THE MISSION OF THE MEDIA IN THE 21ST CENTURY REVEREND SUN MYUNG MOON TWELFTH WORLD MEDIA CONFERENCE August 22, 1992 Seoul, Korea

Respected Chairman MacArthur, honored guests, distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the media:I would like to express my deep gratitude to each of you for coming to my homeland, the Republic of Korea, in order to attend the 12th World Media Conference. Held as a part of the World Culture and Sports Festival, this great event has been established in order that all the projects and accomplishments of my lifetime can be gathered together and offered up to God as one.Scholars have come to attend the International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences, a gathering with a 19-year history. The Assembly of the World's Religions is an ecumenical gathering of major religious leaders representing the world's many expressions of faith. Statesmen, including former heads of state and government, are here to attend the Summit Council for World Peace.

Women leaders from around the world are here to attend a symposium of the Women's Federation for World Peace, an organization headed by Mrs. Moon-and young people from many nations are holding an athletic meet, Sportsfest, in connection with the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles' (CARP) Convention for World Students, being held to discuss the qualities required of those who would be leaders in the twenty-first century.
The building of world peace is the ultimate purpose of all I have tried to accomplish during my life. That is also why, last year, I founded the Federation for World Peace and the Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace.
I have defined the center of world peace as being in the family, and have consistently called for "world peace through the ideal family."
Three days from now, on August 25, the largest international wedding ceremony in history will be held as a concrete expression of my philosophy of peace. Good men and women from 130 countries, transcending their differences of nationality and race, are gathering together to be blessed in holy matrimony in the name of God's true love. They are determined to build ideal families and become workers for world peace. This solemn ceremony, therefore, signifies their dedication, their commitment, to a peaceful world.
I cordially invite you to observe this ceremony as special guests because I think that as journalists, you will want to witness this unique event. Since I am granting you an "exclusive", a front-row seat, in terms of coverage of this most historic event, you may be thinking I might expect something from you in return. All I request of you, however, is that you not look upon this as a spectacle, "the greatest show on earth," but that you seriously examine it as the creation of a force for peace, and extend to these couples your sincere congratulations.
The time has come for the media and journalists to be incorporated into an understanding of the comprehensive vision of peace I am outlining here and to be become completely one with this vision, so that you can participate in fulfilling the ideal of world peace that is our common hope.
Last May, I traveled to Washington and spoke at a dinner commemorating the tenth anniversary of The Washington Times, which I founded. I was reminded that when I first announced the founding of The Washington Times in 1982, there were many people in America who ridiculed me. Some experts predicted, even if I founded a newspaper of acceptable quality, that I would run out of funds in six months. And if not that, then the paper would degenerate into nothing more than a mouthpiece for the Unification Church and would end up as a weekly newspaper, read by almost no one.
Now, ten years later The Washington Times is counted among the top three papers in terms of influence among the 1,750 newspapers published in the United States. It is the first newspaper read by the president of the United States when he gets up in the morning. On August 13, President Bush gave an exclusive interview to Wesley Pruden, editor-in-chief of The Washington Times, the first such interview of the campaign season for President Bush with a daily newspaper.
Year after year, The Times is awarded for its excellence in editorial design. In 1989, in the American Newspaper Society's annual design competition in the United States, it received Best of Show honors, the award of highest excellence awarded only by the unanimous vote of a jury of twelve judges. Furthermore, in the category of editorial writing, The Washington Times received their highest award for two consecutive years, something that had never before been achieved by any newspaper in the United States.
During these past ten years, I have invested one billion dollars in this newspaper. If I were pursuing political influence or personal wealth, or if I were trying to proselytize my religious beliefs, I would not have invested such a sum in a newspaper. Simply put, I founded The Washington Times in order to fulfill the Will of God.
I know that God loves America. America is a center of traditional Judaism and Christianity. It is the cradle of the spirit of modern Christianity. God's desire is that America play a central role in rescuing the entire world and that America maintain its traditional values, which have fallen into confusion in recent years. During the Cold War, God placed America in a position to block the attempt by communism to gain world domination. In the context of God's Will, it was most important that there be a newspaper that had the philosophical and ideological foundation needed to give encouragement to the people and political leaders of America. I certainly could not leave Washington, the capital of the United States, to be a victim of the leftist Washington Post.
So where are we now, after ten years? The bells heralding the collapse of communism rang out clearly on November 9, 1989, with the fall of the Berlin Wall. And on Christmas Day, 1991, the communist empire founded on atheism vanished from the earth after having held the world in fear for seventy-four years.
I am not saying that The Washington Times accomplished all this by itself. These developments were the results of God's providence. God, however, works His will on earth through human beings. I do not have the slightest doubt that The Times played a decisive role in bringing about the fall of communism. God used the newspaper as His tool to bring an end to the most pernicious worldwide dictatorship in history-and gave freedom to tens of millions of people. Even if I had spent ten billion dollars instead of one, I could not have made a more valuable investment.
The mission of The Washington Times, however, is not yet finished. The fall of communism does not automatically lead to the coming of world peace. Nor does it mean that the ideal society of God's desire will establish itself without any further effort on our part. It is still too early for the free world to be toasting its victory, for the world is still faced with too many urgent problems that strike terror in the hearts of all humanity.
The societies of free countries today are exhibiting a phenomenon that is every bit as evil as communism. I am referring to the philosophy of materialistic humanism and to the extreme individualism and selfishness that are the offshoots of this philosophy. As a result of these, we find that money and material goods have become the "gods" of our culture.
I am not one to condemn humanism altogether, but the problem with the humanism we see today is that it is based on a thoroughly atheistic outlook. Once we deny the existence of God and the significance of the Creator's creative act, then human beings are reduced to just a handful of dust. In such a perspective, human beings are considered no better than mere machines. This is precisely the fallacy contained in Marxist-Leninism. If we say there is no God and that human beings are no better than machines or animals, then there is no basis for morality. Without a belief in the spirit and eternal life, people become irresponsible toward other human beings and commit atrocities toward each other.
In this context, let's look at the situation of the advanced free countries of the world, whom we would expect to be feeling a sense of victory over the course that has now been taken by communism. Extreme selfishness and individualism have given rise to hedonism. Corruption has pervaded all aspects of social life, and families are breaking up. The problem of political corruption is becoming worse and economies are declining.
The young people, whom we normally expect to become the future leaders, are losing touch with their consciences in a flood of immorality, drugs and crime, to such an extent that it is difficult for us to have hope in them as the leaders of the twenty-first century.
I have said in the past that the next century is to be an era of spiritual civilization. The era of material civilization is coming to an end. If we are to turn back the darkness that is closing in upon our world and begin to live again, then we must first fill the ideological void in the former Marxist-Leninist countries that has resulted from the fall of communism.
Furthermore, we must bring about a revival of spiritual culture that will rescue the free countries, which now seem to be heading for the day when they will either destroy themselves or else receive the judgment of God. Thus, we need to produce a new philosophy and ideology capable of bringing about a spiritual revolution in human society.
Ladies and gentlemen, during past Media Conferences I have made reference to the providential mission that I have been called to fulfill. I have been called to be the pioneer of a new age. That is to say, I am a pioneer of a new spiritual civilization for the twenty-first century. I have already declared to the world the ideology of the new age that God has revealed to me. That ideology is Godism, neither left-wing nor right-wing, but rather a philosophy that would more accurately be called "head-wing".
As scientists delve deeper into their areas of study, they find themselves less and less able to deny the truth of God's existence. I proclaim that truth, and also teach a view of life in which we attend God and experience his reality in our own daily lives.
God is not an abstract God. He is a God who is alive in each of our lives, and we can feel His touch. I am constantly hearing the beating of God's pulse. I breathe as He breathes. I can feel the warmth of His body against my own. I have come to know the heart of God, and have shed rivers of tears from the knowledge that His heart is bursting with the sorrow of having lost humankind through the Fall. I also know clearly what God desires of His children now.
The most important fact is that the Almighty God is my father. He is your father as well. He is the father of all people. The heart of God, as He looks down upon humankind, is the heart of the parent. Even in human society, the love of the parent is the most passionate, the most ardent, the most unconditional.
The essence of God is true love. God's desire is for all people to follow the example of His true love. He wants to practice true love and view the world through the love of a giving parent. We can achieve eternal life only through such a practice of selfless true love, a love that gives and then expects nothing in return. God invested himself 100 percent when He created the heavens and the earth and then created humankind. He has never expected anything from us in return for that. The same is true of human parents. Because of our love, we want our spouses and children to be something greater than ourselves. That is why we can invest everything of ourselves in them and never expect anything in return.
Until now, human history has been the history of the era of brothers. It is expected that brothers fight. The era of brothers has been an era of struggle and of war. Human history began with a fight among brothers, and ever since then, it has been a history of struggle. Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve, the first human ancestors, fought with one another until finally the older brother killed the younger. This was the beginning of sinful human history.
Up through World War I, World War II and the ideologically-fought Third World War, history has been a succession of fights among brother nations. Today, now that we have come through World Wars I, II and III, human history is entering a new dimension. Now, the era of brothers has ended, and we have entered the era of parents. The era of parents is the era of true love. As God looks upon us and loves us with the heart of a parent, so should each of us look upon every other person and love all people with the heart of the parent. There may be tears in such a love, but never a fight to the death. The concept of struggle does not exist within the context of true love. My declaration of Godism is the philosophy of True-Parentism and the philosophy of True Love.
On Nov. 30, last year, I visited North Korea, a staunch communist country with which I had been an enemy. The world was shocked to hear that I, a person who has devoted his entire life to anti-communism and victory over communism, had entered North Korea. I received a warm welcome from President Kim Il Sung. We embraced each other heartily. He is a person who had always looked on me as an enemy. He had once imprisoned me for three years and later even attempted to kill me.
This was the enemy that I embraced. I could never have done this, however, if I had actually held even the slightest thought that he was my enemy. I went to North Korea with the heart of the parent, and it was with the heart of the parent that I embraced President Kim Il Sung. I went to North Korea in an act of true love. In true love, there is no concept of struggle, only the heart of compassion. In true love, there is only the heart of the parent that can give and give and then feel the desire to give even more.
I will state here today that the Godism and True-Parentism which I have declared, is the source of true peace that will lead the way in the twenty-first century. It is with Godism and the Headwing philosophy that we can build a world of harmony in the twenty-first century. The core of this philosophy is the heart of the parent and true love. The twenty-first century will be the era of True Parents. I will be the era when people will mature spiritually and "heartistically" to the point that everyone will become true parents.
I have always emphasized that we need a true press, a responsible mass communication media. I founded the World Media Conference as a way to foster press freedom in places where this freedom has not existed, and to work to bring about a responsible press in places where freedom already exists.
Recently, I have defined still another mission for the media. That is that the media needs to be moral. I have given The Washington Times a task for its next ten years that it must contributed to bringing about a moral society. In doing this, The Times will make its contribution to the world. Because a peaceful world is only possible based on the existence of ideal families, The Times must be a newspaper that cultivates family values.
The media wields such power and influence that it is often described as the Fourth Estate, after the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. This power of the media must be exercised for the purpose of good. Through the exercise of its influence, the media must contribute to bringing about greater understanding between cultures and nations.
You journalists are specialists in your field, but before that, you are all God's children. You are all champions of peace, specially called by God to help bring a new ethical standard into the world.
The World Media Conference exists as a forum for free discussion by members of the media for the ultimate purpose of bringing about a principled media. In this time when the entire world and all of humanity is advancing toward the ultimate true world of peace, the media must understand that it is called by God to an important mission in helping to realize this world. The media must add its efforts to those of all others who are working for peace, and must exercise its tremendous influence for bringing about the ideal of a humanity united as one family. The media must march boldly forward, leading the way in realizing an ethical world.
I hope that through your discussions and studies over the next few days, you will have the opportunity to think more deeply than ever about the mission of the media.
In closing, let me say it is my constant prayer that God's abundant blessings will be upon your work and your families.
Thank you.

ABSOLUTE VALUES AND THE NEW WORLD ORDER 19TH ICUS & 8TH PWPA REVEREND SUN MYUNG MOON August 20, 1992 Seoul, Korea

Honorable chairman, distinguished scholars, respected guests, ladies and gentlemen.

It is my pleasure to speak to you at this Opening Plenary Session of the 19th International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences and the fifth Professors World Peace Academy World Congress. I wholeheartedly welcome you to my homeland of Korea.

Last year, in addition to the ICUS, we had two very special conferences, the Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace (IRFWP) and the Federation for World Peace. These two organizations were established to create a New World Order. The Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace, in particular, is dedicated to uniting the world's religions for the purpose of establishing world peace. In the recent Gulf War, we witnessed how the world fell into a religious war. Global disaster continues to flare up.
Until now, many politicians have exploited religious conflicts for their own selfish purposes. Religions have been powerless and confused, not clearly recognizing their responsibility in relation to world peace. Now, through the IRFWP, leaders from the world's religions will harmonize and become leaders for world peace.
In every culture, religion should be the conscience, setting the standard of public righteousness. While each religion has pride in its own teachings each has universal elements, which come from God. The one God is the God of all religions. Therefore, religions must purify themselves and elevate themselves through universal principles. The central value in religion is true love, which can be described by the teaching, "Live for the sake of others." The individual lives for the sake of the family; the family lives for the sake of the community; the community lives for the sake of the nation; the nation lives for the sake of the world. Likewise, my religion lives for the sake of other religions. This principle is true.
The source of this universal principle is God. In creating the universe, God invested Himself totally for the sake of His creation. Throughout history, it is God who has been continually sacrificing Himself in order to save fallen human beings, who have been living just as they desire. The prophets, saints and sages who knew God's will have followed God's principles in their own lives.
Not content to keep the truth to themselves, they have walked the way of sacrifice in order to teach others. Moses, Confucius, Buddha, Mohammed, Socrates and Jesus are saints who suffered hardships and were persecuted, even as they taught people. They sacrificed their lives in order to enlighten and liberate humanity.
The Federation for World Peace is a cooperative federation of politicians and national organizations. Today's world cannot be maintained by nationalism. The current flare-up of ethnic violence in Eastern Europe only demonstrates its destructive nature. National pride and self-determination are good and right only when they are dedicated to serving the world community. Nationalism which places "my nation first" and promotes hatred of other nations goes against the universal principle of living for the sake of others. All such "isms" which go against the universal principle are destined to decline.
Now we are seeing a trend where nations are joining to form multinational associations, such as the European Community. This trend will intensify in the coming years. All over the world, nations will unite in regional communities: The United States of Europe, the East Asian community, the community of Islam, the community of African nations, the community of North and South America.
In order that politicians may transcend national self-interest, there must be unifying values which different nations share. What can unite the nations of Europe? Economic policies alone are insufficient. There are still many disputes between industrialized nations and nations with agrarian economies. Social policies are another source of contention. If we can identify a single common factor in the European Community, it is its Christian culture.
When compared with people from the Middle East or the Orient, it is evident that Europeans share much in common: common foods, common social customs and, most importantly, a common ethic and worldview. The root of this common European culture is Christianity.
Christian culture is the foundation for the intellectual, social and political life of Europe. However, European Christianity itself is plagued by deep historical divisions. We realize that conflicts, such as those in Northern Ireland and the former Yugoslavia, stem from an unresolved religious struggle between Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Therefore, religious harmony and unity are the necessary condition for political and social peace and unity.
The New World Order will consist of communities of nations, each bound together by a common religion and culture and joined in economic and political relationships. I foresaw this trend many years ago. That is why for more than forty years I have been promoting inter-religious activities pursuing dialogue and harmony. For a New World Order to be realized, we must prevent religious war.
To solve this problem I have been painstakingly laying the foundation that can embrace every religion. Before I began my ministry, I took the principle which was revealed to me before Jesus, Buddha, Confucius and Mohammed in the spiritual world, and they attested that it was correct. Now leaders of every religion recognize that to substantiate a world of peace all religious people must center on the original teaching and take positive steps to make harmony with each other. It is my God-ordained mission to bring the world into unity under God.
The Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace and the Federation for World Peace will work together as mind and body. Until now, fallen people have been allowing the body to dominate their individual lives, creating a world of selfish individuals, oppressing others for their own pleasures. This is hell on earth. Only a few people have followed the voice of conscience, emanating from the mind, which teaches them to pursue truth, beauty and goodness and to resist the temptations of the body. Only these people can meet God, and find heaven on earth.
Likewise, few national politicians have listened to the voice of religion. Amid the clamor of politics, the voice of moral and spiritual values was only faintly heard. In the West, as well as the East, politicians have tried to found prosperity on economic and political policies without God. Their efforts have been in vain. No nation can prosper without God's blessing.
God blesses those nations that are practicing faith, morality and the principle of living for the sake of others. Yet politicians still look only to the earth, blind to heaven's influence. Communist leaders tried for seventy years to establish prosperity without God, and now their nations are bankrupt. Likewise, the West is plagued by recession, crime and social decay; its problems will not be solved until its leaders open their eyes and discover their true cause.
When the religious leaders have united for the sake of world peace under God, the politicians will obey the teachings of religion. Then and only then will the social and economic problems be solved, and the nations of the world naturally unite on the path of peace. The Federation for World Peace will succeed where the United Nations and many other organizations have failed because it has this foundation.
The role of scholars for the sake of the New World Order is very important. To insure a well-rounded education for individuals, close communication between all segments of society is necessary. People must constantly cooperate with one another in order to raise up individuals who can develop civilized families, churches, schools and society. The greatest task of our generation is the problem of how to implement this well-rounded education in our pluralistic global village.
You scholars are the treasure-house of knowledge in this society. Your students learn more from the person you are than from the knowledge you teach. Students imitate the teacher's habits, learn the teacher's attitudes about society, and are deeply influenced by the teacher's sense of values. You professors must always, in the teacher's position, become desirable examples for the future. Your mission, which is to set up a new cultural tradition rooted in the absolute value of true love, is a precious thing.
As you know, this conference has been organized as part of the first World Culture and Sports Festival. This is a historical event, guiding the spiritual culture of humanity, searching for true values for humanity's happiness, and leading the way to a new world of peace and harmony among God, people and nature. It is a Festival gathering the world's scholars, religious figures, journalists, politicians and youth leaders, as members of the global community, combining their collective wisdom and practical experience regarding the unity of humankind.
On August 25, approximately thirty thousand couples from all regions of the world will receive the holy blessing, pledging to establish a new family tradition centered on God. The family is the most fundamental building block of society. The solution to all social problems begins with the solution to problems in the family. The ideal of "one world family in true love" transcending races is directly related to the fulfillment of a peaceful world. People pledging to become exemplary God-centered couples, creating blessed families, will provide a substantial model of ethics and morality. In this way, ideal families, societies, nations and an ideal world, representing the fruit of true love, will be realized.
The fact that sixty thousand people of the world are gathering to receive the blessing symbolizes unity under God and True Parents. I invite you all to attend this historical blessing ceremony.
In conclusion, may I introduce to you two projects that I am supporting. One involves the completion of an encyclopedia, by the International Cultural Foundation, to bring humanity's wisdom together in one place for the 21st century. The other is the creation of the World University Federation to promote the worldwide exchange of knowledge, as well as the exchange of professors and students. These two new projects will provide a great impetus for the advancement of the global village culture of the future.
Once again, I want to express my gratitude to all of you for attending this meaningful conference in Seoul. I am very grateful, especially, to Dr. Gerholm who has worked very hard as the ICUS chairman, and to Dr. Kaplan who is giving his utmost effort for the worldwide development of PWPA.
May your discussions at this conference be very fruitful. I pray for God's protection and blessing to be with you and your families.