The Christian Arsenal
Christianity, Cults & World Religions
Unification Church
Unification Church
Click here to download this PDF document
Religion: Unification Church ( UC )
Category: Cult
Founder/Leader:
The Reverend Sun Myung Moon, b. Jan. 6, 1920, is a Korean religious leader who in 1954 founded the Unification Church. A Presbyterian minister, Moon in 1946 began to proclaim his own version of Christianity, the doctrines of which he explained in The Divine Principle (1952). The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, established 2 years later, rapidly won converts in Korea, Japan, and, in the 1960s, the United States. In 1973, Moon moved the church's headquarters to Tarrytown, N Y, and has since lived mostly in the United States.
Foundational Documents:
The "Divine Principle" by Sun Myung Moon, is seen as the "Completed Testament." Other works in the UC's library are "Outline of the Principle", "Level 4" and the "Bible" (The Bible is not seen as the truth itself, but a textbook that contains some truth and can be used in teaching the truth.)
God is...
God is seen to be made up of both positive and negative sides. God created the universe out of himself. The universe is then believed to be God's body. God does not know the future. God is presently suffering, and needs man (Sun Myung Moon) to make Him happy. There is no Trinity. The God of the UC is not omnipotent nor is He omniscient.
Jesus is...
Jesus is said to have been perfect man but He was not God. He was not born of a virgin and was the son of Zechariah. Jesus' mission was to unite the Jews behind him, find a perfect bride, and begin a perfect family. Jesus failed his mission and did not resurrect physically. The second coming of Christ is fulfilled in Sun Myung Moon, who is superior to Jesus and will finish Jesus' mission.
The Holy Spirit is...
The Holy Spirit exists in the spirit world as a feminine spirit who works with Jesus who is also in the spirit world to lead people to Sun Myung Moon.
Method of Salvation:
Moonies believe that Lucifer seduced Eve and that this sexual union caused the spiritual fall of mankind as well as the fall of Lucifer. Eve then entered into a sexual relationship with Adam, which resulted in the physical fall of man. To be saved, one must show obedience to and acceptance of the True Parents (Moon and his wife). This will eliminate sin and result in perfection. Those married by Moon and his wife drink a special holy wine containing 21 ingredients (including the True Parent's blood).
Death and Beyond...
After death one goes to the spirit world. There is no resurrection of the body. The elect advance by convicting others to follow Sun Myung Moon. Everyone will eventually be saved, even Satan.
Other Beliefs:
The Divine Principle implies that the Lord of the Second Advent will be born in Korea and that all religions will unite under him. Unification Church members feel that the Messiah is already on earth, although many are reticent about publicly declaring that Sun Myung Moon is that Messiah. Mass marriages have been preformed. Recently 30,000 couples were married by Moon. These were based on various racial backgrounds, and were arranged and performed by Moon. Members of the UC believe that Jesus bows down to Sun Myung Moon and that Moon is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and the Lamb of God. Contact with spirits of the dead accepted.