Cult News

Purported “cult” leader “Master Jong” tells his followers the way to dispense with original sin is to have sex with him, reports Japan Times.

Jong, once a member of Rev. Moon’s Unification Church decided to start his own religion. So he copied many of Moon’s “Divine Principles” and added his own article of faith. It seems enduring sexual harassment and exploitation is the path to salvation for his female followers.

Of course cult leaders that exploit their followers for sex is nothing new.

David Koresh required his Davidians to be celibate. That is, unless they were chosen to have sex with him in a joint effort to plant the “seed of David.” It is believed that most of the children who perished in the Davidian compound outside Waco were the offspring of such unions.

Interestingly, Rev. Moon was “unfaithful” and a boy was born as a result of an affair he had with a church member, according to the book “In the Shadow of the Moons” written by Nansook Hong. But Mrs. Moon said, “It was a ‘providential’ union, ordained by God.”

Sounds like Master Jong has copied more than religious principles from his former mentor.

UC Berkeley is perhaps one of the most “politically correct” campuses in the United States. If you don’t speak PC there you might find yourself “communicationally challenged.”

Recently an article was run in the Berkeley Daily Californian student press about “suspected active cults on campus.” That’s sort of a PC way of simply saying “destructive cults are recruiting here.”

One student advisor said, “I’m very cautious with the word ‘cult’, as its definition is hotly debated.”

Is this guy PC or was he coached by the university’s legal staff? Maybe both.

Some lesser-known groups are named, but the “usual suspects” eventually emerge.

Two big “suspected…cults” named within the Berkeley article that work almost any worthwhile campus, are the “International Church of Christ” (ICC) and the Unification Church.

Rev. Moon’s Unification Church is perhaps the “gold standard” for “suspected…cults,” and has been diligently working campuses since the 70s. Moon’s followers were historically once identified by the now politically incorrect name—“Moonies.”

General Douglas MacArther once said, “Old soldiers never die…they just fade away.” But contrary to that analogy elderly “cult leaders” like Rev. Moon seem to soldier on relentlessly. He is now an octogenarian and controls billions of dollars. And Moon’s minions are still actively working college campuses, as attested to by the Berkeley article.

Of course one “Moonie” told the Daily Californian, “Rev. Moon is a great religious leader.” Right, and Saddam Hussein is a great humanitarian. Though it should be acknowledged that Rev. Moon’s cash and media holdings have garnered him some clout amongst politicians and religious leaders like Jerry Falwell.

It’s often hard to identify Unification Church recruiters, because their sponsoring organization names keep changing.

Historically, Moon’s Unification Church has used literally hundreds of front organizational names. For example, his current incarnation at UC Berkley is the “Family Federation for World Peace.”

UC Berkeley’s other substantial “suspected…cult” is Kip McKean’s ICC, once called the “Boston Church of Christ” or simply the “Boston Movement.” The ICC has been banned by scores of American colleges and universities.

Like Moon, McKean’s operation uses different names too, such as “Campus Advance,” “Upside Down Club,” “Alpha Omega Club,” “Campus Christian Movement,” “Christian Advance” and “Students Advocating Christianity Today.”

Both of these “suspected…cults” emphasize the value of personality—specifically, the leader’s personality.

In the ICC there is actually a system they call “discipling” to help members develop just the right kind of personality. Some say “follow the leader,” but in the ICC it’s more like clone the leader. And the prototype for this cloning process appears to be Kip McKean.

One ICC leader put it this way, “It would suit me just fine if I could leave this place and say you know – I just want to be exactly like Kip. I just want to be exactly like Kip. That would be enough.” Another claimed, “Kip McKean is the greatest living treasure that God has given the kingdom on the face of the earth today.”

Moon is a bit more presumptuous than McKean. According to a recent ad campaign that cost him more than $700,000, “Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha – even God – have told him he is now ‘the Savior, Messiah and King of Kings of all of humanity!'”

This would seem to trump McKean’s title of “greatest living treasure.” After all, Mr. Moon does have seniority.

Rev. Moon also appears to prefer a more traditional approach to “mind control,” such as isolated camps, retreats, sleep deprivation and dietary control.

So what’s a naïve college freshman to do?

The student advisor at UC Berkeley says, “All groups should be open to some questioning. Be critical, and talk to friends and family if you are ever in doubt.”

However, this response frequently doesn’t work. Don’t expect “suspected…cults” to be honest and/or forthcoming. And some may say, “Satan brings doubts.” They may also claim that family and friends don’t understand their spiritual ways, thus their feedback is essentially meaningless and should be ignored.

The best way to respond to “suspected…cults” is through research. Students should investigate and gather substantial information about a group before becoming initially involved. This can easily be accomplished by making use of the Internet or library.

Instead of asking questions from family members and friends who are typically ignorant, it is more practical to first query search engines on the Internet such as Google and Yahoo or request help from library staff at a periodical desk.

Many “cults” claim, “We have been persecuted by the press.” And, “They lie about us on the Internet.”

However, this type of response should raise serious suspicion. It is almost always proof that the group has something to hide.

A Berkeley devotee of Rev. Moon told the Daily Californian, “We cannot understand a person of great heart and thought [i.e. Moon] with a small mind.”

A more relevant observation would be, we cannot make a truly informed decision without sufficient information. And decisions about potentially unsafe groups should be made carefully.

Rev. Moon, founder of the Unification Church wants to build a big school in Hawaii on North Kona. He says, it would be a “boarding school.” But locals are wondering what Moon really wants in Hawaii, opines the Honolulu Advertiser.

The Marshall Islands didn’t apprecite Moon and ultimately rejected his school plans there.

Moon’s people and interests within Brazil are now under investigation regarding various criminal allegations.

So why should Hawaiians be happy about Mr. Moon wanting to move in?

It certainly doesn’t seem like anyone in Hawaii is rushing to say “aloha” to Rev. Moon and no luaus are currently being planned to welcome the would-be “messiah.”

A “boarding school” might be Moon-speak for isolated indoctrination. And the Unification Church has been repeatedly accused of “brainwashing” people at various places they call “camps” in the United States.

Maybe Hawaiians should keep a watchful eye on Mr. Moon and his minions. What’s good for Rev. Moon may not be so good for Kona.

Pat Robertson the head of Christian Broadcasting Network once condemned the Bush “faith-based initiative,” which is designed to give money to religious groups for social service programs. The TV preacher said he was worried that “cults” would exploit such funding.

However, Rev. Robertson apparently has changed his mind and accepted $500,000.00 from Uncle Sam for his “Operation Blessing” reports the Washington Post.

The grant to the Robertson charity was one of 25 dispersed yesterday by the Department of Health and Human Services.

There are many groups called “cults” that have programs, which they claim, are designed to help the larger community. Critics have charged that such programs are often little more than fronts for proselytizing.

Scientology promotes “Applied Scholastics,” which has been endorsed by President Bush Sr., Barbara Bush and Mr. and Mrs. Colin Powell. The Krishna Consciousness movement runs soup kitchens. And Rev. Moon’s Unification Church has sponsored abstinence programs through “Pure Love Alliance.”

It is not clear what “cult” organizations may receive a share of the $30 million dollars being doled out by the Bush program this year. But it is likely that some “cults” will at least try to get their own piece of the pie.

It seems improbable that religious groups known for fervent proselytizing can somehow compartmentalize their core beliefs when doing “social work.” But President Bush thinks so. And Pat Robertson once a staunch critic of this controversial formula, has now become its first “poster boy.”

Regardless of his support for some conservative causes and politicians, Rev. Moon, the founder of the Unification Church and the money behind the Washington Times, is not well received by everyone within the conservative movement.

Cliff Kincaid, a Washington based conservative writer recently denounced Moon. And when criticized for his comments, Kincaid denounced Moon again, in “TooGood Reports, The Right Stuff, for Right Thinkers.”

Kincaid doesn’t seem to appreciate Rev. Moon’s seemingly megalomaniacal insistence that he is somehow the “messiah,” chosen by God to fulfill a mission once given to Jesus.

According to Moon’s theology whereas Jesus failed, he will succeed. And despite some obfuscation by “Moonies” Mr. Kincaid pins them down regarding specific statements they have made, which confirm his conclusions.

Some religious conservatives, like Jerry Falwell, have received money from Moon. And the millions Moon transfused into Falwell’s coffers seem to have bought him some support from the past spokesman for the “Moral Majority.”

Apparently Rev. Falwell doesn’t care what Moon and his followers think about Jesus, though he seems to have fervent feelings regarding this subject when it comes to the rest of the world.

Rev. Moon also seems to buy the presence of notable leaders for his conferences, based upon hefty honorarium. He has paid for the services of President Bush Sr. and it now appears former Clinton appointee and Ambassador to the UN Bill Richardson. When it comes to photo ops Moon doesn’t discriminate against Democrats.

However, it is heartening to note that some within the conservative movement will not buy into or be bought by Rev. Moon. Hopefully, Mr. Kincaid has invoked some “right stuff” amongst “right thinkers.”

Neil Bush, the brother of President George W. Bush, and Lisa Marie Presley both worked the nation’s capital last week in what seemed to be largely a Scientology effort to lobby congress.

Presley is the designated celebrity talking head for the “Citizens’ Commission on Human Rights” (CCHR) founded by Scientology.

Presley and Bush appeared before the House Committee on Government Reform to rap the use of Ritalin and other drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Presley also took time to interview with People Weekly to promote this effort.

It is interesting that United Press International reported crtically about the President’s brother’s appearance with Scientologists. Long-time Bush family friend Rev. Moon, founder of the Unification Church, controls UPI. Perhaps the two “cults” are mutually exclusive to the point of a bit of jealousy.

During the hearings Rep. Constance Morella (R-MD) pointedly exposed the CCHR as little more than a Scientology effort to discredit psychiatry, their perceived nemesis, reports ABC News. Morella quoted the CCHR’s international president, who described psychiatry as a “malignant disease” that “threatens society and ultimately mankind.”

L. Ron Hubbard the founder of Scientology taught his disciples that mental health professionals are virtually Satanic. Perhaps this was because of Hubbard’s struggle with his own demons. He once requested psychiatric help and was apparently given to both fits of hysterical rage and seemingly pathological lying.

Whatever the personal reasons were, which may have motivated Hubbard’s vitriolic attacks against the mental health profession, one thing seems certain. Since Scientology sells itself as the best way to cure or “clear” the mind, psychiatry, psychiatrists and psychiatric drugs represent a competing alternative to their business. And what better way to shoot down the competition than stage an attack before Congress?

A long-time associate of Rev. Moon of the Unification Church has been appointed to head United Press International, the once powerful news wire service. Dr. Chung Hwan Kwak has been named its chairman, chief executive officer and president, according to a UPI Press Release.

Kwak is also chairman of the Moon-controlled University of Bridgeport, CT and Sun Moon University in Seoul, South Korea. He chairs a number of Moon front organizations including the “International Federation for World Peace,” “Professors World Peace Academy,” “International Cultural Foundation,” “Family Federation for World Peace and Unification,” and the “World Culture and Sports Festival.”

Kwak’s predecessor at UPI D.M. Joo, another Unification Church member, will continue to head Moon’s umbrella organization News World Communications Inc., which is the corporate entity that controls UPI, The Washington Times, Insight, the World and I, Tiempos del Mundo and other Moon publications.

The Washington Times continues to lose millions of dollars annually and has yet to show a profit. And UPI seems fated to follow in its footsteps. However, concerns about money have not detered Rev. Moon from utilizing his media holdings as effective tools to obtain influence and political clout.

Famous White House reporter Helen Thomas ditched UPI the day after Moon took over and was quickly hired by Hearst News Service. Looking back, it seems she made a smart move.

Rev. Moon is a “messiah” or “cult leader” depending upon your perception. But no one can dispute his talent for staging a spectacle. Moon officiated over another one of his mass weddings, this time it was in New York. 250 couples gathered to tie the knot with the Unification Church founder’s blessing, reports the NY Daily News.

It seems Moon can’t pass up an opportunity to milk the media. And apparently September 11th was one more theme for him to spin into self-promotion.

One couple featured was a mixed marriage, between a Muslim and Christian. Moon sycophant Rev. Phillip Shanker called this staged event, “a statement of reconciliation and hope.”

But Moon’s own family seems to need its own “reconciliation and hope.” Substance abuse, divorce and wife beating and tragedy have plagued the Moons. One son died in a car accident another fell to his death in Nevada, some say it was suicide.

Perhaps Rev. Moon should focus the power of his “blessings” closer to home.

Roman Catholic Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo says that he may have been “brainwashed,” reported Reuters.

Milingo was the center of an intense controversy regarding his marriage to a “Moonie.” His now former wife is a member of Rev. Moon’s Unification Church.

The Archbishop has released a tell-all book titled “Fished out of the Mud.” He says that the Unification Church actually wanted to use him to set up a “parallel Catholic Church” in Africa. Apparently the “brainwashed” bishop would have then become its figurehead, essentially a front man for Moon.

It seems like mass weddings and being a billionaire is just not enough for Mr. Moon. The octogenarian “cult leader” now apparently wants to be a Pontiff too. Maybe his devoted followers already kiss his ring, or whatever.

The United Nations has granted three organizations controlled by “cult leader” Reverend Sun Myung Moon non-governmental organization (NGO) status. These NGOs are affiliated with his Unification Church.

Another Moon organization called the “World Association of Non-Government Organizations,” according to the International Herald Tribune, “falsely poses as the world voice of the voluntary associations.”

Rev. Moon, who historically has used hundreds of front organizations to advance his personal agenda as self-proclaimed world “messiah,” seems to have it in with the UN. But the “one world government” he envisions is with himself as its supreme leader or as his followers say, “True Parent.”