Shincheonji Church of Jesus

Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (SCJ), commonly known as Shincheonji Church of Jesus or simply Shincheonji (Korean: 신천지; Hanja: 新天地; lit. New Heaven and New Earth), is a new religious movement established in South Korea by Lee Man-hee.

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Quotes about Shincheonji

One aspect plays a very important role in Shincheonji because it helps us better understand this church and make stronger counterclaims to anti-cult propaganda. For this reason, it deserves more attention than it usually receives: the well-structured, organized Bible study process that prospective participants undergo before fully joining the church. While this cannot, by itself, counterbalance all the accusations made by those who attack Shincheonji, it certainly does, at least, complicate the caricature of irrational adherence induced by manipulative actions. In fact, a lengthy process involving study first and only a later decision to join, or not to join, is not well captured by the sensational narrative of the manipulative cult forcefully converting vulnerable individuals.
- Alessandro Amicarelli, "Shincheonji in the UK: Media Bias, “Cult” Labels, and the Reality of a Bible-Centered Community", Bitter Winter (July 18, 2026)

One is not baptized into Shincheonji, and members proudly proclaim that theirs is the only religion one joins by graduating after an exam. The exam, which many fail and is by no means a mere formality, comes after a demanding course, and includes [three hundred (300)] questions candidates should answer in writing. They include all the most typical and peculiar doctrines of Shincheonji. This means that it is impossible to become a member of Shincheonji without understanding what the movement is all about.
- Massimo Introvigne, "Shincheonji: Why the Korean Supreme Court Dismissed a Lawsuit Based on Deceptive Evangelism", Bitter Winter (January 13, 2023)

The idea that Shincheonji “spread the plague” was still mentioned in some Western media in 2022, despite the fact that Chairman Lee had been found not guilty of any COVID-related offenses in first degree by the Suwon District Court on January 13, 2021, and on appeal by the Suwon High Court on November 30, 2021.
- Massimo Introvigne, "Shincheonji: Korean Supreme Court Confirms Leader’s Acquittal from COVID Charges", Bitter Winter (August 15, 2022)

Shincheonji’s presence in France has generated a reaction that reveals more about the French environment than about the movement itself.
… The French debate on Shincheonji is far from settled. It will continue to evolve as more people encounter the movement directly rather than through external narratives. What emerges from the interviews is a portrait of a community that seeks understanding rather than confrontation. It is a community that has suffered from misrepresentation but continues to build bridges. It is a community that invites others to see it as it is, not as it is portrayed.
- Massimo Introvigne, "Beyond the Noise: Observing Shincheonji in France. 4. When Suspicion Replaces Understanding", Bitter Winter (June 13, 2026)

My fascination with Shincheonji began during fieldwork in South Korea in 2025, when I visited a local congregation and saw Chairman Lee in person. After learning about their international network of believers, several questions came to mind. Do they have members in my home country, Hungary? What might distinguish how local South Korean and European congregations live their faiths? Do all congregations face similar opposition and persecution? I was interested in how and why anyone would join a millennial new religious movement rooted in Christianity that originated on the opposite side of the planet, and how this affiliation affects their lives.
- Márk Nemes, "Shincheonji’s Philip Tribe in Europe: An Ethnographic Account", Bitter Winter (July 3 and July 25, 2026)

The situation of Shincheonji, both in Korea and internationally, illustrates how defamatory narratives can cross borders, shaping public perception and influencing state action.
- Thierry Valle, "Transnational Discrimination Against Shincheonji: A Written Statement at the UN Human Rights Council", Bitter Winter (June 1, 2026)

The main point of entry into Shincheonji in Latin America is its Bible courses. These courses are presented as free, public, and oriented toward the systematic study of Scripture. During the pandemic, virtual formats enabled people scattered across vast territories to join classes via Zoom. More recently, this format has begun to articulate with in-person activities: services, classes, praise meetings, informal gatherings with picnics, board games, sports events, spaces for testimony, and street evangelism.
- María Vardé, "Shincheonji in Latin America: Bible Courses, Gradients of Commitment, and Anti-Cult Rhetoric", Bitter Winter (July 17, 2026)