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Toto · 05-28-2002, 10:04 AM

This is an update to <a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=000093&p=" target="_blank">this thread in the archives on Moonies and the Religious Right</a>.

The Rev. Moon is a key player on the religious right, who has poured a large amount of money into conservative, theocratic causes.

<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60061-2002May22.html" target="_blank">Moon Speech Raises Old Ghosts as the Times Turns 20</a>

Quote:

At Tuesday night's celebration of the Washington Times' 20th anniversary, its founder, the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, gripped a podium at the Washington Hilton and delivered an impassioned, hour-long evangelical sermon in Korean saying he established the newspaper "in response to heaven's direction."

During the sermon, he set the course for the Times' next 10 years: "The Washington Times is responsible to let the American people know about God." Later, he added: "The Washington Times will become the instrument in spreading the truth about God to the world."

By this point, several Times staffers had exited for the Hilton's bar, either because the party was alcohol-free or -- possibly -- because they needed a stiff drink. . .

The rest of the story details charges of political slants to the news stories in the Washington Times.

Compare these bland and uninformative news articles:

<a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020522/ap_wo_en_ge/us_washington_times_2" target="_blank">AP take 2</a>

Quote:

Moon delivered an hourlong address in Korean with a printed version in English given to guests, on the life of Jesus.

"I hope that the Washington Times, UPI and other major media will accept this lofty command from Heaven and take up the task of educating humankind, taking a stance beyond religion and ideology," said Moon.

<a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020522/ap_on_re_us/washington_times_1" target="_blank">AP take 1, before they realized even the title of the speech was an embarrassment</a>

Quote:

Moon delivered an hourlong address in Korean with a printed version in English given to guests. The address was titled "The Life of Jesus as Seen from God's Will, and God's Warning to the Present Age, the Period of the Last Days."

"I hope that the Washington Times, UPI and other major media will accept this lofty command from Heaven and take up the task of educating humankind, taking a stance beyond religion and ideology," said Moon.

But check out the guest list:

Quote:

Among guests at the celebration were talk-show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, former Times editor Arnaud de Borchgrave, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore and singer Randy Travis.

"We are here to celebrate a two-newspaper town," said Cal Thomas, a syndicated columnist carried by the Times. [Cal Thomas is a mouthpiece for the Christian Coalition.]

<a href="http://www.freedomofmind.com/groups/moonies/wash_times_20.asp" target="_blank">press release from ex-Moonie Steve Hassan on the Washington Times dinner</a>

Quote:

Moon's stated ambitions include the establishment of a one-world government run as an automatic theocracy by Moon and his leaders. "Bush's faith-based initiative seems to be ideal to help them in their quest for a one world theocratic government," Hassan says, "I am sure President Bush is not aware that Moon has repeatedly said that America (and democracy) is Satanic." Moon's vision of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth includes the absorption of all the world religions into Unificationism as well as the abolishment of all languages except Korean. Core Moonie members do a ritual pledge service every Sunday morning, bowing before an altar with Moon's picture on it and promising to fight for the Fatherland (Korea).

[ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: Toto ]

lpetrich · 05-28-2002, 02:45 PM

So the Rev. Sun Myung Moon thinks that God only speaks Korean?

Although that is no more absurd than God only speaking Hebrew or Latin or Arabic or King James English or ...

Ramen · 05-28-2002, 08:42 PM

My props to the Reverend...

Toto · 05-31-2002, 10:10 AM

<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54247-2002May22.html" target="_blank">Another article</a>

Quote:

The 82-year-old Moon received a standing ovation. He smiled and teased the crowd, disclosing his secret for the paper's success: "I pray every day that God would love the Washington Times."

Moon explained his reason for launching the newspaper:

"Celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Washington Times has a particularly gratifying meaning for me. The memory is still fresh in my mind how, in May 1982, I made the final decision to publish The Washington Times in response to Heaven's direction. This took place while I was being unjustly tried in a New York federal court, in a prosecution motivated by both racial and religious bigotry." (Moon was convicted in 1982 for failing to report $162,000 in income and served 13 months in federal prison.)

Communism was sweeping the world, he said, and he wanted a way to protect America: "It was certainly not my intention to set up a newspaper company just to make money. Over the years, more than a billion dollars have been invested in the Washington Times alone, but I have never regretted this nor felt enmity towards anyone. That is because this was a way to practice true love toward Heaven and humankind."

Moon talked for more than an hour about Jesus, communism, Israel and a new Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

So if you pray every day for success, and are willing to lose a billion dollars, you too can run an influential newspaper.

[ June 01, 2002: Message edited by: Toto ]

GaryP · 05-31-2002, 04:38 PM

The Moonies seem to be a classical example of a "cult" which has become an accepted religion.

Years ago, there were articles in the media almost weekly about this crazy guy from Korea and how goo christian parents were hiring Private Detectives to kidnap their kids form his clutches.

Now, since the Rev. Moon is on the "right" side you hardly ever hear about his radical ideas.

When I tell friends that Moon owns the Wahington Times, they are shocked.

oriecat · 05-31-2002, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GaryP:
When I tell friends that Moon owns the Wahington Times, they are shocked.

I had no idea!

Toto · 09-10-2002, 10:43 AM

<a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/8t2/8t2082.html" target="_blank">Jerry Falwell receives big financial support from Rev. Moon</a>

(a 1998 article)

4th Generation Atheist · 09-10-2002, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GaryP:
The Moonies seem to be a classical example of a "cult" which has become an accepted religion.

Years ago, there were articles in the media almost weekly about this crazy guy from Korea and how goo christian parents were hiring Private Detectives to kidnap their kids form his clutches.

Now, since the Rev. Moon is on the "right" side you hardly ever hear about his radical ideas.

When I tell friends that Moon owns the Wahington Times, they are shocked.

He's not completely accepted yet. I know people in the D.C. area who consider themselves well-informed, who read the Times in order to "see the other side of the issue"; these people are also often shocked when I point out that the Moonies founded it. Once the "Moonies" are mentioned, you get the same shock that a cult is involved in something they thought was legit. It's when the term "Unification Church" (which fewer people recognize) or CARP (their biggest university front group) or one of their other front organizations is mentioned that they don't respond this way. Once it's clear who you're talking about, the group is still thought a cult rather than a "legit" church. People are definitely frighteningly uninformed, but there's hope yet.

szcax · 09-10-2002, 05:44 PM

Hey - I never read the Washington Times (only N.Y. Times, USA Today, and a local paper are available gratis to students at my school). I'm just curious to know whether the Washington Times is a particularly right-wing paper. Anyone read it enough to know?

Toto · 09-10-2002, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by szcax:
Hey - I never read the Washington Times (only N.Y. Times, USA Today, and a local paper are available gratis to students at my school). I'm just curious to know whether the Washington Times is a particularly right-wing paper. Anyone read it enough to know?

It is in fact a particularly right wing paper, that celebrates being the right wing alternative to the more liberal Washington Post

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05-28-2002, 02:45 PM	#2
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	So the Rev. Sun Myung Moon thinks that God only speaks Korean? Although that is no more absurd than God only speaking Hebrew or Latin or Arabic or King James English or ...

05-28-2002, 08:42 PM	#3
Ramen Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Uppa U.S. Posts: 1,153	My props to the Reverend...

05-31-2002, 04:38 PM	#5
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	The Moonies seem to be a classical example of a "cult" which has become an accepted religion. Years ago, there were articles in the media almost weekly about this crazy guy from Korea and how goo christian parents were hiring Private Detectives to kidnap their kids form his clutches. Now, since the Rev. Moon is on the "right" side you hardly ever hear about his radical ideas. When I tell friends that Moon owns the Wahington Times, they are shocked.

09-10-2002, 10:43 AM	#7
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	<a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/8t2/8t2082.html" target="_blank">Jerry Falwell receives big financial support from Rev. Moon</a> (a 1998 article)

09-10-2002, 05:44 PM	#9
szcax Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: PA Posts: 51	Hey - I never read the Washington Times (only N.Y. Times, USA Today, and a local paper are available gratis to students at my school). I'm just curious to know whether the Washington Times is a particularly right-wing paper. Anyone read it enough to know?

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