I began the morning with meditation lead by Father Laurence Freeman of the Australian Christian Meditation Community. I was refreshed by the introduction and a time meditating. A distinction was made between meditation and contemplation: meditation is the work we do to receive the gift of contemplation. As an aside, we heard that when the Dalai Lama was asked what he would ask Jesus if he were to meet him, he replied, “What is the nature of the Father?”
‘Islam and Politics: Faith, Governance and society’ was a stimulating look at the role of faith and governance in majority Muslim societies like Malaysia, secular or multi-religious or a high religious values society. Anwar Abrahim gave a fine response, as the excellent and diverse panel of 6 Muslims engaged. There was also a protest at the Iran Government treatment of the Bahai following some bland statements from Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran (a panelist). It is written up well by Age journalist Barney Zwartz who attended the session, see Muslims urged to accept minorities.
Interfaith Dialogue and Education for a Culture of Peace: A workshop for Empowerment and Transformation was very well run. It acheived its aim of participants listening respectfully to one another, through small group role acting, our group were a poor Muslim fishing village in India facing ruin as a big aquaculture corporation was taking away our livelihood, and an excellent facilitator.
At lunch I received the papers on ‘Contemporary Spirituality’ from Harold and we spent an animated time together – what a pleasure to be with a dedicated educator.
Multi-faith perspectives on Inter-religious holidays and celebrations drew out some creativity from Norman Habel presenting material to celebrate creation and with creation; see A Season of Creation. He deftly uses words and I winced at his caricature of the attitude, ‘We are all going to heaven, so to hell with the earth!’
The difficulties of any form of multi-religious activity was brought home when a Pagan panelist commented with sadness that the Opening Plenary claimed to be inclusive of religions but it did not include Pagans because it had named ‘God’. The danger of the multi-religious agenda is its being reduced piece by piece into the most minimal of acceptable meeting places. One panelist went so far as to say that words are limiting and the less we talk the easier it is to get together! Taken positively, multi-religious events are best done in a natural setting, for a very particular community purpose and people given a framework of time and then for there to be silence in which each person can pray and read silently for the particular purpose. In this way nobody has lost their integrity because ‘God’ has been spoken by or for the Pagan, and nor has prayer been offered without the triune formula for the Christian.
A pleasant late cuppa at Bishopscourt with +Philip and Colin discussing inter-faith issues and solving some of the broader issues of life! Another satisfying day.
Oh! and I need to finish writing my sermon for our Anglican worship in the morning; the 2nd Sunday in Advent when we do the prophetic ministry of John the Baptist, Luke 3:1-11, and his call of repentance and the announcement of the Saviour.
Further posts can be found at: Parliament of Religions – It’s coming!, and at Multi-faith society – an oxymoron? and also at Parliament World Religions Day-1 and at Parliament of World Religions Day 1 and Parliament of World Religions Day 2.
PWR 2009 presenter interviewed on “Why I’m here”
Further videos, photos and news available at 2009 Parliament Coverage.
