Applied Unificationism Celebrates Its 5th Blog-iversary

The Applied Unificationism Blog was founded five years ago today on May 1, 2013, hosted by Unification Theological Seminary. Its purpose is to explore the application of Unificationism to the wider world, but also occasionally posts significant articles on theology. It generally posts a new commentary article every Monday.

The Applied Unificationism Blog is broadly read by Unificationists in the U.S., as well as in Europe, Korea and Japan. One major leader termed it, “The best thing out there,” referring to its focus and discussion of how to apply Unificationist principles to today’s societal problems. Any article on the site is available for automated Google Translation from English to dozens of supported languages.

In its five years, the AU Blog, as it has become known, has posted over 275 articles nearly every week in 11 categories. It is followed (by email, Facebook or Twitter) by 800 regular readers; is read in 200 countries or territories; has received over 270,000 total page views, posted nearly 2,700 reader comments, and nearly 60,000 referrals to its articles from search engines alone and 27,000 from Facebook. Some articles have generated a large number of site hits in just 24 hours — in several cases over 1,700 in a day.

The AU Blog’s top three articles all-time are: “Morals and Messages from Harry Potter: Lesson Learned,” “The Only-Begotten Daughter,” and “Same-Sex Marriage: A Unificationist Response.” Other popular articles include: “Toward a Headwing Idea for America,” “You’re Not Really an Adult Until Your Father Dies: Reaching the Highest Stage of Filial Piety,” and “God as the Heavenly Parent of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother.” Popular regular authors include Dr. Andrew Wilson, Dr. Michael Mickler and maestro David Eaton.

The Blog recently ran a series of commentaries by three different authors on the topic of gun control in America. AU Blog articles are often re-posted by the FFWPU International Headquarters site and by the FFWPU-USA site and gain even broader readership.

Original written contributions of 1,500-1,800 words are encouraged to be submitted by Unificationists, current and former UTS faculty, and interested others. Quality commentary or op-ed pieces are sought, written in a lively manner, on a wide range of subjects in which the writer exhibits a strong degree of familiarity with the subject matter. Broad topics include politics and economics, religion and spirituality, gender issues and the family, and culture and the arts. The Blog especially encourages article submissions from second generation Unificationists. It also posts occasional film and book reviews, and collections of poetry.

For more information on submitting an article for the AU Blog, visit our author’s guidelines page. To submit an article or review for consideration by the AU Blog, email the Managing Editor, Dr. Mark P. Barry. Dr. Barry has edited the Blog since its beginning and is also Lecturer in Management at UTS.

Applied Unificationism is a place where the future of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), founded by Reverend and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon, may be thoughtfully and responsibly discussed; in order to maintain that standard, reader comments to all articles are moderated. The AU Blog, as does its host, UTS, institutionally upholds the position of Mrs. Hak Ja Han Moon as the leader guiding the FFWPU in its worldwide work.

UTS, as a school for original thinkers, aims to maintain a site with some authority and wisdom where worthy ideas related to building the heavenly kingdom can be discussed among members and friends of the FFWPU and its sister organizations.

If you’ve not been aware of the Applied Unificationism Blog in the past five years, please explore our site; articles are indexed by topic. And if you haven’t already done so, please “Follow” the AU Blog by signing up near the bottom of our home page to receive an email each time it posts something new.♦