Andrew Wilson: Original CSG or Not, What Difference Does It Make?

Andrew Wilson

March 16 at 8:22pm

Since Andrew Kessler took a snippet of a conversation I had with him and made a post responding to that snippet, I think I should provide you with the whole content of my position. Many of you still won't like it, but at least you will see that I had something different in mind:

"Father's words are such a great gift to humanity. It doesn't matter which Cheon Seong Gyeong you read. Better still, read the original speeches from which those passages were drawn. I would like to think that this could be a point of agreement between us."

"In the future, there will be hundreds of books of Father's words, published for all sorts of purposes. Then, the current spat about which Cheon Seong Gyeong to use will seem like a tempest in a teapot."

"The FFWPU elders whom I know study Father's original speeches in the 600+ volumes of his original words. They are among the 8 Textbooks, which SC honors, and they are also honored by FFWPU members. Both Cheong Seong Gyeongs are simply excerpts from the 600 volumes. Those original speeches are the standard, from which all the anthologies such as the Cheon Seong Gyeong and Chambumo Gyeong are made. This is yet another reason why the controversy over the CSGs is nothing but a tempest in a teapot."

"The CSG of 2006 was first created by Japanese members as a 12-book witnessing tool, and Father liked it and adopted it. Regardless of its official status in the 8 textbooks, the need for witnessing materials that excerpt passages from Father's speeches will continue, and I believe more such books will be created in the future. As we have already, there will be more and more books of Father's words on peace, Father's words on marriage, Father's words on mind-body training, Father's words on the significance of True Parents, and so on; these will proliferate as the need for them grows. The CSG in either incarnation is too massive to be used for witnessing, where pocket-sized books will be required. Ultimately, the utility of any book is how widely it is used, and I believe new books will come into existence for wide distribution to the public."

Let me add, that based on my study of the Bible, I can tell you that almost every book written or compiled by a prophet or revelator was subsequently edited again by a later editor or editors before reaching the current form that we have it in the Bible. Yet the work of those editors will ever be secondary to the original prophet or revelator, whose words he edited. Accordingly, I believe that 100, 1000 years from now, it is True Father's words that will be valued, and today's hot dispute over which anthology to draw them from will seem like "a tempest in a teapot."

By the way, I use both Cheon Seong Gyeongs. I find pros and cons in each of them. The new Cheon Seong Gyeong has unique material from Father's late period, while in some cases the first Cheon Seong Gyeong has better material. In my research, and in my recent presentation at the leaders' conference in Korea, I used passages from both. And one of the best things about the first Cheon Seong Gyeong is that it is available in PDF format. If any of you don't have it and would like a copy, drop me a private message with your email address and I will send you a link to download it.

Delia Ngan: Mother has the right to change the CHEON SEONG GYEONG

Delia Ngan

March 12 at 1:49am

IS TRUE MOTHER MAKING CHANGES IN CHEON SEONG GYEONG A BIG ISSUE?

One of the common allegations from SC against True Mother is that She changed the Cheon Seong Gyeong (CSG) , even though Father had mentioned that it should not be touched, as He said, " The word Cheon Seong Gyeong is a very dreadful word. Any person, a third person, regardless of how great they may be, even if they have several Nobel prizes under their belt, nobody can touch [or change] the Cheon Seong Gyeong." (447-83, 2004. 4. 30)

Altering the Scriptures is not unprecedented, as the Bible itself was altered / edited numerous times in history, a course of evolution.

(Deuteronomy 4:2) "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. "

But in reality, the Old Testament cannon, which has multiple authors, has evolved through time. Historian believe that the Torah was likely formed during 400BC and the rests of the Books in Prophets and Writings were compiled into the Scripture by the Jewish authority during the 100-200 A.D.

All the writings in the Old Testament were a gradual collection of fragmenst over a period of 1500 years. It went through a process of selection, rejection and reselection.

Despite of the warning in Deuteronomy 4:2, the New Testament scripture came into being. But it has also gone through the same course of evolution.

Jesus Himself did not write anything. The four Gospels, the Epistles, the Acts and the Book of Revelation were all written by the early Christians during the 1st and 2nd centuries.

In the early Churches, one or two Gospels and Paul's letters were circulated around. There were numerous disputes on the authenticity of the divinely inspired writings among the Christians for a few centuries. The first list of New Testament cannon as it is now, was written by St. Athanasios, Bishop of Alexandria, in 367AD and was recognized by Council of Rome and Council of Carthage in 419AD.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia article on the Canon of the New Testament: "The Canon of the New Testament, like that of the Old, is the result of a development, of a process at once stimulated by disputes with doubters, both within and without the Church, and retarded by certain obscurities and natural hesitations, and which did not reach its final term until the dogmatic definition of the Tridentine Council." (Wikipedia: Development of the New Testament)

Since the authors of the Bible were human and that it was selected, edited numerous times, why Christians still believe that it was the Words of God? The answer is that God inspired the authors and selectors to compile the authentic Scriptures.

(Rev 22:19)"..and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book."

Despite of this words of warning in Revelation 22:19, the Unification Scriptures (Father's speeches and the Eight Great Books) still came into being. Why?

Reason is that Revelation 22:19 is meant to avoid anti-Christs and confusion until the right time of the coming of the Messiah, just like Deuteronomy 4:2 which served the same purpose.

However, such kind of warning in the Bible cannot stop God from continuing His divine provident by providing mankind with new words, as the Divine Principle explains:

"Although spirit and truth must be unique, eternal and unchanging, the extent, degree and method of teaching and expressing them to men, who are in the process of restoration from the status of ignorance, should vary according to the age." (DP consummation of human history, sect v, 1)

"Jesus did not say that his word was the truth, but that he himself was the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). This is because his words were only a means of expressing himself as the truth; and the extent, degree and method of expressing the truth should vary according to those who receive the words" (DP consummation of human history, sect v, 1)

What Divine Principle says about the Bible is also applicable to Father's words, such as CSG. However, the different here is that while the Bible was edited by the Jewish religious leaders and the Christian councils, the CSG was directly commissioned by True Mother to make changes; that means such act is directly related to True Father and God.

SC disagrees that Mother has the authority to make changes, even though the Jewish and Christians leaders' authority has no matches with Hers.

According to Divine Principle's Christology and numerous Father's words, Mother, the co-Messiah, stands on equal position with Father, as such, Her authority is equal to Father's.

As a perfected Eve whose heart and zeal are one with God and True Father, what She does cannot go against their wishes. Her intention for editing CSG that to clearly educate mankind's future generation is inline with Father's teaching of "doing for the sake of others", and inline with Principle teaching of "fitting the words according to the people of the ages."

Moreover, Father mentioned about "any person, a third person". Here this "third person" is not Mother Herself. If God is the first person, and Father is the second person, then any other person outside the Trinity is the third person, as Father and Mother are in oneness.

Accordingly, True Mother did not act unprincipledly in editing Choen Seong Gyeong.

Libby Henkin: True Mother is True Mother

Libby Henkin

February 24 at 8:45am

True Mother is True Mother in her own right. True Mother made True Father a True Father, and vice versa. Without each other, they would not be True Parents. By being Blessed with True Mother, True Father made True Mother True Parents, and True Mother made True Father True Parents. True Mother earned her position in her own right, as True Father did, through many years of bitter suffering and bearing 14 True Children, as well as sacrificing for the whole world of past, present, and future Cain children. They did that together and became one. You cannot pick and insert a new True Mother between them who did not qualify. That’s disgusting. The image that comes to mind is the whore of Babylon.

Before they came to America, everyone called True Father Master or Leader. There are still members in Korea who do not and have never accepted True Mother, from the beginning until now. This is the jealousy of women that True Father often talks about. I think Yeon Ah nim may have inherited some of that.

True Father did not "choose" True Mother. God chose her, and True Father discovered her. True Father raised me, Libby, but it was between me and God to create who I am in that disciplining environment that True Father provided. I chose to love him. I am myself in my own right. It is from this perspective that I understand when True Mother says True Father didn’t raise her. Who she created herself to be is between herself and God. We all are influenced by those around us as we grow, still, it is up to “me” to pick and choose. We each create ourselves; that is our portion of responsibility in life. Therefore we have integrity and can be Lords of Creation. True Mother created herself with God in an environment that True Father provided and in relationship to True Father. Also True Father created himself in relationship to True Mother. They have walked this life together.

True Mother is True Mother in her own right. No one can give that position to her, and no one can take it away. Hyung Jin nim cannot decide who True Mother is. True Father had to earn the position of Messiah and True Father, and he did it. True Mother had to earn the position of True Mother and Messiah, and she did it. True Father emphasizes that he and True Mother are one, that she should stand beside him, and that when True Mother is present without True Father, we should recognize that she represents them both. True Father says we should recognize True Mother as True Parents and treat her that way.

So True Father is still with us on earth, yes! He is acting with full strength and authority through True Mother. You may not like everything she is doing. Weren’t there times you disagreed with True Father? Get over it. Fathers and mothers may do things differently and may disagree, but that is no excuse for disuniting with your mother. Saying I will only unite with one of my parents is wrong and unfilial. Someone who has proved herself the way to True Mother has should not be treated in and unfilial way by her son and his cadre. When you don’t like what your parents are doing, you don’t just pick a new one. Mothers are not disposable because they are women. My parents are always my parents. True Parents will never change.

The crux of my disagreement with the sanctuary church is SC assumes True Mother is suddenly disunited with True Father after all these years of proving herself, because her son says so, while I accept the Supreme Authority of True Mother. Sanctuary church does not believe that a wife can stand in the position of her husband in the family when the husband passes on to spirit world, because she is a woman, and because Hyung Jin nim says so. I do think so, especially in the case of True Mother, who became one with True Father. True Father is still alive with True Mother. I believe True Mother has the right to lead in True Father's place, as True Father said.

True Mother is championing the second generation. She has called for all leaders to find their replacement among second-generation and raise and train them. This is a transition time and a time of training we are going through with some of the second-generation. It seems it is not time for Hyung Jin nim to fully lead yet, not until True Mother signs off on it. There was a time that we all loved and welcomed Hyung Jin nim’s future successorship. Hyung Jin nim apparently did not want training from True Mother, only True Father. He is only half-baked to take on the role True Parents wanted him to take. He is amazing but would be doubly so. I believe True Mother would have trained him in some important things of life that he is missing (me too, but he was the One, not me). He would have inherited the gift of the foundation of both True Parents and been greater than the sum total of them both. I lament that loss for the world.

Phillip Schanker Addresses the Unification Community

To the Leadership and Membership of the Unification Community,
I would like to express three things:
1. Why I am heartened by Mother’s direction for In Jin Nim to offer sermons at East Garden
2. Why I am saddened by USA HQ’s decision not to implement Mother’s direction
3. What members who are cynical about Mother’s direction should consider

1. Why I am heartened by Mother’s direction for In Jin Nim to offer sermons at East Garden

It is a time of division, confusion and uncertainty for the Unification faith. No amount of glowing reports or proclamations of success can change that fact. From the time that In Jin Nim stepped down in obedience to Mother’s direction, she has remained faithful, loyal and supportive. Unlike some of her siblings, she has not condemned Mother or promoted any further division in this community. On the other hand, she has been a consistent voice for unity in support of her mother, and has not hesitated to confront the unhealthy and damaging actions of her siblings. Every word and action of her internet-based ministry has been to support her mother, address the pain and uncertainty of the community, and promote unity. She has not sought position, power, money or self-justification; she has only responded to Father’s urging in her dreams, and sought to provide a voice of reason, reconciliation and hope for our community.

There are many like me who would like to see this movement become the broad, relevant and effective global instrument for creating one family under God that Father envisioned, rather than a narrow denomination that speaks to an increasingly dwindling community of its own, and loses its younger generation. In Jin Nim brings unique qualities of insight, heart, practicality and openness that are urgently needed. Her gracious and generous heart and loyalty to her parents’ vision has generated respect and support from many quarters beyond our movement, and she maintains relationships of mutual respect and trust with leaders in several fields. In Jin Nim’s personal insight into the experiences and struggles of 2nd and 3rd generation Unificationists, and how to develop a church that is relevant and real for the future is crucial, I believe.

After Father’s ascension, during the confusion that followed, True Mother mentioned a three-year period during which her children should not be in public roles. Is it a coincidence that just over 3 years after asking her daughter to step down, Mother is now initiating a restoration and renewal process, not with any public appointment, but simply by creating a platform for In Jin Nim’s message of reconciliation and hope to be shared?

2. Why I am saddened by USA HQ’s Decision not to implement Mother’s direction

I assume that because of resistance from the community or from HQ itself, HQ either decided not to implement Mother's direction, or reported to her that it was too sensitive and controversial and asked that she withdraw it. Here is why I feel that is a mistake:

True Parents showed me a God of unconditional love. While setting the highest of standards, when any of us has fallen short of these, Father and Mother have consistently responded with grace, forgiveness, and the opportunity for a new beginning. They have forgiven and Blessed the greatest scoundrels in human history, embraced the most vicious of their enemies, and provided a path of healing when their own children have struggled, as well as all Blessed children. Should we not open our hearts to a daughter, sister and elder of our own community, who stumbled and fell short?

Yes, forgiveness and redemption involves a process. But who knows what process Mother has implemented with her own daughter? I happen to know that there are clear steps that have been laid out, and the cynicism and judgment of members and leaders that this is a convenient white-wash is unjustified. Who are you or I to interpret or make assumptions about the motive, heart and purpose of True Mother in her efforts to heal, unite, and renew our movement? What kind of leadership do we have, that falls short of even the standard of Jesus, to forgive and not judge?

In Jin Nim experienced public humiliation, vicious condemnation, and criticism from many who have little understanding of the reality of her situation and choices. For her to stand up and seek to provide a voice of reason, reconciliation and hope in the face of so much vitriol, is not callous or selfish. It is an act of courage motivated by her devotion to her parents’ vision, and her desire to help heal and restore what has been broken.

3. What members who are cynical about Mother’s direction should consider

I was among those at HQ in 2012, closer to the situation than most. Like the rest of our membership I learned about the devastating reality from the internet. Like many, I felt lied to, misled and betrayed. I understand the many that want to forgive and support In Jin Nim, but have not experienced a genuine repentance, which offends their faith, or a sufficient ownership of the damage that her betrayal of a public trust has done, regardless of her personal reasons.

In Jin Nim’s 2012 statement to the members said, “I am truly sorry that the details of my personal life have hurt so many people. So much emotion has been expressed from love and support to hatred and condemnation. I accept them all and take full responsibility for the choices I have made concerning my life.” Many of our members accepted this, and could embrace and forgive her. For some, however, this did not satisfy their concerns about adultery, pregnancy outside of wedlock, lying, and falsely presenting a public partnership with Jin Sung Park while carrying on a private affair. I understand that these violations of the standards of the Blessing deeply offended our membership, who want them to be acknowledged and owned, in order for them to extend the forgiveness that our elder sister deserves.

I also know the many challenges that In Jin Nim faced which many cannot understand, and she does not feel free to explain clearly. Her initial Blessing was already over, by the standards of the Blessing itself, before she accepted the appointment as FFWPU president. She did not have the freedom to end it, and was torn between her intention to live the kind of authentic life she preached about, and the expectations for her to occupy a public position and protect the church from being taken over forcefully by Hyun Jin Nim. I know how she struggled to work with her difficult situation, to maintain the position expected of her, while reporting honestly and seeking solutions. There is a long list of challenges that her situation imposed upon her, which few can grasp. She hinted at some of these issues in her 2012 letter, but did not feel free to go into detail, or cast aspersions on any others.

Some consider In Jin Nim’s challenges to traditional standards and efforts to broaden our movement as merely justifications for her own lifestyle and choices. That is a shallow misjudgment. Coming from her own experiences being raised with high expectations and limited personal support from her very public parents, and trying her best for years to make a difficult Blessing work, she understands the challenges of our Blessed children, and the struggles of many families. She is seeking to create a community that addresses real issues, and provides healthy solutions that are relevant far beyond the UC community, to help all people lead healthy and loving lives.

I also happen to know, and was involved in to a limited degree, Ben Lorentzen’s initial Blessing, which sadly was also finished years before he came to work with In Jin Nim. Far more than some handsome rock star, Ben is a social worker who for 13 years worked with the most at-risk youth in Norway, dealing with anger, violence and aggression. The perception that this couple’s relationship destroyed their previous Blessings is false. Their decision to marry and seek True Parents’ grace, the way they are raising their son, and their efforts to embrace their entire “blended family” reflect the ideals and values of the Blessing that they are committed to.

None of this, of course, is an excuse for the tragic mistakes that occurred, and the betrayal and hurt that so many feel. I know that In Jin Nim feels these deeply, and simply wants to work with our community to heal and move forward. I believe Mother knows exactly what she is doing in gently encouraging this reconciliation. I hope we will give In Jin Nim, and True Mother, the opportunity they seek. What better vision do our leaders in New York have to offer?

Sincerely,

Phillip Schanker

Was/Is Mother Always Wrong? (by Lloyd Eby)

There is a video on YouTube of Timothy Elder testifying that, away from the public and the cameras, Mother and Father often disagreed, with Mother trying to influence Father in some direction and Father rejecting whatever Mother said or suggested or tried to do. Apparently these disagreements were at least sometimes heated. (Many if not all of the examples in Timothy’s video have to do with Father continuing to speak (to a public audience) and Mother trying to get him to end for some reason, but Father refusing to do so.)

Let’s accept that Timothy’s testimony is true, that there were disagreements – sometimes heated – between Mother and Father.

My question is whether, when such disagreement(s) occurred, Mother was always wrong. As far as I can ascertain, it is the position of SC and its members that, when such disagreements occurred (and occur today), Mother was/is always wrong.

Why should that view – that Mother was/is always wrong when/if she disagrees with Father – be accepted? Shouldn’t it be the case that in a relationship between spouses, neither side is always right or always wrong, that there should usually be a mutual give-and-take between spouses so that they come to a conclusion in which the view and interest of each of the spouses is preserved?

(FB post by Lloyd Eby)

Is True Father Able to Communicate with His Wife? (by John Doroski)

Bottomline - Is True Father able to communicate with his wife or is he in prison in the Spirit World 

I have talked and communicated with many 1st generation spouses of a blessed couple where one spouse of the couple "already" have ascended (died) into the spirit world. There are many many testimonies, experiences of a blessed couples ascended spouse returning to communicate with them while only having a spirit body to their spouse who still is alive physically; and this especially includes the departed spouse having sexual intercourse with their spouse still on earth in a physical body.

It is my understanding that the SC followers and HyungJin do not believe or accept that True Father (even though the successful Messiah) can communicate with his earthly wife from the spirit world, implying that True Father has much less ability and powers than so many of his disciples who have ascended. This belief and position seems unreasonable to me.

Is it not possible that Sun Myung Moon is standing at True Mother's right side, holding her hand and telling her what to do and say? I myself have daily experiences of my ancestors telling me what to do "each day", protecting me physically from hurt because of stupid mistakes as I work in the yard. In the Philippines in 1978 President Eu who had ascended came into the body of a Philippine young lady member and communicated with us, used her body to heal many members from illnesses, guided Nanette walking through Communist held neighborhoods, mentored, laugh and cried with Nanette and Me as we together with him raised up the early members of the Philippine Unification Church.........Would not Rev. Moon have much more ability than President Eu to communicate from the Spirit World.

It seems to me that the SC beliefs are in contradiction to some core teachings, beliefs, expectations of those who follow the Divine Principle understanding of the purpose, relationship and reality of the spirit ancestors in the metaphysical world to and inaction with the physical world and especially with the metaphysical powers that Sun Myung Moon has.

JSD (FB post by John S Doroski)

Faith and Hope in the True Children? (FB post by Lloyd Eby)

Those who put faith and hope in the True Children (princes and princesses in the royalist notion of the Kingdom of Heaven) -- even going so far as to call one of them King -- need, I think, to hear and take to heart this admonition: Psalm 146:3-6 American Standard Version (ASV)

3 Put not your trust in princes, Nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; In that very day his thoughts perish.