Shincheonji Chairman Calls on African States to Unite and Seek Wisdom from the Bible

On Friday 28 January 2022 Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, held an African Press Conference online via the Zoom platform entitled Testimony on the Parables of the Secrets of Heaven and Their True Meanings. Mr Man-Hee Lee, chairman of Shincheonji and journalists from 55 African countries were in attendance. This press conference was planned at the request of African journalists and pastors who had many questions regarding the church’s latest open online Bible seminar about the Bible book of Revelation.

Shincheonji Church announced that it had planned a press conference to make known the true meaning of the New Testament in the Bible. The African press was introduced to Shincheonji Church, its founder and chairman as well as the results of the church’s recent Revelation seminar that concluded in December last year. Mr Lee also spoke about the new Shincheonji Online Seminar called Testimony on the Parables of the Secrets of Heaven and Their True Meaning, which started in January this year.

The prophecies and fulfilment as recorded in the Book of Revelation have been testified by Shincheonji to the world through YouTube for a total of 10 weeks from October to December last year. It has recorded 8 million cumulative views on YouTube so far. Through this seminar, Shincheonji Church signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with more than 1,200 pastors and seminaries in 57 countries. Of those, 235 MOUs were signed in 16 African countries. And now Shincheonji church is supporting the exchange of the word and message of the Bible to each church and seminary.

Nokwanda Ntanzi addressing the Chairman of Shincheonji with her question.

Many journalists who attended the press conference asked questions about the online Revelation seminar, its contents and the church’s plans after many MOUs have been established. Chairman Man-Hee Lee answered these and many other questions about the seminars clearly and directly.

Chairman Lee said that he especially loves Africa among the global village and that he hopes Africans who have good faith would come closer to the Word of God and get a proper understanding of God’s Will.

Chairman Lee of Shincheonji addressing the African Press

Along with that, he stated that the secrets of heaven are recorded in parables contained in the Bible, and that he hopes the whole world would understand the true meaning of these parables through Shincheonji’s Bible seminar so that they could believe in it and reach salvation.

Furthermore, Chairman Lee asked all the members of the press to report that there is a testimony on the prophecy and fulfilment of Revelation, and the secrets of the kingdom of heaven are available to everyone today.

Stephen Ogwang, secretary-general of Born Again Churches in Uganda said, “I wish everyone across the world will come and study the word from the Shincheonji Bible seminar to change people’s life.”

While Daisyman Goniwe from the Independent Methodist Church in South Africa shared, “I have never encountered the word of God (like this) before, since I have learned from Shincheonji.”

Testimony on the Parables of the Secrets of Heaven and Their True Meaning is an on-going seminar that uncovers the meaning of the parables. It begun on 3 January and is broadcasted twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays through Shincheonji’s YouTube Channel in 24 different languages: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShincheonjiChurchofJesus

Shincheonji Launches Latest Bible Course As Demand Rises

Amid a global decline in the religious population a clear explanation of the Bible has drawn more than 140,000 believers and the attention of millions to Korean-based Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

“Shincheonji Online Seminar: Testimony on the Parables of the Secrets of Heaven and Their True Meanings” is a Bible-based programme offered by Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. The series of seminars focuses on understanding the parables written in the Bible’s New Testament and will be live-streamed afresh on YouTube from January.

“Parables are the key element to understanding the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. The prophecy of the Old Testament was fulfilled at the time of Jesus in his first coming. Now, Jesus left his prophecy of the New Testament to be fulfilled “when the time comes” (John 16:25). We are heading towards the true meaning as the prophecy is revealed,” said an official of the church.

A previous iteration of the seminars focused on the book of Revelation and was streamed on YouTube in the last three months. The content was released in 24 languages and reached 7 million views in 136 countries, including 16,000 pastors as participants of the course. 

Additionally, 1,200 global church leaders in 57 countries signed memorandum of understandings (MOUs) with Shincheonji to boost international cooperation and exchange educational support. 

Pastor Jerry Hagerman of Wayside Mission Church in Virginia, USA is one of the clergymen to have signed the MOU. “I want to be able to grow in the word and I want to teach our congregation…and help bring them from death to life,” he said. “I want to be one with God’s kingdom and have open communication.”

Interest in the educational activities of Shincheonji comes as other churches globally report a downward trend in membership. A report published by Peu Research Center’s National Public Opinion Reference Surveys in December found 3 out of 10 adults in the USA are now religiously unaffiliated, with the Protestant denomination hit hardest by a decline in congregants. Similarly, an investigation from Lifeway Research in Nashville found most Americans consider Jesus a historical figure but have no biblical knowledge about why he came. According to the report only 9% of 1,005 respondents knew that his mission was to testify the fulfilment of the Old Testament.

Contrary to the decrease seen in traditional denominations, over 140,000 people have joined Shincheonji since 2019. Its impressive growth has continued despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Across the world, more and more people are experiencing diseases, disasters, and hardships due to COVID-19, thinking deeply about the meaning of life and suffering. Religion must be able to provide answers to these people. In the religious world where face-to-face activities are limited, education should reach out to every individual in local communities,” a representative of the church said.

“Shincheonji Church appeals to the desire of believers to hold a clear explanation of Jesus’ mission in the New Testament,” he said. Shincheonji’s latest round of seminars will air on YouTube on Mondays and Thursdays from January 3 to March 28 at 10am (Korea Standard Time). You can watch the seminar by searching “Shincheonji Online Seminar: Testimony on the Parables of the Secrets of Heaven and Their True Meanings” on YouTube or through the link https://www.youtube.com/c/ShincheonjiChurchofJesus

Despite the pandemic, shout “WE ARE ONE” for peace in Southern Africa

As the COVID 19 pandemic continues to spread uncertainty and anxiety, bringing many changes to human life, numerous reports have poured in on the escalating cases of gender-based violence in regions most affected by the global outbreak.

 Southern Africa is no exception. As the pandemic rages on, alarming numbers of violence against women and children continue to climb. In 2019, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported that 25% of women in Malawi have experienced physical or sexual spousal violence and 35%-45% levels were even higher in Zimbabwe.

 To combat the issues of security and peace in the immediate communities, leaders from civil society in Southern Africa gathered virtually on November 30 for the “Southern Africa Virtual Peace Summit”. In attendance were leaders in various fields, including political, religious, youth, women, education, media, and civil society organizations. The event was hosted by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international peace NGO affiliated with the UN ECOSOC and the UN DGC.

This summit was especially meaningful in that leaders from various fields in Southern Africa have gathered for peace in the local community. Participants and leaders had time to look back on peace activities in the community during 2021 and make plans for peace activities in 2022.

 The topics that the participants discussed included conversations to solve various issues of violence, the current lack of peace projects in the COVID 19 pandemic, and how peace education can fill the gap, as well as peace activities in pan-religious fields.

 One of the guest speakers, Dorothy Goredema, a Peace and Development Lecturer of Masvingo State University in Zimbabwe said “ I’m excited to join hands with other Southern African countries to promote the work of peace.” Goredema added that she was encouraged that despite facing the COVID-19 situation, stakeholders were continuing to make efforts to come together through virtual platforms to plan and fight against issues that hinder peace.

Guest speakers Dorothy Goredema

 “Since gender inequality is one of the strongest push factors for both external and internal conflict, peace can be achieved if our activities and projects bring out true equality between men”, she said. “We need practical laws and institutions that go beyond simply wishing for peace. As such, there is a need for support and advocacy of DPCW into international law.”

Meanwhile, the DPCW(Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War) was drafted by the HWPL International Law Peace Committee, which is comprised of prominent international law experts from 15 different countries and proclaimed on 14 March 2016 in the form of a Preamble, 10 articles, and 38 clauses. and It contains the essential objectives of “realizing peace” of HWPL.

 Gift Khumalo, founder of Youth In Action, a youth organization based in South Africa said, “In South Africa, we have a lot of crime, people have a lot of firearms. I hope the message of peace needs to be spread so people can live a better life.” Khumalo also added that things were hard in 2021 but news about continuing to spread the word of peace through HWPL became hope. “I support HWPL’s mission of peace and we will be with you next year as well and I aim to make sure that I invite more people.”

 The event was a time to confirm that peace activities could be carried out online beyond the limitations of the pandemic environment, that is, face-to-face communication and experience through offline meetings and HWPL South Africa said, “In 2022, we will try to apply HWPL’s various international activities to the local community.”

The Bible Explained: All the Verses of Revelation Are Connected to the Reality of Our Times

In only two days, the seminar on chapter 1 of Revelation by Chairman Lee exceeded 300,000 views on YouTube around the world, including 5,000 views from Christian leaders. From Southern Africa alone, more than 500 pastors participated in the launch of the online seminars and will follow the study course to be completed this December.

Beginning with Chairman Man Hee Lee’s statement, a round of weekly seminars titled, “Testimony on Prophecy and Fulfillment of Revelation, God’s New Covenant,” are currently being held by Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. The Seminars which have been running from October 18th are set to end on the December 27th.

The meanings of the prophecy (of Revelation) and what is fulfilled in reality according to the prophecy is what I am making known to the churches worldwide,” said Chairman Lee. The new lessons are uploaded and shared every Monday and Thursday at 10am.

Regarding the purpose of the seminars on Revelation as a book of the Bible that prophesied about the future of the Christian world with apocalyptic warnings, Chairman Lee emphasized that what would be shared is in accordance with the words of the Bible, which is “to give you this testimony for the churches” (Rev 22:16) by “the one who heard and saw” (Rev 22:8).

According to his explanation, the key to understanding the book of Revelation begins with the meaning of revelation. It is “to open and to show (what was sealed and unseen),” and there is a point in time when the prophecies recorded in the past are fulfilled (revealed) in reality.

It is recorded in chapter 1 of Revelation that John (the apostle) sends Jesus’ letters to the seven churches in Asia, which is described as one of the mysteries of the book of Revelation (Rev 1:4, 1:20). Chairman Lee explained that the record of sending letters to the seven churches is a prophecy and it is fulfilled in reality at the time of the second coming of Jesus. Accordingly, the mysteries of the Bible were not known when the book of Revelation was written, but are known only by “the one who heard and saw all the events of the book when the record of prophecy is fulfilled in reality.”

Since August 2021, 25 African churches with 10,000 members from signed MOUs with Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The church stated that 18 additional churches will sign MOUs to raise awareness of understanding this era and promote the development of their lives of faith. 

Interested parties can watch the seminar by searching “Testimony on Prophecy and Fulfillment of Revelation, God’s New Covenant” on YouTube or through the link https://www.youtube.com/c/ShincheonjiChurchofJesus

Shincheonji Church Hosts Lectures on Bible’s Revelation amid End-Time Prophecy Mayhem

Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, will hold a series of weekly seminars unraveling the biblical book of Revelation as misinformation around its prophecies fuels Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy across the globe.

The Bible course titled, “Testimony on Prophecy and Fulfillment of Revelation, God’s New Covenant,” will run from October 18th to December 27th and will provide an explanation of the content of every chapter of Revelation, including details on the characters named in the prophecies and the timing of the events.

The church, founded in South Korea, attracted as many as 1,700 pastors and 28,000 Christians from all over the world to its lectures in August. Its Chairman Lee Man-hee will lead the Bible series and has said that he is a witness who saw and heard all the events of the book fulfilled in reality, as described in Revelation 22:16.

The number of participants at this time reflects their interest and effort to understand the words of Revelation consistently with the words of the rest of the books of the Bible,

Mr. Kim Shin-chang, general director of the International Mission Department of Shincheonji Church, said.

The Bible seminars come as the coronavirus pandemic creates uncertainty around the future for people throughout the world. While progress has been made to inoculate the global population the efforts of health professionals are being hampered by misunderstanding in the religious world. In US, some Christian denominations are preaching that the Covid-19 vaccine is the “mark of the beast”. This apocalyptic biblical term is from Revelation 13 and is usually interpreted as being attached to Satan.

Additionally, people regardless of religious background frequently encounter the question – will Covid-19 bring about “the end of the world”?

Shincheonji Church’s lectures, to be broadcasted live on YouTube, will help those grappling with these questions by teaching the true meaning of the book of Revelation and explaining how the prophecies, expressed in parables or figurative language, have been physically fulfilled in the world today, according to the Bible. While Revelation is written figuratively, describing real-world events, its content is usually explained through human thoughts and non-biblical speculative theories which have misguided believers and instigated social disorder, according to the church.

You can watch the seminar by searching “Testimony on Prophecy and Fulfillment of Revelation, God’s New Covenant” on YouTube or through the link: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShincheonjiChurchofJesus

For those who may be interested in joining these revelation classes, email your inquiry to: info@ibali.online

World Peace Summit Calls for Concerted Action for Sustainable Peace in the New Normal Era

Over 30 000 people gathered online on Saturday, 18th September, via Youtube live and Zoom, to commemorate the 7th Anniversary of the HWPL World Peace Summit.

The organiser of the event, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), has been conducting citizen-centered peacebuilding activities to create “a culture of peace” advocated by the UN and international community to set up an environment of peaceful coexistence since the World Peace Summit in 2014. This year’s event dealt with the progress of international efforts and the plans to promote the peace agenda in the ‘New Normal’ era shifting from the post-Covid to the with-Covid.

This event presented the concerted action for sustainable peace with cases from various sectors such as international law, religion, education, and the media. Also, it addressed international cooperation to overcome the current crisis that threatens the coexistence and harmony of mankind, which has come to the fore during the pandemic.

Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL

“Our objective is to end wars in the global village and establish peace and make it a permanent legacy for future generations. Without peace, everything that we managed to build would be destroyed. … We should not let this happen. So, to achieve peace, shouldn’t we achieve our objective with the same spirit?” said Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL at the event.

Peacebuilding efforts led by HWPL to establish legal foundations and international norms for peace through connecting global actors are embodied with its effort to advocate the international law for peace by drafting the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).

“The DPCW Handbook enables us to systematically teach international law and the essence of peace to these students and others. It enables them to become lecturers in the following course,” said Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Chief Advisor of Asian Association of Law Professors (AALP) as well as Former Chair of National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh (NHRC-BD), highlighting the need to encourage public discourse on peacebuilding by academia.

In addition to the basic principles of peace assigned to nations to uphold, the DPCW has presented principles that should be dealt with in the present era, such as prohibiting the use of force, fostering religious freedom, and civic participation to spread a culture of peace. In particular, it states that efforts for peace come from all members of the global society by identifying not only nation-states but also international organizations and all citizens as the main actors of building peace. Former President of Ecuador, Dr. Rosalia Arteaga Serrano shared:

“We know that it will be hard to achieve peace if we are not all working for it. This is why we need to encourage children, the youth, and adults to prevent verbal abuse and work towards reducing inequalities and eradicating disparities to achieve a more equitable, stable, and peaceful world,”

Hon. Octavia Alfred, Minister of Education, Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training, and National Excellence of Dominica, said that the students learn the necessity of mutual coexistence and cooperation through HWPL peace education and pass on to their friends, parents, and teachers what they have learned. She addressed it also deals with concepts that can develop psychosocial competency skills, such as respect for diversity, order, conflict resolution, and negotiation, so it is being used for teacher’s training.

Former High Commissioner of Lesotho to South Africa, Evelyn Letooane speaking at the event.

Former High Commissioner of Lesotho to South Africa, Evelyn Letooane, encouraged women to take up their role in the work of peace, encouraging all women to actively become agents for change.

“While the pandemic chart continues, global war must cease. This is a clarion call to cease all wars and call for peace activities to continue for women and children suffering from war and conflict. Women must immerse themselves into the work for peace rather than letting themselves sit outside of it trying to get work done. Action is the operative word. To this end, women should aim for “working for peace” rather than “protected peace” and peacemaking rather than peacekeeping. It should be emphasized that women are active agents of peace in that process. I am a peace lecturer of IWPG Peace Education having undergone training. My role is to promote peace education, with the spirit of peace, in my country and region.”

Swami Vedanand Saraswati, Spiritual Head at the Arya Samaj in Durban, South Africa, speaking at the event.

Swami Vedanand Saraswati, a faith leader represented Southern Africa WARP Offices in the InterContinenal World Alliance of Religions for Peace panel discussion, saying:

“What we did today, and what HWPL continues to do and has done since its inception, was to selflessly serve through these dialogues. These dialogues help educate and to quash any form of misunderstanding or perception [between religions]. As we get the perceptions cleared, as we dialogue with each other, the heart of the issue lies out there in the community. It is now that we, as faith leaders need to take this out to our congregations so that the fighting stops.”

International Church is a leading example in the fight against COVID-19

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has left many countries shattered, with many losing loved ones and having to bear consequences from economic restrictions. 

Since Monday 16 November thousands of members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in South Korea have been arriving at the Indoor Athletics Stadium in Daegu City to participate in donating much-needed blood plasma. 

This will be the third drive in which members of the church who fully recovered from COVID-19 participate to help others fight the virus with plasma treatment. The donation drive will continue for the next three weeks and about 4,000 members of the church are expected to participate.

Shincheonji, an international church group with more than 200,000 members worldwide, was severely hit in February this year with thousands of its members being infected by COVID-19 and lead to great distress, with infections rising in South Korea.

Mr. Man Hee Lee, the chairman of Shincheonji Church  said in a statement that, “Too many people are suffering because of COVID-19, especially with those who were infected in church last February that cause distress to the members and the citizens (of South Korea).” He urged members of the church to help in the fight against COVID-19 by donating their blood plasma. 

In some countries blood plasma treatment yielded great success with the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) stating, “It is necessary to quickly develop plasma treatment through group plasma donations, in the current absence of an effective treatment in the midst of the continuous occurrence of COVID-19 at home and abroad.”

“We are grateful for the active participation of Shincheonji, and for the cooperation of the City of Daegu,” Mr Kwon Joon-wook deputy director of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in South Korea said in a press statement.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lee acknowledged that millions of people worldwide are suffering physically but also financially as a result of coronavirus and called for this past weekend to pray for our global society affected by the ongoing pandemic. A Global Interfaith Prayer Event was held simultaneously around the world with more than 200,000 in attendance from 73 countries, including hundreds from southern Africa.

“We should actively put in our effort and pray to God for the people, and for the pandemic to end,” Mr. Lee said while urging all people of faith to gather to pray for an effective vaccine to be made available worldwide as soon as possible.

Many religious leaders from southern Africa answered this call for prayer and joined with the global faith community on Sunday 15 November by participating in this online interfaith event which was live-streamed on YouTube. 

“The significance of praying together as religious leaders, it’s incomparable. It’s high time that we unite in prayer and when we unite in prayer, miracles begin to happen,” Rev Phumzile Stofile, Vice Chairperson of the ANC Chaplaincy in South Africa said after the prayer event.

According to the founder of Shincheonji the Global Prayer Event is especially meaningful in that it transcends different Christian denominations and religions to take charge in overcoming this crisis.

With thousands of people of faith having participated in the global prayer event, one such participant said, “I have realized that the power to overcome COVID-19 is tolerance, love and unity. We will put in our utmost effort to overcome COVID-19.”

African religious leaders unite in prayer for peace and unity during Covid-19

The number of people who have died of COVID-19 has surpassed 1 Million, with more cases being recorded daily. African religious leaders united in a virtual prayer meeting to see an end to COVID-19, violent extremism, and gender inequality taking place across the world.

Held on September 26th, the prayer meeting was attended by hundreds who joined as the United Nations marks its 75th anniversary during this International Peace Month. Faith leaders from the Hare Krishna, Christianity, Spiritual Consciousness, and African Religion movements joined Heavenly Culture World Peace and Restoration of Light (HWPL) to hold the event.

Attendees from around the world who joined the prayer gathering.

“When we work together like that, it takes away any thought of disagreement, warfare, and the violence that can become endemic when we are so afraid,” said through the interview Reverend Berry Behr of the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 human rights violations have increased drastically across the world. When the virus struck Africa, it led to an increased vulnerability to other diseases, gender-based violence, deepened inequalities, and violent extremism in countries such as Mozambique. Pastor Chiwa, a Christian pastor from Zimbabwe, noted the need to address the violent extremism and brutality that is threatening the peace in Africa.

“We are in dire need of the intervention of God when it comes to the brutality and issues happening in our African continent,” said Pastor Chiwa. “I pray that the hand of God, the Supreme Father, would intervene and put a sense in the mindsets of our leaders, military, and every sector that has to do with peace in Africa.”

Swami Vedanand Saraswati

Among the leaders who led the prayers were Hajj Abdulmalik Molapo from the Muslim community, Sister Dipty from Brahma Kumaris, Guru Medhavi Das from Hare Krishna, Inalda de Jorge-Antonio from Spiritual Consciousness, and Hindu leader Swami Vedanand. 

“If we as faith leaders are taking lead and leading our continent, we will realize we are not a dark continent,” Reverend Phumzile Stofile, the Vice Chairperson of the ANC Chaplaincy Western Cape in South Africa, said. “We are a bright continent we just need focused spiritual leadership because it is the moral compass that directs nations.” 

Reverend Phumzile Stofile, the Vice Chairperson of the ANC Chaplaincy

The virtual meeting was not only connected with interfaith leaders in Africa but also leaders in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Switzerland. Members of civil society, youth, and various congregations were also in attendance. 

HWPL has held Interfaith Dialogue Meetings, known as WARP Office Meetings, with over 700 religious leaders represented for 250 times. These are hosted monthly with the aim of preventing conflicts caused by religious misunderstandings by engaging the standards and teachings of various religions and examining the concept of peace in each scripture

1500 Shincheonji Congregants Donate Plasma to Help Find Covid-19 Cure

In response to a recent spike in Covid-19 numbers in South Korea, more than 1,500 Shincheonji Church of Jesus members who have recovered from Covid-19 have started donating blood plasma to assist health authorities in finding a treatment.

Donors from the church in South Korean city Daegu started undergoing the process on August 27 and will continue until September 4. This is the second round of donations by the church’s members after the first round took place in June. US President Donald Trump said that the Food and Drug Administration issued authorization for the emergency use of convalescent plasma for Covid-19 treatment.

Members from South Korean based Shincheonji Church donate their plasma in order to assist health authorities in finding a treatment for Covid-19

In Korea, health authorities approached Shincheonji, which has over 300,000 members globally, asking for further plasma donations for the development of a vaccine and use in clinical trials. Roughly 4,000 of its members were infected earlier this year, with Daegu being the hardest hit. While most recovered from the virus, the congregation suffered 11 deaths.

The Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (KCDC) and Shincheonji expect 1,700 members to have made donations by the end of this week. Research and development of the convalescent plasma treatment is underway by the country’s National Institute of Health under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The government entities are also working with Green Cross Pharma, a biotechnology company near Seoul.

The large scale plasma donation drive where over 1500 Shincheonji members from South Korean city Daegu donated their plasma.

Deputy Director of the KCDC Kwon Jun-wook has thanked the church for its contribution. Among the challenges in researching the effectiveness of convalescent plasma treatment is the limited supply from donors, who must be fully recovered from the virus. 

“We express our gratitude to the people who participated in donating plasma willingly to save other patients after recovery,” Kwon said. 

Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man Hee encouraged the church’s members to do all they can to help search for an effective treatment. 

“Let us lead the effort in plasma donation so that the blood (plasma) of the congregation members can be used for overcoming Covid-19 for the citizens and the country,” he said in a letter to the members on August 25.

Prominent Scholars highlight religious suppression of Shincheonji Church in new White Paper

Researchers from European-based organizations the Center for Studies on New Religions and Human Rights Without Frontiers have released a second white paper explaining a campaign in South Korea to pin blame for the nation’s Covid-19 outbreak on a church.

The authors, which include Italian sociologist of religions Massimo Introvigne and Belgian academic Willy Fautré, published a first white paper in March to shed light on the unfair accusations made against Shincheonji, Church of Jesus. After South Korean authorities escalated measures to keep the church closed authors found a second piece of research needed to be published to expose “what can be described, without exaggeration, as an attempt to suppress a religion,” they said in the paper.

Shincheonji’s premises have been closed, its leaders arrested and its members publicly shamed, with some losing their jobs and others being refused medical treatment, after rumors circulated that through one of its congregants, so-called “Patient 31”, the church deliberately spread the coronavirus.

The government’s harsh treatment of Shincheonji is inconsistent with the more lenient rebuke faced by other churches in the country where members were infected with the coronavirus, and is in fact not about disease control. Rather it is part of “a decade-long attempt to destroy Shincheonji, and the fruit of an unholy alliance between fundamentalist and conservative Protestants and politicians who need their votes,” the authors said.

Other findings by the researchers include:

  • “South Korean authorities exceeded the limits of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They collected data about Shincheonji members that were not needed to prevent the pandemic, including members abroad who had never visited South Korea. They were unable or unwilling to prevent the leaking of some of these data to the media and others hostile to Shincheonji, with the result that human rights of the members were violated.”
  • “They discriminated against Shincheonji members, by singling them out as scapegoats for the epidemic, and adopting measures that were not adopted for members of other churches.”
  • “They used COVID-19 as an opportunity to settle old scores with Shincheonji, dissolving its legal corporations (and even HWPL, which is not part of the religious movement), closing its places of worship, and ordering the group to raze its buildings at the headquarters. Local politicians sued Shincheonji for exorbitant sums calculated to bankrupt the movement.”

For a copy of the full report visit: https://www.cesnur.org/2020/shincheonji-second-white-paper.htm

About the authors:

  • Massimo Introvigne is an Italian sociologist of religions. He is the founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions
  • Willy Fautré, former chargé de mission at the Cabinet of the Belgian Ministry of Education and at the Belgian Parliament, is the director of Human Rights Without Frontiers, an NGO based in Brussels that he founded in 1988
  • Rosita Šorytė joined in 1992 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, and worked for 25 years as a diplomat, inter alia at the UNESCO in Paris and the United Nations in New York
  • Alessandro Amicarelli is a member and director of Obaseki Solicitors Law Firm in London. He is a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, and a barrister of Italy, specializing in International and Human Rights Law and Immigration and Refugee Law
  • Marco Respinti is an Italian professional journalist, essayist, translator, and lecturer.