Church Members Face Social Isolation and Daily Threats Due to Witch-Hunt-Style Publicity Stunts
Certain Religious Groups Are Branded as Heretical and Labeled as Cults… But Who Defines Heresy?
Original article in Korean here
Religious freedom in South Korea is often violated as certain religious groups are branded as heretical by mainstream Christian organizations and stigmatized as cults, leading to social discrimination, ostracization, and even attacks. Individuals may also face unfair treatment in the workplace due to their faith or religious beliefs.
By definition, heresy refers to beliefs or theories that contradict established orthodoxy or authority—doctrines or behaviors that go against the teachings of a particular religion. However, the concept of heresy has evolved over time, shaped by human judgment and societal norms. So, who truly has the authority to define heresy, and based on what criteria?
According to the Bible, the most frequently accused heretic in history was Jesus himself. The Jewish authorities condemned him for blasphemy, ultimately leading to his execution. His followers were excommunicated, opposed, hunted down, and subjected to persecution, including torture and death. Figures like Stephen and many other early Christians were martyred under accusations of blasphemy and heresy.
Today, Jesus is universally recognized in the Christian faith as the Messiah, sent by God for the salvation of humanity. Yet, 2,000 years ago, he was reviled as a dangerous heretic and suffered relentless persecution. These examples imply a number of things.
There have been moments in religious history when Catholicism (the old religion) persecuted Christianity (the new religion). As Catholicism expanded and the papacy gained increasing power, the church became deeply entrenched in society, but over time, the Vatican and the clergy became increasingly corrupt. This corruption led to a growing sense of social distrust, including practices like the sale of indulgences, which eventually sparked the Reformation, led by figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin. The Catholic Church, in response, harshly persecuted these reformers, labeling them as heretics and burning them at the stake.
However, Christianity, once labeled heretical and persecuted during the Reformation, is now one of the largest religions in the world. As of 2023, there are an estimated 2.4 billion Christian adherents worldwide, representing approximately 31% of the global population.
Human history has demonstrated that truth endures over time. Therefore, it is possible that a religious group currently considered heretical and persecuted may eventually play a pivotal role in the future of religious history. If that does happen, the actions of those who persecute them today may be viewed as an irreversible mistake.
Certain Religious Organizations, such as the Christian Gospel Mission, Have Their Constitutional Right to Freedom of Religion Violated
Last year, a municipality took steps to ban certain religious organizations from holding meetings. The organization in question had been actively involved in charity and service activities within the community but was denied a permit to hold an event due to opposition from other religious groups. This was a clear violation of religious freedom and underscores the issue of socially constrained activities based on religious beliefs.
In other instances, religious freedom was severely violated through witch-hunt-style publicity in the media and broadcasting. For example, in the case of the Christian Gospel Mission (often labeled JMS, or Jesus Morning Star), the organization was slandered as a socially problematic religious group in 1999 due to a distorted television report. The organization filed a lawsuit and eventually received a “recommended settlement decision” from the court. Later, they filed a lawsuit seeking damages against the broadcasts that continued to spread malicious reports, resulting in a compensation of 90 million won. However, this settlement and the compensation were not widely known. Once an organization’s image is tarnished, it is often difficult to recover. As this reporter discovered, the negative impact continues to be felt to this day.
Since the release of the Netflix documentary “In the Name of God” in March 2023, the church’s image has suffered again, with more than 10,000 reports in the press and broadcast media, many of which were made without fact-checking, according to church officials. In addition, the addresses of local churches and businesses operated by church members were published on the internet, causing significant harm. In particular, members of the church in Geumsan, where CGM’s headquarters is located, have faced difficulties with economic activities and daily life. Some religious organizations have put up banners asking CGM members to “leave Geumsan.” Teenagers attending local schools have even been bullied for being members of the church.
However, as this reporter discovered, the church members are good citizens who are contributing to the revitalization of Geumsan. In fact, Korea is currently experiencing a population decline, and the area has been facing economic downturns. Nevertheless, the population in Geumsan has increased as church members from other cities have moved in and settled there. Large-scale events with hundreds of thousands of church members from Korea and around the world are often held in Wolmyeong-dong in Geumsan, significantly contributing to the local economy. Furthermore, every year, CGM provides artistic performances and volunteer activities to support the success of the Geumsan Ginseng Festival, the region’s signature festival. Despite this, the media and broadcasters have continued to accuse the church in a manner reminiscent of medieval witch hunts, undermining the trust the church has built in the community. However, church members have been able to overcome the situation with wisdom.
A CGM member residing in the Geumsan region stated, “We are directly informing our local community about the misunderstandings and misinformation surrounding our organization. Contrary to what has been portrayed by the media and broadcasts, CGM is not a socially problematic group. Pastor Jung Myeong Seok has conveyed the truth of Jesus’s teachings and has been a role model for us as a person of faith.”
Controversy Over Cult Regulation Laws: ‘Freedom of Religion’ Violated, Social Issues Need to Be Addressed
There have been ongoing discussions about enacting a law to regulate cults, as certain religious organizations have caused social problems. Cho Bae-sook, a member of the People Power Party, has proposed a law to regulate cults, but this has faced strong opposition from various religious organizations. They argue that such a law would infringe upon religious freedom. Additionally, some politicians express concerns that a bill aimed at regulating cults could violate religious freedom. So, what is the solution? Many argue that we need to find ways to address social problems while respecting the autonomy of religious practice.
Religious freedom, guaranteed by the Constitution, is a fundamental right of individuals and is crucial to maintaining diversity and peace in society. However, it remains questionable whether religious freedom in South Korea is being adequately protected in many cases. Religious freedom is an essential value in a democratic society, and this issue is likely to continue to be a subject of debate in the future.
Jihye Lee, Reporter
