Full Story Best of 2024: The ‘doomsday cult’ recruiting Australian university students
Dec 25, 2024
Discover the alarming recruitment tactics of the Shincheonji church at Australian universities, where students receive unsolicited Bible study invitations. Hear personal stories of coercive control and emotional distress from former members and families affected by the group's influence. The conversation dives into the intense pressure to recruit and participate, revealing the toll on mental well-being, including sleep deprivation. The insidious methods used to target newcomers are explored, shedding light on the challenges of recognizing manipulation within religious settings.
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Bree's Sister's Experience
- Bree's sister, Anna, dropped out of university and became distant after joining Shincheonji.
- Anna's constant church activities, like recruitment and sermons, led to exhaustion and unusual behavior.
Matthew Thomas's Recruitment Tactics
- Matthew Thomas, a former high-ranking Shincheonji member, described intense recruitment tactics and indoctrination.
- He revealed how they used manipulation, exploiting personal traumas to gain trust and recruit new members.
Training Videos Expose Tactics
- Shincheonji's training videos reveal detailed recruitment strategies, including using code words and specific instructions for interactions.
- Recruiters, or "leaves," are taught to accompany potential recruits, or "fruit," everywhere, even to the bathroom, to maintain control.