Moon, Sun Myung

Moon, Sun Myung (sŭn yŭng mOOn) [key], 1920–, Korean religious leader. He was an engineering student and dock worker before founding (1954) the Unification Church with a doctrine loosely based on Christianity as interpreted by Moon, who has declared (2004) himself the “Messiah.” Moon introduced the movement to the United States in the 1960s; its world headquarters are now in New York City. Moon has been accused of brainwashing converts and of various illegal activities; he was convicted (1982) of conspiracy to evade taxes.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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