Back حركة توحيدية Arabic حركه توحيديه ARZ Vəhdət kilsəsi Azerbaijani Unification Church BCL Обединителна църква Bulgarian Església de la Unificació Catalan Církev sjednocení Czech Eglwys yr Uniad Welsh Moon-bevægelsen Danish Vereinigungskirche German

Unification Church

Not to be confused with Unitarianism, Universalism, or Unity Church.
"Moonies" redirects here. For other uses, see Moonie (disambiguation).

Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
(Unification Church)
세계평화통일가정연합
Official emblem
AbbreviationFFWPU, UC
ClassificationNew religious movement
ScriptureBible
Divine Principle
Acting LeaderHak Ja Han
FounderSun Myung Moon
OriginMay 1, 1954
Seoul, South Korea
Other name(s)
  • Unification Movement
  • Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (세계기독교통일신령협회)
  • Unificationists
  • Moonies
Official websitefamilyfed.org
Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox religion with unknown parameter "1 = members "
Sun Myung Moon and Hak Ja Han, founders of the Unification Church
Sun Myung Moon and Hak Ja Han, founders of the Unification Church

The Unification Church (Korean: 통일교) is a new religious movement derived from Christianity, whose members are called Unificationists or sometimes informally Moonies. Sun Myung Moon (1920–2012) gained followers after the Second World War. On May 1, 1954, in Seoul, South Korea, Moon formally founded the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA-UWC), the Unification Church's full name, until 1994, when it was officially changed to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU; 세계평화통일가정연합). It has a presence in approximately 100 countries around the world.[1] Its leaders are Moon (prior to his death) and his wife, Hak Ja Han, whom their followers honor with the title "True Parents".

Moon's book, The Divine Principle, informs the beliefs of the Unification Church. Moon considered himself the Second Coming of Christ, claiming to complete the mission Jesus Christ was unable to because of his crucifixion: beginning a new ideal family,[2] and a larger human lineage, free from sin.[3] The Unification Church is well known for its mass weddings, known as Blessing ceremonies.[4] It has been criticized for its teachings and for its social and political influence, with critics calling it a dangerous cult,[5][6] a political powerhouse, and a business empire.[7][8] The group has been accused of excessive financial exploitation of its members.[1] Its involvement in politics includes anti-communism and support for Korean reunification.[9][10][11] Its members have founded, owned, and supported related organizations in business,[12] education,[13] politics,[14] and more.[15]

  1. ^ a b Worth, Robert F. (October 2023). "THE BIZARRE STORY BEHIND SHINZO ABE'S ASSASSINATION". The Atlantic: 44–53. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  2. ^ "Unification Church". Britannica. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference maass was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference nrti was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Barker, Eileen, The Making of a Moonie: Choice Or Brainwashing? Modern Revivals in Sociology, illustrated, reprint, revised ed. (Gregg Revivals, 1993)[page needed] ISBN 978-0751201369
  6. ^ Bromley, David G. and Anson D. Shupe, Jr., "Moonies" in America: Cult, Church, and Crusade, edited by David G. Bromley, Sage Library of Social Research (Sage, 1979)
  7. ^ Swatos, William H. Jr. (1998). Encyclopedia of religion and society. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press. ISBN 978-0-7619-8956-1.
  8. ^ Stymied in U.S., Moon's Church Sounds a Retreat, Marc Fisher and Jeff Leen, The Washington Post, November 24, 1997
  9. ^ Goodman, Walter (January 21, 1992). "Review/Television; Sun Myung Moon Changes Robes". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference books.google.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Kent, Stephen A., From Slogans to Mantras: Social Protest and Religious Conversion in the Late Vietnam War Era (Syracuse University Press, 2001), 168.
  12. ^ Fisher, Marc; Leen, Jeff (November 23, 1997). "A Church in Flux Is Flush With Cash". The Washington Post. pp. A01. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  13. ^ Yamamoto, J. I., 1995, Unification Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House ISBN 0-310-70381-6 Excerpt: Archived February 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Sun Myung Moon forms new political party to merge divided Koreas Archived September 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Church and State, May 2003
  15. ^ Swatos, William H. Jr. (1998). Encyclopedia of religion and society. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press. ISBN 978-0-7619-8956-1. Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2018.

Developed by StudentB