CFAR


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Discernment depends on data. Learn more about controversial and cultic movements challenging Christians on mission fields around the world.


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A
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Agni-Yoga
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Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
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Alamo Christian Ministries
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Aleph
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All-Russia Social Movement for Nationhood and Spiritual Renewal of the Holy Rus’
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Alliance Universelle
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Amended Christadelphians
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Ananda Marga
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Anastasia
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Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC)
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Ancient Hungarian Church
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Ancient Hungarian Taltos Church
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Anthroposophical Society
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Asociación Evangélica de la Misión Israelita del Nuevo Pacto Universal
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Associação Palas Athena
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Associated Bible Students
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Association for Research and Enlightenment
B
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Bahá’í Faith
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Bektashi Order
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Believers International
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BibelCenter
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Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University
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Brotherhood of the Cross and Star
C
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Candomblé
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Cao Dai
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Celestial Church of Christ
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Christ Gospel Churches International
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Christadelphian Bible Mission
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Christian Advent Community
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Christian Research and Fellowship
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Christian Science
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Church of Almighty God (Eastern Lightning)
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Church of God (Restoration)
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Church of God General Conference
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Church of God International
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Church of God, an International Community
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Church of God-PKG
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Church of Isa Masiya
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Church of Perfect Liberty
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Church of Scientology
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Church of St. John the Theologian
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Church of the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness
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Church of World Messianity
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Church Universal and Triumphant
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Cloverdale Bibleway
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Community of Christ (RLDS)
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Community of the Hungarian Religion
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Creciendo en Gracia
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Cultura Racional
D
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David Oyedepo Ministries International (Winners Chapel)
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DEIR
E
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Ecclesia Traditionis Metaphysicae
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Eckankar
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Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations
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Established King
F
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Faith Congregation
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Faith of Unity
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Falun Gong
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Family International
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Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (FWBO)
G
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General Church of the New Jerusalem
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Gnostic Institute of Anthropology
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Good News Mission (Ock Soo Park)
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Grail Message
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Great White Brotherhood
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Grigori Grabovoy
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Gurdjieff Foundation
H
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Happy Science
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Hare Krishna
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Headstone Prophetic Ministry International
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Humanity in Unity
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Hungarian Brahmana Mission
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Hungarian Witches’ Federation
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Hurtak Szeminárium
I
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Iglesia Congregación Mita
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Iglesia La Voz de la Piedra Angular
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Iglesia ni Cristo (1914)
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Igreja Apostólica da Santa Vó Rosa
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Igreja Messiânica do Brasil
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Institute of Divine Metaphysical Research
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Integral Yoga (Sri Chinmoy)
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International Churches of Christ
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Invitation à la Vie
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Ivanovtsy
J
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Jehovah’s Witnesses
K
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Kabbalah Centre
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Kardecism
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Keltic Wiccan Traditionalist Church
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Kimbanguism
L
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Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement for the Propagation of Islam
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Last Testament Church
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Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement
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Lectorium Rosicrucianum
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Legio Maria
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Living Church of God
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Living Hope International Ministries
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Living Stream Ministry
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Luz del Mundo
M
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Maná — Igreja Cristã
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Manmin Central Church
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María Lionza
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Mata Amritanandamayi Math
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Members Church of God International
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Ministry of Repentance and Holiness (Owuor)
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Misión Carismática Internacional (G12)
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Mokichi Okada International Association
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Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
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Mungiki
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Mutundwe Christian Fellowship
N
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Nation of Islam
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New Acropolis
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New Apostolic Church
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New Testament Church
O
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Olga Guz
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Ordre des Chevaliers du Lotus d’Or
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Orthodox Church of Mother of God Derzhavnaya
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Osho (Rajneesh)
P
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Palas Athena
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Palo Mayombe
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Pantholocatholic Traditionalist Church
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Pastoral Bible Institute
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Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch)
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Phaneroo Ministries International
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Philadelphia Church of God
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Por un Mundo Mejor
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Prem Rawat Foundation
Q
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Quimbanda
R
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Racionalismo Cristão
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Radasteya (Institute of Rhythmology)
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Raëlian Church
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Rastafarianism
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Restored Church of God
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Rosicrucian Fellowship
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RUNVira
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Rushel’ Blavo
S
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Sahaja Yoga
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Sathya Sai Baba
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Sathya Sai Baba Társaság, Mo-i
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Science of Identity Foundation (SIF)
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Seicho-No-Ie
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Sekai Kyusei Kyo Izunome (SKKI)
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Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyodan
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Self-Realization Fellowship
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Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement
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Seventh-day Adventist Church
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Shango
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Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony
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Shinji Shumeikai
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Siloismo
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Silva Method
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Sinton
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Smiths Venner
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Sociedade Brasileira de Eubiose
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Soka Gakkai International
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Spirit & Truth Fellowship International
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Spiritual Baptists (Shouters)
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Sserulanda Spiritual Foundation
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Subud
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Sufism Reoriented
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Sukyo Mahikari
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Suprema Orden del Acuarius
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Supreme Master Ching Hai
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Synagogue Church of All Nations
T
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The Way International
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Theosophical Society
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Three Ranks of Servants
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Tradition Family Property (TFP)
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Transcendental Meditation
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True Faith Jehovah’s Witnesses Association
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True Jesus Church
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Tvind
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Twelve Tribes
U
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Umbanda
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Unamended Christadelphians
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Unification Church
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Union of the Believers of the Ukrainian Native Faith
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United Centers for Spiritual Living
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United Church of God
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United Pentecostal Church International
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Unity School of Christianity
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Universal Apostles Fellowship Church of Righteousness (UAFCR)
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Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
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Universal Pentecostal Church
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Universal White Brotherhood
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Universelles Leben
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Urantia Association International
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Urantia Book Fellowship
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Urantia Foundation
V
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Voice of God Recordings (Branham)
W
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White Eagle Lodge
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White Lotus
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Wilderness Narrow Door
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World Mission Society Church of God
Z
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Zhong Gong


Desteo Bisaka



Faith of Unity


Faith of Unity


Itambiro ly’Omukama Ruhanga Owamahe Goona Ery’Obumu (Runyoro for "Association for the Healing Place of God of All Armies"), abaikiriza, obumu, "Holy Quaternity Movement"


Desteo Bisaka (a.k.a. "Omukama Ruhanga Owobusobozi Bisaka"—Owobusobozi is Runyoro for “Almighty one”) (1930-2021); his names and title are rendered in various ways, such as "Dosteo," "Bishaka," and "Owobushobozi"; also informally as "O.R.O.B." for short


Omukwenda Akugizibwe Bisaka (as of March 27, 2021)


Western Uganda (February 1980)


Kapyemi, Muhorro Town Council, Kagadi District, Uganda


Owobusobozi Bisaka Itambiro Modern Secondary School


The Book of God of the Age of Oneness—We Are One in the Lord God of Hosts—Disunity Has Ended (English version—1987)


Bisaka claimed to be almighty God in the flesh, and his "Book of God" teaches that he is, in effect the third person in a kind of non-Christian Trinity. Although Bisaka was once an influential lay Catholic leader, FoU is harsh in its condemnation of Christianity. Bisaka has been inconsistent in his comments about Jesus, making statements like “Jesus was a white man and a liar as well,” and “Jesus never existed.” The movement’s guiding principle is unity, whereas the Bible is said to be a "myth" and “a source of disunity.” Bisaka’s "Book of God" claims that “the evil spirits…caused their words to be written in [the Bible], which words cause [the Bible] to bring conflicts among people.” Hence, “In order to unite people into one flock under one shepherd, the Lord God of Hosts will first do away with the Bible, and then give them His new words which they will use in the Third Age” (p20). On at least one occasion Bisaka encouraged his followers to collect and burn Bibles. FoU rejects a variety of practices that it condemns as harmful foreign influences. Monogamy is rejected as reflecting western values rooted in Christianity, while polygamy is both accepted and encouraged; in fact, Bisaka has taught that men may have as many wives as they can support. The FoU actively combats witchcraft and cannibalism, with Bisaka portrayed as having extraordinary power to disarm evil spirits and heal the afflictions they bring.


A February 1, 2021 news report in the online Kampala Post states that "Following his death, the current leadership of the Unity faith says their founder Owobusobozi Bisaka will not be buried. Instead, his body will be treated and then kept in a special house in the compound in Kagadi, for future viewing. The revelation came during a special prayer session to pay tribute to the late Bisaka." According to the February 2, 2021 issue of Bukedde (in Luganda), "There has arisen a serious disagreement in the family of the late Bisaka, arising from the sharing of his property. Bisaka left behind property worth billions and billions of [shillings], including a school and land titles." The cult was banned by the Ugandan government from 1988 to 1995, after which it developed unusually close relations with President Museveni. In September of 2019, Bisaka’s son Biijabyonka Bisaka died, reportedly causing at least 780 FoU members to defect. (In November of 2009, 821 FoU followers publicly rejected the cult in favor of Anglicanism.) In November of 2020, a group of Bisaka’s followers "stormed [the] Semwema cultural site [belonging to the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom] and destroyed cultural artifacts that have been preserved for years."


At least one report has claimed that there are 3,000 congregations in Uganda alone.


According to a July 2014 claim in the Daily Monitor newspaper (Uganda), "Faith of Unity has a 5 million strong following with over 1000 places of worship in Uganda, Congo, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda." A June 2014 report in the same newspaper states that “It has 1,239 branches spread across Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, South Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania, according to Owobusobozi.” One religion scholar estimates FoU followers at between 5 and 7 million.


Burundi, Canada, Congo (Democratic Republic), Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda


Runyoro, English, Luganda


Fulgencio Kayiso. The Origin and Impact of the Faith of Unity on People in Kibaale District (Centre for African Christian Studies - 2007)
Heike Behrend. Resurrecting Cannibals: The Catholic Church - Witch-hunts - and the Production of Pagans in Western Uganda (Boydell and Brewer Ltd - 2011)
Asonzeh Ukah. “Healing Humankind and Ritual Entrepreneurialism: The Faith of Unity Religion in Uganda" in Law
Religion and Human Flourishing in Africa. M. Christian Green - ed. (AFRICAN SUN MeDIA - 2019)


www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/98054
www.observer.ug/news/headlines/68293-god-bisaka-s-body-embalmed-for-future-viewing
www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/owobusobozi-bisaka-s-body-preserved-for-future-viewing--3275622
www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/owobusobozi-bisaka-s-death-finally-confirmed-3267192 www.ugandaradionetwork.net/story/tension-among-bisakas-followers-over-death-rumor
www.chimpreports.com/owobusobozi-bisakas-son-dies-at-40
www.pmldaily.com/news/2019/11/over-700-abandon-owobusobozi-bisakas-faith.html
www.pmldaily.com/news/2020/02/bunyoro-kingdom-vows-action-after-owobusobozi-bisakas-followers-burn-down-cultural-site.html
www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Museveni-praises-cult-leader-Bisaka-for-preaching-unity/-/688334/2346342/-/15nyqet/-/index.html
www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Life/Four-days-at--God-s--country-home/-/689856/2373122/-/3lbgfvz/-/index.html
www.web.archive.org/web/20120704154


https://acfar.org/pdflibrary/ACFAR-Understanding-Answering-Faith-Unity.pdf
www.wrldrels.org/2018/12/22/faith-of-unity
www.tapatalk.com/groups/cultbustersgalactica/faith-of-unity-uganda-owobusobozi-bisaka-cult-lead-t1090.html


www.web.archive.org/web/20190226133806/owobusobozibisaka.blogspot.com
www.web.archive.org/web/20180611191800/faithofunitystudents.com


www.nsibidiinstitute.org/the-healing-city-faith-of-unity-prayer-camp-in-kapyemi-uganda
www.researchgate.net/publication/330839239_’Everything_is_Plastic’_The_Faith_of_Unity_Movement_and_the_Making_of_a_Post-Catholic_Religion_in_Uganda
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02589001.2018.1492094
journals.iium.edu.my/irkh/index.php/ijrcs/article/download/156/61/734
www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/jafrireli.6.2.0190?seq=1