Last week Pagan chaplain and activist Patrick McCollum attended the first World Forum of Spiritual Culture in Astana, Kazakhstan. The event, which drew spiritual luminaries from across the world, got quite a bit of coverage from the foreign press and newswires in Russia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, but was barely noticed by Western news outlets. However, despite this lack of attention, the event marks a historic first in interfaith advances for modern Pagans. McCollum, who has been working tirelessly for the rights of modern Pagans, addressed the Kazakhstan Parliament, made many important connections, and got to meet and converse with world spiritual leaders that few Pagans will ever have the opportunity to encounter.
Patrick McCollum addressing the Kazakhstan Parliament
“During the meeting at the Kazakhstan Parliament, I had the special honor of being one of the speakers chosen to speak at the podium, where we specifically addressed the importance of nature, the interconnectedness of all life on earth, and the importance of diverse spiritual points of view working together to stop the destruction of the earth and her resources.
Following that, the day was packed with lively discussions of the highest caliber both at lunch and later during dinner. One of the first of my many significant conversations was with world renowned physicist, Hans-Peter Dürr, who was previously the Director of the Max Planx Institute. We became friends and will continue our relationship going forward. I also had conversations with the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, a representative from the Pope, and the world renowned Sir Dr. Reinhart Ruge from Mexico.”
In addition, McCollum also gave input into the development of the Noosphere Ethical Ecological Constitution for Mankind, which he addresses in the speech he gave before the Kazakhstan Parliament [pdf].
“It is also imperative that all religious and spiritual voices be heard and supported by the Noo-Constitution, and not just those that are currently popular or in power. It should be noted with distinction, that in recent years, more and more indigenous voices are finding their way into the conversations regarding our dilemma, precisely because some of their long standing religious or spiritual values which have long been minimized by the mainstream, are proving to be more in line with our survival than some of those we’ve been following.”
Patrick McCollum with Hans-Peter Dürr
Patrick was kind enough to share with me a write-up of his experiences in Kazakhstan [pdf], which I hope you’ll take the time to download and read. Here’s another short excerpt.
“It is clear that a major shift is in play worldwide regarding the importance and value of recognizing our connection to one another and with our Mother and all of her inhabitants. And I am very honored to have been able to participate in this historical event. As always, I remain in service to our community and to its values, and hope that by being on the front lines and sharing some of our insights, I might in some small way shift the consciousness of our brothers and sisters to work together with us toward preserving what you and I consider Sacred.”
Patrick’s impressive work as a chaplain and activist is lifting him up to the world stage, and we are lucky to have a Pagan with his integrity and commitment representing our communities. I congratulate him on this latest honor, and hope that this will only be a harbinger of success in his current court battles over the rights of Pagan prisoners in California. For more on Patrick McCollum, or to directly support his work, please see the Patrick McCollum Foundation web site.
Follow Patheos
Pagan: