I hope you won't mind me offering my tuppenceworth on this topic. As
someone who has studied Moon and his ideology at very close quarters
for some years, and knows the inner workings of several of his
organizations, and who has since studied the psychology of religion..
I would like to offer a couple of comments.
First of all, the debate so far has been interesting and entertaining.
However, may I respectfully note that for any debate to have serious
merit (other than as a source of entertainment) the speakers should
abide by the rules of qualified debate. Simply put, as soon as we
enter the realm of (mere) beliefs, then anything is possible,
including the most nonsensical notions, and skeptical debate is
neutralized at source. We are all at liberty to believe what we want,
but surely, we should NOT be at liberty to categorically declare such
beliefs as 'absolute truth' based purely upon our subjective faith?
Unless we limit ourselves to SOME empirical standards - then
discussions on religious matters can and will veer off in ANY and all
directions at any time, regardless of logic or verifiability, and
hence become mere exercises in converstaion and self-opinionated
noisemaking.
But; on the specific subject of Moon and his ideology: There is no
doubting that there is a certain genius to many of the teachings in
the Divine Principle which will be especially attractive to the lost,
the lonely, the fearful, the (relatively) ignorant, and the credulous
mindset...(yet no more so than the Bible, the Quran, the Book of
Mormon etc.. etc..) Moon presents the DP as if it IS the answer to
all of mankind's questions, which would be wonderful if it were
actually true. But as has already been pointed out - there are some
serious contradictions and errors in Moon's theology and in the daily
operations of an organization that began by claiming to "clarify
religious mysteries" and "unite the world's religions".
Sadly, Unificationism has developed into precisely the opposite: Just
ANOTHER religious denomination; authoritarian in character, and based
upon intensly superstitious beliefs. Furthermore, Unificationism can
only continue to propagate by suppressing its membership with an
endless bombardment of teachings that emphasise the guilt,
inadequacies, and deficiencies in the membership - whilst
simultaneously exalting the leader, and leading members to believe
that they are each somehow uniquely central to God's devloping
providence (through Moon of course). Thus we have ranks of so-called
'National Messiahs' of very limited education or professional
expertise whose own families are emotionally and morally bankrupt.
Nevertheless, by virtue of their obedience to Moon, they believe
themselves uniquely qualified to impose their beliefs on humanity.
(Sound familiar?) This is no more or less than chronic egoism,
delusional thinking, and supercillious condescension disguised as
religious piety. As such, there is very little genuine humility left
amongst the ranks of core Unificationists. This is very, very
different to the themes of empowering faith traditions who focus on
developing the virtues of their members - surely a more productive
paradigm if one SINCERELY wishes ones Church / Mosque / Congregation
to embrace the True Spirit of God?
I have heard Moon referred to as an opportunist - surely, no-one who
knows the inner workings of the organization can deny that. But those
who choose to remain blindly faithful to him MUST find some way to
justify their long years of sacrifice and investment. Thus his
opportunistic leanings are given a sacred objective, and this further
allows the faithful membership to switch off their own (God given?)
faculties of reason and skeptical thinking for the ever-promised, but
as yet undelivered; ticket into paradise. At the latest count, I
believe it was (only) $16,000 to buy passage for one's ancestors into
Divine Principle 'workshops' in the spirit world. Meanwhile, Asian
members are expected to purchase the latest of Moon's teachings in
book form for a reported $100,000.00 apiece (or else their ancestors
risk getting sent right back to hell. (I'm unsure of the price, but I
know this activity is fact).
Faith was never supposed to be an end in itself - it is merely a
stepping-stone in the process of gaining knowledge. Those religious
traditions who promote blind faith (or "absolute obedience" in UC
terms) as the soverign virtue are simply placing a manipulative
buffer between their declarations of 'truth' and our God-given
faculties of reason and critical thinking. "Don't worry about
understanding it - just believe my son." Even using UC theology that
defines God as a Parent first and foremost; what parent of worth
would conspire to keep his children in ignorance? If we choose to
believe in God, then let's believe that he gave us a brain for a
reason. Perhaps that reason was to employ at least SOME discernment
in the process of growing to maturity; spirit, MIND, and body?.. and
not simply to sign away all our responsibilities like mindless
juveniles, to those who have time and again, shown themselves less
than worthy of our trust (various religious leaders).
As far as I am concerned, if the PROCESS of the messianic mission is
morally flawed (ie; routine lying as a Church policy of 'heavenly
deception', and the collapse of the moral integrity of Moon's own
so-called 'True Family' - drugs, adultery, wife-beatings,
prostitutes, suicides, alchoholism..) then how can the mission of
'True Parents' be declared a success? It seems clear to me that
either Moon is misled, delusional, or a fraud.. or, that his mission
has failed miserably (just as he states Jesus' mission failed).
Accordingly, sincere Unificationists would be well advised to 'wake
up' to the REALITY that they are living in a myopia - and reinvest
what's left of their lives into genuine emotional and spiritual
growth - perhaps before we really do go into the spirit world and
find ourselves holding counterfeit tickets.
Anyway, that's my tuppenceworth. Genuinely sorry if this has hurt any
feelings, but I don't think there is any easy way to say this stuff.
If its any consolation, I too had to learn the hard way.
