Below is the content posted on the Naver Café: Korean Church Victims' Association.

https://cafe.naver.com/hanpimo1

The Church of God: Controversy, Harm, and the Erosion of Trust

The Church of God has caused significant controversy and harm under the guise of religion, severely undermining public trust. Its doomsday predictions, family-destructive doctrines, and violent actions go beyond differences in religious interpretation. These issues challenge the responsibility and ethics that religion should uphold, escalating to a level of societal harm that can no longer be overlooked.

The Church of God’s propagation of doomsday predictions is not just a matter of faith. It has been used as a tool to instill fear, paralyze rational judgment, and infringe upon the fundamental rights of its members, such as property ownership and family unity. The lives of many followers have been devastated, leading to cases of estrangement, divorce, and financial ruin. These examples starkly illustrate how doomsday teachings have destroyed lives. Despite the predicted end never coming to pass, the church has never apologized or taken responsibility for its actions, leaving the victims and their families to bear the consequences.

Additionally, violent incidents such as the systematic assault of former members reported by MBC News, phone harassment that paralyzed Wonju City Hall, and the assault of protesters in Jeju are just a few examples of the Church of God’s violent behavior. However, the church has dismissed these incidents as “individual misconduct” by its members, avoiding accountability. Moreover, instead of offering sincere apologies to the victims, the church has often blamed them or even defended the perpetrators. Such responses exemplify the collapse of even the minimum moral standards expected of a religious organization.

Religion is meant to provide comfort and hope to humanity. Yet, the Church of God has turned a blind eye to its victims. Both the head pastor and leaders like Zahng Gil-ja and Kim Joo-cheol have refused to acknowledge any responsibility, even as acts of violence committed by their followers occurred in front of the church. They have neither comforted nor apologized to the victims, raising serious questions about whether the Church of God deserves to be called a religious organization.

The Bible states that “beasts act on instinct without reason.” However, the Church of God has repeatedly acted in an instinctive and selfish manner under the guise of religion, betraying even the teachings of the Bible. The church’s refusal to take ethical responsibility for both individual and collective actions, instead resorting to evasion and excuses whenever issues arise, reflects a complete lack of religious leadership. This is not merely a religious problem but a destructive force against societal trust and ethics.