Esoteric antecedents date back to the nineteenth century and earlier, but ideas of 'holistic growth' and 'human potential' have recently flowed into mainstream religion and corporate culture.

However, some have stopped practising this religion after adopting a mainstream religion which prohibits animism or idolatry.

Shamanism and other pagan beliefs are present to some extent in remote areas, sometimes syncretized with one of the mainstream religions.

Sects are break-away groups from more mainstream religions and tend to be in tension with society.

The vast majority of sacred natural sites were arguably founded by indigenous or folk religions and spiritualities, but many were subsequently adopted or co-opted by mainstream religions.