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Ecumenism

Seven Faces that Reveal God

Thirty-two years ago, on October 21, I had the honor of inaugurating the Temple of Good Will (TGW) in Brasília (Brazil), with the indispensable help of the people.

Since its opening, the TGW is the most visited place in the country's capital, according to official data from Brasília’s Tourism Office (SETUR-DF).

In an article I wrote for the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper on August 9, 1987, I delineated the spirit that guides the Pyramid of Seven Faces:

The construction of the Temple of Good Will, with only one altar and throne exclusively dedicated to the Lord God, has as its supreme objective to unite all creatures, independent of their beliefs or disbeliefs (atheists are also God’s children), leading them to the Unity of Accomplishing Faith based on the Unrestricted Ecumenism. Accomplishing Faith is that which is opposed to the idle, egoistic Faith. (...) As Jesus revealed to the Samaritan near Jacob’s well: “God is Spirit,” and for this reason “will soon no longer be adored in stone temples made by man’s hand.” Being Spirit, “He seeks among His worshippers those who adore Him in Spirit and Truth”. The TGW is, therefore, an intermediate phase between the stone temples and the expected time when men will no longer need material temples to pray to God. Natura non facit saltum. Since it is a transitory stage, these words inspired by the teaching of the Planetary Christ apply to it: “In this Temple even the stones will cry out that God is Spirit and it is important that He be worshiped in Spirit and Truth”.

It is the same as saying that in the coming times the restrictive conception of only adoring God under material ceilings will evolve. Temples, no matter how praiseworthy, will not be essential.

Surprisingly, in this ideal era, its attendance will be the most glorious of all times for Humanity because men will understand that God is within them. No longer will anyone dare to attend temples as if they were going to a disposable social obligation, to a picnic, a fashion show. A situation that saddens the religious people concentrated on the divine mission of the clergymen and the sanctums. God’s favorite place for His worship is the human heart. There is no censure here for those who revere their temples to worship the Almighty. For how else would we have built the Temple of Good Will in Brasília?

Reprodução BV

Isaiah

What we conceive is a prevision of what Christ announced. The day will come when all Humanity will recognize the Temple of the Living God — sacred territory where everyone can live in Peace, as prophesied by Isaiah in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. Human Beings will finally understand that the Celestial Father in His infinite wisdom should be sought and experienced in every place, during every second of one’s existence. Priests will always be priests. This is born from the soul: in their temples and in any part. That is how men of Faith feel, in all corners of the world.

Man can try, albeit in vain, to destroy the religions on Earth. However, he will never be able to extinguish the religiosity that is born with him, even when atheist.

Ecumenism Day

In honor of the Temple of Peace, a bill proposed by Federal Deputy Rodrigo Rollemberg was made official in Brasília designating October 21 as Ecumenism Day. The initiative received the adhesion of other places around the country, such as the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Paraná and the city of Novo Hamburgo/RS.

André Fernandes

    

During the entire month of October a series of rich cultural, religious and ecumenical events will celebrate the 31st Anniversary of the TGW, located at SGAS 915, Lotes 75/76, Brasília/DF, Brazil.

José de Paiva Netto is a writer, journalist, radio broadcaster, composer, and poet. He is the President of the Legion of Good Will (LGW), effective member of the Brazilian Press Association (ABI) and of the Brazilian International Press Association (ABI-Inter). Affiliated to the National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Union of Professional Journalists of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the Union of Writers of Rio de Janeiro, the Union of Radio Broadcasters of Rio de Janeiro, and the Brazilian Union of Composers (UBC). He is also a member of the Academy of Letters of Central Brazil. He is an author of international reference in the concept and defense of the cause of Ecumenical Citizenship and Spirituality which, according to him, constitute “the cradle of the most generous values that are born of the Soul, the dwelling of the emotions and of the reasoning enlightened by intuition, the atmosphere that embraces everything that transcends the ordinary field of matter and comes from the elevated human sensitivity, such as Truth, Justice, Mercy, Ethics, Honesty, Generosity, and Fraternal Love.”