Sun Myung Moon Speaks to Unification Theological Seminary Students - 1982

UNIFICATION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY COMMENCEMENT, Jmrn 2 6 , 19 8 2 Founder’s Speech ,, Reverend Sun Myung Moon

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to professors parents, brothers and sisters of the graduates, and to the dis-’ tinguished guests who have come to attend and bring glory to the graduation ceremony of our Unification Theological Seminary. Time flies, and it is once again graduation day, the sixth graduation since the foundation of the Seminary. The school has thus far produced several hundred graduates. During these years, we have accomplished many things. As a result, the .Seminary has become famous in the world theological community. We have learned much during this short period. God has established the various religions in order to ac~ tualize His Will on earth. The very religion that is intended to accomplish God’s whole Will and form one ideal religious realm is the Unification Church. The Unification Theological Seminary was founded in order to educate and cultivate leaders who will take pivotal responsibility in accomplishing the total Will of God. our graduates wish to take responsibility to restore what was lost by the fall of the first human ancestors: original ownership, the ideal family, society, world and ultimately heaven. Therefore what the graduates have learned during their school years are the ways to accomplish these goals. Firstly, and most significantly, the Seminary has conducted a series of seminars to which renowned theologians were invited. This was to accomplish the clear goal of the ideal world and heaven. Theology today, in a time of rapid societal change and the expansion of atheistic thought, seems to have come to a bar- rier, causing it to falter. In an attempt to reveal the modern theological field, the direction of God’s providence, and to search out the contents with which we can digest the problems of modern times, we have initiated an ecumenical movement, working with prominent theologians: the result is the international New Ecumen- ical Research Association (New ERA). In the position of students, we have been guided by professors in the search for ecumenical unity. Unification theology combines utmost conservatism, traditionalism, and modernistic liberalism as well, and has enough contents to digest all problems. When theologians came to see this, they became immediately interested in our theology and church. We must embrace both conservatism and liberalism. Generally speaking, conservatism is on the side of theism, whereas liberal- ism tends toward atheism. Conservatives are especially predominant in the religious world, and unity among. denominations and religions is nearly impossible. Despite difficulty, we are participating in an ecumenical endeavor in order to maintain an allied front of

theism, and we are embracing liberalistic atheism. On the other hand, we are developing a Unification thought not only to counter but to surpass Communism, a representative of atheism. Su~h activities are to be found in every age and every place. The society you are soon to enter has a strong conservative orient- a~ion t~ward the present, while concern for the future inspire~ liberalism. These two concerns must be integrated.· Under such con- ditions, we are involving dedicated scholars in our seminars to articulate the future direction and content, and gradually search out the way to absorb all and take our direction towards loftier purposes. Secondly, you have studied many schools of theology. This was necessary to prepare yourself to assume your responsibility in real life for restoration through indemnity, in order to fulfill the ideal society. For this, human life is like a training ground. We must accomplish our responsibilities in real life, just as we are required to pass examinations in school. We became. friends of books, and we even became slaves of books in our efforts to arrive at this graduation day. When we go out to society, however, we must bear in mind that books will be replaced by people and works. Just as we have read booka, and analyzed and comprehended ~heir contents so as to develop our views about them, we can analyze and comprehend the character of people and works, and clearly distin- guish in our minds between good and evil. Thirdly, we have participated in the Home Church movement. This activity is intended to nurture ideal families and to res- tore the original homeland as God intended: in that homeland there will be found parents, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives and children of God’s original ideal. Through these families, the ideal nation and ideal world can be connected to God. This is the reason for our Home Church activity. The fall originated in selfish action: therefore, we have learned to live· for the sake of others. At this juncture we must search for the means to connect conscience to conscience at the highest religious level. Since you have learned that unification is brought about only through sacrifice and service, I am sure you will fulfill this central mission towards your original homeland intended by God. Fourthly, we have learned to carry out economic activities, as a practical course in learning about ideal ownership and proper management of resources. We have engaged in ecomonic activities from time to time as the need has arisen. Economic problems persist throughout one’s life course, and I would like you to engage in economic activities so that you may gain confidence as a giving per- son, and to expand your ownership and become an example to all others establishing patterns of personal vrtue. What I ask of you at your graduation is that you become respon- sible persons to connect ideal and original ownership, family, society, world and universe for the sake of accomplishing God’s over all Will. Thus, you will inherit the course of messiahship. May God’s blessing be with you as an individual, with your family, and with al_l the work in which you are engaged . .- . Thank you.

Father’s Prayer at the Commencement Ceremony, June 26, 1982

Beloved Heavenly Father,

Today is June the 26th, 1982. We are now at the moment of closing the sixth commencement ceremony of th~

Unification Theological Seminary here in Barrytown.

In order for the Unification Theological Seminary

to come into being, many religions have gone the road of

suffering to establish this foundation. The Unification

Church movement has been developing and growing fu~idst

severe persecution and suffering on the world-wide level,

beyond the racial and national level. Father, we deeply

appreciate the protection and guidance you have given us.

We realize the amazing t~th that your will can only

be realized when the base of true family, true nation, true

world and the base for true peace is realized, and when

your ideal of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth and in heaven

can be established.

we have also come to realize how sorrowful you have been and how deep has been your sorrow for man throughout

human history.

Judaism was born amids·t suffering. You labored in

tears to raise up Judaism for 4,ooo years. Upon that founda-

tion, you sent Jesus Christ to start a new dispensation

centering on him. Judaism should have truly welcomed the

Messiah and should have prepared a warm reception for the

Messiah so that you would have been so joyful. However,

the Israelites and Judaism could not accomplish this.

Thus, Christianity went the path of suffering, under-

going severe persecution under the Roman Empire and shedding

so much blood of so many martyrs. Now Christianity has

become one of the world’s major religions, reaching every

corner of the globe. However, Christianity has failed to

love and unite with Judaism. Thus it has lost its original

mission and has divided into several hundreds of denominations

each one fighting the other. We know well that this unfor-

tunate event should have never taken place in your Providence.

Now the Unification Church has emerged on this earth with

a grave historical and providential responsibility to revive

and unite Christianity beyond all denominations and also to

embrace Judaism. In order to accomplish this solemn goal,

you have been educating and training me from my childhood on,

even when I did not know your will at all. You have been

guiding me through the storm of suffering and persecution.

Today you have enabled me to engage in a world-wide battle

against the Satanic power. I sincerely appreciate all your

guidance and the protection you have bestowed upon me.

We know clearly that what we need most is not knowledge\ or power but young people who are truly pious and loyal to

you, Heavenly champions who are willing to fight for the

cause of truth and goodness.

With this realization, we have established this Seminary.

Heavenly Father, please bless this Seminary. According to

your will, the Unification Church, even from its beginning,

has been making every effort to love Christianity even though

they have opposed us severely. Ye have also endeavoured to

embrace Judaism. We have been doing our utmost to fulfill

our responsibility and to be your honorable children of whom

you can be proud.

Now we are climbing to the highest level of your Pro-

vidence. We know that your desire is not just to unite one

specific religion or one denomination, but to embrace all

other religions besides Christianity and Judaism in order to

establish one world under you. So we are now endeavoring to

embrace all other religions. For that purpose, we initiated

the “Youth Seminar on World Religions”, ew,· 2l JS t1 £ww,._,.”

whose members will visit this Seminary soon, at the begir.ning

of July. This is done not in the name of Rev. Moon or of the

Unification Church, but according to your heart and the desire

you have cherished for so long. We sincerely pray that by

your working through this activity, all religions will become

united and world peace will be expanded.

Your long-fostered wish is to unite all religions,

beyond national and cultural boundaries and their traditions,

and to create a unified world where all people will love

We need champions for you, young people who can

accomplish this solemn task. That was the very reason for

establishing this Unification Theological Seminary. Today

we have come to see the sixth commencement since we started

this Seminary.

I sincerely pray that you will guide the future of all

the graduates. I pray that through them your desire will

be accomplished to unite all religions, all mankind, and

to unite the spiritual world and the physical world.

I pray that these people can become exemplary people

honored by you, respected by all mankind and loved by all the

spirit men in the spiritual world. Please guide them and

raise them up as you desire.

I appreciate all the staff, the professors and the

parents for their prayers and their love for this Sewinary.

We owe very much this happy occasion to them. We pray that

your abundant blessinrr may be upon this occasion so that this

happiness will be expanded to become joy in heaven and the

joy of liberation for all mankind.

We pray all this in the name of the True Parents. Amen.

FATHER SPEAKS TO NEW CANDIDATE WORKSHOP July 9, 1982

(World Mission Center - translated by Col, Han)

It’s difficult for Father to remember all your names, but Father always remembers your faces. Did you ever have the experience when you saw an Oriental for the first time, that you couldn’t tell the difference between the faces, one from another? (laughter). Do you know why you are here? (Yes/ No), Well, if you are absolutely sure why you are here then Father does not even have to speak. Those who want to study please raise your hands. But what do you want to study for? Why do you want to go through a difficult course of listening to lectures and reading many books? Why do you want to study?

Needless to say why you are here is for a differen~ reason than why others go to s~hool. Your education is for the sake of everyone, the world, your country, it’s· for everyone except yourselves. America in the past has served and believed in God more than other nations; that is how the concept of the U.S. constitution came into being. So there are some things in America’s past to be proud of. But today we know that this is not true. If one family is serving and helping Cod then that family prospers - it is the same with a nation. But today in America almost all young people have the experience of immorality and taking drugs, Now all that is left is for Rev. Moon and the Unification Church to do the job of saving America. We must show the direction to theologians, academicians, professors, and also Christian church leaders the high example and way of living.

We have an organization, New ERA, and through it we are connected with 1400 theologians. We have shown the way for right conduct and right leadership. Until now all religious leaders were expected to conduct religious affairs, but not economic affairs. They have always depended on their members tithes, donations, etc. But now they must learn a drastic new view toward the economic foundation of building a religious organization. In the future in order for you to become a spiritual leader you must first have absolute confidence in ecomomic matters before you can be a spiritual leader. After your education you may be able to offer the people some new (foreign) thought or religion, but without an economic found- ation you cannot be a true spiritual leader.

If ministers of churches are going to save and catch up with fallen young people in this country - all the free sex and discotheque dancing - they have to find a new way. But ministers will find themselves far behind because of the declining economic schedule. All this did not come to Father by surptise, he has been figuring it out in the last decade. Religion is so vunerable and Father soon knew that Communism would take i~ over and use it as -3 prey. So Father knew these things from the beginning, but today many theologians have no new place to go - there is no promising future for religion. They are_finding that their ta~k is much more difficult; because they arc not experienced in l1andling the economic problems.

Our job is to train and make our members capable persons in economics as well as in theology. -Then you can educate other religious leaders and theolo- gians so that they can deal with all the economic problems of today’s world. So if we sum up this situation we can see that it is really a matter of the life and death of American religion - of even America itself.

. Father has been hearing a rumor: “Because of Rev. Moon America in the reli~ious area is once more seeing new hope.” If someone writes a book concern- ing Rev. Moon or the Unification Church (whether it is negative or positive) it sells. Many-people do pay attention to Father because he. is able to handle econ- omic affairs. And Father is very confident that the hope they see in him is that he is truly capable of handling these matters. Then if you too can really under- stand the importance of the economic factors in even trying to serve and minister to people or teach a religious truth, then you can succeed.

How is Father going to educate you? He is going to train you to be capable of teaching other theologians and religious leade~s also how to handle economic matters. They must be capable of handling both lields - spiritual matters and economics. A person who can train or teach other religious leaders will be significant builders of the kingdom of heaven on earth; be~ause there are two worlds, one material and the other spiritual. So we are very different; we have a very different kind_of seminary. For many hours you will be hearing about and learning theology, but only for the sake of helping and serving those other reli- gions. Then other religious leaders and theologians will listen to you more close- ly. Then you can teach them the way of economic a~tivity in a very short time.

You don’t have to worry about educating other people by the millions. You just need 100 people in each state, for instance, thinking and living and lead- ing the religious community. Of course, after you graduate, by purely religious debate you will never be matched or excelled, but the key to real success is if you can lead other people in teaching them the practical economic matters.

So Father has already had you in mind, because he knows that you have already done fundraising and selling and working in businesses. So if you are capable of supporting 10 people and educating them at the same time, then you should have no problem supporting your own family. But Father designed this plan, not basically for you and your families, but for this country and the world. This is why fundraising originated in the very beginning.

Only yesterday the new “Youth Seminar for God” representing 8 major religions of the world, started on their world tour from Barrytown. This is the beginning of a project for the world; up until now Father has been working for this country. All these students from different religious backgrounds will be learning Divine Principle (Unification theology). This will lay a cornerstone. But you must be the ones to show them how to handle all the economic realities.

Also in Barrytown you will learn martial arts~ Won Hwa Do. Why do peaceful people learn martial arts? It is so you can be better prepared for the - labor unions someday-that will come against you. You have to be able to defend yourselves. What are Barryto’-1Tl seminary graduat.es doing? They are ·going out to the campuses to fight in C.A.R.P. They are fighting to defend this country against spreading CoITD11unism. The graduates are also in Ocean Church; t~ere they are work- ing tQ protect the U.S. shoreline against the_ i1!creasing drug traffic. So we are really defending America from corruption.

Up until now there have been no religious leaders that have even thought about teaching their people-m.artial arts or ocean (~hurch) protection. If we do not do these things -0r carry out these preparations for persecution and attack, religion someday will no longer fu™!tion. Before you can be a practical religious leader you must be able to handle the labor unions and the atheistic problems of Communism. the prestnt religious leadet”s a~e incapable of . doing. all thlfl ~ ·

In th~ last several years we have had many conferences and our UTS graduates have found themselves debating with world-reno’wtl theologians and professors, and even having a greater knowledge than some of them. Later, these religious leader~ and theologians will come to recognize you and appreciate,you and want you to stand in the front lines. They will want you to lead rallies and campaigns because they know that you are “better and more capable” than them. Because of your training and experience in these matters you will be able to con- duct the work much more effectively.

The Unification Theological Seminary, this school of a unique education and training ts . the “shortest cut” to saving this entire country. It is through the economic as well as theological education that you will be solving the problems of this country - this is the best way - to reach out and serve and educate and train the religious leaders of tomorrow. Then later these theologians will all unite together in an effort to save America. In each state of this nation if you establish one church of example, for all people to see and co~y, thert you can bring success.

Also in Ocean Church Father has shown by him?elf how to catch fish and how to sell fish - also machine and boat sales. _Through this kind of train- ing you will become leaders in a practical sense, not just in a conceptual way (both materially and spiritually). This will be the only way for America to survive.

Will your children use drugs? (No!) No one then can creep into your families and try to corrupt them in this way. These depraved habits are already -;.----… very rampant in American schools. But your children will be new and different from the very beginning. Everyone has tried, but they have failed against these terrible problems of drugs, sex and youth in the U.S. But they see the hope in Rev. Moon and the Unification Church. Already you have solved these problems in yourselves and your families. The next step is to help solve these problems on a national level. The only way to stop these problems of corruption is that we do it.

tITS is only one of a kind; it is the most different theological seminary in America. It . is educating you to be: 1) qualified leaders of the church, 2) qualified leaders of religion, and 3) qualified leaders of America. Today’s church leaders outside do not know God’s will in today’s world. So it’s a natural conclusion that God’s will is that you become church leaders, religious leaders, and then national leaders. God has this pattern for all future leaders of America. So if you can arrive at the third stage (national leaders) then you can be quali- fied to eduGate even congressmen and senators. You can show them God’s will and the direction that God i~ going in. So the reason you must graduate from this theological seminary is so that you can better attack the economic, moral., and spiritual problems in this nation.

_You may want to advance and become sucessful in the world, but what Father warits to make out of you, before you didn’t t,avc any concept, did y_ou? Look at the creation of the ne’-’Spaper the Washington· Times; the American people were just awestruck: But Father has broken all records in that area. You may ask, “Why should I learn th~ol~y?” “Don’t I know enough?” There should be no questions that you are asked that you cannot answer in theology. But why is Father driving you out to study? In th~ begir.ning you vi.11 suffer; but once you

get this education t~sk accomplished after that everything else will be easier. Then your situation will stand a much better chance of success. It will be much easier, for example, to educate and talk with academic professors on campus in C.A.R.P. In Ocean CDurch you will be better equipped to deal with aggresftive union leaders. When you have a family of your O\ol”O you will have more experience and confidence to support them and educate them and to also witness.

Look at Father he is now “fighting” the U.S. government. He has spoken out and said many times what is vrong with this country. But even persecution does not stop Father, If Father were to be put again in prison, would you come out in large droves with a rally and sympathize with Father? (Yes!) Have you ever thought about a rally in Moscow? (Yes.) What about witnessing behind the Iron Curtain - have you ever thought of that? (No.) Did do you know that there are people behind the Iron Curtain that have been blessed? Also we have a “Summit Club,” did you know that? (clapping).

So Father has been preparing the “stage.” He has been preparing you and training you for all these missions. Father does do many things; there are some you cannot even imagine. So you must have some idea of only a maximum of what you can do. You must always say, “God, I can do it!” - Father’s battle with his court trial here in America is not as bad as world Corranunism. It is the same analogy with the seminary in Barrytown - it is most difficult to study and to fundraise, but you have to do both. If you have time to study and to do some deep thinking, what you learn you will teach others; this is the UTS tradition.

Other people will listen to you much faster than they listened to Father -------- in the past. But this development is only a “by-product,” you are actually work- ing for the critical salvation of this country. Father is famous, that is true, but in this country he is seen as more of a “problem” than he is famous. We have even been called the “Moon mafia.”

So you have to be trained and educated. In the hottest months of the year others go out for vacations. But in the middle of the heat and sweat you must keep on going and working. Will you be determined to keep studying and getting good grades - can you do it? (Yes!) You have obeyed and gone through the matching and the blessing, studying must be easier(?) (laughter). The mass marriage of more than 2000 couples was a most serious event; to the public it was unbelievable. Then there is the 40-day separation period; now that must be a mystery. (laughter). Are you going to use birth control after you have 4 or 5 children? Don’t worry, if you should have 10 or 12 children you can go fundraising, then you won’t have to ask for help. This is a “war” this learning to live day to day. But if you are trained and educated then Father kn_ows that you wtll win the victory.

What will we accomplish? We will begin a new order in the spiritual world, even from here. Now there is chaos in the spirit world, but we have a new tradition: to be an example in the .spirit world. So Father is the champion that has begun fro~ A to Z to change the spirit world. Do you like me? (Ye~!) Do you -love me? (Yes!) Thank you. But you differ in many ways and degrees. Whnt lc_vel do you think that you would be in in the spirit world? ‘Lately you may have even complained that Father has not yet come down (to the World Mission Center) to see you for the last 3 days. But m~ny-missionaries and world leaders would give any- thing just to see Father once.

Father has learned to jump ahead spiritually for miles. Doing your own thing and going your own way, can you “jump ahead” like Father? (No.) But you

must learn Father’s way, So don’t you say only. “Father. I love you.’’ it’s much more serious than that. If you \olere to “punch in your nam~” in the computer in the spiritual world. everything \olould be shown all about you. Did you know that? Are you at the s ame level as Father? - because Father comes down to the World Mission Center to choose you to attend the Seminary? Not Ynless you have alfeady gone Father’s cour s e,

There are strange things in the world of love - there are many amazing and striking phenomena. (Father chuckled). Many of you sit in the front row just to be “hit” by Father. (Father tapping students on the head). Back in Father’s apart me nt he was ‘.’yelling” at the Korean church leaders - but they liked it! (laughter). But now it is more easy to follow Father than it used to be - the early church has paid the indemnity for you. Ho”’ many of you will be able to say when you go to the spiritual world that the Messiah sent me? This is why you must study and learn even harder. Your goal must be very clear and concise: the reason you are going to go to UTS is so that you can become a ‘!soldier” and a leader in the front lines. No matter how serious the persecution may get. still you must study hard. You also must be willing to supplement and help the school (seminary) with fundraising and be grateful. Father is going to make out of you great men and women! I want you to say. “I will go along with anything. Father, no matter how difficult!”

If the nation of America perishes. it is the same as the world perishing. How much God in the past put into this nation of America. But the imminent reality is that Communism can plunder this country. You must know that you are involved in an “invisible war” for America. Every day you are in danger of being “boxed in” by c·ommunism. In Asia Japanese Communism has only been contained by the work of the Unification Church there. Red China and Russia see Rev. Moon as the real and worst threat to them, You must really understand the situation that America is in; and we must save America! So study hard and learn; theism and spiritualism these theologies show that God exists; someday all atheism will “tumble down.” You will learn to have more confidence. Father has equipped you with all the knowledge and the goals that you need. Study hard! (prayer)

(~nofficial notes by Shirley Stadelhofer)