Moral authority greater than military [1]
Tuesday, September 25, 2001 - 10:00. Updated on Thursday, February 18, 2016 - 18:49.
From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.
True power and authority is of a moral and spiritual nature, a peace seminar in Nuku‘alofa was told.
At a time when the United States of America and its allies were preparing for war, a two-day seminar was held in Nuku’alofa from September 14-15 on the theme, “Renewing the Nation: An Exploration of the Principles and Practices that Strengthen Families, Educate our Youth, and Rebuild our Society.”
The seminar was hosted by the Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace.
The Chairman of the IIFWP, Dr Chung Hwan Kwak, stressed that it was important for its participants, mostly young people, to contribute to the renewal of the nation, with special focus on the crisis facing today’s youth and today’s families. He said that among the most critical challenges we faced today was family breakdown.
“Although some nations may have great material resources, and great military or economic power, true power and authority is of a moral and spiritual nature. Tonga may be a small nation compared to some superpowers, however, in terms of its people, and in terms of its moral authority, it can become a superpower.”
Dr Kwak said that World Peace and the renewal of nations was the fundamental goal of the IIFWP, and had been the lifelong mission of the Founder, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon.