Writer Varity Lopez tells the story of her six years inside Sukyo Mahikari, a religious group from Japan with all kinds of red flags. This feature is about finding belief in strange places and how something as small as a headache can lead to indoctrination. This is a stunning first person account of going inside and finding your way out something that comes to control your life.

Esther Waceke tells a personal story about her experience with The Akorino in her native Kenya. The community appears to be a safe space for members of quirky new religion that celebrates its tribal roots, but there are layers of control. Most of the rules are benign, like covering hair and walking barefoot. One tradition has our author terrified however.