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'''Unificationism''' is a movement and worldview based on the teachings of the [[Unification Church]], founded in 1954 by [[Sun Myung Moon]] (1920-Sept. 2012<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19459920?print=true</ref>), a religious minister who was raised in a [[Christian]] household in northern [[Korea]]. 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 ''Unificationists''.

'''Unificationism''' is a movement and worldview based on the teachings of the [[Unification Church]], founded in 1954 by [[Sun Myung Moon]] (1920-Sept. 2012<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19459920?print=true</ref>), a religious minister who was raised in a [[Christian]] household in northern [[Korea]]. 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 ''Unificationists'', or by the pejorative term "Moonies". The church estimates it has 3 million adherents worldwide, with 100,000 in the United States; however, critics and people who have left the church estimate membership at around 100,000 worldwide.<ref>[http://www.ocala.com/article/20120902/API/1209020732 Unification Church founder Rev. Moon dies at 92] Hyung-Jin Kim, AP, ocala.com, September 2, 2012, retrieved September 2, 2012</ref>

It is the fastest growing movement, in the time of its founder, in world history.

Rev. Moon, who wrote ''[[Crown of Glory]]'' as a young teenager, has an unusually cheery and positive attitude toward persecution:  

Rev. Moon, who wrote ''[[Crown of Glory]]'' as a young teenager, had an unusually cheery and positive attitude toward persecution:  

*"Nations have opposed me. North Korea, Japan, the United States, the whole world has opposed me. Everyone opposed the Unification Church and Reverend Moon. Judaism, established Christianity and especially communism have opposed me. Most people would want revenge. But I do not. I have no thought of revenge. I am willing to forget everything, as soon as possible. I am willing to forget even though I have been kicked and maligned. When people oppose me I take the attitude that they do so because I could not carry out what I wanted to do and give them more love. Because I could not achieve what I had pledged — to love people before God — and because I could not prepare the right position for them, they persecute me so loudly. But I love them even though I am persecuted. When I do this the world changes." <ref>[http://www.unification.net/gww/gww-34.html The Holy Spirit Association for

*"Nations have opposed me. North Korea, Japan, the United States, the whole world has opposed me. Everyone opposed the Unification Church and Reverend Moon. Judaism, established Christianity and especially communism have opposed me. Most people would want revenge. But I do not. I have no thought of revenge. I am willing to forget everything, as soon as possible. I am willing to forget even though I have been kicked and maligned. When people oppose me I take the attitude that they do so because I could not carry out what I wanted to do and give them more love. Because I could not achieve what I had pledged — to love people before God — and because I could not prepare the right position for them, they persecute me so loudly. But I love them even though I am persecuted. When I do this the world changes." <ref>[http://www.unification.net/gww/gww-34.html The Holy Spirit Association for

the Unification of World Christianity - May 1, 1981]</ref>

the Unification of World Christianity - May 1, 1981]</ref>

    

    

In the political world, Moon is best known for having founded ''The [[Washington Times]]'', a conservative newspaper.  

In the political world, Moon was best known for having 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.  

Moon apparently remained the head of the Unification Church till his death in September 2012 of pneumonia, despite turning over "day-to-day control" of the movement to three of his children. Thirty-year-old Rev. [[Hyung Jin Moon]],  Moon's youngest, was chosen in 2008 to be the international religious leader of the church,<ref>Associated Press, ''Moon turning over Unification Church to sons''.  Mon., Oct . 12, 2009</ref> while [[Kook Jin Moon]], 39, has completed a successful restructuring of business ventures in South Korea.<ref> [http://www.tparents.org/Moon-Talks/KookJinMoon/KookJinMoon-070225a.htm]</ref> Heading the US church is daughter [[In Jin Moon]].<ref>[http://www.familyfed.org Official Church website]</ref>

Moon apparently remained the head of the Unification Church till his death in September 2012 of pneumonia, despite turning over "day-to-day control" of the movement to three of his children. Thirty-year-old Rev. [[Hyung Jin Moon]],  Moon's youngest son, was chosen in 2008 to be the international religious leader of the church,<ref>Associated Press, ''Moon turning over Unification Church to sons''.  Mon., Oct . 12, 2009</ref> while [[Kook Jin Moon]], 39, has completed a successful restructuring of business ventures in South Korea.<ref> [http://www.tparents.org/Moon-Talks/KookJinMoon/KookJinMoon-070225a.htm]</ref> Heading the US church is daughter [[In Jin Moon]].<ref>[http://www.familyfed.org Official Church website]</ref>

Rev. and Mrs. Moon's oldest living son, [[Hyun Jin Moon]], declined an offer to spend a year closely attending Rev. Moon and has chosen his own path.

Rev. and Mrs. Moon's oldest living son, [[Hyun Jin Moon]], declined an offer to spend a year closely attending Rev. Moon and has chosen his own path.