Unification Church

===Theological disputes with Christianity===
====Fall of Man and view of Jesus====

Central to Unification teachings is the concept that the [[Fall of Man]] was caused by the literal [[serpent seed|mating of Eve and Satan]] in the [[Garden of Eden]], which contaminated the whole human race with sin. According to the religion, humanity can only be restored to [[God]] through a messiah who comes as a new [[Adam]]: a new head of the human race, replacing the sinful parents, and siring new children free from Satanic influence. In the Unification Church, Jesus is this messiah, just as he is a messianic figure in more mainstream Christianity;<ref name="Sontag102">{{cite book |last=Sontag |first=Frederick |url=https://archive.org/details/sunmyungmoonunif00sont/page/102/mode/2up |pages=102–105 |title=Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church |date=1977 |publisher=Abingdon Press |others=Abingdon Press |isbn=0-687-40622-6 |location=Nashville, Tenn. |oclc=3071834}}</ref> however, since Jesus was prematurely killed before he could start a new sinless family, Moon claims he himself was called upon by God to fulfill Jesus' unresolved mission.<ref name="maass" />

In 1980, Unification theologian [[Young Oon Kim]] wrote:
{{blockquote|Unification theology teaches that Jesus came to establish the [[Kingship and kingdom of God|kingdom of Heaven on Earth]]. As [[St. Paul]] wrote, Jesus was to be the new Adam restoring the lost garden of Eden. For this purpose he chose twelve apostles, symbolizing the original twelve tribes of Israel, and sent out seventy disciples, symbolizing all the nations of the world. Like John the Baptist, Jesus proclaimed that the long-awaited kingdom of heaven was at hand (Matt. 4:17).  Jesus was appointed God's earthly representative in order to subjugate Satan, cleanse men of original sin and free them from the power of evil. Christ's mission involved liberation from sin and raising mankind to the perfection stage. His purpose was to bring about the kingdom of heaven in our world with the help of men filled with divine truth and love. Jesus' goal was to restore the garden of Eden, a place of joy and beauty in which true families of perfected parents would dwell with God in a full relationship of reciprocal love.<ref>Kim, Young Oon, 1980, [http://www.religious.org/ucbooks/UTheol/toc.htm Unification Theology], Barrytown, NY: [[Unification Theological Seminary]], {{LCCN|8052872}}</ref>}}

The Unification view of Jesus has been criticized by mainstream Christian authors and theologians. In their influential book ''[[The Kingdom of the Cults]]'' (first published in 1965), Walter Ralston Martin and Ravi K. Zacharias disagreed with the ''Divine Principle'' on the issues of the [[divinity of Christ]], the [[virgin birth of Jesus]], the Unification Church's belief that Jesus should have married and a literal [[resurrection of Jesus]] as well as a literal [[Second Coming]]. They add: "Moon makes all men equal in "divinity" to Jesus, thereby striking a blow at the uniqueness of Christ."<ref>Walter Ralston Martin, Ravi K. Zacharias, ''The Kingdom of the Cults'', Bethany House, 2003, {{ISBN|0764228218}} pp. 368–370.</ref>

The ''Divine Principle'' states on this point:
{{blockquote|There is no greater value than that of a person who has realized the ideal of creation. This is the value of Jesus, who surely attained the highest imaginable value. The conventional Christian belief in Jesus' divinity is well founded because, as a perfect human being, Jesus is totally one with God. To assert that Jesus is none other than a man who has completed the purpose of creation does not degrade the value of Jesus in the least.<ref>[http://www.unification.net/dp96/dp96-1-7.html#Chap7 Divine Principle], Chapter 7, Section 2.2</ref>}}

Unificationist theologian Young Oon Kim wrote, and some members of the Unification movement believe, that [[Zechariah (New Testament figure)|Zechariah]] was the father of Jesus, based on the work of [[Leslie Weatherhead]], an English Christian theologian in the [[Liberal Christianity|liberal Protestant]] tradition.<ref name="USArmy">{{cite book|author=United States Department of the Army|author-link=United States Department of the Army|title=Religious Requirements and Practices: A Handbook for Chaplains|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6gDQfnMUI6gC|year=2001|publisher=The Minerva Group, Inc.|isbn=978-0-89875-607-4|pages=1–42}}</ref><ref name="Sontag102" /><ref>{{cite book|author=Weatherhead, L.D.|title=The Christian Agnostic|pages=59–63|publisher=Hodder and Stoughton|location=England|year=1965|url=http://DLMcN.com/weatherhead.html|access-date=2021-02-08|archive-date=2016-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406073356/http://www.dlmcn.com/weatherhead.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>''Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movement'' by Ruth A. Tucker 1989 {{ISBN|0-310-25937-1}} pp. 250–251</ref>

==== Indemnity ====
{{See also|Justification (theology)}}
Indemnity, in the context of Unification theology, is a part of the process by which human beings and the world are restored to God's ideal.<ref>Daske, D. and Ashcraft, W. 2005, ''New Religious Movements'', New York: New York University Press, {{ISBN|0-8147-0702-5}} "To restart the process toward perfection, God has sent messiahs to earth who could restore the true state of humanity's relationship with God. Before that can happen, however, humans must perform good deeds that cancel the bad effects of sin. Unificationists call this "indemnity". Showing love and devotion to one's fellow humans, especially within families, helps pay this indemnity." p. 142.</ref><ref>Yamamoto, J. 1995, ''Unification Church'', Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Press, {{ISBN|0-310-70381-6}} "The doctrine of indemnity. Indemnity is that which people do to restore themselves to God's kingdom. [[Young Oon Kim]] describes it this way: 'We atone for our sins through specific acts of penance.' Kwang-Yol Yoo, a Unification teacher, even goes so far as to say that by following the ''Divine Principle'', "man's perfection must be accomplished by his own effort without God's help." God does most of the work, but people must still do their part in order to achieve God's plan of salvation: 'Five percent is only to say that man's responsibility is extremely small compared to God's.' "p35 "The doctrine of indemnity is not biblical. 'In simple language.' states Ruth Tucker, 'indemnity is salvation by works.' Bob Larson makes a distinction between Moon's doctrine and biblical theology, saying, 'Moon's doctrine of sinless perfection by "indemnity [forgiveness of sin by works on Moon's behalf], which can apply even to deceased ancestors, is a denial of the salvation by grace offering through Jesus Christ.' 'Farewell,' said John Calvin. 'to the dream of those who think up a righteousness flowing together out of faith and works.'" p40</ref><ref>[http://www.unification.net/misc/powerdp.html The Power of the Principle: When It Came; Where It Went] Richard Quebedeaux, "Rev. Moon calls such a mode of living, such a lifestyle, "restoration through indemnity." With indemnity viewed as a persistent pattern of behavior, not as a mere doctrine to be affirmed or a rational list of rules, God's ideal for human relationships is "restored" through restitution. Restitution-in the sense of a "natural law"-assuages resentment, because it is the means by which the powerful and enfranchised give the people who feel downtrodden and powerless what they believe is rightly theirs. Indemnity means that 'I'm here for you.'"</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090829115416/http://geocities.com/unificationism/edp-restoration.html ''Exposition of the Divine Principle'' 1996 Translation]</ref> The concept of indemnity is explained at the start of the second half of the ''Divine Principle'', "Introduction to Restoration":

{{blockquote|What, then, is the meaning of restoration through indemnity? When someone has lost his original position or state, he must make some condition to be restored to it. The making of such conditions of restitution is called '''indemnity'''.<ref>Deliberately misinterpreted. It is completely different from the original meaning and the definition of Sun-myung Moon. (→'Tang-gam (탕감 蕩減)')</ref> .... God's work to restore people to their true, unfallen state by having them fulfill indemnity conditions is called the providence of restoration through indemnity.<ref name="ReferenceA">''Exposition of the Divine Principle''</ref><br />
(Korean original)<br />그 러면 '탕감복귀'란 무엇을 말하는 것인가? 무엇이든지 그 본연의 위치와 상태 등을 잃어버리게 되었을 때, 그것들을 본래의 위치와 상태에로 복귀하려면 반드시 거기에 필요한 어떠한 조건을 세워야 한다. 이러한 조건을 세우는 것을 ''''탕감'''('''tang-gam''')'이라고 하는 것이다....그리고 이처럼 탕감조건을 세워서 창조본연의 인간으로 복귀해 나아가는 섭리를  탕감복귀섭리라고 말한다<ref>''[http://www.tongil.org/ucbooks/Divine_Principle-Korean/D_P_Korean-Pt2.html#DPA Exposition of the Divine Principle Korea]''</ref><br />(Significant Differences with the Christian Church in Interpretation of 'tang-gam(탕감)')<br />The Unification Church gives no explanation, 'tang-gam(탕감)', which means 'forgiveness', was translated into its opposite meaning,"indemnity".<ref name="tg-2">[https://korean.dict.naver.com/koendict/#/search?range=meaning&query=%ED%83%95%EA%B0%90%ED%95%98%EB%8B%A4 Naver Korean-English Dictionary]</ref><ref name="tg-1">[https://en.dict.naver.com/#/search?query=%ED%83%95%EA%B0%90 Search result for '탕감' Naver English-Korean Dictionary]</ref><ref>Bible verses with tang-gam: [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]] 15:1, 2, 3, 9, 31; [[Nehemiah]] 10:31, [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 8:27, 32; [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 7:42, 43.</ref><ref>[https://maria.catholic.or.kr/bible/search/bible_search.asp?n=&p=&bb_no=&code=&JangNo=&JeolNo=&submit_root=&ctxtPlace=search&page=&ctindex=&prindex=0&Keyword=%ED%83%95%EA%B0%90  goognews-가톨릭정보-성경검색]</ref><ref>[http://www.holybible.or.kr/cgi/biblesrch.php?VR=99&QR=%C5%C1%B0%A8&OD= 다국어 성경 Holy-Bible "탕감"]</ref> The Divine Principle does not use the word "forgiveness," a central theme of Christianity.Even just one spot.It is preached as if humans can be saved only by indemnity.}}

The ''Divine Principle'' goes on to explain three types of indemnity conditions. Equal conditions of indemnity pay back the full value of what was lost. The [[Bible|biblical]] verse "life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Exod.21:23–24) is quoted as an example of an equal indemnity condition. Lesser conditions of indemnity provide a benefit greater than the price that is paid. [[Faith]], [[baptism]], and the [[eucharist]] are mentioned as examples of lesser indemnity conditions. Greater conditions of indemnity come about when a person fails in a lesser condition. In that case a greater price must be paid to make up for the earlier failure. [[Abraham]]'s attempted sacrifice of his son [[Isaac]] (Gen. 22:1–18) and the [[Israelites]]' 40 years of wandering in the wilderness under [[Moses]] (Num.14:34) are mentioned as examples of greater indemnity conditions.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> The ''Divine Principle'' then explains that an indemnity condition must reverse the course by which the mistake or loss came about. Indemnity, at its core, is required of humans because God is pure, and purity cannot relate directly with impurity. Indemnification is the vehicle that allows a "just and righteous" God to work through mankind. [[Jesus]]' statement that God had forsaken him (Matt.27:46) and [[Christianity]]'s history of [[martyr]]dom are mentioned as examples of this.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> The ''Divine Principle'' then states that human beings, not God or the [[angel]]s, are the ones responsible for making indemnity conditions.<ref>Yamamoto, J. I., 1995, Unification Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House {{ISBN|0-310-70381-6}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref name="Daske and Ashcraft">Daske and Ashcraft{{Nonspecific|date=September 2022}}</ref>

In 2005 scholars Daske and Ashcraft explained the concept of indemnity:
{{blockquote|To restart the process toward perfection, God has sent messiahs to Earth who could restore the true state of humanity's relationship with God. Before that can happen, however, humans must perform good deeds that cancel the bad effects of sin. Unificationists call this 'indemnity'. Showing love and devotion to one's fellow humans, especially within families, helps pay this indemnity.<ref>Daske, D. and Ashcraft, W. 2005, New Religious Movements, New York: New York University Press, {{ISBN|0814707025}} p142.</ref>}}

Other [[Protestant Christian]] commentators have criticized the concept of indemnity as being contrary to the doctrine of ''[[sola fide]]''. Christian historian Ruth Tucker said: "In simple language indemnity is salvation by works."<ref name="Yamamoto">Yamamoto, J. I., 1995, ''Unification Church'', Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House {{ISBN|0-310-70381-6}} ([http://www.zondervan.com/media/samples/pdf/0310703816_samptxt.pdf Excerpt:] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210024144/http://www.zondervan.com/media/samples/pdf/0310703816_samptxt.pdf |date=2012-02-10 }})<br />"1. The Unification Theological Seminary
:a. The Unification Church has a seminary in Barrytown, New York called The Unification Theological Seminary.
:b. It is used as a theological training center, where members are prepared to be leaders and theologians in the UC.
:c. Moon's seminary, however, has not only attracted a respectable faculty (many of whom are not members of the UC), but it also has graduated many students (who are members of the UC) who have been accepted into doctoral programs at institutions such as Harvard and Yale."</ref><ref name="Daske and Ashcraft" /> Rev. Keiko Kawasaki wrote: "The indemnity condition (of the Unification Church) is an oriental way of thinking, meaning a condition for atonement for sins (unlike Christianity)."<ref>Rev.Keiko Kawasaki, "Concerned about the Principle Movement"</ref><ref>[https://www.koreaworldtimes.com/topics/news/11823/ "Unification Church" doctrine and money collection that forces Japanese to "indemnity" for "colonial rule"Korean World Times 2022/7/31]</ref><ref>''"The Neverending Story - indemnity! indemnity! indemnity !('Anti-Japan Tribalism 반일종족주의, 反日種族主義'edited by Lee Younghoon, p.188)"''</ref> Donald Tingle and Richard Fordyce, ministers with the [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)]] who debated two Unification Church theologians in 1977, wrote: "In short, indemnity is anything you want to make it, since you establish the conditions. The zeal and enthusiasm of the Unification Church members is not so much based on love for God as it is compulsion to indemnify one's own sins."<ref>Tingle, D. and Fordyce, R. 1979, The Phases and Faces of the Moon: A Critical Examination of the Unification Church and Its Principles, Hicksville, New York: Exposition Press p53-55</ref>