Mose Durst
Mose Durst (born 1939) is an author, educator, and the former president of the Unification Church of the United States.[1] He was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City; then an Orthodox Jewish community; to immigrants from Russia. He received a Master's degree and Ph.D while studying English Literature at the University of Oregon. He taught at Laney College in Oakland, California. In 1972 he converted from Judaism[2] and joined the Unification Church in Oakland, then became a lecturer and a church leader in California. In 1974, he married Korean missionary Yon Soo Lim, and they led the Northern California church together.[3]
In 1980, Durst was appointed by Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon as the president of the American church.[4][3][5]
Durst currently teaches literature and history to middle school students at the Principled Academy, a Unification Church sponsored school in San Leandro, California, and is the chairman of the school's board. He has published seven books: To Bigotry, No Sanction: Reverend Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church, Principled Education, Shakespeare’s Plays, and Oakland, California: Towards A Sustainable City,[6] and two children’s books.[7]
References
- ^ Children of a Lesser God, by Don Lattin, San Francisco Chronicle, February 11, 2001.
- ^ "Religion: Sun Myung Moon's Goodwill Blitz". Time Magazine. April 22, 1985.
- ^ a b excerpts The Unification Church, Studies in Contemporary Religion Massimo Introvigne, Signature Books, ISBN 1-56085-145-7.
- ^ Neil Duddy Interview: Dr. Mose Durst.
- ^ "Religion: Sun Myung Moon's Goodwill Blitz". Time Magazine. April 22, 1985.
- ^ Oakland, California: Towards A Sustainable City, AuthorHouse.
- ^ The Principled Academy - Staff page, school web site.