The fire-and-brimstone church no longer has a universal grip on sinners in search of spiritual uplift. Black folks are looking for inner social change through a myriad of spiritual avenues, from the meditative state of Buddhism to the humanistic unity of the Baha’i Faith. A quick-hit fact sheet on some alternatives.

Baha’i Faith
When Founded:
In mid-nineteenth century Iran by Mirza Husayn Ali, or Baha'ullah. 
Beliefs
Stress unity of humanity and that all religions come from God. Prejudice is considered immoral, ethical teachings like world peace are stressed, and there are no formal public rituals. Each individual must “catch the spark of Faith.”
Who They Worship
Consider God to be unknowable but hold that God’s works are evident in the creation of the world and an afterlife.
Number of Followers: 
About six million are affiliated with Baha’i and its predecessor, Babism, an outgrowth of a movement that stemmed from Islam.
The Fine Print
No gossip, idle thinking or materialism – so much for the weekend.
Recognizable Member:
Legendary musician Dizzy Gillespie

(Ken Parrish Perkins is a television writer who occasionally ditches his prime time preoccupation for higher order thinking.)