Exploring Beliefs: The Moonies as a Long-Term Sect

The Unification Church of South Korea, more commonly known as the Moonies fits the typology of a sect in many ways.

The Unification Church was founded by Sum Myung Moon in the 1950s, with missionaries being sent to the USA to recruit members. By 1971 the Unification Church in the United States had approximately 500 members. By the end of the 1970s this had grown to about 5,000 members, with most of them being in their early 20s. The group claimed to have more than three million members in the 1980s, but it is unclear how many members there are today, and there are suspicions that the sect has shrunk considerably, despite still being active.

With a Japanese and an American branch, this sect has become a global religious organisation.

Features of a sect:

Although Troelsch first provided the typology of the sect, it was Roy Wallis who helped us understand the different types of sect based on how the group orients itself to society: with cults being more world affirming or accepting, and sects tending to take a world rejecting stance.

Sects often tend to attract younger people, with the Moonies seeing most of its members in their early twenties.

The Moonies can be viewed as world-rejecting due to being highly critical of mainstream society, and expecting their members to make significant commitment outside of societal norms, including taking part in mass wedding ceremonies in giant sports stadiums. Further commitment includes loyalty to the leader, financial contributions to the church (which has become very wealthy) and allowing control over marriage and family.

Sects are generally founded by a charismatic leader, and although he was described as not especially charismatic, Moon did stand out as a leader with some serious credentials, in his claims to be a messiah, who was immaculate and incapable of sin. According to Moon, Jesus recognised him as the saviour of humankind, and so had Buddha, Muhammad, Satan and others!

Exceptions:

Another common feature of a sect is that it tends to last no more than one generation, and often dissolves when the leader dies. However, after Moon’s death in 2012, his wife Hak Ja Han has continued to lead the sect. Traditions and high levels of commitment, such as the mass-weddings have continued, including one wedding with 3,800 couples, some of whom had met just days earlier, near to Seoul in 2015.

Having lasted significantly more than one generation, this is a fascinating example of a long-term sect.

Links to the Beliefs topic:

We can use this example to consider the usefulness of religious organisation typologies, and the features of a world-rejecting sect. We can also consider the exceptions, such as the long-term nature of the Moonies and how they did not dissolve upon the death of their original leader.

It can also be useful revision to compare the features of the Moonies with traditional churches and denominations, and client or audience cults which require far less commitment.

And finally, we can consider Research Methods by looking at Eileen Barker’s iconic study ‘The Making of a Moonie” where, contrary to other reports, she concluded there was no brainwashing taking place. Barker’s triangulation of several research methods, including participant observation and extensive interviews, make this a fantastic opportunity to revise and enrich your Beliefs and Research Methods critical thinking. The 25 minute clip linked here may be of use if you would like to hear more about this study, including concepts such as the ‘professional stranger’.