Changes

Moon's theology is seen to be influenced by a variety of sources. Moon's parents had followed a blend of traditional Korean religions - Confucianism, Buddhism and folk shamanism before choosing to convert to Presbyterian faith. Early on in his departure from Christian theology, Moon was influenced by "Paik Moon Kim, a self-proclaimed messiah",<ref>Encyclopedia of American Religions, Gordon Melton, Vol. 2, p. 226</ref> whose teachings Moon is seen using. Moon also cited a cult text from the fifteenth or sixteenth century, the ''Chung Kam Nok'',  which supported his claim that Korea would bring forth the messiah.<ref>The Perennial Dictionary of World Religions, p. 776</ref>   

Moon's theology is seen to be influenced by a variety of sources. Moon's parents had followed a blend of traditional Korean religions - Confucianism, Buddhism and folk shamanism before choosing to convert to Presbyterian faith. Early on in his departure from Christian theology, Moon was influenced by "Paik Moon Kim, a self-proclaimed messiah",<ref>Encyclopedia of American Religions, Gordon Melton, Vol. 2, p. 226</ref> whose teachings Moon is seen using. Moon also cited a cult text from the fifteenth or sixteenth century, the ''Chung Kam Nok'',  which supported his claim that Korea would bring forth the messiah.<ref>The Perennial Dictionary of World Religions, p. 776</ref>   

One of Moon's early converts, Young Oon Kim, was a further influence in the development of Unification theology.  Also known as Miss Kim, she tended to see visions, hear voices, and have hallucinations in her youth, and become deeply influenced by the writing of occultist [[Emanuel Swedenborg]], whom she said appeared to her in visions. Having rejected much of her early [[Methodist]] training, Kim sought to be ordained in a small organization called the ''Universal Church of the Master'', and also combined various ideas from other religions.  Miss Kim would later be particularly influential in its growth of Unificationism in the [[United States]], as its the first missionary there. Kim also worked in translating the Divine Principle into English.<ref>http://www.religionfacts.com/unification_church/index.htm</ref><ref>George D. Chryssides, ''Unifying or Dividing? Sun Myung Moon and the Origins of the Unification Church'', University of Wolverhampton, U.K.</ref><ref>http://www.letusreason.org/moon2.htm</ref>  

One of Moon's early converts, Young Oon Kim, was a further influence in the development of Unification theology.  Also known as Miss Kim, she tended to see visions, hear voices, and have hallucinations in her youth, and become deeply influenced by the writing of occultist [[Emanuel Swedenborg]], whom she said appeared to her in visions. Having rejected much of her early [[Methodist]] training, Kim sought to be ordained in a small organization called the ''Universal Church of the Master'', and also combined various ideas from other religions.  Miss Kim would later be particularly influential in its growth of Unificationism in the [[United States]], as its the first missionary there. Miss Kim also worked in translating the ''Divine Principle''into English.<ref>http://www.religionfacts.com/unification_church/index.htm</ref><ref>George D. Chryssides, ''Unifying or Dividing? Sun Myung Moon and the Origins of the Unification Church'', University of Wolverhampton, U.K.</ref><ref>http://www.letusreason.org/moon2.htm</ref>  

The primary doctrinal authority for the Unificationismm is the 536 page work, ''Divine Principle'', which was was published in 1957. This is considered to be divinely inspired scripture, though it is stated to be "only part of the new truth. ...as time goes on, deeper parts of the truth will be continually revealed" <ref>Today's World, September 1992, p. 16</ref>   

The Divine Principle,  a 536 page work, was published in 1957 and is the primary doctrinal authority for the Unificationism. While it is considered to be divinely inspired scripture, it is stated to be "only part of the new truth. ...as time goes on, deeper parts of the truth will be continually revealed" <ref>Today's World, September 1992, p. 16</ref>   

In Unification theology, God is both masculine and feminine, according to the concept called ''polarity'', and is based on finding the characteristics which are common to all entities in his Creation." <ref>Outline of the Principle - Level 4, p. 10</ref> being similar to the idea of deity seen in [[I Ching]], [[Confucianism]], [[Taoism]], as well as the [[Hindu]] worship of a Mother Goddess.<ref>Unification Theology, p. 56.</ref>

In Unification theology, God is both masculine and feminine, according to the concept called ''polarity'', and is based on finding the characteristics which are common to all entities in his Creation." <ref>Outline of the Principle - Level 4, p. 10</ref> being similar to the idea of deity seen in [[I Ching]], [[Confucianism]], [[Taoism]], as well as the [[Hindu]] worship of a Mother Goddess.<ref>Unification Theology, p. 56.</ref>