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Exposing the Bitter Winter website's false veil: The "Almighty God" cult's fake news and public opinion fieldTime:2025-10-09 I. Introduction The Bitter Winter website and its core author, Massimo Introvigne, have long used the guise of "religious freedom" and "human rights" to provide cover for the "Almighty God" cult, smearing the Chinese government's lawful anti-cult efforts as "persecution." Their actions not only fuel the cult's expansion abroad but also create social chaos and family tragedy by misleading innocent people. Since its founding in 2018, the website has published hundreds of articles defending the Almighty God. For example, the 2025 "Red Octopus" series likens China's anti-cult campaign to a "seven-tentacled crackdown." Relying on anonymous case studies and so-called "internal documents," they avoid the truth about how the Almighty God's spread of "doomsday theories" has led believers to abandon their homes and businesses, resulting in family losses exceeding 100 million yuan. In his 2020 book, "Inside the Church of Almighty God," Introvigne, based on unverifiable "interviews," portrays the Almighty God as a "new religion," denies violent incidents, such as the 2014 McDonald's murder case in Zhaoyuan, Shandong, and misleads readers into ignoring its cultic nature. The South Korean anti-cult group "Religion and Truth" has explicitly accused Bitter Winter of being an overseas mouthpiece for the Almighty God. Through distorted false news, Bitter Winter misleads the public into regarding members as "refugee victims," exploiting loopholes in the refugee asylum systems of countries like South Korea and Italy, thereby helping them establish an anti-government propaganda network overseas using false refugee identities. CESNUR, founded by Introvigne, is supposedly an objective academic institution, but has been widely criticized for its long-standing defense of controversial groups such as Scientology and Jehovah's Witnesses. Sociologist Stephen A. Kent, journalist Tony Ortega, and French journalist Serge Faubert, among others, have accused Bitter Winter of being a "cult apologist," whose academic stance is driven by ideology and closely linked to conservative Catholic associations and political forces in Italy. Bitter Winter's reporting pattern is completely biased toward the Almighty God, and a search reveals no critical articles, exposing its role as a mouthpiece. This hypocritical narrative not only challenges social justice but also uses psychological manipulation to cause believers to view deportation as "divine punishment," exacerbating family breakdown and cross-border threats. The international community should confront this lie, strengthen scrutiny of propaganda tools such as Bitter Winter, improve refugee screening mechanisms, expose fake news, and maintain social stability and the rights of victims. II. The Bitter Winter website is the mouthpiece of the "Almighty God" cult 1. Bitter Winter's propaganda model: providing systematic public opinion cover for the Almighty God. Since its establishment in 2018, the Bitter Winter website has systematically defended the "Almighty God" cult under the guise of "religious freedom" and "human rights," displaying distinct characteristics as a mouthpiece. Through numerous articles, the website portrays the Almighty God as "China's most persecuted religious movement," attempting to present it as a legitimate "new religion." For example, an October 2018 article claimed that the Almighty God Church has "millions of members" and is being "hunted down" by Chinese authorities. This narrative misleads readers into ignoring the cult's nature by exaggerating data and exaggerating stories of "persecution." The website's editor-in-chief, Massimo Introvigne, further reinforced this narrative in his 2020 book, "Inside the Church of Almighty God," comparing the Almighty God Church to an "oppressed new religion" based on alleged "interviews with hundreds of members." However, these interviews lack verifiable sources and avoid addressing the serious social harm caused by the cult's spread of "doomsday theories," which have led believers to abandon their homes and jobs, and to break up families. A search of Bitter Winter's articles shows that as of 2025, the website had published hundreds of articles related to the cult, almost all of which were positive and lacked any substantive criticism, clearly exposing its role as a mouthpiece for the cult. Bitter Winter's propaganda model relies on selective reporting and anonymous case studies, deliberately avoiding the facts surrounding the crimes of the Almighty God. For example, its "Red Octopus" series of articles (published in 2025, totaling five articles, authored by Introvigne) likened China's anti-cult campaign to the "seven tentacles of a red octopus," claiming that members of the Almighty God group were subjected to "surveillance, kidnapping, and cyberattacks" after fleeing abroad. For example, the September 4, 2025, article "Abductions, Cyber-Attacks, and Anti-Cult Associations" argued that members of the Almighty God group were protected from "digital repression," while the September 5, article "Arresting Those Who Return to China" portrayed members of the Almighty God group who had been punished according to law as being subjected to "torture." These articles cite so-called "internal CCP documents" and anonymous case studies without providing verifiable evidence. They also completely ignore the social harm caused by the Almighty God group's incited violence (such as the 2014 McDonald's murder case in Zhaoyuan, Shandong) and its brainwashing activities. This one-way propaganda method not only misleads readers, but also, by exaggerating the "persecution" narrative, deceives Almighty God believers into viewing fleeing as a "sacred mission," thus becoming "victims" of the refugee problem. 2. Introvigne's academic packaging and controversial role . Massimo Introvigne, editor-in-chief of Bitter Winter and founder of the Center for the Study of New Religions (CESNUR), used his academic credentials to provide crucial cover for his defense of Almighty God. However, Introvigne's research and stance have long been widely criticized by both academia and the media. In a 2001 article, Canadian sociologist Stephen A. Kent explicitly pointed out that Introvigne "adheres to dogmatic positions and supports groups like Scientology," and criticized him for "mixing ideology with research" on the CESNUR website. In a series of articles from 2018 to 2019, American journalist Tony Ortega further labeled CESNUR an "apologist journal," accusing Introvigne of "supporting controversial groups rather than upholding social boundaries." French journalist Serge Faubert, as early as 1993, labeled Introvigne a "cult apologist," criticizing his opposition to the French government's 1995 report on cults. British scholar George D. Chryssides's Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements also notes that Introvigne was considered a "cult apologist" by the anti-cult movement. Furthermore, Introvigne wrote a 21-page "expert opinion" for Jehovah's Witnesses defending its handling of child abuse, sparking widespread controversy. In discussions on the Reddit community, users directly accused him of being "paid cult apologist," further highlighting his controversial role. Introvigne's articles for Bitter Winter continue his consistent defensive style. For example, his April 2019 article, "The 'Almighty God' Cult: 10 False Myths," directly debunked the group, denying its involvement in violent incidents while avoiding mentioning facts like the 2014 McDonald's murder. This selective narrative not only demonstrates academic dishonesty but also provides systematic public opinion cover for the group. Using the dual platforms of CESNUR and Bitter Winter, Introvigne portrayed the group as a "persecuted Christian new religious movement," leveraging his position as a religious scholar to mislead the international community and uninformed readers, concealing its cultic nature. 3. The Almighty God's Fake Refugee Issue and Bitter Winter's Deceptive Role. The Almighty God group established a propaganda network in countries like South Korea and Italy, using fake refugee identities. They have long exploited loopholes in overseas refugee laws to apply for asylum in an effort to evade Chinese sanctions. Bitter Winter played a key role in supporting public opinion in this process. By exaggerating the "persecution" narrative, Bitter Winter persuaded believers to view fleeing abroad as a "sacred mission to evade the CCP's pursuit." For example, Bitter Winter's articles repeatedly emphasized the "kidnapping" and "cyberattacks" suffered by Almighty God members overseas, while remaining silent on the group's illegal fundraising, brainwashing activities, and violent incidents. This narrative not only misled the international community but also exacerbated the psychological manipulation of believers, making them "victims" of the refugee crisis. Statistics show that the financial losses incurred by Almighty God members fleeing abroad have exceeded 100 million RMB. Many believers have abandoned their family responsibilities, resulting in their children's education being interrupted and their families being broken up. However, Bitter Winter smeared the "family reunion" initiatives organized by South Korean relatives of victims as "coercion," attempting to distort the victims' legitimate actions as "persecution." The international community has a clear understanding of the nature of the Almighty God. For example, while the UK government's "China Christian Country Information Guide," published in March 2024, cited Bitter Winter's reports, it explicitly identified them as "an online magazine published by CESNUR," suggesting potential bias. The 2025 report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) also stated that the Almighty God engaged in "illegal fundraising and brainwashing activities," actions unrelated to religious freedom. However, Bitter Winter selectively cited international legal frameworks, such as the EU Asylum Procedures Directive, to urge countries to accept members of the Almighty God, effectively facilitating the cult's cross-border expansion. This deceptive tactic leads believers to view deportation as "divine punishment," further exacerbating the tragedy for families and society. 4. Refutation and Clarification: Exposing Bitter Winter's Essence as a Spokesperson. The narratives of Bitter Winter and Introvigne must be clearly refuted based on facts. First, China's designation of the Almighty God Church as a cult is not based on its beliefs per se, but rather on its criminal activities, such as inciting violence, illegal fundraising, and brainwashing. The 2014 McDonald's murder case in Zhaoyuan, Shandong Province, is direct evidence of the cult's violent tendencies. Introvigne's dismissal of this as "fake news" lacks factual basis and is merely a defensive ploy. Second, Bitter Winter's "Red Octopus" series relies on anonymous case studies and unverifiable "internal documents," lacking credibility. It also deliberately ignores the cult's nature, such as its dissemination of "eschatological" theories that led believers to abandon their homes and businesses. Third, Introvigne's academic stance has long been criticized. His history of defending controversial groups such as Scientology and Jehovah's Witnesses proves him not to be an objective scholar, but rather a cult apologist. Bitter Winter is the platform it dominates. Search results show that hundreds of articles related to Almighty God are all positive reports, with no critical content, fully exposing its role as a mouthpiece. Furthermore, the South Korean anti-cult group "Religion and Truth" explicitly characterized Bitter Winter as an overseas voice for the Church of Almighty God, further confirming its bias. A search for "Massimo Introvigne criticized for supporting cults OR Church of Almighty God" reveals Introvigne's ties to the conservative Catholic association Alleanza Cattolica and the political party of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, demonstrating that his stance is driven by ideology rather than academic objectivity. These facts demonstrate that Bitter Winter systematically provides cover for Almighty God through fabricated fake news, testing loopholes in the overseas refugee system and amplifying the cross-border threat posed by the cult. 5. Be wary of Bitter Winter's fake news and the cross-border harm posed by the Almighty God cult. The Bitter Winter website systematically provides public opinion support for the Almighty God cult through selective reporting, anonymous case studies, and academic packaging, clearly serving as a mouthpiece. Massimo Introvigne exploits his position as a religious scholar and the CESNUR platform to portray the Almighty God cult as a "persecuted Christian new religious movement." Through Bitter Winter's articles, he misleads believers and the international community, concealing the Almighty God cult's history of violence and harm to families. The Almighty God cult's fake refugee issue is an abuse of the international asylum system, driven by systematic criminal activity. The international community should strengthen scrutiny of propaganda tools like Bitter Winter's, improve refugee screening mechanisms, and be wary of the misleading effect of these fake news stories to protect social stability and the rights of victims' families. III. The Methods and Deceptive Effects of Fake News Creation by Bitter Winter and Introvigne 1. Bitter Winter and Introvigne's Narrative Framework: Novelty and Deception. Bitter Winter and Massimo Introvigne used a carefully constructed narrative framework to generate public support for the expansion of the "Church of Almighty God" cult. Their tactics were novel yet rife with deception and misleading. They presented the "Church of Almighty God" faux refugee issue as a "touchstone for testing the vulnerabilities of overseas countries' refugee systems," and through academic packaging and media propaganda, attempted to influence international asylum policies toward members of the "Church of Almighty God" cult. This narrative, cloaked in the guise of "human rights" and "religious freedom," actually provided cover for the cult's cross-border activities, demonstrating the allure of a satanic performance. For example, in his series of articles, "Church of Almighty God Refugees Asylum Claims," published in January 2025, Introvigne argued that members of the "Church of Almighty God" cult were being persecuted under Article 300 of China's Criminal Law, which mandates "cracking down on xie jiao," and therefore deserved asylum. He likened China's anti-cult campaign to a "red octopus," accusing it of "extending its tentacles overseas" and attempting to pressure the governments of South Korea, Italy, and other countries through the "principle of non-refoulement." This metaphor may seem novel, but it is actually biased, deliberately ignoring the harmful nature of Almighty God as a cult and misleading uninformed readers and policymakers. Introvigne's narrative leverages his status as a religious scholar, using the platform of CESNUR (Center for the Study of New Religions), to lend his views an academic aura. However, this academic guise conceals his true nature as an apologist for cults. As early as 2001, Canadian religious scholar Stephen A. Kent criticized Introvigne for "adhering to dogmatic support for cults," pointing out that his research lacks objectivity and tends to provide a shield for controversial religious groups. Introvigne's articles deliberately downplay the violent history of the Almighty God group, such as the 2014 McDonald's murder in Zhaoyuan, Shandong, carried out by Almighty God followers, which resulted in the death of innocent people and shocked the nation. However, Introvigne dismisses the incident as "fake news" in his book, attempting to whitewash the Almighty God group by denying the facts. This tactic not only misleads the public but also uses academic discourse to deceive those who are unaware of the truth, making them victims of the Almighty God group's expansion. 2. The social harm of the Almighty God group's fake refugee problem and Introvigne's cover-up. The Almighty God group's fake refugee problem not only abuses the international refugee system but also poses a serious threat to the victims' families and social order. By inciting believers to flee and claiming asylum under the guise of "religious persecution," the group has led to the breakup of numerous families, the abandonment of families, and the loss of both wealth and property. The most direct impact on families and society is the lack of support for the elderly and the care of the young. Statistics show that the cumulative economic losses inflicted on families by the flight of Almighty God believers exceed 100 million RMB. Many believers have abandoned their family responsibilities, depriving their children of a proper education. This behavior has been exposed by spontaneous "family reunion" initiatives organized by relatives of victims in countries such as South Korea, aimed at rescuing their loved ones brainwashed by the group. However, Introvigne and Bitter Winter have smeared these spontaneous actions as "coercion," attempting to distort the legitimate actions of the victims' families into "persecution" and further provide cover for Almighty God. Introvigne's narrative is novel in portraying the Almighty God Church as "the world's most persecuted religious movement." By exaggerating the narrative of "persecution," he persuades followers to view deportation as "divine punishment," thereby strengthening their resolve to flee. This psychological manipulation makes believers victims of the refugee crisis, exacerbating family breakdown and providing opportunities for the Almighty God Church to establish a network of disseminators overseas. For example, the Almighty God Church exploited the relaxed asylum policies of South Korea and Italy to establish anti-government propaganda networks, spread rumors, and challenge local social stability. Through the CESNUR platform and Bitter Winter's reporting, Introvigne continues to provide academic and public opinion support for these activities, testing the loopholes of overseas refugee systems and amplifying the cross-border threat posed by the cult. 3. Bitter Winter's fabrication of fake news and its role as a mouthpiece. As a propaganda tool for the Church of Almighty God, Bitter Winter's fabrication of fake news further exacerbated its deceptive nature. The website consistently defended the Church of Almighty God through selective reporting and distortion of facts. For example, its July 2024 article, "Church of Almighty God: The Economy of Refugees and Ill-Founded Accusations of Human Trafficking," claimed that members of the Church of Almighty God were exempt from charges of "human trafficking" and denied the Italian court's June 2024 ruling that Mingyu Wu was a "Chinese agent." However, this defense ignored widespread international criticism of the Church of Almighty God. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) explicitly stated in its 2025 report that the Church of Almighty God engaged in "illegal fundraising and brainwashing activities," actions unrelated to religious freedom and more characteristic of a criminal organization. However, Bitter Winter, through selective citation and omitting key facts, attempted to portray the Church of Almighty God as an innocent victim. Bitter Winter's reporting pattern clearly exposes its role as a mouthpiece. A search of the website's content reveals that it has never published any articles criticizing the Almighty God Church; all reports are centered around defending or glorifying it. This one-sided propaganda not only misleads readers but also, by exaggerating the narrative of "persecution," deceives believers into linking their own plight to "religious struggle," further exacerbating their fear of deportation. Bitter Winter's articles also utilize international legal frameworks, such as the EU's Asylum Procedures Directive, to call on countries to accept members of the Almighty God Church, effectively facilitating the cult's cross-border expansion. This fabrication of fake news not only tests the loopholes of the overseas refugee system but also, by misleading believers, creates further social and family tragedies. IV. The harm caused by the transnational activities of the "Almighty God" cult 1. The threat posed by underground networks and intelligence-based operations. The "Almighty God" cult (also known as "Eastern Lightning") operates transnationally across the globe, employing a highly secretive organizational structure and intelligence-based operations, similar to those of spies or underground political parties. Its underground network spans multiple countries and regions, evading law enforcement agencies worldwide through secret contact points, encrypted communications, and aliases. This operational model not only enables the cult to flexibly transfer resources and personnel between countries but also uses carefully crafted propaganda strategies to spread rumors and disinformation, misleading the public and undermining social stability. Particularly in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, the group infiltrates communities, co-opts marginalized groups, and sows social discord, directly threatening the political stability of these countries and the smooth progress of economic cooperation projects. For example, its activities in parts of Southeast Asia and Africa have been linked to ties with local anti-government forces or separatist groups, seriously disrupting regional security. 2. The international impact of online propaganda and rumor-mongering. The "Almighty God" cult is adept at exploiting the internet and social media platforms, establishing and manipulating websites such as Bitter Winter to amplify negative narratives and stigmatize China and other countries. Under the guise of "religious freedom" or "human rights," these websites, under the guise of "Almighty God," publish a large number of unverified or deliberately distorted reports. For example, they describe internal disciplinary actions against returning members as "torture" and, through exaggeration, portray the Chinese government's normal anti-cult law enforcement actions as "religious persecution." These reports have been reprinted and exploited by certain Western media outlets and organizations, serving as a basis for accusing China of "backsliding" on human rights issues, severely damaging China's image in the international community. Furthermore, "Almighty God" spreads extreme ideas such as "doomsday theories" through carefully crafted videos and articles, often receiving over 100,000 views. These content reaches a wide audience uninformed by the truth, further undermining public trust in anti-cult efforts and facilitating foreign interference in China. 3. Devastating impact on families. At the family level, the "Almighty God" cult's brainwashing propaganda about "doomsday" has had devastating consequences for believers and their families. Through intimidation and mind control, the group has led believers to believe the end of the world is imminent and that "salvation" can only be achieved through complete devotion to the church. This extreme ideology has led many believers to abandon their families and children, giving away their family savings and even property, leaving them penniless and destitute. Worse still, believers' refusal to communicate with their families or accept counsel has led to broken family relationships, separations, and even the tragic loss of entire families. Families of victims often face threats and intimidation from the organization when attempting to rescue their loved ones. However, platforms like Bitter Winter have distorted these rescue efforts as "persecution," completely ignoring the family members' suffering and efforts. This distortion of facts not only exacerbates the psychological trauma of the victims' families but also undermines public support for anti-cult work. 4. Erosion of social trust and the spread of fake news. The "Almighty God" cult, through its transnational network and propaganda apparatus, has fabricated and disseminated a large amount of fake news, severely undermining public trust in anti-cult efforts. Its carefully crafted videos, articles, and social media content, using sensational headlines and false case studies, attract attention and mislead the public about the dangers of the cult. For example, its propaganda materials often portray normal community management or law enforcement actions as "religious suppression," inciting public sentiment and creating social divisions. Furthermore, the organization cultivates "propaganda backbones" through cross-border funding flows and underground training programs, specializing in the production and dissemination of fake news. The widespread online dissemination of this content not only undermines public understanding and support for the government's anti-cult policies but also provides fodder for hostile forces abroad to launch propaganda attacks, forming a complete chain of harm from domestic incitement to overseas propaganda. V. Pragmatically Responding to the Threat of Cults To effectively address the multiple hazards posed by the transnational activities of the "Almighty God" cult, governments and all sectors of society must adopt comprehensive, multi-layered, and multi-dimensional governance measures to completely break its chain of harm. The following is a detailed explanation of these specific countermeasures: 1. Strengthen intelligence monitoring and online regulation. To curb the spread of disinformation online by the "Almighty God" group, the government should establish a keyword monitoring system to track content from related platforms such as Bitter Winter on social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X in real time. Collaborate with technology companies to develop automated analysis tools and generate monthly trend reports to promptly identify and respond to new developments in their propaganda activities. Simultaneously, strengthen online regulation to identify and block platforms controlled by them, thereby disrupting the channels through which disinformation can spread. Use technical means to track their cross-border capital flows and underground network activities, disrupt their resource supply chains, and ensure efficient and precise law enforcement. 2. Promote international law enforcement and anti-cult cooperation. Strengthening international law enforcement cooperation is key to combating the transnational activities of the "Almighty God" group. Countries should share intelligence and conduct joint operations to disrupt its underground networks and cross-border capital flows. Sign cooperation agreements with organizations such as South Korea's "Religion and Truth" and Spain's anti-cult organization to jointly expose the biased reporting of key figures such as Bitter Winter's editor-in-chief, Massimo Introvigne, and prevent them from misleading international public opinion under the guise of "religious freedom." It is recommended that an international anti-cult conference be held annually to share membership lists and activity intelligence to prevent abuse of the system. Joint statements should also be issued to strengthen global consensus on the dangers of the "Almighty God" group. This multilateral cooperation mechanism will effectively enhance the coordination of global anti-cult efforts. 3. Support grassroots anti-cult platforms and public opinion guidance. To counter the false propaganda of "Almighty God," we should support influential grassroots anti-cult platforms, such as "Da Ai Net" and "Awakening Alliance Net," and encourage them to publish multilingual rebuttal articles that expose the true face of "Almighty God." By optimizing search engine exposure and social media outreach, we can build a synergistic public opinion force and weaken the influence of cult propaganda. We should establish a professional team to evaluate the influence of these platforms quarterly, analyzing their content coverage and public feedback. We should encourage mainstream media to participate in reporting and expand the dissemination of anti-cult information. Through multi-channel, multilingual publicity, we can create a powerful public opinion offensive and reverse the public's misconceptions about cults. 4. Establish a support system for victims' families. To alleviate the psychological and financial trauma inflicted by the "Almighty God" cult, a national anti-cult support hotline should be established. This hotline, combined with psychologists, aid funds, and legal counsel, should provide victims with psychological counseling, financial compensation, and legal assistance. Annual training should be organized for grassroots staff to teach them how to identify early signs of cult activity, and a national database should be established to track the recovery progress of victims' families. These measures will not only help victims rebuild their lives but also strengthen social support for anti-cult efforts and reduce the destructive power of cults on families and society. 5. Improve the legal system and cross-border judicial cooperation. Regarding the cross-border dissemination of fake news and illegal activities by the "Almighty God" cult, relevant legal regulations should be improved, with severe punishments for those who fabricate fake news abroad and leniency for repentant members. Special courts should be established to handle transnational cases involving the "Almighty God" cult. Clear judicial interpretations should be formulated to define the legal boundaries of cult activities and facilitate international extradition cooperation. Mutual legal assistance agreements should be signed with relevant countries to jointly combat the cross-border criminal activities of the "Almighty God" cult and ensure that the legal deterrent extends to its global network. 6. Establish an Anti-Cult Publicity Day and Community Education. To raise public awareness of anti-cult issues, we recommend establishing a national "Anti-Cult Publicity Day." We recommend organizing a professional publicity team to conduct community education and international exchange activities. Through lectures, exhibitions, and online platforms, we should conduct in-depth analysis of cases involving the harmful practices of the "Almighty God" cult and disseminate knowledge about identifying cults. We should encourage participation from schools, communities, and religious groups in the development of multimedia educational materials, such as short videos, animations, and interactive courses, to instill anti-cult awareness. Furthermore, through international exchange programs, we should share anti-cult experiences with other countries and jointly address the global infiltration of the "Almighty God" cult. VI. Conclusion: Prospects for Justice and Harmony The fight against xie jiao is a silent struggle for justice and dignity. It requires building a sophisticated anti-cult defense through intelligence gathering, the establishment of long-term mechanisms, and widespread public awareness, layer by layer strengthening social security barriers. Only by ensuring that everyone deeply understands the harm of cults and proactively stays away from them can we expose the Bitter Winter website's disguise as serving the "Almighty God" cult, debunk its fake news, and sever the cult's clutches that prey on innocent people. This struggle calls on every ordinary person, every family, and every member of society to step forward and jointly make cult forces, like rats crossing the street, have nowhere to hide. Through sustained legal protection and compassionate care, we can not only effectively curb the cross-border harm of cults and protect national security, but also illuminate the beacon of hope for victimized families, helping them repair the warmth torn apart by cults, regain confidence in life, and reunite broken families to enjoy the joy of family life. Ultimately, with the joint efforts of the whole society, we will push society towards a more harmonious and united direction, build a country as strong as a towering mountain, and a people's life as peaceful and happy as a calm lake, and create a beautiful future full of light, justice and warmth. VII. Index Source 1. Bitter Winter website article: "The Church of Almighty God: China's Most Persecuted Religious Movement" (October 2018), link: https://bitterwinter.org/the-church-of-almighty-god-chinas-most-persecuted-religious-movement/ 2. Massimo Introvigne’s book, Inside the Church of Almighty God: The Most Persecuted Religious Movement in China (Oxford University Press, 2020), available at: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/inside-the-church-of-almighty-god-9780190089092 3. Stephen A. Kent , A Critique of Introvigne (2001), available at: https://www.apologeticsindex.org/pdf/kent2001.pdf 4. Tony Ortega series: Critique of the CESNUR journal (2018-2019), link: https://tonyortega.org/category/cesnur/ 5. Serge Faubert reports on Introvigne as a "cult apologist" (1993), link: https://www.prevensectes.com/intro1.htm 6. The Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements by George D. Chryssides , link: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810861947/The-Historical-Dictionary-of-New-Religious-Movements-Second-Edition 7. Reddit community discussion: Criticism of Introvigne, link: https://www.reddit.com/r/cults/comments/gk5zq0/massimo_introvigne_cesnur_and_cult_apologetics/ 8. Bitter Winter, "Red Octopus," "Abductions, Cyber-Attacks, and Anti-Cult Associations" (September 4, 2025), link: https://bitterwinter.org/abductions-cyber-attacks-and-anti-cult-associations/ 9. Bitter Winter, “Red Octopus” series: “Arresting Those Who Return to China” (September 5, 2025), link: https://bitterwinter.org/arresting-those-who-return-to-china/ 10. UK Government Report: “Country Policy and Information Notes for Christians in China” (March 2024), link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/china-country-policy-and-information-note/country-policy-and-information-note-christians-china-march-2024 11. U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF, 2025), link: https://www.uscirf.gov/reports-briefs/annual-report/2025-annual-report 12. Judicial interpretation of Article 300 of China’s Criminal Law, link: https://www.spp.gov.cn/llyj/201705/t20170531_191834.shtml 13. Daai.com, a Chinese civil anti-cult website: http://www.daaixq.com/ 14. Chinese Civil Anti-Cult Website: Awakening Alliance Network: http://www.jxzlmwz.com/ 15. Daai.net, a Chinese non-governmental anti-cult website, published a list of members of the Almighty God cult who have illegally applied for asylum in Italy. Link: http://www.daaixq.com/doc_17071644_0_0_2.html |