The Unification Church The Divine Principle Meet Your

The Unification Church The Divine Principle

Meet Your New Messiah A Red-Letter Day August 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 of Lord 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”

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reaching the Moonies • Some practical strategies – Address in loving manner • Will not respond to those who cannot emulate highquality 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

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, lifechanging 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