July (Web-only) 2002

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Moon launches major ad campaign
The Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, has launched a $720,000 advertising campaign to report the events of a supposed "special ceremony [that] took place in the spirit world."

The church hopes to place the 7,000-word ad, "A Cloud of Witnesses: The Saints' Testimonies to the True Parents," in major newspapers in each U.S. state. Forty-seven papers have accepted thus far, including The Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Houston Chronicle.

Moon, who claims he met Jesus in 1935, has long used expensive campaigns to promote himself, woo Christian leaders, and seek legitimacy. In 1985, the church spent between $4.5 million and $10 million on public relations packets sent to 300,000 Christian leaders.

The new ad claims to be a series of testimonials from religious leaders, including Jesus, the Buddha, and Muhammad, who were present at a December spirit-world seminar. The group allegedly signed a resolution proclaiming, "Reverend Sun Myung Moon is the Savior, Messiah, Second Coming, and True Parent of all humanity."

Christians who are attributed testimonials to Moon include Peter, Paul, John Calvin, Karl Barth, Martin Luther, and John Wesley. Most of the ad's quotes are unequivocal praise for Moon and commitments to follow his teachings. "I respect, believe, and depend on all the words and theology of Reverend Sun Myung Moon," reads the alleged testimonial of St. Augustine. "I give my oath and pledge, raising my hands to all that I do together with the Lord."

All the testimonials are odd; some are little more than nonsense. Horace Underwood, the first Christian missionary to Korea, is alleged to say, "I joyfully celebrate the fact that the Second ...