Temple of Understanding

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The Temple of Understanding was founded in 1960 by Juliet Hollister, and is a pioneer of the Interfaith Movement.

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[edit] History

In its early years, the organization convened large “Spiritual Summits” in Calcutta (1968) and Geneva (1970) bringing together religious and spiritual leaders of diverse traditions to engage in dialogue, and address problems of intolerance, injustice and religious persecution. This network was supported by a distinguished group of “Founding Friends” including Eleanor Roosevelt, U Thant, H.H. Pope John XXIII, and H.H. the XIVth Dalai Lama, among others. These gatherings included Spiritual Summit V (1975), the first interfaith conference held at the United Nations and the first time a women, Mother Teresa, represented the Catholic Church. The TOU has maintained a strong presence at the United Nations, organizing workshops, lectures and major events including hosting the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the UN in New York (1995).

The Temple of Understanding is located in New York City, NY.

[edit] Mission

The mission of The Temple of Understanding is to achieve peaceful coexistence among individuals, communities and societies through interfaith education. TOU programs emphasize experiential knowledge and dialogue as a means of connecting people across a spectrum of religious communities to create a more just and peaceful world. TOU goals are to:

  • foster appreciation of religious and cultural diversity
  • expand public discourse on religion and spirituality
  • promote constructive social change
  • further education for global citizenship

The Temple of Understanding is a 501(c) (3) non-profit and Non-Governmental Organization with Consultative Status at the United Nation (ECOSOC).

[edit] The United Nations

In 1960, the TOU was encouraged by Eleanor Roosevelt to become an NGO and embrace Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, protecting freedom of thought, conscience and religion. In 2000 the Millennium Declaration, signed by 189 Member States, identified 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to be achieved by the year 2015. Today our representative to the United Nations interweaves these goals throughout all of our programs at the UN, in addition to sponsoring conferences and workshops on religious freedom.

[edit] The Juliet Hollister Awards

In 1996, in support and affirmation of individuals whose life work has advanced the interfaith ideal, the Temple of Understanding established the Juliet Hollister Awards Ceremony. Named in honor of the founder’s achievements, Hollister Awards are granted to individuals who are: 1. Religious figures who bring interfaith values into the place of worship were the faithful congregate; and 2. Secular figures who promote greater understanding of spiritual values in areas such as the arts, education, media, government, science, social justice, law and ecology.

Past awardees include: Her Majesty Queen Noor, the Very Rev. James Parks Morton, Sri Swami Satchidananda, Maestro Ravi Shankar, Henry Luce III, Mary Robinson, His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Dr. Wangari Maathai, Peter Max, Dr. Thomas Berry, Dr. Coleman Barks, Dr Suheil Badi Bushrui, Cokie and Steven Roberts, Dr. Hans Kung, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, Fr. Thomas Keating, Dr. Karan Singh, Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Venerable Dr. Yifa, and Daniel Pearl (accepted by Dr. Judea Pearl).

[edit] Practices

1. The Temple of Understanding is sometimes misrepresented as an organization that hosts religious services. It is an organization that believes in the importance of respect for all faith paths. Articles like the one mentioned below inaccurately combines a few facts about ToU with information about other, unrelated, organizations. For accurate information about this organization, visit their website: www.templeofunderstanding.org

In keeping with their interst in educating youth and adults cross culturally and inter-religiously in order to achieve peace, ToU staff members, board members,volunteers, and supporters are diverse ethnically and culturally.


2. A hostile article published in 1996 by the California Forestry Association (http://www.batnet.com/~woodcom/cfa/cfanl01.html) makes the following claim about the practices seen at the Temple during winter solstice:

"...goats, horses and other animals are led to the alter to receive blessings. Camels and elephants walk the aisles as worshipers march to the alter with bowls of compost and worms."

The article also claims that Al Gore made a sermon at the temple in 1994, saying, "God is not separate from the earth."

[edit] The Interfaith Experience

In the fall of 2007, the TOU launched "The Interfaith Experience," an exciting new program for twenty- and thirty-somethings at the Rubin Museum of Art which presents contemporary artists, thinkers and leaders who will provide insights on the role of faith in the creative and intellectual process. Presenters for the series have included actor Linus Roache, The Venerable Nicholas Vreeland, visionary artist Alex Grey, Revs. Alan Lokos and Susanna Weiss, Ezgi Sorman, Dr Kurt Johnson, Loch Kelly and the Rev. Masud Ibn Syedullah, TSSF.

[edit] External links