San Myung Mun (Moon Sun Myung)

(p. 1920)
Sun Myung Moon was born in 1920 in what is now North Korea. At age 16 he experienced a vision in which Jesus Christ chose moon, so that he restored the kingdom of God on earth. After 10 years, Moon began to preach in North Korea and Japan. His preaching got him into pursuit of the communist authorities, and he twice spent time behind bars. During the Korean War, Moon managed to escape to South Korea, where in 1954 he organized the Association of the Holy Spirit for the unity of Christians around the world (Unification Church).

The first missionaries arrived in the U.S. church in 1959. In 1971 Moon moved to the United States and led the movement, creating a centralized organization with strict discipline. To raise funds for the country toured the whole team, who sold flowers and candy for a large profit. By 1980 at the moon were thousands of adherents, many of whom worked for businesses owned by church.

Teaching-moon stated in his book God's principle (Divine Principle), which states that God's intent, Adam and Eve must have been committed by children, who laid the foundations of a perfect world. But Eve was seduced by Lucifer and became support unhallowed conjugal relationship with Adam. As a result, their offspring - all of humanity - has been fallen creatures, incapable of union with God and with each other. Purpose-moon - to unite humanity, turning it into the family of God.

Moon organized the wedding between calls, which occurred with lush crowded ceremonies. Perfect children expected from these marriages were to become the nucleus of the restored kingdom. However, there were known cases where the movement of moon destroyed existing family of converts who left spouses and parents, to join the 'family', referring to Moon and his wife, 'our true parents'.

Mass wedding and care of families of converts have generated favorable attitude of the people to the Unification Church. The system of recruiting new members and the practice of their indoctrination, gave rise to accuse the 'Moonies' in brainwashing and dehumanization. They were accused of fraudulent fund-raising, and financial empire moon - in violation of the law of the country. Suspicion and regard moon with the South Korean Government.

In 1982, Moon was convicted of tax evasion and spent almost a year in prison (1984-1985). In the 1980's many supporters moon left his church.