3 ms·

The Unification Church Infiltrated Japan's Govt, Now Sets Sights on the US

15 points by Geekette 3y ago

quantified 3y ago
Get in line behind the other religious groups aiming for a piece of power. I wonder how Scientologists view Christian nationalism and vice versa?
- Log_out_ 3y ago
  I'm pro forced ideology migration. If you want to life in a non democratic hellhole, the state should support your wish to migrate, NK, Russia, Iran,China. Fordlandia and Jonestown always need new citizens. If you want to choose dysfunctional systems, you should be free to do so.
  - 01HNNWZ0MV43FF 3y ago
    Good luck getting voter support in a majority-theist country
- CuriousCosmic 3y ago
  Considering the unification church supported Nixon back in the day in an attempt to worm their way into US politics (and has since then regularly participated in GOP affairs), this isn't really anything too new. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/11/10/moon-sect-support-of-nixon-detailed/08e25639-0846-4476-9cb7-f1bb5285f5c8/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/11/10/m...
- squarefoot 3y ago
  > I wonder how Scientologists view Christian nationalism and vice versa? They very likely will never release comments about each other, that is, not walking into the other's territory, because although from different angles they're essentially doing the same thing: turning gullibility of the many into the power of the few, and the amount of wealth out there is still enough to keep them and other similar crooks in business without competition. I don't see any of them going at war against others anytime soon.
thisislife2 3y ago
They'll be in good company ... Shouldn't be too hard for them if they get their act together - Scientology has a good hold on Hollywood (Scientology’s Hollywood Real Estate Empire - https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/scientologys-hollywood-real-estate-empire-213141/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/scientol... and Scientology and Hollywood - https://www.salon.com/2015/03/26/scientology_and_hollywood_%E2%80%9Cgoing_clear%E2%80%9D_is_a_terrifying_and_illuminating_expose/ https://www.salon.com/2015/03/26/scientology_and_hollywood_%... ), while Mormons seems to have a stranglehold on a whole state (Utah) and the FBI (Why Mormons Make Great FBI Recruits - https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-mormons-make-great-fbi-recruits https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-mormons-make-great... ).
- bodiekane 3y ago
  As some apolitical context, these two situations are pretty different in terms of representation. Utah was 77% Mormon in 1990 and somewhere between 42%-60% Mormon today, with a lot of that drop-off coming in just the last few years as people have stopped identifying as being members of the church. (https://religionnews.com/2023/12/28/study-utah-is-no-longer-a-majority-mormon-state/ https://religionnews.com/2023/12/28/study-utah-is-no-longer-...) While it's absolutely true that the Utah state government is predominantly made up of Mormons, that's also representative of the population. Which may still be problematic in many ways, but feels meaningfully different to me than a group that is only a small percent of the population holding significant power.
  - washadjeffmad 3y ago
    Also to note, but not identifying as an LDS member doesn't make someone not culturally Mormon. This can be hard to unpack for many, because they're often unaware, products of an environment that they're still living within. My ex was very culturally Muslim despite not knowing which of her traditions were specifically Muslim. I grew up with a Japanese mother, and thoroughly American people still find it difficult and exasperating to extract decisive answers from me when I think I'm being perfectly clear. Even understanding this, I'm not always as compassionate and yielding to people I find tedious, which I won't ever talk to them about if they don't also realize it. I'm not sure how specifically cultural Mormonism presents, but knowing how deeply and totally Mormonism informs people's identities and worldview, I'm sure there are plenty of tells.

15 points by Geekette 3y ago

Get in line behind the other religious groups aiming for a piece of power. I wonder how Scientologists view Christian nationalism and vice versa?

Log_out_ 3y ago
I'm pro forced ideology migration. If you want to life in a non democratic hellhole, the state should support your wish to migrate, NK, Russia, Iran,China. Fordlandia and Jonestown always need new citizens. If you want to choose dysfunctional systems, you should be free to do so.
- 01HNNWZ0MV43FF 3y ago
  Good luck getting voter support in a majority-theist country
CuriousCosmic 3y ago
Considering the unification church supported Nixon back in the day in an attempt to worm their way into US politics (and has since then regularly participated in GOP affairs), this isn't really anything too new. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/11/10/moon-sect-support-of-nixon-detailed/08e25639-0846-4476-9cb7-f1bb5285f5c8/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1977/11/10/m...
squarefoot 3y ago
> I wonder how Scientologists view Christian nationalism and vice versa? They very likely will never release comments about each other, that is, not walking into the other's territory, because although from different angles they're essentially doing the same thing: turning gullibility of the many into the power of the few, and the amount of wealth out there is still enough to keep them and other similar crooks in business without competition. I don't see any of them going at war against others anytime soon.

thisislife2 3y ago

They'll be in good company ... Shouldn't be too hard for them if they get their act together - Scientology has a good hold on Hollywood (Scientology’s Hollywood Real Estate Empire - https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/scientologys-hollywood-real-estate-empire-213141/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/scientol... and Scientology and Hollywood - https://www.salon.com/2015/03/26/scientology_and_hollywood_%E2%80%9Cgoing_clear%E2%80%9D_is_a_terrifying_and_illuminating_expose/ https://www.salon.com/2015/03/26/scientology_and_hollywood_%... ), while Mormons seems to have a stranglehold on a whole state (Utah) and the FBI (Why Mormons Make Great FBI Recruits - https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-mormons-make-great-fbi-recruits https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-mormons-make-great... ).

bodiekane 3y ago
As some apolitical context, these two situations are pretty different in terms of representation. Utah was 77% Mormon in 1990 and somewhere between 42%-60% Mormon today, with a lot of that drop-off coming in just the last few years as people have stopped identifying as being members of the church. (https://religionnews.com/2023/12/28/study-utah-is-no-longer-a-majority-mormon-state/ https://religionnews.com/2023/12/28/study-utah-is-no-longer-...) While it's absolutely true that the Utah state government is predominantly made up of Mormons, that's also representative of the population. Which may still be problematic in many ways, but feels meaningfully different to me than a group that is only a small percent of the population holding significant power.
- washadjeffmad 3y ago
  Also to note, but not identifying as an LDS member doesn't make someone not culturally Mormon. This can be hard to unpack for many, because they're often unaware, products of an environment that they're still living within. My ex was very culturally Muslim despite not knowing which of her traditions were specifically Muslim. I grew up with a Japanese mother, and thoroughly American people still find it difficult and exasperating to extract decisive answers from me when I think I'm being perfectly clear. Even understanding this, I'm not always as compassionate and yielding to people I find tedious, which I won't ever talk to them about if they don't also realize it. I'm not sure how specifically cultural Mormonism presents, but knowing how deeply and totally Mormonism informs people's identities and worldview, I'm sure there are plenty of tells.