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Celebrating
Commemorating
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Given a choice
of eight workshops, I chose to rejoin the Universal Declaration of a
Global Ethic and found an empty chair next to the Reverend Deborah
Light, a Wiccan representative to the 1993 Parliament of the World’s
Religions. She wore the symbol of her faith on her necklace: a large
pentagram within a
sacred circle. In the center of the pentagram was a small
quartered circle
— a medicine wheel or circle of life to American Indians.Like the rest, I had to introduce myself. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I
acknowledged that I was one of those fundamental Christians referred to only
in depreciating tones at the conference. Praying that my words would express
God’s love, I shared two of my concerns: (1) The lack of biblical Christian
representation and (2) the anti-Christian attitudes expressed everywhere.“You talk a lot
about dialogue and consensus as the path to global unity and
decision-making,” I started, ” but who shares in your dialogues? Only those
who are committed to transforming the world and establishing your new global
beliefs and values? Where are the traditional Christians? Am I the only one?
If so, what kind of consensus will you have?”Well, with that
non-conforming statement, the
dialectic unity was
totally shattered. I had to smile
as I watched the reactions.Professor Swidler, a keynote speaker and friend of
Hans
Kung, was quick to respond. “But you’re not the kind of
fundamentalist we’re talking about,” he said. “If you were, you
wouldn’t be here.”“Now you’re re-defining the word fundamentalist,” argued a Wiccan
leader sitting next to him. “That raises the hairs on my neck.”“We need to define all our terms,” said a Sikh.
“Yes, who is God? Is it the God who spoke to Mohammed or the God who spoke
to Abraham?”“or is it the goddess….”
“Some of us don’t agree with either….”
“You all assume that we come from a platform where there is a
definition….”“It doesn’t have to be so complicated,” said the Reverend Light,
complicating the debate further with her subjective absolutism. “It just
takes mature adults.”Swindler looked frustrated. “What have we all agreed to so far?” he asked.
No one answered.
Read more on this topic at
Heresy in High Places: A United Religions Interfaith Worship Service