Frederick Clarkson, on Rev. Moon, the Moonies and Something New and Worse

Broadcast 9/11/2012 at 8:47 PM EDT (42 Listens, 38 Downloads, 921 Itunes)
The Rob Kall Bottom Up Radio Show Podcast

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FREDERICK CLARKSON,

http://www.frederickclarkson.com, http://www.talk2action.org

    Clarkson is a Senior Fellow at Political Research Associates in Somerville, Massachusetts. A longtime observer of the Religious Right, including Rev. Moon, he devoted a chapter to the Moon organization in his book, Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy. His profile of Moon critic Steven Hassan will be published this week at the webzine, Religion Dispatches.

    "Rev. Sun Myung Moon was among the most pernicious anti-democratic figures in the United States in the latter half of the 20th century. Moon hated America. He hated our tradition of individual rights and independent thought. He hated democracy and said he wanted to replace it with a theocracy under his rule. Although many would be loath to admit it, Moon has been a central figure in the development of the modern American conservative movement since the 1960s -- from Richard Viguerie's direct mail operations to the religious and political empire of Jerry Falwell.

    "Whether one's religious or non-religious identity -- Christian,Jew, atheist or whatever -- the Moon organization has treated the minds and sacred beliefs of others like they were targets of a covert operation. The Moon organization has no respect, and only contempt for the views of anyone who is not a member of the True Family, and part of the covert operation."

Rob: Besides the Washington Times, what else is part of his empire in the US?

UPI-- Helen Thomas was a reporter for them. when the Moon organization bought UPI, she resigned. 

New york hotel, across from Penn Station, in NYC, vast real estate and media holdings, Fishing fleets, a good deal of the shrimping industry 

Rob: How have they influenced the development of the American Conservative movement since the 1960s. 

   Richard Viguerie and Korean cultural Freedom foundation. 

Rob: Viguerie was a powerful enabler of the conservatives over the years, not just through donations but through his direct mail fundraising tools and resources. 

Rob: Viguerie was enabled by Moon, who hated American Democracy, to influence US politics and media to serve the interests of Koreans and Moon. 

moon's top echelon were almost all KCIA intelligence officers. 

Moon participated in cover operations against the government and military of the United States-- efforts to bribe and influence the White House, senior military officers-- They illegally purchased a bank in DC" by establishing proxies" and Richard Viguerie got a piece of the bank. 

Rob: Tell me more about how Moon attempted to affect the USA's culture, zeitgeist, etc.

influence on religious right-- Falwell's Liberty University was in big trouble. Moon's org found a way to covertly provide a loan of $3.5 million to prevent Liberty University from going under. 

There were a lot of scandals of this nature. 

American Traditional Values Coalition-- of conservative televangelists-- Tim LeHay was in charge of it. Moon's org gave $10,000-- LeHay was forced to resign. 

Rob: How much money did Moon and his church have access to?

billions and billions, at least a billion in the US alone. 

Rob: What about his world-wide scope?

after coup in Bolivia Moon org started teaching its ideology" 

They were part of an entity called the World Anti-Communist League. Showed up during the Iran Contra scandal-- Moon 

Rob: So, the Moon's involvement in Iran Contra could have contributed to the October Surprise, which helped get George Bush senior defeat Jimmy Carter?

Rob: What about the Moonies, and the mass marriages?

Rob: Moon Owned a university? How did he use it?

Rob: Can you talk about how the Catholic Church uses it's resources like Moon does?

Rob: Right wing fundamentalist religious groups have done what Moon did too"

Rob: Theocratic-- that's the word I'm looking for

theonomy-- rule of religious law.

Rob: talk about the top down and bottom up aspects of the Catholic Church and evangelicals

Liberation theology

Rob What can you tell me about the Catholic Church and it's efforts to influence politics and media.

The church is flexing it's muscles in the US in a way that it never has before. The bishops are more out of touch with their members than they know. The media is cowed, afraid of being called bigots and of being boycotted.  We have not learned how to stand up to bullies like the Catholic Bishops. 

Rob: How do we (stand up to bullies like the Catholic Bishops?)

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Interfaith Alliance

Rob: Yes. There are a lot of distractions. What Should the conversations be about?

Who are the adversaries. We need to know who our friends and allies are?

Rob: What's your goal, job at Political Research Associates?

Reverend Samuel Rodriguez-- religious right-- on everything other than immigration, he is as deeply Christian conservative as anyone you've ever  heard of" 

New Apostolic Reformation--NAR  seeking to overturn and supplant all of existing Christian Denominations--    They will come across as post-denominational, embrace inclusivity, but they're about a particular kind of christian supremacy 

They draw upon the New Testament book of Ephesians. 

Apostles and prophets-- constantly getting new word from God--- 

Rob: Who are these guys getting word from God?

Rob: Are leaders? 

C. Peter Wagner - fuller theological seminary

Is Rick Perry a part of it, since he organized a Prayer rally with 30,000 that was NAR

Sam Rodriquez was there. Also gave benediction at opening of the Republican Convention. 

Rob: Where do mainstream Christians and Evangelics fit in with NAR?

Rob: What is the world vision that New Apostolic Reformation has?

Rob: Who runs the Moon empire

Websites?

talk2action.org

devoted to studying 

The public eye  google it.    

Rachel Tabachnik and Bruce Wilson have written about NAR

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