‘A “Christian cult” group targeted me on LinkedIn’
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Alem Derege reflects on two unsettling encounters with the secretive religious group Shincheonji, which both The Church of England and Alpha’s Nicky Gumbel have named a ‘cult’. She shares a personal warning about spiritual manipulation, online recruitment tactics and the importance of discernment.
In 2022 I received a message from a stranger on LinkedIn. She informed me that she was working on a project close to her heart that explores the experiences of those who are part of diaspora communities and said that she would love to hear my thoughts on the topic. I had just completed an MA in Migration and Diaspora studies, we had one mutual connection on LinkedIn (someone that I knew from church) and I saw that she, like myself, had also done her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.
After some back and forth, I agreed to help out by being interviewed for the said ‘project’. She was so warm and charming. During our interview she asked me about being brought up in the UK by immigrant parents etc..and towards the end of our conversation she brought up the topic of faith. A few days later she sent me an Eventbrite link to an online talk her church was hosting. I had a quick look and said that I would join but a couple of hours before the event I felt the urge to Google the host listed on the Eventbrite page..I was horrified by what I saw. It turned out that this event was being hosted by a cult called Shincheonji (also known as New Heaven, New Earth).
Read more https://www.womanalive.co.uk/opinion/a-christian-cult-group-targeted-me-on-linkedin/20994.article
Content retrieved from: https://www.womanalive.co.uk/opinion/a-christian-cult-group-targeted-me-on-linkedin/20994.article.
