The Unification Church, also known as the Unification Movement or Unificationism, is a new religious movement founded in South Korea in 1954 by Reverend Sun Myung Moon. Moon said that he had a revelation from Jesus instructing him to finish the work of establishing God’s kingdom on earth. The Unification Church is based on Moon’s interpretation of the Bible and has drawn inspiration from other religions including Confucianism and Buddhism.
Beliefs
Some key beliefs of the Unification Church include:
- God is the Creator and Heavenly Parent who desires to have a loving relationship with humanity.
- Human beings fell away from God through the spiritual fall of the first human ancestors, resulting in spiritual and physical separation from God.
- Jesus came as the Messiah to restore the relationship between God and humanity, but his mission was not completed.
- A new Messiah is needed to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth. Moon believed he was called by Jesus to fulfill this mission.
- Through the Marriage Blessing ritual, faithful Unificationists can remove original sin and restore human beings back to a state of perfection.
- Unificationists anticipate a literal Kingdom of Heaven on earth and seek to prepare the world for this reality.
The Unification Church sees human salvation as broader than individual salvation, emphasizing the salvation of nations, races, ideologies, and the world.
Origins
Reverend Sun Myung Moon was born in 1920 in what is now North Korea. Raised Presbyterian, Moon had a spiritual awakening at age 15 where he believed Jesus called him to accomplish the work left unfinished after his crucifixion. After being imprisoned during World War II for his religious activities, Moon resumed his ministry in South Korea following the war.
On May 1, 1954 in Seoul, Moon founded the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, which became known as the Unification Church. Moon’s message quickly gathered followers in Korea and Japan. Missionary work in the United States began in 1959. By the 1970s, the Unification Church had expanded to all 50 states and developed into an international movement.
Church Structure and Activities
The headquarters of the Unification Church is in South Korea. Church members are organized into small groups for worship and study. There is no formal clergy, but there are different levels of leadership positions. Families that have gone through the Marriage Blessing ceremony have special duties to represent the church.
Unificationists are expected to follow strict moral codes prohibiting alcohol, drugs, tobacco, gambling, and promiscuity. Emphasis is placed on family life and maintaining pure sexual ethics. The Church is known for its mass wedding ceremonies, where hundreds or thousands of couples are married at the same time.
Some important organizations and activities associated with the Unification Church include:
- The Little Angels Children’s Folk Ballet of Korea which performs worldwide.
- Tongil Group, a South Korean business conglomerate associated with Moon.
- The Universal Peace Federation which promotes interfaith and intercultural activities.
- The Women’s Federation for World Peace headed by Moon’s wife Hak Ja Han.
- Service projects and disaster relief efforts undertaken by members.
Unificationists have also been involved in political activism, academics, and various media enterprises over the years.
Controversies
The Unification Church has generated controversy over the years. Critics have denounced it as a cult engaging in mind control and brainwashing of members. In the 1970s, the Church was accused of using aggressive recruitment tactics. Parents of converts spoke out against the Church’s practices during this time.
Moon’s claim to be the Messiah who would complete Jesus’ mission was seen as heretical by Christian critics. Unification Christology has also been a source of contention. The Unificationist belief equating romantic couples with aspects of God was viewed as blasphemous by some.
Moon’s relationships with women other than his wife, including the “matching” and blessing of new couples, led to accusations of dysfunction and immorality. Mass weddings were labeled as “Moonie” weddings in a derogatory manner. Moon’s conviction and imprisonment for tax fraud also created negative publicity.
Membership and Presence
There are no official membership statistics for the Unification Church. Estimates in the 1960s-70s put global membership at 3-5 million but that was likely exaggerated. Current estimates range from 200,000 to 500,000 members worldwide, with the largest membership in Korea, Japan, the Philippines and other Asian nations. The United States reportedly has about 3,000-10,000 members.
Unificationist thought has spread beyond church membership through affiliated organizations and activities. A network of groups promoting Unificationist ideas exists, including the Women’s Federation for World Peace, the Universal Peace Federation, and media outlets such as The Washington Times newspaper. Collegiate organizations, businesses, and charities have also been influenced by Unificationist theology and practices.
The Church has extensive real estate worldwide, including the Cheongpyeong complex in Korea which serves as a training and conference center. The Unification Theological Seminary offers degree programs in New York. Unificationists have also purchased and published definitive editions of Moon’s speeches and teachings.
Relation to Christianity
The Unification Church considers itself Christian but is not recognized as such by most Christian denominations. Some exceptions are the Kodial Church in India and other independent Christian groups.
While Unificationists believe the Bible is the word of God, they do not believe it is entirely without error. Moon’s teachings are held as accurate revelations that complete the partial revelations in the Bible. This belief alone excludes the Unification Church from being part of orthodox Christianity.
Unification Christology has similarities with heterodox Christologies that were rejected by the early church. Unification sacraments like the Marriage Blessing ceremony are not practiced in Christianity. Church structure, worship practices, and leadership also differ significantly from Christian churches.
The most culturally unfamiliar belief is probably the Unificationist teaching that romantic unions have cosmic significance in rectifying the fallen world. This emphasis on marriage as essential to salvation departs radically from Christian thought.
Ultimately, the Unification Church fits the sociological definition of a new religious movement rather than a Christian denomination. It draws from Christianity but cannot be classified as belonging to Christianity because of unorthodox doctrines.
Conclusion
In summary, the Unification Church is a new religious movement that grew from the teachings of Reverend Sun Myung Moon in Korea in the 1950s. Unificationists believe humanity has strayed from God’s ideal but can be restored through Moon’s vision of family-centered morality and world peace. Controversies have surrounded the Church, especially in its early decades, but it continues to have a presence internationally through affiliated organizations. The Unification Church derives inspiration from the Bible but departs from Christian orthodoxy in many significant ways, thus cannot appropriately be categorized as Christian. While small in membership, the Unification Church has impacted culture and society beyond its numbers through its emphasis on family values and public engagement.