"I'm just a mug and I know it"
I defend the Unification Church's right to exist as a member of our free, open, democratic, pluralistic and tolerant society.
I felt compelled to create this essay out of my concern for what I observe as the continuing investment of large amounts of money and resources by the Unification Movement into partisan political activism here in the US and around the world. It seems to me that the church is seeking governmental power, and not just religious converts, and that is very troubling.
The only reason that the clergy would seek such political authority is to possess the powers of a civil government (e.g. police, army, law making, law enforcement). And the only purpose for that would be to force the public to accept their religious views and commands through physical means rather than through love, service and persuasion.
It is of special concern to me that some Unification Church clergy have given speeches on military "strength" and have expressed intolerance for homosexuals and perceived political enemies.
My intent here is to put together a simple, respectful, and useful information resource that might help others have a broader understanding. The content expresses my own personal viewpoint. Please forgive me if I have failed to acknowledge a source properly.
My own religious philosophy can be summed up in something I heard recently:
"The more religions you learn about, the more you learn about God."
I guess you could call me a kind of amateur comparative religion evangelist and a continuing eager student of the entire rich world tapestry of human religious experience.
"With malice toward none and charity for all, let us bind up the nation's wounds."
— Abraham Lincoln
I felt compelled to create this essay out of my concern for what I observe as the continuing investment of large amounts of money and resources by the Unification Movement into partisan political activism here in the US and around the world. It seems to me that the church is seeking governmental power, and not just religious converts, and that is very troubling.
The only reason that the clergy would seek such political authority is to possess the powers of a civil government (e.g. police, army, law making, law enforcement). And the only purpose for that would be to force the public to accept their religious views and commands through physical means rather than through love, service and persuasion.
It is of special concern to me that some Unification Church clergy have given speeches on military "strength" and have expressed intolerance for homosexuals and perceived political enemies.
My intent here is to put together a simple, respectful, and useful information resource that might help others have a broader understanding. The content expresses my own personal viewpoint. Please forgive me if I have failed to acknowledge a source properly.
My own religious philosophy can be summed up in something I heard recently:
"The more religions you learn about, the more you learn about God."
I guess you could call me a kind of amateur comparative religion evangelist and a continuing eager student of the entire rich world tapestry of human religious experience.
"With malice toward none and charity for all, let us bind up the nation's wounds."
— Abraham Lincoln
This is a personal blog essay and not affiliated with the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (a.k.a. Unification Church). All opinions expressed are my personal point of view.
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