If you think Reverend Sun Myoung Moon was merely interested in mass marriages in baseball stadiums, then buckle up, because there is a whole lot to learn about the  vast empire built by the now late religious figure who used anti-communist sentiment and Christianity to begin a following in South Korea in the 1950s, and then gain far-reaching influence with conservative and far-right movements in the United States starting in the 1970s and lasting well up to today, including participation in the Capitol riot of January 6th, 2021 as well as the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the summer of 2022.

This is a cult that has a firm monetary grip on media and governments across the world, and this episode only begins to scratch the surface.

Also, Allison answers a listener question on how she feels about the phrase "Drinking the Kool-Aid."

Additional Info:

Unification Church Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unification_Church#Background_and_origins

Steven Hassan's BITE Model of Authoritarian Control:
https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/

List of Organizations and Businesses Owned by or Affiliated with the Unification Church:
https://freedomofmind.com/exclusive-list-of-entities-closely-associated-with-sun-myung-moon/

SPLC Article on Rod of Iron Ministries (Moonie offshoot cult)
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2021/10/08/rod-iron-antigovernment-christian-right-and-far-right-movements-join-freedom-festival

Vice Documentary on Rod of Iron Freedom Festival:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_JhtYm3-zY

How Reverend Moon Made Sushi Big in America:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zhZnvvi_lA

Account of a Former Moonie:
https://www.insider.com/to-the-moon-and-back-lisa-kohn-what-its-like-to-be-former-moonie-2018-8

Show Credits:
Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.com
Music -- Spencer Morelock, Ken Dickson

Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:
Twitter: @dddarknesstime
Instagram: dddarknesstime
Gmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com