial following.
Mauerova Family
A chilling tale of child abuse and manipulation tied to a cult-like group in the Czech Republic.
Maanantaipiiri
A secretive Finnish sect, accused of promoting anorexia and discriminatory attitudes towards women
Little Pebble Dohsyuku-kai
A cult in which the "celibate" leader performs sexual acts with a follower as a sacred ritual
LaPorte Church of Christ
A congregation in Texas and Colorado, known for its strong adherence to scriptural teachings and for its controversial past leadership.
Kapitons
A radical sect of Russian Old Believers, known for their extreme act of self-immolation in response to religious reforms in the 17th century.
Jovinianism
A theological movement from the 4th century, challenging asceticism and advocating for the equality of marriage and celibacy in the Christian faith.
Fedoseevtsy
A dissident religious movement from Imperial Russia, known for its initial opposition to serfdom and rejection of marriage, evolving over time within the Old Believer tradition.
Eva’s Eden
An end-times cat cult believed to harbor divine felines for the apocalypse.
Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church
A distinctive religious movement using cannabis as a sacrament and known for its legal struggles in the pursuit of religious freedom.
Esajas Stiefel
A German theologian and spiritual dissenter known for his controversial views and opposition to established church doctrines in the early 17th century.
Dunkard Brethren
A Conservative Anabaptist denomination characterized by a commitment to simplicity, nonconformity, and the practice of adult baptism.
Cooneyites
A small but tenacious sect, known for their home-based worship and adherence to the original unstructured methods of the early church.
Collyridianism
An obscure early Christian movement that venerated the Virgin Mary in ways that sparked theological controversy and impacted Christian-Muslim dialogue.
Church of Bible Understanding
A controversial evangelical Christian group with a troubled history of alleged cult activities and exploitation.
Path of Truth
A controversial religious group led by Victor Hafichuk, known for its unorthodox interpretations of Christian doctrine and digital presence.
Dami Mission
A South Korean cult whose leader used a false apocalyptic prediction to defraud his followers out of millions of dollars.
Convulsionnaires of Saint-Médard
A fervent 18th-century French religious movement marked by extreme physical convulsions and mystic practices, entwined with political undercurrents.
The Finders
A mysterious group entangled in allegations of child abuse and espionage.
Seventh-Day Adventists
A Christian denomination emphasizing the Sabbath on Saturday and the imminent Second Coming of Christ.
Sherry Shriner
A controversial figure known for her unique blend of Christianity, conspiracy theories, and alien beliefs.
True Russian Orthodox Church
A doomsday cult that isolated themselves in a cave to await the apocalypse, resulting in multiple deaths
Bishop Hill Colony
A 19th-century Swedish communal utopia in Illinois, known for its communal living and unique cultural contributions.
The Body of Christ (Attleboro Sect)
A fundamentalist Christian cult whose rejection of medical care resulted in the death of an infant
The Brethren (Jim Roberts Group)
A highly secretive and nomadic religious group, known for its strict adherence to the teachings of Jesus and an austere lifestyle.
Bruderhof
A Christian communal movement committed to living out the teachings of Jesus Christ in shared community life.
Chen Tao
A UFO cult that believed in salvation through extraterrestrial intervention, but the leader apologized to his followers after making a failed apocalyptic prediction
Agape Ministries
A controversial religious group with apocalyptic beliefs and a tumultuous history.
Cerinthians
An early Christian sect blending Gnostic beliefs with Jewish Christian traditions.
Cainites
A gnostic sect that honored Cain, Judas, and other biblical villains
Catholic Worker Movement
A movement dedicated to social justice through personalism and hospitality, rooted in Catholic teachings and the example of Jesus Christ.
Church of the Most High Goddess
A neo-pagan sect in which the leader had sex with her followers as a sacred ritual
United Church of God (Armstrongism Organization)
A Christian denomination emphasizing the restoration of original Christian teachings and the observance of Old Testament laws.
St. Priapus Church
A church centered around the worship of the penis
Vale do Amanhecer
A Brazilian spiritualist community known for its unique blend of Christianity, Spiritism, and indigenous beliefs.
Assembly of Christian Soldiers
A white supremacist Christian organization founded by members of the KKK
Millennium Manor
A unique architectural project driven by apocalyptic beliefs and survivalism.
Muckers (Johann Heinrich Schönherr)
A dualistic theosophical movement with a tumultuous history involving scandal and legal proceedings.
Narcosatanists
A Satanic cult that conducted grave robberies, human sacrifices, and large-scale drug trafficking
New York Divorce Coercion Gang
A criminal gang or Orthodox Jews, who used kidnapping and violence to force men to sign their divorce papers
Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse
A notable figure of the Reformation, known for his role in establishing Protestantism in Hesse.
Pilgrims Covenant Church (Ralph Ovadal)
A fundamentalist Baptist Church led by a pastor who has been arrested over 100 times for his anti-abortion activities
Santo Daime
A Brazilian spiritual movement centered around folk religions and the ritual use of Ayahuasca
Pillar of Fire International
A Christian denomination with a rich history, known for its educational and missionary work.
Odyssey Study Group
A modern spiritual development group accused of cult-like practices.
Potter’s House Christian Fellowship
A Pentecostal organization with controversial practices
River Road Fellowship
A secluded Christian community led by a sexual predator
Primitive Catholics
A Christian group with distinct practices and beliefs, diverging from mainstream Catholicism.
Bernhard Müller
A religious leader that led a 19th-century utopia, which split from the Harmony Society
Church of the Universe
A Canadian religion promoting nudism and cannabis as a sacrament
Circumcellions
A 4th century sect of suicidal Christians who harassed people in an effort to get themselves killed, believing it would earn them a better place in the afterlife
Concerned Christians
An apocalyptic cult started by a former anti-cult activist
John Burt
A self-described "spiritual advisor" to anti-abortion murderers, who took advantage of troubled teens
Sekta Niebo
An isolated commune in Poland awaiting the end of the world
Sky Kingdom
A Malaysian spiritual commune, led by a self-proclaimed prophet, which taught "all religions are basically the same"
Taqwacore
A Muslim punk subculture and music scene
Federation of Damanhur
An Italian spiritual community known for its artistic expression, eco-sustainability, and the intriguing underground Temples of Humankind.
Thom Miller
A middle-aged polygamous Christian pastor who married a teenager as a second wife
Trickle Creek (Wiebo Ludwig)
A secluded religious group that bombed oil wells that they believed were poisoning the community
Brethren [and Sisters] of the Common Life
A medieval Christian community known for their communal living and influential role in Christian humanism.
Brotherhood of Eternal Love
A utopian countercultural group that valued LSD as a religious sacrament
Brownists
A 16th-century movement in England, advocating for complete separation from the Church of England.
Buchanites
An apocalyptic movement in the 18th century led by a woman who was expected to rise from the grave
Cameronians
A historic Scottish military regiment and religious group known for its fervent Presbyterian beliefs and role in British military history.
Burari Deaths
A family cult that ended with the mysterious ritual suicide of 11 people
The Chicago Rippers (Ripper Crew)
A satanic cult known for brutally murdering and cannibalizing several victims in Chicago
Children of God (The Family International)
An evangelical movement, accused of widespread sexual abuse, that encouraged female members to evangelize through sex with strangers
The Royal Abbey of Our Lady of Fontevraud (Order of Fontevrault)
One of the first mixed-gender monastic communities, founded in the 12th century
Christ’s Sanctified Holy Church (Joseph B. Lynch)
A controversial holiness church that known for their unique practices.
Christian Assemblies International
A conservative Christian church whose pastor reportedly pressured men into non-consensual homosexual acts.
Christian Kabbalah
A unique blend of Christian theology and Jewish mystical traditions
Christian Open Door Church
A dynamic Evangelical Charismatic megachurch in France, known for its expansive growth and humanitarian efforts.
Christian Reconstructionism
A movement advocating for modern societies to be reorganized according to biblical law
Christian Theosophy
A mystical Christian philosophy seeking direct knowledge of divinity and the universe's origins.
Church at Kaweah
A white supremacist church with extremist ties.
Church at Wells
A fundamentalist church accused of cult-like behavior, including drugging and indoctrinating potential converts
Christ Embassy
A global ministry with a vision for world evangelization and strong emphasis on miracle services.
Canons Regular
A religious order characterized by communal living and adherence to the Rule of St. Augustine.
Caodaism
A Vietnamese religion combining elements of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism
Carpocratians
An early Christian sect that believed they must indulge in every sinful act in order to liberate themselves from the cycle of rebirth
Cathars
A medieval Christian dualist movement known for its ascetic practices and opposition to the institutional church.
Centrepoint
A self-empowerment spiritual commune that faced scandals regarding sexual abuse and drug manufacturing
Chalcedon Foundation
An organization seeking to institute Old Testament laws to all aspects of society
Chapel of Russia’s Resurrection
A movement that believes Vladimir Putin is the reincarnation of Paul the Apostle, preparing Russia for the second coming of Christ
Christian Family Fellowship
An offshoot of the Way International, criticized for their heterodox theology
Children of Peace (David Wilson)
A 19th-century Canadian group, known for their music and distinctive architecture.
Black Hebrew Israelites
A diverse movement asserting African Americans' descent from the ancient Israelites.
Bogomilism
A Gnostic Christian sect in the Middle Ages, known for its rejection of the established church and social norms.
Sundari Farm & Gardens
Embarking on a transformative journey of oneness and conscious living in Hawaii
The Hearts Center
A spiritual community embracing global enlightenment through ascended masters.
Devra West
A new age guru with a controversial history of financial misconduct and alleged abuses.
Josiah Mizukami
An infamous figure emerging from a background in entertainment to allegations of predatory behavior.