China Arrests Members of Doomsday Groups

By and large, they're not fans of the Chinese government

For members of a doomsday cult in China, the end may indeed be near.

Authorities have in recent weeks arrested more than 100 members of a fringe Christian-inspired group known as Almighty God that is prophesying the world will end Dec. 21, according to state media.

Members of the group had been distributing apocalyptic literature and sending text messages throughout China when the government began detaining them this month. On Dec. 8, police arrested 34 members in Fujian province, which lies on China's southeastern coast. There have also been arrests in Qinghai, Sichuan and Hubei provinces and elsewhere.