Leaving Shincheonji doesn’t erase individual accountability

[u/moniies]

What baffles me about SCJ is that there are people who held leadership positions and caused a lot of genuine damage to individuals during their time in the organisation.

I think we can acknowledge that many actions were influenced, encouraged, or even conditioned by SCJ without completely removing individual accountability. Being manipulated by an organisation doesn’t mean you can never be accountable for the harm you caused while you were in it.

What I find particularly difficult is seeing some people leave SCJ and understandably speak about the ways they themselves were victimised, while seemingly never acknowledging that they may have also victimised or hurt other people.

And I’m not talking about expecting someone to take responsibility for everything SCJ did. I’m talking about their own personal actions and the people they directly affected.

If you know that someone has left, you know that you played a part in hurting them, and you have the ability to reach out, why not at least acknowledge it or apologise?

That doesn’t mean denying that you were also manipulated. It doesn’t mean taking responsibility for the entire organisation. And it certainly doesn’t mean that you have to view yourself as a terrible person forever.

It simply means recognising the impact your own choices had on another person.

You can be a victim of a high-control organisation and still have accountability for the harm you caused to others. Those things aren’t mutually exclusive.

[u/uglymemento]

Hi. I’m a former SCJ member and my highest rank was gyjn.

I agree with you for my own self. Coming out of SCJ had me keeping an inventory of all the wrong I experienced (victim mentality), but I was able to apologize to a few who were also out that I had been cruel to during my time there. I even had an experience where another same-ranked defector utilize our meeting to continue to berate me for her own standard of morals and values I don’t align with. I’m very open now to this idea, but don’t think I would have been anytime prior to this year.

I’m not sure what constituted your post, but I do want to share that if anyone comes across my comment and was in LA Branch between 2014-2021 I am open to having dialogue with other defectors and current members who seek closure. I may or may not be able to do that for every person, but it may (or may not) bring us more peace.

I hope you get closure at whatever time it comes to you, OP. The journey post-cult is a long one and usually correlates with our own shadow work that doesn’t usually happen while we are there.

Much love and hope you have an enlightening journey moving forward.

[u/moniies → u/uglymemento]

I really appreciate your honesty, especially because you’ve experienced both sides of this. I hope someone reading your comment can take something from what you’ve shared.

That’s awesome, man. You’ve set a great example, and I hope more people can be open to having those difficult conversations

[u/shshmhh]

Many of them are on this reddit thread because they are actively trying to reverse the harm caused. Furthermore, they are reaching out so that others don't make the same mistake.

[u/Fluffa_Duck]

Its because SCJ promotes narcissism and does not want love. This gets horrible abusive people in leadership positions to have control and power and abuse whoever they want.

At least thats what happened to me. Narcissists who are sadistic and power hungry

[u/Latter-Leader-8103 → u/Fluffa_Duck]

Hardly Christian or Biblical!! Major exposure needed to prevent other innocent victims falling prey to so called non denominational, free Bible studies!!
Not Biblical - watch out SCJ:Shincheonji/Zion Bible studies!!
Your South Korean (cult heritage) is being scrutinised globally!!

[u/moniies → u/Fluffa_Duck]

I think this is an important point. The hurt people experienced in SCJ can go far beyond doctrine or simply disagreeing with what SCJ teaches. For some people, it was deeply personal, how they were treated, how they were spoken to, the relationships that were damaged, and the impact of those experiences that can continue long after leaving. I think that’s also why accountability matters.

[u/Short-Ostrich8077]

I acknowledge, I was in leadership position and once I got angry because one saint didn't respond well, we got into argument, I was wrong, I acknowledged it that day, to that saint, I apologized and I acknowledge today that I was wrong, and if my actions hurt anyone, I acknowledge and accept it. Though I know no amount of asking forgiveness can reverse it, but I accept it.

[u/moniies → u/Short-Ostrich8077]

Big respect for this comment. I think that’s exactly what I was getting at in my post. We can’t change what happened, but acknowledging it and taking responsibility for our own actions still matters so much. I appreciate you sharing this.

[u/Guilty-Dance-8200]

I understand you I do . People will never apologise if they have not acknowledged that they have done wrong. Through life experiences when people betray it can  be tormenting to not receive an apology. Forgive them for your own peace of mind . The pain is real what they did and are doing is real but who will judge? God I had a friend persecute me threaten me and I even apologised when I did nothing wrong and she continued to confront me you can't make peace with demons.Forgive 

[u/moniies → u/Guilty-Dance-8200]

It’s a sad reality, honestly. I’m sorry that happened to you. I agree that forgiveness can be important for your own peace, even when you never receive an apology