Ask A Moonie Part 1

Hello everybody. This is my first YouTube monologue, so please forgive any Noobie errors. Your advice and criticisms are welcomed.
Let me start off by introducing myself: My full name is Youngil Ely Loew. Many of my friends call me Youngil and many of my friends call me Ely. Take your pick. Some people also call me Mr. Loew, which I kinda like.
I am 25 years old, married, and currently studying in the ethnically Albanian city (because it is 80% Albanian) of Tetovo in Macedonia. I am here on a Fulbright Grant, so I would like to take the time to express my sincerest gratitude to the U.S. government and Senator William J. Fulbright for starting the program. Im studying for a Masters in Diplomacy (I double majored in International Political Economy and Diplomacy, which we call IPED, and World Religions. I graduated last summer from the University of Bridgeport, and I am planning to write my Masters Thesis on some aspect of the ethnic tensions between Macedonians and Albanians here.
I am a moonie, or to be more politically correct, a member of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. Family Federation was formerly the Unification Church, so we are also known as Unificationist, although I personally find this term to be cumbersome and very impractical. I dont mind being called a moonie, its short and simple, and most of the younger moonies dont mind it as well. Just be careful around older moonies, since they tend to get offended by the term. My personal opinion is it matters more the way you say it to someone that the actual word youre using.
The main purpose of this monologue series (Im hoping to make it a series), is to help clarify mis-conceptions about our movement, both for our own members and for the general public. In my personal search for faith, Ive tried to always be open-minded and study a wide variety of different view points. Before Youtube existed, I would search the internet and read thru all the criticisms of our church, and Ive watched almost every YouTube video about us, especially the ones that portray us as an evil mind control cult. You can check my playlist to see some of the videos Im talking about.

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[Henrydec]

If anyone think Moon is perfect and has a perfect family as he claims, look at some of his children. His eldest son was a drug addict, womaniser and wife batterer and she divorced him. One of his daughters have left the religious group and is now denouncing the church.

[Loew01]

@Henrydec This is a common misconception about our teachings. Rev. Moon doesn't claim his family is perfect. In fact, if someone truly understands our theology, it is obvious that they are not perfect. It is their position and responsibility that earns them the title of 'True Family', but it is something that is still 'a work in progress'.

[Henrydec]

@Loew01

Mr.Moon had claimed his family was perfect and all his children were born without original sin and were perfect. That's what I was taught during your 7 day and 21 day workshop. Please do not deny it. Unless of course, the church have suddenly changed their stance that his children are not perfect after the disgraceful and immoral acts of his eldest son.

[Loew01]

@Henrydec If you were taught that in a workshop, you were taught incorrectly. Have you read the Divine Principle? The book was written in the early 1950s, and clearly sets out the difference between being born without original sin and perfection. The church has never changed it's stance, but it is true that many of our early members were naive about the True children, and assumed that the children would be saints... All the true children have at least the same potential to sin as Adam and Eve.

[icedfirion]

@Loew01 im sorry but i went to the church since i was a child. Were taught that the "true" family is in highest regard and the closest thing to perfection compared to other families. now if you deny that then you don't follow what they try and teach very well <.<....

[TheMiracleHands]

@Henrydec Nothing to do here :|

[cherriesncream100]

@missionarymayn Mt 7:15 Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing,but underneath are ravenous wolves.

[Loew01]

@Henrydec Fair enough on this point. We believe in sacrifice and working hard, and we believe it improves quality of life. Sunday mornings are 5am, and now it's not just Sundays but everyday. Fundraising is now around 8hours, 10-12 on weekends. It's a training program, so about 2 yrs. Rev. Moon is always there to lead it. Marrying a stranger isn't as bad as people may think, since very few people in the modern world have figured out how to have a successful marriage.

[Henrydec]

@Loew01

Like I said before, if being married to a complete stranger from a different culture and problem with communication, work up to 12hrs/day, 6 days/wk, wake up Sunday morning at 3am and rush to pledge service to worship photos of Moon and recite a pledge to be faithful to Moon all the days of your life is really what potential recruits want and will enjoy, then please go ahead and join the Moonies. If not, avoid them like a plague.

[Loew01]

@Henrydec Hello Henry. Just want to point out that my parents wen through that whole process you are talking about, and it made them happier and better people. They weren't tricked into it either.. It's an all volunteer program, and a lot of people kept their bank accounts and properties. Most gave out of their sincere desire to help something they believed in. Now many of our families are quite successful, especially the ones who were married as complete strangers...

[Loew01]

@got2many LOL. That's probably a side effect of being brainwashed... :P