Changes

Single members were encouraged to take up full-time missions. By the early 1970s, church membership in the US was less than 1,000 - nearly all single. Curiously, the church did not have men and women live separately (except, of course, that they had separate sleeping quarters). It was an arrangement described as a "co-ed monastery". <!-- Frederick Sontag, I think -->

Single members were encouraged to take up full-time missions. By the early 1970s, church membership in the US was less than 1,000 - nearly all single. Curiously, the church did not have men and women live separately (except, of course, that they had separate sleeping quarters). It was an arrangement described as a "co-ed monastery". <!-- Frederick Sontag, I think -->

Members pledged to refrain from all sexual relations until marriage, which in itself seemed odd to the secular world. Why refrain? It's not breaking any law. In addition, members were strongly encouraged to permit Rev. Moon to arrange their marriages.  

 

Members pledged to refrain from all sexual relations until marriage, which in itself seemed odd to the secular world. Outsiders would aske, "Why refrain? It's not breaking any law." In addition, members were strongly encouraged to permit Rev. Moon to arrange their marriages.  

The arrangement of marriages is seen as a way of indemnifying the [[Fall of Man]], in which Eve fell into a sexual relationship (in spirit) with the archangel Lucifer (who then became [[Satan]]). Note that many Christian theologians disagree with the idea that angels can have sex with human beings; the church quotes Jude 1:6 and Jude 1:7 to support its interpretation. When fallen Eve turned from Lucifer to Adam and seduced him, this was the physical fall.

The arrangement of marriages is seen as a way of indemnifying the [[Fall of Man]], in which Eve fell into a sexual relationship (in spirit) with the archangel Lucifer (who then became [[Satan]]). Note that many Christian theologians disagree with the idea that angels can have sex with human beings; the church quotes Jude 1:6 and Jude 1:7 to support its interpretation. When fallen Eve turned from Lucifer to Adam and seduced him, this was the physical fall.

All people are called to be patriots and saints on the way to becoming children of God. Dedicating one's marriage to the family, nation and world is seen as the express route to saintly joy.

All people are called to be patriots and saints on the way to becoming children of God. Dedicating one's marriage to the family, nation and world is seen as the express route to saintly joy.

When the church was just getting started in Korea, Rev. Moon knew each member personally and prayed long hours while considering which were the best matches. Being able to see into the spiritual world, he could see their ancestry and thus determine who ought to go with whom; even as a child in his village he had the reputation as a shrewd matchmaker. In the US, members would gather in large rooms and Rev. Moon would look at them or talk with them briefly, mostly relying on [[discernment of spirits]] to make his choices.

When the church was just getting started in Korea, Rev. Moon knew each member personally and prayed long hours while considering which were the best matches. Being able to see into the spiritual world, he could see their ancestry and thus determine who ought to go with whom; even as a child in his village he had the reputation as a shrewd matchmaker. In the US, members would gather in large rooms and Rev. Moon would look at them or talk with them briefly, mostly relying on [[discernment of spirits]] to make his choices.