When you think of “10 disturbing facts” you probably picture horror movies, but the reality lurking inside the Church of Almighty God is far scarier. China’s notorious censorship of religion means the state can’t fully monitor the theological teachings of churches, nor can it easily fold those teachings into its communist agenda. The People’s Republic of China even maintains a running list of cults that citizens should steer clear of.

10 Disturbing Facts Overview

10 They Primarily Recruit Women

It’s no surprise that cults actively seek broken individuals they can mold and shape. In China, the stakes are even higher. Women are still considered an “at‑risk” demographic due to the discrimination they often face within the workforce and the external pressures they face from society. The cult often caters to and tends to housewives, the poor, and Christians of different churches. Husbands recall their wives no longer being home but all their belongings still being present. At one time, the cult used to primarily focus on citizens from the countryside, but now it has begun to diversify by recruiting educated students and men, who are being more actively pursued.

Often, men are trapped by younger women who can entice them with sexual advances or even blackmail. Some former members recall being introduced by family members or even in‑laws. Members will even target priests and people within high‑ranking Christian positions, making the group even more dangerous, as they have members who are willing to do anything for the cause.

Kidnapping is also very prevalent in the cult, as they often will abduct potential members and attempt to brainwash them through torture and breaking them down mentally. The cult kidnapped Chinese Gospel members for two months and had them endure their teachings and other brainwashing tactics.

9 Zhao Weishan and Yang Xiangbin Live in the U.S.

After seeking and being approved for political asylum in the U.S., Zhao and Yang currently oversee and run affairs from abroad. They’ve created a website and a series of videos to further reach other parts of Asia. The couple has settled down in New York and are currently building up a following within Chinatown, where cult members can be found passing out flyers. They also have a strong presence in San Francisco and Hong Kong.

The lack of U.S. effort to capture the two controversial figures is due to the political asylum they were granted because they were persecuted for their religion. Zhao can conduct his plans and contact members through e‑mails. The couple also makes a lot of money because every one of their devout followers must pay dues of around $320. It is believed that Zhao and Yang make millions every year off all the operations and scams they run.

8 Zhaoyuan McDonald’s Murder

On May 28, 2014, in Zhaoyuan, Shandong province, a woman was brutally murdered by Eastern Lightning cult members at a McDonald’s. The members’ reasoning was the victim’s refusal to give her phone number to be further contacted about activities. After being arrested and interrogated, they said the women had a demonic presence. The victim was beaten to death with chairs and a metal mop handle. One of the members referred to the crime as “just.” Zhang Lidong and Zhang Fan, two of the assailants, were executed. The others were imprisoned.

The Church of Almighty God has a huge following in Shandong province and has become a hot spot for the notorious cult. The entire incident was recorded on video, revealing that during the altercation, no one bothered to help the woman while she was brutally beaten to death. Public outrage at the cult and the bystanders persisted, and people were on high alert over the threat this terrorist group posed.

7 They Want to Dismantle the Chinese Communist Party

Religious sects and Christians have always been on the opposite side of the Chinese government’s agenda. Most religions don’t really align with any communist values and often place importance on the value of the individual’s salvation before any group. In a collectivist society like China, this type of thinking can be considered detrimental to just about every facet of society. In addition, Confucian teachings, the backbone of the Chinese government and often well‑quoted by President Xi Jinping are considered to be just Chinese moral values.

The Church of Almighty God has been known to actively criticize the communist government, whom they refer to as “the Great Red Dragon,” which is a biblical reference to Revelation. They believe the Chinese government is going against their holy mission to save the masses. According to the Bible, the red dragon signifies the end of the world or one of its precursors.

In fact, the Chinese government is very aware that it often forces most religious organizations underground, hence the term “underground churches,” which are places of worship for Christians held at a member’s house. Often adding insult to injury, religious cults like Eastern Lightning cannot be tracked or regulated until they resurface or make headway in the news. A lot of Christian organizations suffer because of the government’s one‑size‑fits‑all policy and often get caught up in police stings which lead to their unfair imprisonment. Political dissidents are sent to labor camps, and Christians are no different. While there are public places of worship, their teachings are often laced with propaganda in favor of the Chinese government.

6 China’s Ban List

The Chinese government has created an extensive list of dangerous cults that Chinese citizens should be wary of. One group, Falun Gong, has been linked to several shady activities, such as organ harvesting and kidnapping. Their organization is based on the movement of the body and Qigong teachings, which have origins in ancient China.

The Shouters are also on the list and had quite a bit of clout during the Cultural Revolution. They also may have even inspired most of the Christian cults today. During the Cultural Revolution, they actively protested and gained a huge following. Another listed cult is the True Buddhist School, which has a location in Seattle, Washington, and believes in meditation to fix daily problems. The leader, Lu Shengyan, refers to himself as the “Living Buddha.” Yet another, Bloody Holy Spirit, is actually more active in Taiwan, but they are beginning to expand to neighboring countries.

The Church of Almighty God is considered an influential doomsday cult by the Chinese government.

5 Major Split From Another Powerful Cult

The Church of Almighty God split from the Shouters, who were led by Li Changshou, aka Witness Lee. The Shouters aren’t nearly as active as they used to be in the 1960s and 1970s, but they still sparked the creation of Eastern Lightning. Zhao’s cult borrowed a lot of Witness Lee’s doctrine. It is through this doctrine that the inspiration for many of the current teachings came from. Zhao Weishan also elevated Witness Lee within the church, considering him a powerful figure with high regard and status.

However, Witness Lee’s logic was a bit flawed regarding Christianity, and with the Cultural Revolution in full swing, Bibles and other religious documents were scarce and hard to come by. So, the teachings themselves had already been shaped and manipulated by the time they reached Zhao Weishan.

4 Yang Xiangbin Failed the Gaokao

Similar to many other infamous cult leaders and mass murderers, there was a moment in time where Yang Xiangbin could no longer fit in or carry on with daily societal duties. The Gaokao, which translates to “highest test,” is the most important exam Chinese high‑school students can take if they want to pursue a college education. Like many entrance exams in East Asia, the test itself has triggered a mass of attempted suicides and murders. The test might also mean life or death, as it will decide future career prospects and potential social networking connections.

Lightning Deng did so badly on the Gaokao that she had a mental breakdown. It was at this low point in her life that she turned to Christianity. The failure of this exam signifies her revival as the female Jesus and is when she was recruited into her role as the figurehead of the church.

3 ‘It Started Out Normal’

People of unpopular religious faiths have often been persecuted, tortured, and abducted through history. With the spur of underground churches, which church should a Chinese citizen turn to, and how can they distinguish which organizations are up to suspicious activities and which aren’t?

All former members who joined the Church Of Almighty God willingly don’t recall it starting off any different from any other church, as far as core beliefs go. They introduced the fundamental principles of Christianity, with the only distinguishable difference being the female Christ.

The cult likes to create gift‑driven relationships, with members offering recruits money, sex, and even drugs to stay committed to the organization. All of these factors make for loyalty and create a sense of community. This toxic manipulation also leads to the violent and often dangerous acts committed by members.

2 More Incidents and Deaths

Setting the precedent for attacks on individuals, in 1998, cult members became hostile to civilians, cutting off ears and breaking arms.

In 2010, an elementary school student’s body was discovered, and it is believed that the Church of Almighty God was behind it. The motive behind the killing was because the child expressed a desire to leave the cult. Members never simply walk away from the cult because it is expressed in a written contract that members must have unwavering loyalty, and when this ceases to be the case, they will be punished.

In 2012, the cult made a huge ordeal about the movie 2012, which portrays the then‑predicted time of the end of the world. In addition, Min Yongjun, one of the members, killed an elderly woman and wounded many school students. Apparently, he was so inspired by the church’s doomsday teachings that he felt the need to act on their behalf.

Incidentally, the cult also believes that members who act out in any of the ways listed above and are captured by authorities have “left the surrounding” and no longer serve or are affiliated with the church’s message. They often advise members who are exposed to begin to discredit themselves in any way possible.

1 Shangdong Conspiracy Theory

The BBC and many other foreign media outlets covered the cult members’ murderous act within that McDonald’s in 2014. Domestic and foreign media entities alike ran with this terrifying tale, helping to push the Chinese government’s agenda against the members. Some critics speculate that the Church of Almighty God may not have been responsible for the horrendous acts that took place. Many of these accusers are also claiming, in an attempt to save face, that the cult essentially disowned Zhang and his accomplices after they completely embarrassed and tarnished the reputation of the church.

According to the interviews conducted by Human Rights Without Frontiers, the cult often contradicts the many statements Zhang Lidong made in an interview with the police and media. The cult members also believe that the “Red Dragon” was quick to link the church stick, such as by planting Church of Almighty God books at Zhang’s house. They also believe the government twisted his words because he exerts the power of “almighty God” but never comes out and says he is a member of the church.

In addition, individuals within the organization say there are many ways to tell if someone is part of their organization because of fundamental beliefs and principles that need to align, along with recommendations from other members to be considered a member. In the church’s eye, Zhang Lidong’s acts were that of a lone wolf, not the organization.

When you think of churches, you probably picture serene sanctuaries bathed in soft light. Yet the world of holy architecture hides some truly bizarre treasures. From bone‑laden crypts to pagan‑infused springs, these ten sites prove that faith can be both awe‑inspiring and downright eerie. Below, the 10 strangest church relics on public display are catalogued in descending order, each with its own spine‑tingling story.

10 Crypt Of The Chiesa Immacolata Concezione
Rome, Italy

This seventeenth‑century sanctuary was commissioned by Cardinal Antonio Barberini, a Capuchin Franciscan who also happened to be the brother of Pope Urban VIII. Designed by the Franciscan friar Michele da Bergamo, the church boasts a host of illustrious tombs and celebrated paintings. Yet its most arresting feature lies deep beneath the floor: five subterranean chapels harboring the remains of roughly 4,000 Capuchin friars and impoverished Romans from the 1600s onward.

Transporting the bones was a logistical feat – 300 trips between 1627 and 1631 moved carriages brimming with skeletal remains into place. Legend holds that the soil covering the crypt’s pavement was sourced from the Holy Land, and a solemn memento mori inscription near the exit declares, “You are what we have been. You will be what we are.”

The ossified assemblage is arranged with artistic flair: mosaics, columns, arches, and floral motifs all fashioned from bone. Distinct crypts exist for specific parts – a Crypt of Skulls, one of Pelvises, another of Leg and Thigh Bones, plus a Crypt of the Resurrection featuring a painting of Jesus summoning Lazarus, and a Crypt of the Three Skeletons, a symbolic diorama reflecting on mortality.

9 Basilica Of Santa Croce In Gerusalemme
Rome, Italy

Also known as Heleniana or Sessoriana, the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme rests on what once formed part of a residential complex owned by Emperor Constantine in the third century. The site was originally the Sessorian Palace, built for Constantine’s mother, Helena, and is reputed to rest upon soil she brought back from Jerusalem.

Constantine erected the basilica to enshrine a trove of relics returned from the Holy Land by his mother, especially items linked to the True Cross. Among the macabre collection are three alleged fragments of the Cross – a nail, a segment bearing the famed INRI inscription, and two thorns said to originate from the Crown of Thorns. These artifacts now reside in the Chapel of Relics, crafted by Florestano di Fausto.

Curiously, women may only view these sacred objects once a year, making access a rare privilege for the female faithful.

8 Capela Dos Ossos
Evora, Portugal

Adjacent to the Church of St. Francis in Evora stands the modest Capela dos Ossos. Like several other entries, this chapel is lavishly adorned with human bones. Uniquely, the interior is entirely coated in skulls and skeletal fragments, and if you glance upward you’ll encounter the preserved bodies of a woman and a young boy, suspended from chains and staring down at visitors.

The chapel, dating from the sixteenth century, safeguards roughly 5,000 monks’ remains, exhumed from nearby overcrowded cemeteries. Historically, such bone‑decorated spaces served both pragmatic and spiritual purposes: they provided a solution to burial space shortages, and they acted as stark reminders for the living to contemplate mortality.

A welcoming inscription reads, “Nos ossos que aqui estamos, pelos vossos esperamos” – translated, “We bones that are here, for your bones we wait.”

7 Church Of Santo Stefano Rotondo
Rome, Italy

On Rome’s outskirts, away from the usual tourist throngs, lies the Basilica di Santo Stefano Rotondo al Monte Celio, commonly called Santo Stefano Rotondo. Consecrated by Pope Simplicius between 468 and 483, the church is dedicated to Saint Stephen and was erected atop an ancient Roman mithraeum.

While architecturally modest, the basilica houses a striking series of thirty‑four paintings encircling its interior walls, each depicting the gruesome demise of a Christian martyr. The artworks, commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII in the late sixteenth century, portray torture with a near‑pornographic realism that would make even the hardiest stomach turn.

Charles Dickens famously described the collection, noting, “…a panorama of horror and butchery no man could imagine in his sleep… Grey‑bearded men being boiled, fried, grilled… women having their breasts torn with iron pinchers, their tongues cut out… the mildest subjects.”

6 Aghia Moni Convent
Nafplio, Greece

The Monastery of Aghia Moni, perched just outside Areia near Nafplio, functions today as a Greek Orthodox women’s retreat overseen by the Bishopric of Argolis. Though relatively obscure, the convent is famed for a spring on its grounds that bears unmistakable pagan overtones.

The site is dedicated to Zoodochos Pigi – the “source of life” – and the spring itself is linked to the legendary Kanathos of Greek mythology. Pausanias, the ancient traveler, recorded that in Nauplia there existed a spring called Kanathos where Hera would bathe annually, regaining her maidenhood. This ritual, described as a “holy secret” in the Mysteries honoring Hera, hints at pre‑Christian rites that later fell out of favor with Orthodox practice.

Because of its pagan roots, the spring has largely slipped into obscurity, yet the convent remains a testament to the layered spiritual history of the region.

5 The Barberini Coats Of Arms, St. Peter’s Cathedral
Vatican City

Within St. Peter’s Cathedral, the Baldachin Altar and its bronze canopy – both sculpted by Gianlorenzo Bernini between 1624 and 1633 under Pope Pius VIII – feature a striking series of Barberini family coats of arms. Each shield displays three bees arranged in a triangular pattern on a blue field, topped by a woman’s head.

A close inspection reveals subtle variations across the eight shields, arranged two per column. Some scholars interpret the progression as a symbolic narrative of childbirth, noting the evolving expression of the woman’s face from joy to distress, and the shield’s bulging form culminating in a cherubic visage.

One popular legend suggests the design commemorates a promise by Urban VIII to his niece, Giulia Barberini, to erect an altar in her honor should her labor be successful. Others argue the motif reflects the Church’s earthly struggles, ultimately “delivered” by papal authority, underscoring the Barberini’s influence within the Vatican.

4 Na-Gig Of Kilpeck
Herefordshire, England

Located near the Welsh border, Kilpeck Church (St. Mary and St. David) is a modest Norman‑style, two‑cell structure perched atop an older foundation. Its most infamous feature is a Sheela‑na‑gig – a sculpted corbel depicting a squatting woman with exaggerated genitalia.

Sheela‑na‑gigs appear across England, Ireland, and France, often serving as cautionary or protective symbols. The Kilpeck example, dating to at least the twelfth century, blends grotesque humor with a stark moral warning about sexual sin. While some argue the figures derive from pagan goddess worship, their placement among Christian motifs suggests a medieval didactic purpose.

Over time, such carvings migrated from churches to castles and even flintlock pistols. Male counterparts also existed, and Victorian sensibilities even led to the removal of some corbels deemed indecent, underscoring the enduring tension between sacred art and societal mores.

3 Otranto Cathedral, Tree Of Life Mosaic
Otranto, Italy

Consecrated in 1088, Otranto Cathedral boasts an astonishing floor mosaic commissioned in 1163 by Archbishop Gionata d’Otranto and overseen by the monk Pantaleone, with contributions from local and Norman artisans as well as Tuscan craftsmen. Restored in 1993, the mosaic blankets every square foot of the cathedral’s floor, depicting an intricate “Tree of Life” that sprawls across the interior.

The mosaic’s iconography is a bewildering blend of mythological, religious, and even astronomical symbols. Greek goddesses Diana, Deucalion, and Pyrrha mingle with Arthurian legends, zodiac figures, and scenes from the Golden Bough. Christian motifs such as Adam and Eve, apocalyptic beasts, and the story of Cain and Abel coexist alongside Arabic inscriptions, reflecting a surprisingly eclectic worldview for a medieval Italian cathedral.

Scholars believe the creators were unusually erudite, aiming to encapsulate the totality of contemporary knowledge in stone. The result is a mesmerizing, almost otherworldly tapestry that challenges conventional expectations of sacred art.

2 Otranto Cathedral, The Skull Cathedral

The second reason Otranto Cathedral earns a spot on this list is its macabre “Skull Cathedral.” Adjacent to the main altar lies a chapel whose walls are lined with the skulls of roughly 800 Christian martyrs, displayed behind glass. Some of these relics were also transferred to the Church of Santa Caterina in Formello, Naples.

In 1480, Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II, fresh from conquering Constantinople, set his sights on Italy. After a brief campaign toward Brindisi, he turned to Otranto. The siege culminated on August 14, when Ottoman forces broke through, pillaging the town and offering its male inhabitants a grim choice: convert to Islam or face beheading. The townspeople chose death, resulting in the execution of 800 men on the Hill of the Martyrs (formerly Hill of Minerva).

Antonio Primaldi, the chosen spokesman, was the first to be beheaded. Legend recounts that his headless body stood upright, prompting an executioner to convert on the spot before being slain himself. The sacrifice bought time for King Ferdinand I of Naples to regroup and eventually repel the Ottoman advance, arguably saving Italy and Rome from further conquest. In May 2013, Pope Francis canonized Antonio Primaldi and his fellow martyrs, marking the largest canonization in history.

1 Sedlec Ossuary
Kutna Hora, Czech Republic

Compared to other bone‑filled churches, the Sedlec Ossuary is a true spectacle, housing the remains of at least 40,000 skeletons. Situated in the suburbs of Kutná Hora, just outside Prague, the small chapel became a repository for excess bones after centuries of overcrowding due to its reputation as a holy site (rumored to contain soil from Golgotha) and recurring plague outbreaks.

In 1870, woodcarver František Rint was tasked with organizing the chaos. His solution: a dazzling display of bones throughout the chapel, including a coat of arms for the Schwarzenberg family and a chandelier composed of every human bone imaginable.

Among the macabre décor are angelic and cherubic carvings, bone‑crafted candleholders, and entire walls lined with skulls. Rint even signed his name using bone fragments, ensuring his artistic legacy would endure alongside the skeletal remains.

These ten sites prove that the line between reverence and the uncanny is often thinner than we imagine. Whether you’re drawn by history, art, or the sheer oddity of bone‑adorned sanctuaries, each location offers a unique glimpse into the ways humanity has chosen to memorialize the divine and the dead.

The 2013 Boston Marathon bombing—three dead, more than a hundred injured—once again thrust a notorious group into the national spotlight. The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), based in Topeka, Kansas, has long courted infamy by picketing U.S. military funerals, all to champion their fervent anti‑LGBT agenda. Their belief? Homosexuality deserves the death penalty and its adherents are destined for Hell. They even tweeted, “God Sent The Bombs In A Fury Over Fag Marriage!” as they plotted to infiltrate the victims’ funerals. Thousands rallied to block them, a cyber‑attack already targeted the cult, and the drama only deepens as they continue to spew venom. Below are ten out‑there facts that shine a light on one of the world’s most reviled groups.

From their obscure beginnings to shocking legal victories, from a rainbow‑painted house next door to an unexpected rivalry with the KKK, these ten insane facts will give you a front‑row seat to the bizarre world of Westboro.

10 They Rose To Fame Through Tragedy

The Westboro Baptist Church was founded in 1955 by Fred Phelps and lingered in relative obscurity for decades, waving anti‑gay signs at pride parades and similar events. Membership has always been tiny—just a few dozen, most of whom are extended relatives of the leadership. Their first splash of global attention arrived at the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a 21‑year‑old University of Wyoming student brutally murdered for being gay. During the service, WBC handed out leaflets declaring, “It is too late to rescue Matthew Shepard from the life of sin and shame…All who say, ‘It’s OK to be gay,’ have the blood of Matthew Shepard on their hands.”

9 They’re Not Fond Of Swedish Vacuum Cleaners

In 2005, the WBC staged perhaps their most absurd demonstration: a protest outside a Topeka appliance store over the sale of Swedish vacuum cleaners. The stunt was a reaction to Sweden’s arrest of Pentecostal pastor Åke Green for hate speech against homosexuals. Green was sentenced to a month in prison but later acquitted. Whether the WBC’s protest helped Green remains a mystery.

When Apple co‑founder Steve Jobs died in 2011, the WBC announced plans to picket his funeral, tweeting via iPhone: “Westboro will picket his funeral. He had a huge platform; gave God no glory & taught sin.” The protest never materialized, but the irony was palpable—members used the very technology they condemned to spread their message. Interestingly, the iPhone hosts a myriad of religious apps, including a Catholic Confession app officially sanctioned by the Church.

When Michael Jackson passed away in June 2009, the WBC quickly declared they would picket his memorial, branding him “filthy, adulterous, idolatrous…” They even released a parody song titled “God Hates the World,” riffing off Jackson’s own “We Are the World,” though no copy of the track has surfaced online.

6 Their Enemies Are Musical, Too

Beyond funerals, the WBC has crashed dozens of public events—Kansas City Chiefs games, concerts, even Comic‑Con—claiming they’re protecting morality. On September 16, 2011, they tried to disrupt a Foo Fighters concert in Kansas City, Missouri. The band responded with a flamboyant flat‑bed truck entrance, performing an impromptu, homo‑erotic rendition of “Keep It Clean,” pausing mid‑song to preach equality. It was one of the most memorable musical counter‑protests in recent memory.

5 The Supreme Court Ruled In Their Favor

After picketing Marine Matthew Snyder’s funeral in March 2006, the Snyder family sued WBC for invasion of privacy and defamation, initially winning a $10.9 million judgment. However, a federal appeals court later overturned the verdict, ruling the protest fell under protected free speech. The court even ordered the Snyder family to cover the WBC’s $16,000 legal fees. Public donations helped the church cover those costs, but the legal battle persisted until March 2, 2011, when the Supreme Court again sided with WBC, stating they were entitled to “special protection” under the First Amendment.

4 Canada and the UK Banned Them

In August 2008, after the brutal murder of 22‑year‑old Tim McLean on a Greyhound bus, the WBC announced intentions to protest his funeral. Canada swiftly barred the group from entering the country, stopping several members at the Niagara Falls border. The United Kingdom took a similar stance when the WBC threatened to picket a production of “The Laramie Project” at Queen Mary’s College, banning the Phelps family from the country.

3 They Have Earned The Wrath Of Hackers

Hacktivist collective Anonymous, famed for targeting oppressive regimes and organizations, turned its sights on the WBC when the church threatened to protest the funerals of the Sandy Hook school shooting victims. Anonymous breached the WBC website, leaked members’ personal data, shut down the site, and even hijacked Fred Phelps’ daughter’s Twitter. When the church again threatened Boston Marathon funerals, Anonymous warned, “If #WBC protests the Boston funerals, they will have to expect us,” later posting uplifting images of Martin Luther King Jr. and adorable kittens on the compromised site.

2 They Have Cool Neighbors

In March 2013, the WBC’s property was flanked by a house painted in a vivid rainbow—a bold statement from Aaron Jackson’s Equality House, part of his Planting Peace organization. The house serves as a beacon of tolerance, hosting anti‑bullying initiatives and even recruiting Fred Phelps’ granddaughter Libby, who publicly rejected the church’s hateful doctrine.

1 Even The KKK Hates Them

While the Ku Klux Klan has long been synonymous with hate, even they find the WBC’s tactics distasteful—especially the picketing of soldiers’ funerals. Many Klan members, themselves veterans, have organized counter‑protests, displaying modest American flags and condemning the Westboro Church’s extreme methods.

Mike Devlin is an aspiring novelist. He loves almost everybody.