"No Deprivation, Personal Control and Brainwashing in Shincheonji," Korean Court

"No Deprivation, Personal Control and Brainwashing in Shincheonji," Korean Court

 

  A Korean court judged "Lawsuit to sue for youth return" against Shincheonji Church of Jesus. This judgement is evaluated to have several implications to resolve some social misunderstandings and prejudices about Shincheonji.

 

  The lawsuit for youth return is filed by the seceders' claim that they wasted years of their lives by attending Shincheonji Church in a closed propagation that did not reveal its affiliation.

 

  The court recognized the social and religious background why Shincheonji cannot help evangelizing privately and ruled that there is no duty for Shincheonji believers to reveal themselves in the evangelism process.

 

  The court said, "The defendants do not have obligation to reveal themselves in the social prejudice that Shincheonji is cult," with reasons that ▶existing churches decided Shincheonji is cult ▶Shincheonji believers have seriously religious problems in their families ▶Because of these, citizens have bad recognition so the believers should hide their religion.

 

  The court also ruled that Plaintiff's claim, "Shincheonji has deprivation of occupational freedom and personal control," has no validity, citing the fact that all believers with all day ministers live in their daily lives, such as study, work, and economic activity with religious.

 

  Regarding the blocking withdrawal, it also explained that Shincheonji did not prohibit or enforce searching for negative information about it so brainwashing claimed by the seceders was impossible. About the claim, the court also told that they cannot be brainwashed regarding their ages, occupations, education and social experiences.

 

  However, the Korean court admitted that even if they chose to enter the church after knowing that it was Shincheonji Church, the church violated religious freedom because they had the burden of breaking off relation with the believers around them who gave them favors.

 

  An official from Shincheonji Church of Jesus said, "As the court acknowledged, Shincheonji explains the background of not being able to inevitably reveal that it was Shincheonji during the Bible study and allows individuals to choose by themselves," and "There is no illegal or compulsory evangelism." And he told that Shincheonji is going to appeal to the Supreme Court by saying, "anyone can change religion, which is decided by oneself. If the time spent in the previous religion after conversion must be compensated, all religions will inevitably go bankrupt."

Shincheonji Bible Study Course Application

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学习圣经申请书

:http://bit.ly/shengjing_020130