Family as the School of

Love and Peace

Family as the School of

Love and Peace

The family is the mostimportant humaninstitution.

Without itwe would not exist.

Through it we transmitlanguage, culture,ethics, core values -even religion.

The family is the mostimportant humaninstitution.

Without itwe would not exist.

Through it we transmitlanguage, culture,ethics, core values -even religion.

The First Human InstitutionThe First Human Institution

The family---marriage and parenthood---

is regarded as sacred by the world’s religions.

The family---marriage and parenthood---

is regarded as sacred by the world’s religions.

The Family Is Sacred.The Family Is Sacred.

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

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.

Family Relations Are Essential.

It is by the proper regulation of each family that the whole world is stabilized.

I Ching 37

It is by the proper regulation of each family that the whole world is stabilized.

I Ching 37

The Family Influences the Whole.

The Family Influences the Whole.

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

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

Family As a Spiritual Foundation

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

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.The Family Honors God.

Representing heaven and earth I have created husband and wife. This is the beginning of the world.

Tenrikyo, Mikagura-uta

Representing heaven and earth I have created husband and wife. This is the beginning of the world.

Tenrikyo, Mikagura-uta

Family Symbolizes Heaven and Earth.

Family Symbolizes Heaven and Earth.

The sacred partnership of true marriage is constituted both by the will of God and the will of man.

ChristianityPope Pius XI, Casti Connubi

The sacred partnership of true marriage is constituted both by the will of God and the will of man.

ChristianityPope Pius XI, Casti Connubi

Partnership between God and Man

Partnership between God and Man

Types of Love in the Types of Love in the FamilyFamily

Types of Love in the Types of Love in the FamilyFamilyThe family has the potential to

manifest, most fully, God’s ideal of true love.

The family has the potential to manifest, most fully, God’s ideal

of true love.

WifeWifeHusbandHusband

GodGod

ChildChild ChildChild

Children’s loveBrotherly and

sisterly loveMarital loveParental love

The Significance of Marriage

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

• establishment of lineage

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

• establishment of lineage

Love, Life and Lineage

Marriage joins the life of one Marriage joins the life of one woman and the life of one man. In woman and the life of one man. In time, through children, it joins the time, through children, it joins the lineage of the man and the lineage lineage of the man and the lineage of the woman. It thus begins a of the woman. It thus begins a history, a nation, the world and the history, a nation, the world and the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

Sun Myung Moon

The Significance of Sexual The Significance of Sexual LoveLove

Sexual organs of husband and wife Sexual organs of husband and wife are complementary and fulfill dual are complementary and fulfill dual purposes:purposes:

Create joy, closeness, onenessCreate joy, closeness, oneness

Give rise to new life: childrenGive rise to new life: children

Marital Love Is ExclusiveMarital Love Is Exclusive No adulteryNo adultery

Adultery/infidelity undermines trust and Adultery/infidelity undermines trust and violates the heart of one’s spouse.violates the heart of one’s spouse.

Pre-marital sex and multiple sexual Pre-marital sex and multiple sexual partners, including pornographic sex, partners, including pornographic sex, create self-centered habits and weaken create self-centered habits and weaken the bonds of love in marriage.the bonds of love in marriage.

Our sexual organ is not to be used Our sexual organ is not to be used freely, but only in exclusive partnership freely, but only in exclusive partnership with our spouse.with our spouse.

Sun Myung Moon,“In Search of the Origin of the

Universe”

Sun Myung Moon,“In Search of the Origin of the

Universe”

If all men and women admit that their sexual organ belongs to their spouse, we all will bow our heads and become humble when we receive our spouse's love. Love comes to you only from your partner.

If all men and women admit that their sexual organ belongs to their spouse, we all will bow our heads and become humble when we receive our spouse's love. Love comes to you only from your partner.

Our Spouse and Sexual LoveOur Spouse and Sexual Love

Should focus on developing character, talents, capacities, and virtues, to become a good man, husband and father; or a good woman, wife and mother.

Premarital sex is detrimental to our character development and to our capacity to establish a good marriage and family.

Should focus on developing character, talents, capacities, and virtues, to become a good man, husband and father; or a good woman, wife and mother.

Premarital sex is detrimental to our character development and to our capacity to establish a good marriage and family.

Importance of Sexual Abstinence Before Marriage

Importance of Sexual Abstinence Before Marriage

AND YET …AND YET …

Spouse Spouse andandchild child abuseabuse

InfidelityInfidelity

DivorceDivorce

Spouse Spouse andandchild child abuseabuse

InfidelityInfidelity

DivorceDivorce

A Worldwide Family Crisis?A Worldwide Family Crisis?A Worldwide Family Crisis?A Worldwide Family Crisis?

Annual Ratio: Divorces to Marriages

Annual Ratio: Divorces to Marriages

Source: US Census Bureau, Source: US Census Bureau, 20032003Source: US Census Bureau, Source: US Census Bureau, 20032003

Sweden 55%Belarus 53%Finland 51%Luxembourg 47%Estonia 47%Australia 46%United States 46%Denmark 45%Belgium 44%Austria 43%

Albania 11%Azerbaijan 10%Italy 10%Georgia 7%Armenia 6%Turkey 6%Bosnia 5%Macedonia 5%Sri Lanka 2%India 1%

Family Breakdown: Youth in Family Breakdown: Youth in CrisisCrisis

Family Breakdown: Youth in Family Breakdown: Youth in CrisisCrisis

Sexual Sexual promiscuitypromiscuity

Drug abuseDrug abuse Sexually-Sexually-

transmitted transmitted diseases (STDs)diseases (STDs)

Crime and Crime and violenceviolence

Sexual Sexual promiscuitypromiscuity

Drug abuseDrug abuse Sexually-Sexually-

transmitted transmitted diseases (STDs)diseases (STDs)

Crime and Crime and violenceviolence

The Blessing Movement: Building One Family Under God, One

Family at a Time

The Blessing Movement: Building One Family Under God, One

Family at a Time Affirms the sacred and social value of marriage and family

A public commitment to one universal human family, beyond the barriers of race, religion, nationality and culture

Each of us has a “family-building” responsibility ---- as a parent, a spouse, a sibling, a child---that contributes to the broader task of peacebuilding.

Affirms the sacred and social value of marriage and family

A public commitment to one universal human family, beyond the barriers of race, religion, nationality and culture

Each of us has a “family-building” responsibility ---- as a parent, a spouse, a sibling, a child---that contributes to the broader task of peacebuilding.

36 36 Couples Marriage Blessing Ceremony Couples Marriage Blessing Ceremony 36 36 Couples Marriage Blessing Ceremony Couples Marriage Blessing Ceremony

Marriage Blessing of Religious LeadersMarriage Blessing of Religious LeadersMarriage Blessing of Religious LeadersMarriage Blessing of Religious Leaders

The Blessing PledgeThe Blessing Pledge

To be faithful in marriage: no adultery To raise children and grandchildren to

be pure in preparation for marriage To live for the sake of others as a

married couple and as a family To encourage people of all races,

religions, nationalities and cultures to live as one family under God.

To be faithful in marriage: no adultery To raise children and grandchildren to

be pure in preparation for marriage To live for the sake of others as a

married couple and as a family To encourage people of all races,

religions, nationalities and cultures to live as one family under God.

World Peace Blessing Ceremony at the United World Peace Blessing Ceremony at the United NationsNations

World Peace Blessing Ceremony at the United World Peace Blessing Ceremony at the United NationsNations