Comments on: Confusing “Quaker Faith” for God and worshipping ourselves

By: Martin Kelley

Martin Kelley — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:35:00 +0000

In reply to dstiller. @David: I have some recommended books up at the QuakerQuaker Bookspage.

By: dstiller

dstiller — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:32:00 +0000

What book(s) would you recommend I read in order to understand the Quaker faith and life.

By: James Riemermann

James Riemermann — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 11:23:58 +0000

Martin writes: "One of the queries goes 'What does our Quaker faith ask us to DO?' Eeeyyaa-aa-yaaaaawwwn. My favorite Quaker committee-meeting trick of late consists of replace all the 'we'-like phrases with God. How about 'What does God ask us to DO?'" The writer in me suggests a third option: "What should we do?" Can we simply struggle with all of our being--a being the best part of which, in Quaker tradition, is the voice of God--to discern and do what is right, and let God worry about who is responsible? Honestly, I think the claim that our work is God's allows us to both evade personal responsibility for bad outcomes, and to evade the fact that we will make errors, again and again and again. Yes, there is a voice (call it what you will), and yes, we must attend to that voice faithfully. But let us never assume that, by invoking the name of God or Jesus, we have transcended human error.

By: Barb

Barb — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 10:26:02 +0000

Martin, Martin, Martin…I am not a peanut gallery. I might be throwing peanuts however. I hope you see that I am ranting and kidding at the same time. I read your blog with great joy, and a big part of it is because you acknowledge and use the G‑word. Another joy is what you share as you grow. I get excited and so I express myself, but not so much in the heavy self-serious way of many serious. Look upon me as a punk rocker drowning in a sea of singer/songwriters. I do want to stave off middle age for as long as I can.

By: Martin Kelley

Martin Kelley — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 23:04:52 +0000

Whew, the peanut gallery’s at it again, I need to put some spam block on this comment system.…..
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.….….….… thanks Barb (I think). Your comment reminds me of Kwakersaur’s recent Morning Friends post on orthopraxis vs. orthodoxy, which everyone should go read…

By: Barb Smith

Barb Smith — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 18:26:40 +0000

How dare you use the word God in a Quaker rant !! Geez. Are you a crypto-Calvinist !! For Geezsakes keep it down. Keep it Light. Keep it vague. What drew me in to the Quakers...will it ultimately drive me out !! I need a drink, like a good Scotch Presbyterian. Perhaps it does come down to Faith and Practice. "Doctrine is no substitute for a love affair of the heart." I dont have it right, but where is your fruit? Perhaps that's what is most important? How will we be judged by God anyway?

By: lizopp

lizopp — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 20:48:59 +0000

Glad to learn you have found a well to drink from, in terms of attending another meeting more frequently. Seems like God is bringing you some sweet times these days, with job, family, and meeting.
Blessings,
Liz, The Good Raised Up

By: Isabel Jane Penraeth

Isabel Jane Penraeth — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 21:26:12 +0000

I can’t describe how delightful I find this:
“My favorite Quaker committee-meeting trick of late consists of replace all the “we”-like phrases with God. How about ‘What does God ask us to DO?’ ”
And I find even more delight in being a member of a religious society that is occasionally able to hold out for an answer.