Sun Myung Moon

The Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon (born January 6, 1920) is the founder of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, first established as the Unification Church on May 1, 1954, in Seoul, South Korea. With his wife Hak Ja Han, he is co-leader of the Unification Movement. Rev. Moon's followers regard him and his wife as "the True Parents of humankind" and hail him as the Messiah.

General criticism

Some critics describe Moon as a billionaire businessman who uses his followers as political footsoldiers. They accuse conservative figures like Jerry Falwell of compromising their stated beliefs to take his millions (Moon lent Falwell US$3.5 million for his struggling Liberty University.) His followers love him in spite of the criticisms, which they have often portrayed as an organized smear campaign.

Related Topics:
Jerry Falwell - US$ - Liberty University

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And while the movement is out of the public eye, it has risen as an influential force in American civic life. Shunned as a convicted felon by Japan and the European Union, Moon has come to be seen as a martyr by his followers and even by some outside conservatives.

Related Topics:
Japan - European Union

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Prison terms

Opponents often cite the fact that Moon has served time in prison or been banned from traveling to some countries as proof that he is illegitimate, and has been called a cult leader. Moon's supporters dismiss the prison terms and travel bans as examples of persecution, arguing in particular that Jesus himself was persecuted and ultimately executed at Jewish leaders' behest (Moon and his followers hold the controversial position that the Jews were responsible for Jesus' deathhttp://www.salon.com/news/feature/2003/09/24/moon/. See Unification Church and anti-Semitism).

Related Topics:
Cult - Jesus - Unification Church and anti-Semitism

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Other issues

Rev. Moon, perhaps the most controversial religious leader in the United States in the 1970s, has been criticized by a wide range of opponents. Some civil libertarians consider his call for unity between religion and politics a violation of democracy's separation of church and state, and that he would crush individualism.

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Jews have objected to his doctrine that the Holocaust is a consequence for killing Jesus. See Unification Church and anti-Semitism.

Related Topics:
The Holocaust - Unification Church and anti-Semitism

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Gay rights groups object to his uncompromising calls for a heterosexual-only society. Moon is implacably opposed to homosexuality, calling gays "dung-eating dogs" who would have no place in a "peace kingdom".

Related Topics:
Gay rights - Homosexuality

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Early Congressional opponents like Donald Fraser dogged Moon for association with figures in the Koreagate influence-peddling scandal, as well as alleged financial fraud.

Related Topics:
Donald Fraser - Koreagate

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The Unification Church, with the support of the ACLU, has rejected foes' claims of coercive mind control. The church has had brushes with deprogrammers who kidnap family members out of the movement.

Related Topics:
ACLU - Mind control - Deprogrammers

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Opponents also frequently challenge or dismiss Moon's credibility, calling his conviction and prison term in the United States for tax evasion as evidence that he is a blatant fraud and a deliberate felon. They also criticize him for using the Unification Movement to operate and subsidize a number of major conservative news organizations, including the Washington Times and United Press International.

Related Topics:
United States - Unification Movement - Washington Times - United Press International

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