Thread by @VICENews

EXCLUSIVE: The MAGA-loving religious sect that worships with AR-15s has purchased a 130-acre property on a mountain in eastern Tennessee to serve as a “training center” and holy ground, VICE News has learned.
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The latest property acquisition is more evidence that Pastor Hyung Jin “Sean” Moon—a fervent conspiracy theorist and son of an accused cult leader—is determined to expand his reach. bit.ly/2YF1sjw

According to Moon, the goal of the Tennessee property is to recreate the Unification Church’s infamous spiritual retreat Cheongpyeong, located about 27 miles outside of Seoul, South Korea. bit.ly/2YF1sjw

Each year, tens of thousands of members trek to Cheongpyeong, where they shell out huge amounts of cash and submit to beatings with the goal of exorcising “evil spirits”—also known as “ancestor liberation,” or “ansu.” bit.ly/2YF1sjw

“I didn't recognize it at the time, but now—the idea of putting people in a situation where they have to beat themselves or others, to achieve some sort of nebulous spiritual goal, I don't see how that's not abuse,” Elgen Strait, an ex-Moonie, said. bit.ly/2YF1sjw

“There will be no ‘ansu’ activity,” Timothy Elder, Director of World Missions, wrote in an email. “We have no intention of repeating these excesses at the Tennessee property.” bit.ly/2YF1sjw

Anyone who wants to undergo an ancestor liberation by Moon is required to fill out a form that’s available on their website.

On this form, participants are required to state how many generations of ancestors they’d like to liberate. bit.ly/2YF1sjw

The form also has a donation section where people can choose how much they want to give for ancestor liberation, and whether they’d prefer to pay via PayPal, check, wire, or cash. bit.ly/2YF1sjw

“Part of my worry is just the replication of the structure and system of abuse that I witnessed. But also the fact it's happening with someone at the helm who is even more extreme.” bit.ly/2YF1sjw