The Unification Church

1. The Unification Church The Divine Principle

2. Meet Your New Messiah A Red-Letter DayAugust 20, 1985 The “Moon-Magic” My victory at Danbury also has meant my own resurrection,both physically and spiritually. I am now in the position ofLord of the second Advent to the world… Much confusion and chaos prevailed before I entered prison. But with my emergence as the victorious Lord of the Second Advent for the world, a new order has come into being.(Moon, “Causa Seminar Speech,” 8-29-85, 7-8.) Welcome to the world of the “Moonies”

3. Who are the Moonies? • Official Names • Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity • Unification Church • Family Federation for World Peace & Unification • Increasingly a secularized social – political movement • Intentional cultic spectrum migration • Trend toward New Age beliefs • Appeal to middle class educated young people • Conduct business under multiple pseudonyms • Westernization of eastern religious ideas • Misinterpretation of scriptures to force compatibility with eastern religious orientation • Intense psychological pressure on membership conformity/loyalty

4. Who are the Moonies? • Synopsis of UC message • Dynamic, loving group following a powerful, influential, religious visionary • Moon presents a message of social improvement/cooperation for betterment of mankind • Hybrid of Eastern philosophy (Taoism), democratic idealism, and Christianity • Dualistic philosophy (Taoism) • Key to his “new truth” in the Taoist Book of Changes (I Ching)

5. Who are the Moonies? • Two Popular / Historic Features • Mass Weddings – “The Blessing Ceremony” • Large spectacles uniting couples in Divine unions • Meaning/purpose? – Completion/harmony of life • Recruitment/funding: “heavenly deception” • Practice of “justified lying” • How are we to regard the Unification Church movement? • Unificationists accustomed to controversy • Consider themselves an “ecumenical” movement

6. Essential Elements of Moon’s Life • Bio Data of Sun Myung Moon (1920-) • Born Yong Myung Moon (Shining Dragon) • Reared when North Korea was a colony of Japan • Studied at Waseda University in Japan • Spiritual quest: “Nine Year Struggle” • Revelation from JC in 1936 • New ideology to world – Unification Theory • Divine Principle (theological expression) • Unification Thought (philosophical expression) • Victory of Communism Theory (political expression) • The Divine Principle produced in 1952 • Considered authoritative writing for UC

7. Essential Elements of Moon’s Life • Suffering for his faith / courage (1940’s - 1950’s) • Taking message first to South then North Korea • Married first of several (four?) wives and had a son • Peculiar Pentecostal associations • Discovering “Nine levels of spirit world” • Complications soon revolving around irresponsible sexual activities • practicing a “Blood Cleansing” doctrine

8. Essential Elements of Moon’s Life • Suffering for his faith / courage (1940’s - 1950’s) • Additional Troubles • Arrested by North Korean authorities (1948 ) • Excommunicated from Presbyterian Church – 1948 • Married second wife (without divorcing the first) -- 1949 • Arrested again – sent to Prison Camp in North Korea • Liberated from prison camp (1950) • Began ministry in Pusan (South Korea) in 1951 • Well on way to becoming true movement

9. Essential Elements of Moon’s life • Founding events of the Unification Church • Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (1954 in South Korea) • Again facing troubles over “religious teachings” (arrested) • Mission to Japan launched – 1958 • Young Kim (UC theologian) sent to USA (1959) • Unification Theology presents doctrinal views

10. Essential Elements of Moon’s life • Marriage to Hak Ja Han – March 1960 • Divine fulfillment of “Marriage of the Lamb” in Rev. 21:9 • Cosmic Era as first “True Parents” • Power to bless other marriages with pureness and sinless offspring • Marriage produced 13 children • Firstborn died in car accident at age 17 • Other children faced multiple public scandals

11. Essential Elements of Moon’s life • Worldwide attention: Moon came to USA in 1970’s • High Publicity Events • Mass Weddings: e.g. Madison Square Garden • Public Demonstration Marches: e.g. Washington Monument • Public defense of Richard Nixon (during cold-war era) • Promoted powerful Coalitions and Conferences • American Freedom Coalition • CAUSA International (1980) • Insured influence through multiple structures • Religious Organizations / Political Groups / Businesses • Media Blitzkrieg: Washington Times • Educational Emphases: Conferences / Seminary • Public Challenges: The IRS case: 1983 Tax Evasion Issue

12. Essential Elements of Moon’s life • The “Moon Magic” – a Cautionary Note • Easy to be seduced by rhetoric of success • Moon’s life is made to sound like a fairy tale • Facts: Massive influence in global business and politics • Controversy / media attention often hide fact that Moon has limited religious support • Church growth has subsided in recent years • Public popularity of 1970’s waning • Deportation attempt

13. Nine Central Unification Beliefs • A new revelation • Bible is scripture, but superseded by Divine Principle • Three “testaments” (Old, New, “Complete”) • Denies Bible’s ultimate authority • A new Messiah • Extreme form of dispensationalim • Rev. Moon is Messiah for the Completed Testament Age • God has chosen “nation of east” to become the “third Israel” • Rev. Moon to complete failed mission of Jesus

14. Nine Central Unification Beliefs • A new understanding of God/Trinity • God described in “dual essentialities” • Panentheism – God is “in” everything • “Trinity” is various groups of 3 beings • A new understanding of Jesus • Zechariah fathered Jesus (tension) • Not divine, simply sinless man on earth • Cross brings only spiritual salvation • Denies bodily resurrection

15. Nine Central Unification Beliefs • A new view of the Holy Spirit • Female aspect of God / spiritual bride of Christ (2nd Eve) • The “mother spirit” who along with JC, cleanses sins & gives spiritual rebirth • Not a person, but a divine energy

16. Nine Central Unification Beliefs • New view of the Fall of mankind • Taoist: Adam/Eve fell in two ways • Spiritually: Eve seduced into sexual intercourse with Satan • Physically: Eve then had relations with Adam • Subsequent history is reflection of this horizontal fall • God’s purpose in Creation, thus frustrated • Duty of Rev. Moon…To indemnify (pay for) all the past sins of mankind

17. Nine Central Unification Beliefs • A new view of salvation • JC is not the final and ultimate savior of the world • For full salvation, God has sent a third Adam (Moon) • Divine Marriage: Hak Ja Han • Through their family, the kingdom of heaven will be brought to earth • Moon is known as True Father and his wife as True Mother • System of Indemnity: Resettling divine debt -- A salvation that is by works • Similar to concept of karma • Salvation is restoration of original created order • Salvation also linked closely to spiritism

18. Nine Central Unification Beliefs • A new view of eschatology • Postmillennial view • Denies JC will return / Moon completes • Date of millennium (postponed!) • Pluralistic: But UC holds ideal truth • To defy Moon is to defy self, posterity, one’s country, the world and God • Nature of eternal existence in Heaven • Eastern ethnocentrism glorified • Universalist – deny eternality of hell

19. Nine Central Unification Beliefs • A new ritual in worship / religious life • Nature of the church • Church does not ordain ministers • Membership process? • See church as global movement, not sectarian worshippers • Temporary institution • Religious life • New liturgical calendar of holy days • Distinctive elements for securing holiness • Holy candles / attire / bowing / Moon’s photo • Esoteric rituals as well • Holy salt / Holy wine / Holy grounds

20. Reaching the Moonies • Points of Contention / Confrontation • Unification theology is unbiblical • Distortion of creation narratives • Distortion of virgin birth & infant narratives • Unification theology denigrates person of Jesus Christ • Intentionally displaces Christ as exclusive and unique savior • Unification prophecies are speculative and incorrect • Erroneous predictions about himself, his followers, and world events • Moon’s egocentric and implausible views • Bombastic claims warrant scrutiny for their rationality and sustainability

21. Reaching the Moonies • Some practical strategies • Address in loving manner • Will not respond to those who cannot emulate high-quality care they are accustomed to • Affirm their freedom of religion • Defend their right to believe in Rev. Moon and to accept teachings of Divine Principle • With confidence and trust built over time, you can then question the validity • Treat them as individuals • Not all members are alike – great diversity within UC

22. Reaching the Moonies • Some practical strategies • Commend them for every good/decent reality in their faith/lifestyle • Moon has produced ideas worthy of audience and respect on some issues • View them as sincere followers of their faith • Nothing gained by assuming they are all crazy or insincere • Many offer strong personal testimonies of passionate, life-changing devotion • Appealing Strategy: Invite them to the true Messiah • Members labor under a heavy burden from false messiah • Invite them to consider liberating claims of Gospel of Jesus which truly transforms