This was a panel discussion hosted by three pagans, two of whom, I discovered, are on the Board of the Parliament of World Religions, and have been for some years. That was great news: I now know that paganism has a voice in the organising side of this event. (Don't know yet about an LGBTIQ voice, let alone a pagan LGBTIQ voice ... hopefully more on that later!)
The following information on the presenters is edited from what is in the programme book (at almost 400 pages, it is NOT, BTW, a programme booklet).
- Rev Angie Buchanan is Family Tradition Pagan, founder & director of Gaia's Womb (an interfaith spirituality group for women) and Earth Traditions. She has been a presenter at a number of interfaith events, including the 2004 Parliament of World Religions (I'm going to abbreviate that to PoWR from here on, OK?) for which she has been a Board member since 2002.
- Rev Andras Corban Arthen is the spiritual director of the EarthSpirit Community, a religious and educational organisation dedicated to the preservation of Earth-centred spirituality, particularly the European indigenous traditions. He has presented at many interfaith events, including the 1993 and 2004 Parliaments.
- H Ps Phyllis Curott is the author of "Witchcrafting", an advocate, founder of the Temple of Ara and lawyer and Wiccan priestess for 25 years
The first question discussed by the panelists was "what is the meaning and why use the word pagan?"
- history dates back to the Romans, who used the word to indicate country dwellers, and considered themselves urbanii (city-dwellers) and would probably have been offended to be described as pagan)
- the connotations applied to this were generally acknowledged as being negative, and strategies for dealing with this were outlined (e.g., asking why people had that reaction?*)
- one speaker used it deliberately because it is a "wake up" word
- others spoke of using the term "European indigenous" rather than pagan**
The discussion on this question also included that this was originally a culture, but now is a religion, and that the world is different so there seemed to be a (mild) question about reconstructionist traditions. Another viewpoint was that we are all born pagan: we breathe, we don't come out chanting, meditating, etc.
(Breathing in was described as receiving a gift FROM plants [oxygen] and replying by giving - when breathing out - a gift TO the plants [carbon dioxide].)
The next question was what is divinity. Commentary on this included the view that everything is sacred, that we aren't in a waiting room for somewhere better and that magic is co-creating with deity.
An interesting comment was made that we tend to anthropomorphise deity, giving energies and principles personality. One speaker gave good examples of manifesting/becoming various deities for different situations.
During the question session the discussion moved on to how to adapt to new places as humanity migrates and moves round, with comments that various deities had been found in new places where they weren't expected. There was some acknowledgment of Australia having between three and seven seasons, depending on where you lived.
A Jewish Reconstructionist (several religions were identified when asking questions, so this most definitely wasn't a case of preaching to the converted) asked about sacrifice, and was told "the standard line is, we don't do this, but" sacrifice happens in the food chain (when animals re slaughtered). Several of the speakers had moved to the country (there was a discussion on this as well, with general agreement that it wasn't essential, but could deepen the pagan experience for some) and now were very aware of this, and interacted with animals that would become food, and did so in full awareness that they too would one day die.
This a very abbreviated version of my notes. Other discussions included not feeling connected to one's history - a discussion I would like to have asked about reincarnation in, but the session ended. (If one has had lots of lives in one tradition/culture, I would consider it understandable that one may not relate to a tradition/culture that one is being born into for the first time. So ... in that circumstance, does one, or does one not, have any right to the previous, more familiar tradition?)
For a video of this, please see (from the other mob of Correllians): http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-people-call-us-pagan-panel and http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-people-call-us-pagans-pt-2
* One speaker told an amusing anecdote of questioning a Nun why she reacted negatively to the word, explaining internalised prejudice, and finally getting to a point where the Nun said she had learned something about herself and maybe she was a little bit pagan too
** At the 1993 PoWR, the Lakota apparently formally declared war on New Agers etc who were appropriating their spiritual traditions. One of the speakers at this PoWR impressed a Lakota elder, who replied to a New Ager saying the appropriation was being done because they didn't have anything like that by saying "yes you do - go talk to those people" (referring to the pagans).
Building Peace in the Pursuit of Justice: A Buddhist-Muslim Dialogue
This event was on my wish list of events to attend, but I wound up using the time to look through the exhibitor's section (lots of little booths for various religions and groups, including EarthSpirit) and finalising my plan of events to attend. However, it is worth noting this event was one of an ongoing series of meetings between Buddhist and Muslim representatives. At this meeting, the issues to be discussed were the religion's respective views on the situation of poverty, injustice and discrimination, what are the roots of these situations, and is there a cure?
This is not the only specific interfaith event at the PoWR - I have seen Christian-Islamic, Christian-Jewish, etc events. So, this event is not just a case of "preaching to the converted".
Reconciling Religious Values and the Universal Entitlement to Human Rights
This was another panel discussion, featuring:
- Dr Helen Szoke, CEO of the Victorian Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission
- Dr Mark Durie, described as human rights activist, theologian and pastor of an Anglican Church in the programme booklet, which also gives an impressive list of academic appointments
- Judge Weeramantry, a Sri Lankan lawyer, legal educator, international arbitrator and domestic and international judge with an impressive international CV
- Bishop Peter Hollingworth, former Australian Governor-General (an appointment which generated some controversy, as it was not considered by all to be consistent with the principle of separation of state and church) and, before that, Archbishop of Brisbane
The first speaker was Dr Szoke, who began by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land. She then gave an outline of human rights law in Victoria, including the Victorian Charter of Human Rights , including the balancing act that is present in it - i.e., respecting people's right to practice their religion against others' human rights, which is provided by allowing provision for people to apply for exemptions. Neither has total sway over the other, and rights come with obligations & responsibilities.
Dr Szoke commented that the main area this was a problem was employment of teachers in religious schools. (Commentary: I don't agree with this: I consider this is mostly a point of contention with respect to provision of government services. How does a young trans person in urgent need of accommodation go to a religious provider when that provider is hostile in their religious beliefs towards said trans person? My local State MP has categorically told me all providers of government services are expected to comply with antidiscrimination law, but 5 am not yet convinced. )
(I am being excessively brief: that covers 20 minutes of talking and several A4 pages of scribbled notes. The Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has emailed a link to a Word version of the speech - I may add that to the post in days to come.)
Judge Weeramantry was next, and spoke of the origins of modern international law in the 1600s, at a time of religious conflict. He considered the conflicts of those times led to an emphasis on separation of religion and law, and postulated that the drive to do good in many religions (e.g., ending poverty, etc) should now be more acknowledged.
Dr Durie was a very interesting speaker. He commented (stating in advance that this would be radical) that where there was a conflict, maybe it was time for churches to get out of running government services. He also stated that all religious people accepted there should be limits: the question is where to draw the line.
Next, we had questions, which led to:
- there is a difference between separation of church and state, and opposition of one to the other;
- a Uniting Church member commented on the importance of WITI (pronounced "witty") questions: "Why Is That Important?", which had helped them in their debates on sexuality
- a woman who identified herself as Wiccan-pagan talked about the banners they had at the 1993 PoWR, which led to a statement that a previous reference by Judge Weeramantry to five major religions was not meant to be dismissive of other faiths;
- religion and culture were often used interchangeably;
- many of the speakers were "in furious agreement" to the principle of a point of division, and needed to focus on things in common and let the details get sorted out;
- the law ignores the "Good Samaritan" principle, and could be improved on this aspect.
Dr Hollingworth was the final speaker, and he effectively gave a summary.
Peace at the Heart of the World
Rev Angie Buchanan and Rev Andras Corben-Arthen were joined by Rev Deirdre Arthen, also a Director of EarthSpace and a leader in the US pagan community for 30 years, known as a ritualist, musician, teacher and spiritual counsellor who offered presentations at the 1993, 1999 and 2004 PoWRs. These were joined by others, including River Higginbotham, who has written or co-written some excellent books on paganism, and who visited the CNCI Temple of LaVeda previously.
We gathered in the room that had been allocated for this event, on the 2nd floor, right at the top of the Convention Centre, and then were led to a space outside, so we could work under the open sky. We apparently had been going to work on bare ground, but construction activity had begin there. We arrived to chanting, music (including lyre and drum) and gentle dancing, and formed a circle.
To begin, we (I didn't count, but at a guess, there would have been around 60 of us, including at least one Buddhist nun) all progressively turned to the person beside us and said "Hand by hand, we are the circle" as we joined hands. Then, after some group chants, various people called in various elements/aspects, such as the sea, the sky, the earth. I rather suspect that this was meant to be performed by those given roles to perform, but others added some words - fortunately all in keeping with the theme.
(It is an interesting balance for a public ritual: how organic do you make it, compared to free flowing? I'm an engineer in my day job, so I would probably have: (1) had a safe space for everyone's handbags and backpacks, with a volunteer watching over those rather than taking part in the ritual [there was an area where no-one outside the ritual could have got to which would have been a nice safe space; I kept wearing my handbag, which is fortunately quite small, as I didn't feel at all comfortable putting it down and walking away in a public area - maybe I shouldn't be so untrusting, but then my handbag has stuff in it which is essential for my family's wellbeing], (2) had those taking part (in the sense of a pre-arranged role) given something to distinguish them, like a sash of the same colour, which may have made it clearer that others weren't being invited to take part [it did look a bit random, with people in differing robes wandering forth at various times to do stuff], (3) given more explanation of what was going to happen, when and why - including as things went along [which is something that was done at some public full moon rituals I have taken part in, and seemed to work quite well]. But if all that had been done, maybe it wouldn't have been as nice?)
We were then (I think - I wasn't able to take notes, and this is being written quite a few hectic hours later) told that a bowl of water had water from over a hundred sacred places in it (I think you will be able to see the EarthSpirit site for a list). This water was then used to bless the participants.
Next, balls of string were passed around the circle. Where there were officiants, the various bits of twine were tied together, then the twine was led into the centre, with the participants holding it in the circle around the perimeter. We called out various places that need peace, and then the section each person was holding was cut for them to take home and weave to affirm their commitment to continuing the dialogue between religions that is needed for peace (I wove mine onto my conference pass's lanyard.
Finally, we had a slow spiral walk into a tight group before leaving.
I'm personally not much of a singer/dancer, but the ritual was enjoyable, and left me energised and feeling good afterwards. I hope it will help with the achievement of peace - a multifaith intent was certainly present, so, with the skills and arts used, it should.
Communities night: pagan welcoming
I chose not to attend this so I could write, rest and have some family time - but, I have to say, it was a close run thing: I nearly went to this. The event was advertised on Pagan Awareness Network's website, at http://www.paganawareness.net.au/PAN//content/view/212/80/. I'm not a social butterfly, but rather suspect I could well have enjoyed this, given the general vibes of the PoWR and the presence of people I would like to spend time with (like River Higginbotham, and at least one friend of mine who I will mention again very shortly).
Media Coverage
"The Age":
Blessings aplenty as world's religions gather, The Age, December 4, 2009 - 12:00AM: http://www.theage.com.au/
See also:
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/pagans-in-community-at-the-parliament/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/new-update-from-thorn/
http://parliament.pagannewswirecollective.com/2009/12/updates-from-circle-cog-and-earthspirit/
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pagans-at-the-parliament-2
http://www.witchschool.com/page/pwr-indigenous-statement-panel
http://www.witchschool.com/page/day-2-at-the-pwr-healing-the
General
As a final point, if anyone is interested in going to a Parliament of World Religions event at some future time, being a volunteer will dramatically reduce costs. I caught up with a friend of mine who told me it was only $A100, as compared to an early bird rate of A$600 (excluding meals, without concession), with a requirement of four 4hr sessions. If only I'd known ... ah well, at least you, dear reader, do know now. (And, to be fair, I probably would have known if I'd read everything I was sent.)
And now, for some much needed sleep.
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
Tags: Parliament of World Religions, pagan, communication, cross-fertilisation (ideas), interfaith, multifaith
First published: Friday 4th December, 2009
Last edited: Monday 4th January, 2010
