The Unification Church

The Unification Church

RELS 225Cults and New Religious Movements

RELS 225Cults and New Religious Movements

Slide 2.

AgendaAgenda

• Attendance• Syllabus changes• The Unification Church

Slide 3.

Debate formatDebate format

• Five minute limit on each stage of the debate:1. One side will have their chance to present the evidence

and argument for their side,2. Then the other side will have a chance to rebut the

arguments given, 3. and present their side.4. The first group will then offer their rebuttal.5. Cross-examination. Each debater will take turns

questioning individual opponents.

Slide 4.

Syllabus changesSyllabus changes

Original

• The course requirements include: reading assignments with online quizzes, five chapter summaries, a debate, six debate responses, a research essay, a midterm test, and a final exam.

• On two weeks, students will form a group of three or four students to argue one side of the sociological issue being covered that week. Students should sign up (on Moodle) for their topic/date and side of the argument in the second week of the course.

• All students will of course have read the textbook chapter for that week. Debaters will also have read at least one of the major sociological articles representing their side of the argument. They will then impersonate the author of that article in the debate.

Proposed

• The course requirements include: reading assignments with online quizzes, five chapter summaries, a debate, a research essay, a midterm test, and a final exam.

• Each student will be a member of a group of four students to argue one side of the sociological issue being covered in a week of the student’s choice. Students should sign up (on Moodle) for their topic/date and side of the argument once the add/drop deadline has passed.

• All students will of course have read the textbook chapter for that week. Debaters will also have read at least one of the major sociological articles representing their side of the argument. At least one member of the team will then impersonate the author of that article in the debate.

Slide 5.

MooniesMoonies

• Reverend Sun Myung Moon

• Most prominent• Most persecuted• Fast rise & decline in

America, but still strong in Asia, South America, etc.

• Controversy• Why? Beliefs seem somewhat

normal.• 8 reasons.

Slide 6.

Controversy over Unification Church

Controversy over Unification Church

1. Extremely aggressive recruitment• Plunging into American public life (speak out)

2. Engaged in fundraising campaigns, occasionally a bit deceptive (as to who they are)

• 1990s, Japanese elderly defrauded of life savings.

• 2009 Japan selling expensive personal seals: failure to buy would bring bad fortune

3. Mass weddings every couple of years

• 1000’s of people• August 1995: 36,000 in various cities by

satellite• February 8, 1999: 12,000

4. Plunged right into American politics• Supported conservatives (e.g., Nixon)

Slide 7.

Controversy over Unification Church

Controversy over Unification Church

5. Created a newspaper: “Washington Times”

• respectable, right-wing paper• Bought journalists

6. Bought many businesses• Drycleaning chain• Shrimp vessels • Bought towns – revitalized them

7. Moon lives a lavish lifestyle• Jets, yachts• Moon is a successful businessman (multi-

millionaire) and a religious founder.• Blurs religion and finance, religion & politics.

8. Convicted for tax evasion• Spent time in jail• NCC – 154 churches all wrote letters of protest

against the enforcement of law. (book by C. Sherwood)

• 2002 Brazil raids for tax evasion and immigration violations

Korea and AmericaKorea and America

• Moon doesn’t speak English. Korean.• Christianity went to Korea.• Presbyterians converted Moon’s

parents.• Korea is about ½ Christian;

• compare Japan 1%; China <10%.• USA is the “promised land” with an

instrumental role in religious future.• Americans have wandered from the

true Christian way.

Slide 9.

NameName

• “Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity” May 1, 1954

• Now: “Family Federation for World Peace & Unification”

• Not displacing Christianity, but bringing the factions together.

Slide 10.

MoonMoon

• Born in 1920 in what is now North Korea

• Parents: conservative Presbyterians• Easter 1936, had a religious dramatic

revelation:• Jesus gave him a mandate to complete my

mission.• (Jesus was establishing Kingdom of God on

earth)• Followed by many other revelations:

• Visions of Abraham, God, Buddha, Moses• Struggled with Satanic & other

temptations for 9 years.• Married & divorced during this period• Then, had a revelation: what he

needed.• Discovered the “Secret crime of Adam & Eve”• His job is to reverse it.

• Died September, 2012

Slide 11.

Divine PrincipleDivine Principle

• 1945: Started his church• end of World War 2• Communists in North Korea• Arrested, tortured, imprisoned (very primitive; tiny

hut for 4 years)• 1950’s: Korean War

• UN won.• He was liberated and went south. Gained a following• 1954: Established Unification Church

• His interpretation of the Bible + new revelations• 1 million followers there now.• Missionaries to Japan – successful (June, 1958, Mr.

Bong-choon Choi )• 1959: sent a missionary (U. professor woman) to

U.S.; was successful. January 2, 1959, Miss Young-oon Kim

Slide 12.

East-West misunderstandingEast-West misunderstanding

• 1970: Moon came to U.S.A.• Early 1980’s: 20-25,000

members in US• Eastern component comes

through:• Skill-in-means is employed• Buddha says a wise teacher adapts

teaching to context.• Divine Principle comes in

several levels:• 1 – for novices• 2-3 – intermediate• 4 – advanced

• Creates an impression of secret teaching

Slide 13.

Adam & EveAdam & Eve

• Genesis story – not much changed• What went wrong with Adam & Eve?1. God created them as brother &

sister• Until they have spiritually matured• Only then are they to have the physical

maturity to reproduce• Then to populate the earth with godly children

2. But God assigns his chief angel Lucifer to watch his humans

3. Lucifer becomes jealous of God’s love for Eve

4. Lucifer spiritually seduces Eve. Premature spiritual maturity.

5. Eve seduces Adam physically.

Slide 14.

Adam & EveAdam & Eve

• Therefore we need a new Adam & Eve as originally planned.

• Jesus (and Abraham and Moses before him) failed to complete it, so Moon must try.

• Jesus didn’t live long enough to take a wife & have children.

• Crucifixion only effected a partial corrective (he paid indemnity).

• The 3rd Adam is supposed to come from the East, born after WWI.

• Moon didn’t overtly declare himself to be that 3rd Adam until August 24, 1992 (with wife).

Slide 15.

BeliefsBeliefs

Similar

• Revelation• Biblical revelation by God• God is a God of history• Can read God through creation

• God• is personal• Loving father• Had a plan for us• Omniscient• Omnipresent• Omnipotent• Transcends creation

Different

• Revelation• Revelation didn’t stop with the

Bible.• It continued: ongoing revelation

• God• Transcendent, but hovers very

close to earth• Very concerned with human events.• God not so much of intellect or of

will / action, but of heart• God was vulnerable & subject to

betrayal.• God grieves over his children.

Slide 16.

BeliefsBeliefs

Similar

• Humanity• Made in God’s image• This changed with Fall

not because of sex.• God helps those who

help themselves.• God created humans,

to love & be loved; to be free agents

• Adam & Eve were cursed, with suffering

Different

• Humanity• Intended to occupy a position higher than angels• Perfection requires balance of mind-body. Balance shifted

to physical nature. Absence of spiritual component: love.• If we restored the balance, we would live in direct

dominion of the world. (Now we live in indirect dominion.)• Only with God’s assistance can we return to direct

dominion; but we must do our part.• The lord can only help those who help themselves.• God is much more injured than we are.• Our job is to alleviate God’s pain.

• i.e., establish the Kingdom of God on earth, the kingdom of love.• Like Christ, we must pay indemnity.

• We must be willing to take on suffering now, to bring love back later.

Slide 17.

BeliefsBeliefs

Similar

• Death & Afterlife• Death is not to be

feared• When you die you go

on to live

Different

• Death & Afterlife• A cycle of life is going on.• Fall brought on spiritual death (loss of spirituality).• Resurrection not bodily; was to resurrect God’s

plan.• Go in one of 3 mostly spiritual worlds (the further

you are along the path) where life goes on much like here:

• High – followers of Moon• Medium• Low – most of us

• But to maintain a physical contact, a lower level dead person must connect with a living Moonie (like a guardian angel). This explains special powers & miracles.

Slide 18.

FamilyFamily

• Son (heir) Young Jin died in an accident

• Wife Hak Ja Han• 15 years younger, pushed to

forefront.• Groomed to take over.

• 3rd son being cultivated.• Hyung Jin Moon

International president (2008)

• daughter In Jin Moon as the president of the Unification Church of the United States

Slide 19.

BeliefsBeliefs

• Ultimate End of Time• Not apocalyptic, but progressive• Once we all see the light & find balance, the world will be

more perfect & it will become paradise.

Slide 20.

BeliefsBeliefs

• The Good life & how to lead it.

• Highly prescriptive.• Concerned with appearance

• Short hair, suits, ties. • Modest.

• Before married, live in group communal home.

• Once married, move out on own, close to centre.

• Role of women traditional, subservient, conservative policy.

Slide 21.

Central ethical points concern sexuality

Central ethical points concern sexuality

• Absolute celibacy before marriage, & demonstrate it.

• Marriages are arranged (Moon himself used to arrange them)

• Interracial, to produce unification• After marriage, 40 days celibate

(upon church approval)• Once married, dedicated primarily

to God, so separated a lot.• No objection to birth control.

• As many as you know you can fully love.• Divorce: not supposed to happen.• Mass marriage: why?

• $400 paid, but provided with fitted gown, tuxedo, photos, banquet, venues.

• No homosexuality

Slide 22.

Review: MooniesReview: Moonies

• Controversy over Unification Church• recruitment; fundraising; Mass weddings; politics; “Washington Times”;

businesses; lavish lifestyle; tax evasion• Divine Principle

• Discovered the “Secret crime of Adam & Eve”• new Adam & Eve needed: 1992 Moon declared to be new Adam.

• East-West misunderstanding• 1959 missionary; 1970: Moon came to U.S.A.• Skill-in-means; levels create impression of secret teaching

• Beliefs• Revelation continues• Humanity requires balance of mind-body, kingdom of love.• Once we all see the light & find balance, the world will become

paradise.• Highly prescriptive; especially sexuality

Slide 23.

1. God. 1. God.

• There is one living, eternal, and true God, an being beyond space and time,

• who possesses perfect intellect, emotion and will, whose deepest nature is heart and love,

• who combines both masculinity and femininity, • who is the source of all truth, beauty, and goodness, and • who is the creator and sustainer of man and the universe

and of all things visible and invisible. • Man and the universe reflect His personality, nature,

and purpose.

Slide 24.

2. Man. 2. Man.

• Man was • made by God as a special creation, • made in His image as His children, • like Him in personality and nature, and • created

• To respond to His love, • to be the source of His joy, and • to share His creativity.

Slide 25.

3. God's Desire for Man and Creation.

3. God's Desire for Man and Creation.

• God's desire for man and creation is eternal and unchanging; • God wants men and women to fulfill three things:

• first, each to grow to perfection so as to be one in heart, will, and action with God, having their bodies and minds united together in perfect harmony centering on God's love;

• second, to he united by God as husband and wife and give birth to sinless children of God, thereby establishing a sinless family and ultimately a sinless world; and

• third, to become lords of the created world by establishing a loving dominion of reciprocal give-and-take with it.

• Because of man's sin, however, none of these happened. • Therefore God's present desire is that the problem of sin be

solved and that all these things be restored, thus bringing about the earthly and heavenly kingdom of God.

Slide 26.

4. Sin. 4. Sin.

• The first man and woman (Adam and Eve), before they had become perfected, were tempted by the archangel Lucifer into illicit and forbidden love.

• Through this, Adam and Eve wilfully turned away from God's will and purpose for them, thus bringing themselves and the human race into spiritual death.

• As a result of this Fall, Satan usurped the position of mankind's true father so that thereafter all people are born in sin both physically and spiritually and have a sinful propensity.

• Human beings therefore tend to oppose God and His will, and live in ignorance of their true nature and parentage and of all that they have lost.

• God too, grieves for His lost children and lost world, and has had to struggle incessantly to restore them to Himself.

• Creation groans in travail, waiting to be united through the true children of God.

Slide 27.

5. Christology. 5. Christology.

• Fallen mankind can be restored to God only through Christ (the Messiah), who comes as a new Adam to become the new head of the human race (replacing the sinful parents), through whom mankind can be reborn into God's family.

• In order for God to send the Messiah, mankind must fulfill certain conditions which restore what was lost through the Fall.

Slide 28.

6. History. 6. History.

• Restoration takes place through the paying of indemnity for (making reparations for) sin.

• Human history is the record of God's and Man's efforts to make these reparations over time in order that conditions can be fulfilled so that God can send the Messiah, who comes to initiate the complete restoration process.

• When some effort at fulfilling some reparation condition fails, it must be repeated, usually by someone else after some intervening time-period; history therefore exhibits a cyclic pattern.

• History culminates in the coming of the Messiah, and at that time the old age ends and a new age begins.

Slide 29.

7. Resurrection. 7. Resurrection.

• The process of resurrection is the process of restoration to spiritual life and spiritual maturity, ultimately uniting man with God;

• it is passing from spiritual death into spiritual life. • This is accomplished in part by man's effort (through

prayer, good deeds, etc.) with the help of the saints in the spiritual world, and completed by God's activity of bringing man to rebirth through Christ (the Messiah).

Slide 30.

8. Predestination. 8. Predestination.

• God's will that all people be restored to Him is predestined absolutely, and He has elected all people to salvation, but He has also given man part of the responsibility (to be accomplished through man's free will) for the accomplishment of both His original will and His will for the accomplishment of restoration;

• that responsibility remains man's permanently. • God has predestined and called certain persons and

groups of people for certain responsibilities; • if they fail, others must take up their roles and greater

reparations must be made.

Slide 31.

9. Jesus. 9. Jesus.

• Jesus of Nazareth came as the Christ, the Second Adam, the only begotten Son of God.

• He became one with God, speaking the words of God and doing the works of God, and revealing God to the people.

• The people, however, rejected and crucified him, thereby preventing his building the Kingdom of God on earth.

• Jesus, however, was victorious over Satan in his crucifixion and resurrection, and thus made possible spiritual salvation for those who are reborn through him and the Holy Spirit.

• The restoration of the Kingdom of God on earth awaits the Second Coming of Christ.

Slide 32.

10. The Bible. 10. The Bible.

• The Old and New Testament Scriptures are the record of God's progressive revelation to mankind.

• The purpose of the Bible is to bring us to Christ, and to reveal God's heart.

• Truth is unique, eternal, and unchanging, so any new message from God will be in conformity with the Bible and will illuminate it more deeply.

• Yet, in these last days, new truth must come from God in order that mankind be able to accomplish what is, yet, undone.

Slide 33.

11. Complete Restoration. 11. Complete Restoration.

• A proper understanding of theology concentrates simultaneously on man's relationship with God (vertical) and on man's relationship with his fellowman (horizontal).

• Man's sin disrupted both these relationships, and all the problems of our world result from this.

• These problems will be solved through restoration of man to God through Christ, and also through such measures as

• initiating proper moral standards and practices, • forming true families, • uniting all peoples and races (such as Orient, Occident and Negro), • resolving the tension between science and religion, • righting economic, racial, political, and educational injustices, and • overcoming God-denying ideologies such as Communism.

Slide 34.

12. Second Coming or Eschatology.

12. Second Coming or Eschatology.

• The Second Coming of Christ will occur in our age, an age much like that of the First Advent.

• Christ will come as before, as a man in the flesh, and he will establish a family through marriage to his Bride, a woman in the flesh, and they will become the True Parents of all mankind.

• Through our accepting the True Parents (the Second Coming of Christ), obeying them and following them, our original sin will be eliminated and we will eventually become perfect.

• True families fulfilling God's ideal will be begun, and the Kingdom of God will be established both on earth and in heaven.

• That day is now at hand.

Slide 36.

Next Sociological IssueNext Sociological Issue

• Read Chapter 2 in Comprehending Cults

• Write a summary and response, and paste it into Moodle

• Debate teams 2A & 2B