The Unification Church is Not So Different than other Denominations
Many years ago when I was a Mayor, local members of the Unification Church would stop in to visit. Mostly, it seemed, they had been instructed to call on the local Mayor. I assumed they would record they had visited me in a monthly report. They needed to stay on good terms with local authorities so they could sell flowers on street corners.
That denomination, founded by Korean Rev. Moon, was financially very successful. He once preached in Fargo. Rev. Moon died in 2010. Since then something very familiar has been taking place.
First, the question of who was to receive and manage the many millions of dollars of assets. As I understand it, his wife and two sons are fighting among themselves for control of the money. Related to the question of money is the religious dogma of Rev. Moon. What were the founding religious tenet of the denomination?
The two questions are intertwined because a judge has decided the money belongs to the faith founded by Moon and which ever of the three is carrying on a proper version of the faith is entitled to its assets. All three have different versions of what the Unification Church's tenets are. The three competing entities have done what Christians have done from day one, go off in a new direction but maintain they are following the original direction.
Critics of the Judge's decision to wade into competing theologies say this is government getting involved in religion when the Constitution tells it to stay away. It does seem like the Judge is going down a rabbit hole. If the denomination was owned by Rev. Moon it should be treated like any other business. T
he assets should be sold and money distributed as the law requires.
https://religionnews.com/2019/03/21/unification-church-succession-case-threatens-protections-for-minority-religions/
That denomination, founded by Korean Rev. Moon, was financially very successful. He once preached in Fargo. Rev. Moon died in 2010. Since then something very familiar has been taking place.
First, the question of who was to receive and manage the many millions of dollars of assets. As I understand it, his wife and two sons are fighting among themselves for control of the money. Related to the question of money is the religious dogma of Rev. Moon. What were the founding religious tenet of the denomination?
The two questions are intertwined because a judge has decided the money belongs to the faith founded by Moon and which ever of the three is carrying on a proper version of the faith is entitled to its assets. All three have different versions of what the Unification Church's tenets are. The three competing entities have done what Christians have done from day one, go off in a new direction but maintain they are following the original direction.
Critics of the Judge's decision to wade into competing theologies say this is government getting involved in religion when the Constitution tells it to stay away. It does seem like the Judge is going down a rabbit hole. If the denomination was owned by Rev. Moon it should be treated like any other business. T
https://religionnews.com/2019/03/21/unification-church-succession-case-threatens-protections-for-minority-religions/
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