Strange Notions Virus by Robert Gordon (BatBob007).

What's up with HSA? Seems like its been infected with something! Discover the virus menacing the Unification community and threatening world restoration. Find out what you can do to put an end to the epidemic.

Greetings.

I would like to introduce myself.

My Name is Robert W. Gordon

Joined HSA 1989 (full-time missionary volunteer in Atlanta) Blessed, 30,000 couples 1992 Religious background: Seventh-Day Adventist (3rd Generation)

I am interested in dialoging and communicating with radical and responsible (sounds like a contradiction, but it's not) Blessed couples and members for the purpose of accomplishing Total Restoration of the planet Earth and ultimately the cosmos. To find out if we (you and I) are on the same wavelength, please read this essay called STRANGE NOTIONS, and tell me what you think.

What is the source of the problems in the Unification Movement and what can you do about it?

THE STRANGE NOTIONS VIRUS THEORY (liquidate the virus!)

By Robert W. Gordon
Institute for Human Excellence Publishing
1st Edition, November 1995 2nd Edition, March 1996 3rd Edition, April 1997

A Menacing Virus
Strange Notions
Christians aren't perfect
Cain and Abel
A good person = a good church member
The term "Outside People"
Perfection
The Eternal HSA
The Myth of Many Missions
Empowering Notions
What must be done?
Conclusion
(Appendix A) Why Rev. Moon won't and can't solve the problem
(Appendix B) Why some people want to preserve the Unification Church
(Appendix C) Why are these members like that?
(Appendix D) A Blessed Members Manifesto

There is a menacing virus infecting the community. It's mission is to paralyze and castrate members of the Unification community so as to stop the process of world restoration. Do you have it? Have you been infected? If so, how can you get rid of it? What is it called? It's called the "strange notions virus". Watch out!

What do I mean by strange notions? A notion is a thought or concept that is consciously or unconsciously held in the mind. Notions can be our perspective on life, our view of people, practices and society. When I speak of "strange notions", I am talking about certain concepts and ideas that just don't seem to correspond to the concepts of the Unification Principle. However, these concepts are accepted as though they did come from the Principle. This is quite disturbing to me! Why? Because I joined the Unification Church because of the Principle. The Principle made sense. It inspired me. It motivated me. It caused me to commit my life to its ideals. So when I hear something or read something that I believe convolutes the Principle I feel upset. Just as words of truth have the power to motivate and inspire people, so too can inaccurate words or concepts can have the power to de-motivate and depress people. These concepts can cause damage and unfruitful practices. I am speaking from personal experience. What are these concepts you might ask?

They are: certain applications of the Cain and Abel principle, the concept of a good person being the same thing as a good Unification Church member, the concept of "outside people," certain notions of perfection, the concept of the "eternal" Unification Church and the "myth of many missions."

Let me begin with a common example of a strange notion. Have you ever been driving your car and noticed a bumper sticker that said, "Christians aren't perfect...just forgiven"? What was your response to that bumper sticker? I'll tell you my response. I think that bumper sticker is a dangerous instrument of propaganda. What do I mean? That bumper sticker says to me, "O.K. Robert, you're a Christian, but...it's O.K. to sin once in a while...God forgives you. Don't even try to be perfect like Jesus, for after all 'nobody's perfect!,' right? So go ahead and have a nice day". That is what that bumper sticker says to me. So then, how do I reconcile that bumper sticker with Matthew 5:48 where Jesus says; "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect"? Or how about where Jesus says..."He that believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do...(John 14:12)"? Or how about where Jesus says..."If your right eye offend the, pluck it out...If your right hand offend you cut it off..." (Matt. 5:29)? It seems like Jesus was pretty serious about salvation and restoration. I don't see how that bumper sticker corresponds to the words of the Bible? I don't see how that bumper sticker contributes to and supports Christ's mission. Do you? In fact I would say that the bumper sticker does not correspond to the Bible at all and it degenerates the mission and work of Jesus. It is the sophistry of someone's imagination. It is a cop out, an excuse, a rationalization for not being all that a Christian should be. It is dangerous!

Now, if you want to believe in that bumper sticker, go right ahead. That's fine, if you want to be such a wimpy and mediocre Christian. I'm just saying that the concept promoted on that bumper sticker does not correspond to what I read in the Bible and it does not make sense. This is an example of a "strange notion".

Well, what about the Unification Church? Do we have any "strange notions"? I would suggest that we do. I would like to share my viewpoint with you for your consideration.

The Principle teaches us that if we want to grow closer to God we then need to find an Abel-type person. For example, the Divine Principle says:

"Man's tendency to look for good leaders and good friends, seen from the result, is derived from the desire of the divine mind to stand before God, by finding one who is in the position of Abel closer to God and by becoming one with him [or her]. Christian faith teaches us to be gentle and humble so we may secure a position before God by finding in our daily life an Abel-type person, through these virtues."
(Divine Principle, brown or black book p.245)

"...the offerings of Cain and Abel showed us that any fallen man can accomplish God's will when he can find an Abel -type person and obey him [or her] in complete surrender."
(Divine Principle, p.250,)

Thus if we want to be close to God it would seem imperative that we find an Abel-type person. And when we find that person we should obey them in complete surrender. I have no problem with that. I believe that one must obey and unite with the Abel-type person absolutely if they want to become closer to God. But, the question is, "What exactly is an Abel-type person?" The most common answer to this is "Your central figure is your Abel." Unfortunately I would disagree with this and I would call that a strange notion. I would argue that a central figure is not the same thing as being an Abel. I do not accept the term "external Abel" to refer to a central figure either. A central figure is a central figure. An Abel is an Abel. A central figure should be an Abel but this is not necessarily so. Let me explain.

Take for example the relationship between Jacob and his uncle Laban (Genesis 31:6,7,41,42). Laban was Jacob's central figure (boss) for sure. However, could we say that Laban was closer to God in his essential character and thus an Abel? No, at least not from what you are told in the story. This does not mean that there was no value in Jacob's relationship to Laban, however Jacob should not have become like Laban in character. In fact he needed to become the opposite. Also let's use the example of the leaders of the Axis powers (Hitler, Mussolini, Hirohito) of World War II. They were clearly the central figures for their respective armies. But could we say that they were Abels also? No, of course not. So there must be some distinction between the two terms (Central figure and Abel). And two different meanings to those terms. What is the distinction?

I used to wonder about there being a distinction between the term Abel and the term Central figure. I felt that there was a distinction, but I was always taught that the two were the same. Then one day I read these quotes:

...leaders--aren't you teaching a principle that I do not teach, when you say, "I am Abel because I am a church leader. You are Cain. Cain obeys Abel. This is the Principle. So Obey." There is no such principle.
(God's Will and the World, p. 465)

I do not know where this kind of strange thought that Abel is the central figure and in the position to command came from. I don't know how that idea crept into our movement here in America. Many young members have left the church because of their leaders.
(Today's World, December 1983, p. 9)

These statements caused me to promote a clarification between the two terms (central figure and Abel).

So if a person is your central figure, but lacks the quality of an Abel it would be inaccurate to call them "Abel". To call such a person an "Abel" just confuses things. A central figure is the subject, leader or governor for a specific group. Presidents are central figures, Mafia leaders are central figures, the supervisor at your job is a central figure etc. An Abel (in my opinion) is a person who possesses certain qualities of character that are more in line with what we believe God's character to be. Such an individual is balanced between a concern for God's will and a concern for people. A central figure and an Abel should be one and the same, but they are not necessarily such. So what is my point? Am I saying to abolish central figures? No. But I am saying that if we are going to have central figures that they must become Abels. In order for this to be accomplished there must be an absolute clarification of what exactly an Abel is and how exactly a person can become an Abel!

What can be the results if such a clarification is not made? If such a clarification is not made then we will be raising "Cains" instead of raising "Abels". For example, one experience my friend shared with me was this: He told me that he was suffering under his central figure. When he had some difficulty with his central figure's leadership, instead of discussing the situation and working it out, his central figure would say "I am Abel, you must follow me". That's it. My friend felt much distress in such a situation. He did not like it at all. However, one day my friend became a central figure himself. But he realized that he treated his members the same way that he was treated under his other central figure. This was even more agonizing to him, for although he knew the way he treated his members was inappropriate, he did not know any other way to lead, for this was exactly how he was treated as a follower and he inherited this method of leadership. This is an example of what can happen if the concept of Cain and Abel is not clarified. (We should actually call it the "Jacob and Esau principle", for after all they were more successful than Cain and Abel.) Therefore I would like to see further clarification, elaboration and promotion of an accurate Cain and Abel (Jacob and Esau) principle.

Another strange notion is that a good person is the same thing as being a good Unification church member. What do I mean? First, let me describe what I think a good church member is. A good church member believes in the Principle (whatever the heaven that means), went the Formula Course (3 years fundraising and witnessing), goes to pledge on Sunday, attends Sunday services, tithes, participates in all campaigns, attends the Blessing Ceremony, goes to all the Holy day celebrations, goes to Il Jung Prayer, speaks or reads Korean, likes Kim Chee and is obedient to their central figure. This is my concept of a good church member. Actually this is what I sought to achieve in my own life. This was my concept. It was what I wanted to become. I thought that if I did all these things that I was different. And it was this criteria that separated me from the dreaded "outside people", or so I thought.

Over the past year I began to have some experiences that changed my perspective. For example, I would meet people who were unaware of the Principle, yet there would be something in their character that I would profoundly admire. At the same time there were some Unification Church members that could be considered good church members by the above definition, but who treated me or other people with indifference, insensitivity or a general lack of respect or concern. Such experiences caused me to ask the question..."What then is a good person?" I began to search for the answer. I came up with a criteria for evaluation. Elements that composed this criteria were: the person's level of sincerity and honesty, their attitude, their concern for others, conscientiousness, what kind of things a person thought about and most importantly how that person treated other people. (I can elaborate on this criteria at a later time). In my mind, this was the essential criteria for a "good person". You might ask "Well what about all the things I do in the Unification movement? Doing projects and missions, following the messiah and all that good stuff, doesn't that make a difference?". I am sure that it can make a difference. In fact such things have definitely made a difference in my own life, but when restoration is over...such things will pass away and become unnecessary. Then what will be left? Can you say that I went to pledge every Sunday and therefore I should be a good person? Or could you say that you offered so much tithe, or I helped in so many campaigns? I don't think so. What will be left after restoration is finished is the substantial quality of your character. If you have not developed a true character then I feel all of the other activities that you and I do will be in vain and of little substantial value.

In addition to the above experiences I had, I read a book called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Dr. Stephen H. Covey. There was one thing that Dr. Covey said that made a significant impact on me. He said:

I believe that almost anyone who is seriously involved in any church will recognize that church going is not synonymous with personal spirituality. There are some people who get so busy in church worship and projects that they become insensitive to the pressing human needs that surround them, contradicting the very precepts they profess to believe deeply. There are others who attend church less frequently or not at all but whose attitudes and behaviors reflect a more genuine centering in the principles of the basic Judeo-Christian ethic.

Having participated throughout my life in organized church and community service groups, I have found that attending church does not necessarily mean living the principles taught in those meetings. You can be active in a church but inactive in its gospel.

In the church-centered life, image or appearance can become a person's dominant consideration, leading to hypocrisy that undermines personal security and intrinsic worth. Guidance comes from a social conscience, and the church-centered person tends to label others artificially in terms of "active," "inactive," "liberal," "orthodox," or "conservative."

Because the church is a formal organization made up of policies, programs, practices, and people, it cannot by itself give a person any deep, permanent security or sense of intrinsic worth. Living the principles taught by the church can do this, but the organization alone cannot.
(7 Habits of Highly Effective People, p.117 )

Not only did this quote make an impression on me, but the entire book was quite inspiring. Dr. Covey is a Mormon. Mormons have some very unique beliefs and practices, however I could not tell from reading Dr. Covey's book that he was a Mormon or even that he was a Christian. I think that is good. It showed that he was able to transcend his particular group and identify core principles of life. I think this is why his book has such a diverse audience and large acceptance. Dr. Covey also makes the distinction between being church-centered and being principle-centered. The two are not necessarily the same thing.

So, what am I trying to say with all this? For various reasons I feel that a number of members are church-centered and personality (leader)- centered and are not principle-centered and I am saying that I would like to see our movement's core identity as being principle-centered as opposed to being church-centered or personality-centered. Thus a good person should be defined by the quality of their character and not by their adherence to an artificial church image, participation in campaigns, rituals, or opportunistic (sycophant) attendance to a leader.

The term "outside people" is a common term in Unificationist dialogue. It is a descriptive term that I don't believe is meant to be derogatory. The term refers to people who are unaware of the Unification Principle. However, I feel that this term can take on a derogatory connotation and can affect the way such people are treated. For example, the term "outside people", can indirectly promote church-centeredness. You have "us and them". It can connote a people to be despised, avoided, scorned or not to be treated as real people or important. Sometimes it sounds like we are referring to a colony of lepers..."watch out for the outside people." I do have some actual experiences which cause me to think as I do. Sometimes when we would do a campaign or were fundraising, there seemed to be a tacit understanding that we could treat non-members of the Unification church differently than members. We could treat them with indifference because they were "outside people", we could be dishonest with them for they were "outside people". I never liked this attitude. It is a similar psychological phenomena to how Black people were treated in America especially during the 1800's-1970's. Blacks could be beaten, raped, or murdered and there would be psychological support for such atrocities. Anyone could say, "It's OK, for after all they're just 'niggers'." Such terms were created to refer to Black people so as to devalue them and assuage the pangs of guilt and conscience for abusing and exploiting them (for detailed information on the use of media to devalue black people, please see the film Ethnic Notions).

I am not saying the use of the term "outside people" is of the same intensity as using a racial slur, nor am I saying that the use of the term is intentionally derogatory. I am just saying that the term can subtly create artificial divisions. Just like the concept of race and the concept of nations are artificial divisions. Of course the Principle does say that Fallen Man has no worth and has become devoid of value (Outline p 92, 97), but I don't think it means that such people are to be treated as if they had no worth. Would you like to be treated as such?

I am also not saying that this is the general attitude of Unification church members. No. Unification Church members are some of the best people I know. There is no doubt about that! I am just saying that the term "outside people" can subconsciously influence less than principled treatment towards others and I think we should use some other term.

How do I recommend referring to such people? Some examples are "people unaware of the Principle", or "people of the Peripheral kingdom" (which I think is a term Heung Jin Nim suggested).

Somehow it seems that someone inherited the Christian notion that "nobody's perfect". But actually this is one of our goals, the full spiritual maturity of the individual. Perfection is (or should be) a realistic goal for every member of the Unification Church. The common notion is that nobody is perfect (except True Parents) and we will not see any other perfect people until our third generation of children. Now someone may have to clarify this for me, but I don't particularly believe this notion.

First of all is this what Rev. Moon wants? Time after time I read statements that indicate that we are to be like Rev. Moon (which should include his perfection). If you look from the viewpoint of joy, would not Rev. and Mrs. Moon want someone just like them, who is concerned with the same things that they are concerned with and applies themselves with the same level of intensity? Or would they like someone to just follow them and never aspires to become greater than them? Which do you think they want? Rev. Moon has said:

I pray that among you someone can come forward to say, "Father, I can inherit your mission. I feel precisely as you do; I am another Reverend Moon. Leave it to me." My prayer is to see even one person like that come from among you. The greatest blessing, the greatest gift that God could give me, would be to see such a man. That person will say, "Father, I shall not only equal your own record, I shall exceed your record so there can be glory and Sabbath for you and for God.
(God's Will and the World, p. 388-389)

I want each of you to do even better than me. Go ahead of me. Don't just duplicate me; become superior to me. My succeeding generations will become superior to me. Many people think, "Only Father can do this job, We can't do it." That's the wrong attitude! You could do even better than me, because you have so much support from God. The same God supporting me is supporting you. And you have additional support--my support, True Parents' support and the Unification Church's support. You are in an infinitely better position.
(God's Will and the World p.544)

My career choice is in education and I know that I want to empower my students to achieve great things...even greater than I can achieve. I was told that in Japan the highest compliment a student can give to his or her teacher is to become better than the teacher. This makes a lot of sense to me. What good is a teacher if his students can't at least reach his level? Do you want to learn from a teacher whose students don't excel? What would that say about the teacher? In a similar fashion, the greatest testimony you and I can give to people about Rev. and Mrs. Moon is how much we have become great people as a result of True Parent's influence. Thus let us realistically seek to achieve perfection (full spiritual maturity). But the question is: "What exactly is an ideal person and how exactly do I become one?"

There seems to be a concept that the Unification Church will continue forever. Although this concept is changing with the emergence of the Family Federation, I would like to say that we should hasten and look forward to the end of the Unification Church. Why is that? Well, when the Unification Church is no longer necessary it should mean that we have fulfilled our responsibility. For example Rev. Moon has said:

What is the final stage of restoration? Not the coming of the Messiah, but home church. When you accomplish home church, there will be no need for churches any more, for every home will be a church. Then Dr. Durst's position*, and even HSA, will no longer be necessary. You won't have to go to church or pray, but only live by the law of the heavenly country; then you will automatically go to heaven. When we finish home church, God will have his own nation, and people there will only have to observe its laws, not go to church. When we love everyone as an extensions of our own families, that in it self will be heaven. If this does not become a reality then Divine Principle is just another ideology that doesn't work.
(Home Church, p.371.
(Dr. Durst was President of The Unification Church at that time)

I believe our thinking should be, "How can we consummate the Unification Church? I look forward to the end of the Unification Church." [See footnote 1] Thus I would like to see a clarification of exactly what the mission of HSA is, present a clear strategy of how to achieve this and then seek to hasten the consummation of the Unification Church. It's like looking forward to the end of Holy Salt. It might sound strange, but in looking forward to the end of the use of Holy Salt, you are looking forward to the establishment of a heavenly nation where we don't need holy salt any more (The Tradition, p.48 under "duration of this tradition"). I feel this is a more valuable consciousness than to be overly concerned with the use of holy salt in everyday life. So let's look forward to the end of the Unification Church and not seek to preserve it.

Footnote 1
This essay was written in November of 1995 (ninety-five). On April 10, 1997 True Father (Rev. Moon) official dissolved the Unification Church and HSA-UWC and had their roles and functions taken over by the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. Thus the Unification church has already ended. (However the Strange Notions mentality still exists and must be fought against).

There is the concept that there are many missions within the Unification Movement. There is the church mission, the CARP mission, the business mission, the fundraising mission, the mission in the CIS, the Women's Federation mission, the Family Federation mission, the Youth Federation mission, the South America mission, etc. There are so many missions! Which one is the most important? To which one should I belong? Which has the most value? Which one should I support? Which is the most essential? I believe the notion that there are many missions is a myth and an illusion. Actually I believe that THERE IS ONLY ONE ESSENTIAL MISSION. What is it?

It is to become an object to God through fulfilling the Three Great Blessings. Period. I believe that the first Blessing is the most essential and most important Blessing to achieve, for it forms the foundation for the other two Blessings.

What can happen if you believe in the myth that there are many missions? If you believe that there are many missions, then you can feel that you are OK as long as you are fulfilling the requirements of your particular mission. Then everything is all right. Hunky dory. Of course in reality there are many external missions and responsibilities. However I feel that if the essential mission is not identified and clarified (fulfillment of the 1st Blessing), it is possible to ignore and thus fail that mission. Though a person may be highly successful in their external mission, what will happen when restoration is over? I'll tell you what will happen, the external missions will fade away, then what will be left? What will you have to evaluate your achievement with? How many members your brought? How much money you made? How well you lectured? How many rooms you filled with people? No, I don't believe any of that will be of true value. I think what will be of true value is what quality of person you became as a result of doing all those activities.

I speak like this due to my own experience. At one point my mission was assistant lecturer in my center. As a result I was to practice lecturing every day. But suddenly I asked myself a question..."even if I become a good lecturer...does that mean that I am a good person? Is there something I am to be that is more fundamental than all of my church activities?" For example, while I was in school I was trained to be able to teach any body's philosophy. If I had to teach Marxism, I was supposed to teach Marxism well enough for Carl Marx to nod his head in agreement and satisfaction to my lectures. But even if I had the ability to lecture Marxism, did that necessarily mean that I was a good Marxist? No. In a similar way, even though my mission was lecturing Principle, did that mean that I was necessarily a principled person? No, it did not. Thus I had to search for what the essence of my existence was. I stopped attending morning services, I stopped attending Holy day celebrations, I stopped lecturing and doing all church-centered and church related activities. I wanted to clear away all of the external things I did so I could find my essence. I wanted some way to know that I was doing the right thing at the right time. There must be some constant irrespective of time or place, that I could focus on and know that I was always thinking and doing the right thing. What was my conclusion? My conclusion was that it did not matter what I did per se, but with what attitude and character I did it with. Meaning, if the whole point of creation is to produce a human being that resembles God's character, then whatever contributes to that goal is good. This also can mean that even if I am successful in my particular external mission, but I don't develop my character, don't refine my heart or do not become the person of God's ideal, then my effort will be in vain and of little true value. I think this is similar to I Corinthians 1:13 which says:

I may be able to speak the languages of men and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or clanging bell. I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains--but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned--but if I have no love, that does me no good. Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth...Love is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are the gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass.
(Good News Version)

Therefore I feel that the consciousness of the Unification movement should be that there is only one real mission and that is to become the object of God through fulfilling the 1st Blessing. And I think that we should focus on creating "people of the first Blessing". Once you create an ideal person, everything else is taken care of. What do I mean? I mean such a person automatically initiates the actions and programs necessary for the restoration of the people and institutions of the earth. Such an individual does not need to be told what to do or to be given a mission, for the burning desire to act would be raging in his or her heart.

So my belief is that if we focus on creating ideal people (fulfilling the 1st Blessing), the rest will take care of itself. But again the question is: "What is an ideal person exactly and how exactly do I become one?

What are empowering notions? Empowering notions are not necessarily notions to counteract the strange notions I just mentioned, but more so a clarification of certain concepts, issues and processes. I know that when an idea or procedure is clear, then it is much easier for me to adapt that concept into my life and to actualize it. For example, one term that is quite central to our movement is the concept of unselfish love. I tried to embody unselfish love, but I was not exactly sure what it was or how could I know when I was really loving unselfishly. Then one day, as I was reading the CAUSA lecture manual, there was a section that talked about unselfish love (p. 256). However, the description of unselfish love was much clearer and precise than other explanations I had heard. It described unselfish love in terms of four components (honesty, purity, compassion and service), which it went on to describe at further length. Describing unselfish love in such a way provided me with a clear mental framework. When I was provided with this mental construct I was enabled or empowered to practice unselfish love, for I had a clearer idea and vision of what exactly it was. In a similar fashion, I believe there needs to be a clarification of certain concepts and issues unique to the Unification movement. What issues and concepts do I feel need to be clarified? They are as follows:

1. What exactly is an Abel? How exactly can I become one?

2. What is an Ideal Person? How exactly do I become one?

3. What exactly does it mean to be a True Parent? How exactly do I become one?

4. What exactly is the providential relationship between North America and South America? How exactly can we accomplish this relationship? What can I do to contribute to this relationship?

5. Rev. Moon said that we are beginning the 2nd 40 year course. He also said that the course could be completed in 4 years or even 4 months. If this is so, what exactly are we supposed to accomplish during the next "40" years? How exactly are we going to accomplish this? How can we shorten a 40 year course into a 4 year or 4 month course?

6. We are told of the need to build a heavenly nation. Then how exactly will we accomplish this? When will we do it, where will it be?

7. The concept of heart is central to the Unification Principle. What exactly is heart? How precisely do I develop it?

8. How exactly do I become an object to God?

9. What is the precise mission of America in relationship to the world? How am I, as a member of the American Unification movement to contribute to this goal?

10. What is the precise providential role of the CIS? How am I to contribute to this?

11. What is the ideal world exactly? How exactly will we build it?

12. What plan of action can I take to substantially deal with ancestral and collective sin?

I think these and other topics should be the subjects of Sunday sermons and news articles. Perhaps in your region you already get this type of clear information. Or perhaps the information was already published somewhere and I happened to miss it. However if this is not the case, it is the responsibility of the leadership of the Unification movement to clarify these issues. If the leadership of the Unification movement is unable or unwilling to accomplish this task, I [See footnote 2] will take responsibility. Without such a clarification and empowering process failure is imminent and inevitable!

Footnote 2:
I means: Robert Wayne Gordon (Author of Strange Notions and founder of the Institute for Human Excellence).

So, what must be done? These are my suggestions:

1. Make an intense effort to clarify concepts, policies and procedures related to the Unification Principle and the Unification Movement and providential missions (a processes now being accomplished by The Westchester Institute, which is a branch of the Institute for Human Excellence.).

2. The Unification Church should be dissolved. This means that it should cease to exist. If anything, it should be replaced with "an institute for the first Blessing." This is an organization that seeks to effectively produce an ideal individual. At the very least it should again become the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA-UWC) which is NOT the same thing as the Unification church.

3. The Family Federation should be seen as "the institute for the second Blessing." This means that it should effectively organize to produce he family of God's ideal.

4. Blessed couples must take full and personal responsibility to establish the ideals of the Unification Principle in their own family. They should not depend on the church to take care of them or to accomplish the providential mission. They should not seek the association or assistance of the Unification church in order to fulfill the demands of the Providence. They should form independent Blessed Family associations for the purpose of fulfilling the ideals of the Unification Principle. Of course they should associate with sincere members of the Unification Church (but definitely avoid those infected with the strange notions virus)

5. Finally, there are a number of speeches and text books that should be used by the Blessed couples to enable them to fulfill their responsibility to build the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. They are:
The Practice of Unselfish Love (from CAUSA manual p.256-257)
Prayer by Heung Jin Nim Moon (from Today's World, November 1987, p.10)
Tan Gam, The real meaning of Indemnity by Rev. Chung Hwan Kwak (from Today's World June 1984, p. 13)
Indemnity by Heung Jin Nim Moon (from The Victory of Love p.107 also found in Today's World September 1987 p. 16)
Repentance by Heung Jin Nim Moon (from The Victory of Love p.77)
Father's Talk to Seminary Candidates by Rev. Sun Myung Moon (East Garden New York, July 12, 1984. Edited version in Unification News November 1992, p.17)
The Relationship Between Men and Women by Rev. Sun Myung Moon (Belvedere Estate, Tarrytown, NY, May 20, 1973. From Blessed Family (Blessing Quarterly) July 1, 1985, Volume 5, p. 6-29)
The Three Stages of Judgment by Rev. Sun Myung Moon (From 12 talks by Rev. Sun Myung. Moon Vol. I p. 31)
The Age of our Responsibility by Rev. Chung Hwan Kwak (From Today's World August 1981, p. 19)
The Formula course and Blessed Couples Tradition by Rev. Chung Hwan Kwak (From Today's World August 1982, p. 8)
Cain and Abel by Rev. Sun Myung Moon (From Today's World December 1983, p.7)
Strange Notions from the Institute for Human Excellence (April, 1997 3rd ed.)
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey. This text book is a MUST. It should go right next to your Divine Principle textbook!
Home Church, excerpts from the speeches of Rev. Moon (1st ed. 1983)

The only way that the Will of God (as expressed in the Divine Principle textbook) will ever be achieved is when Blessed couples free themselves from the mental slavery of the Strange Notions Virus and quarantine those individuals within the Unification church who are spreading this sinister virus. Blessed couples must liberate themselves by simply recognizing and ceasing to believe in such pernicious notions. They must accomplish God's will based on their own conscience, desire, zeal, understanding and free will. Then and only then will the Kingdom come!

"You have been inoculated."

I. Theory of why Rev. Moon will not and can not solve this problem [See footnote 3]

1. He did not cause this problem and therefore he is not responsible for it.

2. He has spoken about the problem, but this information has been purposely suppressed by those looking out for their own self interest.

3. Restoration can only be accomplished when human beings fulfill their own responsibility according to their own free will [See footnote 4]. Therefore Rev. Moon can not force change. We must (according to the Principle) take responsibility as a necessary part of our perfection process.

4. Reports say that even when Rev. Moon does confront the issue, people do not respond and pretend that they either did not hear him or did not understand him.

5. Rev. Moon never wanted to make or create a church! [See footnote 5] The Unification church became a temporary necessity after established Christianity failed to unite with him. The problems of the movement are associated with the church structure. The church structure and character has been created by the members themselves (not by Rev. Moon). Rev. Moon wants Home Church! Therefore anyone wishing to solve the problems of the church simply has to revoke and deny their membership to the Unification Church and fulfill their Home church responsibility. It appears that there are very few successful Home Churches. Therefore once successful Home Churches are established it will bring absolute judgment on the other members who are neglecting their responsibility...thus the facade of the church structure will collapse...just like the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union. So Rev. Moon did not create this problem, therefore he is not responsible for fixing it!

Footnote 3:
I.e. the Strange Notions Virus and corruption within the Unification Church.

Footnote 4:
"According to the Principle of Creation, we are created to attain perfection by fulfilling our given responsibility of our own free will, without God's direct assistance." (Exposition of the Principle p. 351)

Footnote 5:
"[True] Father did not establish a church or a denomination. He started a movement. Originally God did not expect a denomination or church to emerge from Father's work." The Tradition p. 103

II. Theory of why some members want to preserve the Unification Church structure and actively teach strange notions:

1. They have no personal power and their position in the church empowers them, therefore if the church structure is dissolved they feel that they have no value any more. So to destroy the church is to destroy their sense of self-worth. But this is at the expense of the providence. The price we have to pay is stagnation and spiritual death. Do you want to pay such a price?

2. They are seeking their own glory.

3. Their authority is based on lies; therefore they must maintain the lies in order to stay in power.

4. They fear failure and thus do not want to take responsibility for making changes.

5. They (leaders) don't know what they are doing and will not admit that fact. They are being dishonest by not admitting this.

In some ways some "members" of the Unification Church are a disgraceful result compared to the image of saints and prophets of the past. Compared to the daring and intensity of these people of the past, the attitudes and concerns of some Unification Church "members" are so narrow, immature and detestable. They have no connection to the suffering of history. And have no right to inherit the responsibility of the Providence. They are neither consistent with their professed ideals nor truly serious about accomplishing them and thus I do not take such "members" seriously.

Note: "members" means there are some charlatan members who joined HSA-UWC as their personal ticket to power and control over others. This is an impure motivation.

The present Unification Church is headed on a contradictory path. Some leaders and members pretend to be seeking glory and acceptance for True Parents (from the citizens of the world). However, the church leaders (the false ones) are really seeking to create another Christian denomination for the purpose of their own personal glory, self-aggrandizement and sense of self worth through their power and control over other people. This is why the HSA-UWC was failing and was replaced (by false leaders) with the term "Unification church" (an organization that must be dissolved.), a term which hides the original purpose of the organization (ie the Unity and harmony of Christian denominations and world religions). The Unification Church has been too exclusive and narrow.

III. Why are these people like this?

1. They are not the original people Rev. Moon wanted.

2. They were mis-educated

3. They STILL have their fallen nature and never matured.

4. They mistakenly believe that by participating in MFT, observing the Cain/Abel doctrine (the false one), and attending the Blessing ceremony, that their fallen nature was removed. Therefore they feel that they are OK and are in no need of change. This is not true. Someone deceived them or they deceived themselves.

5. They WANT to be like this. They don't want to change and they use the church structure as their "ticket to power" and control over others (A misuse of their original desire for authority). It is because they have no true personal power (substance of character) that they seek an easier source of power through church position. This is psychologically satisfying to them, although they may not be consciously aware of this tendency in themselves.

IV. I want the Kingdom!

A Blessed Member's Manifesto (A program for change and progress)

I thought that the Unification Church was the most effective organization to produce the Kingdom of Heaven...that is why I joined it, yet through my experience I realize that it was in same ways actually BLOCKING people's way to the truth and development. Some people were trying to make it into another denomination, another click, a cult. However, I want the Kingdom! Now is the time for it to be built!

What to do?

Here is my proposal

1. The clarification of thought (The spiritual war waged by Westchester Inst. and others)

Future or present essay topics:

a) Strange Notions Virus Theory
b) What is Love, What is True Love?
c) What is an Ideal Person?
d) What is the Kingdom of Heaven?
e) What is an Ideal Family?
f) Total Restoration (schematic for world restoration)
g) Total Resonance (scientific plan for unity with God)
h) Transition from church to family (a.k.a. from cult to community)
i) Original Life

2. Establish Family and Home base and financial foundation

3. Formation of a trinity and mini Federation of serious, responsible and competent Blessed couples (Network of like-minded couples)

4. The establishment of an Institute for the 1st and 2nd Blessing (a.k.a. Institute for Human Excellence)

a) Vision
b) Purpose
c) Objectives
d) Method
e) Expected Results and Ultimate Goal
f) Time Period

5. Special Forces team (no wimps allowed)

a) Purpose
b) Assignments
c) World-wide lecture and education circuit
d) World-wide missions ("Precision Restoration")

6. Home-base Territory

a) Apartment building
b) Blessed Family hostel
c) Private home-community
d) preparation for building a heavenly nation

7. Systematic World Restoration Agenda

a) Clarification of Ideals
b) Institute of 1st and 2nd Blessing
c) Public Education
d) Living Conditions (Food, Energy, Infrastructure, Aesthetics)
1. Form a new political party
2. Control key positions (government, education, media)
e) Art and Propaganda to transmit the vision and ideal
f) Healing Historic Resentments
g) Shimming Culture (Art, Music, Dance, Joy, Creativity, Sports, Complete sphere of Love, One Heart in one Body, Original Life)

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