Unification Church (redirected from Family Federation for Unification and World Peace)

Unification Church, religious sect founded (1954) in Korea by Sun Myung Moon. Moon moved to the United States in 1971. He and his wife, Hak J. Han, are seen by followers as "True Parents." He claims to have communicated with Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and the Buddha in his spiritual search, and has declared himself to be the "Messiah." Moon matches his followers with mates and performs mass weddings, the church's most important ritual. Officially known as the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification for World Christianity, the church's headquarters are located in New York City. In 1995 the church reported 50,000 U.S. followers, 3 million worldwide.

Bibliography

See studies by D. Bromley and A. D. Shupe, Jr. (1979) and E. Barker (1984).

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Unification Church

 officially Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity

Religious movement founded (1954) in South Korea by Sun Myung Moon. Influenced by yin-yang principles and Korean shamanism, it seeks to establish divine rule on earth through the restoration of the family, based on the union of the Lord and Lady of the Second Advent (believed to be Moon and his wife, Hak Ja Han). It strives to fulfill what it asserts to be the uncompleted mission of Jesus—procreative marriage. The church has been criticized for its recruitment policies (said to include brainwashing) and business practices. Its mass marriage ceremonies have gained press attention. Its worldwide membership is about 200,000 in more than 100 countries.