The Unification Church: Studies in Contemporary Religion

by Massimo Introvigne

 Unificationists believe in “reconciling the internal truth pursued by religion with the external truth pursued by science.” They promote anti-Communism, family values, and the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Hebrew prophets. Where they depart from traditional Christianity is in their acceptance of the Divine Principle as a companion to the Bible and in their assertion that founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon is Lord of the Second Advent, that with his wife (together the “True Parents”), Original Sin is conquered through special blessings. Since 1954 Unificationism has evolved toward a more normative approach to worship and lifestyle, if not belief—a point that Italian scholar Massimo Introvigne emphasizes in his balanced overview of the church’s history, doctrine, spirituality, missionary activities, and controversies. He notes that in doctrine Unificationism has moved away from mainstream churches toward increased emphasis on contact with the spirit world, numerology, and construction of a modern “Garden of Eden” in Brazil.

70 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2000

About the author

Italian sociologist and intellectual property consultant. Founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), an international network of scholars who study new religious movements. Author of tens of books and articles in the field of sociology of religion. He was the main author of the "Enciclopedia delle religioni in Italia" ("Encyclopedia of Religions in Italy") and is a member of the editorial board for the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion. From January 5 to December 31, 2011, he has served as the "Representative on combating racism, xenophobia and discrimination, with a special focus on discrimination against Christians and members of other religions" of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In June 2012 he has been appointed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs chairperson of the newly instituted Observatory of Religious Liberty, created by the Ministry in order to monitor problems of religious liberty on a worldwide scale. (source: Wikipedia)