Unification Church - The “Moonies”

Reyne Mayer

Pansexual Revolutionary
Steve Hassan was a fairly high up member in the Moonies..

His book "Combatting cult mind control" gives a pretty comprehensive expose about them.

I'm reading it at the moment.
i think it's a good book, full of solid advice and compassion, in spite of a somewhat sensational title -- which i'm guessing is a product of the publisher's marketing.

it's a group i wish there were more comprehensive information on. it seems like they've declined as the baby boomers who originally joined have matured and grown old, much as with scientology and maybe even more so, and starting well before Moon died, but there's almost no information to be found about their membership, number of churches and communities, etc.
 

The_Fixer

Bent in all sorts of ways..
i think it's a good book, full of solid advice and compassion, in spite of a somewhat sensational title -- which i'm guessing is a product of the publisher's marketing.

it's a group i wish there were more comprehensive information on. it seems like they've declined as the baby boomers who originally joined have matured and grown old, much as with scientology and maybe even more so, and starting well before Moon died, but there's almost no information to be found about their membership, number of churches and communities, etc.
As I said, I'm still reading it. It can get a bit slow going.
Scientology is quite obsessive with records and that makes many things about it researchable.

So far, I get the impression that the moonies don't do the same deal.

Scn raises funds only through donations and services as a rule.

With the moonies, it seems like anything goes. As for illegal stuff like drugs and underworld things, I guess not.
I'll finish the book and see if there's anything else.

I've also noticed that he's released a book about the cult of Trump. After reading the synopsis, I'm inclined to agree with him.

Might read that one next and see how it goes before I make up my mind on that one.
 

Xenu Xenu Xenu

Well-known member
I read the book, MOONWEBS, a long time ago. I can't remember much about it. I do remember noticing similarities to my Scientology experience but that is practically a given. I also remember not liking the Moonies very much. That was also a given.

While in Scientology, I thought the Moonies were kind of weird but didn't really put it all together because I was also in a cult. Hell, I never even really grokked on Jim Jones while I was in Scientology. I was a little shocked but I quickly put it out of my mind and concentrated on my journey up the bridge to total freedom.
 

Reyne Mayer

Pansexual Revolutionary
As I said, I'm still reading it. It can get a bit slow going.
Scientology is quite obsessive with records and that makes many things about it researchable.

So far, I get the impression that the moonies don't do the same deal.
the CoS keeps those records secret and even lies like a rug about their actual size, but there are still some leaks and clues, counts of orgs and missions past and present, etc. i can't find anything that gives me any clue about the size of the UC over the decades, and particularly recent trends.

i take the view that high control groups and cults have similar characteristics and mechanisms (see bottom), though superficially scientology and the moonies appear pretty far apart.

i'm particularly fascinated how these groups evolved out of the counter-culture movement heyday. scientologists of that period often seemed to be pretty progressive and even into 'free love', though that may have been one of the things that clashed with LRH's real intent until he figured out how to assert control and impose his will. the Moonies got a bit later start and seemed to me to have attracted young people who were into world peace but also more socially conservative and more interested in a somewhat familiar Xian take, hence the ultra-traditional arranged mass weddings, but both seem to have ended up at the same point now of being pretty conservative ideologically.


Characteristics Associated With Cults
  • The group displays an excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader, and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.
  • Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.
  • Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, or debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).
  • The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (e.g., members must get permission to date, change jobs, or marry—or leaders prescribe what to wear, where to live, whether to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth).
  • The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s), and its members (e.g., the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).
  • The group has a polarized, us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society.
  • The leader is not accountable to any authorities (unlike, for example, teachers, military commanders, or ministers, priests, monks, and rabbis of mainstream religious denominations).
  • The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (e.g., lying to family or friends, or collecting money for bogus charities).
  • The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt in order to influence and control members. Often this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion.
  • Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group.
  • The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.
  • The group is preoccupied with making money.
  • Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the group and group-related activities.
  • Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.
  • The most loyal members (the “true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the group. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave—or even consider leaving—the group.
Qualities & Characteristics of a Cult | Cult Research
This excerpt written by Janja Lalich and Michael D. Langone is from: Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships (Bay Tree Publishing, 2006).
 

SuperstarNeilC

Well-known member

This week I am once again joined by second-generation former Moonie (Unification Church) Jen Kiaba, this time to discuss her personal story. This is not for the faint-of-heart as there are details about child labor trafficking and physical abuse in this podcast, but this is as real as it gets when it comes to what destructive cults like the Moonies are doing right now to the children of their members and why they must be stopped.
 

Lee #28

Well-known member
I bought a Wacom Graphics tablet back around in the 2008 from an Ad on Craigslist. NOVA area outside DC.

Drove out and met a guy ....paid cash and bought it. A decent price. All original and new.....new in box.

Don't know currently....but Wacom was the undisputed leader back then....and was high quality for computer drawing art tablet ...and stylus.

Anyway....got curious about how the price was so good and did some research....

I found out that the Moonies own Wacom......

So, I figured the seller was a Moonie....and somehow some of those guys get access to these tablets ....and sell them "out the back of a van" so to speak....to make a little untraceable cash...?
 
Top