Tuesday’s Parliament was fantastic.

The Shinto rite was powerful, with chanting to the Kami and asking for the blessings of Ameterasu and geometric precision between the two priests and their relationship to the sacred objects. Afterward, I spoke briefly to one of the priests (and yes, they do have priestesses) about being a US Pagan with similar beliefs. He did not know the word Pagan, but seemed interested.

The Zoroastrian talk on the ethos of compassion made me wish that they had been sitting on some of the global finance panels. I spoke with them for quite awhile, asking questions and listening to this history of Parsi ethical business practices. Every time they build a factory, they make sure the surrounding villages have the likes of health care or whatever else they need, and they set aside land for the planting of trees. Apparently, 30% of all profits immediately go toward building hospitals or schools or to take care of animals or the rest of the environment. They are a small community that seems to have a large impact. I want to learn more.

I was then fortunate enough to stumble upon Patrick McCollum who was having coffee with Walpiri healer and artist Gary Simon Jagamarra. We ended up in an animated discussion about soul travel and healing techniques and I hope to have him as a podcast guest soon.

The Ainu talk put Shinto into perspective. It seems that Shinto may have gotten some of its practices and ideas, turning this native religious way into a ceremonial state religion. This is my own take on it – I don’t know that there is hard proof. When I asked about this, the main speaker became a little upset, because of the brutality and oppression the Ainu have faced from the Japanese government – much like indigenous people’s the world over – and said while he may respect some of the original Shinto, the state Shinto carried too much weight from the Samurai on down. I asked the translator about it later, restating my question to say, “did Shinto steal from the Ainu?” He quickly stated “No. Shinto did not steal from Ainu.” I prodded a little more, saying that they seemed similar and perhaps Shinto borrowed from the Ainu, like the Catholic Church has in other cases? He paused then, and said, “I am Japanese. Perhaps I need to do some research.” We left it at that.

People like the Ainu, about whom the rest of us know little and who were presenting in a global context for the very first time, are important to the Parliament and the Parliament is important to them. They asked all the indigenous people in the room to stand. Several Saami did, as did two Cree and a representative from another Canadian tribe. It was quite moving.

Early in the gathering, my take on the schedule was to notice – in my chauvinism – the ghettoization of Pagans. However, now I see that all of the “minority” religions are set apart, leaving the interfaith panels for the most part to the “big five” or in some cases to the “big three”. The Zoroastrians could have been at the table with Hans Kung discussing ethics in the global economy. The Ainu could have shared their very clear ideas about the spirit of manufactured goods and our responsibility for those spirits that would have direct impact on how we make and sell things. Pagans, Ainu, Saami or Cree should have been on the environmental panels as our practices directly address the alienation that causes human-based environmental impact. And anyone present could have spoken on the ways social justice or injustice are embedded in our own religious theory. We can change our world, one conversation at a time, but the larger disinformation and chauvinism needs to be clearly addressed.

The dialog can continue, hopefully on broader terms each time this event occurs. I have a packet full of business cards and promises from people to continue our exchange. Everyone else does too. Alliances can be forged over the coming years if we set our will and intention toward this. It is up to all of us to continue, whether we’ve attended the Parliament or not: we can talk in our families, our communities, our workplaces, our governments, and our lives.

Today is the closing of the Parliament of World Religions, then I’m off to teach and rest in the forests and bush of Tasmania. I’m not certain if there will be internet access there. If I do, I will post more thoughts. If not, talk with you all next week when I cross the international date line.

- T. Thorn Coyle

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