Changes

The '''Unification Church''' was founded in 1954 by [[Sun Myung Moon]] (1920-), a religious minister who was raised in a [[Christian]] household. The Unification Church was officially named the ''Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity'', abbreviated as HSA-UWC, but is now officially named as the ''Family Federation for World Peace and Unification''.<ref>ttp://www.apologeticsindex.org/21-family-federation-for-world-peace-and-unification</ref>Its followers are typically referred to as ''Moonies'' by critics, a term the church's adherents, called ''Unificationists'', dislike.

The '''Unification Church''' was founded in 1954 by [[Sun Myung Moon]] (1920-), a religious minister who was raised in a [[Christian]] household. The Unification Church was officially named the ''Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity'', abbreviated as HSA-UWC, but is now officially named as the ''Family Federation for World Peace and Unification''.<ref>ttp://www.apologeticsindex.org/21-family-federation-for-world-peace-and-unification</ref>Its followers are typically referred to as ''Moonies'' by critics, a term the church's adherents, called ''Unificationists'', dislike.

    

    

Moon was originally from northern [[Korea]] and founded ''The [[Washington Times]]'', a conservative newspaper. Sun Myung Moon in South Korea in 1954, and who remained its head until late 2009, when he turned over official leadership to his sons.  

Moon was originally from northern [[Korea]] and founded ''The [[Washington Times]]'', a conservative newspaper.  

The church preaches a [[universalist]] doctrine of [[salvation]] based on a doctrine called the ''Unification Principle''.<ref>The church's teachings are written in Korean, and were re-translated in 1996 as ''Exposition of the Divine Principle'' [http://www.unification.net/dp96/] </ref>  

The church preaches a [[universalist]] doctrine of [[salvation]] based on a doctrine called the ''Unification Principle''.<ref>The church's teachings are written in Korean, and were re-translated in 1996 as ''Exposition of the Divine Principle'' [http://www.unification.net/dp96/] </ref>  

The church is known for its unique theology, conversion techniques, mass weddings and political activity. It is opposed by [[conservative]] [[Christian]]s due to its contradictions of Christian Biblical doctrine,<ref>http://www.biblequery.org/OtherBeliefs/RevMoon/RevMoon.htm</ref> <ref>[http://www.wfial.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=artMoonie.article_1 Bob Waldrep, Watchman Fellowship, ''The Unification Church: Moonshine for the Soul'']</ref><ref>[http://www.biblequery.org/OtherBeliefs/RevMoon/RevMoon.htm ''MoonStruck: An Analysis of Rev. Moon’s Unification Church'', biblequery.org]</ref><ref>[http://www.religionfacts.com/unification_church/index.htm Religion Facts, ''Unification Church'']</ref><ref>[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/u05.html Apologetics Index, ''About the Unification Church'']</ref><ref>J. Isamu Yamamoto, Dr Alan W Gomes, ''Unification Church''</ref><ref>[http://video.aol.com/video-detail/nan-sook-hong/1354477572 Nan Sook Hong video interview]</ref> though certain ministries have accepted funding from Unification "front" ministries,<ref>[http://www.letusreason.org/Moon.htm ''The Dark side of the Moon: The wedding blessing pt.1'', pt.1]</ref><ref>http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/m/moonies/front_groups.htm</ref> while others mainly object to its conservative political involvement.  

The church is known for its unique theology, conversion techniques, mass weddings and political activity. It is opposed by [[conservative]] [[Christian]]s due to its contradictions of Christian Biblical doctrine,<ref>http://www.biblequery.org/OtherBeliefs/RevMoon/RevMoon.htm</ref> <ref>[http://www.wfial.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=artMoonie.article_1 Bob Waldrep, Watchman Fellowship, ''The Unification Church: Moonshine for the Soul'']</ref><ref>[http://www.biblequery.org/OtherBeliefs/RevMoon/RevMoon.htm ''MoonStruck: An Analysis of Rev. Moon’s Unification Church'', biblequery.org]</ref><ref>[http://www.religionfacts.com/unification_church/index.htm Religion Facts, ''Unification Church'']</ref><ref>[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/u05.html Apologetics Index, ''About the Unification Church'']</ref><ref>J. Isamu Yamamoto, Dr Alan W Gomes, ''Unification Church''</ref><ref>[http://video.aol.com/video-detail/nan-sook-hong/1354477572 Nan Sook Hong video interview]</ref> though certain ministries have accepted funding from Unification "front" ministries,<ref>[http://www.letusreason.org/Moon.htm ''The Dark side of the Moon: The wedding blessing pt.1'', pt.1]</ref><ref>http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/m/moonies/front_groups.htm</ref> while others mainly object to its conservative political involvement.  

As of 2009 Moon has officially turned over control of the church to his sons. 30-year-old Rev. Moon Hyung-jin,  Moon's youngest, was chosen in 2008 to be the religious leader of the church, while Moon Kook-jin, 39, has become the head of business ventures in South Korea, and overseeing international operations is 40-year-old Moon Hyun-jin.<ref>Associated Press, ''Moon turning over Unification Church to sons''.  Mon., Oct . 12, 2009</ref>

Moon remained the head of the Unification Church until late 2009, when he turned over official leadership to his sons. 30-year-old Rev. Moon Hyung-jin,  Moon's youngest, was chosen in 2008 to be the religious leader of the church, while Moon Kook-jin, 39, has become the head of business ventures in South Korea, and overseeing international operations is 40-year-old Moon Hyun-jin.<ref>Associated Press, ''Moon turning over Unification Church to sons''.  Mon., Oct . 12, 2009</ref>

==History==

==History==