Stories From the End of the World Rainbow Gathering

A first of a short series:

Front page of Christianity Today is carrying a short dispatch post of our time at the gathering: http://www.christianitytoday.com/

Direct link:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/december-web-only/dispatch-from-end-of-world.html

12/17
At the ceremony circle:

On our third day at the rainbow gathering in Palenque, the morning food circle was followed by a "focalizer group" to determine the type of ceremony to occur on the 21st. These are the festival moments I feel most compelled to participate in. From our camp only Cate From Asheville was there with me.

The discussion centered around only a couple topics and lasted almost all day. The first topic was the location of the ceremony. The second was the nature of the ceremony. The ceremony had a talking stick to regulate discussion and keep interruptions at bay.

Most of the Rainbow Family wanted to hold the ceremony on the archaeologocal grounds at the temple site. They were willing to sneak in over the mountains on a four hour trek to come in a back way if necessary. The temple site is not open at dawn and gaining access  appeared to be impossible, because even the Mayan elders were not holding ceremonies on that day. It seemed clear from the discussion by those who were familiar with the government, and the site that access would prove difficult if not impossible.

A young man with long dreads (which defines 50% of the young men at the gathering) told a story of holding a siege type ceremony at Tikal, Guatamala - complete with riot police on 12/12/12. He was part of a Rainbow Caravan that started a year earlier in Canada, and made it's way to the international Rainbow Gathering in Guatamala to meet another caravan coming from Argentina. Those who wanted to gather for a ceremony in Tikal went to the temple grounds and were denied access. 80 people stood in a circle in front of the gates, and began to hum, "Om." Then they walked through the front gates untouched. They created a sacred fire, and began a ceremony in the rain which began to fall. Soon the riot police arrived. One last girl tried to protect the sacred fire, but the guys carried her out. The whole event ended peacefully with the police driving many of those who had walked or were on bike out to the distant entrance. The wiser locals did not consider this a best example to follow in Palenque.

The circle was filled with many interesting characters. Many people had no opinion on the meaning 12/21, but felt that unity was important. Most ideas were no more creative than holding hands in an "Om Circle." Some people did not care if the date was important. Some thought it was the beginning date for the transition to the age of Aquarius. One long white bearded gentleman called Raja Merk Dove said he was a Senior Interplanetary Space Ambassador, and encouraged unity. The Interplanetary Space Commission was in charge of helping take care of "trash planets," and of course, Earth was considered one because of the way we treated the planet.

At one point, Cate took the talking stick and stated graciously that she desired to see her path represented. She was a follower of Yeshua - Jesus, and He is the Prince of Peace. She desired a moment to seek His Spirit. Oh, yeah. Cate rocks.

I spoke after Cate. My goal is often to open only a slightly larger crack in the opportunities which present themselves to us.

"Shwmae fy nheleu. Fi ydy Phileo. Oedd fy nhadau yn dod o gwlad Gymru."

I translated my own words and then continued. "Hello my family. I am Phileo (this was the name Shlomy had given me). My fathers came from the land of Wales."

Then I talked about how I felt connected to the early Welsh saints who were likely the last of the ancient Druids. Who (it is said) were slaughtered by the Romans. Then I spoke of how I could bring to the table of our common gathering something from this tradition, and I suggested an Eisteddfod experience - a place for poets and musicians from many traditions to share their skills.

After all, an open event with many people sharing seems far more open to the Gospel than silence and "Om Circles," because good news does come through proclamation - no matter how silly that seems at times.

End of the World: seeing my own face in the apocalyptic mirror

The end did not come, and will not too soon. At least my Christian mysticism and eschatology tells me that. (And yes, I did use the term mysticism, because I acknowledge that I believe things which are hidden and dark things I call truths, and others reject those same things because they are not measurable.)

But I have to ask myself amidst all the joking, and mocking responses to the declaration of the end of the world who I am ashamed of most. As a Christian, one would expect that I would respond that I am ashamed of Harold Camping - that he bears the name of Christian as I do, but no, after reading an excellent LA times article on him I find him to be an interesting man with more integrity than many a TV evangelist. He drives a '93 Camry, and has a modest home. Seems his zeal plays out in action, and he invests himself in what he believes. Spent his multi-million dollar empire of stations in promoting what he thought was truth. So, for he and his followers I am not ashamed, but hopeful that they will survive this error in judgment (sorry for the bad pun.)

I rather find myself ashamed at our society.

I have watched the passing of Y2K, and the warnings of the ozone layer disappearing. Global warming continues to take on apocalyptic dimensions, and we are spending billions to divert it - billions we don't have.

I have been told with regularity that I need certain medical tests, medications, and financial plans in order to survive in this life. With a gentle art of persuasion our minds are being driven toward a sense of personal doom. Last month it was declared in the news that a big bottom is a woman's greatest fear. A jeans company held that study - hmmmmm...a little "end times" apocalyptic study? This month the news on a woman's greatest fear sounds more likely - running out of money. Of course that is an American variation on a fear of the loss of security.

Science and advertising do end the round up of social apocalyptic misfits. Racing for contention in this category are politicians who do all they can to make their opponent's or the other party's position appear to be destructive ideas. Certainly it is dangerous and the ruin of America if we should follow them.

Religion brings up the rear in this kind of apocalyptic annunciation. Far more has been spent on global warming, political mud-slinging, and advertisements dragging you to the pharmacy than in religious end of the world scenarios. This moment about the end of the world will come and go, and we will laugh. But, will we see our own faces in the mirror as it passes? I think not.

My great hope is that we might take this moment and let it linger for more than a few days. That we might study ourselves, and look for the fear-mongering, apocalyptic tendencies which fill the pages of every newspaper, countless TV ads, political campaigns, and scientific positioning for funding.

Are we desperately grasping for hope in far too many ways today, as we are pummeled by the threat of lack, loss, and insufficiency?

To the atheist who declares that religion is source of war and evil in the world - are you responsible for this? To the scientist who positions his stats in exaggerated terms for funding sake - are you responsible for this? To the advertiser who looks to make the product she is pushing feel like it is necessary - are you responsible for this? To the insurance agent who positions his product in gentle threats of calamity - are you responsible for this? To the preacher who makes her altar calls in the face of the threat of death and judgment every Sunday - are you responsible for this?

I do not deny the fact that disaster occurs, or that apocalyptic scenarios are inevitable in the future, but I do wonder why we can not see ourselves in moments like May 21st.

To you who looks back at me each morning in the mirror - are you responsible for this? and can you learn from this?


PS - that is Dave and Jonas my buddies holding the sign above. They actually don't believe this stuff.

The Old Spot Pub: Hot with Theology Tonight

What do you get when you cram 15 people into the corner of a pub near the front door all discussing the potential of an apocalypse?

You get the waitress making room in the dining room for the group.

That's what happened tonight.  It was a full house of pub theologians and the topic was apocalyptic pronouncements and our opinion of them.  It was a predominantly Christian group, which is often not the case in our Pub Theology gatherings.  The topic went from religious pronouncements of apocalypse, to scientific pronouncements (Global Warming), to discussions on what makes apocalyptic declarations a necessary element of human desire, to philosophical considerations on the nature of time (always a fun one for me).

It was rowdy, it was fun, it included a brew or two, and it was church like it was meant to be.

End of the World - Pub Theology 1/2010

Tomorrow the End of the World is coming.  It is arriving at Pub Theology at the The Old Spot in Salem.

We will discuss the issue of apocalyptic annunciations. Do you believe that the world will come to a cataclysmic end? Is it soon or still millennia away? Is it based on science and global warming or apocalyptic literature and prophecy? What do you think about the 2012 date for the end of the world? What about the 2nd coming of Christ?

There is a facebook event page about it - you can find it here.

Come and join us before the world ends and there are no more Pub Theology events!