The Temple of Understanding Sponsored and organized "The 50th Anniversary of The United Nations Celebration. Better Listen!! is privileged to offer the highlights of this historic event featuring Dr Carl Sagan. THE TEMPLE OF UNDERSTANDING has led the way in interfaith education and advocacy for over 48 years. We educate youth and adults both cross culturally and inter-religiously for global citizenship and peaceful coexistence; advocate for acceptance and respect for religious pluralism by the worlds governing bodies; and actively continue our role in the Social Justice Movement. The organization was founded in 1960 by a pioneering visionary, Juliet Hollister, with the support of a distinguished group of “Founding Friends,” which included Eleanor Roosevelt,
She is the first woman to have founded an interfaith organization. Eleanor Roosevelt was among the first to endorse the concept. In the late 1950’s, Juliet traveled the globe, bearing letters of introduction from the former First Lady, in order to gather support from the world’s religious and political leaders. In her letters of introduction, Mrs. Roosevelt wrote: "May this greatly needed Temple of Understanding come into realization soon, for our world surely needs the inspiration and leadership of such a 'Spiritual United Nations'."
That year, Juliet met with luminaries such as Egyptian President Nasser, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Pope John XXIII, and Albert Schweitzer –who responded to her request for a meeting with, "Come at once and I will send a canoe." After their meeting, Dr. Schweitzer signed Juliet’s travel log "My hopes and prayers are with you in the realization of the great Temple of Understanding, which has a profound significance ... The Spirit burns in many flames." A few years later, in the December 1962 issue of Life Magazine, the cover article described “’Juliet Hollister's Wonderful Obsession’ as a mission ‘to draw people together to build a movement embracing all faiths.’”
This article and the subsequent CBS News documentary gave the TOU international recognition and support, affording Juliet access to other luminaries such as Egyptian President Anwar-el Sadat, Carl Sagan and Dr. Hans Kung.
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