Other Beliefs

A Year of Pagan Sabbat Rituals

As the Wheel of the Year turns and the eight NeoPagan Sabbats pass by, many people like to celebrate with special ceremonies and rituals.

Quimbanda Religion: History and Beliefs

One of the African diasporic religious belief systems, Quimbanda is found primarily in Brazil, and originated during the period of the transatlantic slave trade.

Children of God: History and Teachings of the Notorious Cult

Children of God, now known as The Family International, is still active today.

Moon Phases and Magical Workings

For many Pagans, the cycles of the moon are important to magical workings.

Alchemical Sulfur, Mercury and Salt in Western Occultism

Western occultism (and, indeed, pre-modern Western science) is strongly focused on a system of four of five elements

Hanoi: authorities crack down on the spread of the 'Church of Jesus'

According to local police, the group is 'evil' and is operating in several locations without consent.

Pagans, Death and the Afterlife

For many modern Pagans, there is a somewhat different philosophy on death and dying than what is seen in the non-Pagan community.

What's the Difference Between Religion and Spirituality?

One popular idea is that there exists a distinction between two different modes of relating with the divine or the sacred: religion and spirituality.

11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesse

The curation of this content is at the discretion of the author, and not necessarily reflective of the views of Encyclopaedia Britannica or its editorial staff.

Who Are Jesus People USA (JPUSA)?

Jesus People USA, a Christian community founded in 1972, is an Evangelical Covenant church on the north side of Chicago, Illinois. About 500 people live together at one address, pooling their resources in an attempt to imitate the first-century church described in the book of Acts.

The 8 Most Important Voodoo Gods

The loa, or major divine beings of Voodoo, or Vodun, are spirits who serve as intermediaries between man and Bondye, the supreme Voodoo god. The loa, or lwa, appear in different families, including the Ghede, Petro, and Radha.

Sami People: Religion, Beliefs, and Deities

The Sámi people of Norway, Sweden, and Finland have a rich spiritual history that reflects their culture and traditional ways of life. From reindeer herding to animism, the Sámi have found ways to maintain their ancient culture and religious beliefs despite the ever-changing world around them.

Is Astrology a Pseudoscience?

If astrology is not really a science, then is it possible to classify it as a form of pseudoscience? Most skeptics will readily agree with that classification, but only by examining astrology in light of some basic characteristics of science can we decide if such a judgment is warranted.

Basic Concepts of Wicca

There's an old saying that if you ask any ten Wiccans about their spiritual beliefs, you'll get at least fifteen different answers. That's not far from the truth, because with hundreds of thousands of Americans practicing Wicca today (and the actual numbers remain unclear), there are thousands of different Wiccan groups in existence.

How Many Religions Are There in the World?

Pinpointing precisely how many religions there are in the world today is next to impossible, although some estimate the number exceeds four thousand. The vast majority of those faiths are contained within a handful of major religious groups.

The Story of Pele, Hawaiian Volcano Goddess

Pele is the goddess of fire, lighting, and volcanoes in Hawaiian indigenous religion. She is sometimes called Madame Pele, Tutu (Grandmother) Pele, or Ka wahine ʻai honua, the earth-eating woman. According to Hawaiian legend, Pele is the creator of the Hawaiian Islands.

The Basics of Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is arguably the world’s oldest monotheistic religion. It centers on the words of the prophet Zarathushtra, called Zoroaster by the ancient Greeks, and focuses worship upon Ahura Mazda, the Lord of Wisdom.

Is Scientology a Cult?

Scientology was created in 1952 by the charismatic leader and science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. It has been designated a religion by the United States and the UK governments for tax purposes. But it has also been called an 'anti-constitutional sect' in Germany and a 'dangerous cult' in France and in many parts of the United States.