wfmu - music of mind control:

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<learn: freeform radio/religious cults> <music of mind control> airs on tuesday evenings on jersey city, nj-based radio station wfmu. the show is described as ‘an exploration into the musical output of religious cults, new religious movements, and individuals of a spiritually inspired and divine nature. one particular evening, i heard the host, micah, describe the members church of god international (mcgi), which is known for the radio and TV program ang dating daan (the old path), and had been led by the late televangelist eliseo "brother eli" soriano. while officially registered as an international christian religious group, critics and former members frequently classify it as a cult due to its authoritarian structure, intense exclusivity, and strict control over members. brother eli soriano led the group as "overall servant" from the late 1970s until his death in 2021. he eventually lived and broadcasted in exile from abroad starting in 2005 to escape legal battles and death threats in the philippines. the group claims to be the sole true church established in the bible, rejecting the validity of all other christian denominations. observers note heavy reliance on soriano's absolute authority, where his personal interpretations were treated as unquestionable truth. soriano was known for harsh rhetoric, aggressive televised debates, and public shaming of rival preachers. critics allege heavy pressure regarding financial donations, alongside rigorous lifestyle rules such as bans on certain clothing styles, celebrating holidays like christmas, and strict internal discipline.

the sample heard in <hole step> is of the dj micah describing one of the the group’s beliefs: “one of the things they believe in is that man was made in god’s image … except that god has no knees, for he does not bow or worship others. so, what does that mean? that he has upper legs that go right to the feet? or it’s just like a singular stump … no knee joints in there, just like upper leg to foot? uh, interesting!”