Alternative Religions' Beliefs
- Neopagan religions include Asatru, Wicca, Druidry, Kemet and others. These religions can be very different from each other in both beliefs and values, but one thing they all have in common is a polytheistic orientation. Neopagans believe in multiple deities rather than the single God of mainstream religions. Neopagan religions also tend to describe themselves as Earth-based, nature-based or tribal. Deities are seen as representing the forces of nature.
- Satanism is completely unrelated to neopaganism, although they are often confused. Most Satanists do not believe that Satan actually exists. Instead, they treat the figure of Satan as a symbol for a life philosophy of self-indulgence and libertinism in opposition to Christian teachings about sin. Some Satanists do worship Satan as a deity in the literal sense, usually seeing him as a figure of liberation. Satanic religions often portray the Christian God as a tyrannical figure and Satan as a noble rebel.
- Afro-Caribbean religions are those religions which developed among slaves in the Caribbean. Because the slaves were exposed to Christianity in the New World, they developed forms of religion that mixed elements of Christianity with traditional African beliefs. These religions include Voodoo, Santeria and Palo Mayombe. The central belief of Voodoo is that there is a single God known as Gran Met or Bondye, but that He is remote from our daily lives. The Lwas or "mysteries" are powerful spirits who can be directly contacted while Gran Met cannot.
- Scientology was founded by a science fiction writer named L. Ron Hubbard. Scientologists believe an alien named Xenu once imprisoned the souls of his enemies on Earth, and these disembodied entities attach themselves to the human mind and cause mental and emotional problems. Scientologists use a type of therapy called auditing in order to remove the negative entities.