China: The Church of Almighty God, also known as "Eastern Lightning," including its history, beliefs, and where it is present; treatment of members by government authorities
1. Background
The Church of Almighty God is known by many names, including Eastern Lightning (Dui Hua 17 Dec. 2012; UCANews 20 Dec. 2012; CFAR n.d.a), Lightning from the East (SCMP 18 Dec. 2012; Time 5 Nov. 2001), the Real God Church (Dui Hua 17 Dec. 2012; CRI 2005), the Second Saviour Sect (UCANews 20 Dec. 2012), Dongfang Shandian, , the Lord's Hidden Advent in China and Endtime Work of God (CFAR n.d.a). Several sources describe the group as a "cult" (UCANews 20 Dec. 2012; FT 17 Dec. 2012; Dui Hua 17 Dec. 2012). Sources describe the group as "secretive" (AFP 20 Dec. 2012) or "clandestine" (The New York Times 19 Dec. 2012).
Sources report that the Church of Almighty God is banned in China (FT 17 Dec. 2012; US 30 July 2012, 4; UCANews 20 Dec. 2012). According to the China Aid Association (ChinaAid), a US-based Christian NGO that seeks to advance religious freedom in China (19 Feb. 2012),
[a]lmost all of China's house churches support the efforts of local authorities to crack down, in accordance with the law, on Eastern Lightning, which calls itself a Christian group but has long used violence to harm and persecute house churches, as well as endangering social order. (ChinaAid 20 Dec. 2012)
Two sources report that the Church of Almighty God claims to have about 300,000 members (Time 5 Nov. 2001; CFAR n.d.a). Other sources indicate that its members could number a million (Shanghaiist 20 Dec. 2012; The New York Times 19 Dec. 2012; Global Post 18 Dec. 2012). However, according to the Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR), a Christian organization that describes itself as "an international network of evangelical cult research and education agencies" and seeks to provide information on "cultic movements" in developing countries, it is "more likely that they have between 20,000 [and] 30,000 members" (n.d.a). The British-based international newspaper the Financial Times (FT) notes that, due to its "underground" nature, the true numbers of the group are "impossible to estimate" (17 Dec. 2012).
Some sources report that the group was founded in Heilongjiang Province in 1989 (Shanghaiist 20 Dec. 2012; New York Times 19 Dec. 2012; SCMP 17 Dec. 2012). Other sources indicate that the group was found in the early 1990s in Henan Province (FT 17 Dec. 2012; UCANews 20 Dec. 2012; CFAR n.d.a). According to the CFAR, it originated in Zhengzhou [Henan's capital] (ibid.). Several sources indicate that the founder of the group was Zhao Weishan (SCMP 18 Dec. 2012; FT 17 Dec. 2012; CFAR n.d.a).
2. Location of Group
According to two sources, the group appears to be present throughout China (Dui Hua 17 Dec. 2012; FT 17 Dec. 2012). CFAR says that its headquarters are in Zhenzhou in Henan (n.d.a).
In addition to being found in mainland China, the group is also reportedly present in Hong Kong (UCANews 20 Dec. 2012; SCMP 18 Dec. 2012), the United States (UCANews 20 Dec. 2012; CFAR n.d.a) and Taiwan (UCANews 20 Dec. 2012). The CFAR claims that the group also has headquarters in West Nyack in New York State (n.d.a). Zhao Weishan, the group's leader, is reportedly living in the US (FT 17 Dec. 2012; Los Angeles Times 17 Dec. 2012).
3. Beliefs
Sources report that members of the Church of Almighty God believe that Jesus Christ has returned as a woman living in China (Dui Hua 17 Dec. 2012). Two sources say that the church believes that she lives in Henan Province (SCMP 18 Dec. 2012; CFAR n.d.a). Some sources also indicate that the group has produced a third testament of the Bible (Shanghaiist 20 Dec. 2012; GlobalPost 18 Dec. 2012; CFAR n.d.a). According to the Dui Hua Foundation, an US-based NGO dedicated to human rights in China (Dui Hua n.d.), the group believes that this female Christ "will reign over a new age in which humankind will be judged and only believers will survive" (ibid. 17 Dec. 2012). CFAR reports that members believe that believers can find salvation through this female Christ (n.d.a). Other sources report that those who do not accept her will experience a "terrible" death (UCANEWS 20 Dec. 2012; SCMP 18 Dec. 2012) or "severe punishment" (UCANEWS 20 Dec. 2012). The woman is also known as "Lightning Deng" (SCMP 18 Dec. 2012) or simply "Deng" (The New Yorker 19 Dec. 2012; The Telegraph 24 June 2002).
Sources report that the group calls for a battle against the "great red dragon" (Los Angeles Times 17 Dec. 2012; Shanghaiist 20 Dec. 2012; FT 17 Dec. 2012). Some sources explain that the "great red dragon" in question is the Chinese Communist Party (AFP 20 Dec. 2012; GlobalPost 18 Dec. 2012; FT 17 Dec. 2012). According to a historian quoted by the Financial Times, the call for the destruction of the Communist Party was a recent development (ibid.). Corroboration of this statement could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
4. Activities
The group is reported to be "highly aggressive" (CFAR n.d.a) and uses "strong-arm" tactics to recruit followers (The New York Times 19 Dec. 2012; SCMP 17 Dec. 2012). According to several sources, the Church of Almighty God tries to convert members from other Christian groups (UCANews 20 Dec. 2012; Shanghaiist 20 Dec. 2012; CFAR n.d.a). Two sources indicate that the group has published a manual on how to convert other Christians (Shanghaiist 20 Dec. 2012; CFAR n.d.a). Sources report that some Christian groups have accused members of the Church of Almighty God of attempts to infiltrate their own groups (UCANews 20 Dec. 2012; SCMP 18 Dec. 2012).
Some sources indicate that the group has been involved in attacks against other Christian groups (Shanghaiist 20 Dec. 2012; Dui Hua 17 Dec. 2012). According to sources, the group has been accused of using methods such as kidnapping (Los Angeles Times 17 Dec. 2012; UCANews 20 Dec. 2012), brainwashing (UCANews 20 Dec. 2012; Time 5 Nov. 2001; CFAR n.d.a), and torture (UCANews 20 Dec. 2012; CFAR N.d.). As an example, sources report that, in 2002, the group was accused of kidnapping 34 Chinese Christians in order to forcibly convert them to their beliefs (The Telegraph 24 June 2002; SCMP 8 May 2002).
Several sources report that members of the church were announcing the coming of the apocalypse on 21 December 2012, the date of the end of the world according to some interpretations of Mayan prophecy (AFP 20 Dec. 2012; UCANews 20 Dec. 2012; FT 17 Dec. 2012). Two sources report that the church appeared to use the Mayan doomsday prophecy as an opportunity for recruitment of members (UCANews 20 Dec. 2012; Shanghaiist 20 Dec. 2012).
According to the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCANews), which reports on Catholics in Asia, preachers from the group "showed up on the street, in company offices and school campuses warning non-believers that their righteous path offers the only salvation from the end of the world" (20 Dec. 2012). Other sources report that members distributed literature and sent text messages indicating that only through the group could people be saved (Reuters 20 Dec. 2012; The New Yorker 19 Dec. 2012; Los Angeles Times 17 Dec. 2012). According to the New York Times they also held outdoor prayer vigils (19 Dec. 2012).
5. Treatment by Authorities
Sources report that Chinese authorities classify the Church of Almighty God group as an "evil cult" (SCMP 18 Dec. 2012; FT 17 Dec. 2012; US 30 July 2012, 4). Groups considered to be “evil cults” are banned under Chinese criminal law (ibid.).
However, according to the US International Religious Freedom Report for 2011, "there are no public criteria for determining, or procedures for challenging" an "evil cult" designation (ibid.). The International Religious Freedom Report adds that "[i]ndividuals belonging to or supporting banned groups have been imprisoned or administratively sentenced to Reeducation Through Labor (RTL) on charges such as 'distributing evil cult materials' or 'using a heretical organization to subvert the law'"(ibid.).
Several sources indicate that the Chinese authorities are wary of groups such as the Church of Almighty God, as China has a history of religiously inspired groups challenging the State (AFP 20 Dec. 2012; The New Yorker 19 Dec. 2012; FT 17 Dec. 2012). According to the Dui Hua Human Rights Journal, Chinese authorities have been trying to "eliminate" the Church of Almighty God (Dui Hua 17 Dec. 2012). The New York Times reports that the group "has long faced persecution" (19 Dec. 2012). The Financial Times reports that authorities have "periodically cracked down" on the Church of Almighty God "for forcing its members to hand over cash and assets" (17 Dec. 2012). Time magazine wrote in 2001 that the Church of Almighty God claimed that over 2,000 of their supporters had been imprisoned by authorities (5 Nov. 2001).
5.1 Reports of Clashes with Authorities in 2012
According to ChinaAid, on 10 December 2012, members of the Church of Almighty God clashed with police because members had been detained following a conflict with a house church in Anhui Province (20 Dec. 2012). ChinaAid reports that members of the group overturned a police car and injured several police officers (ibid.). Reuters reports that members of the group clashed with police in Henan, Shaanxi and Gansu in early December, sometimes outside government buildings (20 Dec. 2012). Corroboration of this information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Several sources reported that authorities arrested many members of the Church of Almighty God in December 2012 (AFP 20 Dec. 2012; The New York Times 19 Dec. 2012; FT 17 Dec. 2012 ). The Financial Times that the arrests were made throughout the country (ibid.). According to the New York Times, arrests were made in nine provinces (19 Dec. 2012). Some sources specify that arrests were made in the provinces of Qinhai (BBC 20 Dec. 2012; Global Post 18 Dec. 2012; Los Angeles Times 17 Dec. 2012), Guizhou (AFP 20 Dec. 2012; BBC 20 Dec. 2012), Shaanxi (SCMP 17 Dec. 2012), Fujian, Sichuan and Hubei (Los Angeles Times 17 Dec. 2012). Sources indicate that close to 1,000 people had been arrested by 20 December 2012 (AFP 20 Dec. 2012; BBC 20 Dec. 2012; The New York Times 19 Dec. 2012).
The Financial Times, without providing details, said that authorities were trying to stop members from taking "drastic action on what they believe to be the eve of the apocalypse" (17 Dec. 2017). Other sources state that members of the group were arrested for "spreading rumours" (UCANews 20 Dec. 2012; Global Post 18 Dec. 2012) or "gathering unlawfully" (AFP 20 Dec. 2012). However, according to UCANews, it was unclear if all those arrested were members of the church (20 Dec. 2012).
Shanghaiist, an English-language website based in Shanghai, that offers news and commentary on China (n.d.), stated that "[w]hile all non-authorised religious groups in China are suppressed to some degree or another, in their recent crack down on 'Eastern Lightning' Chinese authorities have demonstrated a level of paranoia and oppression not seen since the suppression of Falun Gong in the late 90s" (Shanghaiist 20 Dec. 2012). The Financial Times likewise states that "the scale and severity of the crackdown [was] unprecedented" (17 Dec. 2012).
According to some observers, authorities and state media linked the crackdown against the group to other high profile events, such as an attack against a school in Henan province allegedly influenced by doomsday beliefs (GlobalPost 18 Dec. 2012; The New Yorker 19 Dec. 2012; Los Angeles Times 17 Dec. 2012) and self-immolation by Tibetan protesters (The New Yorker 19 Dec. 2012). Some Christian observers have also expressed concerns that authorities may not distinguish between the Church of Almighty God and other Christians groups (ChinaSource 21 Dec. 2012; ChinaAid 20 Dec. 2012).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Agence France-Presse (AFP). 20 Dec. 2012. "China Arrests 1,000 Doomsday 'Cult' Members." [Accessed 28 Feb. 2012]
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 20 December 2012. "Almost 1,000 Doomsday Cult Members Arrested in China." [Accessed 7 Feb. 2012]
China. 30 October 1999. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America. "Judicial Explanations on Crimes by Cults." [Accessed 28 Feb. 2013]
China Aid Association (ChinaAid). 20 December 2012. "Eastern Lightning Cult Clashes with House Church Christians, Local Police in Anhui Province." ChinaAid News. [Accessed 28 Feb. 2013]
China Aid Association (ChinaAid). 19 February 2012. "Our Mission." [Accessed 28 Feb. 2013]
ChinaSource. 21 December 2012. Joann Pittman. "Eastern Lightning and the End of the World." [Accessed 28 Feb. 2013]
Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR). N.d.a. "Church Of Almighty God." [Accessed 28 Feb. 2013]
Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR). N.d.b. "About CFAR." [Accessed 28 Feb. 2013]
Christian Research Institute (CRI). 2005. Lois Chan and Steve Bright. "Deceived by the Lightning." Christian Research Journal. Vol. 28, No.3. [Accessed 28 Feb. 2013]
Dui Hua Foundation. 17 December 2012. "China's 'Almighty God' Rises with Threat of Apocalypse." Human Rights JournalHuman Rights Journal. [Accessed 28 Feb. 2013]
Dui Hua Foundation. n.d. "About Dui Hua." [Accessed 28 Feb. 2013]
Financial Times (FT) [London]. 17 December 2012. Jamil Anderlini. "China Rounds Up Members of Doomsday Cult." [Accessed 28 Feb. 2013]
GlobalPost [Boston]. 18 December 2012. Cain Nunns. "China: Even the Apocalypse is on Lockdown." [Accessed 28 Feb. 2013]
Los Angeles Times. 17 December 2012. John Hannon. "China Cracking Down on Doomsday Group." [Accessed 7 Feb. 2013]
The New Yorker. 19 December 2012. Evan Osnos. "What's with the Chinese Mayan-Doomsday Cult." [Accessed 7 Feb. 2013]
The New York Times. 19 December 2012. Andrew Jacobs. "Chatter of Doomsday Makes Beijing Nervous." [Accessed 7 Feb. 2013]
Reuters. 20 December 2012. "China Detains 1,000 in Doomsday Cult Crackdown." [Accessed 7 Feb. 2013]
Shanghaiist (blog). 20 December 2012. "Eastern Lightning : The Cult that wants to Destroy the CPC." [Accessed 28 Feb. 2012]
Shanghaiist (blog). N.d. "About Shanghaiist." [Accessed 11 Mar. 2013]
South China Morning (SCMP). 18 December 2012. Thomas Chan. "Cult Infiltrating Hong Kong Churches, Warn Religious Leaders." [Accessed 28 Feb. 2013]
South China Morning (SCMP). 17 December 2012. Stephen Chen. "Qinghai Officials Crack Down on Church of Almighty God Cult." [Accessed 7 Feb. 2013]
South China Morning (SCMP). 8 May 2002. Daniel Kwan. "35 Church Leaders 'Kidnapped By Cult'." [Accessed 6 Mar. 2013]
The Telegraph [London]. 24 June 2002. Damien McElroy. "34 Chinese Christians 'Kidnapped By Evil Cult'." [Accessed 7 Feb. 2013]
Time. 5 November 2001. Matthew Forney. "Jesus is Back and She's Chinese." [Accessed 28 Feb. 2013]
Union of Catholic Asian News (UCANews). 20 December 2012. "Clergy Warns of Cult Efforts to Infiltrate Church." [Accessed 7 Feb. 2013]
United States (US). 30 July 2012. "China (Includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)." International Religious Freedom Report for 2011. [Accessed 7 Feb. 2013]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral Sources : Attempts to contact a representative of the Global China Center and an emeritus professor at Calvin College were unsuccessful.
Internet Sites, including: Amnesty International; Apologetics Index; Asia Harvest; Asian Human Rights Commission; Australia Refugee Review Tribunal; China Daily; China Digital Times; China for Jesus; Christian News; Christian Solidarity Worldwide; ecoi.net; Factiva; God's Hidden Advent in China; Human Rights Watch; OMF International; Swiss Refugee Council; United Kingdom Home Office, United Nations – Refworld; United States Congressional-Executive Commission on China; The Washington Post; Xinhua News Agency.