Steinar Murud
May 3, 2011
That the True Parents, Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon, should set their eyes on Oslo, Norway, was both a surprise and blessing for Scandinavian Ambassadors for Peace and Unificationists. From their landing in Oslo Airport on Saturday, April 30, True Parents shared a lot of happiness.
Their visit coincided with the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) European Leadership Conference taking place in the Stortinget (the Parliament) in Oslo the same weekend. That evening, our international Chairman, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, addressed the 120 participants in European Leadership Conference and elaborated on the role of religion: “Some study and view religion with academic eyes as an outsider, viewing it as a phenomena, but religion is more than a phenomena and should not be viewed at a distance but rather as means for all to discover God.”
The morning had seen impressive presentations on the theme “Towards Lasting Peace in a World of Rapid Change” including top speakers form Norway’s International Affairs and Peace Institutes. That same evening we had a special experience walking in the street of Oslo together with members of True Parents’ Family – Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, Ye Jin Moon, and Rev. In Jin Moon – that lead to enjoying an evening meal together at the Oslo Fjord.
The next morning, May 1, we shared Hoon Dok Hae together in the intimacy of True Parents’ hotel suite. It was a very joyful experience. After the reading, True Parents asked for songs from many present culminating with True Mother singing and True Father joining her while all joined in the accompanying dance.
The Main Event, Sunday 1st May in the Bristol Hotel, Oslo.
The venue for True Father’s speech, the Bristol Hotel, combined the style of old-world Oslo with the elegance of a beautifully prepared function hall filled to overflowing with a dynamic mixture of young and old from all over Scandinavia and even from further away, since Father and Mother Moon’s tour is drawing attention from all over Europe. The hotel had never seen such a crowd before with some 700 in eager attendance.
Songs by Torhild Nigar and the Lorentzen Family provided a warmth and beauty which readied the audience for the spiritual feast ahead. Dr Thomas Walsh, UPF’s International President, guided the moving interreligious prayers expressed by Buddhist, Hindu, Moslem, Christian and Sikh representatives. Major Nils Steen Egelien, who served in the Korean War and is President of the Norwegian Korean War Veterans, spoke movingly of his love for Korea, it’s people, it’s culture, and the phoenix-like life of Rev. Moon. Dr. Wim van Eekelen (former Dutch Defence Minister) placed Father Moon’s UPF work in the context of European efforts to make peace after the devastation of two world wars, through changing the context and understanding others.
All led beautifully to Rev. Hyung Jin Moon’s moving testimony to his parents’ love and dedication for the liberation of God and humanity in their role as the True Parents of Heaven Earth and Humankind.
True Parents came to the stage to rapturous applause. Surveying the audience from the podium, Father sheltered his eyes from the lights and noted the presence of many young people: “We (older people) know what it is like to be young; we must not forget what it is like to be young!”
Father’s message was passionately delivered and peppered with interesting extemporaneous remarks. “I am over 90 years old, why should I come all the way to Norway? Because I know what I’m talking about. I was taught by God, and have the responsibility to teach the world. I can’t bear to keep it to myself. I need to teach the world. People who pray know what I am talking about.”
“Korea has moved beyond the level of Spain and is now the 13th largest economy in the world. Who assisted this? Not just Koreans – it was God who allowed Korea to advance to that level. God has established Korea as the place where I could appear. Thousands of times I could have died, but I survived – the God of the night led me through.”
“Are you confident?” he continued. “What kind of confidence? You don’t know God or the nature and existence of the spirit world – you have to know God’s will. You don’t know the time we are living in, but this significant time is drawing near.”
Referring to the many volumes and various anthologies of his teachings, Father Moon urged us to study them: “Your property, honour, glory - these textbooks are more valuable than all of these! Many people are trying to tell you false things, but what I tell you I have learned from God. I thought I would die, and now am talking about these things in Oslo, the home of the Nobel Peace Prize. Who would do these kinds of things? I would because these things are true.”
“There is no other chance, no other choice – we must understand the heart of heaven. Please pray about this and you will come to understand what I am talking about. In Nepal, seven thousand people passed the Original Divine Principle Test. Now Norway should also teach the Original Divine Principle in kindergarten, junior school, middle school, high school, university, at different levels – these are words that will educate the world.
Just as the Founder’s Address concluded, True Mother appeared on stage to join True Father in receiving flowers and a gift presented by Scandinavian Ambassadors for Peace, among them Pal Arne Davidsen (Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Progress Party), who had helped us so much in the Parliament the day before and Hon. Marion Pedersen, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Danish Parliament fresh back from a trip to Bolivia.
Contributed by Steinar Murud, National Leader of the Unification Movement in Norway
Summary of Congratulatory Remarks
Mayor Nils Steen Egelien, President Norwegian Korean War Veterans’ Association
“First of all, I love Korea. As a young man of 20, I served in the Norwegian Army Hospital in Korea, during the Korean War. Even though 60 years have gone by since that time, the experiences during that period made an unforgettable impression on me. I came in contact with a culture which I learned to respect deeply. And I met people that expressed their gratitude more than anybody. The miracle that Korea has accomplished in the time that has gone by, is not by coincidence, but can be explained by the greatness of the Korean people.
Secondly, many years later I came to learn about Reverend Sun Myung Moon and his work for world peace. I have come to know later that Reverend Moon was a prisoner at that time, in a North Korean Labour Camp and only managed to escape after the intervention of UN forces.
It is fascinating that I am now standing here in Norway, and giving a greeting to the man that was freed by the UN forces in Korea, that I was a part of 60 years ago.
Similar to how Korea has been a phoenix, going from literal ashes to become a leading nation in the world, Rev Moon has been a phoenix in his life, rising from misery to become an influential world leader. Due to his unstoppable and uncompromising efforts for global peace, he has run into much opposition. His direct and clear words, regardless of regime or external circumstances, have stirred up problems. But he had the courage to speak whether it was under time of Japan’s occupation, in communist North Korea, or in the United States.
Every single time he ran into trouble, he came out of it victoriously. The charges against him proved false, his enemies vanished, and he rose like a phoenix.
The strategy to advance in his quest for world peace was not by force or material means, but by offering service - often to the degree that his enemies turned around and became his friends and allies.
Rev. Moon’s strength is his quality to live a godly life, regardless of circumstances. He has proved it again and again, and it is this quality that qualifies him to stand as a unique world leader, and gives him true authority
He is coming from a tiny village in North Korea but his vision is global. Over and over he speaks about mankind as One Family under God. When he started his mission a couple of generations ago these words were too big for many people to relate to, but he has stayed faithful to his vision. By going a course built on realistic principles and values, he has made remarkable progress.
His words are not only words, but they reflect his life, and stand as an example for all of us. If we all join our forces and support the work of Rev Moon, I believe the Utopia of One Family under God will surely be realized.”
Dr. Wim van Eeklelen (Former Minister of Defence, The Netherlands)
“Ladies and gentlemen, Oslo is a city of ‘peace’ and Norway an active member of the UN with a great performance in peace keeping. Earlier today, my wife and I visited the Nobel Institute, and this is a postcard we bought which reads ‘Life’s most urgent question is what are you doing for others’, a quote from Martin Luther King Jr., but who else have we heard say this again and again and again? Father Moon!
Norway is not a member of the European Union, but its tradition of democracy, transparency, good governance, and NGO’s in support of an active life in society are strong. Norwegian society is rules based, and these rules are established by majority voting. In Europe, we understood that we needed to end wars – and this led to European integration. We can learn from this process - there is no use attacking the problem head on - rather we should change the context and understand the other. Since being involved with UPF as a peace ambassador, I have admired their principles and balanced programmes, such as the UPF Middle East Peace Initiative. My best wishes to the Moon Family and especially to Father and Mother Moon – theirs is a great initiative, which I support whole heartedly.”
The following are remarks from some of the one hundred and twenty Ambassadors for Peace who had been attending the European Leadership Conference entitled ‘Towards Lasting Peace in a World of Rapid Change’ which took place in the Stortinget (Norwegian National Parliament) the day before and concluded with the Founder’s Address:
“I was so happy that Father Moon spoke about the abuse of women by some men whole take many wives and that there should true love and respect between men and women.”
Mrs. Ola Teresa Johnson – resident in Switzerland but originally from Sierra Leone
“Distinguished Rev. Moon, They call you Father! I am happy that I could have known you. We came to see you from the Czech Republic, which is also in a deep moral, spiritual and political crisis. That is why we are so grateful to have access to your message about the family and the renewal of spirituality in our lives. I was proud to be able to write an introduction to your autobiography in the Czech language and recognize the wealth of inspiration that it offers for our lives. Once again thank you for your message which we will endeavor to convey to others.”
Mrs. Eva Kanturkova - Former Member of Parliament, Writer and Journalist, dissident in the communist era
“When I recently read Obama’s biography I found it very boring. However reading Rev. Moon’s autobiography has been a deep experience – such richness of the heart and life and so many practical details. I could not stop reading till the early hours of the morning.”
Dr. Haseeb Jiryes Shehadeh - University of Helsinki, expert in Hebrew, Arabic language,
“It has been a great meeting here in Oslo. The peak was surely the presence of our beloved leader Rev. Moon. His ideas will surely contribute to stopping conflict based on difference of race, religion and ethnicity. I am amazed at his energy and ability to speak for several hours as a man of 90+ years. Long live our leader Rev. Moon!”
Rev. Åke Lion - Retired minister of the Swedish Lutheran Church