Confucius

Born into a era of incessant warfare, the sage Confucius saw beyond the troubles of his own day and sought for the universal principles of morality that could be the basis of a peaceful world. He gathered a circle of disciples and traveled from kingdom to kingdom, seeking to interest the rulers in his ideas. Though he was rejected again and again, Confucius maintained an optimistic attitude, based on the faith that Heaven was using him for a higher purpose. Though not accepted in his day, Confucius’ teachings became the foundation of East Asian civilization.

Father Moon respects Confucius for his faith in God, which he called “Heaven,” and his single-minded focus to seek a higher truth transcending his meager circumstances. He regards Confucius as a counterpart to Jesus: he taught the outward form of social relations in the Kingdom of heaven, while Jesus taught and embodied its inward spirit.