Founders' Work to Build World Peace
(Sources: Most excerpts from the New World Encyclopedia; 2013, and personal notes by the discoverdp.info webmaster.)
The time has come for the countries of the world to pool their resources and advance toward the kingdom of the peaceful ideal world desired by God. —Sun Myung Moon
Reverend Sun Myung Moon has dedicated his life to building world peace. Knowing that different people will become interested in the process of building world peace in different ways, Rev. Moon has founded dozens of organizations with the common goals of advancing international understanding, helping bring people closer to God and each other, and building lasting peace in the world. Starting out as an evangelist in war-torn Korea in the early 1950s, with a handful of followers, he now has groups and organizations under his leadership in more than 180 countries around the world. Many of those who have studied his teachings feel that he has been chosen by God to guide the world's people to build lasting peace, which is centered on spiritual values and the practice of love.
Building ideal families
Reverend Moon's teaching gives highest regard for the family, which he calls the natural "school of love." God's love is expressed in the give and take of male and female. God created men and women to join together in marriage and create families in which we acquire the fullness of love and goodness. This is what Unification teaches regarding the Biblical second blessing. Children are meant to receive love from their parents—their food, warmth and care, and children naturally return love and joy to their parents in different ways as they grow from little infants all the way to old age. Siblings' love has the same eternal quality as does conjugal love and parental love. This the universal, eternal, ever dynamic and creative quality of family life—what Reverend Moon calls the "Four Realms of Heart." It is the life originally designated as the way for every person, and the ground from which our natural ease for goodness would be based.
Starting in 1960, Rev. Moon has officiated over Blessing Ceremonies of ever increasing numbers of couples. The early Blessings were attended only by members of his Unification Church, while Blessings since 1992 have included people of all faiths and creeds. Here is a list of the major Blessing Ceremonies:
See related articles and CNN video here.
Starting in 1960, Rev. Moon has officiated over Blessing Ceremonies of ever increasing numbers of couples. The early Blessings were attended only by members of his Unification Church, while Blessings since 1992 have included people of all faiths and creeds. Here is a list of the major Blessing Ceremonies:
- 1960 1 + 3 couples: The first Blessing ceremony was held on April 11 1960, with Rev. Moon's blessing in marriage to Han Hak Ja, followed on April 16, by 3 couples from among his disciples.
- 1961 33 Couple Blessing (May 15, 1961): The 3 couples from 1960 and the 33 couples from 1961 are often referred to as the 36 Couples, and are the elder members of the Unification Church
- 72 Couple Blessing (June 4, 1962)
- 124 Couple Blessing (July 24, 1963)
- 430 Couple Blessing (February 22, 1968)
- 43 Couple Blessing (Held in three stages in Japan, the U.S., and England, in 1969): First group of non-Koreans to receive the Blessing
- 777 Couple Blessing (October 21, 1970): Including a large number of Japanese members and a few western members, following the work of missionaries who went to Japan from 1962, and to the U.S. starting in 1969.
- 1800 Couple Blessing (February 8, 1975): Including a larger number of Japanese and western members
- 118 Couple Blessing (May 21, 1978) London, England
- 2075 Couple Blessing (July 1, 1982, Madison Square Garden): First large scale Blessing ceremony to be held outside of Korea
- 6000 Couple Blessing (October 14, 1982)
- These July and October Blessings are considered one Blessing, called the 8,000 Couple Blessing)
- 6500 Couple Blessing (October 30, 1988) With participants from Korea, Japan, and other Asian countries
- 1275 Couple Blessing (January 12, 1989): With participants from 87 countries in Europe, Africa, and North & South America, the fruit of the missionary teams who went out in 1975
- 1267 Couple Blessing for Previously Married Couples (April 10, 1992): This was the first Blessing to include participants of other faiths
- 30,000 Couple Blessing (August 25, 1992): Included the first participants from former Soviet countries, participants from other faiths, and a large number of previously married couples, renewing their vows while making a commitment to create ideal families.
- 360,000 Couples (August 25, 1995): Held simultaneously in many locations around the world, connected by satellite to the main ceremony in Seoul)
- 400 Million Couples: Held in stages beginning in 1998, in ceremonies all around the world.
See related articles and CNN video here.
Building peace among nations
From the twentieth century, worldwide consciousness that international cooperation and a global approach were essential to creating world peace have steadily increased, resulting in the formation of bodies such as the League of Nations after World War I, and the United Nations after World War II. Feeling that a stronger focus was needed on solutions to the moral and spiritual problems underlying the obstacles to world peace, Rev. Moon has created several vehicles toward world peace, the most recent of which is the Universal Peace Federation.
- Universal Peace Federation (UPF), inaugurated September 12, 2005, is dedicated to bringing about world peace through inter-religious cooperation, harnessing the power of government and non-government organizations, and providing the spiritual, educational and moral foundations effectively to address the world's problems. One of the most central projects of UPF is Ambassadors for Peace,made up of leaders at all levels of society committed to the establishment of an ideal world to grow from the establishment of God-centered families. UPF has been described and given the mission from Reverend Moon to function as the "Abel United Nations." (Drawn from the Biblical record of Cain and Abel, which is central in Unification teachings on "restoration.")
- Women's Federation for World Peace, founded 1992, is a women's movement with three goals: True families, a sound moral society, and world peace based on women's spirit of true love. WFWP sponsors sistership ceremonies connecting women from different countries, and service projects in branches all around the world.
- Mongolian Peoples' Federation for World Peace, founded in 2004, seeks to bring together people from all corners of the world who share common origins in the Mongolian steppes of Asia, to share common values and ideals of interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universal values.
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- Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace,inaugurated in 1991 to become the umbrella organization for the vast world of inter-religious activity undertaken by Reverend Moon from the earliest moments of his public ministry. The Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace extended its outreach through a great many organizations built around unique concepts and constituencies. Religious Youth Service, and religious sports activity for young people New Ecumenical Research Association for religious scholars, Council for the World's Religions for religious leaders and religious professionals, and others.
- Federation for World Peace, inaugurated 1991, was the precursor to the Inter-Religious International Federation for World Peace. Following Rev. Moon's first meeting with President Mikhail Gorbachov and Raisa Gorbachov in Moscow in 1990, the Federation for World Peace was inaugurated to bring together society leaders, including current and former heads of state, to discuss solutions for world problems and routes to peace. The inaugural meeting in August 1991, was attended by twenty five current and former heads of state, along with 1000 representatives of governments, non-governmental organizations and grassroots organizations from more than seventy nations.
- Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, founded 1996, works for the moral regeneration of the family, encouraging people to actively invest in activities to strengthen their families, including participation the Blessing.
- Summit Council for World Peace, from 1987, was the precursor to the Federation for World Peace, a forum for former heads of state, sitting heads of government, and other outstanding international figures.
- International Federation for Victory Over Communism was founded in 1968, after Rev. Moon systematically developed his ideological critique and counterproposal to communism in the 1960s. IFVOC conducted educational programs and rallies in Korea, Japan, and around the world in the 1970s and 1980s. As early as 1972, Rev. Moon declared that communism would begin to decline around 1977, and would be "thoroughly discredited" ten years later. In 1984, he called for a conference to be titled "The End of Communism." The idea was nearly unbelievable at the time, but within five years, the Berlin Wall came down, and communism began its decline. At that point, Reverend Moon articulated his position as "Headwing," combining the left and right wings. Rev. Moon had personal meetings with Mikhail Gorbachev (1990) and Kim Il Sung (1991), advocating that they open their countries to all religions and to the world market.
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- CAUSA was founded in 1980, as part of a multi-faceted effort to combat communism. Working primarily in Central and South America, CAUSA conducted conferences, educational programs, and social service projects during the 1980s designed to strengthen the social fabric to better resist communist influences. In North America and Europe, CAUSA held International Security Councilconferences to expose the threats of the Soviet Union and its allies during the cold war period. In the U.S.,American Leadership Conferences were held to educate state legislators, mayors, and city councilmen affirming the existence of God and rejecting atheistic communism.
- The International Highway Project was first proposed in 1981. The project envisions a highway that will link the countries of all corners of the world, and includes a tunnel to connect Japan with the Asian continent through Korea, and the Bering Strait Tunnel, connecting Asia with North America.
- Federations of Island, Peninsular and Continental Nations for World Peace are sister organizations that seek to strengthen the natural bonds among nations sharing common geographical configurations and challenges.
- Citizen's Federation for the Unification of the Fatherland was founded in 1987, to work for the reunification of North and South Korea.
Leadership in service
- International Relief and Friendship Foundation (IRRF) was founded in 1975, to provide humanitarian relief, and has provided disaster relief in Africa, Central and South America, as well as education and medical assistance programs.
- Aewon, a volunteer service organization, founded in Korea in 1994, provides support and educational programs for the elderly, needy children, the disabled, farming and fishing villages, the jobless, and the homeless, and provides cultural programs for orphans and disabled children.
- Isshin Hospital, Japan, established 1978, is one of the few Japanese hospitals that integrates both Oriental and Western medicine. The hospital also coordinates an overseas medical service which sends teams of doctors and nurses to the world’s most impoverished areas.
- Cheongshim Hospital, Gapyung, Korea, established in 2003, is one the few hospitals in the Orient that provide a full range of both Western medicine and Oriental medicine. The hospital, with its state-of-the-art medical facilities, is located two hours from Seoul at the beautiful mountain resort area of Cheong Pyeong. Patients, upon entering, choose whether they want a Western doctor or an Oriental doctor, or both.
For truth in the media
- World Media Association, founded in 1978, to provide an international forum for media professionals and opinion leaders, to explore the media's responsibility in today's rapidly changing world.
- The Washington Times, founded in 1982, to provided balanced reporting in Washington.
- Segye Times, Korean daily newspaper founded in 1989.
- Sekai Nippo, Japanese daily newspaper founded in 1975.
- Ultimas Noticias, Spanish language daily published in Uraguay since 1981.
- Tiempos del Mundo, international Spanish language daily distributed in Latin America since 1996.
- Middle East Times, weekly newspaper founded in the Middle East in 1983.
Absolute values and unity of knowledge
- Professors World Peace Academy, founded in Seoul in 1973, with an initial gathering of 168 professors from Korean and Japan, with a goal of promoting better relations between Korean and Japan, two nations that were historically hostile towards each other. Since that time, PWPA has expanded to include professors from around the world, publishing the International Journal on World Peace, and sponsoring conferences, debates, and forums on pressing and long-range policy issues.
- International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences was organized in 1968, and held its first conference in 1972, with twenty participants from eight countries, addressing the topic Moral Orientation of the Sciences. Conferences encouraged scientists and scholars to cooperate in searching for ways to build peace, to pursue absolute values, and to allow religion to be the conscience for scientific endeavor.
- Paragon House Publishers began in 1981, as a publishing program to serve the community of ICUS scholars. Since then, the scope has expanded, focusing on books of cultural and international significance.
- Unification Thought Institute was founded in 1972, conducting international seminars seeking basic solutions to the philosophical issues at the root of the chaos in modern society. Unification Thought,a philosophy that encapsulates Rev. Moon's basic teachings, provides keys through which traditional religions, philosophies, and cultures can be harmonized.
New vision for education
- World University Federation was founded in 1996, with a goal of creating long-distance educational exchange and degree programs between universities utilizing internet technology.
- Sun Moon University, University founded in 1989, Cheonan, Korea, incorporating the former Sunghwa Theological Seminary, founded in 1977 as Unification Theological Seminary, Guri, Korea.
- Unification Theological Seminary, offers professional training in ministry with a Masters of Religious Education and a Masters of Divinity, Barrytown, New York, Founded 1975.
- International Educational Foundation was founded in 1990, to promote moral education in schools.
- World Conference on Preservation and Sustainable Development in the Pantanal, first held in 1999, with the goal of seeking ways to develop the Pantanal area without destroying its natural treasures.
- Cheongshim Graduate School of Theology, Gapyeong, Korea, founded 2003.
- Sun Moon Educational Foundation, in addition to Sun Moon University and Sun Hwa Arts Middle and High Schools, operates other primary and secondary schools in Korea:
- Kyungbok Elementary School, Seoul, Korea, founded 1964, part of Sun Moon foundation since 1978. One of Korea's top private schools.
- Sunjung Girls' Middle School, Sunjung High School and Sunjung Girls' Vocational High School, sponsored since 1989.
- Institute of Korean Studies for Foreign Students, an exchange study program on the campus of Sun Hwa Arts School, operated since 1982, provides classes in Korean language and culture for international middle school students.
- Sunhwa Kindergarten, on the campus of Kyungbok Elementary School, provides education for 4, 5, and 6 years olds in an atmosphere that describes itself as Right, Good, and Orderly.
- American Primary and Secondary Schools
- The Principled Academy, pre-school through 8th grade, San Francisco Bay area.
- New Hope Academy, pre-school through 12th grade, Landover Hills, Maryland.
- Jin-A Child Care Center, state certified pre-school, Clifton, New Jersey.
- Blessed Teens Academy, residential middle and high school program for children of Blessed Families, Reno, Nevada, founded 2003.
- International Primary and Secondary Schools
- Cheongshim International Academy, Gapyung, Korea, middle school and high school programs with instruction in English, founded 2005.
- Cheongshim Kindergarten, Gapyung, Korea, founded 2006.
- High School of the Pacific, Hawaii, high school program for students from Oceania, founded 2004.
Expressing vision through the arts
- New York City Symphony, New York, sponsored since 1973.
- The Little Angels of Korea, a company of 200 young women performing Korean traditional dances and international songs, founded in 1963.
- Universal Arts Center, (formerly Little Angels Performing Arts Center) opened in 1981, with a 1200 seat theater, a full stage house, conference rooms, and rehearsals studios.
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- Universal Ballet, professional classical ballet, located in Seoul,
Universal Ballet dancers on the stage of the Hungarian State Opera House during 1999 European Tour
founded 1984. Performing both at home and on international tours, Universal Ballet presents masterpieces from the classical ballet repertory as well as works by leading contemporary choreographers.
- Manhattan Center Studios, concert and recording facilities in New York City.
- Literary Federation for World Peace is an initiative calling for writers to recognize the higher purpose of literature, to convey meaning and direction to people who have lost their bearings.
- Kirov Academy of Ballet, Washington, DC, founded 1990, boarding school with professional ballet training and a full middle and high school academic program.
- Sun Hwa Arts Middle and High School, Seoul, Korea, founded 1973, top private academic arts middle and high school with training in music, dance and fine arts.
Building peace among religions
All religions have the same fundamental goal, to connect people with their creator, with the power of the universe, to empower people to reach their full potential. It is an unfortunate truth that over the centuries, there has been a great deal of strife and disagreements between religions, and even wars and killing in the name of religion.
Religious Youth Service, founded 1986, brings together youth from different religious backgrounds to share in social service projects and to experience a variety of inter-faith experiences and seminars.
- The Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace, founded 1991, brings together leaders, believers, and scholars from the world's religions to work for harmony in the human family, where religion has too often been a cause for division. IRFWP has published World Scripture, a Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts, to help illustrate the shared values and universal foundations common to all religions.
Religious Youth Service, founded 1986, brings together youth from different religious backgrounds to share in social service projects and to experience a variety of inter-faith experiences and seminars.
- Youth Seminar on World Religions, from 1982.
- Assembly of the World's Religions, from 1985, gathers over 1000 top religious leaders, scholars, and young people for interfaith encounters, seminars, and discussions.
- International Coalition for Religious Freedom, founded in 1984, is dedicated to defending religious freedom for all people.
- International Christian Professors' Association, Korea, from 1981.
- International Christian Students' Association, Korea, from 1981.
- Interdenominational Conferences for Clergy, United States, from 1982.
Promoting true family values
- Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, founded 1996, works for the moral regeneration of the family, encouraging people to actively invest in activities to strengthen their families, including participation the Blessing.
- The Blessing of Marriage, ceremonies representing a pledge of new beginning for a purified marriage relationship, centered on God's true love. In the ceremony, husband's and wife's vow:
- To love one another faithfully forever
- Never to hurt or abuse one another
- To raise children and grandchildren to abstain from sex before marriage
- To help and encourage all families to lift up these ideals
- Teaching Family Wisdom: Hoon Dok Hae is a practice of gathering and reading together from books of family wisdom drawn from Rev. Moon's sermons, to find spiritual nourishment and inspiration.
- True Family Values Ministry provides marriage and family counseling based on Rev. Moon's teaching.
- Grass-Roots Family Education: Tong Ban Kyok Pa, work throughout the neighborhoods and villages of Korea to promote family values and provide family support services.
Cheongpyeong Heaven and Earth Training Center
- Cheongpyeong Heaven & Earth Training Center, founded 1971, provides a program of weekend retreats through longer 40-day or 120-day training sessions, for spiritual renewal, cleansing and healing, addressing individual and family problems, and providing opportunities for meditation, reflection, and repentance.
- Cheong-A Camp Youth Training Center, established 2005, workshop center for youth retreats and workshops, in the Cheongpyeong area, Korea.
- Jardim Ideal Family Workshop in Jardim, Brazil, provides spiritual retreats and training sessions for conjugal harmony, family life, and practical guidance on living for the sake of others.
Promoting the Value of Women
- Women's Federation for Peace in Asia, founded 1991, precursor to Women's Federation for World Peace.
- Women's Federation for World Peace, founded 1992, is a women's movement with three goals: True families, a sound moral society, and world peace based on women's spirit of true love. WFWP sponsors sistership ceremonies connecting women from different countries, and service projects in branches all around the world.
Vision and purpose for youth
- Generation Peace Academy, Generation Peace Academy is a youth program of the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA-UWC), designed to Motivate and Empower Young People: To Discover God, To Cultivate Personal Identity, To Establish a Unificationist Perspective, To Create a Culture of Heart, To Prepare for Future Success. GPA is a 501-c3 non profit organization that strives to help build a better world by preparing the leaders of tomorrow.
- Youth Federation for World Peace, founded 1995, gathers young people together to encourage them to transcend barriers of ideology, nationality, culture, religion, and race to work for world peace.
- Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP), founded 1966, a campus ministry with branches in many countries, encourages college students to become leaders of character, to be involved in service projects, and to develop successful relationships in friendship, marriage and life.
- Pure Love Alliance (PLA), founded in 1995, encourages young people to choose sexual abstinence before marriage, and fidelity within marriage. PLA holds marches and rallies to raise public awareness, provides educational programs, and encourages young people to participate in public service projects and volunteerism.
- National Ocean Challenge Program, has been providing ocean challenge character-building programs of ocean fishing for young people in coastal locations around the U.S.
- Martial Arts Federation for World Peace, founded 1997, gathers masters and instructors from different forms of martial arts to work together to inspire moral and spiritual renewal among the world's young people.
Building peace through sports
- World Cultural and Sports Festival, founded 1995, festivals including conferences addressing many different aspects of work regarding world peace and Blessing Ceremonies, along with international sports competitions involving all countries participating in the conferences.
- Peace Cup International Football Tournament, founded 2003, held in Korea
- Ilhwa Chunma Football Team, Korean Professional Football League, Founded 1989
REV. MOON'S ASCENSION
In August 2012, Reverend Moon was hospitalized with pneumonia. He was admitted to St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul where his condition became critical. After spending two weeks on a respirator in intensive care, where he suffered further organ failure requiring dialysis and other measures, he was transferred to the church-owned Cheongshim Hospital in Gapyeong, northeast of Seoul.
There, surrounded by his family, Sun Myung Moon passed peacefully on the morning of September 3, 2012 (1:54 am KST; September 2, 12:54 pm EDT) at the age of 92 (93 Korean age).
Unification Church members worldwide immediately began gathering to pay their respects and to attend the Seonghwa (funeral) ceremony on September 15, 2012.
Rev. Moon's ministry continues through his wife, Mrs. Hak Ja Han Moon, his family and couples in ministry around the world.
There, surrounded by his family, Sun Myung Moon passed peacefully on the morning of September 3, 2012 (1:54 am KST; September 2, 12:54 pm EDT) at the age of 92 (93 Korean age).
Unification Church members worldwide immediately began gathering to pay their respects and to attend the Seonghwa (funeral) ceremony on September 15, 2012.
Rev. Moon's ministry continues through his wife, Mrs. Hak Ja Han Moon, his family and couples in ministry around the world.
Legacy
Scholars have noted that Reverend Moon's legacy will endure, not just for the controversies that surrounded the mass weddings and accusations of "brainwashing," but also for "creating what was arguably one of the most comprehensive and innovative theologies embraced by a new religion of the period." This legacy comprises the Divine Principle and more religious teachings, the Unification Church that he founded and spread world-wide, hundreds of thousands of Blessed families, and numerous cultural organizations and businesses, including the Washington Times newspaper.
His life's work was to make the foundation for lasting peace in the world. In particular, Reverend Moon strove to find ways to reunify his homeland of Korea. He met North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, whom he embraced as a brother in 1991. Despite his staunch anti-Communist stance, Reverend Moon and his family continued to develop connections with the North Korean leadership, including establishing Pyonghwa Motors, a joint business partnership between a Church-owned South Korean company and a state-run North Korean consortium. When Reverend Moon died. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un sent condolences and a wreath delivered by Jang Song-Thaek, whose wife is the sister of the North's late leader Kim Jong-Il. Hyung Jin Moon also received the "National Reunification Prize" on behalf of Reverend Moon for his contributions to reunification: "Moon positively contributed to realizing the nation's reconciliation and unity and the country's peaceful reunification and achieving the prosperity common to the nation."
While world peace did not appear in his lifetime, Reverend Moon planted many seeds:
His life's work was to make the foundation for lasting peace in the world. In particular, Reverend Moon strove to find ways to reunify his homeland of Korea. He met North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, whom he embraced as a brother in 1991. Despite his staunch anti-Communist stance, Reverend Moon and his family continued to develop connections with the North Korean leadership, including establishing Pyonghwa Motors, a joint business partnership between a Church-owned South Korean company and a state-run North Korean consortium. When Reverend Moon died. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un sent condolences and a wreath delivered by Jang Song-Thaek, whose wife is the sister of the North's late leader Kim Jong-Il. Hyung Jin Moon also received the "National Reunification Prize" on behalf of Reverend Moon for his contributions to reunification: "Moon positively contributed to realizing the nation's reconciliation and unity and the country's peaceful reunification and achieving the prosperity common to the nation."
While world peace did not appear in his lifetime, Reverend Moon planted many seeds:
It was in Reverend Moon that I found the broadest ecumenical spirit, a fierce commitment to the unity and fraternity of mankind, an unflinching love of all people, a total commitment to the institution of the family, a tolerance for the diversity of humankind and the need for its harmonization. I also found in him the wisdom to blend the Occident with the Orient, the North with the South, an ability to combine eternity with a sense of the contemporary reality, the insights to create a bridge between science and faith, the courage to wage warfare against escalating hedonism, and an abundance of the divine as well as the human gifts of humor and love of life. ... His place in human history is assured. We merely must make certain that the seeds he planted for true peace are nourished by all of us throughout the world.
- Nicholas N. Kittrie