I participated in the last PWR in Barcelona in 2004 (where I filmed these whirling dervishes), and was both bemused and edified. The Parliaments of World Religions began in 1893 as an add-on to the Chicago World's Fair (by providing a platform for various religious figures from Asia it made important contributions to American spiritual life), and were revived in 1993. "Parliament" is used figuratively to signal
an attempt to represent all religions; it's not a legislative or even deliberative body. In fact a PWR is a more like a farm show and county fair. In Barcelona (where the PWR was part of a world's fair-like "Forum") I attended many sessions on interfaith dialogue and encounter, each a panel of luminaries and local heroes - and all said the same worthy banal things, because forced to a level of bland generality by time constraints. Although an intellectually and dramatically unsatisfying spectacle, it's still somehow moving as an event. (But then I actually enjoyed the Hallmark Visitors Center in Kansas City, too, seriously.) As the accolades to that infomercial for nice religion Bill Moyers inflicted on us ten days ago show, much of the world needs to learn that religions can be harmless or even friendly.The 2009 PWR interests me because it's in Melbourne - the religious geography of that cosmopolitan city will surely be on display - but also because one main theme is the significance of indigenous traditions to our understanding of world religions. Here's how the organizers describe the cultural events planned as part of the Parliament:
Throughout the seven days of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, the Arts and Culture program will interweave with plenary sessions, discussions, conversations and forums. Participants may wish to plan their daily schedule to include Aboriginal and Indigenous traditional dance and songs, the poetry of Rumi and other mystical poets, religious and spiritual comedy, African drumming, chanting from diverse traditions, fine art exhibitions, major artistic performances and much more. Major galleries and museums in Melbourne will offer special exhibitions and tours around the themes of the Parliament. Cultural visits to Aboriginal sites and centres will be a highlight of the program.
I might be able to present something to one of the PWR panels, as I did in 2004. (Suggestions welcome - I'd love to figure out a way to talk about the future of religion.) The PWR will help both my Fall classes, too: I'll be teaching a new course called "Aboriginal Australia and the Idea of Religion" and will include a discussion of the 1893 PWR in Theorizing Religion. But of course the main draw is, well, Melbourne!
