Unification Church tries to derail ex-believer's press conference

Take Religion out of Politics - period.

John Gorenfeld’s 2008 nonfiction book Bad Moon Rising: The Strange Untold Story of a Cult Leader, his Newspaper and the Right, with a new preface is now available free in convenient PDF form. It’s about the ongoing romance between conservative politicians and the Unification Church, the forgotten 1970s “Moonies” mass wedding cult.

https://www.gorenfeld.net/badmoonrising/

My sister, who never went to Church and really never believed in God, unfortunately lost her beloved son in an accident. In her deep sorrow and when she was trying to make sense of it, she said, "maybe this is how God wanted it". She needed to believe that somewhere something larger than us all existed and she needed to believe he went somewhere better than here. I guess I'm trying to say that we need religion in not for anything just to help those dealing with loss and difficult lives. That said, if a religion is more about money and power than they are about comforting and guiding their members, well then that isn't a religion, it is a cult.

Away no Gaijin....

They most certainly don't !

Yet you cannot name a single one...

The problem is not “religion”; the problem is people. People are are prone to greed and hunger for power. There are those who think that if the beliefs they happen to reject would just go away, we would all live in some sort of utopia. Ah, such touching faith in flawed humanity!

'May' is definitely the wrong word here as I've never heard of any church that size that didn't try to gain political influence.

True. There is publicly available evidence that the UC has been involved with the LDP since its foundation. Kishi, Abe's grandfather, saw them as useful allies due to their anti-communist stance.

And yeah, more generally, organised religion is about power, as is politics. A match made in hell, the real one, not the one cult leaders scare their followers.

I feel for this woman. It has to be tough to be born into a cult like this church seeing as how your parents have already been brainwashed and throw you, your savings and whatever to the cult. There's almost no escape.

Connections revealed between lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Unification Church have raised concerns that the group may have sought to exert political influence through the party.

'May' is definitely the wrong word here as I've never heard of any church that size that didn't try to gain political influence.

I personally disagree with Mr. Yamagami choice of actions, but I believe Mr. Yamagami has made a great sacrifice to expose and root out a source of evil and corruption underlining Japanese society and politics at the moment.

I would go so far as to claim Mr. Yamagami is probably the most influential Japanese person of 2022. His one act is still reverberating.

First time I expect UN experts to say something and press Japan to do something about this evil Korean cult.

It's time this evil cult was named and shamed. Confiscate all it's assets, and forbid all politicians from being in any way supportive of religions and cults unless they openly declare membership before standing for election.

Awa no Gaijin...

All of the worlds 4000 religions ?

Even the ones that aren't social ?

Yes, to an extent all religions exert social control. Some more than others.

Please teach us one that doesn't.

I mean, how much were they taking before?!

Not just that. But the fact they know how much is each of their members' income.

Nibek32Today  04:17 pm JST

In a response to all the negative press and exposure, the Unification Church said they will put a cap on how much money they coerce out of their members, now only 30% of their income.

I mean, how much were they taking before?!

It's said the leaflets about " the best way to borrow money" available among followers

I saw the press conference. It was harrowing but important to hear.

She said her family confiscated 2 million yen ($14,000) that she had saved by working a part-time job, adding the money has not been returned.

All the "ties" to the church are about this. Taking from the poor and giving to the rich, causing immeasurable suffering for nothing more than money in their accounts. If any of the politicians tied to the UC get a single vote, that's one vote too many.

I mean, how much were they taking before?!

From what Ogawa mentioned in the conference, pretty much everything as long as it allows basic survival to its members. I mean, Yamagami's mother sold her house and land because of them.

I really dont know how to feel about Yamagami. Of course murder is wrong, but his actions brought all of this sick corruption to light.

In a response to all the negative press and exposure, the Unification Church said they will put a cap on how much money they coerce out of their members, now only 30% of their income.

I mean, how much were they taking before?!

Goes to show the sorry state of the government/people chosen, to run/manage the country. With connections to a cult?? Its mind boggling.

Its time ordinary/regular Japanese take charge, of where they want the country to go. At the poll??

@Fighto!

It's difficult to draw the line between victim and offender here imo. People frequently become members at a time of hardship, loneliness, grief or any other situation in which they're looking for answers and easy to be taken advantage of by cults. As deplorable as any cult is, stigmatising and further isolating its lower ranking members might actually only make things worse.

More power to her.

Awa no Gaijin wrote "All of the worlds 4000 religions ?" in response to the claim "Religion is just a very efficient means of social control, All of them". While I agree that it's hardly accurate to say "all of them", but of the ones that have the most influence on social mores, customs and beliefs and behavior, I would argue that that is demonstratively accurate. Also, all religions make claims about the supernatural which none have a single shred of evidence of. The authority from which claims are espoused is elevated as sacred in many religions and the regulations and customs surrounding beliefs vis a vis ritual, edicts etc. most certainly serve to control followers to keep them in lockstep with "the flock".

Ms Ogawa is a hero for standing up to this bullying, controlling, evil and incredibly powerful cult.

Time to name and shame all members. Out them online and expose them to public scrutiny. Being a member should be instant dismissal from any workplace.

Absolute sickos.

Religion, all you need to know…..

What a horrible satanic cult from S Korea. It must be banned from Japan once and for all.

If Aum Shinrikyo is still allowed to exist and operate in Japan after murdering over 20 people and injuring thousands, there's no way the UC will be outlawed. Besides, the LDP like them.

The Japanese government and the members within have allowed a giant leech to feed off the citizens of Japan and that is unconscionable…

wanted to eliminate the damage caused by religion

That says it all. Religion indeed does poison everything. But the Moonies are one of the most potently virulent of the mix. There are many others like the Moonies, easy to think of them. JW for one.

One word. Separation of church and state.

The full conference is available in the FCCJ and other individual outlets' channels at Youtube. Spoken in Japanese followed by English interpretation.

旧統一協会問題　元2世信者が会見（2022年10月7日）

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv1ZYvt2NO4

The "fax interruption" occurred somewhere at 50:00. Being distressed (?), she had to cancel some scheduled events right after that.

"So, what are the names of the parents who sent this letter to try and derail things? Bet they want to keep it anonymous." 

Ogawa, who uses a pseudonym to protect her real identity,

A rather silly question don't you think?

Good for her.

It's important to speak up even though they will use underhanded tactics to try to silence you and the truth.

Good for her! Down with the UC CULT!

Public and law should come down hard on these people. Not just the cult but the politicians involved. Let them become a pariah.

""I believe many of the people who are watching this will know who is evil," Ogawa said ""

Yes, people know and that's why the UC is trying to stop you.

The world has more religions, churches to bow down and worship that one could wave a stick at, the last thing Japan needs is a poisonous cancerous cult, Moonies pretending to be one.

Cast the cult out.

Congratulations Ms. Ogawa, the majority of the Japanese people are with you and will stand behind you in your struggle, You Are NOT Alone, you speak not only for yourself but for all other members who can't, God Bless Yoou.

The disgusting leaders of the UC will do everything they can to stop you and other members from speaking the truth, but they will FAIL for the simple fact that you speak TRUTH.

He relationship with her husband seems to have done wonders.

She said she's over her troubles which is why she was able to give this talk.

Let's hope the cult collapses soon.

Truly evil cult. There' snothing like religion for destroying a person's mind. It will take her years to undo the damage the cult has done to her.

In a summarized version of the faxed message read out during the event, Sayuri Ogawa's parents called for the press conference to be halted immediately, saying their daughter has a "tendency to lie," and the psychiatric issues she said she suffers had worsened since a gunman killed former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

In a recent Tweet, Sayuri revealed that as a kid she did love their parents especially her mother. Sadly, they had put all priority and affection to the cult, not to her child's wellbeing. A big dilemma and tragedy.

Sayuri seems to be smart and strong. She used to be a popular young leader for the cult. I wish her well.

Religion is just a very efficient means of social control. All of them.

I like the way the hamfisted attempt to silence her has made the story more interesting and thus ensured that more people will learn about what she has to say than otherwise would have.

Well of course they are upset with her, she is trying to disrupt their business.

Anyway, she is brave. Let's kick the Unification Church out.

Money, the root of all evil.

So, what are the names of the parents who sent this letter to try and derail things? Bet they want to keep it anonymous. And sadly, a young woman talking about her experience of being physically and mentally abused here never changes anything.

In a summarized version of the faxed message read out during the event, Sayuri Ogawa's parents called for the press conference to be halted immediately, saying their daughter has a "tendency to lie," and the psychiatric issues she said she suffers had worsened since a gunman killed former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

And where are the Keystone Kops and J. justice system to investigate the Unification Church for harassment and stalking?

And go after the Church's assets for libel and slander?

I thought laws were getting beefed up against bullying?

Maybe against some random otaku online but not against the Church I suppose.

It's a pretty sick cult. Period.

Sayuri Ogawa, who uses a pseudonym to protect her identity,

....except for holding a press conference and having the Meeja paste her (albeit partially hidden) face all over the shop...

and except that 'The Church' knew her identity, so could send that "message".....