Life With Father Moon
Thousands came out of faith. Others were attracted by a $1 million campaign, free tickets, and, in many cases, free bus rides. But in the end, almost 40,000 people flocked to New York's spanking new Yankee Stadium last week for an event billed as the "Bicentennial God Bless America Festival." And although it was far from the overflow crowd predicted by its sponsors, what it lacked in numbers was made up for in enthusiasm as the faithful, the curious, and those just out for a good time waved tiny American, South Korean, and special Bicentennial flags to the tune of "Stars and Stripes Forever," "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," and the Scott Joplin theme from "The Sting."
Then, as the music ended and a Korean folk ballet group floated offstage, the mood abruptly changed. He appeared.
It was a bizarre sight and sound. With a giant screen flashing a forbidding photo of him on a distant wall and an elaborate bullet-proof shield protecting him from behind, he stood facing the cheering crowd. Suddenly, his voice boomed out in his native Korean, dying out briefly from time to time to allow for an aide to translate into English. For many in the crowd, the words were totally incomprehensible in either language. And in the upper decks of the massive stadium, the festive mood gave way to fisticuffs, smoke bombs, and even boos as throngs of spectators headed for the exits before the speech was over. But for his thousands of followers: Americans, Koreans, Germans, Britons, and a host of other nationalities represented at the rally, the words came straight from heaven.
"God has been very good to me," said Sun Myung Moon with a broad smile breaking out across his face. Certainly, somebody has. At 56, the chunky founder and leader of the Unification Church: a self-ordained reverend whose followers fervently believe he is the new Messiah, the Lord of the Second Advent, or, at the very least, another John the Baptist: commands a religious and financial empire that claims two million followers in 123 countries and is worth, by the lowest comparable estimate, $75 million. What originated as a tiny movement in South Korea in the early '50s has spread first to Japan and then to the U.S., Western Europe, and beyond. And it is still growing.
But not without growing pains. As last week's rally at Yankee Stadium vividly demonstrated, Moon has won the hearts and minds of a zealous band of supporters while sparking an ever-widening controversy about his methods and ultimate goals. In front of the stadium, anti-Moon parents and religious groups paraded with placards accusing him of "brainwashing" his young followers, stealing their possessions, and leading the world down the road to Fascism.
"AMERICA REJECTS TOTALITARIANISM: ECLIPSE MOON," proclaimed one poster.
But both groups, those who have embraced Moon's cause and those who have launched their own crusade to destroy it, are minorities; most people are simply bewildered by the Moon phenomenon. Once seen as no more than another fringe cult, the Unification Church has suddenly emerged from obscurity without any real explanation of who the Rev. Sun Myung Moon is and what he is really after.
Impact
The confusion is easily understandable, for the Moon movement has sparked an uproar all out of proportion to its actual size. According to church figures, among the two million are about 400,000 members in South Korea, 260,000 in Japan, 30,000 in the U.S., 6,000 in West Germany, 1,000 in France, 3,000 in Britain, and 2,000 in Holland. Some outside sources question those numbers; South Korean Christian critics maintain that Moon has at most 30,000 followers in his homeland.
But even if the church has the two million followers it claims, that does not explain its explosive impact. What does are its means of winning converts, its awesome financial dealings (one future goal is the acquisition of New York's Empire State Building), its right-wing, anti-Communist crusade that has ties with the authoritarian South Korean regime of President Park Chung Hee, and the mysterious personality of Moon himself.
Origins
Born to a Presbyterian family in North Korea in 1920, Yong Myung Moon (he later changed Yong, which means dragon, to Sun, which means calm) claims to have encountered Jesus Christ on a Korean mountainside when he was 16. It was then and there, Moon says, that he received the first in a series of divine revelations from Christ and the saints about the nature of his special mission on earth.
Theology and Controversy
The theology Moon teaches today is an odd mixture of Christianity, harsh Puritan morality, and shreds of Oriental philosophy. "Christianity of the world must unite," Moon told the Yankee Stadium rally. "We need a new ideology: uniting the cultures of both East and West." According to Moon's book of revelation, "The Divine Principle," this ideology is based on a novel reinterpretation of the Bible.
Eve, Moon claims, was seduced by Satan, passing this original sexual impurity onto Adam and their progeny. Christ's mission was to marry a woman whom he would make perfect and thus "indemnify" fallen man for his original sin. But Jesus bungled his mission by being crucified. Because of this failure, Moon maintains, the forces of Satan are still loose in the world in the modern-day form of Communist states and movements.
The Messiah and His Mission
The forces of God and Satan, according to Moon, face each other in Korea, the land God has prepared as the New Israel. The task of uniting and leading the forces of God to victory, he says, will be entrusted to a "third Adam" who will become the Messiah and will complete Christ's mission by marrying, raising the perfect family, and bringing God's kingdom to earth.
Moon never says outright that he is that person, but his revelation from Christ happens to include the information that the new Messiah was born in Korea. His followers clearly believe in his divine role, viewing him as the fulfillment of this prophecy.
The Movement's Growth and Criticism
Despite the zealous belief of his followers, the Unification Church has faced growing opposition. Anti-Moon parents and religious groups accuse him of "brainwashing" young followers, stealing their possessions, and leading the world toward a Fascist ideology.
In Europe, deprogramming attempts have made headlines. For instance, a French family kidnapped their daughter Marie-Christine Amadéo, claiming the church had brainwashed her. While some parents support their children's right to follow Moon, others call for an outright ban on the movement.
Financial Power and Political Ties
Moon’s religious empire is not limited to spiritual endeavors. The church has amassed significant wealth, with estimates valuing its holdings at $75 million. Its members are known for their fundraising activities, often seen selling flowers or other items. Moon’s financial ambitions include acquiring iconic properties such as the Empire State Building.
The movement's anti-Communist stance aligns it closely with the authoritarian South Korean regime of President Park Chung Hee. Critics argue this partnership raises questions about Moon’s ultimate goals.
Why People Follow
Psychologists and sociologists have studied why young people are drawn to Moon's movement. The allure often stems from a search for purpose and answers during times of confusion or transition. Loneliness, family breakdowns, and idealistic aspirations are among the reasons cited.
Boston psychiatrist John Clark notes that college students, in particular, are vulnerable to groups like Moon's because of their idealism and uncertainty about the future. Meanwhile, Moon’s followers claim they have found the answers they were searching for.
A Growing Phenomenon
The Unification Church continues to grow, attracting followers from around the world. Despite the controversies and criticisms, the movement’s influence remains significant. For those who accept the word of Sun Myung Moon, their spiritual journey has found its leader.
Newsweek, June 14, 1976
This article was originally authored by Andrew Nagorski, Richard M. Smith, Mjae Hoons, and Henry Mugeew for a publication covering the complex and evolving story of Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church.
