Shincheonji is a controversial new religious movement that originated in South Korea in the 1980s. The full name of the group is “Shincheonji, Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony.” It was founded by a man named Lee Man-hee, who claims to be the “Promised Pastor” mentioned in the Bible. Here is an overview of some of the key beliefs and practices of Shincheonji:
Beliefs
– Shincheonji believes that founder Lee Man-hee is the only person who can correctly interpret the Bible and reveal its secrets and prophecies. His explanations of Scripture are considered authoritative within the group.
– They believe that traditional Christian churches have failed and have corrupted the true message of the Bible. Only Shincheonji has the real truth.
– Central to their teaching is the belief that we are currently living in the period described in Revelation 7 as the sealing of the 144,000. Shincheonji members believe they are part of this prophesied group.
– Shincheonji teaches that people must study Lee Man-hee’s teachings and leave their existing churches to be saved.
– They have an elaborate eschatology (beliefs about end times) involving Jesus returning in the flesh to establish Shincheonji as the “New Heaven and New Earth.”
– Members take a very literal approach to the Bible. Everything is interpreted as prophetic. For example, the 12 tribes of Israel represent 12 nations where Shincheonji will expand.
Practices
– Recruitment practices are controversial. Shincheonji members often hide their affiliation and intentions when trying to convert people from other churches.
– Bible study classes are offered free of charge as a way to attract potential converts. Teachings gradually introduce Lee Man-hee’s interpretations.
– Members who do evangelism work are required to meet recruitment quotas. There are reports of aggressive, deceptive tactics.
– After joining, members devote significant amounts of time (often 30+ hours per week) to Bible study classes and recruitment activities.
– Shincheonji has a tiered structure of levels that members can progress through as they study the Bible and recruit more people.
– Members are expected to leave behind worldly pursuits like wealth, status, and family to focus on Shincheonji activities.
– They believe mainstream Christian churches and teachers are the “beast” described in Revelation. All ties must be cut with outside churches.
– Members often hide their Shincheonji affiliation from family members, only revealing it after recruitment.
– Critics accuse Shincheonji of being cult-like and exercising excessive control over members’ lives. But the group maintains it is just a new interpretation of Christianity.
History
– Lee Man-hee founded Shincheonji in 1984 after being excluded from the Olive Tree church over doctrinal disagreements.
– The group grew rapidly in South Korea throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Current estimates range from 150,000 to 300,000 members globally.
– Shincheonji expanded internationally with churches in China, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, and North/South America.
– The church has been involved in various controversies over the years, including accusations of breaking up families and causing members to go bankrupt.
– In February 2020, Shincheonji was at the epicenter of South Korea’s coronavirus outbreak. Over 5,000 cases were linked to the group.
– Lee Man-hee was arrested in August 2020 and charged with hiding information during the outbreak investigation. He pled not guilty.
– The coronavirus crisis heightened public anger toward Shincheonji. The church claims it is being persecuted for its beliefs.
Controversies and Criticisms
– Shincheonji is considered a cult in mainstream Christian circles. Key criticisms include their worship of founder Lee Man-hee, aggressive recruitment tactics, and isolation of members from outside influences.
– Family members of Shincheonji devotees often hold protests and interventions to get their loved ones to leave the church. There are many accounts of Shincheonji breaking up marriages and families.
– Some members have gone bankrupt or into huge debt to donate money to the church. There are accusations that Shincheonji pressures members for mandatory tithing and large donations.
– Critics say Shincheonji operates by deception, denying connections to the church when recruiting potential converts from Christian churches and campuses.
– Former members have accused the church of micromanaging their daily lives, like dictating appropriate attire and hairstyles. Shincheonji maintains these are voluntary acts of faith.
– Public health experts criticized Shincheonji for not cooperating with authorities during the COVID-19 outbreak in Daegu. This delayed tracing and quarantining linked to the church.
– Shincheonji sues its critics frequently. In 2021, Lee Man-hee said the church had an active caseload of about 1,700 lawsuits.
– The group points to these lawsuits as evidence of religious persecution. Critics see it as an attempt to silence investigation into the church’s practices.
Comparison to Other Groups
– Some scholars categorize Shincheonji as one of many apocalyptic Korean new religious movements that arose in the 20th century.
– Like other controversial Korean churches (e.g. the Unification Church), Shincheonji is centered around a dominant male founder seen as a prophet.
– Similar to groups like the World Mission Society Church of God, Shincheonji believes the mainstream church is corrupt and only they have God’s favor.
– Their eschatology revolving around Lee Man-hee has parallels to Sun Myung Moon’s Divine Principle in the Unification Church.
– Shincheonji shares some recruitment practices and organizational structures with multi-level marketing businesses or companies like Amway.
– Control over members’ lives, aggressive recruitment tactics, and claims of exclusivity mirror criticisms of groups like Scientology.
– In the Christian context, Shincheonji is viewed as a cult along the lines of the Branch Davidians or Peoples Temple due to unorthodox beliefs and authoritarian leadership.
– Some apologists argue Shincheonji has been unfairly targeted and is no different than more accepted Charismatic or Pentecostal groups.
Theological Context
– Shincheonji springs from a uniquely Korean Protestant context shaped by division, apocalypticism, and charismatic aspirations.
– The devastation of the Korean War, authoritarianism, and rapid modernization all contributed to apocalyptic mindsets receptive to Shincheonji.
– Some scholars cite links to chiliasm (millenarianism) in Korean church history going back to the early 1900s.
– Shincheonji continues a tradition of fringe churches breaking off from mainstream denominations over prophetic claims and doctrinal disputes.
– But the scale and organization of Shincheonji differs from earlier breakaway Korean groups. Its growth reflects shifting religious trends.
– Mainline Protestant churches in South Korea are shrinking and losing youth membership. Shincheonji attracts both the downcast and upwardly mobile.
– Some experts see Shincheonji’s appeal as filling a void in a high-pressure society devoid of meaning and community.Conclusion
In summary, Shincheonji is a controversial religious movement founded in 1984 in South Korea. It is centered around founder Lee Man-hee, viewed by members as a prophet who can unlock the secrets of the Bible. Shincheonji teaches that mainstream Christianity is corrupt and only they represent God’s “New Heaven and New Earth.” The group is known for its aggressive recruitment tactics, isolation of members, and lawsuits against critics. Accusations of being a cult have dogged Shincheonji for decades, exacerbated by recent controversies like the COVID-19 outbreak. But the church continues growing, particularly abroad, as it provides meaning and community missing from many people’s lives. Understanding Shincheonji requires situating it within the unique Korean religious environment that shaped its apocalyptic beliefs, charismatic aspirations, and perpetual sense of persecution.