Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon’s World Tour Comes To New York City

Rev. Eric Holt -- NYC

Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon is currently on a world Speaking Tour. Originating in Korea and Japan, the tour landed in the U.S. on March 19, and on March 21, New York City’s Manhattan Center prepared a warm welcome for this great lady of vision. The Manhattan Center has played host to practically every known "famous" person: from Einstein to Madonna and Pavarotti. And so it was, that, on March 21, this magnificent woman of God, destined to be more famous that all of her predecessors, was due to speak.

As organizers, we were not quite sure what would happen on the day of the event, and who would show up. Well - as it happened, the Grand Ballroom of the Manhattan Center was filled to capacity one hour before the program was scheduled to start! An overflow area in the adjacent New Yorker Hotel filled up too. A local newspaper reported that 3,000 people were there, (pretty close -- anyway, who are we to dispute the fact-finding of the local media?!) Over half of those who came were first-timers, who had never heard Dr. Moon before. Our lonely pioneers in the Bronx, under the pastorship of Rev. and Mrs. Esteban Galvan, brought 7 bus-loads of fresh faces (over 450 people). Hundred more came by bus, subway, etc., from Brooklyn, Harlem, Queens, Manhattan, Long Island, Westchester County, Rockland County, etc.

At the VIP reception one hour before the start of the program, we were honored by the presence of several U.N. ambassadors, ministers, imams, educators, and government officials -- over eighty in all. The atmosphere was light, joyful and full of expectation as we mingled among this who’s who of New York City.

The day was not without incident. Just before the program was due to start water started to pour in like a waterfall from the ceiling on to the stage. Not the best time to do a cleaning! It turned out that the roof had been (unsuccessfully) repaired, and the heavy rain just poured in. The stage crew worked desperately to stem the flow of water and were fairly successful, although not entirely. The outcome was that, during Dr. Moon’s speech, in additional to the beautiful blue lit floral backdrop, there was a "special effect", namely slowly dripping water about 15 feet behind the speaker!

The program began with a spiritual extravaganza as local host Rev. Daryl Clarke introduced the 100-member St. Paul’s Community Baptist Church Choir, clad in beautiful African robes. As they swayed back and forth, the deep spirit of their relatively subdued singing filled the theater. Then, emcee, Rev. Michael Jenkins introduced the invocator, Dr. O.B.J. Burson, pastor of The Holy Trinity Baptist Church, in Brooklyn, and an official in the National Baptist Convention. Following the invocation, Carmen Tancredi, an opera singer with the New York Metropolitan Opera, offered a rendition of a classical piece.

Warm welcoming remarks were offered by a U.N. ambassador, followed by an introduction by Dr. Tyler Hendricks, President of Family Federation. We were treated to a 10-minute video about Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, highlighting her many achievements for world peace, unification, and family values. By this time, everyone was on the edge of their seats as we waited for the entrance of the principal speaker.

Dr. Moon came on stage attired in an elegant green suit. She smiled beautifully, as she approached the podium to give her speech. Her 50-minute talk was punctuated by bursts of applause and "amens" -- dozens of times, and at the end the audience rose to its feet in appreciation.

Dr. Moon spoke passionately about the path which all humankind is destined to walk. Just what is it that we should pursue in our life? The thing that everyone needs, even God Himself, is true love. If we live such an authentic way of life, we can enjoy true freedom in this life and in the world to come. Each of us passes through three phases during our life: the time in the womb, out earthly life, and our eternal life in the spiritual world. We need to prepare now for life in the hereafter. How? By practicing love in the family and by living for the sake of others. There is nothing more precious than a true person who possesses true love. We need to experience such a life of true love while we are in this earthly life. In the world to come, love is the air we breathe. In that world, if we have prepared well, we will have the ability to fly anywhere -- on the wings of love! The unfortunate reality is that we are not living this way. This is all the more sad for God Himself, as our Creator -- the One who had the greatest hope for His original children, Adam and Eve. The Messiah comes to rectify this, as the True Parents, a substitute as it were, for fallen Adam and Eve. God and humankind are longing for the original homeland of true love. As we approach the new millennium, the hope of humankind and the hope of God rests with our establishing families of true love, where spouses are eternally in love and faithful to each other, where parents sacrifice for their children, where children piously return joy to their parents, their grandparents, and to God.

After Dr. Moon’s speech, she was presented with several awards. A U.N. ambassador had prepared a special award which he presented to Dr. Moon. Over 130 New York clergy offered a plaque honoring Dr. Moon. The New York Christian Times, through its publisher, Rev. Dennis Dillon, presented Dr. Moon with its prestigious "Front Page Award". Numerous letters, proclamations and awards were received (over 100 in all) from local Mayors, from the New York State Assembly, from U.S. Congressmen, and from various organizations. One Bronx residents’ organization with over 100,000 members honored Dr. Moon as "The Lady of the Century"!

The program concluded with an excellent musical presentation from a group led by Rev. Philip Thomas, a well known performer in New York, and as they prepared to come on stage, Rev. Clarke announced the winners of the door prizes.

At the post-program reception with Dr. Moon, Rev. Moon, who had been listening to the entire program by telephone from South America, spoke with and sang to his wife! It was an enchanting moment when Dr. Moon sang a delightful English song for Rev. Moon. Others joined in and sang solos back and forth across the hemispheres. Rev. Dillon also sang. In the end, we can say that a great woman of God came and truly blessed New York. Hers is indeed a message for the new millennium. Families of true love are the gateway to happiness. Many people worked long and hard to make this a successful and memorable event, and special thanks are due to these many brothers and sisters, too numerous to mention.

A Call to Christians

Charles Kannal
Columbus, OH
March, 1999

This was written as an explanation of our community to the Christian community.

Jesus is the Son of God. We honor His supreme example of sacrificial love. And we trust Him to reconcile us with God, our Heavenly Father.

Jesus prayed for all believers: that they may be one as He and the Father are one. Yet Christianity has been and continues to be divided. Historically, Christians have fought wars and shed blood (in very un-Christ-like ways) over what it means to be truly Christian. The true measure of being Christian is how well we love God and love one another. The animosity persisting today between various groups of Christians reflects our failure to keep Jesus’ commandment of love.

Following Jesus Christ means more than lip service to a set of beliefs or membership in a particular organization. Over-concern for dogma or ecclesiastical authority hinders the practice of genuine Christian love.

God desires that we love one another as He has loved us. In this context, we are all in desperate and continuous need of God’s grace. For who among us has loved perfectly?

Arrogance, narrow-mindedness, bigotry, self-righteousness and every form of impurity damage our relationships with one another and ultimately with God. We need humility, repentance, and healing that only the Spirit of God can bring.

Each human being is unique and infinitely valuable to God. He created us in His image, male and female. Each person has the capacity to uniquely reciprocate and multiply God’s love. Let us therefore appreciate one another and forgive each other’s shortcomings as God forgives us.

Let our unity be a unity of love. Not just in word, but in practice. Let us reach beyond differences of doctrine and organization. With humility and repentance let us seek first the love of God in all that we do. Let us melt the barriers of race, culture, ignorance and fear which have so long separated us. And may the light of our love so shine to the people of the world that they will glorify our Father in Heaven.

Who is a Good Christian?

The highest aspiration of Christians is to be one as Jesus and the Father are one. To have the Spirit of God, who is love, fully dwelling and moving in us. To be the children of God who love as God loves.

Who is deserving of our love? We should love not only those close to us, our brothers and sisters in Christ; we should love even our enemies. Just as Christ loved us while we were yet sinners.

The ability to love God and love God’s children is not defined by doctrine nor constrained by church walls. The Spirit of God moves as He wills, touching our innermost hearts, healing us, transforming us, making us anew. We bear the fruits of the Spirit as we move in harmony with Him. Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Monophysite, Protestant, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, Christian Scientist, etc. It matters not what labels we ascribe. All who display the fruits of the love of God are the children of God.

Rev. Moon’s teaching differs from normally accepted Christian doctrine. Numerous Christian leaders over the years have ostracized Rev. Moon, calling him a charlatan or heretic. When I joined Rev. Moon’s church years ago as a young Christian, I was concerned and cautious because of such accusations. However, I followed the urgings of the Holy Spirit which I felt deep in my heart. I closely observed Rev. Moon and his movement. Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruits." (Mt. 7:16) My conclusion is that Rev. Moon is a genuine man of God. Moreover, the world has not seen such a man of God walking the face of the earth since the days of Jesus.

Throughout his life, Rev. Moon has sought to convey God’s love, God’s blessing, and God’s truth to all people. He has practiced and fostered in others, the sacrificial way of life for the sake of God’s will. Rev. Moon has initiated and sustained numerous organizations and projects which encourage understanding and harmony among the peoples, races, religions, cultures, governments and educators of the world. All centering in the love of God. And Rev. Moon has blessed the marriages of millions of couples worldwide: that they be rooted in the original love, life and lineage of God.

The Family and the Blessing of Holy Marriage

God is love. The very purpose for which God created us is the fulfillment of true love and joy. God, our ultimate Parent and the Source of all true love, created us in families. The family is the school of love. In the family we learn parental love, children’s love, conjugal love, and love between brothers and sisters.

However, humankind lost true, God-centered love when our first ancestors, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God. Their love became corrupted, sin crept into the first family, and all humankind has suffered the consequences of separation from God. We need the grace of God’s forgiveness. And ultimately we must restore true relationships of love with God and with each other.

Rev. Moon’s core mission is to transmit God’s blessing of holy marriage to the people of the world for the restoration of true love in God-centered families. The Blessing revolves around four points:

1. Affirming God as the source of love and the center of the true family.

2. Eternal love and fidelity between husband and wife.

3. Raising children in the will of God by teaching chastity before marriage.

4. Loving all people of the world as God’s children and encouraging them to follow the ideal of true love in true families.

Rev. Moon does not ask people to change their religion or church affiliation in order to receive this blessing. God has mandated it for all people. It is for their benefit, and for the sake of all future generations. People need only concur with the commitments to true relationships. Everyone should seek to become true children to God, true parents to our children, true husbands and wives to our spouses, and true brothers and sisters to all people. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Mt. 5:6)

Rev. Moon’s Theology

What a tragic irony that the foremost advocate of peace, understanding and Godly love should be so misunderstood and mistreated by his own people, the Christians!

Although often misunderstood and ill-treated, Rev. Moon has never sought revenge on those who have treated him unjustly. Satan has attacked even from within his own family. Rev. Moon desires only repentance and restoration to God-centered relationships.

In this short paper I hope to dispel some of the ignorance, fear and misunderstanding which have kept Christians from the special message and blessing which God is bringing through Rev. and Mrs. Moon.

I try to touch areas of concern while retaining a sense of the cohesiveness of Rev. Moon’s thought. Major sources are Exposition of Divine Principle, and True Love and True Family, available from HSA Publications, 4 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036 (www.hsabooks.com) 212-997-9050 ext 250.

The core of Rev. Moon’s message is that God is our loving Parent. Love is paramount. The practice of true love outshines any theology.

Truth itself is unique, eternal, immutable and absolute. Scriptures are not the truth itself, but an expression of truth. The Bible is a compilation of books written by men who were inspired of God. They reveal the central providence of God, and guide us to Christ who is "the way, the truth and the life." Jesus Christ, in the flesh, is himself the incarnation of truth.

Truth can be found everywhere, even as God is omnipresent. But most profoundly, we experience truth deep within our hearts. Truth resonates with our original mind (conscience) which is made in the image of God. Blemished with sin and impurity, fallen humanity has difficulty following the original mind. But God says His word is close: in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. (De. 30:14)

Rev. Moon has been criticized for not following the Nicene Creed regarding the Holy Trinity. Yet, the Nicene Creed is not the Word of God . It is a human interpretation that attempts to reconcile various passages of Scripture with an understanding of reality rooted in Greek philosophy. It uses terminology not found in the Bible, describing God as being three Persons yet one Substance. ("Substance" in the philosophical sense might be better rendered in today’s English as "Essence").

Rev. Moon draws from Eastern wisdom as well as Western thought. In Oriental thought, relationship underlies existence itself. Rev. Moon describes the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in terms of relationship. Their unity is the Oneness of perfect love.

I think Rev. Moon’s approach is consistent with the Bible. It is unfortunate that many proponents of Trinitarian doctrine uphold theirs as the only correct teaching. Human attempts to define God vanish in the light of His all-encompassing love.

Purpose of Creation

God’s purpose in creating is to experience joy in loving relationships. Joy is not experienced alone. Love requires a partner. God created us as His children so that we could share His most profound love. We are to return joy to God. This is understood through God’s three great blessings given in Genesis 1:28. We are to grow as mature individuals in the love of God (be fruitful). We are to multiply and fill the earth with loving families. And we are to care for the rest of God’s creation with His love. All aspects of Rev. Moon’s theology are seen in the light of fulfilling God’s purpose of creation.

Human beings are God’s most precious creation. He grants us freedom so that we are able to freely respond to His love. Freedom entails responsibility. True love cannot be forced.

God is absolute. He is in ultimate control of everything. Yet, in His process of creating, He has chosen to share responsibility with humankind. This is what qualifies us above the rest of creation to be His children. During our growth toward perfection, God gives us His love, guidance and direction. But He does not interfere with our freedom and responsibility.

God has absolutely predestined the fulfillment of His purpose of creation. But exactly how it is carried out depends upon our response to God.

The Fall

God created us in His image, male and female. Sexual love is a most profound expression of God’s nature. Sexual love transmits life and lineage. It must be used responsibly. Only by husband and wife in the bonds of heavenly marriage.

God guided Adam and Eve as they were growing. He commanded them to not eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The fruit symbolized sexual love. Love is the most powerful force. In essence, God was warning Adam and Eve not to misuse their love. To use their love properly, in accord with God’s direction, was Adam and Eve’s portion of responsibility. But Eve listened to the temptation of the serpent (an angelic being) and ate the fruit. She gave some to Adam who also ate. This caused them to be cast out of the Garden of Eden, separated from God (spiritual death), and unable to fulfill the purpose of creation. Satan, the fallen angel, has acted as the false father of humankind, "the god of this world."

God granted humankind freedom and responsibility. In God’s providential history, there are thus two possibilities for human beings: to accomplish God’s will, or to fail to do God’s will. God thus gives two lines of prophecy regarding the future: blessing and curse. For example, Adam and Eve could either obey God’s commandment to not eat of the fruit and live. Or they could disobey and die.

The Old Testament gives two kinds of prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. As a victorious king of kings. Or as a suffering servant. These prophecies are not about two separate advents, but about the two possibilities that the Lord might be welcomed or rejected. "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John." (Mt. 11:13)

God, being in ultimate control, deals with the result of human actions. He sets up the conditions necessary for human beings to restore their failures, and thus constantly works toward the fulfillment of His purpose of creation.

Salvation

Salvation , is synonymous with restoration, resurrection and recreation. All are different aspects of the same process: bringing fallen humankind back to the point of fulfilling the purpose of creation. In this sense, the Unification view of salvation is akin to both salvation and sanctification within established Christian teachings.

"Messiah" means God’s anointed one. Begotten of God through Mary, Jesus came as the new Adam to fulfill what the first Adam had failed. Jesus, as a man, completed his individual responsibility, growing to perfect oneness in the love of God. As God incarnate, he shouldered the responsibility to bring all humanity back to God. To accomplish this, Jesus needed to restore a woman in the position of Eve, marry, and establish an ideal family centering in the love of God. Then all fallen humanity would have been able to engraft with Jesus’ family for rebirth both spiritually and physically. (Physically in the sense that it would take place during life on earth.)

However, Jesus was never able to find a bride. Satan invaded the people around him. John the Baptist initially testified to Jesus, but latter doubted him and failed to serve him. A close disciple, Judas Iscariot, betrayed him. Jesus consequently had to go the way of the cross to accomplish at least spiritual salvation.

Killing Jesus on the cross was Satan’s victory. But the power of Jesus’ sacrificial love and absolute obedience overcame the power of death and Jesus was resurrected. The resurrected Jesus, together with the Holy Spirit in the position of his bride, grant spiritual rebirth to those who believe in and follow Jesus.

The Second Coming

New Testament Prophecies about the return of Christ parallel the Old Testament prophecies concerning the first coming. Many are couched in symbolism. Some are not easily recognized as applying to the Messiah. There are prophecies about victory and prophecies about suffering.

To complete the purpose of creation, Christ must come in the flesh and build God’s kingdom on earth. As prophesied in Revelation 12, the returning Lord will be born on earth. Christians should consider the possibility that the Lord will appear as a different person with a new name, coming in the spirit and power of Jesus; just as John the Baptist fulfilled the return of Elijah. And that the marriage supper of the Lamb is more than mystical symbolism for the unity of Christ and the Church. It is the Lord’s substantial marriage.

Many Unificationists believe Rev. Moon to be the returning Lord. What really counts, however, is God’s point of view. If you don’t believe my testimony, observe the works. And pray to God for guidance.

Whatever you decide, continue to practice the sacrificial love of Jesus and keep him at the center of your life. He is our Rock and the source of our salvation. Even if our views on God’s truth remain different, we will ultimately be united in the love of God.

Bridge-building on the Great Plains

Rev. Michael Yakawich
Billings MT

We started our year off with a whack! That is, with a piñata whack, as we celebrated True God’s Day 1999 on January 1 with a lot of neighbors in the community. It was a great chance to welcome old and new friends into the church, push away the pews, and celebrate. We had a brief talk on the value of the day; then we had a potluck buffet, songs, testimonies and even a magic show. Later, we had a piñata stuffed with candy for the children to break open. With 60 people attending (including children), most were guests from around the community.

On New Year’s Eve, our church was invited to another church for evening service. We could share and sing together. I was invited to give the sermon about "True God’s Day." Then, at midnight with my family, our members and the host congregation, we knelt in prayer. We were very grateful to share with our friends the dawning of 1999.

Some may ask "Why give so much testimony on your rural ministry? It is true that (inspiringly) places like Chicago and New Jersey, for example, have so much to highlight. We do celebrate in their victories and learn from them. Also, I am confident that smaller churches in our ministry have also a lot to highlight. Like branches on a tree, some of our work may seem like small fruit or minor leaf production. Yet, as a whole tree, we make a very dynamic and powerful ministry nationwide and worldwide.

Our Japanese sisters have been working hard. They sponsored a program at the church, gathering other Japanese friends for the New Year. At that same time, an elder Japanese sister helped sponsor a program at the local YMCA. The local paper (Billings Gazette) reported, "Wounds of war find healing in Japanese-American marriages." It provided an opportunity for deeper dialogue and sharing of Asian and American traditions.

We have been challenged by the need for outreach to the neighborhood youth. Recently we have been doing a youth program for all young people in the community. Combining a talk on Principle and a fun event, each month we have been gathering church youth and neighbors for such events as making a manger scene out of cardboard, and painting it, as well as bowling, ice skating and movies. Now the young people are asking, "When is the next program?" and the parents trust us and are coming closer to our church through all this.

During the Blessing of 1999, our Bishop Rev. Weon Geun Kim challenged us to do a satellite hookup in a local restaurant or other establishment. This would save costs, for one thing. We tried first to approach the businesses we fundraise in. One owner said, "Mike, I love you like my brother, but to show a marriage program in my business is hard to do! The customers would revolt!" Undaunted, we approached a local restaurant with a satellite. The manager was so inspired by the concept of showing and having a marriage program in her casino/restaurant! We prepared for the program there, and she had no problem with it. Although we could not ultimately manage to get the live feed from Korea, we showed a 20-minute video from RFK ’97 Blessing. Our guests enjoyed the video, the meal and the testimonies. During the Blessing toast, the management wanted to participate too! A number of customers joined in watching the video and program, since we were in an open room area. The manager came to me later and said, "That was a great program. How can we do a better job next time?"

Finally, with Rev. and Mrs. Moon’s birthday celebration, we could get our clergy friends, tribal leaders, community leaders and the local mayor to sign a birthday card. We also received letters from the governor, a state senator and a state representative. Of course, such directions are always challenging to fulfill. It was also a chance to see where we stand in the community; for that reason in particular it was a good experience. A close minister who first signed brought tears to my eyes. How wonderful these righteous men and women are -- the John the Baptist figures of our community. Most inspiring was when a couple of prominent leaders, who were not so positive a few years ago, stated: "I cannot help but respect your church’s work. You have continued to make good effort in our community. I figured you would have quit a long time ago. I see you doing good things in the community. I cannot help but sign this card." Some others even said, "It is my honor to sign and I am grateful to wish them a happy birthday."

So, here we are, the Bridge-builders to the Future, a tree with many branches all over the country. Each spiritual plank that we add to the bridge, each limb extended on the tree, will never be in vain. Some are fast growers, some are stronger, and together we build the bridge which enables all people to cross into the New Millennium.

Boys

Rosalie Anderson

Boys make noise, the noise of boys,
Galumph and klopfing with their toys.
They stomp and bang and roll and fall
And hum and wail and sing and call.
It doesn't matter which or what
Or who they are or who they're not.
They run and jump and crash and tumble,
Shout and croon and cough and mumble.
Once a monster, once a bear,
A monkey here, a baby there.
They leap and clap and zoom and fly
And groan and squeal and laugh and cry.
And what they will be if they can,
A proud and handsome daddy man,
'Cause daddies grow from little boys.
They get that way from making noise.

Book Review - The Sacred Depths of Nature

Chris Seidel -- Redhook, NY

Ursula Goodenough, a renowned cell-biologist, has written a book with such piercing scientific insight that it is bound to stir both scientists and non-scientists alike. The daughter of an intensely religious father, she has delineated in her book a response to her Father's most probing quest: "a need to understand why people are religious."

In her book, Goodenough challenges to look behind the veil of theology and philosophy, into the mystery which originally served as the impetus to inspire and pique all the great thinkers of human history.

Her aim is not to supplant current religious traditions and cultures, but rather to "outline the foundation for ... a planetary ethic," informing and serving us in our own unique spiritual and religious journeys.

Her book is not a lesson in evolution and the anatomy of the universe so much as an experience that transports the reader to a higher plane of divine appreciation. An appreciation that stems from the undeniable fact that we are all constituent parts in the infinitely beautiful and dynamic cosmic dance that never ceases. In harmony with this cognitive awareness, she has organized her twelve chapters into two parts: one that objectively states the intricate scientific mechanics and principles of a particular aspect of existence, and the other which is her own personal reflection and interpretation of those forces which inherently dictate the way our world moves.

Whether we are aware of it or not, our world is the product of an intensely dense array of elementary and complex principles that are intertwined in such a way to engender the reality we are often oblivious to. As Goodenough puts it, our world is the composition of the "infinities and infinitesmals." Electrons, subatomic particles, space "superstrings," absorption spectra are just a few of the elements which contribute to our physical universe, which may not be the only one, as some physicists and mathematicians have recently theorized. The origin of our universe, the motive for its creation, as well as its boundless potential for discovery are issues that still provoke the most sophisticated scientific and religious thought. There are more stars in the universe than all the sand grains on the earth. Earthly Life is but a minute of time compared to the millennium since the creation of the universe, human life barely a millisecond. These are just a sampling of the topics Goodenough covers in just the first chapter.

In the second chapter, Goodenough succinctly summarizes the origins of life: starting with the origins of chemistry and then explaining the organic building blocks which provide the basis for complex biomolecules. DNA, the organic molecules from which all earthly life springs, is the natural conclusion of these derivative steps. DNA provides the genetic code (contained in discrete units known as "genes") that allows life to perpetuate, and new generations to emerge from the old: from amoebas to blue whales. Across the organic spectrum, the principles of DNA replication, translation and transcription are exactly identical. The web of life is incredibly diverse, yet incredibly similar. As Goodenough beseeches us, "We are called to revere the whole enterprise of planetary existence, the whole and all of its myriad parts as they catalyze and secrete and replicate and mutate and evolve."

The Sacred Depths of Nature continues to delve into the multifaceted dynamics of life in the ensuing chapters. The chapter entitled "How Life Works" goes into a very broad overview of the basic natural processes that govern the way cells repair, communicate, and propagate themselves. How biophysics allows magical "series-processes" to occur, known as cascades, where each discrete organic process is contingent upon the process that transpired immediately before it. The amazing part is, life is structured in such a way as to allow all of these complex processes to occur in perfect rapport with natural principle. If biophysics, for instance, did not permit the bonding of hydrogen and oxygen in organic systems, those systems would inevitably fail.

Other topics that Goodenough covers include Evolution, Biodiversity, Awareness (Consciousness), Emotions, Sexuality, and finally, Mortality. "....death is the price paid to have human consciousness, to be aware of all that shimmering awareness and all that love."

Each issue celebrates the incredible intricacy of life, and brings deeper recognition and appreciation into every other issue. The effect is cumulative and everlasting. "Life is a coral reef. We each leave behind the best, the strongest deposit we can so that the reef can grow. But what’s important is the reef."

The final chapter, Emergent Religious Principles, is a synthesis of everything in life that transcends logical or rational explanation. As the author states, it could be summed up as "Why are things as they are?" Luckily, that is a question God can answer for us.

Chris' Rating: * * * * 1/2 Starz

Book Review - Remember the Secret

Reviewed by Cathi Close -- Arlington, VA

Remember the Secret, by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, $8.95, Celestial Arts, 1998 (reprint)

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross has an international reputation for her pioneering work on death and dying. Most people are unaware that she has written an excellent book for children about this topic which is also beautifully illustrated.

This is a story book for children (and adults) of any age. It is about two young children, Suzy and Peter, who are good friends and have fun building sand castles together in the sand box. During the course of the story they develop a relationship with two spirit guides who, unbeknownst to the children, are preparing Peter to die.

"No one knew they were not alone. No one heard them talk with the two very special friends who told them of many things the grownups did not seem to know about or understand, or maybe had forgotten."

One night both Suzy and Peter left their bodies and traveled to the spiritual world with their spirit guides. They learned about God and love and goodness and growing. They visited majestic places with waterfalls and beautiful flowers and happy people of all ages, sizes and colors. They were taught, "What you are is a gift of God.... What you make of your life is the gift that you bring back to God, the Creator of all life."

Later that fall Peter became very ill. The last time Suzy saw him, she slipped some sand into his hand and a bit of honeysuckle. He whispered to her faintly, "Remember the secret?" Shortly afterward he died and at the funeral service Suzy was only vaguely aware of the grown ups crying and the things they were saying. She could only remember their beautiful experiences together, their memories and the assurance that she was not alone and that Peter was happy in a world of love and peace.

This story is so tender and yet such a powerful testimony to the reality of our eternal lives. It gives wonderful insight into the realms awaiting us and helps to dispel fear and misunderstandings about death. This past month my father passed away and left many grandchildren who loved him dearly. I gave a copy of this book to both my brother and sister for their children. They deeply appreciated it’s message. I have given this book as a gift on other occasions when a death took place and there were grieving children (and parents) who were struggling to cope with their loss.

But there is no reason to wait for death to occur before purchasing this book. It’s my opinion that it should be in every child’s library. Children begin to grasp the concept of death very young and for most it is a scary thing. Telling them about "heaven" is comforting to some extent yet where heaven is and what it looks like is still vague. There is so little available to educate children about the tangible realities of afterlife that this book indeed fills a serious void. It is perceptive, seems to be accurate (haven’t been to the spiritual world yet, myself) and very uplifting.

Ancient History

Paul Carlson
March, 1999

In a recent article we examined Hellenic history (UNews, Jan. ‘99). This time we’ll go back a little farther, and take a look at the origins of humanity itself.

Famous scientists such as Charles Darwin, Raymond Dart, and Louis S. B. Leakey pioneered this field, transforming crumbled old bones into storytellers of an amazing and complex past. (Your author’s interest in this subject stems from a childhood encounter with Leakey.)

This subject is covered in the Bible too, so we’ll see how its account squares with the conclusions of science. In practice, the relationship between Archaeology and the Biblical record is a never-ending dance of conflict and confirmation.

In its recounting of human origins the Divine Principle follows a literal Biblical timeline, even while inviting scientists to do the precise dating, and to color in the details.

Development

Our Earth is 5 billion years old, and life has thrived here from almost the beginning. At first all life forms were simple -even feeble- by today’s standards, but that certainly changed!

Physically we humans are mammals, warm blooded and bearing live young. The first mammals were small, seemingly insignificant creatures that coexisted with the dinosaurs. Far from being the evolutionary failures we once pictured them to be, dinosaurs ruled the Earth for 130 million years. Only their sudden, asteroid-wrought extinction allowed mammals to gain the upper hand.

Humans are primates, as are lemurs, apes, and monkeys. The first primate was a mouse-sized creature that lived some 20 million years ago. Perhaps 5 million years ago the lineage of humanity split off; thus humans share a common ancestor with the apes, but do not descend from them. The hominids rapidly evolved into a variety of species; scientists aren’t calling it a "family tree" any more, but rather an "entire bush!" From Africa they spread outwards in succeeding waves.

By 3.6 million years ago, hominids were walking upright. At Laetoli in Tanzania, the footprints of three individuals are clearly preserved in ash. (Volcanic ash can be isotope-dated quite precisely.)

Scientists are trying to determine when hominids developed language. Since researchers don’t have a time machine handy (yet), they can only determine when hominids would have been able to speak. This is done by examining the remnants of their brains, larynx, nerves, etc. It turns out they may have been speaking more than 400,000 years ago!

This ability implies a high degree of intelligence and social organization. Scholars William Calvin and Derek Bickerton posit that language and dexterous skills developed together, "boosting" each other, since they employ the same basic areas of the brain. They add that speech is such an advantage that it would have evolved quite rapidly, despite the resultant danger of choking on one’s food, due to the lowering of the larynx.

It was once theorized that modern humans developed separately in several places, but it is now almost certain that humanity springs from a single mother (the "Mitochondrial Eve"), who lived in Africa about 250,000 years ago. She wasn’t the only person alive at that time, but rather, a woman with very fortunate children. She and her band were not fully developed Homo Sapiens, as the Biblical Adam and Eve are presumed to have been.

By 130,000 BC, Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon "cave men" had mastered fire, big-game hunting, and fine craftsmanship. Both types spread from Africa throughout Eurasia, and down towards Australia. In the Middle East they lived side-by-side for tens of thousands of years, and it isn’t known if they ever interbred. Eventually, for still-unknown reasons, the Neanderthals died out.

Archaeologists aren’t sure whether advanced tool use, art, and music originated in a single place. Theists can assume that they did, as manifestations of our (newly) God-given humanity.

Adam and Race

The oldest known organized burial was recently found in southern Egypt. It dates to 80,000 BC, and is the clearest possible evidence that these people possessed souls. We can assume that, by then, the Biblical Adam and Eve had already lived.

Even so, people continued to live in nomadic hovels for millennia afterwards. The Principle states that Adam and Eve "would have" advanced rapidly, but for the Fall and the resulting barbarism. The Bible does mention the gradual advance of civilization (Gen. 4:17-22).

No one knows exactly how or when the modern races developed. It is a subtle conceit to assume -with zero hard evidence- that Adam and Eve were members of the Caucasian, Oriental, or any other currently existing race.

On the other hand, Dr. Sang Hun Lee’s new book speaks of angels who belong to several different races! Therefore, either those particular angels were recently created, or the idea of diverse races was part of God’s original blueprint.

Scientists once claimed that the races arose in certain regions, due to factors such as sunlight and temperature, then spread slowly outwards. This classic theory is undergoing serious review. Genetic typing has revealed numerous differences -and similarities- that do not match external appearances. Also, the Australian aborigines may carry some older, hominid traits. Their predecessors were crossing the nearby, open seas 800,000 years ago!

Closer to home, the well-known "Ice Age/ Bering Strait/ Asians-to-Red Indians" connection turns out to be simplistic. The 8,000 year old "Kennewick Man," found in Washington State, was probably an Ainu-type Caucasian. (For some reason, this discovery has seriously rattled the multicultural types.)

Noah and Civilization

By 10,000 BC agriculture had developed, and cities began to organize. This gathering of resources allowed the construction of impressive structures like stone menhirs (with precise astronomical alignments); huge earthen mounds; and later, pyramids. These grand undertakings may have been conceived in many locations, or migration and trade could have spread that knowledge from a single source. Theists have reason to prefer the latter.

The oldest known city, Çatalhöyük (in present-day Turkey), was inhabited continuously for millennia, and has been excavated to a level dated to 7,000 BC. Archaeologists have just announced that there are even older ruins beneath!

A new book titled The Genesis Flood puts forth the best theory so far about Noah and the Biblical Flood. It may have been an effect of the most recent Ice Age, during which the Black Sea was a shallow, isolated lake. In 5,600 BC, rising sea levels caused a breach in the Bosporus, allowing sea water to flood its basin.

The Black Sea basin (north of upland Çatalhöyük) was probably the true "cradle of civilization," where agriculture and cities first arose. It seems likely that the Indo-European language also originated there.

The basin’s inhabitants scattered, bringing their knowledge and culture, westwards towards Greece, and east and south into the Middle East. The flooding shoreline advanced a mile a day, "covering all the land." They had no writing as yet, so the event would have been remembered as a spoken legend.

How does this square with the Biblical account? Pretty well. For one thing, it was not "too limited." Noah (if he lived there) and his people would not have understood the true extent of the Earth. Any child with a hose and sandbox can figure out that there isn’t enough water on this planet to literally cover every mountaintop. Besides, Noah made wine in the first year, while grape vines require several to bear—so all the plants weren’t drowned either.

Moses is another subject of controversy. The Principle stipulates a Biblical date for the Exodus of around 1570 BC. Mainstream scholars insist it took place, if at all, sometime between 1250 and 1100 BC. But new evidence (from excavations at Hazor in Israel) points to around 1400 BC. This debate is far from over!

First Humans

We may now conclude that the first genuine humans, those with a Spirit Body, lived sometime between 130 and 250 thousand years ago. Adam and Eve were born to a fairly sophisticated hominid tribe, one that eventually populated the entire planet. (The old conundrum about "their son’s wives" is moot, if we assume that one parent can bequeath a soul.)

We can also surmise that Noah was an actual person, who really did flee before an overwhelming Flood. His descendants, just as recorded in the Bible, soon engendered a mighty civilization in the Middle East, as well as others.

Some people find the distant past fascinating; many do not. Still, this is not just a bunch of boring, irrelevant "ancient history." Knowing our origins is crucial to our understanding of ourselves. Our self-concepts are reflected directly in our behavior and ideology, on a personal and on larger scales. An accurate understanding will, when widespread, have a profound impact on our families, popular culture, and national policies.

No doubt many more amazing discoveries await. As these age-old mysteries are solved, many skeptics will be able to accept the reality of God, and see His hand in history. We’ll all gain a deeper understanding of our humanity. This can only be for the good.

ERRATA

In my last column "Biblical History" (Feb. 1999) I wrote:

"In 1998 it was announced that a previously unsuspected system of underground tunnels, water channels, and guard towers; dating from the time of Joshua’s conquest; have been found near the fabled Siloam Spring."

It should read:

" In 1998 it was announced that a previously unsuspected system of underground tunnels, water channels, and guard towers; dating from the time of King David’s conquest; have been found near the fabled Gihon Spring. "

The Alpha, the Omega, and an Alternative to Dating

Tyler Hendricks
March 1999

Once in a while, a book comes along that really helps one on the road of life, and you just have to tell others. The book, I Kissed Dating Good-bye, by Joshua Harris, has done that for me and I want to entice you to read it.

What Mr. Harris does, in essence, is to unpack what the Divine Principle calls the course and motivation of the fall. I don't think he realizes that he is doing this. He is simply giving an account of his personal realization that the "culture of dating" is wrong-headed and destructive. He talks about how one can extricate oneself from it, psychologically and practically. To accomplish this, we need God, and Harris pulls a tremendous amount of guidance from the Bible, as well as from, of all places, his own parents. And Mr. Harris was 18 when he wrote the book. He is now 20 or 21, as I understand it, and is married.

Harris is very sharp. He doesn't argue against the simple practice of dating. He refrains from condemnatory judgment. Instead, he talks about "smart love" and "principled romance." He doesn't say, "you have to attend God." He puts it, "to serve God with abandon," "wild abandonment to obedience." He exalts "singleness." He doesn't see being single as a trial to be endured, but as a gift of God, a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to co-create oneself with God. Singleness should be treasured, and not compromised by all-consuming but temporary passions for one other person. The only "one person" to whom one should commit oneself fully is one's spouse.

He critiques not so much dating as the culture that makes people want to date. Dating is an emblem of our culture in which everything is disposable. It is fast-food love. It is a habit of highly defective people. It is to embark upon a mountain climbing expedition without your partner's commitment to hold the rope. It is to start a drive down a road from which we are not meant to turn back, but to plan to take a u-turn. In other words, it's brain-dead. He entices us to avoid the pain, loss of time and energy, confusion, not to mention meanness and cruelty that make up the world of modern romance.

Now, I'm 50 years old and have been married for 18 years. But I learned a lot from this book. Because I'm sure I'm not the only one who has not really come to terms with my own wrecked relationships of the past. I have not faced how those relationships affect my present relationship with my wife. This book opened my eyes to these things.

Let's do our best to help our children avoid the pitfalls into which their parents fell. Buy it. Leave it on a table somewhere for a teenager to pick-up and read. It's got an enticing cover. Mr. Harris does not look like a geek.

I was listening to a Patti Page CD the other day. Don't ask me how, but there I was, somewhat confined at 80 mph and listening to the greatest songs of Patti Page for a couple of hours. Patti Page, for those of you who don't know, was one of the top American female pop singers of the 50s. She was cute as apple pie and wholesome as a 4H club watermelon competition. But with my consciousness recently raised by Mr. Harris's book, I was struck by the lyrics of the songs. Every last one was all about betrayal, loss, infidelity, flirtation and stealing each other's lovers. There was not a word about marriage. The characters are boyfriends, lovers, beaus. The music was so cutesy, so pretty, but the words were describing a life different in quantity, but not quality, from that of gangsta rap. Patti Page embarked on the road on which Ice T, Madonna, David Bowie and Snoopy Dog Dog traveled down a thousand miles. It's the same road, the road of the dating culture, the road of dispensable relationships, the road of selfish love.

Pick up Joshua Harris's book at a Christian bookstore. Get it for someone you love.

The Original Homeland

"The Lord said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.'" Genesis 12:1

Personally, do you ever ask yourself—am I going anywhere? Is my life just going around in circles? To work, back home, to work again? The 60s generation questioned the "rat race." Remember the musical, "Stop the world, I want to get off"?

Historians note that the east thinks in circles and the west thinks in straight lines. The east says that nothing really changes; everything just goes back to where it started. The sun rises, sets, and rises again. The river rises and falls, the seasons come, go, and return. Creatures are born, reproduce and die. This is reflected in the Disney movie song, "It's the circle of life." And even the Bible pipes in: "There is nothing new under the sun," laments the Preacher in Ecclesiastes.

The west on the whole, however, thinks differently. Progress is our most important product. Our popular expressions are "tomorrow is a new day," or "today is the first day of the rest of your life." Every day in every way, it's getting better and better. Buy the new, improved model. Keep up with the Joneses.

Historian Thomas Cahill, in The Gifts of the Jews, says that the circular way of thinking is the more ancient. We find it in ancient Greece, Egypt and Sumaria. We find it today in the philosophies of Hinduism, Buddhism and neo- paganism. Cahill locates the departure into linear thinking at the moment God called Abraham to depart from his homeland and move into the unknown to find the promised land. Abraham took his life into his hands. He left behind the old ways, the idols of his father.

So in this linear modality, the father is associated with idols, with that which is false. The son seeks the true. Just as with Adam's family, God works with the children, not the parents. The children are returning to God, but not through their parents; rather, they leave their parents to find God.

That moment and that man defined the Judeo-Christian-Islamic traditions. He gave them birth physically as well as spiritually. I have promised and I will deliver, says the Lord. You will come to a land flowing with milk and honey. The kingdom will come. A savior will come. Life is a journey to the land of milk and honey, the promised land. Abraham and Moses, the tribes of the Diaspora, the Christian church, all are trekking toward the new Jerusalem, the kingdom on earth. We Unificationists call this land of milk and honey, this El Dorado, "the original homeland."

The old world of sin will be no more. A new world will arise. Separate from what came before, and believe-in faith, without seeing-that in the future I will give you something better than you have now.

The original homeland is a world of true brothers and sisters, into whose lives God intervenes to make of us true married couples. In true marriage, the circular and the linear are harmonized. It is the model; it is the alpha and omega. I haven't achieved it, but I taste it now and then, and just thinking about it gives me energy to keep going.

The husband longs to return to the place of his origin. He longs to complete the circle, to go back to the starting point. That place is his mother's womb. His wife is in the position of his mother. He wants to go into his mother’s womb. He wants to be a baby again, so he is as physically intimate with his wife as if he were her baby and she were his mother. He wants to be back in the womb, so he puts himself in there. He places that one part of himself that is different from her there, and through that he puts himself, represented by his seed, back into her womb.

And here, at the very point at which he reaches the origin, the future is created. The new generation-the lineal development, indeed "the lineage"-comes about. Thus the circular return and the eternal forward movement are one and the same act. In fact, my wife is not my mother; she is one generation later than my mother is. In my wife, my mother re-appears in the present and gives birth to the future.

And all humankind longs to return to that original status with God, in our original homeland. This is the land of security, the return to safety, to where we were born and cared for. At the same time it is the land of change, progress and adventure, requiring absolute faith in the guiding hand of God. And here I can return to the Harris book, for his affirmation also is that the alternative to dating is to put one's life into the hands of God, and allow God to present to you your spouse.