What Happens When Quaker (Christian) Values Get Unhinged From Christ??
[A Warning From One Group's Experiences]
The Report By The Tattooed Witch,
Copied Below, Illustrates The Answer Well!!
Today I went to my first Quaker meeting. I hadn’t told anyone of my intentions except my best-mate, who’s father is a Quaker and through whose family I have come to know a little about Quakers over the years ...
Just in case there are misunderstandings regarding Quakerism, as I have already been lambasted today as a holy roller and Jesus freak … which shows how that person actually knows nothing at all about Quakerism:
Quakerism is NOT Christocentric. It began as a Christian religion but now is considered universalist. Quakers are associated with the following:
The priesthood of all believers – they recognise no priestly caste, no individual or group is set apart as the preferred channel of communication between God and man or woman.
Rejection of the concept of a defined creed or statement of beliefs to which all members must subscribe.
Unprogrammed, silent worship, interrupted only by the ministry of anyone present who may find himself or herself moved to speak.
Rejection of all formalised sacraments, such as baptism, confirmation or communion, in favour of an acceptance of the whole of life as sacramental.
Quakers meet and worship in silence. When someone speaks they might read a quote, a prayer or say something they feel inspired to say. They believe that the bible is A book of inspiration not THE book of inspiration and as such people will quote just as readily from the Bhagavad Gita et al as from the bible.
Quakers have historically been at the forefront of social change and are well-known for their pacifism. Today they are also very vocal in supporting gay rights and this local meeting hopes very much to be one of the first to hold a gay wedding in their meeting house.
This morning I spoke to an old man and we agreed that there is no kudos in knocking another person’s religion or path. I said that I would not criticise my mother’s beliefs or challenge her to her face because I believe that you should never kick someone’s crutch out from under them unless you are willing to help them walk for the rest of their life. It’s easy to criticise and to feel threatened – especially when you think someone may CHANGE – but we each have a path to walk, and we each must find healing and strength where we can … be it in god, goddess or the Light.
©Tattooed Witch 2010
~ by Tattooed Witch on May 16, 2010.
Unhinged from Christ, some Friends have moved ...
From Christocentric to universalist. 
From priesthood of all believers to we each must find healing and strength where we can … be it in god, goddess or the Light.
From acceptance of the whole of life as sacramental to support of the death of the unborn.
From ministry of anyone present who may find himself or herself moved to speak to intolerance of the mention of Christ or the Bible.From the forefront of social change to the forefront of pride in overthrowing God's created order.
But before we go getting all self-righteous and better than "them," we need to examine ourselves. Where have we moved ...
From Christocentric to culture centered.
From priesthood of all believers to priesthood of the power brokers among us.
From acceptance of the whole of life as sacramental to separation of church life from non-church life.
From ministry of anyone present who may find himself or herself moved to speak to intolerance based political, economic, and religio-cultural beliefs.From the forefront of social change to inactive compassion or even opposing in Christ-like compassion.
This is what happens when we go from Spirit-led to spirit-led.
Further Readings On Quakers and Quaker Values
by this blogger:
At our site HighCallingBlogs, one of our writers recently wrote about the experience of going to a Quaker meeting. He made me smile with his squirminess over the silence. But it was also a deep piece, and inviting.
ReplyDeleteI understand people getting squirmish over the silence. We American particularly are shy of stillness, yet the practice of stillness is so key to all that happens in our Christian lives. I do a session called The Practice of Stillness that gets good reviews from people who have not been into meditation, etc. Soon I should have an article complete on the subject. I'll post it here or at the Personal Transformation Opportunities blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. I'll have to find that writer's post.