In faith and hope and love

The religions of the world unite to find God in all things

Right now (December 3-9), the fifth Parliament of World Religions is meeting in Melbourne, bringing together thousands of people from myriad faith backgrounds.

As the word "parliament" implies, the conference gives the faithful a place to talk about the things that unite those of us who have strong spiritual meaning in our lives. Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, indigenous religions, and Baha'i are just a few of the traditions represented.

The conference theme is Make a world of difference: hearing each other, healing the earth, and many speakers are concerned with how believers can unite to be better stewards of God's earth, and tackle the big issues of global warming and poverty.

The Dalai Lama is invited. Other speakers will include such authoritative figures as Tim Costello and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Cath Connelly, Spiritual Director and Celtic harpist, presented on the topic of Celtic Spirituality, its arts and traditions, as well as playing with her harp circle, The Hills Angels (at the invitation of David Schütz), at the reception for visiting Cardinal McCarrick of Washington, USA.

What does the Parliament of World Religions mean to you?

Cath Connelly

It's a gathering of around 8000 people who are interested in really listening to and celebrating and just delighting in each other and their spiritual diversity. It is such a good thing.

What is your involvement?

Yesterday I presented, with Michelle MacEwan, on Celtic mysticism. Michelle comes from a "pre-Christian" Celtic perspective, while mine is Christian; but we come to the same point from different perspectives, and use the same imagery. We look at the feminine, the divine… Our dialogue actually models what the whole parliament is about — forgetting about differences, hatred, and all that negative stuff, and focusing on our commonalities.

And the musical side?

On Friday I performed at a concert celebrating the Feminine Divine, and of course played for Cardinal McCarrick at the community night. The community night is the only time in the parliament that each religion meets on its own — the rest of the time the meetings are all interfaith gatherings.

What attracted you to get involved?

It is 100% up my alley. I've been involved with interfaith dialogue for a long time and presented many Celtic Spirituality workshops to people of different faith backgrounds and indeed no faith backgrounds. It's part of who I am to celebrate diversity.

I've also been involved in the ecumenical movement for years, especially the Ecumenical Summer School which ran for about 35 years and recently folded. I worked with that for about 5 years.

How do you manage the moment when each faith tradition thinks it is the one way to God?

There will always be, let's call them hardliners, and they probably wouldn't want to attend the Parliament anyway because we are about unity. Personally I think the divine I call God cannot be defined by little religious definitions. We're all grasping to understand divinity and coming at it from different perspectives. I don't think we should be scared to see how big God can be.

But doesn't this get divisive?

I don't see this as being necessarily divisive — for me it's a case of 'my way for me, your way for you'. My way will add delight to your way and the other way around. The Dalai Lama says the same thing: don't become a Buddhist — become a better Christian. I've learnt so much from other faiths. Everyone has to draw their own line on this issue — we live in the pluralist, 21st century.

What about the syncretism (partial fusion) inherent in any blend of Christian and 'native' religion? Many Christians would be uncomfortable with that.

It speaks 100% into what my delight in Celtic spirituality is all about. Syncretism is rife in Christianity, and so much of it actually comes from the Celtic. I think we need to be freer in allowing indigenous expression that syncs with Christian belief if it really speaks to people — I'm all for it. Whether it's from the Aboriginal or Celtic cultures or the Belgrave culture where I live! — take the best and mesh it in. My faith gets richer and shows me a bigger God.

Who are you seeing there?

As many people as possible. Joan Chittister, a nun from the US — I've read lots of her books and I've always been touched by the way she talks faith so practically and inspirationally. She talks my talk.

I've never been in the presence of the Dalai Lama — people say that you can be near him and just feel his energy. Maybe some of it will rub off!

What do you get from being with others who also have a strong essence of God within?

It comes back to the "big enough" God within me — He can only be enhanced by experiencing other's expression of Him.

Have atheists been invited?

I hope so. Actually a lot of the program is concerned with science and religion and how we can, as faith communities, contribute to solving issues like global warming. It's not just a cosmic love-fest!

Second look

We also asked David Schütz about his involvement with the Parliament.

Can a Parliament like this make any real difference in the world?

David Schutz

For comparison, let's take last year's World Youth Day. That was an event fifty times bigger than this one. That event had the power to change the lives of those who attended and those who were in some way touched by it in Sydney and the major towns and cities around Australia by the visiting pilgrims — but it didn't change the world. This event is much smaller, and its "footprint" is smaller too. It impacts those attending, but this is a relatively small fraction of those already active in inter-religious relations who can afford to come. My main hope is that it will create new local and international interfaith networks and strengthen those that already exist, so that these networks can then be more effective in achieving their goals.

So you're not a big fan?

I just believe that the strongest foundation for inter-religious relations are lasting personal relationships, not transient big events. Big events don't impress me. I'm just trying to be realistic.

Any exciting visitors?

I'm so caught up in coordinating the programs of my own Church for this event that I haven't even had the time to look at the huge program of other events and speakers. I'm prepared to be surprised. I am actually looking forward to meeting Mr and Mrs Blogs from Oodnawoopwoop who happen to be sitting next to me in some session. They interest me more than "big names".

How can this serve the Gospel?

"Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you." 1 Peter 3:15 The parliament shows what we all know: it is a religious marketplace out there. But we have to be in the market place to be heard. So, right now, that's where I am.

Kathy Mildred