Equality

Scriptures of all faiths proclaim the equality of all people: rich and poor, black and white, men and women, from the East and the West. Yet this lofty ideal is rarely matched in practice.

Operating from our limited cultural perspectives, we are prone to treat people who seem alien or different with discrimination and prejudice. Even in democratic societies that proclaim equality as a central principle, racial and cultural prejudices are still widespread.

What is the basis of equality? First, the Abrahamic faiths ground equality in our common origin in God the creator and in our common parentage from Adam and Eve.

Next, there are ethical and legal provisions to treat all people equally. Third is recognition that all people, regardless of their race or class are equally capable of achieving enlightenment and self-realization.

In Father Moon’s view, however, none of these are sufficient for the attainment of true equality. True equality must be grounded in divine love and its practice by living for the sake of others.

His ultimate prescription for bridging the gulf between races and cultures: interracial and intercultural marriage, where all prejudices are burned up in the fire of love.

The Basis of Equality in Descent from Common Parents, Common Humanity, and Potential for Divinity

Have we not all one Father? Hasn't one God created us? Malachi 2.10

O Mankind, fear your Lord, who created you of a single soul, and from it created its mate, and from the pair of them scattered abroad many men and women
Qur’an 4.1

But a single man [Adam] was created for the sake of peace among mankind, that none should say to his fellow, “My father was greater than your father.” Mishnah, Sanhedrin 4.5 (Judaism

It is beyond the shadow of a doubt that every real man… however unusual to us may be the shape of his body, or the color of his skin, or the way he walks, or the sound of his voice, and whatever the strength, portion or quality of his natural endowments, is descended from the sin- gle first-created man. Saint Augustine, City of God 15.8 (Christianity)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3.28

I look upon all creatures equally; none are less dear to me and none more dear. Bhagavad-Gita 9.29 (Hinduism)

The souls of all people are equal, whether they live on the high mountains or at the bottoms of the valleys.20 Ofudesaki 13.45 (Tenrikyo)

Confucius said, “In education there are no class distinctions.” Analects 15.38 (Confucianism)

All those who take refuge in me, whatever their birth, race, sex, or caste, will attain the supreme goal; this realization can be attained even by those whom society scorns. Bhagavad-Gita 9.32-33 (Hinduism)

I do not call him a brahmin merely because he is born of a brahmin womb or sprung from a brahmin mother. Being with impediments, he should address others as “sir.” But he who is free from impediments, free from clinging—him I call a brahmin.21 Dhammapada 396 (Buddhism)

“You are a native of Kwangtung, a barbarian. How can you expect to be a Buddha?” asked the Patriarch. Hui Neng replied, “Although there are northern men and southern men, north and south make no difference to their Buddha-nature. A barbarian is different from Your Holiness physically, but there is no difference in our Buddha-nature.” Sutra of Hui Neng 1 (Buddhism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
Whether American, British or German, whether black, white or yellow, we are all from one. (132:130, May 27, 1984)

Every person wants to participate equally in God’s love. The way to that equality is through establishing God’s family. (97:265, March 19, 1978)

The world of the heart is a world where everyone is equal. The Kingdom of Heaven, which is the expansion of one family, is the world of brotherhood. (Way of God’s Will 2.3)

A mother cares for all her children with the same love, regardless of their ability and character. She gives birth to each one and raises them on the same bowl of soup. Isn’t that so?

All people are equal in this respect: they grew up by entrusting their precious lives to the hands of their parents. In the parental heart, there cannot be any discrimination. (33:164, August 11, 1970)

People in general have a desire to be equal and want the same things. Yet people are all different and live in different circumstances. What is the substance that can create equality among everyone despite their differences? It is love.

Consider little babies: they have nothing, they cannot talk, and they don’t have anything to offer. Yet they are so cute!

When we look at them we love them; we just want to put our cheek against theirs and kiss them. Even puppies come and lick them. In that love, there is no high or low. Love brings everyone to the same level. (254:208, February 13, 1994)

Don’t the things that make Westerners weep also make Easterners weep? They do. Why do Koreans weep at the same scenes that also make their enemies the Japanese weep?

The world is united in emotional responses. Is there any difference between Korean parents and Japanese parents in their love for their children? No, there is not. (41:331, February 18, 1971)

Racial Equality

Have you not seen how that God sends down water from the sky, and therewith We bring forth with it fruits of diverse hues? And in the mountains are streaks white and red, of diverse hues, and pitch black. Men too, and beasts and cattle are of diverse colors. Even so only those of His servants who have understanding fear God. Qur’an 35.27-28

I dream of the day when all Americans will be judged, not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Christianity) Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God. Psalm 68.31

“Are you not like the Ethiopians to me, O people of Israel?” says the Lord. “Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Syrians from Kir?”22 Amos 9.7

The Prophet said to Abu Thur, “Look Abu Thur, you are not favored over a black man or a red man unless you are more righteous than they.” Algama’ Alsaghair 3.2740 (Islam)

Lord God of glory is He to whom both the Aryans and the outcastes belong.23 Rig Veda 8.51.9 (Hinduism)

They approach me in a half-hesitant sort of way, eye me curiously or compassionately, and then, instead of saying directly, “How does it feel to be a problem?” they say, “I know an excel- lent colored man in my town”; or, “I fought at Mechanicsville”; or, “Do not these Southern outrages make your blood boil?” At these I smile, or am interested, or reduce the boiling to a simmer, as the occasion may require. To the real question, How does it feel to be a problem? I answer seldom a word. And yet, being a problem is a strange experience, —peculiar even for one who has never been anything else, save perhaps in babyhood and in Europe. It is in the early days of rollicking boyhood that the revelation first bursts upon one, all in a day, as it were. I remember well when the shadow swept across me… In a wee wooden schoolhouse, something put it into the boys’ and girls’ heads to buy gorgeous visiting-cards—ten cents a package—and exchange. The exchange was merry, till one girl, a tall newcomer, refused my card,—refused it peremptorily, with a glance. Then it dawned upon me with a certain suddenness that I was different from the others; or like, mayhap, in heart and life and longing, but shut out from their world by a vast veil. W. E. B. Du Bois

Among four-footed animals, whatever the size, you can see that they are of different kinds and species. Now look at the creatures that crawl on their bellies… at the fish and water life, the birds and the breeds that fly—you can see they are of different kinds and species. Yet there is not among men differences in kind or species in the manner that they are found among other species. Unlike in other species there is not among men differences with regard to their eyes, ears, mouths, noses, lips, eyebrows and even their hair—all are the same type. From the neck to the groin, from the shoulder to the hip, from the back to the chest—is it all of one kind with men. Hands, feet, fingers, nails, calves and thighs are all standard… they do not have the variety of inherited features that other creatures have. Differences among human beings are differences only by convention. Sutta Nipata 603-611 (Buddhism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
What is the color of true love? Does true love have a color?

In love, there is no color. Anyone who is color-conscious can never attain true love. Anyone who sees color is not a person of true love. (161:22, January 1, 1987)

In the sight of God, there is no difference between Black people, White people and Yellow people. Love makes God color-blind. He does not see the color of people’s skin. The color of the heart is much more intense and vibrant than skin color. (258:122, March 17, 1994)

What would be God’s ideal art project? You answer, “People,” but how could people become God’s masterpiece when blacks and whites fight? A world of only white people would be like God painting a picture all in white. You try drawing a picture all in white. Why doesn’t it work?

Hence, God needs black and other colors as well. White does not show up against a white background. No artist paints on a white background; he needs to use various colors.

Likewise, God needs people of diverse colors to create His masterpiece. It should be a three-dimensional masterpiece in which every part is harmonious and united. (96:220, January 22, 1978)

I wish that you mothers could bear twins—one Black and one yellow. Especially if a white mother could do it, how amazing it would be! All three races would come together at one time. Do you think God would be displeased and say, “How insane”?

When He sees a white mother nursing a black child and a yellow child, would He say, “How disgusting”? No. He would say, “Wow, it is marvelous! Amen!” Listen. If yellow butterflies were to fly only to yellow flowers, it would be dull. When white and black ones also come, that is beautiful. (130:102-03, January 1, 1984)

When Jesus stumbled while carrying his cross to Calvary, a black person, Simon of Cyrene, took up Jesus’ burden. That act signifies that in the Last Days, God will raise up black people. (91:219, February 20, 1977)

When a white person takes a black person’s hand, it is a much greater thing than simply the meeting of two individuals. In holding that hand, he is holding the hand of all black people and their history of tears.

In hearing him, he is listening to the black race’s woeful stories. Their clasped hands represent the reunion of heaven and earth, which had been separated for so long. (95:140, November 6, 1977)

Differences in skin color are nothing more than the result of our ancestors having had to adapt to different climates and environments in different parts of the globe. In areas with large amounts of snowfall, we find mainly white people living. In places such as Africa where the rays of the sun are particularly bright, we find mainly black people. Fundamentally, though, people are the same.

The color of our blood is the same. Our flesh and bones look the same. We all have the capacity to love. Thus, there should be no discrimination based on race. This is why… in accordance with the natural principles, more and more people will marry interracially.

When a black person and a white person marry, it is like the North Pole and the South Pole coming together. When a yellow person and a black person marry and have children, both parents contribute their good attributes and their descendants are better as a result. (315:212, February 2, 2000)

The universe is built to be in natural balance… God gave white people blue or light-colored eyes, as a charming complement to their white skin. See how the blue of the iris blurs the white of the eye.

This is as it should be, emphasizing the pupil and de-emphasizing the white of the eye. On the other hand, in black and Oriental people, who have very dark or black irises, the contrast with the white of the eye is an attractive feature. For people with dark complexions, the black iris makes the whites of their eyes stand out beautifully.

If their pupils were blue, it would blur the whites of the eyes and make their eyes weak-looking. Also, when black people smile, their teeth are sensational. You black people, smile and see.

Your tongue is very red, to show better against your white teeth. This is why you have thicker lips, too—to better show your teeth. Everything about black person’s face is fascinating!

Today this civilization is mostly trying to destroy or downplay certain original qualities in people instead of trying to enhance them. But I foresee the time when white people will be crazy about blacks.

White women in particular will prefer the dramatic appearance of black men. Blacks are identified mostly with ghettos such as Harlem, which seem to accumulate the trash of humanity.

They are like the valley that collects all the soil and debris that wash down from the hills; there they decay and smell, like rotting manure. But this is not bad; it makes for the most fertile soil, where life can germinate most abundantly.

In America, black people shed their sweat and blood, becoming the fertilizer to create a new society for white people. You must know that American civilization was built on the backs of black people. Yet life germinates powerfully in that manure. It is no accident that black people are passionate and strong, and have an explosive sense of love.

Also, they tend to trust people, as they represent the valley, accepting everything that washes down. White people, on the other hand, are like the high mountain top. Nothing accumulates on its rocky surface, and it is freezing.

Hence, white people and not very trusting, and they tend to be cold-hearted. In the past, when white people traveled on horses, if a horse broke a leg they would kill the animal and move on. That is not right; it is not in accord with nature.

Oriental people would not do that, and neither would black people. White people have a tradition of dueling for love, in which one man dies and the woman goes with the winner.

Love cannot come through the destruction of life; life must be protected so that it can give love.

This is how we search out the principle to understand and correct all customs and cultural values to be in accord with the original form. (107:308-09, June 8, 1980)

There Are No Races or Class Distinctions in Heaven

As men, we are all equal in the presence of death. Publius Syrus 25 (Hellenism)

One fate comes to all, to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean… One fate comes to all. Ecclesiastes 9.2-3

There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. Romans 2.9-11

Know all human beings to be repositories of Divine Light; Stop not to inquire about their caste; In the hereafter there are no castes. Adi Granth, Asa, M.1, p. 349 (Sikhism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
In heaven, there is no color. Everyone there shines so brightly that they appear to be silver—a silvery color so brilliant and radiant that it takes on a purple sheen. (293:224, May 26, 1998)

It is very possible that when white people go to the spirit world and try to enter the gate to heaven, they will be met by a black security guard. Conversely, black people will be met by a white security guard.

Under those circumstances, would you back away, saying, “I don’t really need to be here; I will go somewhere else”? Suppose the guard stopped you, and then started cursing and kicking you.

Would you grab his legs and beg his forgiveness, saying, “I deserve whatever punishment you give me, for on earth I was an ignorant racist. Please forgive me”? Or would you run away? (116:110, December 27, 1981)

Living by the Standard of Equality

You shall have one law for the sojourner and for the native; for I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 24.21-23

When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. Leviticus 19.33-34

Once a prince attacked a shepherd, slapping him on his face. When the shepherd complained to Umar bin al-Khattab, Umar’s judgment was that he should slap the prince back in the same way. The prince said, “How he can slap me while I am a prince and he is just a commoner?” Umar replied, “In Islam you are both equal.” Muhammad Ahmad al-Maula,26 Arab Stories 126.2 (Islam)

If the brahmin, kshatriya, etc. initiated into my holy order of equality still subscribe to castes and exult therein, they behave like unregenerate beings. Sutrakritanga 1.13.10-11 (Jainism)

For the white to lord it over the black, the Arab over the non-Arab, the rich over the poor, the strong over the weak or men over women is out of place and wrong. Hadith of Ibn Majah (Islam)

Please reflect that the man you call your slave was born of the same seed, has the same good sky above him, breathes as you do, lives as you do, dies as you do! You may see him free, he may see you a slave—the odds are level. Seneca, Moral Epistles 47 (Hellenism)

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ; not in the way of eye-ser- vice, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that whatever good any one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Masters, do the same to them, and forbear threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. Ephesians 6.5-9

The Merciful demands that your servant be your equal. You should not eat white bread, and he black bread; you should not drink old wine, and he new wine; you should not sleep on a feather bed and he on straw. Hence it was said, “Whoever acquires a Hebrew slave acquires a master.” Talmud, Kiddushin 20a (Judaism)

Nearly eighty years ago we began by declaring, “All men are created equal,”; but now from that beginning we have run down to the other declaration that for some men to enslave others is a “sacred right of self-government.” These principles cannot stand together. They are as opposite as God and mammon, and whoever holds to the one must despise the other. Abraham Lincoln

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
In the world of love, there is no discrimination between above and below. (Way of God’s Will 1.8)

In the world of true love, everyone has the right to equal position, equal participation, and equal inheritance. (294:65, June 11, 1998)

Do not violate human rights by discriminating in hiring, promoting and firing your personnel. Whether a woman or man, black or white, everyone is equal. One must not discriminate, for to do so would violate their human rights. (342:298, January 13, 2001) When everyone lives for the sake of others centered on love, equality emerges among their relations. (107:152, April 20, 1980)

Racial discrimination, religious struggle, and selfish nationalism give rise to situations resulting in the violation of human rights. The age when people could be ruled by force has passed. The twentyfirst century is an age when people live together, transcending races, nations, and religions. This means that the age of ruling through true love has begun. (369:221, February 24, 2002)

The strategy for creating a realm of equality—as there has never been one—is to sacrifice ourselves for others, wish them good fortune, win the hearts of those who strike you, and give them in return blessing equal to your own. This is the way to open the perfect realm of equality. (56:335, May 18, 1972)

The way to create equality between the upper class and the lower class is for upper-class people to embrace lower-class people and elevate them toward the upper class. This can only happen if there is a center of absolute value.

That is God’s love. God’s love embraces people of high-class and low class alike. It is never one-directional or onesided. Its energy flows in spherical motion, moving freely from the top to the bottom. All welcome it wherever it appears. God’s love holds absolute value, whenever and wherever.

In God’s love we feel happy, satisfied and secure. Although you may be a poor working man, you are totally free to love those in high places. Although you are accustomed to life in the highest position, you can freely love the people at the bottom. People dwelling in God’s love are welcome wherever they go. (115:172-73, November 10, 1981)

Just because you are a white person, you should not say, “I only like whites. When it comes to the elderly, I will care for white seniors, but not Black and Asians. I will care for those who are neat and well-dressed, but not those who are unkempt and wearing rags.” No, you should love them all as you would love your own grandparents in your home. (130:274, February 5, 1984)

Wherever I go, when I am assigning people to a mission, I do not discriminate against blacks or those who did not complete college. If you possess true love and practice love for the sake of others, then you will uphold human rights correctly. This is the mainstream.

The creation of heaven and earth began from this point. I cannot forgive the act of diluting and squandering this main current of my teaching… You should not neglect your younger brother merely because he is handicapped. You should not disregard in-laws or relatives.

The world tends to treat everyone with disrespect, doesn’t it? If you who graduated from a university, disrespect those who only completed high school, you are violating their human rights. (342:298, January 13, 2001)

The day before yesterday I took a group of about twenty people to a seafood restaurant… When we were about to place our order, the waiter told us that we all had to wear ties to be seated, and he offered to lend us all ties. But the thing displeased me; I said, “No thank you,” and walked out of the restaurant with my group.

The restaurant staff saw me as I was driven away in a fancy car. They must have wondered, “Why does a rich person like him object to wearing a tie?” They probably realized they had missed a great opportunity, but I will not visit that place again.

They should not discriminate against people for not wearing ties. Even if they offer to make an exception for me, I will not give them my business. If they treat me like that, how will they treat black people? I want to stand up for you, because I know you are going through hardships. (God’s Will and the World, May 1, 1977)

The democratic world will never enjoy true equality until true love is engrafted to it. With true love, men and women can be equal, and all people can be free. With true love, we can establish democracy in the true sense. (230:87-88, April 26, 1992)

In the future, the five races will become one. Love is one. Although people differ according to whether they come from the East, West, North or South, and according to their different social ranks, the axle on which they turn is one.

The flowers that bloom from the heart of red, passionate love are varieties of the same flower—the flower of God’s love… Hence, these days, many people believe that it is okay to marry interracially. (101:74-75, October 28, 1978)