Peace Dome Tours

COLLEGE OF METAPHYSICS, Peace Dome Tours

 

 

 

 

Peace Dome Tours

Peace Dome Tours are available for your school, club, or group by contacting the College of Metaphysics in Windyville, Missouri.

 

Peace Dome tour guide Shawn Smith describes how the building, located on the campus of the College of Metaphysics in Windyville, was constructed.

 

Children and their parents lay a mosaic tile in the Peace Mandala designed by a Chicago businessman after an image he saw in a dream.

 

THE INVITATION, a play in five movements based upon the speeches of eight Nobel Peace Prize laureates, is presented live in the Peace Dome on the College of Metaphysics campus.


 

 

 

Tours of the world’s Peace Dome, specifically designed for homeschoolers and their parents, are offered in the spring and fall of the year. “Children ages 8 and up will enjoy the dome’s unique architecture and sound resonance while parents will appreciate its historical and international relations aspects,” says tour coordinator Dr. Barbara Condron.

 

 

 

The tour begins at the Peace Pole, one of 100,000 poles that have been planted around the world since W.W. II. The poles are sponsored by the World Prayer Society and are inscribed with the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in different languages. Under the direction of music director Jesse Kern, those attending will learn the word peace in five languages as they sing the chorus of “Peace is the Breath of our Spirit”. 

The Peace Dome was funded completely by private donations and took about two years to complete. It stands over 25 feet high and is 60 feet in diameter. Shawn Smith will describe how the dome was constructed including the inflation process. “Domes are unique structures,” he says, “in that they are extremely stable, withstanding tornadoes and hurricanes, and are energy efficient.”

On the east side of the Peace Dome is a large relief map of the world that was created in the summer of 2003 by the children attending Camp Niangua. “This is a place where we will bring the people from around the world together through the collection of native rocks from their cities, states, and countries,” says tour guide Karen Mosby, a registered nurse from Des Moines. “To date we have received stones from 19 states and 39 countries. When it is completed the Healing Wall will be a unique geological structure. Visitors are allowed to view and touch the map sending their thoughts for peace throughout the world.”

Lousiville, KY native Adam Williams will introduce the 24-minute film “MAKINGPEACE” which captures the construction of the Peace Dome from groundbreaking to dedication day. The documentary set to music will be shown in the first floor atrium where dozens of proclamations signed by leaders of cities, states, and countries over the past ten years are on display. “This record of worldwide affirmation and commitment to peace also includes pledges of individuals to think and act peacefully during the scheduled Universal Hour of Peace,” explains Bryon Parrino, a California native. The first proclamation for January 1, 2006 was received this week from the governor of Hawaii.

Kern adds to this part of the tour through teaching the Statue of Liberty’s full name and its relationship to the spiritual mission of the United States to bring light and peace to the world.

Before entering the upper floor of the dome the story of dedication day will be told by Sebastien Hartman of Indianapolis. “On October 11, 2003 people from all over the country came to celebrate the Peace Dome’s completion. At 1 p.m. (cst) people on all seven continents, including Antarctica joined the people at the College of Metaphysics in reading the Universal Peace Covenant as a way of uniting the planet with the thought of peace.” 

“The covenant was created from a need for there to be a peace document that actually teaches how to have peace inwardly and outwardly,” says Jennifer Childers of Dallas, Texas. She leads the reading of the document before introducing “Albert Schweitzer” to the group. 

“I embody the person of Albert Schweitzer who greets the students,” says Tad Messenger. “I tell a story of how I came to know peace by committing my life to serve people by building a hospital in Africa.” Messenger brings the Nobel Peace Prize laureate to life, along with seven other winners including Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, and H.H. the Dalai Lama, when a play called “The Invitation” is given in the Peace Dome the third Sunday of the month. The next performance of that play is November 20 at 10:30 a.m. to which the public is invited. 

The tour concludes when guests place mosaic tiles in the Peace Mandala. The circular design, which Chicago businessman Jay McCormick received in a dream, measures over six feet in diameter and is being created one tile at a time. “A mandala is an image created to hold and represent a specific intention,” says Kelley Naylor. “Each tile placed by visitors holds their own unique vision for peace.” The design will be completed in 2012 after all tiles are put into place representing the power of over 9000 ways peace can be achieved and lived in the world.” 

“The Peace Dome offers a well-rounded educational experience for young and old alike,” Condron says. “This tour integrates scholastic disciplines in every subject area with personal experience. With our research in developing individual potential and using the whole mind, we have found this to be the best way to learn.” The tour lasts about two hours.

The Peace Dome is located on the campus of the College of Metaphysics. To schedule a tour for your school, club, or organization call 417-345-8411.

©2005 SOM

 

 

Comments are closed.