Reverend Sun Myung Moon and Korean Shamanism

This book presents the first comprehensive study of the life and teachings of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, through the lens of Korean shamanism-the nation's ancient spiritual tradition. Professor Chong Sun Kim argues that Moon's theology and charismatic authority derive not from Christianity, as is often asserted, but from shamanistic beliefs and practices rooted in trance, spiritual mediation intertwined with elements of witchcraft and divination, and the invocation of miraculous power.

The work also traces the evolution of shamanism from prehistoric times through Korea's cultural history, illuminating how it profoundly shaped Korean Buddhism, Confucianism, and modern new religious movements. It situates Moon's rise within the broader social and political context of modern Korea-a nation forged through colonial subjugation, war, dictatorship, and the arduous path toward democratization.

First published in 1978 and now reissued in a new 2025 edition, Kim extends his analysis to global concerns about religious manipulation, authoritarian politics, and mass persuasion, warning that the same mystical impulses that once animated ancient rituals continue to influence modern leaders and followers alike. Ultimately, the book stands as both a penetrating scholarly critique of Moon's movement and a profound reflection on how it exploited the anxieties of alienated modern masses while appealing to humanity's enduring search for meaning, socio-political consciousness, and transcendence.