The Necessity, Character and Method of Unification Thought

Dr. Sang Hun Lee
President of The Unification Thought institute, Seoul, Korea

1. Why is Unification Thought necessary?

Q: What is the reason for studying Unification Thought, in addition to Divine Principle? What is its relationship to Divine Principle?

A: Unification Thought is the arrangement or systematization of Rev. Moon’s thought for the following purpose. Rev. Moon emphasized frequently, in former days, that the Unification family should learn Divine Principle, Unification Thought and the Victory Over Communism (VOC) Theory. That is, in addition to Divine Principle, Unification Thought and the VOC Theory are indispensable in God’s Providence. In a word, they are to assist in the emergence of Divine Principle. Divine Principle appeared as a new teaching. The purpose of this new teaching is as follows:

  1. to explain the unsolved problems of the Bible.
  2. the unification of Christian denominations.
  3. the unification of all religions.
  4. the unification of all thoughts.
  5. the unification of religion and science.
  6. the unification of the various views of value.
  7. the unification of different cultures.
  8. the unification of the spiritual world and the physical world.

For these purposes Unification Thought has emerged as a systematized thought to accomplish the unification of religions, the unification of thoughts, the unification of science and religion, the unification of the various views of value, and the unification of culture. To be more specific, we can give the following six reasons for the emergence of Unification Thought.

  1. In order to understand the Principle deeply: There are many people who read Divine Principle, listen to Principle lectures, and have some questions about the Principle, and even if people understand the Principle entirely, many of them realize, through listening to Unification Thought, the shortcomings of their appreciation of the Principle. Unification Thought is necessary for understanding the Principle deeply.
  2. In order to universalize the expression of the Principle (i.e., for the sake of other religions and thoughts): Unification Principle appeared as God’s word for the salvation of all human beings. It has adopted a Christian style of explanation, however. In order to contribute toward a better understanding of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, and other thoughts, we should a set up forum for all religions. That is, expressions of the Principle should be universalized in order to be comprehended by all religions.
  3. In order to protect Unification Principle from outside attack: Unification Principle is the word of God and the word of the Second Advent. Therefore, it could not but suffer attacks from all existing thoughts and religions, especially Christianity and Communism. Now, a theological and philosophical shield is necessary in order to protect the Principle. Unification Thought is precisely this shield.
  4. In order to unify all existing religions and thoughts: In order to unify religions and thoughts, Unification Principle should be testified to as being superior to other religions and thoughts. Therefore, we should criticize the omissions and weak points of the doctrines of other religions, and should make counterproposals. (For that reason critique is inevitable in Unification Thought.) Until the time when all religions can be unified, Unification Thought, through these counterproposals, also shields existing religions from attack by atheists and materialists, especially Communists.
  5. In order to present a new direction for all areas of learning: Culture is formed by various academic fields. Hence, all subjects should be headed in one direction, in order to unify culture. That direction is the one that accomplishes God’s purpose of creation. It is Unification Thought that presents the fundamental direction to each science. It gives the new direction to politics, economics, laws, philosophy, education, ethics and arts.
  6. In order to establish a view of value as a guide to new life: The unification of culture is, at once, the unification of the directions of the sciences and the unification of the views of value. The unification of the views of value is the unification of views of ethics, morals and goodness. If the views of goodness are not unified, the phenomena of conflict in daily life will not disappear; therefore, true peace will not be brought about and the unified world cannot be accomplished, unless the views of goodness are unified.

2. The Character of Unification Thought

Q: Is Unification Thought a reference book for the Principle, a book of explanation, a philosophy, a theology, a hypothesis, or a revelation?

A: Unification Thought has the characteristics given below. Among the professors who have listened to Unification Thought, there are some who ask, “ls Uniflcation Thought a doctrine, theology, or philosophy?” That question indicates the problem that Unification Thought is not wholly theology, philosophy, or doctrine. It is natural that these kinds of questions arise, because Unification Thought is Rev. Moon’s thought, which can he described as Godism. In other words, Unification Thought is systematized from the thought of Heaven, and is the theorization of God’s thought. God’s thought cannot he easily grasped in its concrete character, but it is possible to explain it according to its specific functions. The functions of Unification Thought are as follows:

  1. Unification Thought is the Science of Unification “Unitology”, which deals with all areas of learning and all religions. Unification Thought deals with all cultural areas (i.e., politics, economics, philosophy, education, laws, arts, ethics, etc.). Therefore, it can he referred to as the Science of Synthesis or the Science of Unification.
  2. Unification Thought points out the shortcomings of existing religions and thoughts, and so it is called the Science of Counterproposal; in other words, it presents counterproposals. Unification Thought looks upon religions as having largely failed in guiding the human spirit and in solving actual problems. The reason for their failure is that there are defects in all doctrines and thoughts. Hence, in pointing out and criticizing these defects and supplementing them, Unification Thought presents counterproposals, and should thus be called the Science of Counterproposal.

3. The Method of the Development of Logic in Unification Thought

Q: Is the method of the development of logic in Unification thought inductive inference or deductive inference?

A: The logic of Unification Thought follows the method of deductive inference. Usually, logical arguments adopt either the method of inductive inference or that of deductive inference. Inductive inference is the method which discovers a general proposition or law from particular concrete facts. For example, A, B, C and D died. A, B, C and D are human beings. Therefore human beings should die. This is the main method of inductive reasoning and the method of scientific argument. Deductive inference is the method which obtains a particular and individual proposition or truth on the assumption of a general proposition or truth. For example, Human beings die. A is a human being. Therefore A must die. This method is usually used in the arguments of philosophy and theology.

  1. Unification Thought, which is based on the premises that God is a being of dual characteristics (attributes) and God is the creator — as shown in the Unification Principle — develops its theories deductively from these premises. For example, on the premise of “resemblance” in the Principle of Creation and in the theory of the three blessings, Unification Thought presents the direction for today’s education by making a concrete and practical theory of education. On the premises of creation for the joy of God and of resemblance in the Principle of Creation, Unification Thought presents the direction for today’s arts by establishing the substantial Unification theory of art.
  2. Unification Theory, while developing its logic by the deductive method, also demonstrates agreement with scientific truth and experienced truth. Moreover, even though deductive logic has been developed in Unification Thought on the premises of God’s Principle of Creation and God’s word, that Principle and word cannot be regarded as the truth unless they agree with scientific and experienced truth.
  3. That is, the development of logic Unification Thought is the unification of deductive inference and inductive inference, This unification of both kinds of inference is equivalent to the unification of Sung Sang and Hyung Sang, and the unification of universality and individuality, because science deals with Hyung Sang and individuality, and philosophy and religion deal with Sung Sang and universality.