Infinite variety, infinite possibilities at Parliament of Religions
GANLEY: People of all faiths (and some of none) gather in Toronto
Opinion Nov 14, 2018 by ROSEMARY GANLEY SPECIAL TO THE EXAMINER
The Parliament of Religions was held in Toronto earlier this month. Columnist Rosemary Ganley hosted a conversation with MP Maryam Monsef during the event. - Rick Madonik/Toronto Star
Self-esteem is often based on what one has accomplished all by oneself. Just ask my granddaughter, age 6.
I went to the Big Smoke for five days with one backpack and several senior TTC tickets. No taxis for me, no extraneous possessions, no hotel reservations. Couch -surf in friends' homes, and take public transportation. Mastered.
Then there was the Metro Convention Centre on Front Street. First of all, it has no sign hanging outside, as one might find in Peterborough, and the main doors are a devil to find.
Once inside, have fun. The architects are playing a major joke on you. The North Building has four floors (100, 200, 300 and 400), all connected by numerous escalators, and then one passes across an artistically carpeted "bridge" to the South Building, where the numbers resume, but downwards. The 600, 700 and 800 floors are under one another. Go DOWN to 800!
But lots of smiling volunteer guides were about, in purple T-shirts. I met Peterborough's Janice Keil and other familiar faces, such as John and Lorna Devan and Gayl Hutchison.
And truth to be told, there were glories inside that Convention Centre, day after day.
The Parliament of World Religions was one part love-in, one part Sikh hospitality, one part illuminating talks at the post-grad level, one part singing and circle dancing, and another part meditating in the "Red Tent."
The organizers wisely chose the themes for each day: Indigenous wisdom, the rising of women, the crisis of the environment, and the scourge of violence. The whole point, then, is whether and how quickly the religions can absorb and respond to these signs of the times.
I had a shock when I approached the registration desk. Programs, the size of an Eaton's catalogue, holding descriptions of over 400 talks, events, services and workshops, cost $50.
"Oh no," I said, "I can't afford that!"