It has to be
admitted that very often, the benefits of Interfaith Dialogue are far from
tangible and difficult to evaluate. One can go further and actually find
oneself asking; “What is the point of this?” I know I often have. However, as
Pagans it is important that we engage with the non-Pagan society in which we
live, to represent our own community and to educate the wider community.
My own involvement
within the Interfaith environment, although active and at times demanding, has
been limited to the responsibilities of my previous Pagan Federation role as
Regional Coordinator for the County of Derbyshire. During my eight and half
years in that role, I was eventually and slowly, able to build a working
relationship with the Forum of Faiths for Derby (FoFD), the Multifaith Centre
and develop communications with the NHS in Derby itself.
My involvement and
influence was within these areas, both a mixture of success and disappointment.
Eventually taking over from the founder of the Derbyshire Pagans as the
representative of the Pagan Community on the Forum of Faiths for Derby, also
known as the Derby Forum of Faiths, Pagan representation became a real factor
within the Interfaith environment.
However, the
Interfaith environment, although important as both representative and
educational aspects of the work of the Pagan Federation, also sadly illustrates
the differences in perspective between the Old Faith and other faiths. It is
quite clear that what we as Pagans will regard as a factor of importance to our
own community, is not necessarily that shared with other faiths. Indeed an
important aspect of Interfaith dialogue can be making other faith
representatives aware of our own aspirations and how they may differ from what
other faiths may regard as a priority.
In the census of
2001, the population of England and Wales voluntarily identifying themselves as
“Pagan,” was estimated as being between forty and fifty thousand persons. Since
this was a voluntary count, we can take this not as an actual accurate figure
but as a minimum benchmark. We can suggest that like an iceberg, many Pagans
and perhaps even two thirds, remain hidden below the surface of our mainstream
society.
Without doubt, there
were many Pagans left uncounted by the 2001 census and within the decade since
that census, we can be certain that the Pagan population of England and Wales
has increased. This has increased the likelihood of all members of our society
having contact with people identifying themselves as either Pagan or as
belonging to a Pagan Path of some description.
One of the most
common questions asked by members of the Pagan Community is why or to put it
another way, a series of questions that often incorporate the word, why?
For example:
1.
Why are
we involved in Interfaith?
2.
What is
in it for us?
3.
Isn’t it
just a trap?
As stated, the
tangible and visible benefits of our active involvement within the Interfaith
environment, are difficult to measure or support. I feel I have now dealt with
point #1 but point #2 perhaps deserves further elaboration and point #3, an
explanation.
Interfaith Dialogue
represents an important opportunity for us as Pagans to engage with the
non-Pagan society in which we live, to represent our own community and to
educate the wider community. By withdrawing from such engagement we deny
ourselves that opportunity to correct the many misconceptions found amongst the
non-Pagan community.
The two questions;
why are we there and what is in it for us? Are valid and anyone has the right
to ask them. To ask for a reason or rationale behind the investment of time by
representatives of their community in this area, when there may be other issues
that members of the Pagan Community feel more important, is reasonable.
The simple truth, if
there is such a thing, is that we must seek out the opportunities to correct
the misconceptions, play the establishment at its’ own game and emphasise that
we the Pagan Community, demand equal consideration with all other sectors of
society. This cannot be done by hiding from the public gaze. I am not here
advocating that we throw away our rights to privacy, rather that we must
protect our rights to practice our religious beliefs without the interference
of mainstream society.
This can be achieved
by asserting our right to sit with other faith groups and demand equality. By
avoiding engagement we allow other sectors of society the opportunity to attack
our Community without concern over being corrected. We cannot defend ourselves
without risk.
The question of
Interfaith Dialogue being a trap is simpler to answer and that answer is no.
Anyone attending an Interfaith meeting to seek the conversation of others
present, will eventually be corrected and informed that such behaviour is not
usual. Furthermore, the enthusiasm of representatives to engage and their
attendance of any such meeting should always be tempered with a degree of
scepticism.
All those who attend
Interfaith do so with an agenda and anyone saying that they do not have an
agenda, is a liar. Interfaith is unfortunately, a form of politics and all
those involved eventually become politicians. The role of anyone representing
their faith group to an Interfaith body, is to promote their own group in the
most positive and beneficial manner. That is politics.
Once this is
understood, once all engagement within the Interfaith environment is tempered
by a healthy degree of scepticism, the assertion of our own position becomes
easier. I say this because it is sometimes suggested that Pagans are by
becoming involved in Interfaith Dialogue, seeking a form of ingratiation within
the establishment. That the Pagan Community is seeking to compromise to gain
recognition.
This is not true in
my opinion. Although we seek recognition, we seek it not by subservience, nor
by dominance, rather by the assertive demand of rights that are in reality
already ours. Therefore, the involvement of Pagan Federation representatives
within the Interfaith and Intrafaith environment is two-fold. Firstly, there is
a very real need to provide educational material, to all who may have contact
with Pagans, whether in a personal or professional capacity.
The second and
equally important aspect of work particularly within Interfaith, is therefore, representation
and the demand for equality. It is important to recognise that rights cannot as
such be given by one social group to another, that they are by their very
nature universal rights; common to all of humanity. The suggestion that rights
can be granted or given, suggests that that the other party has the right
themselves, to grant or deny such rights.
This can be and
should be disputed at all times, as by demanding equality; any representative
body or protest group, is not requesting the granting of these rights. Rather
they are demanding that the rights that we all deserve; cease to be withheld.
The East Midlands Pagan Federation
The East Midlands
Pagan Federation as an organisation, operating as a division of the family that
is the Pagan Federation England and Wales, is an active force within Pagan
representation and public education. Within the East Midlands the areas of
activity of the East Midlands Pagan Federation are broad, pluralistic and
inclusive. Representatives of the organisation liaise with educational and
local government bodies, the media in many forms, take active roles in both
inter-faith and intra-faith, hospital visiting and healthcare education.
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
Wiktionary on
Interfaith
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/interfaith
Wikipedia on
Interfaith
Belief in Dialogue
(Scottish Interfaith Council)
http://scottishinterfaithcouncil.org/resources/Belief+in+Dialogue.pdf
Originally Published:
Chattering Magpie (Griffith D.B.) 2012 In defence of Interfaith in Pentacle. Issue 35 Autumn
2012 pp32-34.
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