Richard Rorty’s explication of his concept of Romantic Polytheism as a new, secular-minded, American religion lays out the notion of the Democratic consensus as the ultimate good towards which the practice focuses. How might that play out in an actual ceremony that brings individuals together for a worship service that doesn’t require belief in a supernatural God?
Drawing on Indo-European polytheist traditions (to the extent we know them), along with Shinto, the Japanese animist tradition that survives on a level of customary observances among people who self-describe as atheists, there are some reasonable stages to a putative Romantic Polytheist ritual.
–Assembling and preparing the participants.
One necessary step is gathering attendees and shifting their attention from the mundane to the spiritual. Part of this is changing their perceptions of themselves. Shinto (along with other traditions) places great importance on purification before communing with the spirits. While this might seem close to an unwelcome introduction of the concept of “sin,” a useful metaphor from the tradition is “cleaning the dust off a mirror.” Washing–or at least aspersing–with spring water and offering the remainder as a gift to the Land seems a good first step.
Focusing attention further with the clearcut signal of a bell or gong can be helpful. This could even be couched in the context of reference to the ringing of the Liberty Bell (if only it weren’t cracked!). Everyone’s focus goes to one action (the ringing), which signals the start of the ritual activity and can perhaps even serve to announce that all are gathered as free people and equals.
The nature of the space used can have an influence on this dimension of the ceremony: In keeping with the overriding concern with an egalitarian sensibility, gathering in a circle around a central focus (a firepit or an altar) might be ideal. But space limitations might preclude this. A simple tool would be a “unity candle”–metaphorically, the “light of Reason” and practically, a strong visual focus point.
–Establishing the occasion
Rorty expounded on the notion of the poet as priest and the employment of literature in ritual. Suitable poems or excerpts from literature suitable to the occasion can be shared.
However, more is necessary to lift the ceremony beyond the merely literary and into the spiritual. The sine qua non of religion on a certain view is establishing a connection with the numinous. Inviting meditation on or contemplation of a suitable “higher power” is important from this perspective. Metaphoric beings (a la Romantic verse) can be held up for this purpose: Liberty, Reason, Nature. (Indeed, I would personally argue for this particular trinity, embodied as Columbia, The Founders, and The Great Spirit or Manitou, as being a quintessential set of American Gods for this purpose.)
The use of homiletics–oration to provide context for the occasion–should not be overlooked. This can be by a ritual leader or attendees could be invited to share their thoughts (subject to light moderation, perhaps).
–Sharing hospitality
In both the ancient Indo-European and Shinto traditions, the main purpose of the ritual is typically the offering of a meal to the non-corporeal guest(s) of honor. A selection of food and/or drink is often set forth and then becomes the basis for shared hospitality. In some traditions, a portion is burned or poured out as the offering to the gods, ancestors, or spirits. Certainly appropriate food and or drink could be offering to the land and the wildlife in an outdoor setting (or set out after the conclusion of the ritual). In lieu of making a symbolic burnt offering of food or libation of drink, incense could be lit from an altar candle, if one has been used, which has the advantage of being consumed by the transformative fire and also providing a pleasant fragrance to all attendees.
In Shinto ritual, distinctly Japanese offerings are usually brought forward: sake, rice, and such. For an American ceremony of this sort, perhaps a similar custom can be established, with offerings like maize (or cornbread), cranberries, blueberries, walnuts, maple syrup, and cider.
As a last expression of unity, a song probably ought to be sung by the attendees. This could be something well known, secular, and American (“This Land is Your Land” comes to mind).
One last action (apart from making appropriate thanks) would be to mirror the beginning with the ending, using the same musical signal to end as was used to begin.
