New Independent Information and Debate Platform PodTalk.Live calls for Foundation Members

Source: Multimedia Investments Ltd

For Immediate Release

After a successful beta-launch in April PodTalk.live is now ready to invite people to register as foundation members. Foundation members are free to join the post and podcast social platform.

The Foundation Membership soft-launch is a great opportunity for founders to help shape a brand new, vibrant, algorithm-free, info discussion and debate social platform.

Developer of the platform, Selwyn Manning said: “PodTalk.live has been put to test by selected individuals and we are pleased to report that it has performed fabulously.”

Manning is founder and managing director of the company that custom-developed PodTalk.live – Multimedia Investments Ltd (MIL: milnz.co.nz).

MIL is based in New Zealand, where PodTalk.live was developed and is served from.

And now, PodTalk.live has emerged from its Beta stage and is ready for foundation members to shape the next phase of its development.

About PodTalk.Live:

PodTalk.live was designed to be an alternative platform to other social media platforms. PodTalk has all the functions that most social media platforms have but has placed the user-experience at the centre of its backend design and engineering.

PodTalk.live has been custom-designed, created and is served from New Zealand.

“We ourselves became annoyed at how social media giants use algorithms to drive what content their users see and experience. And, we also were appalled at how some social media companies trade user data, and were unresponsive to user-concerns” Selwyn Manning said.

“So we decided to create a platform that focuses on ‘discussion and debate’ communities, and we have engineered PodTalk to ensure the content that users see is what they choose – rather than some obscure algorithm making that decision for them.

“PodTalk.live is independent from other social media platforms, and at best will become an alternative choice for people who seek a community where they are the centre of a platform’s core purpose.

“And today, we invite people to sign up now and become foundation members of this new and ethically-based social community platform,” Selwyn Manning said.

PodTalk.live provides:

  • user profiles with full interactivities with other users and friends
  • user created groups, posts, video, images, polls, and file sharing
  • private and secure one-on-one (and group) messages
  • availability of all the above for entry users with a free membership
  • premium membership for podcasters and event publishers requiring easy to use podcast publication and syndication services
  • next-level community engagement tools that users all on the one platform.

In addition, PodTalk.live will host:

  • Live audio and video webcasts with special guests and member talkback events
  • premium video and audio podcasts (on-demand and live)
  • premium posts on big issues from prominent writers
  • featured documentaries on interesting and important topics.

Security Safety Moderation:

Security and safety has been baked into PodTalk’s function and culture. And at PodTalk, free-speech is welcomed but hate speech is rejected.

“With PodTalk, we recognise that many people, wherever they live, require security and at times anonymity so to avoid reprisals from authorities and other actors,” Selwyn manning said.

“Along with a strong focus on security, and guidance on how to remain anonymous when necessary, we have built robust member-moderation into the core of PodTalk to ensure users are in control of their experience.”

“PodTalk has robust moderation tools so that members can easily block and report those who they feel disrupt their experience,” Selwyn Manning said.

And now, we invite all who seek an information, discussion and debating community to register as foundation members.

To do so, simply go to: https://PodTalk.Live and register. Once on the platform, members can familiarise themselves with what PodTalk.Live has to offer, and begin to create their own online community experience.

“We are working on audio-to-text multi-language translation+transcription tools, and will soon push the boundaries of cutting edge on-platform communication tools,” Selwyn Manning said.

The platform already has cutting edge tech, also smart community and premium publishing tools – including an invitation tool so you can invite your friends and grow your community.

PodTalk.live is founded on the belief that for social, political and economical progress to occur people need to discuss issues in a safe environment and embark on robust debate.

Register free as a founder. Check out the platform. See you there…

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Contact Information

Faith and Religion – Religious Freedom Violation and Intolerance Spark International Controversy amongst multiple Religious Groups within South Korea

South Korean local government cancels international event with 30,000 participants from 78 countries, causing international damage.

On October 29th, an administrative decision by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, a South Korean government agency sparked international controversy, raising concerns about religious freedom and causing substantial financial loss.

The “Religious Leaders Forum and 110,000 Graduation Ceremony,” a joint initiative by two prominent religious organizations, was set to take place in Paju, South Korea.  The event, hosted by the Association for Buddhist National Unification of Korea and Shincheonji Church of Jesus, was expected to draw over 30,000 participants from 57 countries, including 1,000 religious leaders representing Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism.

However, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, a public entity under the Gyeonggi Province, abruptly cancelled the venue rental without prior notice.

The Shincheonji Church of Jesus states: “This last-minute decision has resulted in significant financial damage to the event, as well as all organizers and parties involved.”

Organizers of this event stated that the cancellation commits an unconstitutional act of discrimination against a specific religion, violating religious freedom, human rights, and due process of law.

The hosting organizations, the Association for Buddhist National Unification of Korea and Shincheonji Church of Jesus, reported that they had received official confirmation on October 23rd and 28th that there was no plan of cancellation. They also report that the unilateral cancellation was an unreasonable administrative action targeting a specific religious group – other events scheduled for the same day were not affected, and that the cancellation was an “administrative decision caused by opposition from a specific religious group,” which “violates the principle of separation of church and state guaranteed by the [South Korean] Constitution.”

The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization cited security concerns related to recent North Korean actions, and the planned activities of a North Korean defector group as reasons for the cancellation. However, it was pointed out that other events, such as civilian bike rides and foreign tourist visits to the DMZ, were still permitted within the same designated area.

The incident has reignited international debate about religious freedom and tolerance in South Korea. The U.S. State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report has previously highlighted concerns such as the prosecution of Shincheonji Church of Jesus and the government’s refusal to approve mosque construction.

The Association for Buddhist National Unification of Korea and Shincheonji Church of Jesus have expressed frustrations and call upon the South Korean government to respect religious freedom, uphold human rights, and to rectify this decision. They also urge international organizations to monitor this situation and take appropriate action to protect religious freedom.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus’ position on the abrupt cancellation of the Imjingak Peace Nuri Hall for their 110,000 Graduation

Shincheonji Church of Jesus are in the face of legal pressure, following the sudden cancellation and banning of the use of their venue of choice for their annual graduation ceremony for their theology school, Zion Christian Mission Centre.

Shincheonji allege that Gyeonggi Tourism Organization have committed unconstitutional acts of the sudden blockage of their event, on the premise of religious oppression.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus had rented the Imjingak Peace Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province from October 29 to 31 to hold a Religious Leaders Forum and their 110,000 Graduation Ceremony on the 30th. Tens of thousands of graduates and religious leaders from both Korea and abroad had already entered the country and completed all preparations to participate in the event. Shincheonji had already spent hundreds of billions of won to conduct the event at this scale. However, on the morning of the 29th, it was reported the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization unilaterally cancelled the rental without consultation or notice to the other parties involved.

Frustrations from Shincheonji come from reports that all administrative procedures for the procession of the Religious Leaders Forum and the Graduation Ceremony were of legal nature and in constant cooperation with the Gyeonggi Tourism Organisation – both parties received an approval notice as early as July 22, rental fee from Shincheonji being paid in full on October 2 and on October 16, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization gave final reviews of all the details of the event, undergoing extensive safety inspections. In particular, on the same day, there was news that Gyeonggi Province had designated the entire Paju City as a danger zone, but under the guise to block the distribution of leaflets to North Korea. Furthermore, on October 23 and 28, figures from the tourism organisation confirmed twice that “there are no plans to cancel the venue booking.”

The Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon had ordered the cancellation of the venue, due to the reason of “provoking North Korea.”

Shincheonji and many others allege that large-scale events that had taken place at Imjingak Peace Nuri had never brought forth any unwanted attention from the nation’s direct opposition. Speculations arose that it was due to the targeting of a specific religious group from the local government.

Knowing that this stemmed from such and that it also defies many aspects of the Korean constitution, it has caused much outcry from those both in and outside of Shincheonji.

Shincheonji are looking to take all possible legal means to resolve the issue if the events proceed in a way where the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization fail to take responsibility, or fail to settle the matter civilly.

Street protests from members within Shincheonji are also being considered.

Shincheonji are also asking for an official public apology from their former event partners, and to put a halt to religious discrimination against them and others.

Freedom of religion has been stressed heavily, with Shincheonji officials stating “freedom of religion is not a subject of negotiation” in order for them and their congregation to exercise their faith without discrimination.

Religion and Faith – Large Gathering of 16,000 People and Pastors Marks Conclusion of Evangelism Seminar at Shincheonji Jeonju Church

Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do – The Shincheonji Jeonju Church of Jesus hosted a grand Evangelism Seminar on October 13, attended by approximately 250 pastors and viewed online by over 117,000 people. This event marked the culmination of a 20-day festival focused on the Book of Revelation, a topic often considered complex and challenging.

Festivities began well before the seminar, with attendees arriving hours early to experience a vibrant atmosphere filled with traditional Korean performances. Military and Nongak bands entertained crowds, creating a festival-like ambiance. Participants lined up for over a kilometer from the Jeonju IC’s ‘Honam First Gate’ to the venue, showcasing the strong interest in the seminar.

The Chairman of the Shincheonji Church, Man-Hee Lee opened the event by inviting pastors to engage directly with his teachings, stating, “If there is anything wrong with the words I am preaching, please raise your hand and ask questions at any time.” He emphasized the significance of the Book of Revelation, explaining its current relevance and urging attendees to verify its teachings.

The Chairman reiterated, “The contents of the Book of Revelation should not be arbitrarily added to or subtracted from,” encouraging pastors to explore and learn from the Shincheonji. Following his lecture, the attending pastors expressed their gratitude and many stated that they will relay what they have learnt to their respective churches.

Attendees echoed the impact of the seminar. A pastor from the Jeonbuk region remarked, “It was impressive to see him strongly say that the Book of Revelation is Jesus’ promise and therefore should not be added to or taken away from it arbitrarily.” Missionary Park, who attended after watching previous seminars online, noted, “The words were shockingly refreshing. I feel like I’ve found a new guide for my future missionary work.”

The Shincheonji Church of Jesus actively engaged with the local community, promoting the seminar’s purpose and capturing the attention of residents, who photographed the lively street parade. Earlier this month, the church’s Thomas Tribe Branch organized events to spread the message of the Book of Revelation, further enhancing community involvement.

The Shincheonji Church expressed gratitude to all participants for their support during the 20-day event, emphasizing its ongoing commitment to sharing the fulfilled messages of the Book of Revelation. With many more future dialogue and engagements announced, the church is a representative of the many current and active initiatives in shaping and supporting the religious communities today.

PODCAST PROMO: State of Israel Goes Rogue – Attacks UN Peacekeepers – Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning

A View from Afar – In this episode of A View From Afar political scientist Paul Buchanan and host Selwyn Manning analyse how the state of Israel has gone rogue, attacking United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. At this juncture it is clear this is an intentional attack.

Over the past week Israel Defense Force troops have repeatedly attacked UN peacekeepers who were authorised and deployed to the region by the United Nations Security Council.

Also last week; the Government of Israel issued a statement notifying the United Nations Secretary General that he was now banned from Israel and was persona non grata. Within a day of that statement, IDF troops had fired on UN peacekeeping positions in Southern Lebanon.

Since then, the IDF has continued operations that threaten the UN’s presence. And Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has now issued a directive to the UN peacekeeping force to withdraw from the area north of its borders in Southern Lebanon.

Also, despite the United States Biden Administration cautioning Israel on its attacks on UN personnel, overnight New Zealand time, the United States has deployed 100 US troops on the ground in Israel to operate missile defence systems.

In this podcast, Paul and Selwyn consider:

  • Why Israel has begun to attack United Nations peacekeepers in the region?
  • Why has the United States deepened its involvement in Israel’s so-called defence?
  • What of Hezbollah, Hamas; are their attacks on Israel a defence or an attacking offensive?
  • What of Iran, what is its position and will it engage in a full-scale war with Israel and what are the consequences should it do so?

INTERACTION WHILE LIVE:

Paul and Selwyn encourage their live audience to interact while they are live with questions and comments.

To interact during live recordings of A View from Afar podcasts, go to Youtube.com/c/EveningReport/

Remember to subscribe to the channel.

Faith News – Pastors with decades of experience: “I read the Bible literally. Now I’m learning it correctly.”

The Yeongnam Shincheonji Word Conference Chairman Lee Man-hee, who made pastors pour out their sincere testimonies of faith, said, “I must realize who I am as the Bible says and have faith according to the Word.”

The response from established church pastors who attended the Shincheonji Word Conference held in the Yeongnam region is enthusiastic. Pastor Cho, who is serving as a senior pastor in Gimhae, said that he came to know the Bible properly after attending the Word Conference.

After attending the ‘2024 Shincheonji Word Conference’ held in Masan, Pastor Cho confessed, “I have read the Bible many times, but it seems like I read it literally,” and “I feel like I learned the exact revelation that is suitable for this era only after attending the Word Conference.”

He continued, “ Many pastors of established churches, including myself, have been doing ministry based only on what Bible scholars have said .

“I think we need to open it up and make an effort to find the right thing,” he added.

After attending the Shincheonji Church of Jesus’ Word Conference like Pastor Cho, there have been numerous confessions of pastors and church leaders looking back on themselves and their denominations, needing to re-focus their ministry on the Word.

Pastor Oh, who has been a member of the Presbyterian Church and has been a pastor for 17 years , said; “I was skeptical about the lack of words within denominations and the constant division, but after hearing the words of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, I realized that this is a place that preaches the words according to the Bible.”

He continued, “ I feel a lot of guilt as a pastor for having taught the word incorrectly, ” and added, “ I hope that pastors of established churches, like me , will open their hearts, learn about the word of Shincheonji, and then make their own judgment.”

Another Presbyterian pastor, Kim, said, “Korean Christian churches are currently in a state of confusion, and many church members are leaving,” and added “this is a time when we must make an effort in the Word.”

The response of these pastors is due to the consistent Word Conference by Shincheonji Church of Jesus. In particular, four Word Conferences were held in the Yeongnam region this year alone. In January, they were held in Ulsan and Busan. And last month, they were held in Masan and Busan – the Word Conference held in Masan on the 25th of last month was attended by 16,000 people, including 100 pastors from neighboring regions such as Gyeongnam, and lasted for four days.

Pastors who have heard the words of Shincheonji Church of Jesus in response to this request from the Shincheonji Chairman are signing MOUs (Memorandum of Understanding) for word exchange with Shincheonji Church of Jesus. As of early last month, the number of domestic churches that have signed MOUs for word exchange with Shincheonji Church of Jesus has reached 727. In the case of overseas churches, a total of 13,053 churches in 84 countries have signed MOUs with Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

For believers who were unable to attend the event due to physical limitations such as time and location, Shincheonji Church of Jesus supported a live YouTube broadcast. It was reported that approximately 500,000 people watched the live broadcast of the Word Conference.

A Shincheonji Church of Jesus official said, “I think the biggest change is that pastors are the first to listen to the words of Shincheonji. God’s will is for all of humanity to follow His will and be saved… I hope that pastors will truly understand God’s words and enlighten church members through this opportunity.” He continued; “I hope that people, regardless of denomination or sect, will properly learn and understand the Bible and continue to cooperate through the exchange of words.”

The Shincheonji Church of Jesus’ Word Convention will be held in Seoul on the 5th, after passing through the Yeongnam region including Busan, and will then be held in other regions.

Emerging Global Church Chairman continues to deliver lectures on “Testimony of the Fulfilment of Revelation”

On October 25th Lee Man-Hee, the Chairman of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, conducted internationally broadcasted seminar in regards to the “Testimony of the Fulfilment of Revelation” in Masan, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.

With over 16,000 participants including 100 pastors and numerous journalists in attendance, this publicized event hosted at Masan Church was held in response to the surprisingly growing public interest towards the doctrines and teachings of the once enigmatic church.

These seminars were previously held in the regions of Ulsan and Busan in early January this year to similar fanfare.

Since last month, Shincheonji has reported to have received support in the form of signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from 727 domestic churches in South Korea while internationally it has gained MOU’s from as much as 13,053 churches across 84 countries.

The church also announced that up to 1671 churches across 43 countries have modified their church signboards to Shincheonji.

With its continuous support, Shincheonji announced that it will continue to hold and promote said seminars throughout the year in effort to expand it’s influence to the world.