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Summary: A profound, deeply moving story of courage and hope.
Review: "In the Shadow of the Moons" is a deeply moving true story of courage and hope in the face of impossible odds. Beautifully written, this book should be recommended reading at seminaries and in classes on religion. Nansook Hong, in my opinion, is a modern day saint, who endured fourteen years at the hands of a monster and lived to tell the tale. As a 23 member of Ms. Hong's former church, I know first hand the difficulties that she endured. She was faced with the wrenching decision to leave the religion that she was born into, and the family that she had always believed were perfect in the eyes of God. People who have never been members of an authoritarian, messianic religious movement may have a hard time understanding why she stayed in a living hell for 14 years. This is not a typical case of spousal abuse; it is what happens when followers of a religion practice blind devotion and worship a man instead of God. It is a testimony to Ms. Hong's character and faith that tried her best to make this marriage work, although it was doomed from the start. The book is though provoking and disturbing. Indeed, it brought me to tears. Her courage to leave the luxuries of the emperor's palace to live a normal life with her five children is inspiring. It tells us that even in the face of the deepest adversity and impossibly difficult questions, there is always an answer; there is always hope. God bless this sweet and courageous young woman. May she find happiness in her life.
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Summary: A very deeply moving story of love and courage
Review: From the beginning,Nansook Hong tells a story that can break your heart.She grew up believing in Reverend Moon,with the sweet innocent faith of a child.When she was only 15,Reverend Moon selected Nansook to be the wife of his eldest son.She writes that her faith began to be shattered,when she saw the true reality of life in Reverend Moon's family.Nansook began a very lonely journey of life,living with a brutal husband who did not love her;and a family that failed to live according to the high ideals of love that Reverend Moon has always preached to the world.Her only joy in life was her children,and a continuing faith in God through all adversity. I have been a Unification Church member for many years,and reading Nansook's book has been a devastating experience for me.Through the spiritual pain that I now feel,I believe what Nansook has written.We must always face the truth,if we are ever going to have any kind of a really decent life.By writing her book,Nansook has given a gift of much needed truth to everyone. Nansook's story is often sad and heartbreaking,but it is ultimately an inspiring story of deep love and personal courage in the face of great danger. From her book,we can learn the absolute necessity of always striving to have a responsible and a caring heart.This is a very vital,important book. I give it my highest recommendation. END
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Summary: Moon's empire of lies and ... finally confirmed
Review: I've been a victum of Moon's organization for approximately 15 years. Through out my years in his church I was repeatedly abused, reprimanded, punished and coerced to live the way they wanted. I have been a member here in New York City since the beginning, and have witnessed it all. I've worked with and around the so called sinless "true family". I know first hand how the church spin doctors go around covering up all the sins of the true family. I still have not been able to leave the church officially due to the prospect of losing my family. After years of soul seaching I came to the realization that I had to do something so I started my own web site at ... I am now an undercover spy working to expose the Moon empire for what it really is. Of all the research that I have been conducting, Nan Sooks book touched my heart the deepest. I personally vouch and testify that all of the issues covered in this book are 100% true. Thank you Nan Sook for having the courage to do what you had to do.
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Summary: A fascinating account of life with the "son of the Messiah."
Review: Nansook Hong's is a compelling account of her life as the longsuffering wife of Hyo Jin Moon, Reverend Sun Myung Moon's eldest son. The book is a must read for anyone who is interested in the psychology of religion, or in the plight of batterred women. Don't be put off by negative reviews from members of Reverend Moon's Unification Church. As a former Unificationist myself, I especially recommend this book to anyone who is connected with the Unification movement in any way. Those of us who have witnessed the violent outbursts of certain members of the Moon family firsthand will have no trouble in recognizing the truth of Nansook's account. The Unification Church is not an entirely evil organization, but it has more than its share of problems, and it has been sweeping them under the carpet for far too long. I hope that Nansook's book will open the members' eyes and help bring about much-needed changes. Nansook has been greatly wronged by Reverend Moon and his movement. I hope that they will be big enough to concede as much. I was sickened by the hostile campaign launched against Nansook by the church following her departure, but I understand that this ill-advised campaign had apparently not been approved by Reverend Moon himself. I like to think that Reverend Moon is a sincere man, even if his theology is unsound. I congratulate Nansook on her escape and on her willingness to tell the truth, and I wish her well in her new life.
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Summary: The Dark Side of the Moons
Review: Pay no attention to the negative criticisms by those who are obviously Moonies. This is should be required reading. Nansook Hong had the courage to endure and to finally escape the clutches of this dangerous cult led by the Korean flake who thinks he's God. Not only is it run by one of the worlds most selfish and greediest families, they stand to gain even more under the President's Faith-Based program. Your tax dollars at work.
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Summary: The Dark Side of the Moons
Review: Pay no attention to the negative criticisms by those who are obviously Moonies. This is should be required reading. Nansook Hong had the courage to endure and to finally escape the clutches of this dangerous cult led by the Korean flake who thinks he's God. Not only is it run by one of the worlds most selfish and greediest families, they stand to gain even more under the President's Faith-Based program. Your tax dollars at work.
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Summary: MOON - the devil in disguise
Review: reviewers criticise the book for being one-sided and cite thefact that the moonism has still millions of followers to show that thestory must be unbalanced and one-sided, this totally missed the point, in the 60s and 70s chairman mao of china had many many more fervent followers than rev moon, including highly intelligent men and women in the west, yet no serious scholars and historians will now maintain that there is anything good and beneficial to the country in mao's doctrines (if ever they are consistent or intelligible) and in what he did, the truth is, many truly intelligent people could believe in and do extremely stupid things, in recounting facts, nansook has provided valuable primary materials for people to assess moonism, and if moonism declines as a result, it deserves such fate
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Summary: AMAZING INSIGHT INTO DR. MOON
Review: THIS BOOK IS AN AMAZING INSIGHT INTO DR. MOON, HIS FAMILY AND HIS CHURCH. I DON'T THINK THERE HAS EVER BEEN SUCH A CLEARER LOOK INTO ANY BELIEF SYSTEM, FOUNDERS OF A CHURCH OR EVEN CHURCH ORGANIZATION AS "THE SHADOWS OF THE MOONS". THE AUTHOR PORTRAYS A TRUTHFUL ACCOUNT AS SHE SAW IT FROM HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND GIVES A VIEW AND UNDERSTANDING BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE INTO DR. MOONS POSITION AND FAMILY. THE READER IS TRANSPORTED AND IS ABLE TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO HER THRU HER EYES AND THAT IS ALSO A RARE OCCURRENCE. TO ME IT IS LIKE A MODERN DAY VERSION OF "PILGRIM'S PROGRESS" THE AUTHOR BEING CHRISTIAN.
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Summary: Excellent story of trials and triumph
Review: Wonderful book that exposes Sun Myung Moon for the false prophet he truly is! Nansook Hong's story of abuse from her ungodly in-laws is a must-read. She overcame incredible odds in order to gain a life worth living for herself and her children. I look forward to a sequel: a fitting title would be "Out of the Shadow of the Moons".
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