Get to Know Us: 5 Fun Facts
You’ve been on our site, you’ve read the articles, but who are we really? Take a look at these fun facts and get to know us better!
We’re incredibly diverse
There are Unification communities in six continents and many countries all around the world. If you were to walk into any of them, you would be very likely to see a melting pot of ethnicities. There is a high percentage of mixed-race families and children within the community. This is because of the belief that inter-cultural marriage is a way to break down boundaries and create peace in the world and that all people, regardless of race, nationality, or religion, are all part of the same human family.
…but we’re all a little Korean
The founder, Rev. Sun Myung Moon, along with imparting his philosophy, also imbued many aspects from his culture of origin. Whether it’s the handful of Korean words we all know, or a taste for kimchi, even those of us who live on the other side of the world are pretty knowledgeable about Korean culture. Many of us have even been there…probably more than once!
We always have a place to stay
Community centers and families will often open their doors to students, travelers or missionaries. It’s like having an extended family all over the world!
We share our anniversaries
Our large wedding ceremony, known as the Holy Marriage Blessing, is probably the most well-known tradition of Unificationists. Instead of having a personal ceremony, thousands of brides and grooms are married at the same time. While many couples, especially in the younger generations, will have their own individual ceremonies to celebrate with friends and family, the Blessing is a hallmark of our faith and the anniversary parties are a blast!
We wear white to funerals
The Seonghwa Ceremony (ascension into the spiritual world) is the unique name for the funeral tradition of Unificationists. Unlike the idea of mourning practiced in many parts of the world and represented by black clothing, the Seonghwa Ceremony is seen as a celebration and a rebirth, as it is the transition from the physical world to the eternal, spiritual world.