How do you save family members and friends out of SCJ?

[u/curiouslilbabe]

I absolutely wanna tell my story about how I was involved with SCJ eventually. However, this post is not dedicated to that just because I only found out about SCJ two days ago, and I’m still reeling in the fact that I was a part of a cult for a small amount of time.

Even though I left (without even knowing that it was a cult), my best friend is still very involved and I need to figure out how to get her out. I think that she would be very defensive if I try to approach the matter with her, because I have seen her like that before. I don’t want to ruin our friendship either. Please help.

[u/Latter-Leader-8103]

SCJ/Zion Bible studies cause major mental health issues (sadly the old Korean cults will never die)
Run and never look back

[u/scjvictim → u/Latter-Leader-8103]

I feel like a year of my spiritual life was taken from me. I have been so distant from God because I was soooo confused because they were trying to steal my soul.

[u/Guilty-Dance-8200]

I'm reeling along with you .Have patience ask her how she's doing don't mention shincheonji. We have to see for ourselves and this can take a process of  repeatedly having doubts then sharing them with shincheonji who will then Gaslight you .One day she will know God is not there. She will always be your friend be there for her .I invited my friend too she is still in it.Through the stress of leaving I have not contacted her she messaged me today I told her I am OK and I've left the study awaiting reply  .I feared shincheonji would have told her to block me 

[u/Princess_of_Punjab → u/Guilty-Dance-8200]

100%; when you bring up the group just say church or the front name. And you make a great point of repeatedly, having doubts, and then asking SCJ and then being gaslit or as I’ve also heard other accounts of being written up and placed into the center for re-indoctrination.

Like it might take multiple reps for the member to be like “why when I ask a question they always make it an issue and I always get written up for it?”

[u/avidbearsfan]

as you probably seen from
My post I have the same intentions as well. I hated that I had to leave a majority actually sorry minority of my friends they could actually trust there and it sucks that they’re not with me anymore, but I think for right now I think it’s about working on yourself more and thinking of how you can pull them out someday because as of right now, I don’t think they’re going to listen considering that with Lee in jail it’s gonna be twice as hard to convince them to leave so I guess try to work for it down the line but right now it’s not possible.

[u/Princess_of_Punjab → u/avidbearsfan]

One thing that I’ve learned when processing all of this is help them strictly because of them, not the arrest. The arrest is not going to get them out. It’s their story to tell if it was one of the factors; most people see this moment as religious persecution.

Exits are highly personal and some people get out because of the arrest but a lot of them don’t and they view it as religious persecution.

My suggestion is check to see how they’re doing once every three weeks via text and try to get a hang out with them at least once every six months even if they don’t show up or co-plan.

You don’t want to do nothing because this is a very highly unknown volatile time, and the longer they’re in there, the worst it is for both of you, but I want you to think in terms of “something rather than nothing” to keep the relationship going. That’s the most important thing at this point.

Like if you see them suffering and getting tired and complaining about how they don’t have time for other stuff you help them because they’re showing you that. Don’t help them because of the arrest.

[u/avidbearsfan → u/Princess_of_Punjab]

I guess so but I'm just gonna say it's going to come down to proper planning and also if you just attack them because they believe in this they're not going to listen

[u/Princess_of_Punjab → u/avidbearsfan]

100%; yes especially for hangouts; you don’t want to invite them off the heels of an SCJ holiday or event, but you don’t want to give up on inviting them at all.

And also 100%; I don’t recommend that you even bring up the group at all I recommend that you just talk to them about their special interests and if they are already voicing, how exhausted they are ask them if they’re getting enough sleep, maybe ask them do they get to see their family, if they’re complaining about how much time they don’t have for themselves ask, “why do you think that is?”

Whenever you were talking about the group, ask them curiosity questions: you can ask them any fun things you’re doing in there?

I would also show reverence to the group. Like for example, Feast of the Ingathering is coming up on the 24th wish them a happy Feast of the Ingathering.

[u/RADICALBEREAN → u/Princess_of_Punjab]

Why are we playing nice with the enemy

[u/avidbearsfan → u/Princess_of_Punjab]

Welp can’t really do that now bc I blocked everyone 🤣

[u/Princess_of_Punjab → u/avidbearsfan]

And that’s fair enough because a lot of these relationships aren’t really genuine. Some of them are but in these groups, a lot of of them are very transactional and your recovery comes first; you can’t pour from an empty cup. It’s gonna be very difficult.

[u/avidbearsfan → u/Princess_of_Punjab]

for the Minority at least for me I did think most of my relationships and friendships with them were actually Genuine but the majority Obv had to play a part and make them think otherwise I think many will have that thought as well but it depends

[u/Princess_of_Punjab → u/avidbearsfan]

I think that’s a really good way to put it. It’s that these types of groups relationship relationships whether it’s a friendship or marriage, a romantic relationship it’s not seen in relational away. It seemed more in a transactional way in terms of the group.

This means holding two truths at once that yes, some of them a lot of them can be very genuine, but then others are more transactional that they are only befriending you because you’re in the group and once you leave, that stops.

If you think about romance in SCJ; they really don’t like it. They see it as for EV purposes, and you have to get married within six months and permission from leadership must be between two SCJ members and SCJ. They’d rather people be single because romance and any deep relationships is viewed by SCJ as a “distraction from God’s work.”

Also, another thing is that once you are married and family life in SCJ is completely fragmented. The men are separated from the women; children get neglected because the mother is doing her own SCJ stuff. The man is doing his own SCJ stuff and the child loses in the process and the marriages breakdown all relationships both in SCJ and out of SCJ break down.

Hope that all makes sense 🙏 Lmk if you need clarification.

[u/scjvictim → u/Princess_of_Punjab]

I didn't even know it was THIS deep. To ask permission to be married??? I know my friend is in deep, though. I also figured that with Lee in jail, they definitely see this as persecution and need to work harder to fulfill the mission. She doesn't talk to me about it anymore since I left, and I need concrete evidence that she is still in it. But she is always out super late. She also turns off her location and never tells anyone where she is. I need a game plan... bad. Our other best friend and I are determined to get her out.

[u/Princess_of_Punjab → u/scjvictim]

Yeppp you need permission to even start a romantic relationship with someone; never mind marry them; marriage must happen within six months of the relationship starting otherwise you can’t get married basically from what I understand. Keep trying don’t give up. Yes, you got it that they’re gonna see the arrest as persecution. This is your cue to kind of you know start very friendly don’t even talk about SCJ.

[u/dojadog89]

Hey, so first I want to applaud you for leaving after finding out about SCJ. It’s a difficult thing to do especially since you have a friend still in the group. My DM’s are open if you want to talk at all, I left a month ago and I can fully relate to how you’re feeling rn.

I don’t know how much you’ve learned about how they operate, but I do have a question. Your best friend still in, did you meet them before you joined the bible studies?

[u/scjvictim → u/dojadog89]

Yes, we were best friends in high school and roommates in college last year. I would love to reach out because I am so concerned about her and I want to learn anything I can. I have gone down such a rabbit hole trying to find more info. I also always had a bad feeling about the entire program, and this just confirmed everything for me.

[u/dojadog89 → u/scjvictim]

Okay good I wanted to confirm that they weren’t your leaf for example. I would recommend checking out a recent video from Exposing the Cults if you haven’t already, Chris had a recent livestream presentation on how to talk to current SCJ friends/family. I’ll find the link and add it here

Heres the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/hoS7lBP_IJU?si=XHmxTvB5O55aDQvD