dharma Posts

• Wandering Gavin wonders who waits for the clearness committee's report?
  Does anyone wait for the results of a [marriage] clearness process before deciding that they are getting married? Is it necessary? Have we ever, as a Society, had this as a practice?
  (tags: quaker.clearness quaker comment)
• Barry C promises to start blogging again
  I've missed all of you who chose to share in this experience with your insights both supportive and challenging. All of this is to say, I think you'll be hearing from me regularly again and I hope you find that a good thing as time goes by.
  (tags: comment)
• A Nobel Peace Prize for Pete Seeger
  Petition drive to give the folkie a Nobel! "We are seeking volunteers, organizational and individual endorsements, photos, statements in support, documents about Pete's life and work."
  (tags: nv music)

On electronic fellowships, online magazines and the freedom of this patchwork of independent cross-linked blogs: "Maybe the web's form of hyperlinking is actually superior to Old Media publishing. I love how I can put forward a strong vision of Quakerism without offending anyone--any put-off readers can hit the "back" button. With my Subjective Guide to Quaker Blogs and my On the Web posts I highlight the bloggers I find particularly interesting, even when I'm not in perfect theological unity. I like that I can have discussions back and forth with Friends who I don't exactly agree with. I have nothing to announce, no clear plan forward and no money to do anything anyway. But I thought it'd be interesting to hear what others have been thinking along these lines."

So why didn't I get the memo that April is "Don't Blog About Quakerism Month"? On Monday Beppe said he was taking a hiatus from Quakerism. On Tuesday, Amanda confided to us that she's having a midblog crisis. Wednesday has Kwakersauer's announcement that his blog is under deconstruction.

I'm looking around here and I'm getting a little nervous. The Contrarian Quaker started things on Third Month 31, posting a thoughtful piece on those of us who have been expressing doubts lately. Since then a number of Quaker bloggers have gone quiet: The Brooklyn Quaker, Quaker Dharma and Can You Believe Johan have gone almost a week into April without a post. Gulp!

Public Quaker Alice is still with us, she posted three days ago. Just Curious James checked in on April Fool's Day (but he's talking about British Evangelicals--uh-oh!). LizOpp checked in on the third and Kenneth Sutton has had two posts in April (go Kenneth!).

Still I have to wonder if someone else is planning to take the fall on Thursday? I feel like I'm in one of those bad haunted mansion mystery movies: the lights go out, a scream shatters the night and there's one less guest at the hotel. I'm still here. Has anyone seen the butler lately?

Update: Beppe has talked more about the practices and motivations of Quaker blogging.

• Simple Church asks why we don’t remember the future like we do the past. "What we need to recognize and own for ourselves is our future in Christ and eternity largely depends on our ability to remember the 'Future..."
• On the same morning I took a three hour bike-train-train-car commute to visit Middletown Meeting, Kwakersaur wrote an ode to sleeping in: "This fine First-Day morning I will practice that most ancient of spiritual practices: nesting."
• The New York Times reports on a growing number of religion-oriented blogs, many of them irreverent and contrarian. Irreverent? Contrarian? We here at Quaker Ranter haven't seen any irreverent religions blogs
• Quaker Dharma shares a true story: "A man walks into his church. In the course of conversation with his pastor, he shares that his son has become Quaker. His pastor smiles broadly and retorts, 'What committee is he on?'" (The post that follows is even better, so click that link!)
• Update: Rich the Brooklyn Quaker has a great-looking post on prophetic ministry that I can't wait to read!

Over a new-to-me blog called The Quaker Dharma there's a post calling for us to The Let Our Light Shine Brightly. He makes some very good points like "It’s worth explaining what Quakerism is" and "true outreach is an act of spiritual hospitality." He also tells a few stories. Here's one about passionate younger religious he's known:

I came to Quakerism from Buddhist study. I also worked for an international Buddhist organization for two years. These are experiences for which I am deeply grateful. Teachings for which I am deeply grateful. I saw twenty something year olds who took Buddhist ordination vows and shaved their heads. This was deeply moving and was a joy to share their sense of union at having committed to a path. These kids were flying to India to take teachings. The commitment level was unbelievable. Some of them went on month long silent retreats. Quakerism, especially now, in these times could speak to many. Unfortunately we hide it and thousands and thousands of people in their twenties and thirties go without a spiritual home.