Michael Woroniecki
An independent, non-denominational Christian missionary known for his global street preaching and radical teachings.
Jehovah Wanyonyi
A Kenyan self-proclaimed deity whose mysterious life and death captivated followers and skeptics alike.
West Memphis Three
A controversial case in which three teenagers were wrongfully convicted of murder, sparking widespread accusations of Satanic ritual abuse.
Wolves of Vinland
A controversial Norse neopagan group embracing a blend of mythology and identity politics.
Yiguandao
A syncretic salvationist Chinese faith blending elements from major world religions with a focus on universal salvation.
Water of Life Ministries (Doyle Davidson)
A controversial church led by a self-proclaimed apostle, accused of cult-like behavior.
Word of Life Christian Church (Chadwicks, NY)
A church in upstate New York that transformed into a cult, culminating in a tragic and fatal incident.
Marcus Wesson
An incestuous patriarch who formed his own cult, intertwining bizarre religious beliefs with extreme abuse and control.
Yogaville
A spiritual community in Virginia, surrounded by controversy and allegations against its founder.
Yogmaya Neupane
A pioneering feminist and social reformer in Nepal who led a mass movement against social injustices and eventually committed a ritualistic mass suicide with her followers.
Word of Faith Movement
A controversial Christian movement advocating prosperity, health, and the power of positive confession.
WKFL (Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith and Love) Fountain of the World
A once-thriving religious group known for its communal living, humanitarian efforts, and a dramatic end in a suicide bombing.
White Brotherhood (Ukraine)
An apocalyptic cult from Ukraine, notorious for its dramatic end-of-the-world predictions and extreme practices.
Westcity Bible Baptist Church (Logan Robertson)
A controversial independent Baptist church in New Zealand, known for its extreme views and actions under the leadership of Pastor Logan Robertson.
Valesians
A 2nd-century Christian sect known for their extreme practice of self-castration.
Weigelians
A mystical 16th-century sect influenced by Valentin Weigel's philosophical and theological ideas.
Zwijndrechtse Nieuwlichters
A Dutch Protestant sect of the early 19th century, known for its communal living, pacifism, and rejection of civil government.
Zionites (Germany)
An 18th-century religious sect, marked by apocalyptic visions and a departure from Christian morality.
Zionist Churches
A blend of Christianity and African traditions that emphasizes faith-healing, prophecy, and autonomy from mainstream denominations.
Vale do Amanhecer
A Brazilian spiritualist community known for its unique blend of Christianity, Spiritism, and indigenous beliefs.
Worldwide Church of God
A religious movement originally known for its unique doctrines and observance of Old Testament practices, undergoing significant theological shifts post-1995.
The Way International
A non-traditional Christian movement known for its unique interpretation of the Bible and emphasis on biblical research and teaching.
Westboro Baptist Church
A controversial religious group known for its extreme views and inflammatory public demonstrations.
Waldensians
A pre-Reformation Christian movement advocating simplicity, poverty, and adherence to the Bible.
Valentinianism
A Gnostic Christian movement, characterized by its intricate theology and cosmology, founded by Valentinus in the 2nd century.