A world of faith and art

Zoroastrians, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, Christians, Baha’is, Aborigines and Shintos, and almost every derivative thereof, gathered in Melbourne last Thursday evening for the opening ceremony of the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions.

“The aim of the parliament is to bring people from all faiths and religions together to discuss the big issues and influence governments,” said Greek-Australian creative director Peter Mousaferiadis.

An inspiring element of the opening ceremony was a performance cast of more than 525 artists.

“The theme of the opening ceremony was one of invocation and blessings from all the major faiths,” said Mousaferiadis.

The composition by Mousaferiadis, for orchestra, choir, and didgeridoo titled Been Here for Ever was deftly performed by the Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, and featured the Indigenous baritone Don Bemrose.

“It was an excerpt from a Mass in D that I wrote a few years ago,” said Mousaferiadis adding, “this is the first Indigenous baritone, since Harold, going back 50 years... It’s about listening to each other, which struck a chord with the theme of the Parliament.”

The ceremony began with a welcome to country by Indigenous Elder, Aunty Joy Murphy, who shared a gum leaf with representatives of each faith group as a symbol of good will and welcome.

“The walking tracks that you will walk are sacred. They have been sacred for 60,000 years,” she said, reiterating the history of the Australian Aboriginal tradition and drawing nods of agreement from a pair of African-American women sitting in the audience.

The ceremony then wandered between blessings and oratories from some of the most influential religious leaders in the world.

Rabbi David Saperstein, recently nominated as America’s most influential Rabbi, spoke stirringly of the challenges faced by our generation.

“We are the first generation that grows enough food to feed every human on earth… We are the first generation that can educate every child, that can speed freedom across the globe. Our failure to do so is a failure of moral vision and political will,” he said.

Echoing the need for education, and providing the 2500-strong audience with a biting reality check was Dr Sakena Yacoobi, founder of the Afghan Institute of Learning. “Life is a struggle, life is jihad. In Afghanistan we have no water, we have no electricity,” she said. And yet she has dedicated her life to educating and empowering her countrywomen through clandestine schools and community work.

“We at the Afghan Institute for learning decided that the only way to do something is to educate the people. We taught them to do critical thinking, and when they do critical thinking they ask questions, and when they ask questions, they become educated,” she said.

Notably absent from official proceedings was the Greek Orthodox Church.

“We’ve been working very hard to get the Greek Orthodox Church involved,” said Mousaferiades, though he would not be drawn on the reasons for its absence.

John Pandazopoulos MP, and World Hellenic Interparliamentary Association President also expressed his disappointment at the absence, “These inter-faith events are important in generating greater understanding especially at a time when religion is so important to people.”