Editing Unification Church (section)

=== Background and origins ===

On February 25, 1920, Moon was born Mun Yong-myeong in Sangsa-ri ({{Korean|labels=no|상사리|上思里}}), Deogun-myon ({{Korean|hangul=덕언면|labels=no}}), [[Chongju|Jeongju-gun]], [[North Pyongan|North P'yŏng'an]] [[Provinces of Korea|Province]], at a time when [[Korea under Japanese rule|Korea was under Japanese rule]]. His birthday was recorded as January 6 by the traditional [[Chinese calendar|lunar calendar]] (February 25, 1920, according to the [[Gregorian Calendar]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=529997&version=1&template_id=45&parent_id=25 |title=Moon is mourned by sister in N Korea. Agence France Press |access-date=July 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426045225/http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2 |archive-date=April 26, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Around 1930, his family, who followed traditional [[Confucianist]] beliefs, converted to [[Christianity]] and joined a [[Presbyterian Church]], where he later taught [[Sunday school]].<ref name="massmarr">{{Cite web |title=Unification Church: Mass Moonie Marriage in the US |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1997/unification_church/34821.stm |access-date=August 9, 2022 |website=BBC News |archive-date=December 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229234340/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1997/unification_church/34821.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1945, Moon attended the Israel Monastery (Israel Jesus Church near Seoul) with his wife, Choi Sun-Kil ({{Korean|hangul=최선길|hanja=崔先吉|labels=no}}; ''Choe Seon-gil''), to learn the teachings of {{ill|Kim Baek-moon|ko|김백문}}, including his book ''The Fundamental Principles of Christianity'' (基督敎根本原理 drafted March 2, 1946, published March 2, 1958).<ref name="kkg">{{Cite web |date=September 10, 2021 |script-title=ko:김백문의 기독교근본원리 연재 1 – 국역 서론 |url=http://www.kportalnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=20749 |access-date=August 9, 2022 |website=기독교포털뉴스 |language=ko |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702150253/http://www.kportalnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=20749 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | author1=교회와신앙 |script-title=ko:교회와신앙 |url=http://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=8687 |access-date=August 9, 2022 |website=Amen News | date=July 7, 2008 |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625144848/http://www.amennews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=8687 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000001449787-00 |title="淫教のメシア・文鮮明伝" 萩原遼編 |access-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-date=September 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930174058/https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000001449787-00 |url-status=live }}</ref> After [[World War II]] and the Japanese rule ended in 1945, Moon began preaching.<ref name="massmarr" /> In 1946, Moon traveled alone to [[Pyongyang]] in [[Communist]]-ruled North Korea.<ref name="CNN OBIT">{{cite news|title=Rev. Moon, religious and political figure, dies in South Korea at 92|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/02/world/asia/south-korea-reverend-moon-dead|access-date=June 16, 2013|publisher=CNN|date=September 3, 2013|first1=Richard|last1=Greene|first2=K.J.|last2=Kwon|first3=Greg|last3=Botelho}}</ref> He was arrested on allegations of spying for South Korea and given a five-year sentence to the Hŭngnam [[labor camp]].<ref name="WP Obit">{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Emma|title=Sun Myung Moon dies at 92; Washington Times owner led the Unification Church|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/sun-myung-moon-dies-at-92-washington-times-owner-led-the-unification-church/2012/09/02/001b747a-f531-11e1-aab7-f199a16396cf_story.html|access-date=June 12, 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|issn=0740-5421|date=September 2, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928012629/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-09-02/world/35496666_1_sun-myung-moon-unification-church-tyndale-university-college|archive-date=September 28, 2013}}</ref>