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World Peace
In 1945, Christian churches were in the position to create a world of peace.
In fact, Christians led the way in creating global organizations such as
the United Nations and the World Council of Churches. But because Christianity
did not recognize the advent of the Messiah, the blessing of God could not
fully abide with these things. Despite all their accomplishments, these
organizations have not bridged the gaps between races, nations and religions.
Since 1945, the Christian economic sphere has increasingly heeded man's
materialistic and hedonistic drives, while neglecting the problem of poverty
among the poor of all races and nations. The Christian political sphere
has gradually lost its vitality and we have seen the erosion of social justice,
traditional values and common decency.
Recognizing this problem, Reverend Moon took upon himself the regeneration
of the Christian foundation through the Unification Church. Moreover, God
inspired him to create new institutions of peace. These institutions, religious,
academic, political and cultural, transcend the bounds of race, religion
and nation. They were all created to manifest the ideals of God's kingdom
on the earth. This is the common thread running through this diverse set
of organizations.
Harmony of Science and Religion
The International Cultural Foundation (ICF) was founded in 1972 to promote
academic, scientific and cultural exchange among the countries of the world.
ICF has regularly sponsored the International Conference on the Unity of
the Sciences. This is an interdisciplinary forum for scholars and scientists
from around the globe. Conference themes have developed around the search
for a central standard of value leading to a unifying vision for the sciences.
ICF has embarked upon the creation of a new encyclopedia, to take us beyond
the materialistic views of Enlightenment science. The encyclopedia will
provide a balance of spiritual, moral and scientific knowledge.
The Unity of Religions
The International Religious Foundation (IRF) and the Inter-Religious Federation
for World Peace (IRFWP) are dedicated to fostering world peace through religious
dialogue and harmony. Their conferences draw participants from every religious
tradition and philosophical persuasion. Bridges of understanding are built
as participants gain a heightened awareness of the beliefs of others. What
emerges is a vision of the family of religions that can guide the transformation
of society. Commenting on these conferences in interfaith News, Kenneth
Cracknell of the British Council of Churches wrote:
The Unification Church (which is not an orthodox church) does
more for the interfaith movement at an international level than do either
the World Council of Churches' Dialogue unit or the Roman Catholic Vatican
Secretariat for Non-Christians, or both of them put together.
IRF and IRFWP sponsor the quadrennial Assembly of the World's Religions.
The assemblies bring together spiritual teachers, scholars, lay leaders
and young people. The second assembly initiated an unprecedented dialogue
between Muslims and Christians. Many leading Muslims, through study of the
Divine Principle, have come to see Christianity in a new light.
IRF also co-sponsors the Religious Youth Service, which brings together
young people of diverse religions for shared worship, study and public service
work. They have built schools, community centers and fresh-water systems
among other projects. The real building, however, is the bond of friendship,
trust and mutual respect among the young people of many faiths.
Reverend Moon directed the compilation of World Scriptures, a 900-page volume
which brings out the similarities in the scriptures of all the main religions
of the world. He highly respects other religious traditions as having been
inspired by God for the sake of the spiritual growth of humankind.
Cooperation of Nations
Since 1945, one of the great obstacles to international peace has been atheistic
communism. Communism feeds on the accusation that wealthy Christian nations
are not sincere about establishing social justice. To meet this challenge,
Reverend Moon founded educational organizations in Asia and throughout the
world.
Causa International, established in 1980, clarifies the ideological and
practical fallacies of Marxism-Leninism. It promotes a God-affirming moral
perspective as an effective counterproposal. This organization has contributed
significantly to bringing about the fall of communism in Eastern Europe
and the former Soviet Union.
With the demise of communism, Reverend Moon has initiated the Federation
for World Peace, the Summit Council for World Peace and the Association
for the Unity of Latin America to develop a consensus regarding the underlying
moral principles which govern the affairs of men and nations. These groups
provide a meeting place for world leaders to address complex issues such
as
third world development, the democratization of Eastern Europe, the AIDS
epidemic, Korean unification and the future of liberal democracy. Commenting
on the scope of these activities, Ambassador Douglas MacArthur II remarked:
Forty years ago, my uncle, General Douglas MacArthur, said the
fundamental problem which lies before us in the latter part of the twentieth
century is a theological problem that would require the rebirth of the human
spirit. At that time he also put forth both a warning and a challenge. He
said that if mankind did not rise to meet this test, then Armageddon would
be at our door.
Over the years, I have been fascinated to observe that Reverend Moon's life
work has not just been devoted to religious theology and doctrine, but also
to practical activities relating to the rebirth of the human spirit. His
approaches to awakening and refreshing our hopes are practical applications
of cooperation, brotherhood and unity that involve neither military conquest
nor surrender.
The Media
The communications media play a vital role in today's world. Their key task
is to provide news and information to humankind in an objective manner.
Unfortunately, the media is too often a vehicle for distorted values, cheap
sensationalism and misinformation. Reverend Moon has made considerable effort
towards the promotion of the press as a moral voice.
The World Media Association brings journalists together to discuss the role
of the media in resolving conflict and promoting understanding. It emphasizes
that the media must be responsible and accountable in its coverage of world
affairs. Implementing these very ideals, Reverend Moon has established newspapers
and magazines to serve and educate the public with a commitment to truth
and objectivity: The Segye Ilbo in Seoul, Sekai Nippo in Tokyo, The Washington
TIMES, Insight and The World & I magazines in Washington D.C., Noticias
Del Mundo in New York and Los Angeles, The Middle East Times in Athens and
Ultimas Noticias in Montevideo.
The Ideal of Woman
In 1992, Reverend and Mrs. Moon inaugurated the Women's Federation for World
Peace. The Divine Principle teaches that the unity of brothers (Cain and
Abel) restores the mother's position, who then brings the family back to
God. Thus the end of the Cold War offers the opportunity to heal the world
based upon a new women's movement. On April 10, Mrs. Moon as international
president of the Federation initiated this movement at a rally of 150,000
in Seoul. In the months that followed, she spoke to more than one million
people in over 120 cities and twelve nations.
The Women's Federation brings women together to take action for the moral
education and healing of our families and society. By nurturing the pure
root of true love between husband and wife, the women of the world will
bring harmony and blessing to their families. This in turn will lead to
societies, nations and a world of peace.
Education
In 1955, Reverend Moon established the Collegiate Association for the Research
of the Principle (CARP). CARP is now active on many campuses in the United
States and has expanded to over eighty nations. This association of students
promotes intercultural, interracial, and international cooperation through
the Unification world view. Unification campus ministers are active on many
campuses, helping students develop their spiritual potential and promoting
cooperation among religious groups on campus.
The International Leadership Seminar (ILS) program brings together students
and professors from around the world. ILS sponsored the travel of 3,000
Soviet university students and professors to America, during 1990 and 1991,
in by far the largest exchange program between the two countries at that
historic juncture. It was reported that many of these ILS graduates subsequently
manned the barricades to defend democracy during the abortive communist
coup.
Since 1990, the ILS has sponsored seminars in the Commonwealth of Independent
States for more than 60,000 students. Russian leaders and students, having
rejected communism, are receptive to the Unification world view. Its international
vision of one world family helps students to transcend the ethnic hostilities
that plague the nations of the former Soviet Union. In addition it explains
God and spiritual values in a rational way that is well suited to their
scientific thinking. Through practical training in teaching and serving
others, students develop effective leadership abilities for the 2lst. century.
Reverend Moon has founded schools of higher education. The Unification Theological
Seminary in New York was founded in 1975, and the Sung Wha University in
South Korea in 1988. The seminary's diverse faculty includes Catholic, Protestant,
Orthodox and Jewish professors providing an education of exceptional breadth.
The Professors World Peace Academy (PWPA) was founded in 1973 to bring together
scholars from around the world to find peaceful solutions to problems that
pose the threat of war or violence. The first PWPA meetings brought together
scholars from Korea and Japan, two historically enemy nations. The organization
now has chapters in over 100 countries. PWPA aims to establish a worldwide
network of universities which can provide an intercultural educational perspective.
In April 1992, PWPA began this project with the University of Bridgeport,
Connecticut.
The Arts
Reverend Moon's patronage of the arts began early in his ministry. In 1965,
he established the Little Angels, a children's folk ballet which has given
more than 3,000 performances during seventeen world tours. The Little Angels
Arts School was founded in 1974. Today, it has become the "Juilliard
of Korea." The Universal Ballet Company is the world's first international
ballet company, with schools in Seoul and Washington. It has cooperated
with the Kirov Ballet in productions in Russia and Korea.
Art is like a flower for man's mind.
It blossoms and permeates its
fragrances throughout our lives
and society. It connects all men
together through their hearts.
- Reverend Sun Myung Moon
With the vision of developing a major performing arts facility, the Manhattan
Opera House was purchased in 1976. By 1978, a full production stage was
built there for live performance, recording and television production. Manhattan
Center Studios, as it is now called, is a favorite recording studio for
major orchestras and individual artists ranging from classical to contemporary.
The Manhattan Center, Atlantic Video and Japan's Universal One television
station are the beginnings of a global network of video and audio performance
and production centers.
With these and many other projects, Reverend Moon is developing resources
in all areas of human life. By embodying the spirit of Unification culture,
they are instruments for harmonizing the world's cultures, peoples and nations.
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