Asatru means "faith" or "belief in the gods" in Old Norse. The Asatru FAQ says, "Indeed, so long as there are men and women of European descent, it cannot really die because it springs from the soul of our people. Asatru isn't just what we BELIEVE, it's what we ARE.... We believe in an underlying, all-pervading divine energy or essence which is generally hidden from us, and which is beyond our immediate understanding. We further believe that this spiritual reality is interdependent with us - that we affect it, and it affects us. We believe that this underlying divinity expresses itself to us in the forms of the Gods and Goddesses. Stories about these deities arelike a sort of code, the mysterious "language" through which the divine reality speaks to us. We believe in standards of behavior which are consistent with these spiritual truths and harmonious with our deepest being."

Atheism "1.It's Free! Never pay a dime for your disbelief!
2.There's no governing body! No one to tell you how to be an atheist!
3.There's no leader! Just like the real world, which has no god!
4.It's fun! Being an atheist is fun! Identifying yourself as an atheist is even funner!
5.It identifies yourself for what you are, an atheist, and proud of it, damn it!"

Baha'i "Bahá'u'lláh's message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society. God, Bahá'u'lláh said, has set in motion historical forces that are breaking down traditional barriers of race, class, creed, and nation and that will, in time, give birth to a universal civilization. The principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth is to accept the fact of their oneness and to assist the processes of unification."

Buddhism "is a path of teaching and practice. Buddhist practices such as meditation are means of changing oneself in order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness and wisdom. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands of years has created an incomparable resource for all those who wish to follow the path of spiritual development. Ultimately, the Buddhist path culminates in Enlightenment or Buddhahood."

Caodaism "Dao Cao Dai (Caodaism in English) is the third largest religion in Viet Nam (after Buddhism and Roman Catholicism). "Cao" means "high"; "Dai" means "palace". Caodai refers to the supreme palace where God reigns. The word is also used as God's symbolic name. Caodaism is a syncretistic religion which combines elements from many of the world's main religions, including Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Taoism,as well as Geniism, an indigenous religion of Viet Nam... Followers of Caodaism believe that God was concerned that the multiplicity of religions prevented people from living together in harmony. God decided to initiate a third revelation, in which he communicated Caodaism by spiritist means." (From the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, who have tons more info on these religions.)

The Covenant of the Goddess "was founded in 1975 to increase cooperation among Witches and to secure for Witches and covens the legal protection enjoyed by members of other religions." It is a Wiccan church stretching across North America, Europe, and Australia.

Discordianism "Discordianism, also known as Erisianism, is an ancient irreligion, dating back to the Cthulhuvian epoch and High Atlantis, and concealing among its tenets the secrets of the cosmos and the guiding principles of all creation. Modern-day Discordianism arose following a supernatural visitation in a bowling alley in California. Among other things, Discordianism has its own calendar, holydays and saints. For more information, consult your pineal gland, and then consult the Principia Discordia. Or not." Also see The Heretic Order of the Golden Apple.

Druidism "The Druids taught reincarnation, and the omnipresence of a spiritual Otherworld, that issometimes accessible to us, and particularly close at certain times of the year, like at Samhain.... Druidic philosophy points to knowledge as the key to self awareness, else certain mythological holy-places of greatest import would not be associated with wisdom, ex. the Well of Wisdom (auspiciously located at the center of the world), the Spiral of Annwyn, the Cauldron of Cerridwen, and the 4 Wise Men of the 4 Cities in the North....The Druidic pursuit of knowledge would seem to suggest that ethical action is action that brings you closer to Wisdom. I would not seek to define wisdom at this point in the manner that the Celts may have known it, yet here the correlation between druidic wisdom and Eastern mysticism is striking; one considers the Buddhist Eightfold Path as a perscription of right actions designedto bring one closer to Nirvana. Wisdom becomes a kind of knowledge above ordinary knowledge (like facts), a form of total-awareness, or even a state of mind."

Hinduism "Unlike the other religions of the world, Hinduism did not originate with any single prophet or at a particular period of human history. Its uniqueness lies in its being based on the super conscious experiences and spiritual realizations of a galaxy of saints, sages and seers, each of whom could claim prophethood. Built on such a firm foundation of spiritual experiences which are verifiable, the Hindu religious tradition has been flowing continuously like the river Ganga for several millennia. That is why it has been designated as Sanatana dharma."

In Judaism, actions are far more important than beliefs, although there is certainly a place for belief within Judaism... Unlike many other religions, Judaism does not focus much on abstract cosmological concepts... Judaism focuses on relationships: the relationship between G-d and mankind, between G-d and the Jewish nation, between the Jewish nation and the land of Israel, and between human beings." classes on Jewish holidays (Note that Judaism is not a pagan religion.)

Kemetic Orthodoxy "is a term created by House of Netjer founder and Chief Priest Rev. Tamara Siuda (aus) to describe the actual, not reinvented, theology of Kemet, or ancient Egypt, as practiced by the House of Netjer. It is derived from the word for ancient Egypt in its own language ('Kemet'), adding the English suffix '-ic' for 'of' or 'pertaining to,' and the word 'orthodox,' meaning 'conforming to established doctrine; conventional; conservative.' (Definitions courtesy Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary).... Kemetic Orthodoxy is monolatrous. As in Hinduism, another monolatrous system, we believe in one Deity, ('Netjer' in the ancient language), expressed in our reality in a myriad of Names or forms. Each is worshipped singly, and one set of rites is used for all Names of Netjer, considered to be the Self-Created One when worshipped.... Ma'at [world order... associated with truth, justice, and 'what is right'] is not self-dependent; it must be maintained through acts of ritual and right living. This 'personal piety' is a characteristic of other faiths, most of which are Eastern in origin, and further distinguishes Kemetic Orthodoxy from revealed faiths, in that the responsibility for communion with Deity is on the shoulders of humans, who must approach Deity, rather than the other way around. An offshoot of this philosophy is that there is no discernible difference between 'sacred' and 'secular' reality as there is within some other religious philosophies, as everything is done according to Ma'at and in the presence of Netjer.

Krishna Consciousness "We are eternal, the soul never dies. At the time of death we are placed in the womb of our next mother according to our consciousness. There are 8,400,000 species of life all designed in such a way so we can enjoy something or suffer in some way. So it depends on what you are thinking of at the time of death, what your consciousness is at the time of death. If you are in human consciousness you get another human body, if you are in animal consciousness you get an animals body, if you have lived a sinful life you go to hellish planet, if you have been very good you go to a heavenly planet (heaven and hell are not eternal, you are born and die in heavenly and hellish planets - just like on Earth), but if you are Krishna conscious then you go back home, back to Godhead, the you can see Krishna, hear Krishna and play with Krishna... That is the highest perfection."

Neo-Pagans "hold a reverence for the Earth and all its creatures, generally see all life as interconnected, and tend to strive to attune one's self to the manifestation of this belief as seen in the cycles of nature. Pagans are polytheistic (believing in more than one god) and they usually believe in immanance, or the concept of divinity resting in all things."

OrishaNet is a site for La Regla Lucumí, also known as Santería, a religionoriginating with the Yoruba and incorporating elements of Catholicism. Their site explains, "The traditions of Santería are fiercely preserved and full knowledge of the rites, songs, and language are prerequisites to any deep involvement in the religion. Initiates must follow a strict regimen and are answerable to Olorun and the orishas for their actions. As a person passes through each initiation in the tradition, this knowledge deepens and their abilities and responsibilities grow accordingly....La Santería is famous for its 'magic'. This magic is based on a knowledge of the mysteries or orishas and how to interact with them to better our lives and the lives of those who come to us for the aid of the orishas. We live under the premise that this world is a magical one. This knowledge seems'supernatural' only to those who don't understand it, but it really is quite natural." ¡Santería en Espanol!

Satanism "There is no one set of beliefs that comprise Satanism....There are several European groups, most of them consisting of small "covens" of several people, that are or could be considered Satanists. Two of the larger of these groups are The Fraternity of Baelder and the Order of Nine Angles (ONA). These groups allegedly have longer traditions, and "more authentic" origins (whatever that might mean). ONA is especially fond of calling itself the "traditional Satanists."... 2. Churches of Satan: are patterned after the teachings of Anton LaVey. These groups believe in individualism, gratification of the ego, self-reliance and the ideal of the Nietzchean Superman. These groups use Magick as a tool for earthly power. They see Satan as the driving force behind achievment in mankind. ...Gnostics: can be divided into two major categories: 3a. Promethian Gnostics: Believe in a literal "Satan", but believe that the creator of the world (Jehovah) is the evil deity. Satan is seen as the "bringer of light"; a beneficient god. This is an old "heresy" seen in groups such as the Yezidis or the Ophites. 3b. Dark Gnostics: Worship the dark force in nature. These groupsfollow the whims of a capricious god, which most westerners wouldsee as being "evil." There are a few historical christian heresieswhich would fall into this category. Kali worshippers could also be categorized here."

Voudoun is related to La Regla Lucumí through their common root in Yoruban religions. It has more than 50,000,000 followers worldwide. The La Garra Negra page says that "one of the most important concepts in Voodoo and other African based traditions is the reverence for ancestor spirits. To many Westerners this is an alien concept. Voodoo practitioners, however, believe that all of those who have come before you are important spirits and are worthy of tribute."

Wicca/Witchcraft "is an ancient, Pagan pre-Christian religion, centering around the worship of a Goddess and a God. It is primarily an earth religion, and Witches are very concerned with the environment. We believe that every living thing is an aspect of our Earth Goddess, and is to be treated with respect. We believe in reincarnation, in the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. We have no concepts of "sin," "Heaven" or "hell." We believe that each Witch carries the responsibility to make his or her life fruitful and happy, and to give that happiness back to the world by doing good wherever possible. Witchcraft is a legal religion, protected under the First and Fifth Amendments, and our Priests and Priestesses may conduct legal marriages, funerals and prison and hospital visits."

Zippies are "'Zen-inspired professional pagans.' Under the umbrella of its 'pronoiac' philosophy (the nagging suspicion that someone is conspiring to help you), the Zippies brought together a unique and unlikely mélange of New Age travellers, cyberpunks, crusties, smart drug takers, pagan spiritual, hippies, and free-floating entrepreneurs." HotWired tells us that "The pagan roots revival that the travellers brought to the zippie movement is fundamentally at odds with the government's insistence on Judeo-Christian pub culture and 11 p.m. bedtimes, no matter how hard the police crack down. Interest in the New Age is more than passive; it's rooted in a darker, indigenous Celtic/Nordic shamanism revival that has become increasingly politicized.... Zippies are not a cult and have no uniform by which one can recognize them. In the clubs, on the street, or at the festival, anything goes as long as it's you - and what's that?"

In Zoroastrianism, or the Mazdayasni Zarathushtri religion, "What is Good, and what is evil, is explained in another ancient and holy scripture - the VI-DAEVO-DAT, later called the Vendidad, meaning "Against-evil-given" ie. the Law that was given against evil. In it, Ahura Mazda reveals to Zarathushtra the various actions prohibited in our religion, and the actions welcomed. Marriage is enjoined very strongly in the Vendidad - the earth becomes most happy when the righteous MazdaYasni builds on it a house, marries and produces beautiful children, and worships the Holy Fire in the house, living with the dogs, cattle, goats and roosters of the household (all of the Good Creation - unlike snakes, and cats, which are of the brood of the evil one). The SUDREH-KUSTI is to be worn at all times, on the direct commandment of God." There are even Zoroastrian dating services online.

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