Third World Peace Declaration

The following document expresses the ideals of our gathering in Seoul, Korea. If you agree with its contents, then we ask that you kindly sign it. The framed document after it has been signed by the participants will be presented to the Founders at the final banquet, August 25. Thank you.

We former Heads of State and Government, former Prime Ministers, and citizens taking part in the Third World Peace Conference, gathered in Seoul, Korea, Aug. 22-24, 1995, do hereby declare our commitment to world peace, and call upon world leaders, policy makers, media directors, and leaders in education, science, economic development, the arts and all other citizens to join together in creating a world of freedom, peace, and unity for all humankind.

The participants of the Third World Peace Conference call upon leaders and responsible citizens to unite in a global effort to bring about peace and cooperation, to unite in an effort to restore, protect, and preserve the natural resources of our planet, to transcend the barriers of race and nationality, and to promote cooperation and harmony among all people and with the environment.

The reality of a peaceful global village is within our reach. What we need is a new thinking to match the present realities in our world.

Accordingly, we call upon the leaders of the world to maintain, support, and encourage a movement of true human solidarity through education and example. We make a special appeal to religious leaders of the world to put aside their differences and spearhead this call, guided by the following principles:

* That every human being, regardless of race, color, or religion, is a son or daughter of God endowed with tremendous potential for creating and giving that can be developed through education of both the mind and heart. Because of this relationship with the Creator, we are members of one human family, and as such, should take responsibility to improve and to alleviate the misfortunes of the family of humankind.

* That the purpose of a man and a woman is to form a family in a bond of true love as husband and wife. In the family we learn to embrace humanity by loving our brothers and sisters and learn to exemplify God's parental heart by loving our children.

* That human beings are to be "true owners" of the planet by respecting, preserving, and caring for the environment.

We call upon governments, legislators, and leaders of the world to create laws that will support a new education that focuses not only on academic and technical studies, but also on the fundamental education of the heart. This education will nurture virtuous, public-minded individuals who learn to give themselves to the community, country, and world.

With clear vision and a continuous commitment of internal and external resources, this worthy purpose will surely be accomplished.

Seoul, Korea
August 22-24, 1995

The Third IRFWP Congress "Realizing the Ideal: The Responsibility of the World's Religions."

by Dr. Thomas G. Walsh-Louisville KY

On August 20-27, 1995, at the time of the second World Culture and Sports Festival in Seoul, Korea, the Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace held its third international Congress on the theme, "Realizing the Ideal: The Responsibility of the World's Religions." One hundred and twenty scholars and religious leaders from around the world participated in this conference whose Honorary Chairman was Rev. Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios, Bishop of New Delhi and the North of the Syrian Orthodox Church of the East, and former President of the World Council of Churches,.

The conference featured five distinct sections organized around the general theme of the Congress. The first section, chaired by Dr. Sheldon Isenberg (University of Florida) and Dr. Robert Carter (Trent University, Canada) was focused on "Religion and the Ideal Individual." The participants considered the way in which the religions of the world have understood the ideal of human nature or human character. Paper topics included the following: "The Bodhisattva Ideal" by Dr. James Duerlinger, "Hindu Ideals of Life" by Swami Chidananda Saraswati, and "The Ideal of Human Nature from the Point of View of the Koran" by Haji Mohammad al-Qaaim S.F. Sawada. Unificationists, David Fraser Harris and Dr. Hemram Gyaram, wrote papers entitled, respectively, "Heaven is Not for Individuals" and "Why Religion is Essential in Forming the Ideal Individual."

The second section, chaired by Dr. Charles Selengut (Drew University) and Dr. Thomas Walsh (International Religious Foundation), had as its theme, "Religion and the Ideal Family." This section explored the teachings and practices of marriage and family within the world's religions. Protestant Christian, Catholic Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, Yoruba (African) voices were heard. Dr. Thomas Selover, now teaching in Canada, presented a paper on the Unification view of the family. His paper was titled "We Families: The Family as Principle, Pattern, Pledge and Practice in Unification Religious Life." Dr. Anthony Guerra, Dean at the University of Bridgeport, wrote his paper on "The Puritans and the Family: Theological and Social Perspectives."

The third section was chaired by Dr. Richard L. Rubenstein (President, University of Bridgeport) and Dr. Michael Mickler (Academic Dean, Unification Theological Seminary). The theme for this section was "Religion and the Ideal Society." Once again, persons representing a wide range of religious perspectives offered papers on the theme. Dr. Mickler's paper was on "The Ideal Society and its Realization in Unificationism."

Section four was on "Religion and the Environment," Chaired by IRFWP's Secretary General, Dr. M. Darrol Bryant. Dr. Bryantwrote a paper on "The Wondrous Creation: Contra the Modern Myth of Mastery." Hon. Voyce Durling-Jones, a Native American and member of the IRFWP Presiding Council, wrote a paper on "Sacred Keepers of Earth and Sky: Mythopoeic Vision of a Sacred Ecology and Land Theology in the Americas." Dr. Ellen Chen of St. John's University wrote a paper on "Taoism and Ecology" and Dr. Peter Phan wrote on "Eschatology and Ecology: The Environment in the End-Time." Rev. John Gehring, Executive Director of the Religious Youth Service, wrote on "Religion as a Team Player in Shaping our Environment: The Unification Church's Potential Offering."

The fifth section was a special colloquium for religious leaders who addressed the topic, "Realizing Peace in the Twenty-First Century: The Responsibility of the World's Religions." This section was chaired by Dr. Frank Kaufmann, Executive Director of the Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace. Among the religious leaders present for this colloquium were IRFWP President, Bhai Manjit Singh, the supreme head of 20 million followers of the Sikh religion; Sheikh Ahmed Zabarah, the Grand Mufti of Yemen; Rev. Dr. F. Lambert-Carter, pastor of the oldest Congregational Church in Australia, St. Andrew's; Professor Hassan Mohammed F. Garib Allah, Former Chancellor of the Omdurman Islamic University in the Sudan; Maria Celia Hernandez Rodriguez, a coordinator with the Roman Catholic Archepiscopate in Honduras; and, two Muslim Muftis from Russia, Natigulla Ashirov, who chairs the Executive Committee of the Higher Coordinating Center of Russian Muslim Clerical Administration, and Muhammed Albogachiev, who chairs the Russian Republic Clerical Center.

The Opening Plenary of the conference featured the Founder's Address for IRFWP's Founder, Rev. Sun Myung Moon. This speech was entitled, "Religion and the Ideal World." In his talk, Rev. Moon stated that, "religious leaders should take the lead in ending the world's corruption and wrongdoing. While religions remain indifferent to widespread lawlessness, inequality and injustice, religion can neither find its way out of the swamp of present reality nor move towards the ideal....I believe that religious leaders have the responsibility to lead unconditional and sacrificial lives for the sake of others, and to teach this way of life to others."

Following the Founder's Address two of the Presidents of the IRFWP offered remarks. First, the Rev. Chung Hwan Kwak, Chairman of the International Religious Foundation, and, second, the Venerable Sul- jung Jun, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Korean Buddhist Cho-gye Order. The Opening Plenary closed with a special tribute and presentation, made by Dr. Ninian Smart, an IRFWP Presiding Council Member and Distinguished Professor of Religion at the University of California at Santa Barbara, in appreciation for the leadership and inspiration of the Founder, made by Dr. Ninian Smart, Distinguished Professor of Religion at the University of California at Santa Barbara. [plaque text: "On the Occasion of the 2nd World Culture and Sports Festival and the 3rd International Congress of the IRFWP we, the Presidents and Members of the Presiding Council, extend our heartfelt appreciation to Reverend and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon for your consistent spiritual and moral leadership in a troubled world, and for your abundant and unwavering support for harmony among the world's religion through the IRFWP's work for world peace. Furthermore, we are honored to be present a the historic Holy Wedding Ceremony of 360,000 couples who have dedicated their families to God and humankind."

The conference was treated to an additional Plenary Session featuring Hon Voyce Durling Jones, speaking on the role of indigenous religions, particularly Aztec and Native American traditions, in shaping a new paradigm shift for the twenty-first century. She said, "We must all choose to seek a new paradigm that will safely guide us into and through the 21st century. We can choose to have nothing less than a transformation and restoration, an unfolding of a shared vision from every religion and spiritual tradition gathered here today....it isn't easy and it takes patience. Waiting for hours or even centuries for that one brief moment of possibility. That moment is here now."

The Closing Plenary allowed representatives from each conference section to offer a reflection on his or her experience. Each spokesperson offered an eloquent statement of both deep analysis of the proceedings and profound appreciation for the opportunity to gather in this way under the auspices of the IRFWP.

After the formal close of the IRFWP Congress on August 24, participants stayed on in Seoul for three more days. On August 25 all participants loaded buses in the rain to observe the Holy Wedding Ceremony held at the Olympic stadium in Seoul. Despite the cloudy and rainy weather, participants were awestruck by the magnificence of the Blessing ceremony for the 35,000 couple present in the stadium. That same evening, IRFWP Congress participants, along with guest from other conferences held in conjunction with the World Culture and Sports Festival, attended the Congratulatory Banquet at the Little Angels Performing Arts Academy. They were treated to an unforgettable group of performers, including, of course, the Little Angels themselves. On this evening, the Founder oft he World Culture and Sports Festival, spoke to the guests on "The True Family and I."

The following day, August 26, participants were taken on a tour of the ever-expanding Sun Moon University, located 90 minutes south of Seoul. While at the university, the guests were offered an overview of the teachings of the Unification Church, presented by Dr. James Baughman. On the final day, August 27, participants went on a tour of Seoul and departed either that evening or early the next morning.

According to the participants own reports this was one of the most successful conferences they had ever attended. We felt that there was so much grace and heavenly blessing coming our way. Although the dedicated staff -- especially Frank LaGrotteria, Robert and Asae Sattinger, and Keng Tan -- of the IRFWP worked extremely hard, day and night, for many weeks and months preparing for this meeting, without God's loving grace we could not have achieved such an incredibly high level of spirit. We are grateful to have a part to play in the unfolding of God's providential unifying work through the IRFWP.

The Sixth International Congress of Professors World Peace Academy The Future of the Family

by Gordon L. Anderson, Ph.D.-Saint Paul, MN

Two hundred participants from 100 nations attended The Sixth International Congress of Professors World Peace Academy in Seoul, Korea, August 21-25, 1995. The theme of the congress was "The Future of the Family."

The family, which is the fundamental building block of society, has exhibited a variety of forms throughout the world. Despite this wide variety which socialize human beings into the world's many cultures and ethnic groups, several global factors have begun to impact families everywhere. These factors include industrialization, urbanization, rapid transportation, and global communication.

Throughout much of human history the family has not only been the fundamental unit of socialization, but it has been the basic economic unit also. On family farms, in cottage industries, business, or among hunter-gathers, all generations lived together and supported one another. Families were often extended families or joint families. Children were socialized not only into the moral norms of their parents, but their economic activities as well. Grandmothers helped take care of the children. "Social security" was provided by the family as a unit.

While there have been many cities and empires in history, the backbone of the human economic life has been family farms and enterprises. That has changed with modern industrialization and postindustrial life. Individuals move from traditional homelands to work in industries for a salary. They no longer depend on their families for economic support and they are often separated from traditional kinship systems and find themselves trying to raise their children in a culturally diverse and sometimes hostile urban environment. The advent of global communications facilitates the "invasion" of foreign thoughts and cultural patterns into the home, where impressionable children are exposed to a mirage of sound bites, a barrage of advertising, adult themes, social problems, and violence.

Throughout the world, from the Eskimo in Alaska to the Maasai tribes in Kenya and the Hindu family in India, these global phenomena are making their impact. The global pluralism present in modern life has led numerous traditional national or ethnic groups to take extraordinary measures to protect a "pure culture." The genocide in Cambodia, the forced evacuation of Phnom Penh by the Khmer Rouge, was an example of a reaction to modern urban life by a people who wanted to retain an agrarian economy. The wars being fought in Bosnia- Hercegovina, Somalia, Laos, and elsewhere are signs that human beings everywhere are still attempting to impose their particular ethnic culture upon defined geographical boundaries. These attempts, notably in the former USSR and Yugoslavia, reflect a desire for identity and cultural security in a very uncertain and changing world. Even Nazism, Stalinism, and Maoism can be seen as attempts to create a climate of cultural uniformity, albeit a "modern" culture secured by force against pluralism of the human world.

However, the attempts to return to traditional families or the simple agrarian life of the past are doomed from the start. One reason is that the world is too populated today for each family to have sufficient arable land to feed itself by traditional methods. Modern industrial farming enables only two percent of the population to raise food for everyone. Secondly, people throughout the world desire the conveniences of modern life. They are not willing to give up televisions, cars, refrigerators, and washing machines to return to a life of constant manual labor. Thirdly, global radio and satellite television continually provide awareness of the possibilities of modern technology and the styles of life led by other people throughout the world. Not even Albania, one of the world's most isolated countries, could hold such forces at bay. Fourthly, war and famine and economic conditions have led to great migrations and growing pluralism in all parts of the world. Finally, many of the benefits of modern life require free trade and the liberalizing of movement across state boundaries.

Families throughout the world are being forced to adapt to modern life and globalization. Religious traditions seem relativized, social security for the elderly is uncertain, children of modernity become an economic liability, rather than an asset, divorce rates have increased, many children of the "urban jungles" join gangs and engage in crime. The family and society is forced to change to function in the conditions of modern life. Family life is being affected profoundly and globally.

The PWPA conference was composed of a number of experts on specific areas; the history of the family, the family in a cross-cultural perspective; solving problems of dysfunctional families; addressing social conditions that create family breakdown; and the future of the family.

The keynote session included a paper by Jean Elshtain of the University of Chicago who argued that the most tragic aspect is that it is the children, and thus the future, that suffers the most when families break down. The family crisis in America has been exacerbated by destructive beliefs that have persisted since the 1960's and some of those beliefs have been fostered by academics. She explained how the "functional view" of the family, which basically says that the family performs basic socialization tasks that could otherwise be performed by government, schools, day care providers, and significant others, supported those who argued for alternative family forms. However, the data is in, and there is no doubt that children are best served by traditional two parent families.

Another keynote presentation was made by Eugene Rolfe, who worked for the Secretariat of the UN Year of the Family (1994). He spoke about the prominence of the family in global concerns and the development of our global discourse on family life and action that supports families. The third keynote presentation was given by Jerry Pournelle, a science fiction writer and computer columnist with a great interest in the future of society. He spoke about a "war on the family" being waged today; no-fault divorce, government policies that tax marriage and subsidize illegitimacy, sex "education" and teen pregnancy. In order to reverse these trends, we must reverse the thrust of a whole century. He was hopeful that the computer and information revolutions would allow the decentralization of society and the chance for people to work more at home and spend more time with their families.

"The Family as a Complex Institution" was the theme of Panel One, Chaired by Geoffrey Ainsworth Harrison, of Oxford University. It examined the forms and function of the family in many societies in the past, from the "pre-state" family forms that existed before the development of empires and states, through the ancient civilizations and empires, feudal societies, and the present day. Jon Davies, of the University of Newcastle in the UK, ended up this historical survey with the statement that "if present trends continue, the known forms of the family will, in the modern societies of the West, be replaced by patterns of associative (rather than intimate) relationships between adults, and of contractual relationships between -and all of this within a pattern of fertility rates which, in some of the most `modern' parts of the world, on present trends, imply radically reduced populations by the middle of the next century." Societies based on immediate gratification have little use for children.

Panel Two, Chaired by Bina Gupta of the University of Missouri, looked at "The Changing Role of the Family" in the various cultural spheres; Islamic, Chinese, Hindu, African, Latin American, Western, and Post- Soviet societies. The presenters examined modernizing and global trends affecting the family in their respective cultural spheres and how their cultures could adapt to meet the challenges of the present world. This panel, on the whole, was somewhat optimistic about the ability of their societies to adapt. The key would be the revitalization of some of the values of the traditional institutions.

"Family Crises and Community Intervention" was the title of Panel Three, chaired by sociologist Ralph Segalman of California State University, Northridge. the first presentation, by David Marsland, was a trenchant criticism of the present welfare state and government social services. He stated that the family was "The key buffer and bulwark of freedom between the individual and the power of large-scale bureaucratic organizations, in particular the state." Social workers are damaging the family in the following ways; advocating rights of unmarried mothers and delinquent fathers at the cost of their responsibilities, encouraging state dependency rather than self- reliance, subverting the authority of parents under speciously-defined children's rights, and by over-emphasizing the normalcy of divorce and cohabitation, contributing to the notion that marriage is passe and unnecessary. David Genders, a social work professional, while not denying Marsland's claims, made a presentation on programs he is involved with that make self-reliance and release from the system a goal of the programs.

Geoffrey Partington, a senior lecturer in education, explained why the public schools must be able to teach basic norms and values that place the family at the center of socialization. Roberta Pournelle spoke about computer software that can assist the development of reading skills in young people whom the schools had given up on. Robert Woodson, President of the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, described how top-down government programs designed to alleviate family and community crises have often aggravated them. He spoke about the need to reinvigorate grass-roots community organizing for self- reliance and citizenship and gave examples of people who had been transformed.

Ralph Segalman summarized the sources of family decline in Western culture and the serious implications that it has for continuing democracy and economic prosperity. He suggested interventions that could help make people good parents, encourage marriage stability, and provide for adoption for children born into "at -risk families."

"Family Change, Alternative Families, and Public Policy," co-chaired by Nicholas Kittrie and Norge Jerome, was the most controversial panel, with strongly opposed opinions. The first speaker explained why he believes that fatherlessness is the most serious social problem in America today, and how it is leading to serious debilitation of American young people. The second speaker, a "equity-feminist," strongly criticized the more radical "gender-feminists" which demonize men and contribute to the destruction of the family. Dennis O'Keeffe explained a general "dialectic of moronization" in Western culture in which the "lowest common moral denominator" develops in the interaction of family, society and school. Under the name of "progress," it leads to irresponsibility, welfare dependence and ignorance. Other speakers on the panel represented some of these "progressive" forces which want to further liberalize definitions of the family, and why they feel such liberalization is warranted: abuse, oppression, and lack of personal development in some traditional families. In the heat of the debate, the speakers often spoke past one another, defending their own positions without answering some of the concerns of the others.

The conference was attended by PWPA representatives of more than 100 countries, who were asked in advance to provide a report on the state of the family in their own country. Those reports were published in a book "The Worldwide State of the Family" (available for $19.95 from PWPA Books, 2700 University Avenue West, Suite 47, Saint Paul, MN 55114, Phone: (612) 644-2809).

Dr. Anderson, is the Secretary General of PWPA-International

The Million Man March

UVIEWS October

By the time this is in your hands, the march will be over. We will know if a million men showed up, what happened, and the fallout, and many comments will have been made. Taking that risk, I cast my vote in favor of the march.

I do so not because of what I read in the New York Times. The Times does not even provide one the basis to form an opinion about the march. It had extensive coverage to the effect that many are planning to participate, and there are a variety of opinions about the march. What the Times fails to report is what the march is for!

However, I read some Nation of Islam literature on the march. The themes which the march is to represent are commitment to family, marital responsibility, the individual virtues of which males are especially called to manifest, and social responsibility, centered on God. These themes enliven my heart. The "reconciliation and atonement" aspect, as I understand it, means that the march's sponsors and participants are stating that they have failed to fulfill these ideals (and who among us has not?), and that they are determining in solidarity to uphold them and accomplish them.

Critics of the march focus mainly upon its exclusivism: only men (say some women); only blacks (say some other blacks; it is not PC for whites to say so); and, of course, the leadership of Minister Farrakhan, well-publicized for making racial-superiority and anti- semitic statements. Is Farrakhan molding black solidarity by inciting hatred of others as its foundation?

He may be using that as one of his tools; that cannot be denied. But are the men gathering because of the hatred, or because of the ideals? I submit that they are gathering not out of hatred, but out of idealism and hope, and that the power by which they are gathering is beyond Minister Farrakhan or any of the other leaders. If those leaders misuse that power, then they will fall; the power of ideals will prevail. It is just waiting for righteous leaders to articulate it.

Distinction from others always plays a role in forming a group identity. This takes benign form in the normal distinction of families, companies, schools, and so forth. It takes a malicious form when distinction is based upon a good-evil criterion: those who do not belong to my church (synagogue, mosque, race, nation) are bound for hell, are non-human, etc. The judgement between the benign and malicious, in this case, is whether the group-identification is based upon that group living sacrificially for the sake of other groups.

Thus, I am proud to identify with Reverend Moon and the Unification Church as a "group," because I can see that this man and his church are authentically and consistently working sacrificially for the sake of others: other churches, the nation, the world, and ultimately for God.

The media is beginning to turn, now, in relation to our Founder and our church. Press coverage of the recent speaking tour was not at all bad; the reporters in fact included significant passages of the speech in their stories. This is in sharp contrast to the past, in which he and the church were described solely by the accusations against it. I see Farrakhan, in general, being treated the same way.

I perceive that the Million Man March is at its basis an effort to mobilize the conscience and energies of black men to live for the sake of others: for their wives and families, for their communities and this nation, and ultimately for God. In fact, the literature connected with this march makes some of the clearest statements of these ideals that I have seen coming out of anywhere outside the Unificationist community. So, I am for the march, and I wish, for today, I were black enough to take part in it.

Then, where do we go from here? A substantial portion of black leadership of America has made a statement. I am not an admirer of most of those up on the podium, such as the Rev.'s Jackson or Sharpton, or Mayor Barry, or Farrakhan himself, and I do tend to admire, paradoxically, those who oppose the march (not Angela Davis, but most of the Christian leaders). But it is not those leaders personally who are the subject here; it is the ideals which they have decided to promote, and their leadership made space for such promotion.

Let us dialogue concerning the ideals of family, of male responsibility, of atonement and reconciliation. If their actions do not meet the standards they proclaim-well, neither do ours. Let the white leaders of America get over talking about racial divides, and begin the dialogue centering not on race, but on family values, on individual and social responsibility. These ideals transcend race: that is the core virtue of this Million Man March; that is why the assertion that it was inspired by God is plausible.

Not of That World

At worst, men and women love each other for physical pleasure. The highest level in this world is when men and women love each other for spiritual pleasure. Who is loving each other for the sake of God?

The New Testament is clear in its teaching that there is enmity between God and the world. It teaches that one is either on the side of God or on the side of the world; there is no middle ground.

Then, on which side stands the institution of marriage? In the view of Jesus, one is rewarded for separating from wife and family for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Paul follows his teacher: one who is married no longer has concern for the things of God. Marriage definitely stands on the side of the world, not of God, in the New Testament.

Even in the context of the availability and accomplishment of Christian salvation, the world is evil, and the more one separates oneself from the world, the better one's chances to live a good life. And marriage it classified as one component of the ways of the world, not one of the paths to God.

Reverend and Mrs. Moon are proclaiming that, on the foundation of the New Testament, the Completed Testament is at hand. The purpose of the Blessing of marriage given by Reverend and Mrs. Moon is to bring marriage back completely into the realm of God. By bringing marriage into the realm of God, we also are bringing the entire world back to God.

The kingdom of heaven is not a church; it is a family.

On Karma, holy fools, and Gump

In Buddhism it is the law of Karma. On the street, it's "what goes around, comes around." According to the blues singers, "you gotta pay your dues." This is inexorible. What you give out, comes back, either to you or to your descendents. What you have is mostly what your ancestors bequeathed you. What you do with it is up to you. Christian evangelists speak of the "conviction of sin." That term had little impact upon me until I realized that it really means: "feeling that one deserves punishment." The "grace of salvation," on the other hand, really means that "the punishment that I am receiving has efficacy to save one thousand, one million people."

Based upon the realization that one deserves punishment, and that one's punishment will save others, one can live through the most miserable of circumstances and find meaning and hope. Reverend Moon said that we should consider others' mistakes as our own, and take responsibility for others' failures. He said that the person who does this will not decline.

This, I believe, is the theme underlying the popular movie, "Forrest Gump." Mr. Gump's gift was the ability to accept everything which came his way as destiny. He had no agenda of his own, in other words. If someone told him to do something; he obeyed. If someone asked him a favor, he committed his life to fulfilling it. In fact he was taking responsibility for others' failures. He promised his army buddy, for example, that he would take up shrimping, using the man's boat. The buddy died, but Mr. Gump kept the promise. His late friend's boat was a wreck, but Mr. Gump took responsibility for it, without a second thought. Thus he became a wealthy man.

Is Gump a fool, as he appears to be at first glance? Or is he a Christ-like figure, a St. Francis? I believe, in the final analysis, he is a fool, because he does not know what he is doing. He is making no moral decisions; he is not capable of them. When the pressure builds, he (literally) runs from it.

But Gump is a beautiful fool, of which the world is not worthy.

Why the Messiah Could Not Come from the West

It was Dr. Richard Rubenstein, if my memory serves me well, whom I heard comment once that religions must emerge from pre-modern cultures. I would like to elaborate on that insight, which I believe to be a true one.

Our society, to put it most simply, does not support the notion that one might die for an invisible and unreasonable power. One might die for his country, as a soldier in a war. One might die for his religion, even, as a martyr under a foreign and oppressive regime. But it is simply not plausible to die for an invisible reality which sends you against what the world believes reasonable. Unfortunately, God is invisible and often unreasonable.

In our culture, it is reasonable to be a Christian missionary, even at great sacrifice. But it is not reasonable to start a new religion. New religions never make sense to the world in which they emerge. This is because the new religion is proposing new principles and new implications of traditional principles. New religions proclaim new starting points. Since any religion make sense only on its own terms, a new religion has a particularly difficult time.

This is why the more successful a society is, the more resistant it is to new religions. Further, it is why a successful society cannot be the seed ground out of which a new religion will emerge.

The First National Sunday School Training Workshop

by Brian Sabourin

During the summer of 1994, I had the chance to tour America with Dr. Baughman and Dr. Kathy Winings for the purpose of conducting training workshops for CARP and Campus Ministry. One of the things we noticed during this trip was the widely varying state of our Sunday School programs. Depending upon where you were, members either had a very good program or no program at all.

Around this same time, True Father had assigned Jin Hun Nim to be responsible for the second generation education. So, when we returned from this trip and reported what we had seen, Jin Hun Nim asked us to begin the process of researching the means to improve the situation.

It was then that Kathy and I proposed the idea of a National Sunday School Task Force whose purpose would be to pull together the most experienced Sunday School teachers from the field to help develop a national-level Sunday School curriculum for our entire movement.

A number of very talented people were quick to lend their support. Laura Nebatani and Annie Paragjoekn from the Tarrytown Sunday School program volunteered to help develop the pre-K through 6th grade outlines. Sandra Lowen and Beverly Burnt lent their support to developing the junior high and high school programs. And Kathy Winings lent her professional teacher training skills to guide our many working where we struggled to come up with the basic structure and guidelines for setting behavioral objectives for each age level.

Before proceeding with the development of the curriculum, however, we realized that we needed to gather from the field all the available materials and course outlines that had been developed by our members over the years. With these materials at our disposal, and with clear behavioral objectives delineated from our numerous training meetings, we felt that we would be in a better position to develop a course outline for each age level that could really reflect a national effort.

Over the summer months Laura, Annie and Sandra became the main contributors to this task. By July, they had developed a modest, yet comprehensive outline that extended all the way from pre-k to high school. On this foundation, we now felt that we were ready to introduce these ideas and begin the process of providing a teacher training program to our national movement.

It was at this time, during the mid-summer months of this year, that both Jin Hun Nim and Rev. Joon Hyung Pak gave their full blessing to this program and encouraged us to go ahead with our plans. Letters were sent our from both the Unification Church National Headquarters and World CARP Headquarters offices to all Sunday school teachers, State Leaders, and Regional Leaders throughout America encouraging them to send their members to this first national Sunday School training workshop.

In the end, more than 100 people registered for this workshop. They came from all across America, often using their own money to pay for their flights and lodging costs. They came, I believe, because they all were motivated by the same unifying concern: to make a better educational Sunday School program for our children.

On the first morning of the seminar, the participants were greeted by Jin Hun Nim and Mr. Sung Am Moon who shared about the second generation workshop going on at that time in camp Sunrise. Later on that same afternoon, we also had the chance to hear from Rev. Pak who elaborated more on the purpose of Sunday School and our responsibility as teachers to carry on Father's tradition. All in all, the program proved to be a deeply enriching experience for all who attended.

As the program came to a close, each teacher was asked to develop their own materials and approaches to the curriculum based upon the outlines provided by the task force. Later this year, the task force will be contacting all teachers once again to ask for these newly developed materials. Then, based upon this new information, the task force will set about the job of combining all the information into one national course.

Finally, I would like to take a moment to express my thanks to the enormous efforts made by Kathy Winings, Laura Nebatani, Annie Paragjoekn and Sandra Lowen who single handedly worked to develop the first outline drafts. Without them, and without the help of the numerous teachers who sent in materials in support of our efforts, nothing would have happened. Thank you! And may God continue to bless your important efforts!

Teen Terrors

Sandra S. Lowen, Beacon, NY

"Timmy is such a sweet boy," his mother confides, "but in just three years he'll be a teenager. What do I do then?"

Of all the parent-child anxieties I hear, this one is the most often expressed. Our society has taught us a fear of major proportions regarding our little ones: someday they will reach puberty--and go through some Jekyll-and-Hyde metamorphosis from which they will not emerge until they have put their parents through unimaginable trials. In the meantime, God knows what will transpire.

Adolescence: A Modern Invention

Our great-grandparents would hardly understand our concerns. In their day, a person was either a child or an adult. By the time he was ten, a boy was generally hard at work in the fields, apprenticed to a trade, or immersed in the family business; and a girl of ten had long ago been involved with caring for younger siblings and learning household skills for marriage. Her wedding usually followed hard upon the onset of puberty.

With the rise of psychology and the advent of leisure time in the late 1800s, however, a third classification emerged: adolescence, the period of transformation from child to adult. Viewed as unique beings, it was in general the problematic child whom the clinicians saw; and their worst-scenario cases often were mistakenly viewed as the norms for the age.

Changes begin to occur in the pre-teen years. The eight-year-old girl may begin putting on body fat, and her ovaries begin to undergo the hormonal adjustments that will allow conception when she is older. Menstruation, breast development, lowered voice and development of body hair follow. The pre-pubescent (before puberty) aged boy experiences genital growth, lowered voice, increase in muscle strength, and long-bone development. To watch a child stretch a foot- and-a-half in a few short years is exciting, even awe-inspiring. It should not, therefore, be surprising that the child also undergoes marked changes in attitude, personality, and interests during this period.

Separation-Individuation

"Katie Kaboom", the Fifties-style cartoon teen whose temper frightens her family and actually does physical damage to their home is what many of us think of when we consider this age group. Yet, parents do not have to go through such difficulties if they stop and realize-- they've seen "Katie" before.

Shrink the teen down to about 34 inches in height. What do you have? Why, it's the two-year-old! If your child was typical, he was sweet, generally; but now and then, everything was, "No! I don't want to! I won't!" Occasionally the child threw himself down on the floor and kicked and screamed, or simply refused to budge.

What he was going through was a phenomenon known as separation- individualtion, the necessary realization that he was not an extension of his parents, but a unique being. Without this understanding, the child is unable to go beyond the family unit. Of course, he feels also ambivalence about leaving the nest; he is a tiny being in a great big world. This thought sends him scurrying back to Mommy or Daddy for support. But then he wants to get away again.

In adolescence, the child goes through separation-individuation again, as he attempts to escape the gravitational pull of the family. Mom and 3 Dad, whom he regarded up to now as possessing an authority and a wisdom surpassed only by God's, are 'old-fashioned', 'out-of-touch', whatever. He may perform daredevil stunts which can reach life- threatening proportions to prove he is not a scaredy little baby. He may do things that defy the family mores; lie, steal, curse--to challenge the parental authority and set the boundaries for his own morality. Yet, at times, when your tough half-man comes looking for a hug or your aloof little beauty-queen-apparent sits snuggled with her Pooh bear, it is apparent how vulnerable they still are.

They Must Increase, and We...

For some women, a unique problem may arise with their daughters. At the very moment the girl-child is at the flower of her beauty and promise, the mother is facing the prospect of decline; her fertility is decreasing, her gray hairs and wrinkles are increasing, her vitality is ebbing. Many a mother feels more than mild pangs of jealousy toward this suddenly gorgeous "other woman" in the house. Especially when the relationship between husband and wife is not totally secure, the wife may view the daughter's relationship with the father as competition.

Fathers, too, may naturally feel the pull of their daughters' developing sexuality. In a society in which incest is a reality, fathers may withdraw in confusion from their daughters when unprocessed feelings arise, fearful of the attractive young women that their sweet little girls have become. Sensing their fathers' coldness and failing to understand its cause, the daughters may well turn to male figures outside the home for needed masculine attention; an obviously problematical choice.

What can parents do to put their relationships with their daughters on the right track? Mothers need to view the blooming of their teenage daughters as the fruit of their own labor of love, rather than as a threat to their own femininity, and train their daughters in the appropriate behavior in the presence of men. As well, mothers should pay attention to their own grooming and attractiveness--their daughters are generally more than happy to help with this task--taking a little time to care for their personal appearance in the home as well as in public.

Fathers can realize that what they are feeling is not sexual desire for their offspring, but merely an awareness of their daughters' developing sexuality, much as one smells a rose in a garden. A father does not need that aspect of his child, and her scent is not for him. Secondly, he needs to draw closer to his spouse. Chances are, his daughter's is not the only flower whose fragrance he has caught. He needs to become more attentive to his wife; supporting her and recognizing the captivating beauty that comes in the second half of a woman's life. Thirdly, he needs to understand how vulnerable his daughter is, and move to protect her from attracting the wrong interest; after all, there are insects that destroy roses and humans who pick them. It is the father's task as well as the mother's to educate his child as to the ways of the world and the right attitude and behavior in it.

When Wild Is Not Wonderful

Mothers, particularly, try to curb their sons' rambunctiousness during the teen years. They cringe at the music, put down the hairstyles, and generally reject the son's growing aggressiveness. I have seen mothers who still dress their teenage sons in clothing they would reject as too babyish for their eight-year-olds! At the other extreme, however, are they who encourage the masculine aggression to the point that the boy becomes some sort of rakish James Dean figure, always at the 4 center of some commotion or discord. Mother bemoans his activities to all, at the same time encouraging them. For such women, the child fulfills their heroic daredevil fantasies that their husbands cannot.

Fathers, too, frequently attempt to mold their sons after their own image; pressing them to go into the family business or to excel at some sport or profession the father was denied. Others may view the male child as competition, and withhold approval and opportunity from him. This may manifest in anything from blatant denial of the child's needs to making the child "earn" every advantage.

Both mother and father need to realize that, while their children require their guidance, their destinies are their own. The good parent lovingly supports the child's emerging nature; pruning away the rough spots and nurturing that which is good and true. The wise parent wishes his child to go far beyond him.

For a mother, when a male reaches adulthood, he is gone. Much of his conversation will be with his father, his peers, or his spouse. Not a few mothers admit that they absolutely dread the day their sons are blessed, and already feel animosity toward their wives.

I teach that the old adage, 'you are not losing a son but gaining a daughter' is true. Commit yourself to loving your son's wife and the hearts of both of them will remain with you.

Again: children, like small plants, need room to grow. If they understand that their parents are committed to assist them in the growing process where necessary, but can allow them their own space when it is important that they have it, the battles will be minimal and the teenage years will be a time of drawing closer on both sides.

Reverend Moon Speaks to America

by Peter Ross-NYC

Recent months have attracted as great an interest in religion as the O.J. Simpson trial has in the art of punditry. In late August, the Dalai Lama came and spoke in several cities. His largest audience watched his somewhat disappointing interview with Ted Koppel on Nightline. His Holiness, John Paul II, preoccupied the national attention to a far greater extent - even securing large segments of time on some of the major networks throughout his 5-day visit to America. Beginning on September 5, another 75-year-old religious leader embarked upon what became a 16-city tour of America, one which he completed in 16 rigorous days. The Reverend Moon's crusade bridged the two other tours not just in time or in culture by bridging East and West together. Rather, his tour was distinguished by the contents of his address, The True Family And I .

Throughout his life, Reverend Moon has garnered great distinction in innumerable arenas. One of these is as "the marrying man" as one newspaper described him after the 30,000-couple Blessing ceremony in 1992. No one has brought together in marriage more couples and certainly no one in history has exceeded the size of these ceremonies. Who do you know that blessed the marriages of over 360,000 couples in a single ceremony? And he is not done yet! In addition to conducting Blessing '95 in August of this year, Reverend Moon convened eight major events as part of the 2nd World Culture and Sports Festival. These included: the Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace Parliament, the International Conference for the Unity of the Sciences, the Professors' World Peace Academy Conference, the World Media Conference, the Summit Council for World Peace Conference, the Women's Federation for World Peace Conference, the World CARP Convention, and the Han Ma Dang Sports Festival. To each conference Reverend Moon sgave a plenary address and at the conclusion of each conference he offered closing remarks. In between, there was time given to meet the various participants. Beyond the confines of the Festival, Reverend Moon continued to maintain leadership over his ever-expanding international foundation.

A reasonable person might think that such unparalleled feats were enough for one year. However, Reverend Moon immediately returned to America and embarked upon a very publicized speaking tour. His first stop was Philadelphia and his last stop - fifteen days later - was in Anchorage, Alaska. One of Philadelphia's dailies, The Philadelphia Daily News, noted that despite the absence of any couples to be married, Reverend Moon was nevertheless "clearly enjoying a kind of honeymoon as he spoke of marriage." The paper went on to quote some of his major statements affirming the original value of the family while pointing to those factors threatening "to destroy completely the family ideal."

The following day Reverend Moon made his New York appearance at the Manhattan Center where he addressed a very distinguished audience. The event was preceded by two simultaneous receptions: one, for VIP's which included Ambassadors, City Commissioners, jurists, Ministers, and academics; the second for members of the press corps which included among others the Associated Press, Bill Bell - the religion writer for the Daily News, Korean television, radio, and print, as well as other ethnic Asian representatives. For the press, this was an opportunity to once again have a direct experience of the Reverend Moon. All too often, the media have been inclined to allow a small and vocal group of hostile detractors to define and characterize both the Unification Church and its Founder. But here was Reverend Moon - direct, live, and accessible. And anyone encountering him on such terms can only be profoundly impressed. This was also a chance for the media to meet for the first time as Church President, Dr. Tyler Hendricks. In response to Bill Bell's question as to whether the Church had gone mainstream Dr. Hendricks was quoted as having replied: "We're in God's mainstream." Farley Jones, President of the Family Federation for Unification and World Peace, Dr. Frank Kaufmann, executive director of the Inter Religious Federation for World Peace, Reverend John Gering, director of the Religious Youth Service, and Ms. Karen Smith of Ocean Church were all available to give extensive context to the scope of Reverend Moon's acclaimed work in those areas which they each represented. Ms. Beverly Freed, who was directly responsible for outreach to the media for the New York event, had done a commendable job to facilitate this reception.

For the main program, William Lay, NY Chair for the FFUWP, served as emcee. He first introduced Bishop D. Ward Nicols who had been invited to offer an invocation. Bishop Nicols is currently the senior bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In addition to his distinguished service in the AME Church, Bishop Nicols is a member of the World Council of Churches' Central Committee, the World Methodist Council, and is a trustee of various universities throughout the world. Following him was H.E. Ambassador Mario Nobilo who extended the appreciation of his government to the Reverend Moon for the relief work that had been carried out in Croatia under the auspices of the International Relief Friendship Foundation. Dr. Herbert London, the John M. Olin Professor of Humanities, New York University, offered effusive comments to welcome Reverend Moon to New York on this portion of his national tour. Ambassador Phillip V. Sanchez, Publisher of Noticias Del Mundo, introduced Reverend Moon while exuding his customary natural warmth and intellectual keenness.

On the following day, Thursday, September 7, Reverend Moon was invited to the University of Bridgeport to receive an honorary doctoral degree. He availed of this occasion to again deliver The True Family And I. The university had just recently awarded a degree to Mrs. Hak Ja Han Moon. The New York Times published an extensive report on this event. It selected as its quote-of-the-day Dr. Richard Rubenstein's explanation for why the university had awarded Reverend Moon this particular doctorate. As President of the university he had stated: "If you have somebody who's that much of a benefactor, you don't just shake his hand and say thank you. Without him, the university would have died." Representing the feminine perspective, Donna Philips, head of the faculty council, was quoted in the Times for having stated that "she was happy the university could formally thank a benefactor who had given so much."

In extending coverage to this event, both the Times and the local Connecticut Post referenced a small but seemingly (unseemly?) embittered protest by some local red-necks. "Furious Rabbi Stein" (as characterized in the Times) of the local Coalition of Concerned Citizens was photographed while piercing the air with his finger in rabid protest. The Connecticut Post described his contribution to an otherwise civil occasion thusly: ""I'm shaking with rage," seethed Rabbi Israel Stein." While the protest only attracted a dozen folks they all sang from the same sheet. One of the protesters was identified as Cynthia Lilley. She is a national advisor for the American Family Foundation and her 15 minutes of fame arrived during her attempt to defame the Unification Church in a charade on NBC's Today show several years ago. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

On the foundation of these first three cities, Reverend Moon moved through the nation. Published articles in the major papers, as well as announcements on radio and television, heralded his arrival. After his speeches, banner headlines recorded the substantive content of his speech. Among others, these included: "Rev. Moon espouses love, values (Boston's Sunday Telegram); "Rev. Moon Answers His Critics In Visit" (Chicago Sun-Times); "Moon urges matrimony" (Houston Chronicle); "Body-mind unity would end violence, Rev. Moon says" (Denver's Rocky Mountain News); "1,500 hear the Rev. Moon focus on family in L.B." (Press Telegram, Long Beach, CA); "Moon brings message of family love" (Seattle Post-Intelligencer); Rev. "Moon spreads message of love to Miami beach audience" (Sun-Sentinel, Miami Beach). Through his own unchanging service to America and despite opposition as a result of uninformed prejudice, public recognition from those informed of his message and his work is finally being heard and seen. This can only continue and become an increasingly pervasive influence in popular culture. Those who introduced Reverend Moon in the various cities introduced his work in general terms to the assembled audiences. But in particular, they could speak with unquestioned authority of Reverend Moon's work in their respective field of endeavor. In Seattle, Professor Joseph Bettis, an emeritus religious studies professor at Western Washington University and a United Methodist minister introduced Reverend Moon as a leading voice in the world for diversity and tolerance - spiritual. racial, cultural, political and that Reverend Moon is "the great spiritual teacher for the 21st century." At the University of Minnesota, retired Colonel Buford Johnson commented in his introduction: "I look at what they're preaching - God, family, and love - and I wonder what the big problem is. Americans are paranoid." Dr. Morton Kaplan, professor emeritus at the University of Chicago introduced Reverend Moon by re-iterating his remarkable contribution to the demise of Communism.

It seemed that even those who have set themselves apart as Reverend Moons' most hostile of critics could not restrain themselves from recording the arduous road that this man of faith has walked from the obscurity of war-torn Korea to establish an international foundation of the highest integrity. Cynthia Kisser, executive director of the Cult Awareness Network was quoted in the Chicago Sun Times as stating "that the hiring of [former president} Bush, and the appearance of Coretta Scot King and Barbara Walters at a Moon-connected conference in Washington this spring, indicate Moon is "becoming entrenched politically and socially.""

Reverend Moon's tour concluded in his beloved Alaska where he spoke in Anchorage. ["At-last-ka" as he once described it.] The Anchorage Daily News reported on this program. The paper noted the tremendous investment Reverend Moon has made in the fishing industry in pursuit of his vision for solving the tragedy of human starvation by wisely utilizing the resources of the ocean. This report referenced how International Seafoods of Alaska has "worked closely with federal, state, and local officials to develop a new protein powder from fish discards that has been shipped overseas to feed hungry people ... ." The paper pointed out that "Moon's cross-country tour has helped revive the media spotlight that first shone in the early '70s as he attracted thousands of U.S. adherents." The paper noted how subsequently "critics attacked him" and that some of these attacks have persisted even until today.

Back to the pope. There are many factors which account for the commanding attention which His Holiness attracted throughout his 5 day visit to America. It is true that our contemporary culture has been leveled to most base level as a result of what the pontiff himself characterized as the "culture of flight from God." Equally true is the reality that this could only have resulted from the cumulative ineptitude and the internal corruption within the traditional moral and spiritual authorities of our age. Nevertheless, amidst this devastation, along comes a figure of uncompromising personal religious integrity who, despite the opposition both from within and without his very own Roman Catholic tradition, has been unshakable. To many in this parched spiritual climate, his presence and his message offers solace in the moment and hope for the future. One day before addressing his audience at the United Nations, the pope said: "But even if there is a crisis, a solution must be found because it is worthwhile to have this international organization, this family of nations. Nations, too, need a family. They cannot live alone as orphans." He spoke of the unprecedented opportunities for justice, reconciliation and development now visible in the world. But, he then continued: "Ancient rivalries and suspicions still compromise the cause of peace. We must find ways to set them aside. If we do not, history and the Lord of History will judge us harshly."

At this juncture, Reverend and Mrs. Moon have come. They are prescribing the essential solution for resolving our modern or post- modern cultural crises. Throughout their entire lives, as True Parents, they have sought to redress the "culture of flight from God" by affirming the teachings and embodying the practices of the essential religious truths. Moreover, they have acted to convey God's impassioned revelation to modern man. Empowered by this understanding, they have already developed successful paradigms for the effective resolution of those "ancient rivalries."

By the time this edition of Unification News has gone to print, Reverend Moon and his immediate family will have imparted the seminal message of The True Family And I, to audiences in every state throughout America. They plan to share it with a wider international audience as they travel to over 160 countries in the coming months. As people around the world hear this message - uncompromised and unapologetic, profound and instructive - and learn of Reverend Moon and his life-long work for themselves, they will come to regard him with great appreciation and distinction. However, his purpose has never been one of personal reward. But his consistently stated intention is to effect the conclusion of a process initiated by God, all too long ago, for the restoration of the human family. Reverend Moon concludes his speech by repeatedly stating, with great conviction and hope:

"As you probably know, Reverend Moon and his spouse are known throughout the world as the True Parents. If it is true that as the True Parents, we are connected to God in true love, true life, and true lineage, I would like you to remember one thing. Beginning from a true family and you, a realm of liberation, liberty, unification and happiness will begin. This will allow the hope of peace to sprout upon the earth."

Report on the Third World Peace Conference

by Antonio Betancourt-Washington, DC

The 3rd World Peace Conference of the Federation for World Peace was a total success! As part of the 2nd World Culture and Sports Festival, we were able to enhance the value and importance of the festival through the participation of the esteemed guests.

Held at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, Korea from Aug. 22 to the 24th, the 3rd WPC was co-hosted by the Summit Council for World Peace, AULA (the Association for the Unity of Latin America), and the Segye Times newspaper. Under the theme, World Peace and Human Solidarity, the event was chaired by the Rt. Hon. Edward Schreyer, Governor General of Canada (1979-84). The keynote address was given by the Rt. Hon. Sir Edward Heath, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1970-74).

The international event brought together thirty-three current and former heads of state, government and prime ministers; six current and former vice presidents and deputy prime ministers; and more than one hundred distinguished statesmen including ambassadors, senators, congressmen, cabinet ministers, university presidents and scholars from seventy nations. The Republic of Korea was well-represented with scholars of great prestige from government and private think tanks, and notably, former prime minister Young Hoon Kang attended the inaugural plenary.

Opening Plenary

In the Crystal Ballroom of the Lotte hotel, one of the founders of modern democracy in Central America, H.E. Mario Echandi, President of Costa Rica (1958-62) eloquently introduced the Founder to the august gathering of 1,000 guests that included our conference participants, local dignitaries, embassy officials from the diplomatic community and members of the press. Dr. Echandi said,

"I am given the opportunity to remember some passages of the life of this great and splendid man, Rev. Sun Myung Moon. A life permanently devoted to seeking and doing good for his fellow men. A life pursuing that which is spiritual over that which is material. Possessor of an exquisite interpretation of the Bible enabling him to find the path to get us into communion with God."

In the founder's address, Father gave a landmark speech on the unique times that we live in.

"In the 1960s when I first visited "the land of opportunity," it seemed that the whole world wanted to be like the United States. We deeply admired the life depicted on American television and cinema. On Sundays the rich and moving sound of church hymns echoed throughout the land. The comic character, Superman, the defender of "truth, justice and the American way" was a symbol of America's righteous spirit. Her city streets were orderly, spotless, and beautiful. In those days, the whole world looked to America with an envious eye."

"When we look at America today, what do we see? We see a nation in decay. Difficult and seemingly insoluble problems are mounting. Moral corruption and rising violent crime are most disturbing. Murder, drugs, divorce, child abuse, kidnapping and teenage pregnancy all characterize this country. As one who loves that great nation with all my heart, I am deeply pained by what I see."

Father addressed some of the problems of the developing countries and cautioned them not to follow the example of the developed countries that sought irresponsible self-centered satisfaction at the cost of the creation and environment. He said,

"All of the developed countries at the end of the 20th century are struggling with many of the same problems. What is the reason? It is because the developed nations of the world have fallen into a pit of materialism and national selfishness. Since the mind and spirit are controlled by our obsession for material wealth, our true essence as human beings has become a slave of our own desires. The result is a collapse of true love. Although there is an abundance of material wealth and our cities are lined with skyscrapers, the mind of mankind has dried up like a desert and the life of mankind has become desolate because the oasis of true love cannot be found. In addition, the absence of true love is the breeding ground for selfishness and the most serious victim of this attitude is the creation and environment."

In an eloquent manner he expounded on the meaning of the blessing of the 360,000 couples and encouraged the entire assembly to participate in the worldwide movement to restore the world. He said,

"A new order based on true love cannot be established without a revolutionary process. The True Parents of mankind have come to ignite the peaceful revolution of true love. The International Holy Wedding is fanning the flames of the revolution of True Love and providing the opportunity for the re-creation or restoration of the world.

"The Blessing Ceremony of August 25th will embrace 360,000 couples. When this number increases to 3,600,000 couples, to 36 million couples, to 360 million couples, and to 3.6 billion couples, AIDS will be eradicated from human society. The world of pure love where God and man become one will be realized. This is not just a dream. The fulfillment of God's Providence for the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth is destined to come about because it is not the work of man alone, but the work of God."

The practical significance and depth of Father's message was complemented by Sir Edward Heath who gave a panoramic briefing of the world's five blocs - European Union, United States, former Soviet Union, China, and Japan. Sir Edward challenged the conference participants to improve the world. Sir Edward said,

"We are now living internationally in a period of transition. Such has not been known for probably a century and a half in this world. The difficulty is, or should I say one of the difficulties is, that all too many people in our countries don't yet realize that we are in a period of transition, nor do they recognize what that transition means. When we look about the world, we see now the development of many problems. The preservation of peace is a phrase constantly used. It might perhaps be more accurate to say the creation of peace because in so many places today we see strife of some of the harshest kind ever seen on this earth. Our purpose must be to find ways of resolving the existing strife, and moreover, to find ways of preventing similar outbreaks of strife in the future. This covers, therefore, a whole range of problems and possible solutions."

In a call to action, Sir Edward said, "This responsibility still rests upon us, upon you, and it requires not only discussion in a conference but decision in our own minds as to how to act, and then action when we return to our own countries, to our own committees, to our own international organizations."

Plenary Sessions

There were two plenary sessions. (1) Steps Toward Resolution of Korea's 50-Year-Old Conflict and was chaired by H.E. Rodrigo Carazo, President of Costa Rica (1978-82), who is one of the world's foremost experts on the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

The reunification of Korea, or at least its confederation, seems closer at hand than at any time in the past five decades. This plenary session examined steps that can be taken by the two Koreas and the four regional powers toward reducing tensions and establishing ongoing dialogue, as well as longer range scenarios and processes by which the peninsula can be integrated, including conflict resolution process proven in areas of high tension around the world. It was particularly mindful of the changes in the regional environment of the past year, including the transition in leadership in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Agreed Framework signed between the United States and the DPRK, and the greater possibilities these present.

(2) Harmony Between Economic Development and Environmentalism and was chaired by H.E. Aziz Sidky, Prime Minister of Egypt (1972-73). In much of the world, the rush to economic development has been accompanied by the flight of populations from the countryside to urban centers, a rise in environmental destruction, and increases in the social ills associated with overcrowded cities. This session focused on the crucial balance between economic development and improving the natural environment. Moreover, it was centrally concerned with the balance of rural and urban development. Humankind must come "back to nature" before nature is no longer able to support our existence. Models must be developed that recognize the interdependence of environment and healthy economies.

At the conclusion of the two-day conference, many motions and resolutions were passed. The most provocative called for the denuclearization of the world beginning with declaring East Asia as a nuclear free zone. The resolution was distributed to governments around the world, our contacts, and published in newspapers in Korea and Japan.

Finally, the participants unanimously adopted the Third World Peace Conference Declaration and presented it to the Founders at the final banquet, Aug. 25, 1995.

FWP's International Impact

The FWP peace conferences, this being the third, have a distinctive feature and tradition. The guests are tasked to return to their homelands and constituents and pass on the knowledge, information, and commitment. There is a tremendous ripple effect as the former heads of state and government network among the policymakers and opinion leaders. There are profound implications in how these nations align themselves after having been exposed to the international debate and uplifting and inspiring experience.

One notable example is MERCOSUR and NAFTA, the free trade agreements that are taking place in Latin America. Beginning in 1984, AULA (Association for the Unity of Latin America, an affiliate of the Federation for World Peace) convened seven international conferences in major capitals around the world in which the leaders of the hemisphere were invited to discuss Latin unity from the constitutional, political, cultural and economic perspectives. The idea for free trade agreements was entertained and later blossomed within individuals who were able to make an impact among their peers working towards unity in Latin America. In this manner, those who participated in our conferences have helped bring forth free trade agreements between the United States, Mexico and Canada, a project which is likely to be expanded to Chile and Colombia in the near future, and of course the other free trade agreement in the southern cone between the nations of Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.

Today, a decade later, we can quantitatively measure the strides forward. Many of the attendees publicly credit AULA for its significant and contributing role. The creation of NAFTA and the other trade agreements in the southern cone have long been the vision and commitment of our founders, who contributed significantly toward this end.

The Federation for World Peace is not a short-term project. In Father's vision, the goals and objectives are measured in decades or even longer. The heads of state, government and prime ministers truly admire the Founders and respect the embracing profundity of the Principle as it applies to world peace and development.

The Blessing

We are happy to report that out of a total of 223 attendees at the Third World Peace Conference, 48 participated in the Blessing on Aug. 25th. Among them were former heads of state, prime ministers, ambassadors and current congressional leaders from around the world. It was a joyful moment to see dear friends and champions who have dedicated their lives as public individuals at the national and international level to embrace the eternal quest for physical as well as spiritual peace in their communities and the world under the inspiration of our True Parents and the ideals of the Unification Movement.

A Word of Gratitude

An event of this magnitude required enormous efforts and cooperation on the part of the entire movement. It is the result of countless hours of witnessing and prayers by brothers and sisters around the world. We thank you all and especially Dr. Bo Hi Pak (who could not be there), and the Festival office led by Rev. Chung Hwan Kwak, Amb. Sang Kook Han and the countless people who all supported this tremendous effort. With a sense of deep gratitude we offer this conference to Heavenly Father and our True Parents.

Antonio Betancourt is the Deputy Secretary General of the Federation for World Peace.