Korean Job Discussion Forums

Illysook · Joined: 30 Jun 2008

In my neighborhood we have the "holy mother" people. I think that they do target foreigners. JW's and other cults also target us. We are far from home and a bit vulnerable. Please folks, if you are feeling lonely and sucn, stick with one of the big six of the world religions. The ones that tend to be called "cults" are known for playing with your mind quite a bit more than the usual ones.[/img]

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

computermichael · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Location: Anyang

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

The "holy mother people" are Moonies. The Holy Father and Mother are the Rev. Moon and his wife.

When these people come to my home they get the door slammed in their face. Any conversation at all seems to be considered an invitation to come back.

When they single me out in a public place they get told ONCE in polite English that I am not interested and to please leave me alone. When they persist (because a single "no" never seems to be enough) they receive an earful in loud, broken Korean that I am not interested in their religion, and that I want to be left alone and asking them why they are only bothering the white person. This actually reduced one of them to tears in a Starbucks.

calicoe · Joined: 23 Dec 2008 Location: South Korea

I just tell them I'm Ba'hai, which stops them dead in their tracks, since they don't know what the hell it is. And then I bid them a good day, and continue on my merry way.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Chris.Quigley · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Location: Belfast. N Ireland

Has anyone been approached by a group in Sungnam called "The Church of God"? They usually try and tell you that their leader is God (Elohim) and his wife (the Mother) is the Holy Spirit. I thought they were Moonies at first, but it turns out they are another group.

Anyway, my encounters with them were overwhelmingly negative.

The first time a gyopo approached me and started to share his faith with me. He told me that I should believe in the Mother and talked to me in a condescending (you are an idiot) tone. He also implied that because I was at Moran station at 11pm on a Friday, that meant I was drunk (which I wasn't) and that I was a womanizer. Anyway, since the Bible says that man was made in the image of God, they believe that this means that God also has a female part (or portion?). So, I started to ask him questions about that... That's when he started screaming at me "You are a liar sir. Sir! You are a liar! Hey, Sir you are a liar, Sir, you need to know that you are a Liar" I walked away as he yelled at me and joined my friend at the bar for a beer... haha... The whole time he had this queer smile on his face...

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Chris Q.: Check my post just above yours. That's the group.

southernman · Joined: 15 Jan 2010 Location: On the mainland again

I've met JW's in 3 different locations in Korea. I'm always polite and just say basically thanks but no thanks. That's been the end of it, both parties leave with their dignity intact and no further contact has been made.

In my current location my next door neighbour is a young Canadian female who invited them into her apartment the first time they called, she didn't know who they were until they were inside.

She projects as a nice somewhat shy individual. For weeks afterwards she had them banging on her door at the weekend. Maybe they're just following the doctrine 'the meek shall inherit the world' and looking for soulmates Smile

chellovek · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

NYC_Gal 2.0 · Joined: 10 Dec 2010

I tell them that I'm Jewish, and that my religion is the correct one and that their religion is heresy. That all Christianity originated from Judaism.

I'm an atheist of Jewish ancestry, but this is far more fun.

Illysook · Joined: 30 Jun 2008

The Mormons and the Jehovah's Witnesses may consider themselves to be Christians, but neither of these religions consider Christ to be the son of God, so more orthodox Christians such as Baptists and Presbyterians do not consider JW's and Mormons to be Christians...and Isome evangelical protestants don't even think Catholics are Christians, but since they do believe in the trinitarian God as described by the Council of Nicea, I'm going to count them in.

somekindofwonderful · Joined: 05 May 2009

McGenghis · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Gangneung

This is usually done with Mormons, but apparently asking them how magnets work is a pretty good system.

I am actually pretty close with a JW couple where I live. They often drive me places and take me out to dinner. We talk about North Korea, the World Series, and the imminent arrival of Yesunim. All good fun. In all seriousness, they are good folks who have helped me out a number of times.

When we study the Bible, I just tell myself I am doing it for the literary references.

UknowsI · Joined: 16 Apr 2009

Usually I just get random visits by JW and sometimes other religious groups. I know they are random because I can hear them knock on my neighbours door too. They contact me quite often on campus too and give me their magazine. I actually think the magazine can be pretty fun even though I'm not religious, so I don't mind that part.

A couple of times they have been stalking me out. One time I talked with some JW at a store where I ordered furniture. The next day the same two people came knocking on my door. It was quite far from the furniture store, and I'm sure they got my address from the store since they had my delivery address.

I usually open my door with the question "Are you from Church?". Last time I asked they answered "No" but then gave me the Watchtower 10 seconds later...