TEMPLE OF UNDERSTANDING: The Temple of Understanding (TOU) is among the oldest interfaith organizations in the United States with international presence and ECOSOC status at the United Nations (UN). The vision of founder Juliet Hollister was to cultivate positive social change and peace through the insights of all religions. Currently the TOU’s work at the UN is focused on sustainable development, through the transformation of consciousness needed to make necessary life-style changes to ensure sustainability. Religions help people shape their worldview and act on their values. Governments need the guidance of an awakened civil society to make radical changes. Corporations need an awakened civil society that will insist on sustainable consumption. Inspired by Thomas Berry CSP and the world’s religions, the TOU works towards the current manifestation of such transformation, in collaboration with those of many religious traditions and many different organizations. The TOU founded the Interfaith Consortium for Ecological Civilization, and most recently works closely with the Mining Working Group at the UN and the Women’s Major Group. Education and cultural programming have formed much of their work in the past, and inform the current work. www.templeofunderstanding.org, www.IC4EC.org
This is the leading, putatively respectable Britain-based Satan cult (it worships Lucifer). The Lucis Trust, which runs the only religious chapel at the New York United Nations headquarters, The Temple of Understanding, was originally founded as the Lucifer Trust, in London, in 1923. The Lucis Trust associated with the UNO is the New York affiliate of the British organization. The name was changed from Lucifer Trust, to Lucis Trust, to make the nature of the organization less conspicuous.