Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Reverend Moon's Influence
- Sam Park's Journey
- Twisted ‘Blessings’
- The Darkest Secret
- Conclusion
Introduction
Growing up, Sam Park always felt like a ‘Blessed Child,’ but learning that his biological father was the ‘Second Coming of Christ’ who ‘owned the universe’ was quite a burden to bear.
Reverend Moon's Influence
Especially since his father, the founder of the Unification Church – widely known as The Moonies – was busy positioning himself as the savior of the world.
Reverend Sun Myung Moon was the founder of the Unification ChurchCredit: Alamy
Moon decided who married whom among his followersCredit: Refer to source
In 2002, Moon conducted a mass wedding ceremony where 3,500 couples were unitedCredit: EPA
Sam Park is the illegitimate child of Reverend Sun Myung MoonCredit: Amazon Prime
Sam Park's Journey
This revelation had a profoundly damaging impact on Sam as he discovered how his Korean-born father, Reverend Sun Myung Moon, exploited the church to fulfill his insatiable sexual desires.
The cult leader engaged in group sex with his “Disciples,” and made couples consume “Holy Wine,” which was tainted with his own semen, during mass wedding ceremonies.
There were also allegations that he brainwashed young, impressionable individuals who were drawn to the movement in search of purpose in life.
However, even more troubling for Sam was the sexual abuse he endured from the woman he later learned was his biological mother, which began when he was just five years old.
“I am the product of the evilness that they concealed, and I’m no longer going to remain silent about it because it has destroyed my life,” says Sam, who features in the documentary, The Moonies: Married to the Cult, available on Prime starting this Sunday.
Raised in poverty in Korea, Sun Myung Moon claimed to have been visited by Jesus Christ at the age of 16, receiving his world-saving mission. He authored his own version of the Bible, Divine Principle, which he used to instruct his followers, initially recruited in Korea and later worldwide.
“As a Blessed Child in the Unification Church, I faced immense pressure,” says Sam, who now resides in Arizona. “You are accountable for saving and restoring humanity.”
“You must maintain sexual purity and marry someone with whom you can procreate and populate the world with perfected individuals. This way, original sin will eventually be eradicated.”
Growing up in Virginia as the youngest of six siblings, Sam believed his father to be Moon’s right-hand man, Bo Hi Pak.
“My siblings were exemplary, well-behaved Blessed Kids, but unfortunately, I was different. I caused chaos,” he reflects.
“The man I thought was my father was strict. If we misbehaved, we would receive a small beating. I loved my family, yet I felt different. There was a rage within me that something was amiss.
“My dad was often busy, and my mom was frequently unwell. One Church member, Auntie Annie, would come around often. She was very kind and would bring me toys and candy, and I would visit her house to talk about various things.
“When I turned 13, I had a disturbing dream that left me confused. I dreamed that Reverend Moon came to me, embraced me, and said, ‘You are my son.’
“Feeling lost, I approached Aunt Annie and asked for her thoughts on the dream. She looked at me and said, ‘It’s true.’ I was stunned, thinking, ‘What the heck? I am the son of the Messiah.’
“Annie revealed that she was my real mother and that there was something significant about her relationship with Rev Moon, emphasizing the importance of keeping this a ‘Heavenly Secret.’
“Annie belonged to one of the earliest families that joined the Church, known as ‘The Special Ones.’ Moonies have a concept of a ‘He
