Automatic theocracy

The term "automatic theocracy" was used in a hasty translation of a speech by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, by a non-professional translating Korean language into English. The translated passage concerned Rev. Moon's prediction that the people of the earth would voluntarily adopt a God-centered way of life. If enough people freely chose to live in accordance with God's will, this would automatically result in realization of the Kingdom of God on earth.

The "theocracy" part of the term was taken by church opponents to have a meaning opposite to Rev. Moon's intended meaning. Critics seized upon the phrase as proof that "the Moonies" intended to impose a totalitarian, anti-democratic regime on any country they could get a toe-hold.

It was many years after the original speech was given that Dr. Andrew Wilson, a professor in Old Testament studies at Unification Theological Seminary, had the passage re-translated. He discovered that the first translator had compressed a very lengthy portion of the speech into one short paragraph. In particular, she used the term "automatic theocracy" to indicate an "automatic" transition to "rule by God".

It should be noted that "theocracy" itself is an idea which has many variations, of which is controversial. The meaning intended by the translator was diametrically opposed to the Talibanic interpretation of Sharia law (in Islam), which permits a judge to order forced marriages, excuse honor killings, or sentence a prisoner to flogging, prison, or death.

In the Unification Church view of the Kingdom of God (Unification Theology), all relationships are based on common base (Unification Theology) and mutual benefit.

What the mistranslation led to was a controversy over the church's ideas on government, such as democracy versus dictatorship; this is beyond the scope of this article.