Here at “What is Shincheonji NZ”, we believe that all Kiwis should have a fair go when it comes to discovering what the Bible says about the deep issues of life. It’s why for the past few years, we’ve helped people like Laura and others tell their story about their experience with Shincheonji (SCJ) in New Zealand. This advocacy began initially through pastorally supporting people like Vanessa and Jeremy in processing their negative and harmful experiences from SCJ. We’ve had the privilege of offering informal counselling, pastoral care and updates about Shincheonji and its current activities. We do this as a small team of volunteers who share a Christian kaupapa (set of values). Most of our advocacy and awareness work happens through this website, Facebook page, and in person.
At times, we’ve responded to individual enquiries from students of Shincheonji’s Pathways NZ’s bible studies. To help those involved make an informed choice, we currently name and identify some of the teachers we know of (based on a combination of publicly available details and the testimony of former members and current students).
As a result, in August our website was served legal papers, and one of our team was personally named as a respondent to a Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA) order initiated by a member of SCJ New Zealand.
Among other things, the cult member alleged that their details were publicly shared without their consent, that exposing their religious affiliation was a violation of their privacy, and that having their information on our website was causing them significant emotional and spiritual distress and was potentially damaging to their professional reputation and economic stability. Ironically, this individual sought to use the HDCA — a NZ law originally designed to combat cyberbullying and the distribution of intimate recordings without consent — to scare us into taking down content about them.
As Christians, we would have accepted any judicial outcome in order to “live at peace with all people”. As this legal process offered us the chance to give a notice of opposition prior to appearing in court, with the help and encouragement of others our team provided a comprehensive response. We were delighted to hear that on 23 September (the day before we were due to appear in court), the cult member withdrew their HDCA application and the case was discontinued.
Because the cult member discontinued the case, we did not have the opportunity to hear the High Court’s ruling about our situation. Nevertheless, we believe the arguments we offered were such that it would have been unlikely for Shincheonji NZ to have succeeded in their application.
In summary, we argued:
- There is a genuine public benefit in accurately identifying current Shincheonji instructors and leaders.
- Our decisions should be seen in light of the publicly documented harm caused by Shincheonji since their introduction to New Zealand in 2015,[1] the deceptive and coercive nature of their Bible studies,[2] and their ongoing use of deception (or “wisdom”) in order to recruit members.[3]
- Without this disclosure, instructors posing under Shincheonji’s “Pathways” name continue to intentionally hide their affiliation with Shincheonji until unsuspecting students have been conditioned through high-demand, high-control methods to “pass over” into their organisation.
- Our rationale for identifying certain Shincheonji instructors is to assist enquirers and participants of their Bible studies in making informed choices about whether to participate in a Shincheonji activity.
- All identifying information about Shincheonji NZ has been sourced from publicly available sources, such as Shincheonji’s Charities listing, members’ public social media profiles, and from reliable eyewitness accounts. As our Christian beliefs include the need to speak “the truth in love” (Eph 4:15) on this and all other matters, we have sought to be sensitive in how to present information shared with us. When we are reliably informed that someone is no longer an instructor of Pathways / Shincheonji, we have updated our website accordingly and their details are removed. Where there is no public benefit, we do not disclose a Shincheonji member’s personal details.
- Our digital communications have not harassed anyone personally, but simply outlined facts and ideas in a gentle and respectful manner.
- A key Christian belief we hold to is that every individual is an image-bearer of God (Gen. 1:27) – accordingly, we have carefully avoided any verbal or physical abuse of Shincheonji members.
- Approving an HDCA application over simply identifying members of a high-control group like Shincheonji would set a troubling precedent for the freedom of expression in New Zealand, and prevent the protection of Kiwis from actual cult-related harm.
- Removing the ability to publicly identify members of high-control groups such as Shincheonji risks the creation of a legal “cone of silence” around high-control groups in New Zealand. We believe an application like this goes well beyond the original intent of the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015, and its typical use in protecting Kiwis from actual online abuse and harm.
- Granting an HDCA application would also have wider ramifications for the physical and mental wellbeing of 10,000 New Zealanders and their loved ones who are unable to make an informed decision about joining Shincheonji and other high-control groups, and subsequently suffer from severe health needs that arise from “doctored minds”.[4]
We hope the outcome of this legal challenge gives confidence to others working in this sphere – especially those who are unsure where the law lies regarding what is permissible under New Zealand law when it comes to responding to cults and other high-control groups. Stating things that have been established as factual can be sufficient defence against claims of libel, slander and “harm”. If you are involved in objectively naming and describing the harmful effects of a high-control group of cult, keep doing so, even if they try to stop you.
We’re grateful for the support and prayers of many, and hope to continue speaking the truth in love about Shincheonji in NZ.
Sincerely,
The team at “What is Shincheonji NZ?”
[1] A comprehensive history of Shincheonji’s involvement in New Zealand is available here: “A Korean Sect Targeted New Zealand Christians. Did Churches Respond Effectively?” (CT Online 13 December 2023, available at: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/december-web-only/shincheonji-new-zealand-korea-christian-church.html).
[2] For example, see Vanessa’s story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeNrBECM8v8. For a selection of news articles that likewise detail Shincheonji’s use of deception, see: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130706361/lying-for-god-former-members-say-shincheonji-cult-should-lose-charity-status; https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13752011/Shincheonji-church-jesus-cult-recruits-university-students.html; https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/former-believers-of-religious-sect-detail-the-dark-side-of-joining-shincheonji-bible-study/news-story/cb31aeb919f39197a767160e91e90c40.
[3] For example, see Laura’s story: “Episode 9: Telling lies to save souls for Shinchonji with Laura” (Cult Chat, 19 September 2023). Available at: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/cult-chat/id1693307722?i=1000628382038.
[4] See Dr Caroline Ansley’s comments in a recent NZ Listener article: “About 10,000 New Zealanders are estimated to be affected by cults (that figure includes family members on the outside who have lost someone to a group). Gloriavale is home to about 700 followers. South Korean group Shincheonji is operating all over New Zealand…” Available at: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener/health/cults-often-neglect-vital-health-needs-how-an-nz-gp-wants-to-change-that/ILZYV466QFBA3HZ3R7BTM5ZMGM/