FFWPU Europe and Middle East: Julian Gray on Scholar Warns Against Revival of Stereotyping

Stereotyping Catholics as trying to take over the world: Here, the “Whore of Babylon” by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) in the September 1522 publication of Luther’s translation of the New Testament. The “Whore of Babylon” mentioned in the Book of Revelation in the New Testament is here depicted wearing the papal tiara

Revival of religious stereotypes as Japanese authorities base their oppression of large religious minority on historic prejudices used in witch hunts since medieval times

Part 2 of a series written based on a report by Julian Gray, former editor of the FFWPU publication Today’s World, currently translator for the Family Federation’s new international administrative HQ, known as Cheon Mu Won, located in Gapyeong, South Korea.

See part 1: England Dropped Its Case in 1988; Why Isn’t Japan?

Text: Knut Holdhus / Julian Gray Julian Gray Academic Scrutiny and Witness Credibility

One contributing factor to the British government’s retreat was the mounting criticism of its witnesses and methodology. Scholarly observers raised significant doubts about the reliability of the evidence submitted by former members and anti-Unification Church activists.

Sociologists and religious studies scholars who had observed the Church firsthand testified that the government’s characterization of the Unification Church was often exaggerated or distorted. They noted that the portrayal of the Church as inherently deceptive, coercive, or immoral did not align with their empirical observations or broader religious studies frameworks.

Moreover, they pointed out that former members - while often sincere in their criticism - were not necessarily objective or disinterested parties. Some had left the Church in highly emotional or contested circumstances and might not be credible witnesses in a court of law.

This skepticism regarding witness reliability undermined the government’s case in the UK and could do the same in Japan, where much of the action is based on similar types of testimony.

Several notable scholars took time to write lengthy affidavits. They addressed specific points of the government’s complaint against the Unification Church based on their vast experience with new religious movements (NRMs).

These are the objective voices of people who study new religions (and older ones), and who also monitor and analyze the public response to these faiths and their adherents. They did not gain any personal benefit through signing an affidavit but wished to support the cause of religious freedom.

One of the scholars who submitted affidavits was Bryan Ronald Wilson (1926-2004), Reader Emeritus of Sociology of the University of Oxford. He served as President of the International Society for the Sociology of Religion (SISR), 1971-1975.

In his first affidavit, he writes on the history of stereotyping, Investigative journalism on persecution of Sun Myung Moon “4.0 Religion is a frequent subject of stereotyping throughout the and the Unification Church: world. A stereotype is a constructed model or image of a social “Inquisition” by Carlton group or class (or of some other phenomenon) to which the Sherwood, published 1991 by stereotype uncritically ascribes certain stock descriptions which Regnery Publishing, 705 pages are one-sided, exaggerated, or biased.

The ascribed attributes may or may not be empirically validated, but even where they exist in fact the stereotype presents them in an exaggerated and/or distorted form to which fixity is also ascribed. The stereotype conforms to prevailing prejudices, reflecting and reinforcing them. For this reason it is resistant to change, even in the face of disconfirming factual evidence.

Stereotypes are most frequently used with respect to social groups or movements groups or movements about which there is widespread ignorance, and which differ from conventional assumptions. Typically, the stereotype presents a simple but biased image of a complex phenomenon.

Colored version of the “Whore of Babylon” illustration from Martin Luther’s 1534 translation of the Bible. The term refers to both a symbolic female figure and a place of evil as mentioned in the Book of Revelation of the New Testament. She is described more fully in Revelation 17:5 as “Mystery, Babylon the

Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth”. Leading reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox taught that the figure represented the Catholic Church. Author: From the workshop of Lucas Cranach

Stereotypes of unfamiliar or new religions have almost always been negative. Religious bodies which today have acquired respectability in the public eye were regularly presented as alien, harmful, deceitful or evil in the early days of their development. It sometimes took many decades or even centuries before negative stereotypes were abandoned.

4.1 Thus, the movements which are stereotyped change over time, although the stereotype itself may not. For example, in the 19th century, Scottish and American Presbyterians sought to prove that the papacy (‘the whore of Babylon’) was seeking to take over the world.

After the First World War, a new candidate for this ‘conspiracy’ stereotype was Jewry. Jews were accused of seeking a stranglehold on the world. The fraudulent Protocols of the Elders of Zion were produced by anti-Semites as evidence of such a conspiracy. Today, various new religious movements including the Unification Church, are subject to stereotyping.

4.2 New Religious Movements (NRMs) are those which have newly emerged as separate organizations, outside the mainline churches, or as new styles in devotional practice within those churches (of this latter type, Charismatic Renewal in many churches, Catholic and Protestant, and Opus Dei, in the Roman Church, would be examples).

NRMs today are numerous and highly diverse in form, belief, organization, ritual, and provenance. None the less, such is the ignorance involved in stereotyping that all NRMs are frequently lumped together and labeled as ‘cults’. Even when NRMS are differentiated, however, ignorance about individual movements is Stereotyping Jews as trying to still fully evident in the stereotypes that are projected. take over the world: Here the title page of the 1920 British 4.3 Prejudicial stereotypes used historically to characterize new or publication of the anonymous unpopular religions, include the accusations of loyalty to a foreign edition of the Protocols of the power: the amassing of wealth; irregularity; deception; enticing or Elders of Zion, an antisemitic kidnapping children; and sexual irregularities. Catholics were fraudulent publication long accused of being disloyal, their true alliance being to the describing an alleged Jewish Pope.” conspiracy to take over the world To be continued. Part 3 coming soon.

See part 1: England Dropped Its Case in 1988; Why Isn’t Japan?

Related to revival of old stereotypes: Japan Following the Way of China

Also related to revival of old stereotypes: Media Stereotypes and Misinformation Challenged

Also related to revival of old stereotypes: Media Criticized for Stereotyping Minorities

Also related to revival of old stereotypes: After the N-Word: Is “Cult” Next Term to Be Banned?

Also related to revival of old stereotypes: Japan’s Dissolution Case Echoes China’s Playbook

And also related to revival of old stereotypes: “Lawyers Lying and Shaming Japan” for 50 Years

More, related to revival of old stereotypes: Lawfare: State Uses Legal System in War on Faith

Also related to revival of old stereotypes: Media/Legal Expert: Communism Behind Persecution

And more, related to revival of old stereotypes: Militant Lawyers Dictate Government Policy

And more, related to revival of old stereotypes: Media Helping Terrorist Reach His Goal

Related to revival of old stereotypes: Kishida Administration Giving in to Terrorism

And more, related to revival of old stereotypes: 12 Religious Freedom NGOs Denouncing Japan

Yet more, related to revival of old stereotypes: Japanese Communists’ Final War

Still more, related to revival of old stereotypes: Political and Social Activism behind Oppression

And yet more, related to revival of old stereotypes: Opposition Inciting Regime to Excessive Steps

And still more, related to revival of old stereotypes: Journalist Reveals Ugly Leftwing Conspiracy

And even more, related to revival of old stereotypes: Gingrich: Kishida Joining Communist Campaign

Yet more, related to revival of old stereotypes: The 3 Enemies of Religious Liberty

Still more, related to revival of old stereotypes: Lawyer Exposes Dirty Leftwing Plot

And yet more, related to revival of old stereotypes: Inhuman Government-Supported Mass Deprogramming

And still more, related to revival of old stereotypes: Bias: No Right to Respond for Religious Minority

And even more, related to revival of old stereotypes: Collusion to Rob Minority of Its Rights

Yet more, related to revival of old stereotypes: State and Media Creating “Today’s Non-Citizens”

Still more, related to revival of old stereotypes: Japan Criticized for Glaring Rights Violations

And yet more, related to revival of old stereotypes: Two European Scholars Warning Japan

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Massive Rights Abuses Shatter .i State Narrative Very similar legal and evidentiary June I, 2025 weaknesses: In England, a surprisingly relevant legal precedent exists to the Justice Tw isted: Assumption s dissolution order case in Japan Rep laced Evidence Part 1 of a series written based on a May31,2025 report by Julian Cray, former editor of the FFWPU publication Today’s World,

.. currently translator for the Family Federation ‘s new international administrative HQ, known as Cheon Mu Won, located in Capyeong, South Korea. Search

See part 2: Scholar Warns Against Revival of Stereotypes Julian Cray. Photo: Text: Knut Holdhus/Julian Cray Private Categories In 2024, the Japan ese government m oved to revoke the legal corporate status of t he Family Federation

for World Peace and Unification (formerly known as the Unification Church). The case has sparked national and international debate. But a surprisingly relevant legal precedent exists - one that might influence the outcome in Japan: the 1984-1988 UK charitable status case against the Unification Church. A close review of the English Send us a message case may offer insights into the legal and evident iary weaknesses now First Name * Last Name p laying out in Japan.

Parallels and Lessons from the English Case

In 1984, then-Attorney-General [England’s chief law officer and senior Email * legal adviser t o the government] Michael Havers (1923-1992) instigated Email Address proceedings to cha llenge the cha ritable (not-for-profit) status of the Unification Church in England. The case was sign ificant and complex, involving claims about the church’s religious status and moral Your Message • standing. But after several years of investigation and preparation, the British government suddenly dropped the case in 1988. Why?

Facsim ile from Un ifica t ion News M a rch 7988, pag e 7, p ublished in New Yor k, USA.

Attorney-General Patrick Mayhew (1929-2016) addressed the House of Commons on 3 rd February 1988, explaining the government’s decision to discontinue the proceed ings. His reasoning - and the process behind it - cou ld bear directly on how Japan’s courts view the reliability of government evidence in their current case.

The Attorney-General’s Statement in Parliament

Mayhew’s remarks were revea ling. First, he affirmed that u nder Eng lish law, there is a strong presumption that a trust for the advancement of religion is charitable, regard less of how controversial t he relig ion may be:

“Whatever view may be taken of its tenets, the Unification Church must, as a matter of law, be regarded as a religion. In English law t h ere is a strong presumption that any t rust for t he advancement of any religion, w ithout d istinction, is charitable unless the contrary is proved by evidence admissib le in court p roceed ings. Teachings that are in their very essence contrary to morality would be an example. It is for any chal lenger to bring forward such evidence: the burden is on him.”

He f urther admitted that despite exhaustive efforts - including soliciting testimon ies from former members and others Went to immense lengths to find evidence, but involved in t he found none: The Trea sury Solicitor’s Department, church - the since 2015 called t he Government Legal government Department. Here, their HQ build ing in Lond on. failed to meet Pho to: Governm ent Lega l Departm ent, Queen this burden of Anne’s Cate, Westminster by Bryn Holmes/ proof: W ikim edia Com mons. License: CC ASA 2.0 Gen

“The evidence ava ilable to my predecessor in 1984 properly led him, with the advice of leading counsel, to conclude that there were sufficient prospects of an appeal succeeding. That evidence included testimony of w it nesses called fo r the successful defendants in a libel action against Associated Newspapers Group Ltd. t ried in 1981. In addition, there were statements by former members of the Unification Church t hat had been offered when it came general ly known that charity p roceed ings in the High Court were under consideration.

Since t he proceedings were begun, the Treasury Solicitor [See editor’s note below] has gone t o immense lengths in seeking out add itional evidence from those who have been associat ed with t he Unification Church. Some further pot entia l wit nesses have approached h im on their own

initiative. Further statements have been taken from oth er persons, who had been c losely involved in comparatively recent activit ies of the Unification Church in t h is country, and who had wanted to assist in the challenge to cha ritable status of t he t rusts.

The most careful analysis h as now been made of the tota lity of the evidence ava ilable to me, set aga inst t he legal p resumption to which I have referred. Some of it, when tested in the light of all the material now available, has proved to be insufficiently reliable.

The remainder, w hen seen in the overa ll context, is shown to be of insufficient weight to rebut the legal presumption. I have now been advised by leading counsel that it is most unlikely that, if t he appeal proceeded to trial, I should be able to dislodge t hat strong lega l presumptio n of cha ritable status. After the most ca reful con sideration, I ag ree with that advice.

The trial is due to start on 12 Apri l [1988]. It would last an estimated three to six months and occasion great expense. In t hese circumstances, I have decided to seek the court’s leave to discontinue these proceedings, and the Treasury Solic itor [See ed it or’s note be low ] has t h is morning so informed t he defendants.”

Attorney-General Mayh ew emphasized t h at even after years of investigation and legal consultation, the case had little hope of success. Continuing would have cost the government a great deal in time, resources, and public credibility.

The Attorney-General here explains that because the evidence the government had gathered was shown to be unreliable or weak, he was advised to discontinue the case. He The entrance to t he UK h eadquarters does not c lari fy in deta il of the Family Federation in Lancast er Ca te, Lo n don. Pho to: FFWPU which p articular evidence influenced him the most. This report examines some of the evidence, brought by t he defense, t hat probably influenced the Attorney-Genera l.

Continued in part 2.

See part 2: Scholar Warns Against Revival of Stereotypes

Featured image above: Facsimile from Unification News March 7988, page 1, published in New York, USA.

[Editor ‘s note: The Treasury Solicitor was the head of the Treasury Solicitor ‘s Department (TSol), a non-m in isteria l government d ep artment t hat p rovided lega l serv ices t o t he maj o rity of cent ral governm ent departments in England and Wales. In April 2015 it became t he Government Lega l Department (G LD ).]

Related to England dropped case: Japan Following the Way of China

Also related to England dropped case: Japan’s Dissolution Case Echoes China’s Playbook

And also related to England dropped case: “Lawyers Lying and Shaming Japan” for 50 Years

More, related to England dropped case: Lawfare: State Uses Legal System in War on Faith

Also related to England dropped case: Media/Legal Expert: Communism Behind Persecution

And more, related to England dropped case: Militant Lawyers Dictate Government Policy

And more, related to England dropped case: Media Helping Terrorist Reach His Coal

Related to England dropped case: Kishida Administration Giving in to Terrorism

And more, related to England dropped case: 12 Religious Freedom NGOs Denouncing Japan

Yet more, related to England dropped case: Japanese Communists’ Final War

Still more, related to England dropped case: Political and Social Activism behind Oppression

And yet more, related to England dropped case: Opposition Inciting Regime to Ex cessive Steps

And still more, related to England dropped case: Journalist Reveals Ugly Leftwing Conspiracy

And even more, related to England dropped case: Gingrich: Kishida Joining Communist Campaign

Yet more, related to England dropped case: The 3 Enemies of Religious Liberty

Still more, related to England dropped case: Lawyer Exposes Dirty Leftwing Plot

And yet more, related to England dropped case: Inhuman Government-Supported Mass Deprogramming

And still more, related to England dropped case: Bias: No Right to Respond for Religious Minority

And even more, related to England dropped case: Collusion to Rob Minority of Its Rights

Yet more, related to England dropped case: State and Media Creating “Today’s Non-Citizens”

Still more, related to England dropped case: Japan Criticized for Glaring Rights Violations

And yet more, related to England dropped case: Two European Scholars Warning Japan

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