Think Scientology is out there? Wait until you read about these new belief systems.
New religions are looking for you / Photo: mrmanc
Recently at BNT, Chris Wary wrote about six religions virtually unknown in the West.
But have you heard about these three new “religions” (in quotes because they do not necessarily deem themselves this way) starting to thrive in the West?
Although these new systems of belief have an eastern feel to them, they all have a decidedly western approach.
For some, the reality of the dollar signs involved may be a turn off, but to others that is just the way that religion has always been done.
Eckhart Tolle’s New “Now”: GATE
According to Kim Masters at The Daily Beast, Eckhart Tolle and Jim Carrey have teamed up to launch a new religion, if you will, called Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment (GATE).
Masters notes that Hollywood Reporter blogger James Hibberd described GATE as “a newly formed outfit of producers and artists with a shared enthusiasm for New Age uplift.” To me, it sounds like a combo of Tolle’s message of being in the present – the “Now” – and the law of attraction.
Carrey seems to be keeping perspective about his role in this new endeavor, joking, “I’m Jim Carrey and I’ve come to free the world from sin,” during his appearance at the first GATE conference. The Ministry of Skepticism, though, doesn’t seem to agree:
This is the kind of thing that might go some way towards Jim Carrey discrediting himself as a credible source of information in the vaccination debate.
In reality, GATE was founded by PR “expert” John Raatz. Thus far they’ve only had one invitation-only meeting, but stars including Carrey, Garry Shandling, Billy Zane and Jackson Browne skipped the Laker’s championship-opener game in order to attend.
Scientology be afraid, be very afraid: Knowledgism
Looks like Knowledgism is an off-shoot of Scientology, as a former “upstat missionholder” of ST, Alan C. Walter, developed this knowledge-based entity.
According to Knowledgism.com, this belief system is the “high-tech, high-touch use of knowledge systems, processes and procedures to optimize economies, societies, areas, subjects, objects, groups, and individuals…it is based on win-win accomplishment for all, and includes that which is best from past systems.”
And the Scientologists aren’t happy about it. On the website Gathering Minds, which does not state that it represents Scientology, but suspiciously has a link to “Scientology Public Relations,” has this to say about Knowledgism:
This is a complete perversion of Scientology. Scientology, in it’s actual form, is designed to free spiritual beings, not congeal them into masses. Scientology, in it’s actual form, is designed to allow one’s self to become spiritually free, not to embrace physicality.
The Knowledgism website certainly contains a plethora of information, if you are interested in learning more.
Buddhism Billions: Soka Gakkai
According to NPR, Soka Gakkai “was brought to the United States by Japanese war brides, and in the 1960s, it caught on with hippies.”
Photo: andymangold / Feature pic: dno1967
Based on Buddhism, Soka Gakkai developed from the teachings of Nichiren, a 13th century Buddhist reformer.
His teachings are based on the Lotus Sutra, which essentially states that all people possess the Buddha nature and therefore can live life in a state of freedom.
The Soka Gakkai International (SGI) website states that the organization has 12 million members worldwide, and NPR says there are more than 300,000 in the US alone, mostly middle class, yet stem from many ethnic groups.
But, of course, there is a bit of scandal not mentioned on the SGI site. The leader, Daisaku Ikeda, is a Japanese businessman who has been accused of “heavy-handed” fund-raising (the group has $100 billion in assets), along with intimidating its detractors and trying to “grab” political power. A former member airs out some of his grips here.
Religious Realities
The thing about new religions, or spiritual systems in general, is that they often build on past systems. In a way, it is a bit like science, taking the knowledge we’ve previously gained and refining it, maybe collaborating with other known discoveries.
Even “historic” religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam built upon, or borrowed beliefs, rituals, and holidays from, religions that came before.
And no matter what, there is always some controversy, so take it all with a grain of salt.
What do you think about these new “religions”? Share your thoughts below.
About the Author
More By This Author
- Thanks for a Great First Year (14 comments)
- The Internet Brain: Our Most Hopeful Approach to Cultural Harmony? (3 comments)
- 'Fare Thee Well': A Mindful Approach to Saying Goodbye (6 comments)
Related Posts
12 Comments... join the discussion!
-
-
Colin, thanks for the tip on Anonymous. Here’s their website: http://www.religionanonymous.net/.
Any more out there?
↵ -
I’d be careful about using phrases like “the group known as Anonymous”. I’ve been posting anonymously on 4chan for years and the only reason that the hundreds/thousands of people who frequent the site are now being seen as an organisation is due to some misinformed Fox News releases and easily led youtubers.
↵ -
I can’t believe you forgot to include the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster ( http://www.venganza.org ). There’s millions or maybe even thousands of FSM believers.
↵ -
What I want to know is why does a travel site run so many religion articles? I can understand that religion is a big part of culture which is a big part of travel, but this is another article that doesn’t even attempt to tie religion to travel.
↵ -
Ross, the description of this site sums it up better than I can:
http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/about/
Incorporating original content and previously published articles from guest authors, BNT avoids “destination-specific” narratives and instead focuses on topics like philosophy, health, politics and culture…writing about stuff that matters: how to travel the world, respect other cultures, and discover the many paths to being a global citizen.↵ -
Yeah, Church of the FSM!
Awesome article…it always comes back to money, doesn’t it?
↵ -
Great article! The Legiao da Boa Vontade (League of Good Will) is another one, a new age church founded by a radio broadcaster in Brasilia. Their temple is pretty sweet too. http://www.lbv.org.br
↵ -
Cheers for the article Christine.
A record more than 35,000 people at Stonehenge for the solstice yesterday, so maybe the UK is going back to our roots, and away from all the fads and money-making schemes.
↵ -
My best friend, who is an active member of Soka Gakkai Malaysia, told me before that she has seen Buddhists and Hindus in the organization too. According to her, and like what Christine mentioned, Soka Gakkai is not always regarded as a religion. It’s more like a cultural institution. She’s not a very religious person, but she’s involved in many of the organization’s cultural activities (such as performances).
↵ -
I’d like to clarify the following: “…but suspiciously has a link to “Scientology Public Relations…”
The actual link is: Scienotology Public Relations (more info at gathering-minds.net/aboutpublicrelations)
The slight difference in spelling is a play on the word ‘Scientology’ and comes from a series of postings that I did in 1999 to the newsgroup alt.religion.scientology when the so-called ‘official’ Scientology PR department began posting there. In the above link you can also read this line: “Truth is where you find it, not where it is said to be found.” It’s interesting to note that Mr. Walter actually used that line in his signature for a time – and I say that knowing full well of the dark side that some so-called ’spiritual’ practices embrace.
↵ -
Hey there, I just wanted to say that as someone who has been exposed to knowledgism, never a part of scientology, and the only other formal literacy training being the public education system, it has been extremely beneficial. I am not sure the environment of dallas ranch these days, and have never been there. But from the one course that I took ten years ago at a friends house, I have always been different and better off to handle life
One thing to realize here, is that truth is truth, no matter where you hear it, and in what language. A lot of the knowledgism data stems from roman great leaders and thinkers from past. Cicero, edison, to name a couple. They have a book on the site, ” secrets to increasing your power wealth and happiness for around $50 the last time I checked. This really covers all the tech, if you really get what is being communicated in that book. If you are looking for ways to solve, unsolvable problems, I would give it a try. I could easily spend $50 in one night on long island ice teas:). Oh, also, never let a cult dominate you. Listen to your intuition, always question, investigate, and study the world around you. The deism idea’s are complementary to knowledgism, in my opinion. http://www.deism.com
and knowledgism.com↵
