Alternative Religions

Discover articles and resources covering non-mainstream world religions, including alternative belief systems, rituals, ethics, and common controversies and misconceptions.

Illustrated symbols of several religions, including the Faravahar, Aquarius, Ourobors, and elemental symbols.
  • Shoko Asahara, the leader of the Aum Shinrikyo cult, addresses adherents in India
    6 Warning Signs of Religious Cults
  • Aum Shinrikyo in India
    Aum Shinrikyo: Doomsday Cult That Attacked the Tokyo Subway System
  • Bhagwan Rajneesh commune
    What Was the Rajneesh Movement?
  • A gathering of Children of God cult members participate in a worship scene with their arms raised.
    Children of God: History and Teachings of the Notorious Cult
  • Symbol of Zoroastrianism, Faravahar, printed on a piece of fabric.
    Faravahar, the Winged Symbol of Zoroastrianism
  • The Wedjat, later called The Eye of Horus
    Eye of Horus: An Ancient Egyptian Symbol
  • Ancient engravings on stone in Newgrange, Ireland
    Ancient Spirals
  • Zoroastrians At Nowruz
    Naw-Ruz - the Baha'i and Zoroastrian New Year
  • Piazza (square) San Marco, Clock Tower detail
    Associating Zodiac Signs With Elements
  • Close up of the seal on the back of a one dollar bill.
    The Eye of Providence
  • Zoroastrians At Nowruz
    Zoroastrian Holidays
  • Church of Scientology Building in Los Angeles
    Is Scientology a Cult?
  • Vietnam, Phu Yen Province, Tuy Hoa, buddhist graveyard
    Swastika Symbolism and History in Eastern Traditions
  • Alchemical Illustration Of Man In Moon
    Alchemy Defined
  • Star of David made from dots, reflected against a bright color gradient background
    The Hexagram's Use in Religion
  • The five elements
    The 5 Elemental Symbols: Fire, Water, Air, Earth, and Spirit
  • Heinrich Himmler Addresses Crowd
    Black Sun Sonnenrad Symbol
  • Ouroboros Image
    Ouroboros
  • Octagram
    What You Should Know About Octagrams: 8-Pointed Stars
  • Hand supporting abstract glow of light and stars
    Planetary Intelligence Sigils of Western Occult Tradition
  • Illustration of the solar system.
    Planetary Seals in the Western Occult Tradition
  • Man Touching Starry Sky.
    Planetary Spirit Sigils
  • Baha'i Faith Symbol and Jewelry Emblem
    Baha'i Faith Symbol Gallery
  • Triquetra
    What Is a Trinity Circle?
  • Pentagrams Meaning
  • Science of Mind Logo
    Logo of Science of Mind
  • Hong Kong. View from directly below an old apartment building in Kowloon.
    The Symbolism of Squares
  • Agwe veve
    Vodoun Symbols for Their Gods
  • Red King and White Queen: the Rosarium Philosophorum
    Marriage of the Red King and White Queen in Alchemy
  • Religious symbolism of geometric shapes
    Geometric Shapes and Their Symbolic Meanings
  • Lens flare on an image of a planet
    Planetary Magical Squares
  • Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph on the wall
    Egyptian Symbol Gallery
  • Rose Cross or Rosy Cross
    The Rosy Cross or Rose Cross
  • Baphomet - The Goat of Mendes
    Occult Symbols
  • Detail of Sculpture at Temple of Ramesses III
    The Ankh: Ancient Symbol of Life
  • Portrait of Rael holding his own book.
    Are the Raelians A Dangerous Cult?
  • Various pentagram designs, Enneagram, Decagram, Endekagram, and Dodekagram
    Complicated Polygons and Stars
  • Old Coptic cross illustration
    What Is a Coptic Cross?
  • Claude Vorilhon's (aka, Rael) standing in front of a Raelian building.
    Raelian Symbols
  • John Dee
    Sigillum Dei Aemeth
  • Rune Geometry Sacred
    What Does Squaring the Circle Mean?
  • Alchemical flower
    Alchemical Sulfur, Mercury and Salt in Western Occultism
  • sacred geometry
    As Above, So Below: Occult Phrase Meaning and Origin
  • Spotlight Falling On Magician Hands
    White Magic and Black Magic
  • Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie
    Haile Selassie Biography: Ethiopian Emperor and Rastafari Messiah
  • Man Performing Voodoo Dance in New Orleans, Louisiana
    Syncretism - What Is Syncretism?
  • Santeria sacrifice
    Ebbos in Santeria - Sacrifices and Offerings
  • Ramadan in the Quran
    Fasting in Religion
  • Hoodoo Practitioners of New Orleans sitting with their runes.
    Folk Magic
  • Star Wars Fans Train As Jedis In Lightsaber Class In San Francisco
    The Jedi Code's Four Truths
  • Evangelical Ex-Mormon proselytizing.
    Religious Proselytizing
  • They share a strong faith
    6 Belief Types Used in the World's Religions
  • Close-Up Of Freemasons Ring On Table
    Freemasonry, Religion and the Occult
  • 459292621.jpg
    What Cult Suicides Are and Why They Happen
  • Silhouette Man Levitating Above Grass Against Sky
    Occultism: Western Occult Tradition
  • The Demon as the embodiment of a dualistic world. Drawing by Eliphas Lévi
    Deciphering Eliphas Levi's Baphomet: The Goat of Mendes
  • Revelation of Bismillah
    Revealed Religion
  • Alchemical symbol representing the transmutation of base metal into silver and gold, 1652.
    Magnum Opus: the Great Work
  • Tarot Cards
    How Do Tarot Cards and Readings Work?
  • Sigil of Rebis known as Theoria Philosophiae Hermeticae
    Rebis: the Result of the Great Work in Alchemy
  • Haile Selassie Arrives In Kingston Jamaica
    The Beliefs and Practices of Rastafari
    • More In: Alternative Religions
    View more