Origins and Beliefs
Lightning from the East, also known as Eastern Lightning, originated in China in the early 1990s. It’s an offshoot of the Christian Church, but with a radical twist. The group venerates a woman they claim is the returned Christ, which sets them apart from mainstream Christianity.
James D. Seymour, a scholar in Chinese politics and religion, states, “The group has positioned itself against the official Chinese state religious organizations, calling for an end to Communist Party rule in favor of a theocracy.”
Growth and Recruitment
The group has grown rapidly, especially through aggressive proselytizing tactics. Their members are known to infiltrate other religious communities and even kidnap members from other sects to indoctrinate them.
Tong Shijun, professor of philosophy at East China Normal University, has commented, “Eastern Lightning’s aggressive recruitment methods have caused concern not only among mainstream churches but also within the framework of Chinese religious policy.”
Founded by Zhao Weishan and Yang Xiangbin, who is believed by followers to be the ‘female Christ,’ the group claims to be the only true inheritor of Christian doctrine. They assert that Christ has returned in the form of Yang Xiangbin to finish the work of salvation.
However, what sets Eastern Lightning apart from other religious groups in China and poses challenges for both religious communities and law enforcement agencies is its history of violence. Elizabeth Perry, a Harvard scholar, warns, “The methods employed by Eastern Lightning to spread its influence are deeply alarming and run contrary to any accepted norms of religious proselytizing.”
Forced Conversions and Assaults
Eastern Lightning has been implicated in numerous violent activities, including kidnappings, assaults, and even torture directed at members of mainstream Christian groups. Their methods often involve intense psychological manipulation but can escalate to physical violence to force conversions. Dr. Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist of religions, notes, “While the group identifies itself as a Christian new religious movement, its practices, especially the use of violence to achieve its objectives, place it far outside mainstream Christian teachings.”
Violence within the Group
Violence isn’t restricted to those outside the cult. Accounts of internal disciplinary actions involving severe forms of punishment have surfaced. There have been reports of violent confrontations between the group and law enforcement agencies, usually during government crackdowns.
Chinese Government’s Response
Due to these activities, Eastern Lightning has been labeled a ‘heterodox teaching’ by the Chinese government and has been subjected to various crackdowns. Its founders, Zhao Weishan and Yang Xiangbin, have fled to the United States, but that has not stopped Chinese authorities from continually pursuing active members within the country.
In summary, Eastern Lightning presents a complex and disturbing picture. While it claims religious legitimacy as a Christian sect, its history of violent practices poses serious ethical and legal challenges, earning it the classification as a cult and the attention of regulatory authorities.