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When you go to the spirit world, you will not only have a Heavenly Father but also a Heavenly Mother.

Sun Myung Moon

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Both a Father and a Mother

Topic: Divine Love & Goodness

When you go to the spirit world, you will not only have a Heavenly Father but also a Heavenly Mother. Can a new life be born without both a father and a mother? The dual characteristics of God are as divine Father and Mother [Our Heavenly Parent], who were to be united as one in Adam and Eve [Humankind]. Therefore, we can say that through either our father or our mother there lies a gate to heaven.

Sun Myung Moon

Sun Myung Moon, born on January 6, 1920, was a spiritual leader and luminary hailing from North Korea. He founded the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, better known as the Unification Church, in 1954. Drawing upon direct Prophetic revelation, influenced by the major faith traditions—especially Christianity, but also Judaism, Islam, Confucianism, and Buddhism. He also developed a political philosophy to resist the spread of the anti-religious Communist ideology. Reverend Moon's teachings centered on love, unity, and peace. He aimed to spark a global spiritual movement that transcended religious and cultural divisions, and his vision resonated with followers all over the world. Through the Unification Church, Sun Myung Moon also promoted interfaith understanding and collaboration, striving for harmony among diverse religious traditions.

Reverend Moon's teachings went beyond the realm of the spiritual to touch on the universal human themes of love and family. He emphasized the importance of nurturing strong, loving families as the cornerstone for a harmonious and peaceful world. To this end, he conducted mass wedding ceremonies known as the 'Blessing', symbolizing the unity of all people under God, regardless of their cultural or religious backgrounds. Moon also stressed the value of community service and encouraged his followers to actively contribute to their local communities.

Sun Myung Moon's partner in both life and work was his wife, Hak Ja Han Moon. As co-leader of the Unification Church, she is a pivotal figure in spreading their shared vision of a world unified by love and peace. Affectionately known as 'True Mother', she embodies the ideal of nurturing and unconditional love in their teachings. After Reverend Moon's passing in 2012, Hak Ja Han Moon assumed sole leadership of the Unification Church and changed the name to Heavenly Parent's Holy Community. In her leadership role, she has tirelessly carried forward their mission, upholding the church's emphasis on peace, interfaith dialogue, and strong, loving families. Under her guidance, the church has continued to flourish, spreading its message of unity and love to people around the globe.

(1920-2012) Heavenly Parent's Holy Community
Chambumo Gyeong

Wilson, Andrew, editor. World Scripture II. Universal Peace Federation, 2011, pp. 55-56 [World Scripture and the Teachings of Sun Myung Moon (90:196-97, January 1, 1977)].

Sun Myung Moon


Theme: Divine Father and Mother

About Reverend Sun Myung Moon’s Quotation [Commentary]

In Reverend Sun Myung Moon’s teachings, the understanding of God possessing both masculine and feminine qualities—expressed as the “Divine Father and Mother”—offers a more expansive experience of the divine. The quotation, “When you go to the spirit world, you will not only have a Heavenly Father but also a Heavenly Mother,” invites reflection on God’s dual nature. Reverend Moon emphasizes that the relationship between the Father and Mother in the divine sense mirrors the roles of earthly parents. This teaching suggests that just as a new life requires both a father and a mother, our spiritual lives are enriched by recognizing and embracing both aspects of God.

This broader view of God as both Father and Mother is deeply rooted in Reverend Moon’s theological understanding of the Genesis account of Adam and Eve. He interprets Adam and Eve as representing God’s dual characteristics. This means that humankind is created to reflect the unity of God’s masculine and feminine qualities. By framing God in this way, Moon opens a door to understanding the divine not as distant or purely authoritative, but as inherently relational and loving. His vision sees our connection to the divine as deeply intertwined with the nurturing, complementary roles of both parents, extending this relationship into a spiritual context.

Moreover, Reverend Moon’s emphasis on the roles of both our earthly parents as “gates to heaven” highlights the significance of family in spiritual growth. The love, care, and sacrifice offered by our fathers and mothers—whether biological or spiritual—serve as reflections of God’s love. Through this lens, Moon encourages us to value the wholeness of the divine by understanding our familial relationships as a gateway to experiencing God’s love. This teaching, while theologically profound, also carries a practical implication: by honoring both the Father and Mother aspects of God, we develop a more complete, harmonious relationship with the divine.

Emphasizing the theme of “Divine Father and Mother”

Reverend Moon’s words hold particular resonance by offering a deeper understanding of the benefits of recognizing God as both our Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. This dual perspective reflects the balance and harmony found in our human families, where the complementary qualities of both parents nurture and guide us. Reverend Moon’s vision speaks to a divine unity that transcends the divisions of gender, race, and belief, offering a hopeful model for spiritual growth. By acknowledging both the Father’s and Mother’s complementary qualities—strength, wisdom, nurturing, and compassion—we experience a more complete form of divine love. This recognition uplifts the human spirit by fostering a deeper connection to God and a greater sense of unity within the larger human family, affirming the potential for healing and harmony when we embrace the wholeness of our Heavenly Parent.