Sun Myung Moon

Korean religious leader (1920–2012)

Sun Myung Moon (6 January 1920 – 3 September 2012) was a Korean religious leader, businessman and political activist. He believed he was the second coming of Jesus Christ. He founded the Unification Church.[1] He was an ardent anti-communist and advocate for Korean reunification. He was recognized by the governments of North and South Korea.[2] His business interests included New World Communications, an American news group that owned The Washington Times.

Sun Myung Moon
Moon in Las Vegas, Nevada, 4 April 2010
Born
Mun Yong-myeong

(1920-01-06)6 January 1920
Died3 September 2012(2012-09-03) (aged 92)
NationalityKorean
Occupation(s)Religious leader, businessperson, media mogul, political activist
Known forFounder of Unification Church
Spouse(s)Choi Sun-kil (1944–1953)
Hak Ja Han (1960–2012)
Children16
Korean name
Hangul
문선명
Hanja
Revised RomanizationMun Seon-myeong
McCune–ReischauerMun Sŏnmyŏng
Birth name
Hangul
문용명
Hanja
文龍明
Revised RomanizationMun Yong-myeong
McCune–ReischauerMun Yongmyŏng
Sun Myung Moon and Hak Ja Han

Moon was born in what is now North Korea. He moved to the United States in 1971. He became well-known after giving a series of public speeches based on his beliefs.

Critics called Moon a cult leader because he made high demands on his followers. He was criticized for his relationships with political and religious people, such as Presidents of the United States Richard Nixon, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. His wedding ceremonies drew criticism, especially when they involved members of other churches, such as the Roman Catholic bishop Emmanuel Milingo.[3]

Moon died on 3 September 2012 of pneumonia and its complications.

References

change
  1. "Sun Myung Moon Dies at Age 92". The New York Times. Retrieved Aug 7, 2016.
  2. "Sun Myung Moon's Ground Breaking Campaign". The Atlantic. Retrieved Aug 7, 2016.
  3. "The Archbishop's Wife Speaks for Herself". The National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved Aug 7, 2016.