Chambumo Gyeong - 431. The United States and other nations
On April 30, 1974, True Parents acquired the campus of a Catholic high school at Barrytown, New York, comprising buildings and 256 acres of land on the Hudson River. On October 20, 1975, the Unification Theological Seminary in the United States was opened. On November 21, 1986, the seminary gained New York State approval for a masters degree program in religious education. An interfaith faculty consisting of Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Jewish as well as Unificationist professors have taught at the seminary.
Subsequently, on April 15, 1992 True Parents assumed the operation of the University of Bridgeport. The university, which was originally established in 1927 on the Long Island Sound in Connecticut, has an extensive history.
In January 1996, True Parents proclaimed the establishment of the World University Federation in Montevideo, Uruguay, with the belief that universities need to lead the way to realize the common values of humankind, which transcend nations, ideologies and religions. In the proclamation, True Parents proposed the founding of a United Nations University in order to educate talented international individuals and establish a worldwide network of international leaders through the United Nations. They also declared that we are entering the era when people can learn through educational videos in their own location anywhere in the world, rather than traveling to school to study. 17 I did not establish the theological seminary in Barrytown because the Unification Church needs theology, but in order to connect to the established religions. Therefore, we invited a Jewish professor, a Roman Catholic professor, a Baptist professor, and so on, to join the faculty, and we gave them special treatment. Doing so probably appeared strange. I did not teach them the principles of the Unification Church or interfere with their teaching; I allowed them to teach as they wished. (093-162, 1977/05/22) 18 The Unification Theological Seminary in America is becoming famous. Currently, it is being closely observed as an issue in American theological circles. Its facilities and academic competence are at a level equivalent to any other graduate school. Despite that, the government is bowing to pressure and putting on the brakes. And yet, because American theologians are participating, the government has no choice but to grant us a charter. (147-010, 1986/08/20) 19 The seminary in Barrytown obtained its state charter as a graduate school of theology on November 21, 1986. It is the Unification Theological Seminary. We fought for 11 years to gain that charter. We were involved in administrative litigation against the New York State Department of Education. The facilities, faculty and students were in compliance with state standards, and we asked why we had not been granted accreditation. In America, there are no legal grounds to withhold it. We filed a lawsuit and won in the first trial. The opposing side appealed the decision, but they lost the second trial as well. It appears that the New York State Department of Education considered initiating a third trial, but decided that if we won another trial, it would embarrass the state, so they conceded. The court ruled that The New York State Department of Education and the Unification Theological Seminary should consult with each other and arrive at a positive settlement. We finally obtained the charter for the seminary four years later. (149-262, 1986/11/23) 20 I established the theological seminary for the purpose of saving America. It was not founded as a business venture. Contemporary theological seminaries are not capable of saving America. In the future, our seminary graduates will exert influence on this country and on university education. Current educational institutions cannot change Americas path. No one, except for us, can offer new education. Christianity alone does not encompass the Will of God. Because we do, we need to be responsible to renew the content of theo logical education. I have hurried to establish this theological seminary for the purpose of educating America. Through re-creating Christianity, we can realize a new America and a new free world. (216-045, 1991/03/09) 21 I took responsibility for the University of Bridgeport. I am the only foreigner in America who came forward to preserve and protect a university. I am the first one. I set this record, but you do not know how much opposition I experienced from every direction. Various rumors proliferated. University towns began to say that Reverend Moon was taking over American education and would ruin Americas future. The New York Times, The Washington Post and other major newspapers slandered me, accusing me of committing all kinds of wrongdoing. After I came to America, however, I did not engage in even one instance of wrongdoing. By day and by night, I have stood tall. I have always lived as a man of integrity. (282-122, 1997/03/11) 22 I obey heavenly laws and ironclad rules in the course of my life. Because I am trying to connect you to the pipeline of Heavens blessings, you should know that there are blessings in the place where I have suffered. The University of Bridgeport is in the state of Connecticut. This is the same state where I went to prison, so it is a state where I have suffered. Now it is receiving blessings. If I had not sustained the University of Bridgeport, the state would have been dishonored. But, since I rescued a school that was struggling, Bridgeport now has become a proud city and the focus of attention. Bridgeport attracted the attention of the surrounding states. Even now, I am praying that America will do well. I never prayed for its ruin, even though it is a place where I went through hardships. Even if I leave America now, it will not perish. (383-222, 2002/06/28) 23 Academic studies must transcend national borders and even historical backgrounds. From such a perspective, the scholars of the world must unite and strive to overcome the cultural divisions that plague education. We are not talking about an educational system only fit for the United States, England or any other specific nation. Transcending the national level, we need to create a global educational system that can build a unified world of peace. Without setting a goal and establishing proper facilities for this purpose, we cannot provide world-level education. That is why I am planning to build a university suitable for such a project. Therefore, I am planning to establish a board of directors for a world university federation. (071-176, 1974/04/30) 24 In the future, not just anyone will be able to be a leader in the Unification Church. If you want to take a position of responsibility, you will have to gain approval through an examination process, just as is commonly practiced throughout the world. Then, if you are the national leader in Korea, you would be qualified for a leadership position at the same level in the United States. Once you have achieved that position, when you are asked, "What kind of responsibility do you hold?" you would reply, "I am in charge of a county," and that would clarify your rank wherever you are. As an elementary school teacher is accorded the same status wherever he or she goes, we need to institutionalize similarly. Therefore, when I went to America, I hastened to systematize our education. Such a process does not require large numbers of people, but it needs to be done based on an educational foundation. In Barry-town, we were in a rush to do that. Such a system is now being realized as we enter the phase of full-scale education. (075-091, 1975/01/02) 25 We need to compile a new encyclopedia, mobilizing world-renowned scholars and experts from every field. It will be compiled according to the value standards of each field. In order to revolutionize all fields, we need to first compile the original encyclopedia. We have to publish a daily newspaper, discussing key issues related to all fields of life, and educate the young people of the world. For that purpose, we need to create an integrated educational institution and that is why we need a federation. Universities in one nation alone cannot accomplish this. We need to tie universities together and make preparations to propose a direction that can influence the world. (110-196, 1980/11/17) 26 In January 1996,1 proclaimed the establishment of the World University Federation at the Victoria Hotel in Uruguay. The universities of the world need to acknowledge common values under the leadership of the World University Federation. National interests and academic freedom are not the matters of greatest concern. In the world of academics, all capable students at any college should be able to carry out activities and demonstrate their abilities freely without any restrictions on their cultural background, thereby transcending race, traditions and nationalities. That is why now I am opening the path where you can go to any university to teach and be influential. (276-289, 1996/03/03) 27 North America, South America, Asia, Europe and Africa can all connect through the work of the World University Federation in North and South America. With this in place, we can determine the global champion in each field of expertise once a year. In this way, universities will become a basis for moving society forward. It is education that can set the standard in spirituality, ethics and morality. Based on that foundation of education, one can teach about God. The media organizations can also make a connection with this foundation. Once all educational and media organizations align with one another internally and externally, the world will not be able to deviate even if it wants to. When people who finish school go out into society, teachers become influential and families unite, then the world will move in one harmonious direction. (276-291, 1996/03/03) 28 In the future, I am planning to hold many international seminars, inviting communist and democratic theorists and experts in Unification Thought. To reach this goal, we need the participation of the American government and the United Nations. This will enable the American government to figure out its direction in this confused era. That is to say, if America and the United Nations pursue the direction of the World University Federation, I envision an age of globalization that can be governed by the sphere of philosophy. (352-124, 2001/08/29) 29 My plan is to form a world university federation as well as to establish a United Nations university. In order to do this, we need the support of the presidents of Ivy League universities. We are currently engaged in these university projects. Before we can establish a United Nations university, we need to find a way to gather 50 percent of the students, and the Ivy League universities need to recruit the other 50 percent. Although I must start educating international people of talent in America, I would also like to provide such education in Korea. This project will require us to devise an enormous plan. (263-293, 1994/10/27) 30 There is an international vision at the heart of the United Nations, but there is no substantial network to put it into practice. The representatives who appear at the United Nations render service to profit only their own nations. A network to benefit the whole world does not yet exist. In order to organize such a network, I intend to tie the University of Bridgeport together with ten Ivy League universities. In this way, I plan to raise international people of talent and implement a global network through the United Nations. (252-285, 1994/01/01) 31 In the future, there will be no need for schools. We are entering the age of electronic education through video. I am initiating such a project. Since I know many world scholars, we are making preparations to invite experts in each field to tape their classes. We are doing so at our television studios in Washington. Our society has hitherto communicated through writing, but it will now be transformed into one that communicates through images. (209-316, 1990/11/30) 32 There is no longer any need to build high-density urban housing. Until now, we were compelled to live crowded together because of convenience, means of transportation, education and other such issues. In the future however, by having a television or a radio, human beings can live in the hills and valleys wherever they desire. In the future, we will not have school buildings. Education will be done entirely through videos. We are already living in that age. We can build an international system by which elementary school classes can be taught through video. There would be no need to attend school for six years; smart children could even graduate within two years. A person could study all the way to the university level through videos. Credits could be recognized universally simply on the basis of passing a nationally-authorized examination. (268-231, 1995/04/02) |