There was never an age that faced such a crisis as we are facing today
Hyo Jin Moon July 18, 1985 Second CARP Convention of World Students Keynote Address Kokugi-Kan Hall, Tokyo Japan
World Carp Brothers and Sisters:
First of all, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to God and True Parents that we are able today to hold such a splendid Second CARP Convention of World Students.
Looking back at history, we see that there was never an age that faced such a crisis as we are facing today. With the development of science, it has become possible to explore space and to restructure the gene. The development of computers and robots has made man's life extremely convenient. Yet instead of enhancing the quality of human life, this rapid modernization has only further alienated man from his real self. Drug abuse, free sex, and other problems that cause demoralization and family disruption are still out of control. Starvation is rampant in Africa, and the religious struggle continues in the Middle East. The expansion of communism has become the final threat to all humankind.
From this viewpoint, we have to ask ourselves whether humanity is approaching a tragic end or if it can overcome these problems and march onward towards a bright eternal future.
What, then, is the cause of this worldwide confusion and crisis? It stems from the absence of absolute values. This means that unless a standard of absolute values is established which transcends nations, races, and religious doctrines, this crisis cannot be solved. If it is not solved, humanity is doomed, and we will lose God's love, God's ideal, and God's hope.
What is the ultimate absolute value? It is eternal, unchanging, absolute love. In order to establish the value of absolute love, a subject of absolute love is necessary, and this subject can only be God.
During the Middle Ages, Christianity predominated in the West, and Confucianism and Buddhism were paramount in the East. However, Darwin's theory of evolution, which denies the creation of the world by God, and a materialistic worldview began to spread under the name of science. As a result man's spiritual, ethical, and moral foundations were completely undermined.
We may say that the human crisis is the absence of a love relationship with God. Therefore, the most important question of our time is whether God, the subject of absolute love, will be accepted as the Parent of humankind, or rejected.
Many people today are not clear about such matters as good and evil, justice and injustice, and the purpose of life. These are essential questions which must be answered as a precondition for living a true and valuable life. Instead of striving to solve these questions, most people lead busy lives trying to satisfy material and fleshly desires.
Furthermore, religious people today selfishly maintain that only their religion is the true one, and engage in bitter struggles against each other. The confusion over ideology, as well as the conflicts caused by extreme nationalism, are all traceable to continuously growing disbelief in God, egoism, and prejudice.
Is there a solution to this worldwide confusion, conflict, and intolerance? Yes. A worldwide turning to Godism! In Godism, men and women restore their original parent-child relationship with God, with absolute love as the center. On the basis of vertical love with God all people can become one through horizontal brotherly love, and can form the ideal world.
Such an ideal world is the greatest desire of both God and humanity. For six thousand years God has been toiling to establish this ideal world, but He cannot do it alone. He needs our help and cooperation. Thus, He has been searching for a person who could finally fulfill His will.
This year we celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the end of World War Il. In the Bible, the number forty is a very significant number because it is used for the separation from Satan and the starting of a new providence.
The Bible contains many records of saints whose providential lives were centered on the number forty; in particular, the story of Moses provides the moving account of how he brought an end to the Israelites' four hundred years of suffering under Pharaoh and led them out of Egypt.
Moses fasted twice for forty days and went through severe struggles in order to realize his dream of restoring Canaan. Yet, as you know, there was a great lack of faith among the Israelites, and so Moses led them through the wilderness for forty years until all those who left Egypt, the first generation, perished in the desert, except for two. Only Joshua and Caleb, with the second generation, "the internal Israelites," entered Canaan as a result of their absolute faith and loyalty.
Today, we are in the position of the internal Israelites. Who else will realize the worldwide restoration of Canaan? It will surely not be the pleasure-seeking corrupt generation of the present day. Instead it is us, the young people struggling to overcome injustice and irrationality, the internal Israelites of this era, who are pioneering the future.
World CARP brothers and sisters! Suffering and hard work is something which is needed for fruitful results. The founder of CARP, Rev. Sun Myung Moon, has overcome trials and sufferings that no other man could bear. Those hardships he bore for the realization of God's ideal.
The difficulties we face today are part of the process of building a better world for tomorrow. The worldwide restoration of Canaan will be realized when we overcome present hardships and unite centering upon a new ideal which embraces the whole world and universe.
We young people of the world represent the loyal and pure internal Israelites. Armed with the power of love and truth, we must lead the way to fulfill God's ideal world.
The fact that the Second CARP Convention of World Students is being held in Japan is very meaningful. Japan is a country that has established loyalty, filial piety, and harmony as the traditions of its people. The accomplishment and suffering of the Japanese members, through their loyalty and filial piety centering upon God's will, has become an example to the world. Now, we participants of the World CARP Convention should expand this spirit of harmony to the worldwide level.
Let us make the Second CARP Convention of World Students a new starting point, and devote even more effort toward creating a world centered upon God. Let us march forward to build a world of one family, a world of absolute love and absolute values, which transcends races, nations, religions, and doctrines.
Let us welcome the coming 21st century as God's century, radiant with hope, joy, and fellowship. May God bless you. Thank you very much.