Easter Week: Monday,15 April 2019. Evening 6:20 pm Notre-Dame,Paris, caught fire and subsequently the roof and spire were consumed by flames in a blaze which lasted 9 hours. The construction of Notre-Dame mostly ran from 1160 to 1260. Caroline Bruzelius suggests Bishop Maurice de Sully initiated work on this new cathedral but substantial work remained including the construction on the flying buttresses which were completed by Raymond du Temple around 1363.[1] The buttresses countered the weight of the roof which pressed downward and outward to the walls so buttresses allowed higher,...

Once again, the world is witness to horrific violence against a particular religious community.  After mourning the suffering inflicted upon Jews in Pittsburgh and Muslims in Christchurch, on Sunday April 21, the peace of Easter was shattered by the horrendous bombings in Sri Lanka. Around 250 Christians were killed and hundreds were injured as they celebrated this holy day. As a seminary community, we offer prayers of comfort. Our hearts go out to the dead and wounded.  We offer our condolences to family members and friends who lost their loved ones.   In...

The Journal of Unification Studies is a forum for committed engagement with Unification theology and practice, published annually by the Unification Theological Seminary. Its articles address concerns of the theological community and the professional ministry, as well as contemporary social, cultural, political, scientific and economic issues, from a Unificationist perspective.In addition, the Journal promotes dialogue and understanding by presenting papers from diverse viewpoints that engage Unification theology and practice. “People often think that politics moves the world, but...

The Student Convocation at the Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) on Wednesday 27th of March was a great event to meet up with new students and touch base with professors and staff. A moving prayer was offered by Dr. Jacob David, an Anglican pastor, and UTS professor and chaplain. One of two MCs for the event, Samuel Dennis (UTS’18), invited up the first speaker, Dr. Hugh Spurgin (UTS’77) the president of Unification Theological Seminary. Spurgin stressed that it is the students who are the most important asset of the seminary. Whether they are online students or in classroom...

At the Unification Theological Seminary’s Student Convocation yesterday (March 27th), Dr. Spurgin’s talk reminded me again of the diversity at UTS. Dr. Spurgin carries the UTS mission statement in his wallet and he shared it with us. The key phrase “bridge religious and cultural divides” is at its heart.  The Unification Theological Seminary offers educational programs in an interfaith context, which cultivate the heart, mind and spirit; bridge religious and cultural divides; promote leadership, service and engagement with the world; and provide tools for success in ministry and...

I recently returned from a conference in Korea that asked, “What should be in a scripture that testifies to Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon as True Parents?” In considering this question as a biblical scholar, there is no better starting point than to examine the Bible and its testimony to Jesus Christ. The elements of that testimony made the Bible an effective witness, which spread the faith of Jesus to the more than two billion Christians throughout the world. There are many elements to that testimony which make it effective. For example, the Gospels make effective use...

UTS administrators often attend Association of Theological Schools (ATS) events. Experience shows that it is important for UTS to stay current with the conversations which are part of the theological landscape in North America. UTS has affiliate status with ATS Robin James Graham, UTS Director of Institutional Advancement Seeking the common good: what can we learn from other professional disciplines? A significant question posed in the ATS Educational Models and Practices in Theological Education project was what theological educators could learn from the experiences of...

Mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand have caused the loss of at least 50 lives, including women and children. As the horrific news continues to come out, I am full of grief, just as I was over the murders of worshippers in Charleston, Pittsburgh and elsewhere. An attack on one religious community is an attack on all of us. Each and every person, whether Christian, Jew, Muslim or atheist, is a child of God and beloved by God. News reports indicate that the shooter was influenced by extremist rhetoric on the internet that foists false and hate-filled stereotypes...

Is the fetus a human being with sacred, inviolable rights, or is it just a clump of cells that might be inconvenient for a woman, much like a boil that can be removed at will?  The recent controversy about New York’s Reproductive Health Act and its stipulation that abortion can take place up to the moment of birth, followed by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s remarks which seemed to approve of infanticide have highlighted key variables in the arguments about abortion. Pro-choice feminists argue that it’s all about a woman’s right to do what she feels is best for her body, and...