Exposing CBS' false claims that Shincheonji Church is "Anti-Nation, Anti-Social and Anti-Religion”

 

Since its establishment in March 1984, Shincheonji church has become the subject of numerous false allegations made by Korean Protestant churches and organisations affiliated to it within the Republic of Korea. They have declared war whilst Shincheonji church continues to declare peace.

The chairman of Shincheonji church - who is also chairman of the peace organisation ‘Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL)’ - expressed his desire to host the '4th annual commemoration of the WARP (World Alliance of Religions' Peace) Summit' at Ansan-Wa main stadium in September 2018 for the noble goal of reunifying the Korean peninsula and ceasing all wars globally through an international peace law. However, allegations made by Protestant denominations that this was a cover-up intended to conceal the "anti-national, anti-social and illegal" activities of Shincheonji church designed to "deceive" foreign leaders persuaded the authorities revoking permission for hire. The Supreme Court ruled as follows: “The WARP Summit (World Alliance of Religions' Peace) is not a camouflage event. The WARP Summit is a global peace forum. Shincheonji church thoroughly explained the purpose of the event beforehand so it has never deceived foreigners". Moreover, the peace summit was held in Seoul with 100,000 guests in attendance that included 1000 global dignitaries comprised of leading politicians, legal experts, religious leaders, journalists and peace ambassadors.

Major allegations against Shincheonji church reached national attention through the four-part documentary 'People who fell into Shincheonji church' broadcast by Christian Broadcasting System (CBS) in March 2015. Within this documentary, CBS alleged the following about Shincheonji church:“incites congregation members to run away from home and to disown their families”; "brainwashed and demanded a congregation member to disown her family and forced her to quit her job”, and “has been deceiving numerous souls and created conflict between families and church members including suicide, violence, divorce, runaways, suspending one’s studies and quitting jobs, which is more than just a religious problem, but one that is also anti-social and criminal.” These claims triggered a massive campaign organised by Shincheonji Victims' Family Union outside Hongik University in October 2016 as parents pled for the return of their children .

Shincheonji church subsequently exercised its right of reply and challenged such claims. In November 2017, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Shincheonji church, ruling that all allegations broadcast in CBS' documentary were groundless and false. The Supreme Court ruled as follows: "Shincheonji church doesn't force or brainwash its congregation members, or ask them to disown their families"; “is neither an anti-social nor criminal organization"; and “hasn't brainwashed its congregation members, but permits members to decide freely through the teachings of the Word. The religious life of Shincheonji church's congregation members is not forced, and the church has never demanded them to disown their families." Moreover, the Supreme Court ruled that “the majority of instances of divorce, runaways, family conflict, suspension of one’s study etc. occur because of the coercive conversion programmes implemented by coercive conversion pastors under the Heresy Handling Committee of the Christian Council of Korea which violates the will of Shincheonji church's congregation members.”*

In an independent investigative report published by Daily Cheonji newspaper, the children of these parents who campaigned outside Hongik university said: “I talk to my parents every day…It is not because of Shincheonji church that I feel unable to return home, but because of family who want to take me to a coercive conversion pastor who is urging them on. They are so reckless." Indeed, the programme has led to the loss of two lives (neither of which, despite international pressure, have been acknowledged by the Korean government) and over 1200 kidnappings.

The Supreme Court subsequently ordered CBS to pay damages of 8million won (c.£5500), retract their initial broadcast and broadcast a correction report in November 2017. CBS did so, but at 3am in when the vast majority of people were asleep.

One of the main reasons why there has been so much slandering of Shincheonji church by Protestant churches and CBS is the mix of vested interest in traditional Korean churches and Korean politics. which has led to outright abuse of power for one's personal gain. Beyond the surface, there is a spiritual battle taking place which will lead to the downfall of CBS and the traditional churches of Korea that support its false allegations.

*The coercive conversion programme is a heinous programme established and implemented by pastors of the CCK (Christian Council of Korea) that is a widespread phenomenon where pastors of protestant churches enlist the aid of a young person’s parent to kidnap and confine him/her in a secluded place, subjecting them to emotional and psychological abuse until they renounce their religious beliefs. This recently led to the death of 25-year-old Ms. Ji-In Gu and widespread rallies that have made international headline outside Korea. To date, the Korean government has not issued a single statement surrounding the murder of Ms. Ji-In Gu.

Main Article

The Supreme Court Orders CBS to produce a counterargument to “Shincheonji Church is Anti-Nation, Anti-Social and Anti-Religion”…Nevertheless ‘Constant Harassment’ Works”’

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