Chris Bowen -- Darius' fellow performer Illogic in Test the Logic -- is the main preacher for the service. He could be a Jesuit priest adjusting to an American secular crowd. His style is environmentally conscious Buddhist 'no-mention-of-God' indigenous spirituality blessings of earth and water.
Long strips of white cloth form a cross across the green grass. As the service unfolds, presided by a woman First Nations leader, we are told that the white strips set out the pattern of the four directions. Unlike more typical Aboriginal celebrants, she does not mention of the Creator. Theme colours for the celebration are red and black.
The couple exchange vows. I think of the Catholic theology of marriage which is anarchist friendly. In that theology the couple say the words of commitment and are therefore the ministers of the marriage. The priest is present as witness.
Sakura is a visual angel in the traditional full-length white wedding gown. She has crafted her own vows -- a recognition of the support Darius gives her and a promise of continuing support for him. Darius rhymes out his vows in hip-hop style and the crowd of friends cheer.
Anarchists resent state involvement in their lives. But a wedding licence is needed for various reasons including that of living in the same place. Sakura is from the USA and Darius is Canada born. Governments control the borders.
After family photos, Darius and Sakura enter the white eco-friendly bicycle cab. Well over a hundred guests follow on bicycles along King, up Bathurst, across Dundas and then up Augusta to curl around to the Steelworkers Hall on Cecil Street. All the bicycles carry the anarchist flag. We move in good order and the marshalls work the procession politely through red lights along the way. People on the street smile and the crowds sitting in front of the Augusta street cafes clap in appreciation. Darius' sister Parisa is on a bicyle near mine. She is a loud voice leading the chants -- "Fall in Love, not in Line!" and "What is the Movement? The Movement is Love!"
Food at the Steelworkers Hall has been prepared by friends and family. The food is vegan and tasty. Anarchist murals cover the walls. And Cathy and I leave early -- it is now 8:30 p.m. and we have a two hour journey back to Belleville. Sunday celebrations come early.
Cathy and I debate the difference and relation between religion and spirituality on the way home. I take the position that what we experienced this afternoon is both religion and spirituality -- doctrine, ritual, organization, mission ... and personal interior response shared in community.
Later I think of the no-God anarchist position. For the Jews God is transcendent mystery and therefore no-God when God is conceived as part of a social order. The early Christian movement was accused of undermining religion and the state when the movement refused to accept the Caesar as a divine being. A thinker I know well, Raimon Panikkar, besides explicitly religious identitities, affirmed a secular identity and wrote concerning "sacred secularity." Let us puzzle forward.
Sometimes the substance is more important than the form. For some fitting their love and experience within the bounds of a liturgy of a church may from their experience or lack of it with formal religious organizations, be just as valid as if they were married under a prescribed sacramental format. The commitment to each other is not necessarily heightened by a formal church sacrament. Couples are also married or joined for society and each other equally well by the park wedding you describe. Churches do not have any corner on spirituality or commitment.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tom.
ReplyDelete"For the Jews God is transcendent mystery and therefore no-God when God is conceived as part of a social order."
ReplyDeleteNow that is an intriguing sentence and pregnant puzzle!
This wedding seems like such a beautiful example of ritual changing with the times and fulfilling the intentions of the participants.
Ah, to transcend the present state! We just might be making good progress after all. :-)
Great little story, J!