At first I grew irritated with the programme, that seemed to be superficial and arbitrary, a travelogue via religious moving snapshots, and indeed missed some of the following early programmes. Then I watched the later broadcasts, and filled some in via the iPlayer as a theme or two did emerge.The later broadcast of the Latin American programme brought back my interest because there was a theme there, which was understated but evident: that the Labour shortage of Roman Catholic priests and its uninvolvement of lay people in congregations is allowing back the indigenous faiths of the localities. The Roman Catholics had been to some extent syncretistic, but now the Pagan originals were coming through. The people in localities were using Roman Catholic sites, often on Pagan sites, to bring back the old religions. I thought this is good, and Peter Owen Jones seemed to be saying the same.
The most bizarre moment for this participant in rituals of different faiths was when he said that as a Church of England priest he cannot carry out a gay wedding as the Episcopalians did, though personally he approved.
POJ often described himself as a Protestant Christian and also as a priest. Yet it was with Protestants, especially the more strident kind, that he felt most uncomfortable, and seemed to feel most comfortable, with the exception of Australian urban Wiccans, with the very local religious and some of the more newer syncretistic (though he though Cao Dai were full of rules - my late Unitarian friend was fascinated by the Cao Dai so I knew something about them). Indeed over and over again you could see that the more open the better. His praise for the Baha'i Faith was unfortunately uninformed: it is simply not true (since Shoghi Effendi) that you do not have to leave your own religion to be a Baha'i, and furthermore the Baha'i Faith inherits a literalism of scriptural words similar to the Islamic tradition. It also welcomes all religious perspectives only in the way it understands and changes them. Also he might have asked why, in the area he visited, as he praised equal rights, women are simply excluded from the International House of Justice, the Baha'i ruling parliament.
Of course one thinks this: that if he was wrong on something I know something about, as he zips through, was he wrong on something I do not know about? Presumably he had researchers.
He really ought to have included the Unitarian Universalists in his United States visit, because they are part of the congregationalist origins of the States and gave rise in part to Transcendentalist literature, and have been an example of evolving even secularising religion in the US and, more recently, a movement from rationality towards including the mystic and New Age. They may be only some 300,000 but they are increasing, unlike (say) the Episcopalians (and his treatment of them was virtually insignificant to tabloid).
His own conclusion was left to the apparent end in Europe (in that he also summarises some aspects at Lake Titicaca). He had approved of a tiny group in Italy, the Damanhur Experiment, which is fully syncretistic and offered what many great faiths don't: harmony, and then he moved in the narrative from Italy to his home turf, at the Long Man of Wilmington.
There he concluded that he'd found that the religious pulse of the planet still beats; faith helps us retain purpose, hope and feelings (like intuition and love). Faith isn't about proof that God exists but is a journey inwards. Human beings were the most fascinating discovery: they were generous and showed humilty, faith, imagination; they gave a welcome and love informed by faiths that have evolved. He learnt to be wary of religions that denomise others for not believing in their way, and conversely to learn from open religions open to other religions. Now back to what he had missed, he was off to take his own service (which made me chuckle: its liturgical text is hardly one that learns from other religions), and then go to the pub.They were not eighty faiths, of course. They were eighty branches of fewer faiths and categories, so a peculiar collection. The BBC does not list them, though on one BBC web page you can reconstruct the list as broadcast - at least one having been left on the cutting room floor - and I have done this:
Episode 1: Australasia and Indonesia
01. The Bissu ritual Religion: Islam and spirit worship Location: Sulawesi, Indonesia
02. Ancestor worship Religion: Christianity and Location: Sulawesi, Indonesia
03. Pulilan Carabao festival Religion: Roman Catholicism Location: Pulilan, Bulacan province, Philippines
04. Fertility festival Religion: Roman Catholicism Location: Obando, Bulacan province, Philippines
05. Aboriginal Dreaming (Baby smoking) Religion: Indigenous religion of Australia Location: Alice Springs, Australia
06. Purification Religion: Iraqi Mandaeans Location: Sydney, Australia
07. Drawing Down the Moon ceremony Religion: Urban Witchcraft Location: Sydney, Australia
08. Drinking kava Religion: Indigenous Kastom Location: Tanna, Vanuatu
09. Flag raising ceremony Religion: John Frum Cult Location: Lamakara, Vanuatu
10. Healing ceremony Religion: Prophet Fred and Unity Location: Tanna, Vanuatu
Episode 2: The Far East
11. Oto Matsuri Religion: Shinto Location: Shingu, south east Japan
12. Naked Man Festival Religion: Buddhism Location: Wakayama, Japan
13. Hindu Street Shrine Religion: Buddhism and Hinduism Location: Erawan Street Shrine, Bangkok, Thailand
14. Buddhist ordination Religion: Theravada Buddhism Location: Bangkok, Thailand
15. Visit to a Confucian temple Religion: Confucianism Location: Confucian temple, Beijing, China
16. Taoist devotions Religion: Chinese Taoism Location: Jade Spring Monastery, 50 miles south west of Beijing, and the Hua-shan Mountains, China
17. Pentecostal service and prayers Religion: Korean Pentecostal Christianity Location: Yoido Full Gospel Church, Yeouido Island, Seoul, South Korea and Prayer Mountain, Jorimyun, Paju, Kyunggido province of South Korea, near border with North Korea.
18. Shamanic swordsmanship Religion: Korean Shamanism Location: Mountain retreat, South Korea
19. Cao Dai service Religion: Cao Dai Location: Cao Dai Temple, Tay Ninh, Vietnam
20. Spirit possession Religion: Vietnamese Mother Goddess Location: Phu Gaiy temple, Nam Dinh, Vietnam
Episode 3: Africa
21. Mamywata Religion: Voodoo Location: Cotonou, Benin
22. Gris Gris Religion: Voodoo Location: Cotonou, Benin
23. Church of Thron Religion: Voodoo Location: Church of Thron, Cotonou, Benin
24. Trance Dance Religion: San Bushmen Location: Ghanzi, Botswana
25. Sangomas Religion: Zulu Location: Johannesburg bus station, Johannesburg, South Africa
26. The 12th Apostolic Church Religion: Protestant Christianity Location: Edumisweni Apostolic Church of Christ, Hillsboro, Johannesburg, South Africa
27. Afrikaner Calvinist service Religion: Afrikaner Calvinism Location: Groot Marico, South Africa
28. Rastafari Religion: Rastafari Location: Shashemene, Ethiopia
29. Khat ceremony Religion: Ethiopian Islam Location: Negash, Tigray province, Ethiopia
30. Feast of St Michael Religion: Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity Location: Church of Mikael Imba, Tigray province, Ethiopia
Episode 4: The Middle East (only 9 - reference to Baha'i?!!)
31. Hebrew Israelite prayer meeting Religion: African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem Location: Village of Peace, Dimona, Israel
32. Good Friday procession and Mass Religion: Christianity Location: Along the Via Dolorosa and at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, Israel
33. Purim celebrations Religion: Judaism Location: At the Jerusalem Great Synagogue and in Merrsharim, Jerusalem, Israel
34. Muslim prayer Religion: Sunni Islam Location: Umayyad Mosque, Damascus, Syria
35. Dancing and whirling Religion: Islam - Sufi Dervishes Location: House beside a 14th century Sufi mosque, Aleppo, Syria
36. Cem ritual Religion: Turkish Alevis Location: Cemevi (or house of gathering) in a suburb of Istanbul, Turkey
37. Yazidi New Year celebrations Religion: Iraqi Yazidis Location: Village, 15 miles from Mosul, northern Iraq
38. Samaritan Passover Religion: Samaritans Location: Mount Gerizim, near Nablus, West Bank
39. Festival of Ridván Religion: Bahá'í Location: Shrine of the Báb, Haifa, Israel
Episode 5: United States of America
40. Serpent handling Religion: Pentecostal Protestant Christianity Location: Edwina Church of God in Jesus Christ's Name, Newport, Tennessee
41. Baptist preacher prodigy Religion: Evangelical Christianity Location: The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church, Decatur, Georgia
42. Revival meeting and laying-on of hands Religion: Evangelical Christianity Location: Ignited Church, Lakeland, Florida
43. Séance and spiritualist reading Religion: Spiritualism Location: Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp, Cassadaga, Florida
44. Navajo sweat lodge Religion: Navajo Location: Navajo sweat lodge, Arizona desert
45. Mormon prayer meeting Religion: Mormonism Location: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah
46. Polygamist family gathering Religion: Fundamentalist Mormonism Location:The Work of Jesus Christ, Centennial Park, Arizona
47. Same-sex marriage ceremony Religion: Episcopalian Christianity Location: All Saints Episcopalian Church, Pasadena, California
48. Nectar ceremony Religion: Summum Location: Summum Pyramid, Salt Lake City, Utah
49. Burning Man festival Religion: Non-religious Location: Black Rock Desert, Nevada
Episode 6: The Indian Subcontinent (11)
50. Tara ritual Religion: Tibetan Buddhism Location: Kutsab Ternga monastery, near Jomsom, Mustang district, Nepal
51. Muktinath waterspouts Religion: Hinduism Location: Stupa of Muktinath, near Jomsom, Mustang district, Nepal
52. Child blessing Religion: Hinduism and Buddhism Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
53. Durga Puja Religion: Hinduism Location: Calcutta, India
54. Aghoris Religion: Hinduism Location: Tarapith, West Bengal, India
55. The Bishnoi Religion: Bishnoi Location: Rajasthan, India
56. Firewalking Religion: Nath Location: Rajasthan, India
57. Zoroastrian wedding Religion: Zoroastrianism Location: Parsi Fire Temple, Mumbai, India
58. Guru Granth Sahib 30th anniversary Religion: Sikhism Location: Nanded, Maharashtra, India
59. Jain nuns and monks Religion: Jainism Location: Monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara, Hassan district, Shravanabelagola, India
60. Gorehabba ritual, during Diwali Religion: Hinduism Location: Gummatapura, village on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border
Episode 7: Latin America
61. Midnight Mass for the Feast of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Religion: Catholicism - Virgin of Guadalupe Location: Basilica Guadalupe, Mexico City, Mexico
62. Santa Muerte prayers and tattooing Religion: Santa Muerte Location: Barrio de Tepito, Mexico City, Mexico
63. Offerings to the Mine God Religion: El Tio Location: Cerro Rico mine, Potosi, Bolivia
64. Llama sacrifice Religion: Pachamama Location: Hill above Sampaya, Bolivia
65. Automobile blessing Religion: Catholic Christianity Location: Car park outside the basilica of the Virgen de la Candelaria, Copacabana, Bolivia
66. Cleansing and exorcism Religion: Assemblies of God Location: Benfica detention centre (Casa de Custodia de Benfica), Leopoldina, Rio de Janeiro and the Assembly of God of the Last Days (Assembléia de Deus dos Últimos Dias), São João de Meriti, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
67. Samba Day and orixa possession Religion: Candomblé Location: Concourse of the main railway station (Estrada de Ferro Central do Brasil), Rio de Janeiro, and Candomble, Estrada Estiva 19, Sepetiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
68. Temple of Goodwill meditation Religion: Temple of Goodwill Location: Templo da Boa Vontade (Temple of Goodwill), Brasilia, Brazil
69. Vale do Amanhecer ritual Religion: Valley of the Dawn Location: Vale do Amanhecer (Valley of Dawn), 3 miles from Planaltina, 30 miles north of Brasilia, Federal District of Brazil, Brazil
70. Ayahuasca service Religion: Santo Daime Location: Ceu do Mapia, State of Acre, Brazil
Episode 8: Europe
71. Lutheran baptism Religion: Norwegian Lutheranism Location: Lutheran Church, Sussjavri, Lapland, northern Norway
72. Yoik Religion: Sami Shamanism Location: Vesterama Sami Camp, Lapland, northern Norway
73. Shabbat prayers and meal Religion: Lithuanian Judaism Location: The Choral Synagogue, Vilnius, Lithuania
74. The Hill of Crosses Religion: Christianity Location: The Hill of Crosses, 12 km north of Siauliai, northern Lithuania
75. Feast of the Epiphany and Baptism of Christ Religion: Russian Orthodox Christianity Location: The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Kropotkinskaya Square and an ice hole on Zhivopisnaya street, Moscow, Russia
76. Atheist discussion meeting Worldview: Atheism Location: Moscow State University, Universitetsky Prospect, Moscow, Russia
77. Hare Krishna procession Religion: Hare Krishna Location: Krishna Temple, Begovaya Street, Moscow, Russia
78. Kalmyk Buddhist meditation Religion: Kalmyk Tibetan Buddhism Location: Syakyusn-Syume Temple, Elista, Republic of Kalmykia, Russian Federation
79. Vespers (evening prayers) Religion: Roman Catholic Christianity - Benedictine monks Location: San Benedetto's Monastery, Subiaco, Italy
80. The Damanhur Experiment Spirituality: Damanhur Location: Damanhur Community, Baldissero Canavese, near Torino, Italy
The missing one
Shingon Buddhist rituals Religion: Shingon Buddhism Location: Daigo-Ji Temple, Kyoto, Japan (in the Far East)
7 comments:
I only watched one or two of these programmes. I thought they were a hoot and he did great credit to the C of E. He was so attractive, so 'open', so non-judgemental, yet still - basically - some sort of believer. That's my C of E - under enormous pressure, yet so obviously appealing and decent that it's inconceivable that it won't - somehow - flourish.
Yes I see what you mean about a 'hoot' and credit for the C of E and agree regarding his appealing characteristics.
He was wonderful, trying to discover the positive in other faiths, not digging for the negative that all religions also contain.
My personal favourite was the Burning Man festival, that wasn't religious at all, and yet full of a genuine spirituality and rhythm, a real sense of authenticity. It's a bit what religion could be like if it wasn't fossilised in rituals and liturgy.
The only thing the Burning Man ceremony lacked was Edward Woodward. I joke, but I bet they've all seen the film. I'm pretty sure that he underplayed the naturism and sex that happens at the Burning Man.
So naturism and sex are per se anti-religion? Or are they just anti the purity cult most religions establish?
I don't think that at all. I think he underplayed them. There was one shot I think of a nude or semi-clad female on a motorcycle.
"Peter Owen Jones who seems to talk to someone at the side and not into the camera."
That bothered me until I realised that he has very bad teeth and is, presumably, embarassed. (I would be).
That apart I really warmed to him.
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