David McCauley lights a candle with Mathilda Yamasaki as part of the CBS special interfaith celebration
On Christmas Eve, the United Religions Initiative hosted a groundbreaking interfaith program on the theme “May Peace Prevail on Earth” for CBS Television Networks across the United States, as well as for a large international audience. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to those of you watching for the first time on http://www.uri.org/cbs.
Since the airing, encouraging comments have been pouring in from all corners of the earth, via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, email, and webpage comments. Here are just a few:
- “If everybody watched this video, there would be peace on earth.”
- “It fed my soul in a much-needed way this holiday.”
- “Beautiful! Love the inclusion and acceptance of and by all. That was great!”
- “I totally enjoyed watching this unity of faiths worshiping together... Yes, I was singing, rocking, clapping along with them, as it truly touched my heart deep within!!”
We were thrilled to see the huge, positive response to our broadcast. Some exciting statistics include:
- According to Nielsen ratings, the special was viewed by more than 4 million viewers across the United States on December 24, 2015. That’s not even counting the additional viewers who recorded it to watch later, or our many international viewers!
- “May Peace Prevail on Earth” has been viewed over 7,000 times online since the CBS broadcast!
- We’ve seen a surge in international interest in URI since the broadcast, with over 180 new requests for information about joining and starting Cooperation Circles!
- Local groups hosting screenings of the broadcast including this one in Dothan, Alabama, USA.
Not only has the international reception of the television broadcast been extremely encouraging, but being in the world's spotlight has energized the URI community internally as well. Dra. Enoé Texier, Regional Coordinator for URI Latin America and the Caribbean, says, "I think the Program is inspiring for all of us who are already part of the URI family, inside the Global Net, so I believe that it can strengthen the network internally at all levels." We are already seeing her words come true in the form of increased participation and discussion from existing Cooperation Circles, as well as the creation of new ones.
Even after the broadcast, the world is still discovering and responding to our message of peace. The Huffington Post featured URI Executive Director Victor Kazanjian’s “Why Religious Diversity Is the Pathway to Peace”, which explores the themes of the television special. And the full-length video continues to attract more viewers every day. People are hungry for news that peace can be, and is being, achieved in communities around the world.
Many voices from many countries and faith traditions have been joining together for our ongoing "Wishes for the World" collection. Please email us at [email protected] to add one of your own!
“At a time when horrific violence in the name of religion dominates the news, and prejudice and intolerance threaten to undermine our diverse communities,” says Victor Kazanjian, “the world needs to know that peace among religions is possible in our communities, in our country and in our world.”
“This program is a gift of light and hope in the midst of a world too often filled with darkness and despair,” says URI Founder, the Right Rev. William E. Swing, former Episcopal Bishop of California. “It is the gift of a far larger story than what we often see, a story of ordinary people of different faiths living together peacefully, working together and making contributions to their communities together. This message is a gift of peace for the whole world.”