This document discusses the importance of strengthening families in the 21st century from the perspective of Unificationism. It argues that healthy families are the foundation for peace in three areas: the individual, society, and the world. When families are stable and God-centered, with fidelity, love and respect between spouses and parents and children, they can serve as building blocks for peaceful communities and nations. The document also briefly outlines views from other world religions that emphasize the significance of strong family values and relationships.

1. Strengthening Marriage and
Family in the 21st Century
The Contribution of Unificationism
The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
1

2. Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim, Native American, Hindu, Christian
Co-officiators from the
World‘s Religions

3. Gross National Product
OR
A Store of Lasting Love
Securing a prosperous and peaceful future

4. The Human Factor
 All institutions are led by human beings
 They may be built on noble ideals, but
they are influenced by the values and
integrity of those who make the decisions
 Human character is shaped by
experiences in the family, the educational
system and by social, cultural and
religious influences 4

5. Three Steps to Peace
and Well-being
Gen 1:28
God’s Gift to Humankind
and our primary responsibility in life
5

6. Peace in the Individual – “be fruitful”
 Mind/body unity
 Growth in character - virtue
 Closeness to God - temple
BodyMind
God
Good
Character

7. 7
Peace in the Family and Society – “multiply”
 God-centered marriage
 Devoted couple
 Beloved children
 Harmonious families
 A peaceful world
Family
Nation
World
WifeHusband
God
Child

8. 8
Peace in the World – “have dominion”
 Healthy environment
 Material prosperity for all
 Science and technology
benefiting human beings
and the natural world
Natural
World
Humans
God
Peace and
Prosperity

9. Family
Society
Nation
One World Family
Husband True
Love Wife
Child
God
Humans True
Love Things
Ideal
Creation
God
True
Love Body
Ideal
Person
God
Mind
Be ‘Fruitful’
‘Multiply’
‘Have
Dominion’
9

10. 10
Love, Life and
Lineage……
… which do you think has most value?
Many people think that it is love.
However, no matter how valuable love and life
are, they are horizontal in nature. They appear
and conclude within one generation.
On the other hand, lineage is vertical in nature
and continues forever, generation after
generation.

11. When a man honors his
father and mother, God
says,
“I regard it as though I had
dwelt among them and
they had honored me.”
Judaism, Talmud
The Family Honors God.

12. Lord, give us joy in our
wives and children, and
make us models for the
God-fearing.
Qur’an 25.74
A model Family

13. When the family
declines, ancient
traditions are
destroyed.
With them are lost the
spiritual foundation
for life, and the
family loses its
sense of unity.
Hinduism, Bhagavad-Gita 1.40
Family As a Spiritual Foundation

14. If a man does not know
how to manage his own
household, how can he
care for God’s church?
I Timothy 3.5
The Family and Community

15. Love in family relationships
Supporting one’s father and
mother, cherishing wife and
children and a peaceful
occupation; this is the
greatest blessing.
Sutta Nipata 262 (Buddhism)

16. There are five relations of utmost
importance under Heaven
between prince and minister;
between father and son;
between husband and wife;
between elder and younger brothers;
and between friends.
Confucianism, Doctrine of the Mean
Family Relations Are Essential.

17. It is by the proper
regulation of each
family that the
whole world is
stabilized.
I Ching 37
The Family Influences the Whole.

18. My father, thank you for
showing me affection; my
mother, thank you for
making me comfortable;
thank you for clothing me
with wisdom, which is
more important than
providing me with clothes.
Yoruba Nuptial Chant (Africa)
Parental Love

19. Unificationism
 Absolute Sexual
Ethics
1.Purity before marriage.
2.Fidelity within marriage
19

20. Gross National Product
OR
A Store of Lasting Love
Measuring the true basis for prosperity

21. The Significance of Marriage
 A partnership of man and woman
 A sacred, exclusive and eternal
commitment
 Forms the most fulfilling, secure
and constructive base for:
• sexual/conjugal love
• creation of new life
• raising and educating
children
• establishment of lineage

22. Thank you
22