United Nations And The New Age - Way of Life Literature

The UN Meditation RoomIn 1956-57 Hammarskjöld completely remodeled the UNchapel. It had been opened in 1952 as a nondenominationalprayer room, the brainchild of aChristian lay organization whose members included thedepartment store millionaire J.C. Penney. Hammarskjoldturned it into a New Age Meditation Room. The armchairs, flags of the nations, draperies, and potted plantswere removed, and a six-and-a-half ton block of iron orewas deposited in the center of the room, the polished topof which is lit by a single beam of light from the ceiling.The light depicts “divine wisdom,” and the block depictsan empty altar representing “God worshipped in manyforms” (http://www.aquaac.org/un/sprtatun.html).Hammarskjöld said, “It is the altar to the God of all” (“ARoom of Quiet,” http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/dag/meditationroom.htm). The iron ore also represents themetal from which weapons are made and the New Agehope that through the power of meditation world peacecan be achieved. Hammarskjöld said, “... we thought wecould bless by our thoughts the very material out ofwhich arms are made.” This is the New Age concept ofthe power of thinking.Hammarskjöld said the Meditation Room is “for thosewho come here to fill the void with what they find in59