Reformed Unificatioism is intended to be an online resource for Unificationists, their friends, and family, as well as generally well-meaning observers. “Change, death, and taxes,” they say, “are the few constants in the cosmos.” Change via revolution is likely violent, and even law suites are of that category. Change via reform seems preferable.
Unificationism is a phenomenon undergoing constant changes. Some changes to Unificationism originate from within, and others perhaps are caused from outside.
In any case, as the originator of Reformed Unificationism, I do not wish to split off a new and independent organization. Reformed Unificationism is intended to be a supportive resource for reform operating in the Unification movement.
Frederick Ferré remarks in his book “Basic Modern Philosophy of Religion” that religion is not primarily about reasoning or truth or God, but is a most intense and comprehensive method of ‘valuing’ as experienced by humankind.
What do Unificationists value, and why and how?
Reformed Unificationism‘s forum expects that users will engage in a game-free, civil discourse. We aim that any and all contributions to these forums are free of foul language, accusatory venting, falsified truth statements, and otherwise underhanded arguments. Opinions are most respected when backed up by references to facts. Please understand the difference between causality and correlation when making an argument.
Project Manager
The project’s admin is Tom Froehlich, a retired and broke civil engineer without a large online following or much of a social standing. Tom graduated from the Unification Theological Seminary, class of ’83, and attended −with Christine, also a UTS graduate − the Holy Blessing of 2,075 Couples at Madison Square Garden in 1982. Christine, being a devoted Unificationist, tolerates Tom’s agnosticism. The Froehlichs raised Naomi, their one daughter.
Tom believes that humans created an image of God in their likeness. Whether there is or not such a being anywhere (inside and/or outside space and time), he does not know. But the contemporary image of God seems to be created in their likeness. In other words, Tom is not a faithful believer in God, Jesus, or Messiah but has become a person of nominal faith.
Nominal Unificationists are church-goers or otherwise religious people whose “faith” does not go beyond refraining from hurting others and being identified with a church, Unificationist group, or denomination. They are Unificationists in name only; the living Christ has little bearing in their lives. Nominal Unificationists may attend church and Unificationist functions and self-identify as “Unificationist,” but it is just a label.
However, even a person of nominal faith may care for others, that is as said before: refrain from hurting others.
Tom acknowledges that identity, diversity, equity, and inclusion are meaningful issues but prefers an emphasis on truth-seeking, merit, and education. In other words, Tom admits to being a bit of a social Darwinist.
What Is Meant By Reform
To improve by alteration, correction of errors, or removal of defects. As such, a social movement being reformed is shepherded into a better form or condition. As we know, sentient beings are fallible and thus are their social artifacts. Reform is a critical endeavor to help social movements of and by humans to persist and thrive.
What Is Unificationism
A rather monotheistic worldview inspired by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon and championed by an international community of adherents. Unificationism has its roots in the Judeo-Christian as well as Daoist and Confucian traditions. As such, Unificationism might also be called a social movement as it does not restrict its concerns and activities to purely religious matters.
The Unification movement, originated by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon in the 1950s in Korea, is not a monolithic movement anymore. Succession to his leadership, successfully asserted by now by his spouse Hak Ja Han Moon, is contended by some of their adult children. Vested members are left to guess how the future of the Unification movement will unfold.
Will The Unification Movement Persist
We hope so. Religion plays an important role in people’s lives. In this day and age, new religious movements are not guaranteed to make it. The old Abrahamic religions are so popular because they are accepted to operate as organizing functions. Religion scripts its followers’ use of time and activities throughout their lives.
Without religion, many folks would probably be a bit uncomfortable with having to choose for themselves a meaning of life, and with that structure their adult living over an average of 55 years. A daunting task for anyone.
Organized religion is not known to respond to the fair voices springing from the heart of its collective base. More often than not, organized religion is a top-down affair − a problem for some. Who decides what, why, and how?
Unification Dialogue
Does the Almighty have interests besides summoning his faithful and the wayward into its loyalty program? Do the younger Unification generations dialogue with the older generations? What about the holistic well-being of individuals, families, and their entire living communities?
A shaken or unsure membership will not add appeal to a movement’s outreach attempts. Reformed Unificationism believes that a community can grow vitality via respectful dialogue, two-way communication between leadership and members.
Reformed Unificationism now hears a few too many Unificationists calling for therapy to heal the ‘Inner Child,’ or to alleviate some form of trauma, etc. First-generation Unification members have come to reflect, after all, on the early days of the movement as well as their involvement. Naturally, their perceptive offspring might also wonder. It should not come as anyone’s surprise that some members cannot go on as expected by leaders in their faith. Is that symptomatic of the current state of affairs in the Unification movement?
Discussion Forums
Ordinary people’s voices need to be recognized and heard, not just the leadership’s view on the state of affairs. Where can the larger Unification community, younger and older members, in the United States discuss pressing issues with privacy and confidentiality? The easy-to-use Unification discussion forum and its effort to facilitate reforms are at the core of this site.
Account Registration
Reformed Unificationism is a membership site offering subscriptions. Why would you need and want to register for an account (after the Grand Opening)? Much spam and outright spite are posted by anonymous detractors hiding their identities on public platforms like Tumblr and Reddit. Reformed Unificationism intends to hold people accountable to a reasonable level of civility in discourse to effect reforms possibly. It also helps prevent underage youth from accessing sometimes confidential discussions. Community-vetted, low-cost subscription accounts also help with covering maintenance costs.
Yet, civility does not equate with obliged politeness, amenability, accommodation, coerced consent, etc. Critique and rebuttal do not equate with being malicious. On the other hand, Reformed Unificationism does not wish to discriminate against unsanctioned but reasonable voices. Let’s not kill Socrates all over again.
Posting topics and replies to discussion forums requires a verified account on this site. We reserve the right to verify anyone’s account information as necessary to help safeguard the integrity of content in all forums.
Sponsorship
In the future, Reformed Unificationism might accept financial sponsorship under the condition that editorial independence will not be impeded. Sponsorship might help us lower, but not abandon, the subscription fees necessary to cover expenses.
Logo
The Fibonacci Sequence and the Mondrian Colors inspire the logo. People all over the world recognize these patterns in everyday life, etc. Other than that, we do not wish to imply a deeper meaning to the logo.
Yellow: E6C57B
Red: D26E79
Blue: 7C8FAC
Fibonacci Sequence
Fibonacci numbers form the Fibonacci sequence in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones. The sequence commonly starts from 0 and 1, although some authors omit the initial terms and start the sequence from 1 and 1 or from 1 and 2. Starting from 0 and 1, the first few values in the sequence are: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144.
They also appear in biological settings, such as branching in trees, the arrangement of leaves on a stem, the fruit sprouts of a pineapple, the flowering of an artichoke, an uncurling fern, and the arrangement of a pine cone‘s bracts. Fibonacci numbers are strongly related to the golden ratio. Reformed Unificationism’s logo uses such a pattern.
Mondrian Colors
Piet Mondrian created art with primary colors in mind. The concept of primary colors has a long, complex history. The choice of primary colors has changed over time in different domains that study color.
Descriptions of primary colors come from areas including philosophy, art history, color order systems, and scientific work involving the physics of light and perception of color. Reformed Unificationism’s logo uses a variation of such colors.
That’s all, folks…
