Customer Reviews

In the Shadow of the Moons: My Life in the Reverend Sun Myung Moon's Family

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Nansook Hong's is a compelling account of her life as the longsuffering wife of Hyo Jin Moon, Reverend Sun Myung Moon's eldest son. The book is a must read for anyone who is interested in the psychology of religion, or in the plight of batterred women. Don't be put off by negative reviews from members of Reverend Moon's Unification Church. As a former Unificationist myself, I especially recommend this book to anyone who is connected with the Unification movement in any way. Those of us who have witnessed the violent outbursts of certain members of the Moon family firsthand will have no trouble in recognizing the truth of Nansook's account. The Unification Church is not an entirely evil organization, but it has more than its share of problems, and it has been sweeping them under the carpet for far too long. I hope that Nansook's book will open the members' eyes and help bring about much-needed changes. Nansook has been greatly wronged by Reverend Moon and his movement. I hope that they will be big enough to concede as much. I was sickened by the hostile campaign launched against Nansook by the church following her departure, but I understand that this ill-advised campaign had apparently not been approved by Reverend Moon himself. I like to think that Reverend Moon is a sincere man, even if his theology is unsound. I congratulate Nansook on her escape and on her willingness to tell the truth, and I wish her well in her new life.

Born and raised in the Unification Church, those of us whom have left to seek a higher level of existance can relate to the trauma of leaving a religious cult. Those on the outside can finally begin to understand the ties that bind in such misuses of faith. Ms. Hong's account is both believable and horrifying, in that she accurately relates events of her fourteen years of dedication to a monster of an abusive husband and father and mother-in law, and bares her soul to all in a noble effort to dispell the mask this family hides behind. Some may view her as a greedy, vengeful woman, looking for some means to get back at the Moons for their terrible abuse, but as an insider, I say bravo for her courage, something so many ex-members have not been able to muster. I only hope that this will be the beginning of a passage out of darkness for so many members of the Unification Church, who, in their blind faith to the Moon family, have lost so much of themselves along the way. For all those who have been wavering on the fringes of the church, too afraid to leave, but too confused to stay, may this be the push they need to find help and break away. Ms. Hong has an important message for anyone who yearns to understand more about this opulent family, claiming to be the messiah. She is neither vindictive, nor greedy. Ms. Hong tells the TRUTH behind all this betrayal, something the members THOUGHT they had found all along.

Nansook Hong's insider account of life under the same roof as Sun Myung Moon and his wife and children reveals the magnitude of the fraud perpetrated by Moon, who teaches his followers to remain totally abstinent until they are married by him. Even after marriage they must often endure additional waiting periods, undergo a bizarre sexual ritual (the "3-Day Ceremony") and put up with lengthy separations from their spouses, all at the express commandment of Sun Myung Moon. They regard these deprivations as virtuous and a necessary part of building the Kingdom of Heaven. But, as Nansook Hong reveals in this devastating tell-all account, Sun Myung Moon does not live up to his own teachings. He has frequent affairs, which he rationalizes as "providential", that is, mandated by God. He tolerates the same behavior in his children and merely seeks to conceal it from public knowledge. He forbids his followers from using drugs, yet turns a blind eye to his own children's drug abuse. He frequently visits gambling casinos in Las Vegas and claims that somehow by doing so he is spiritually elevating the other gamblers. Nansook Hong's brave book tears away the facade and reveals the rot at the core.

I never joined, but I was in the Unification Church for 5 months in 1979. I met many fine, intelligent and idealistic people. The theology was fascinating and seemed "modern" to me -- at first. As Nansook Hong writes, Mr. Moon and his minions took full advantage of the idealism and youthful energy of the young people they targeted for their movement -- who were fundraising fodder for a fake Messiah.

Hong's book is an excellent expose of this deeply flawed cult and its leaders. I read most of it in one day, it was so engrossing.

The chronicle of her spiritual and marital struggle very aptly illustrates the adage, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

The book gives many personal examples of how women are denigrated in this church. I heard Reverend Park, in Berkeley, California, address a small group. He laughed derisively at one young man and said he was "like a woman". That angered me -- one incident that led me to leave the cult.

Thank you, Nansook, for the book. I'm certain your story will inspire many in their quest for spiritual freedom and personal integrity.

As a former member of the Unification Church I feel called to offer some comment about what is a very pivotal book in the saga of the Unification Church. "In the Shadow of the Moons" gives a perspective of what life was like for the wife of the eldest son of Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Nansook tells of how she became involved with the Unification Church and how she met and married Rev. Moon's eldest son, Hyo Jin. She relates of the abuse she suffered at Hyo Jin's hands, and explains how and why she fled from (yet still remains affected by) "the shadow of the Moons"

For context, the book contains an accurate synopsis of the religious beliefs of the Unification Church. In addition, her epilogue offers a well written (and probably true) prediction on the future of the Unification Church.

I appreciated this book for several reasons. First of all it is an "insider's" account. Many people have criticized the Unification Church from the outside but this book gets you as close as you can get to the inside. That fact alone makes it worth buying.

Second, the book makes public many issues which a number of Unification Church members have struggled with in private for a long time. As such, it forces these problems to the surface where there is an opportunity for them to be addressed and resolved.

Thirdly, her book allowed me to understand the Moon family and the Unification Church a bit better. This new understanding was very beneficial, for it assuaged some bitter feelings I had as a result of my Unification Church experience.

Who would be interested in this book? Unfortunately, this book will surely be of interest to voyeurs and those who thrive on scandal and the tabloid press. There is plenty of content to satisfy such readers. More importantly though, anyone involved with a religion, present and former members of the Unification Church, and anyone even remotely familiar with the church would find their money well spent for the insights revealed in Nansook's book.

Again I say, this book is a must read for anyone who has ever been touched by or heard of the Unification Church.

Hopefully, a lot of good will come from it.

"In the Shadow of the Moons" is a deeply moving true story of courage and hope in the face of impossible odds. Beautifully written, this book should be recommended reading at seminaries and in classes on religion. Nansook Hong, in my opinion, is a modern day saint, who endured fourteen years at the hands of a monster and lived to tell the tale.

As a 23 member of Ms. Hong's former church, I know first hand the difficulties that she endured. She was faced with the wrenching decision to leave the religion that she was born into, and the family that she had always believed were perfect in the eyes of God. People who have never been members of an authoritarian, messianic religious movement may have a hard time understanding why she stayed in a living hell for 14 years.

This is not a typical case of spousal abuse; it is what happens when followers of a religion practice blind devotion and worship a man instead of God. It is a testimony to Ms. Hong's character and faith that tried her best to make this marriage work, although it was doomed from the start.

The book is though provoking and disturbing. Indeed, it brought me to tears. Her courage to leave the luxuries of the emperor's palace to live a normal life with her five children is inspiring. It tells us that even in the face of the deepest adversity and impossibly difficult questions, there is always an answer; there is always hope.

God bless this sweet and courageous young woman. May she find happiness in her life.

Add this book to the cult survivor library but put an asterisk by it. Never before has someone so high up in the Moonies had the passion, courage and spirit of generosity to reveal the truth. Perhaps only former members and those familiar with cults will comprehend the magnitude of this achievement. Stories of abuse and lurid behaviour make for fascinating reading, and Ms.Hong tells it bluntly but not without a lingering deeply ingrained respect for Mr. Moon. Despite her gutty declaration that he is a fraud, he is always referred to as "The Reverend" or "Father" . My point is that this book calls for a sequel sometime to know about the author's development and success(hopefully :), not mere survival, following this ordeal. Cult memoirs often end at the point the protagonists real life begins.... as mundane as it may seem in comparison, there is more to the survivor's story. As more people leave this and other abusive groups, the "epilogues" will prove most valuable.

From the beginning,Nansook Hong tells a story that can break your heart.She grew up believing in Reverend Moon,with the sweet innocent faith of a child.When she was only 15,Reverend Moon selected Nansook to be the wife of his eldest son.She writes that her faith began to be shattered,when she saw the true reality of life in Reverend Moon's family.Nansook began a very lonely journey of life,living with a brutal husband who did not love her;and a family that failed to live according to the high ideals of love that Reverend Moon has always preached to the world.Her only joy in life was her children,and a continuing faith in God through all adversity. I have been a Unification Church member for many years,and reading Nansook's book has been a devastating experience for me.Through the spiritual pain that I now feel,I believe what Nansook has written.We must always face the truth,if we are ever going to have any kind of a really decent life.By writing her book,Nansook has given a gift of much needed truth to everyone. Nansook's story is often sad and heartbreaking,but it is ultimately an inspiring story of deep love and personal courage in the face of great danger. From her book,we can learn the absolute necessity of always striving to have a responsible and a caring heart.This is a very vital,important book. I give it my highest recommendation. END

Nansook Hong's book is anything but sensationalistic -- as an abused wife, her story is horrific, and as a disillusioned disciple of the Unification Church, her account is disciplined and thorough. In no way is she spiteful towards the family who abused her so terribly, and that in and of itself is remarkable. A valuable look inside a cult that has profited handsomely by exploiting the poor and vulnerable throughout its history.

I've been a victum of Moon's organization for approximately 15 years. Through out my years in his church I was repeatedly abused, reprimanded, punished and coerced to live the way they wanted. I have been a member here in New York City since the beginning, and have witnessed it all. I've worked with and around the so called sinless "true family". I know first hand how the church spin doctors go around covering up all the sins of the true family. I still have not been able to leave the church officially due to the prospect of losing my family. After years of soul seaching I came to the realization that I had to do something so I started my own web site at ... I am now an undercover spy working to expose the Moon empire for what it really is. Of all the research that I have been conducting, Nan Sooks book touched my heart the deepest. I personally vouch and testify that all of the issues covered in this book are 100% true.

Thank you Nan Sook for having the courage to do what you had to do.