China arrests 500 followers of religious cult over Mayan apocalypse rumours

[rug]

Quasi-Christian religious group the Church of the Almighty God accused of spreading rumours that world will end on Friday

Jonathan Kaiman in Beijing
guardian.co.uk
Wednesday 19 December 2012 06.33 EST

Chinese authorities have detained 500 people belonging to a quasi-Christian religious group called the Church of the Almighty God for spreading rumours that the world will end on Friday, according to the country's official news agency, Xinhua. Four hundred of the arrests, which have taken place over recent weeks, were in the north-western Qinghai province and the remainder in eight other provinces.

"The Qinghai police bureau stated that the police had stormed numerous centres belonging to the Almighty God cult, arresting more than 400 members and confiscating over 5,000 items including banners, DVDs, slogans, books, computers, speakers, and cell phones," Xinhua reported, adding that the group had "advanced anti-detection capabilities".

The report did not say which government department had orchestrated the arrests. "It's the government – which part of the government, nobody knows," said Zhou Xiaozheng, a sociology professor at Renmin University in Beijing. "The government controls the media, so nobody's allowed to report on it."

Human rights groups say the Chinese authorities maintain a vast network of shadowy, extrajudicial agencies that crack down on dissidents and unauthorised religious groups. The most notorious of them, the 610 Office, was established in 1999 to control the spiritual group Falun Gong. The group was outlawed that year after thousands of followers staged a silent protest outside of the Communist party's central leadership compound in Beijing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/19/china-arrests-religious-cult-apocalypse

[blm]

1. Can we arrest the pack of idiots in Michigan who closed schools because of endofworld rumor?

.

[rug]

2. Reaaly? I missed that.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Yep:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014343151

Nearly a dozen school districts in Michigan have decided to cancel classes for the rest of the week.

It has nothing to do with the weather. School leaders say rumors about the end of the world and potential threats of violence are partially behind the cancelations.

The Lapeer Community Schools district will be closed Thursday and Friday. Leaders in that district say there is no credible threat to students, just rumors, but the rumors have caused major distractions in the classroom.

[rug]

8. Idiots.

[cleanhippie]

3. Careful, mocking the deeply held beliefs of someone will get you labeled a bigot!

If we allow you to mock end-of-worlders, you might start mocking jahovas witnesses, Mormons, and even *gasp* CHRISTIANS!!!!

And we can't have that!

[rug]

4. That's not it. It's the broadbrushing and ignorant lumping together that does it.

Besides, the mockery isn't all that good.

[humblebum]

5. "And we can't have that!" - I have noticed that sentiment with your posts very recently.

You seem intent on discouraging open debate when it conflicts with your orderly line of thinking.

Let's see now. What very rigid, and officially atheistic group is attempting to quell any dissent. Ah yes, the Chinese government. And they say, "we can't have that!"

[LAGC]

6. That seems a little extreme.

Were these people actually threatening to do something today? Why arrest them?

Sure hope the Chinese government lets them out of jail tomorrow. I'm sure they'll all be bummed when they realize the world hasn't ended...

Just like with the Falun Gong idiots who set themselves on fire. Who are they hurting but themselves?