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Rev. Moon, calling himself the Lord of the Second Advent, believes he is the new [[messiah]], sent to complete the elimination of evil, the establishment of a perfect society on earth and the cleansing of mankind of [[original sin]].  

Rev. Moon, calling himself the Lord of the Second Advent, believes he is the new [[messiah]], sent to complete the elimination of evil, the establishment of a perfect society on earth and the cleansing of mankind of [[original sin]].  

The church became to be known for its unique theology, conversion techniques and mass weddings and political activity. It is opposed by conservative Christians 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>

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>

==History==

==History==

Sun Myung Moon was born and raised in what is now [[North Korea]], during a period in which it was under imperialist [[Japan]]ese dominion. Moon's parents mainly adhered to [[Confucianism]] until they converted in 1930 to the [[Presbyterian]] church in Korea, when Moon was around 10 years old.  The Presbyterian church was the object of Japanese persecution during that period, along with many other faiths, and which was a time when various degrees of spiritual innovation and phenomena was also occurring. Although for a short time Moon was taught in the Presbyterian [[Christian faith]],  Moon states that on Easter morning in 1936 (when he was 16) he saw a vision of Jesus, in which he was commissioned "to restore God's perfect kingdom", and that Moon would be "the completer of man's salvation by being the Second Coming of Christ",<ref>Sun Myung Moon and The Unification Church, James Bjornstad, p. 9</ref> though minor variations of this message are given. Moon would be known as the "Savior, the Lord of the Second Advent, the Messiah".<ref>Today's World, September 1992, pp. 20-21</ref>  In a similarity to men such as [[Joseph Smith]], the founder of [[Mormonism]], and Emanuel Swedenborg, founder of [[Swedenborgism]], Moon claimed that he conversed in the spiritual realm with [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[Jesus]], [[Mohammad]], [[Buddha]] and other notables of other faiths.<ref>The Perennial Dictionary of World Religions, Keith Crim, editor, p. 775</ref><ref>''Outline of the Principle'', Level 4, p. 2, 1980</ref>  

Sun Myung Moon was born and raised in what is now [[North Korea]], during a period in which it was under imperialist [[Japan]]ese dominion. Moon's parents mainly adhered to [[Confucianism]] until they converted in 1930 to the [[Presbyterian]] church in Korea, when Moon was around 10 years old.  During the  Japanese occupation, the Presbyterian church--along with many other faiths--was the object of Japanese persecution. It was also a time during which various degrees of spiritual innovation was taking place. Although for a short time Moon was taught in the Presbyterian [[Christian faith]],  he states that on [[Resurrection Sunday]] in 1936 (when he was 16) he saw a vision of [[Jesus]], in which he was commissioned "to restore God's perfect kingdom", and that he would be "the completer of man's salvation by being the Second Coming of Christ",<ref>Sun Myung Moon and The Unification Church, James Bjornstad, p. 9</ref> though minor variations of this message are given. Moon would be known as the "Savior, the Lord of the Second Advent, the Messiah".<ref>Today's World, September 1992, pp. 20-21</ref>  In a similarity to men such as [[Joseph Smith]], the founder of [[Mormonism]], and Emanuel Swedenborg, founder of [[Swedenborgism]], Moon claimed that he conversed in the spiritual realm with [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[Jesus]], [[Mohammad]], [[Buddha]] and other notables of other faiths.<ref>The Perennial Dictionary of World Religions, Keith Crim, editor, p. 775</ref><ref>''Outline of the Principle'', Level 4, p. 2, 1980</ref>  

Moon established his first congregation in 1946, titled the ''Broad Sea Church''. In 1948 Moon was excommunicated by the Presbyterian Church, and a short time later was imprisoned and tortured by the North Korean authorities,  and was soon released but was arrested and imprisoned again, remaining so until the camp was liberated by American and U.N. troops in 1950. Moon relocated to South Korea, and began a church in a refugee camp in Pusan. In 1954 Moon registered his church as ''The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity'' (HSA-UWC). In 1955 South Korean authorities arrested Moon for draft evasion, and later adding charges of adultery and promiscuity. However, the government could not prove its case and Moon was released. <ref>James Bjornstad, ''Sun Myung Moon & The Unification Church'', p. 11</ref>  

Moon established his first congregation in 1946, titled the ''Broad Sea Church''. In 1948 Moon was excommunicated by the Presbyterian Church, and a short time later was imprisoned and tortured by the North Korean authorities,  and was soon released but was arrested and imprisoned again, remaining so until the camp was liberated by American and U.N. troops in 1950. Moon relocated to South Korea, and began a church in a refugee camp in Pusan. In 1954 Moon registered his church as ''The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity'' (HSA-UWC). In 1955 South Korean authorities arrested Moon for draft evasion, and later adding charges of adultery and promiscuity. However, the government could not prove its case and Moon was released. <ref>James Bjornstad, ''Sun Myung Moon & The Unification Church'', p. 11</ref>