Unification Church
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, founded as the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, and commonly called the Unification Church or Unificationism,[1][2] is a new religious movement founded in South Korea in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon. Since its founding, the church has expanded throughout the world with most members living in Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and other nations in East Asia.[3][4]
It has sponsored other organizations and projects over the years;
including businesses, news media, projects in education and the arts,
and political and social activism. The church was led by Moon until his
death on September 3, 2012. Since then, his widow Hak Ja Han has assumed the leadership of the church.
Unificationist beliefs are derived from the Christian Bible and are explained in the church's textbook, the Divine Principle. It teaches that God is the Creator and Heavenly Parent, whose dual nature combines both masculinity and femininity and whose center is true love. The Blessing ceremony of the Unification Church, a wedding or wedding vow renewal ceremony, is a church tradition which has attracted widespread public attention as well as controversy. The church has engaged in interfaith activities with other religions, including mainstream Christianity and Islam, despite theological differences.
The Unification Church has been the subject of controversy over its beliefs, which differ from traditional Christian interpretations of the Bible and have been called heretical and antisemitic by some critics. It has also been criticized for its involvement in politics, especially in support of the government of South Korea for which it was investigated by a committee of the United States Congress in 1977. The church has also been accused of brainwashing its members, which led to some being subject to deprogramming. Other controversial events include Moon's 1982 conviction in the United States of filing false federal income tax returns and criminal conspiracy and the 2001 wedding of Roman Catholic archbishop Emmanuel Milingo to a Unification Church member in a ceremony presided over by Moon.
Unificationist beliefs are derived from the Christian Bible and are explained in the church's textbook, the Divine Principle. It teaches that God is the Creator and Heavenly Parent, whose dual nature combines both masculinity and femininity and whose center is true love. The Blessing ceremony of the Unification Church, a wedding or wedding vow renewal ceremony, is a church tradition which has attracted widespread public attention as well as controversy. The church has engaged in interfaith activities with other religions, including mainstream Christianity and Islam, despite theological differences.
The Unification Church has been the subject of controversy over its beliefs, which differ from traditional Christian interpretations of the Bible and have been called heretical and antisemitic by some critics. It has also been criticized for its involvement in politics, especially in support of the government of South Korea for which it was investigated by a committee of the United States Congress in 1977. The church has also been accused of brainwashing its members, which led to some being subject to deprogramming. Other controversial events include Moon's 1982 conviction in the United States of filing false federal income tax returns and criminal conspiracy and the 2001 wedding of Roman Catholic archbishop Emmanuel Milingo to a Unification Church member in a ceremony presided over by Moon.
Islam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Islam (/ˈɪslɑːm/;[note 1] Arabic: الإسلام, IPA: [alʔisˈlaːm] (
listen)) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion which professes that there is only one and incomparable God (Allah)[1] and that Muhammad is the last messenger of God.[2][3][4][5][6] It is the world's second-largest religion[7] and the fastest-growing major religion in the world,[8][9][10] with over 1.7 billion followers[11] or 23% of the global population,[7] known as Muslims.[12] Islam teaches that God is merciful, all-powerful, and unique;[13]
and He has guided mankind through revealed scriptures, natural signs,
and a line of prophets sealed by Muhammad. The primary scriptures of
Islam are the Quran, viewed by Muslims as the verbatim word of God, and the teachings and normative example (called the sunnah, composed of accounts called hadith) of Muhammad (c. 570–8 June 632 CE).
Muslims believe that Islam is the original, complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times before through prophets including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.[14][15][16] As for the Quran, Muslims consider it to be the unaltered and final revelation of God.[17] Religious concepts and practices include the five pillars of Islam, which are obligatory acts of worship, and following Islamic law, which touches on virtually every aspect of life and society, from banking and welfare to women and the environment.[18][19] Certain religious rites and customs are observed by the Muslims in their family and social life, while social responsibilities to parents, relatives, and neighbors have also been defined. Besides, the Quran and the sunnah of Muhammad prescribe a comprehensive body of moral guidelines for Muslims to be followed in their personal, social, political, and religious life.
Islam began in the early 7th century. Originating in Mecca,[20] it quickly spread in the Arabian Peninsula and by the 8th century the Islamic empire was extended from Iberia in the west to the Indus River in the east. The Islamic Golden Age refers to the period traditionally dated from the 8th century to the 13th century when much of the historically Islamic world was experiencing a scientific, economic and cultural flourishing.[21][22][23] The expansion of the Muslim world involved various caliphates and empires, traders and conversion to Islam by missionary activities.[24]
Most Muslims are of one of two denominations:[25][26] Sunni (75–90%)[27] or Shia (10–20%).[28] Islam is the dominant religion in the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Sahel,[29][30][31][32] Central Asia and some other parts of Asia.[33] About 13% of Muslims live in Indonesia,[34] the largest Muslim-majority country, 31% in South Asia,[35][36] the largest population of Muslims in the world,[37] 23% in the Middle East & North Africa,[38] and 15% in Sub-Saharan Africa.[39] Sizable Muslim communities are also found in Europe, China, Russia, and the Americas. Converts and immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world.
listen)) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion which professes that there is only one and incomparable God (Allah)[1] and that Muhammad is the last messenger of God.[2][3][4][5][6] It is the world's second-largest religion[7] and the fastest-growing major religion in the world,[8][9][10] with over 1.7 billion followers[11] or 23% of the global population,[7] known as Muslims.[12] Islam teaches that God is merciful, all-powerful, and unique;[13]
and He has guided mankind through revealed scriptures, natural signs,
and a line of prophets sealed by Muhammad. The primary scriptures of
Islam are the Quran, viewed by Muslims as the verbatim word of God, and the teachings and normative example (called the sunnah, composed of accounts called hadith) of Muhammad (c. 570–8 June 632 CE).Muslims believe that Islam is the original, complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times before through prophets including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.[14][15][16] As for the Quran, Muslims consider it to be the unaltered and final revelation of God.[17] Religious concepts and practices include the five pillars of Islam, which are obligatory acts of worship, and following Islamic law, which touches on virtually every aspect of life and society, from banking and welfare to women and the environment.[18][19] Certain religious rites and customs are observed by the Muslims in their family and social life, while social responsibilities to parents, relatives, and neighbors have also been defined. Besides, the Quran and the sunnah of Muhammad prescribe a comprehensive body of moral guidelines for Muslims to be followed in their personal, social, political, and religious life.
Islam began in the early 7th century. Originating in Mecca,[20] it quickly spread in the Arabian Peninsula and by the 8th century the Islamic empire was extended from Iberia in the west to the Indus River in the east. The Islamic Golden Age refers to the period traditionally dated from the 8th century to the 13th century when much of the historically Islamic world was experiencing a scientific, economic and cultural flourishing.[21][22][23] The expansion of the Muslim world involved various caliphates and empires, traders and conversion to Islam by missionary activities.[24]
Most Muslims are of one of two denominations:[25][26] Sunni (75–90%)[27] or Shia (10–20%).[28] Islam is the dominant religion in the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Sahel,[29][30][31][32] Central Asia and some other parts of Asia.[33] About 13% of Muslims live in Indonesia,[34] the largest Muslim-majority country, 31% in South Asia,[35][36] the largest population of Muslims in the world,[37] 23% in the Middle East & North Africa,[38] and 15% in Sub-Saharan Africa.[39] Sizable Muslim communities are also found in Europe, China, Russia, and the Americas. Converts and immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world.
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