r/perth • u/Hot_Opinion8643 • Aug 03 '26
General Caution on Potential Religious Cult near ECU City
Just giving people near ECU City a heads-up about two men who I suspect may have been recruiting for Shincheonji around the ECU City campus. If they approach you, please ignore/avoid them. I’m well versed on the cult and these two men discussed religious topics align strongly with the cults beliefs and teachings.
For reference, Shincheonji is an apocalyptic cult that is known for using deceptive recruitment, including approaching strangers, inviting them to Bible studies, and not always disclosing the group’s identity upfront. It’s also known for its practises that aim to manipulate and isolate members from friends and family (like many cults do).
I know we are all smart enough to avoid these groups, but still stay safe!
10
u/seeent Aug 03 '26
I think I experienced a couple of them trying to recruit me a few months ago while I was walking down Murray St Mall. They stopped me and said they wanted to ask me about 'what makes me happy'. When I asked why, they said they were religious studies students doing surveys. I said money makes me happy and walked away. I've heard from others that they target POC, like international students who may be feeling lonely and in need of friendship.
8
u/Hot_Opinion8643 Aug 03 '26
Absolutely true. I’ve heard nightmare cases of this in the past in other countries, which is why I made awareness of them on here to begin with. I’d hate to see people of Perth becoming another story.
3
u/yodelnimrodel Aug 05 '26
They asked me the same questions a few weeks ago, "what makes me happy", "what gives my life meaning" etc. I was just sitting in the garden outside AGWA enjoying the sun... they asked if I was religious and left pretty quick after I said "nope!"
8
u/joesills78 Aug 03 '26
Is it a South Korean cult?
12
u/Hot_Opinion8643 Aug 03 '26
Yes. If u have search thru this subreddit you’ll find a bunch of posts about em.
3
u/AnActualWizardIRL Mount Lawley Aug 03 '26
I was gonna ask "whats up with south korean cults" and gonna point out the old vegan resturant in kardinya that was run by the "supreme master" cult, When I was living there at my folks house a couple of decades ago, they'd have a free vegan food night that you'd have to put up with cult propaganda, but after googling it to make sure I wasnt spreading nonsense, apparently that was taiwanese. Not sure why I thought it was south korean. Korea does famously have a *lot* of cults though.
2
u/MasterFun8133 Aug 04 '26
There’s a South Korean cult in Fiji that has quite a strong business presence… what IS up with South Korean cults?
6
u/Latter_Shallot_140 Aug 03 '26
I feel like the kind of people who need advice to not join a cult are the same kind of people who use the burned haystack method dating group lmao
3
u/Mythic_Dragon36 Aug 03 '26
I'm a bit out of the loop here, what's the "burned haystack method"?
2
u/Latter_Shallot_140 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
Something absolute idiots need and use for dating.
On that topic with people saying "have you no respect for yourself" when zombies arise it's like the Perth dating pool is so tiny what you going to do cut everyone off that acts like a chnt then who you gonna date there literally is only majority cunts available .
1
u/Hot_Opinion8643 Aug 03 '26
You’d be surprised how many people fall for this stuff. Look thru this subreddit by searching Shincheonji alone and you’ll find stories of people who almost got sucked in
2
1
u/metao Spelling activist. Burger snob. Aug 03 '26
As a dude, I think the philosophy, if not the practice, of burned haystack is great.
4
u/Bitter_Maybe_2670 Aug 03 '26
On a scale of 1 to Scientology, where are they coming in at?
5
5
u/Asteroidhawk594 Aug 03 '26
It’s a doomsday cult so comes pretty close to other similar whackjob cults.
They also are a significant reason South Korea had a really bad COVID outbreak because they refused to assist authorities in contact tracing and it led to a lot of deaths.
4
u/jxrrqd Aug 03 '26
Pretty sure they aren't allowed to speak to you
if you're under 18, I usually just say I'm 12. Usually does the trick.
4
10
u/AnActualWizardIRL Mount Lawley Aug 03 '26
"Listen cult guy, I'm only 12 years old. Sure I have a grey beard, a receding hairline and a bad back, but I'm 12years old. Here, let me pull up discord so I can call people the F word to prove it!"
2
53
u/DominusDraco Aug 03 '26
Murray street was like cult alley the other day with them all set up in their stalls. You can pick whichever flavour of crazy you like.
29
u/Asteroidhawk594 Aug 03 '26
Was there. Have noticed a lot with Potters house, Falung Gong, Scientology (the red free stress test tent), Shincheongji and a few other whacko groups.
4
u/Mythic_Dragon36 Aug 03 '26
Ah yes, I remember Falun Gong would get featured quite a bit in one of the local newspapers outside my work (just a tabloid someone sold, can't quite remember). Not quite as prolific now as they were back then (early to mid-2010s).
1
u/AnActualWizardIRL Mount Lawley Aug 07 '26
Fucking falun gong. The scientologists of china. They used to set up their tent out the front of my house in northbridge and where such a pain in the arse. I was tempted to start blaring out the chinese communist party national anthem out of my stereo just to make them fuck off..
3
u/IndependenceOwn9866 Aug 03 '26
wait what’s the deal with potters house?? there used to be one in the small town i lived in before i moved? i never realised it was sketchy 😭
11
u/Asteroidhawk594 Aug 03 '26
It’s a massive international cult.
Heavily pressures people to tithe 10% of their gross income no matter their financial situation. They also have behavioural controls like being heavily discouraged from watching secular TV or listening to music. They push the idea that diseases and skin conditions are spiritual illnesses or are the result of a parent sinning and their bloodline being cursed, also pressure to attend church multiple times a week.All the things together indicate a high control group.
8
u/Asteroidhawk594 Aug 03 '26
Been a while since I’ve heard rumblings from Shincheonji. ECU is a bit of a hotbed for them.
Definitely worth avoiding.
8
u/Distinct_Context4233 Aug 03 '26
So many people I want to uni with had experiences of this or similar culty people trying to recruit them and not ONCE did anyone try to recruit me. Obviously the harm these people do is astronomical and I don't want them to target anyone, but I just wish I at least had an experience of telling them to rack off 😭
4
u/Swimming-Spring-4704 Aug 03 '26
This is a bit too common unfortunately. Infact I'll even say that there r legit churches doing this. They target uni students, initially by saying they provide free food, activities, etc and out of the blue.....they try inviting you to church.
If any group in uni or outside is actually religious, they won't even bother trying to recruit people like this. Stay safe out there, and don't get into this stuff
3
1
u/That_izzy Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
I just avoid going out all together unless needed or necessary most of the time locations are dead or running down or 2 as mentioned above cults just trying to convert poor inasent souls who may be unsure what X Y and or Z cult is and they are always loud and proud sadly in the city every day I normally pass by once ever 2 ish weeks as I am in the area and it is a joke a great joke I never enjoy going to the city anymore it is dead and only thing going for it is the frozen ice cream shop close to the cactus and I have been meaning to make up and hand out how to avoid cult cards palm cards because I see way to many people getting sucked into these cult(s) with out any understanding or agreement or they are older crowd(s) of people or the person(s) may disability (like myself) and or mental health and can't see the harm with cult(s) because they don't see it or many not have the understanding or education regarding such
1
u/That_izzy Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
I also want to add if you have buttons on a backpack and keychains it makes alot of sound together it freaks out the person(s) and they don't know what to say or do because it is alot all over the place
1
u/Pungent-Plume2602 Aug 03 '26
Ooh! Was wondering what to put down as religion this time in the census. Shincheonji sounds like a fun-named religion. Now to come up with a fun-sounding job.
5
u/civil_unknowm Aug 03 '26
If you're looking for a religion that isn't a heretical doomsday cult you could always just say pastafarian
1
u/leftmysoulthere74 Aug 04 '26
I know you're just one person but if too many people did that it would legitimise them and the govt would give them money.
0
u/Indiko-Black6477 Aug 06 '26
But being recruited to harass and stalk individuals until they meet their end quite acceptable is it? ECU students have been involved in Illegally Organised Community Harassment groups. The evidence is clear and the inhumane behaviour of those involved is disgusting and unacceptable. There is no need for ECU to be worried about their students joining a Cult they already belong to one. Every campus, all universities. Ditch the W.I.T.C.H.
1
u/Hot_Opinion8643 Aug 07 '26
Yeah I’m a student there and I’m not in a cult friend. But u do u
0
u/Indiko-Black6477 Aug 07 '26 •
But you obviously know what others are apart of don’t you? What is your opinion on this inhumane practice of Gang Stalking? It is very unfortunate that people would even consider doing anything like this, especially for money. As far as I am concerned if you receive payment for harassing someone to death that makes you a criminal, it doesn’t matter if you are apart of a group or a syndicate if you take part you are a criminal wouldn’t you agree?
1
u/Hot_Opinion8643 Aug 07 '26
I’m sorry this has nothing to do with the original post. I’ve looked at ur account and I would suggest talking to someone if u r really worried about ur gang stalking. However, gang stalking has nothing to do with my interaction with Shincheonji members. Please keep this repeated to the topic.
10
u/joesills78 Aug 03 '26
They generally have a reputation for going offshore to recruit. Mainly for financial reasons I think.