World Peace Through Marriage and Family
By Rev. David Kasbow
When we think of peace-making, we usually think of diplomats and politicians holding delicate negotiations or UN peacekeepers working in troubled areas. We usually do not think of family. However, when we look at history, during many eras and on all continents, we see that it was not uncommon for marriages between rulers of countries to be the glue that brought nations together and peaceful.
During the 77 years of Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon’s work on earth, he was extremely dedicated to creating peace, and the role of marriage and family in peacemaking was one of his key strategies. Rev Moon hoped for all people to come to accept one another as members of “One Family under God.” He taught that good, stable families give rise to good societies, which in turn contribute to world peace. He encouraged matches that were intercultural, interracial, and inter-religious. His motto was “Forgive, Love, and Unite.”
I was fortunate enough to take part in this peace work almost 30 years ago, when first members of our church, here in America and around the world, were mostly young and single. During the early days of our movement, Rev. Moon brought young people from around the world to work in America. As we worked side-by-side, we mixed with Japanese, German, African, and South American members. Crossing over cultural and language barriers was our daily diet, so to speak. This was sometimes difficult but very exciting. Eventually, this daily experience became the foundation for a unique peace initiative.
Rev. Moon is famous for his group marriage ceremonies, which sadly, have sometimes been greatly misunderstood. I took part in the group marriage at Madison Square Garden in New York City in July 1982. In preparation for this marriage, Rev. Moon told us that our mission to bring peace would include many approaches, including conferences, service projects, foreign missions, even marriage. He explained that to restore past and current conflicts, he would like to match us to spouses from families of former or current enemy countries or different cultures. He explained that this would make an offering to God to heal past wounds and would help bring the cultures together. Since we had been working and traveling together, we were ready for this dramatic step.
The first group Rev. Moon asked for was those who would be interested in marrying across racial lines. He said these marriages would be some of the most difficult, but that they would reap many blessings. Children who have both a Black and a White parent can navigate both worlds. In 1975, Rev. Moon said that before long, an American president would come from an interracial marriage. Thirty-three years later, this came to pass when President Obama was elected.
My marriage is with a young lady from Japan, a former enemy of America. The first thing my wife and I did was go to meet my parents and then hers. My parents considered me to be very lucky. Fortunately her parents were open to her marrying an American. For other couples, it took more time to win their parents’ hearts. Often what finally broke through the barriers was the arrival of grandchildren.
Rev. Moon was exceptionally adept at matching couples. Now more than 30 years later, most of the couples he matched in 1982 are still together and have stable families. Based on Rev. Moon’s example, we encourage our children to choose international mates as well.
This plan for marriage as a foundation for world peace may sound idealistic and impractical. However, America was designed by God as a place for peoples of the world to come to mix together. We are indeed “a melting pot,” and intercultural, interracial, and inter-religious marriages are already occurring all over the country.
These families contribute to a better understanding and a world of peace.
Rev. David Kasbow pastor of Metro Detroit Family Church in Warren, Michigan, is a clinical psychologist specializing in psychological testing and individual and marriage counseling and has been married for 26 years.