2024 - Korean religion - lies and deceit: does such a sect proselytize in Switzerland?

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A Korean New Revelation religion is proselytizing in Switzerland with veils and cover organizations – how dangerous is the sectarian organization Shincheonji?

“I’ve been approached at least fifteen times.” Jaël Binggeli works for the Swiss Evangelical Alliance and is also a believer on digital platforms. The 27-year-old now receives constant messages on Instagram asking if she wants to meet for a Bible meeting – the sender: Unknown.

“The messages were written in a friendly way and some of them went directly to my Instagram profile. But I had no idea who was behind it,” says Binggeli.

Legend:

Jaël Binggeli has already received more than a dozen messages – she did not know the sender.

SRF

However, the pattern is clearly recognizable: Behind the news is the Korean new revelation religion Shincheonji (pronounced Shinshonshi). This is also trying to proselytize massively in Switzerland via digital channels.

Initially, advances are just a casual exchange of beliefs. However, offers for Bible courses, in which the Shincheonji teachings are gradually taught, quickly follow.

Man-Hee Lee founded the Shincheonji Church in South Korea in 1984. He is the leader of the organization and describes himself as the “promised pastor of the end times.” Only he can understand the Bible correctly and lead his followers into a new, peaceful world. The name Shinchoenji then also means “New Heaven and New Earth”. Lee Man-Hee is also the founder of other organizations that critics see as Shincheonji’s front organizations (Relinfo source).

The problem: The belief system of the Shincheonji is highly dualistic. Either you are a member and belong to the chosen ones or you are doomed. In addition, the organization is managed in a strictly hierarchical and authoritarian manner by founder Man-Hee Lee. This pressure encapsulates the new members more and more from their own environment.

A web of lies

Viktoria* (not her real name) was a member of the Swiss branch of the Church for three years. She speaks of up to 300 people involved in Switzerland. She explains that the organization is closed and that nobody is allowed to find out anything. “I had to lie to my family and friends – I was completely living a second life.”

The pressure within Shincheonji was incredibly high. Again and again the members had to take tests to show that they really understood Man-Hee Lee’s interpretation of the Bible.

In addition, the members are urged to proselytize themselves. “My group leader kept asking me how many people I had spoken to. At some point I actually convinced someone to become a member.” To this day, Viktoria has a guilty conscience.

Besides work, Viktoria only had activities with Shincheonji members. It was a constant psychological stress: “It went so far that during a hospital stay, members wanted to convince me to take part in the services online.” That’s when she realized that she couldn’t go on like this and got out.