You might not know this, but there are approximately 4,200 active religions around the world, with 21 of those being major religions with a pretty strong following. And some of them have some really peculiar origins.

With so many religions to choose from, it's easy to become confused on what to believe in. But if you're just thinking about expanding on your religious trivia, then you might want to check these following shocking religions listed below:

Scientology

Created back 1952 by controversial sci-fi author L Ron Hubbard (Elron), Scientology is an outgrowth of his earlier self-help system called Dianetics. According to Hubbard, 75 million years ago, an alien ruler of the “Galactic Confederacy” named Xenu brought billions of people to Earth in a giant spacecraft before stacking them around volcanoes and detonated hydrogen bombs into these volcanoes. Scientology members must reach higher levels of initiation (OT levels) before they are introduced to "mystical teachings" on how to reverse the effects of these past-life trauma patterns.

The Creativity Movement

Formerly known as the World Church Of The Creator, this white separatist organization hugely promotes a racist whites-only religion. Following the creator, Ben Klassen, death in 1993, the movement almost died until the New Church of the Creator was established three years later by Matthew F. Hale as its high priest. Hale was later incarcerated in January 2003 for plotting to murder a federal judge.

The Church Of All Worlds

Founded by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and his wife Morning Glory, the religion was inspired by a fictional one from a science fiction novel written by Robert A. Heinlein. Many of their ritual celebrations are centered on the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece. Zell-Ravenheart was also inspired by the fictional school in the Harry Potter novels, which led him to set up his own 'The Grey School of Wizardry.'

The Universe People

This Czech religious movement centered around Ivo A. Benda and is based upon the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations. The teachings incorporate various elements of ufology. Benda and a few select "contactors" can communicate with these cosmic people, who operate a fleet of spaceships that orbit the Earth and are waiting to transport followers into another dimension.

The Temple Of Psychick Youth

Originally founded by members of Current 93, Psychic TV, Coil, and a number of other individuals, this evolving network is a loosely federated group of people operating as a unique blend of artistic practitioners of magic. TOPY is dedicated to the manifestation of the worship of gods, and the magical concepts lacking mysticism. The groups main focus is on the magical and psychic aspects of the human brain linked with “guiltless sexuality.”

The Prince Phillip Movement
According to the Yaohnanen tribe located on the southern island of Tanna in Vanuatu, the consort to Queen Elizabeth II is "the chosen one". This stems from a prophecy involving a divine being who was "the son of a mountain spirit". This son would travel overseas to a distant land before marrying a powerful lady before returning to the mother land. Their beliefs were strengthened during the royal couple’s official visit to Vanuatu in 1974, when a few villagers had the opportunity to observe the prince from afar.

Nation Of Yahweh

Founded in 1979 in Miami by Hulon Mitchell Jr., the nation of Yahweh is a predominantly African-American religious group that is closely related to the Black Hebrew Israelites line of thought. Their goal is to return African Americans (whom they see as the original Israelites) to Israel. The group has encountered lots of controversy, due to legal issues of its founder. They've also faced accusations of being a black supremacist cult, since the group believes that blacks are “the true Jews” while whites are “white devils.”

Nuwaubianism

Nuwaubianism is an umbrella term used to refer to the doctrines and teachings of the followers of Dwight York, who developed the movement using a wide range of sources. It originated as a Black Muslim group in New York in the 1970s, and has gone through many changes since. One Nuwaubian myth states that white people were originally created as a race of killers to serve blacks as a slave army. As of now, York is serving time in prison after having been convicted on money laundering and child molestation charges.

The Church Of SubGenius

Created in the 1950s by the "worlds greatest salesman" i.e. J.R.”Bob” Dobbs. This parody religion promotes slack, satirizes religion, conspiracy theories, UFOs, and popular culture. They started with the publication of SubGenius Pamphlet #1 in 1979, and soon found acceptance in underground pop-culture circles like the underground music scene, on college campuses and on the Internet.

The Church Of The Flying Spaghetti Monster

In January 2005, a 24-year-old Oregon State University physics graduate named Bobby Henderson started the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) due to his opposition of the teachings of intelligent design in biology classes. Henderson had argued that intelligent design and his belief “the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster” were equally valid. The only dogma allowed in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the rejection of dogma, which means there are no strict rules and regulations, rituals or even prayers.