(Originally written February 21, 2007 in Book 14)
Pocket Guide to World Religions
Win Corduan
Chapter 11: New Religions
Introduction
All religions are constantly changing, but religions generally abhor change.
Definition
In order for something to be a "new religion" it must not be old and have the character of religion.
A "New Religion" is a religion that is still working to be recognized as a separate religion.
Aleph (formerly Aum Shinrikyo)
Chizuo Matsumoto (Shoko Asahara) formed a small Japanese group in 1995.
There are somewhere between 1500 - 25000 practitioners of Aleph.
It focuses on finding mystical knowledge through Hindu meditation and Yoga.
Shiva is important to Aleph.
Aleph believes that the world is going to end soon and that the practitioners were to hasten this end's by causing catastrophes.
The 1995 nerve gas attack in a Tokyo subway was carried out by followers of Aleph.
Ahmadiyya Islam
This is an Islamic movement that originated in Pakistan.
It is extremely pacifistic and opposed to all violence, including self-defense.
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1839-1908) was its founder and claimed to be the Islamic Mahdi, the second coming of Christ and the Hindu coming of Krishna.
There are two sects of Ahmadiyya Islam:
1) The Qadiyan group
- Sees Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a prophet equal to Muhammad
2) The Lahore group
- sees Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a reformer of Islam.
The Qadiyan group is exiled from Islam, but the Lahore group is recognized as a valid sect of Islam.
Ahmadiyya Islam actively recruits converts and claims 200 million followers.
Cao Dai
Originated in Vietnam in the 1920's.
Has up to 4 million followers.
It attempted to combine all the best aspects of religion into one practice using Christian, Buddhist and Hindu ideas.
It has become more of a mystical and occult practice that are tangential to its parent religions.
Christian Science
Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1875.
She combined traditional Christianity with Eastern philosophy and psychosomatic healing.
She taught that human illness was caused by the illusion that the material world was real.
Christian Science forbids the use of modern medicine.
Falun Gong (or Falun Dafa)
Li Hongzhi, its founder uses unsophisticated Daoist and Buddhist principles to promote health and material well-being.
Falun Gong claims 100 million followers and is heavily persecuted in the People's Republic of China.
Iskcon (Hare Krishna)
A long-standing movement in Hinduism, Hare Krishna is perceived as a cult.
Caitanya taught devotion to Krishna in the 16th century.
It claims that Krishna is the supreme personal godhead.
It came to the U.S. in 1969 under A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada.
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