For the "Raven's Call" in Widdershins' Yule issue, a last, brief story barely squeaked under the wire. That story was the announcement on December 10 by The Interfaith Alliance of Washington State (TIA-WA) of a "Vision for a Civil Society."
As the Raven's Call story noted, the "Vision for a Civil Society" promotes acceptance of religious pluralism, separation of church and state, respect for diversity in balance with community needs and preservation of the earth. Intended as a rebuttal to the religious right, the vision also stresses tolerance and charity on welfare, education, health care, economic justice and opportunity, civil justice and human rights, the environment, and sanctity of life and suggests a version of "family values" in which both traditional and nontraditional families are valued.
What is the group that put together this vision, and why should you as a pagan be interested?
The Interfaith Alliance of Washington State (not to be confused with the Interfaith Council, of which Pete Pathfinder of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church was recently president) is a grassroots organization looking for participation from interested lay and clerical members of all faiths. In the less than three years since its founding, TIA-WA has become a respected model for civility in public discourse, and an effective counter-voice to right-wing extremism. TIA-WA is consulted and quoted by the media, sought by like-minded groups and disparaged (yet copied) by the Christian Coalition.
Not content to simply react to, and thus be defined by, the activities of the religious right, the group is determined to exercise a proactive leadership role advocating a political agenda that is positive, respectful and rooted in its members' shared compassionate religious values. The "Vision for a Civil Society" was born of the need to define and articulate those public policy directions that TIA-WA members believe will promote civility, justice and tolerance for all citizens in this state, regardless of their belief systems.
By definition, the alliance supports all spiritualities. To quote the "Vision for a Civil Society," one of the group's fundamental values is the "acceptance of pluralism in religious traditions and views, protection of the rights of minority opinion from the 'tyranny of the majority.'" If pagans look toward a future in which our spirituality is accepted as an alternative, not just in pockets of tolerance such as Washington state but across the nation, we need the support of more than just the pagan populace. We need the acceptance of the tolerant many in faiths with greater numbers. TIA-WA is a venue to come together with those tolerant people.
Speaking for your spirituality in public is not everyone's top priority in life. A lot of us are very consciously not open about our faith, for good reason - there's still plenty of antipagan bias out there. "Out" pagans get annoyed constantly answering versions of "What do you mean, you're a witch?" but it's far more disturbing to have your windows broken or your cat killed, or lose your job. Outside the environs of Seattle proper, and even some places within, all of these scenarios are still very real possibilities.
The very fact that the decision to be public about one's paganism is not lightly made illustrates how much needs to be done to address religious intolerance. As pagans, we are among those most aware of the real consequences in daily life of allowing a lack of tolerance to exist.
Even if our friends and co-workers know we're pagan, we all have lives to live. It's hard enough keeping up with a job, kids if you have them, rituals and a social life, let alone also participating in public life. A lot of us feel sufficiently virtuous if we vote, or consciously decide not to, or write a letter to the editor now and then. We don't have energy for much more.
And it's very easy just to stick to our own little worlds. If we always consort with people who think as we do, we never run up against the discomfort of disagreement. Life is hassle enough without constantly defending your views.
But if pagans never present themselves and their views in public life, their comfort won't last. It's like that saying about flossing: Exercise only the freedoms you want to keep. We're a minority spirituality; you simply don't find a covenstead every other block, as you find churches. To help make sure pagan minority speech is respected, there has to be pagan minority speech.
Visibility breeds familiarity. We might wear all black and too much jewelry, but we're real people, most of us good people, with valid concerns. The more that nonpagans meet us and realize that we're not so different from themselves, the less they'll put us in the same mental niche as Satanists and pedophiles (not that all Satanists necessarily belong in that mental niche either). Each time we promote our views clearly and level-headedly in a public forum, it's positive reinforcement that the pagan next door is a good neighbor, if a little weird. The support of your neighbors becomes an asset when, for example, suddenly the vacant lot you've been using for rituals is rezoned to put up a convenience store. Or when someone burns a cross in your yard.
But why choose The Interfaith Alliance of Washington State as the public forum to enter?
TIA-WA has created a unique opportunity for pagans to speak. No other grassroots group incorporates such a broad spectrum of spiritualities. Unfortunately, it's a sign of how invisible pagans are that, even in this forum, problems exist. Despite having a Wiccan who is also a card-carrying member of Ar nDraiocht Fein on TIA-WA's state steering committee, neither "Wiccan" nor "Druid" appears among the list of the representative religions of TIA-WA's members on the front page of "Vision for a Civil Society." A more visible pagan presence in the general membership would help to ensure pagans' being named on the next such list published. When this oversight was noted at the last annual meeting, there was incredible support for our inclusion and concern over the omission. However, if a pagan representative had not been there, many of those supporters would not even know pagans exist.
Not only does TIA-WA simply include pagans - an essential step from a pagan perspective, but not necessarily a compelling reason to join - the alliance supports the traditional liberal values many pagans put forward. (Hopefully no one reading is afraid of the "L" word.) These values often get drowned out in current public discourse, dominated as it is by the religious right and commerce-oriented, centrist New Democrats. Nonetheless, many U.S. citizens, including many pagans, still treasure them. If you agree these values are important, why not make sure they're heard?
You might be a candidate for joining TIA-WA if you support the following policy concerns from the "Vision for a Civil Society":
"Welfare: Our religious traditions call on us to care about the vulnerable in our midst. We believe it is the responsibility of society to materially support those who are unable, ill-prepared or too young to work.
"Education:... We believe in guaranteeing every child and young adult in the country the finest education possible. We completely support the 19th century American experiment, offering free, public education to all U.S. residents."
"Health care:... A modern, just and caring society requires:
"Economic justice and opportunity:... We believe business and policy makers have a moral responsibility to support the dignity and value of working people. The Interfaith Alliance of Washington State supports laws and ethics that mandate a fair living wage, and encourage the creation of economic opportunities that strengthen and build families.
"Family values or families valued: We embrace a common religious conviction that we are all part of one great human family.... Within that global family there is a plethora of family structures which nurture, sustain and provide a place of support to its members. We choose to encourage and support legislative action which 'values families' as opposed to the current cliché 'family values.'
"Civil justice and human rights: There is no more fundamental value for us than the dignity of every person.... We call upon our elected representatives to protect the civil and human rights of all who reside in our state.
"Environment: Our religious values recognize our connection and dependence on the earth for life and sustenance.... We encourage policies and laws which ensure a balance between the legitimate utilization of nature for the development of human society with the need to preserve and protect the global village in which we all live.
"Sanctity of life: Decisions revolving around the beginning and end of life are controversial for a great many people of faith. Our membership has a wide diversity of views on these sensitive subjects.... Our goal is to have our leaders and citizenry discuss these issues with maturity, responsibility and respect."
TIA-WA hosts an annual meeting of members of the local and state affiliates; this year, the group will hold it at Central Washington University in Ellensburg on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26. The estimated cost of the full two days with meals and lodging will be around $70. The cost of the event covers meals and lodging; you can also choose from a one-day option, probably around $50, and a discounted youth/student fee whose cost is not yet determined.
Saturday tentatively features keynote speaker Terry Anderson, clergyman, journalist and former Iranian hostage, as well as several workshops. Planned workshop topics include a panel on comparative religion and discussions on effective advocacy, community organizing, understanding what makes the religious right tick and the myth versus reality on separation of church and state. The comparative religion panel might be a good opportunity for pagan participation - if you're interested, please contact Scott at the phone or e-mail listed following.
On Sunday, the business meeting consists of affiliate reports, steering committee elections (any pagans interested?) and an agenda for the coming year. Both days will also incorporate opportunities for less formal socializing.
If you agree with the tenets of the "Vision for a Civil Society" and want to become a pagan voice for liberal social values, or are interested in the annual meeting, call The Interfaith Alliance of Washington State at (206) 654-3468, write to P.O. Box 2161, Woodinvillle, WA 98072-2161 or e-mail tia-wa@aol.com. To talk to a pagan representative for the alliance, contact Scott Dubble by phone at (360) 895-8832 or by e-mail at sadubble@aol.com.
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