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What does Interfaith Dialogue have to do with me? (Synchroblog on Interfaith)

This post is part of the Synchroblog on interfaith dialogue. check out everyone’s contributions below).

What does Interfaith Dialogue have to do with me?

That was the question I put to the Tarot a week ago.

Originally it was a five card reading, but unfortunately, due to an interruption, I only managed to make my way through three of the cards. When I returned to finish off the reading a few days later, I discovered that I neglected to write down the names of the last two cards. I think one of them might have been the Five of Swords (and possibly another card from the suit of cups), but I can’t be sure, and so, while the reading is incomplete, I found it very interesting and revealing.

Present Position: Page of Swords

The suit of swords is related to the element of air and the mind. As I understand it, this card seems to indicate the beginning (as indicated by the page, who heralds new beginnings) of a learning process through an exchange of ideas. The card can also be read in terms of immature communication: an important step in the process of developing mental abilities and communication skills. Once matured, these can lead to a deeper understanding of things. Perhaps this card is showing me that I need to (continually) re-approach my own beliefs in the light of other’s points of view. And/or develop my communicative abilities.

Present Expectations: High-Priestess

The High Priestess of the Major Arcana

I thought this card was an interesting converse to the Page of Swords, which is more cognitive, whereas the High-Priestess represents the interrelationship that exists between the conscious and unconscious. Therefore, there is an element of unknowing that cannot be grasped through knowledge and learning alone. Sometimes we need to be intuitive, if we are to reach a good conclusion. This was illustrated in an episode of Star Trek TNG, I watched recently, in a dialogue between the ever-questioning Data and Geordi La Forge:

Geordi: I dunno Data. My gut tells me to listen to what this guy’s [a Romulan defector] trying to tell us.

Data: Your gut?

Geordi: It’s just a feeling, yer’ know. An instinct. Intuition.

Data: But those qualities would interfere with rational judgement, would they not?

Geordi: You’re right. Sometimes they do.

Data: Then why not rely strictly on the facts?

Geordi: Because you can’t just rely on the plain and simple facts. Sometimes they lie.

Data: (Shakes head looking puzzled) They can lead to the wrong conclusions, but they cannot lie.

…

Geordi: But you can’t always go with your gut either. It’s…well…it’s a combination Data.

Data: (Says nothing. Still doesn’t quite get it)

Geordi: All right. I’ll put it to you this way: all these feelings that get in the way of human judgement; that can confuse the hell out of us; that make us second guess ourselves; well we need them. We need them to help us fill in the missing pieces because we almost never have all the facts.

Data: So, a person fills in the missing pieces of the puzzle with his own personality, resulting in a conclusion based on as much instinct and intuition as on fact?

Geordi: Now you’re gettin’ it!

As it turned out the Romulan defector was telling the truth, at least what he thought to be the truth. In fact, the Romulan military had been feeding him misinformation to see if he would remain loyal to the Romulan Empire.

Not everything can be grasped with the mind. Our perceptions of reality and ourselves are caught in a constant flux of what is known and unknown. what is hidden and what is revealed. The Rider-Waite deck, depicts the High Priestess holding a religious text revealed and half concealed beneath her robe. This seems to illustrate the religious experience. There’s so much we don’t know about the origins of our own traditions, whatever they might be. The religious impulse itself is an enigma hidden, perhaps, deep within ourselves and the rest of manifest reality (or beyond even that). Our religious texts, traditions, rituals, etc., are also shrouded in mystery, that cannot be reconstructed through facts alone. No one can fully grasp the mysteries of themselves and their own beliefs, the beliefs of others, and certainly not the unfathomable mysteries about god/goddess/spirit/sacred/divine/etc. Doesn’t mean that we can’t try though.

What is Unexpected?: Nine of Cups

This card speaks of sensuality. I immediately thought of the Old Testament Song of Songs, which is all about sensual (and it would seem pre-marital sexual) love. It was probably a secular text before being incorporated into the Hebrew body of religious texts, as an symbolic representation of the relationship between God and Israel. I then thought of the Hindu path of devotion (Bhakti Marga), and of the Bhakti tradition centred on the love between Krishna and Radha. It was at this point that my reading was interrupted. Perhaps this card is revealing to me that I’ll develop some kind of devotional element to my beliefs. Something that it is lacking. It’s possible I guess.

It’s a shame I was unable to complete the reading.

Other Interfaith Synchroblogger Posts

• J. R. Miller (Christian) of More Than Cake on A Christian Approach to Interfaith Dialogue
• Liz Dyer (Christian) of Grace Rules on Interreligious Dialogue: Risky Business
• Matt Stone (Christian) of Glocal Christianity on Is Interfaith Interfaith enough?
• Steve Hayes (Christian Orthodox) of Notes from underground on Interreligious dialogue and of Khanya on Matters arising
• Phil Wyman (Christian) of Square No More on A Christian Presenter at Pagan Pride!?
• Beth Patterson (Liberal Christian with Celtic undertones) of Virtual Tea House on Same Stove, Different Teapots
• Yvonne Aburrow (Wiccan Unitarian) of the dance of the elements on Only connect
• Jarred (Pagan/Vanic Witch) of The Musings of a Confused Man on Interfaith relationships
• Andii Bowsher (Christian) of Nouslife on More tea Wicca?

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