Welcome to Ex-Shincheonji.

Exposing the truth about the secretive cult, Shincheonji (SCJ).
Sharing our stories and our warnings.

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About Us

Falling out of “Heaven on Earth”

This is the blog of those who fell out from “heaven” and are now firmly grounded in reality.
We pray this website will help expose the truth about Shincheonji and help people to leave.

Read Our Stories

About Shincheonji

Truth vs. Lies about Shincheonji

What’s the truth and what’s fiction about this mysterious church, Shincheonji? Is it a cult? Is it misunderstood? A definitive source of truth vs lies about Shincheonji from a former member.

Find Out the Truth

What people say about Shincheonji

  • People say Shincheonji members are ignorant of the Bible and are brainwashed with weird, false teachings about God and Jesus.
  • People say Shincheonji does good things just for show and is harmful to society.
  • People say Shincheonji makes people leave their families, schools, and careers. Members are forced to quit their jobs and schools, and break up their relationships because those things do not matter.

The truth about Shincheonji

  • People in Shincheonji study the Bible for almost a year before getting to join the group. They know more about the Bible than anyone else.
  • Shincheonji members volunteer A LOT. They always work with different organizations and non-profits to donate,
  • Shincheonji constantly emphasizes doing well in everything, including family life, relationships, work, and school. Members are always told to be a light to people around us and represent God and Christ well.
ABOUT THE BLOG

My Story

Starting from my parents and aunt, to my boyfriend, everyone in my life was getting sucked into Shincheonji. Naturally, I did too. I chose to walk away and not be religious at all today. But I want everyone to know what kind of place Shincheonji really is and expose its underside.

My Story

My Story with Shincheonji

“Shincheonji is a place of family.”

I thought of Shincheonji as my family because my family members
and my significant other were the ones who guided me to the church.
I wasn’t religious before and the fervency required of me was
draining for myself and I realized I didn’t believe in God enough to
make any sacrifice for Him. I’ve walked away but my family is still there;
This blog is dedicated to them and many more like them,
who need to find a way out of the church and back to society.

My Story with Shincheonji

After a year of Bible study…

The only thing I knew about the Bible was that it was important.
I didn’t know its contents, or how it was made, or why we should read it.
After a year of Bible study with Shincheonji, I knew a lot about the Bible,
for certain. The more I learned, the more I realized that God demands a lot
from us. God asks for full-hearted devotion and our lives to be for Him.

Why I Quit Shincheonji

Faith was stifling; I wanted out.

God asks for full-hearted devotion and our lives to be for Him.
But what about my own plans? Why do I have to live for God,
when I have this life He’s given me to live and enjoy?
I wasn’t comfortable with talking about the Word to others
or sharing about the Gospel. There were so many things
I didn’t understand and get about faith;
it was demanding and stifling. I wanted out.

ABOUT SCJ

Shin-cheon-ji

Also called New Heaven and New Earth outside of Korea, Shincheonji is a dangerous cult that brings in those who are seeking for God, or dissatisfied with their current church.

How to Spot SCJ

“Heaven on Earth”

Shincheonji is different from other churches.

Shincheonji is not just a church, but it’s supposed to be God’s will here on earth.
People are only allowed to join after months of Bible study,
and you graduate to become part of God’s family.

What is Shincheonji?

Shincheonji is an international Christian church that is difficult to categorize along with regular Christian denominations. They don’t prescribe to any denomination and denounce the existence of denominations as “the devil’s work”. They describe themselves as a church promised in the Bible and that they are God’s kingdom here on earth.

What does Shincheonji mean?

Shincheonji (pronounced more like Shin-chun-jee in my opinion) is based on Chinese characters that mean “new heaven and new earth”. They are also referred to as Zion or the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony. It’s often abbreviated as “SCJ”. They claim that their name is the one promised in the Bible and that these alignments are proof that they are legitimate.

Is Shincheonji a cult?

This is the first thing people think of when they hear “Shincheonji”. That’s what I thought first too. To define, a cult is “a religion regarded as unorthodox”. Shincheonji definitely does not follow the doctrines or practices of other Christian denominations and churches. In that sense, Shincheonji is the most unorthodox religion out there. But is this wrong? Their teachings and practices are based on the Bible; so who’s wrong: the orthodox who don’t follow the Bible or the unorthodox who follows the Bible?

Is Shincheonji Dangerous?

At its core, Shincheonji is a church and a group of people who want to carry out a life of faith. Some people are very fervent. Some people are not. You’ll find people, as in any church, who want to devote all of their life to it and are all about it, and you’ll find people who are just going with the flow and check-off their attendance. It’s different, depending on who you talk to. The people there are sincere and the doctrines aren’t off, but some are too fervent that it can veer on scary or overwhelming. I felt too busy, too guilty about being too busy for God.

SCJ DOCTRINES

What does SCJ really believe in?

What does SCJ really teach in their Bible studies?
How are SCJ teachings different?

Shincheonji Beliefs

FAQ about SCJ

Frequently Asked Questions

There’s a lot of claims about secrecy and lies, and questions about Shincheonji.
This is a space where we honestly try to answer as someone who’s had these questions before too.

Shincheonji FAQ

OUR EXPERIENCE

Questioning about Shincheonji?
Unsure where to go, or what to do?

Contact Us

CONTACT US

If you have a story to share,
Or questions to ask,
Or need someone to speak to,
Reach out to us.

Contact Us

CONTACT US

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