Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Michael Wine on 11th mo. 2, 2009 at 7:38am

Thanks, Pieter (or Pieter-Jan) for your reply and question. I suspect that the only way I could answer it is in the context of our monthly Meeting at Sunrise (the only Missouri meeting in SCYM!). That is, any brief written response to it tends to be formulaic. In actual practice, it seems that our openess develops as a process. Howard Brinton's oversimplification, "Quakerism is primarily a method, just as science is primarily a method", has really proved to be true in our Sunrise Meeting. It is a relief and a joy to celebrate with these Friends. Due to my immersion in conservative Anabaptism for years, my spiritual framework is framed by biblical references. But, after MfW yesterday, I enjoyed hearing a Friend describe recent shamanistic retreats and practices. For me to personally affirm Jesus' way need not exclude anyone...even if their theistic/nontheistic thoughts seem different from mine.

Permalink Reply by John Michael Wine on 11th mo. 2, 2009 at 7:49am

Hello, Adrian. You wrote: I wonder what the meaning of liberal was in that time and context? as I am sure it will have been at least subtly different to our understanding. Yes, it is interesting to see how the semantic range of words have expanded or been reduced over the centuries. In the case of "liberal", it seems to have retained much of its breadth and power until relatively recent times, at least in North American settings. Because of these recent negative usages, it is probably better, in a current Bible translation, to use "noble" or "free hearted" or other synonyms. But, the word is still such a powerful concept and it seems a shame to let negative forces win this linguistic battle! Thanks again, Mike

Permalink Reply by Jim Wilson on 11th mo. 2, 2009 at 10:36am

I think that one of the things which distinguishes the Liberal Quaker tradition is that it is capacious regarding belief, but fairly strict regarding practice. Pink Dandelion speaks to this and regards it as a paradox; but I don't find it paradoxical. It is only paradoxical if one regards belief as the defining characteristic of religion; but there are many religions that don't work that way. A comparison might be helpful: someone who practices tea ceremony (which, in Japan, is regarded as a spiritual practice) is not interrogated regarding their beliefs. But the tea ceremony itself is strict as to form. There are many examples like this, and using these kinds of comparisons Liberal Quakerism makes sense.

Permalink Reply by Steven Davison on 11th mo. 2, 2009 at 2:04pm

I think the retreat from belief to practice is a signature characteristic of liberal Quakerism, just as Dandelion described it in his book on the sociology of Quaker belief. Though a liberal Friend myself, I think this is a big mistake. It strips out all the content of our tradition. I would like to think that, for Friends, belief is not actually the defining characteristic of religion. Rather, it is experience: "what canst thou say?" The question isn't what do you believe, but what have you experienced? For instance, the one thing liberal quakers seem comfortable saying about belief is that we believe in that of God in everyone, even though they usually mean by that something completely anithetical to what George Fox meant. But ask them what that means, and the answer tends to be a little vague. But to my point about experience, how do you experience "that of God" in everyone? Fox had a clear answer to that question, but most liberal Friends have never even thought about it. When they do, the answers, in my experience, tend toward vague generalizations, rather than vivid first-hand accounts. They sound like descriptions of what Friends would like to experience, if only they could have a real mystical experience. So here's my question: what have you experienced and how has that defined what being a "liberal Quaker" means in your case?

Permalink Reply by Daniel Wilcox on 11th mo. 2, 2009 at 6:29pm

Hi Jim,

I've appreciated much you have shared, especially about Buddhism. But as for "practice" in the sense of form being central in the Society of Friends (like the form in the Japanese tea ceremony) I would have to strongly disagree.

From the beginning and through the great movements that have sprung out of in Quaker worship (such as anti-slavery), I don't think it has been the repetition of "forms" which have transformed Friends and then humanity. On the contrary, "practice" often was what hindered dynamic Quakerism. The Society focused on forms sometimes hindering the guidance of the Light. Why did it take Woolman, guided by the Spirit of God, so long to convince Friends to apply their testimony of equality to the horrid evil of slavery? Why was Levi Coffin pushed out of the Friends? Why did Lucretia Mott leave her meeting in frustration?

I don't think "practice" is any safer than "belief." But both are dangerous. What is needed is whole hearted worship and love of God and the transforming experience of God's Light applied to all human actions.

Daniel

Permalink Reply by John Michael Wine on 11th mo. 2, 2009 at 7:32pm

Last month, Jim, my wife and I were part of the Missouri Valley Friends Conf in northeast Kansas. Having a blogger, Real Live Preacher, there was a lot of fun. The topic you touched on here "Pink Dandelion speaks to this and regards it as a paradox; but I don't find it paradoxical". was something I mentioned in conversation with him: how vital (and even uniform) much of our practice is...though our beliefs seem to allow for quite a bit more diversity. During clearness committee discussions as part of my becoming a member, there were many more questions and thoughts along the lines of experience and practice (and our 'historic testimonies') than on creedal beliefs. I appreciated Stephen's complementary thoughts to yours in the next post, but I think that I want to answer his question separately. [I will say that I don't look at the unwillingness to be doctrinally precise as "a retreat from belief".] At any rate, I really do think that, if "Quakerism is method", then our practice of worship (and other practices) remains very key to who we are. One example: The Evangelical Friends in this area of southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas have almost become generic evangelicals after having adopted clericalism and programmed worship. Their practice (and theology) seems to have moved in the direction strong support of the military and our various wars. Thanks again for your thoughs... Mike

Permalink Reply by John Michael Wine on 11th mo. 2, 2009 at 7:46pm

Hi, Steven. At the conclusion of your post, you asked:

So here's my question: what have you experienced and how has that defined what being a "liberal Quaker" means in your case?

Great question!

This was a strong impetus for both my wife and me in our coming back repeatedly as attenders to MfW at Sunrise: the powerful experience of the 'Spirit of God' coming upon us in the silence; of feeling the power of love moving within us. I think that you are absolutely right on this point: to be liberal is to be very open, not only to all manner of interesting thoughts and philosophies and various ways of understanding truth, but also to our Guide! We should be among the most open to continuing revelation, in however we understand that process to work. Mike

Permalink Reply by Jim Wilson on 11th mo. 2, 2009 at 8:49pm

Dear Steven:

I find that I am reluctant to talk at length about this kind of experience on the web. I don't have a problem discussing this with people person-to-person; but there's something about the atmosphere on the web which seems to engender contention. Nevertheless, I will say that about ten years ago I had the experience of perceiving the inner light, or presence of the eternal, in the people I was working with at that time. Ordinary people; no one special like a Saint or someone like that. This took me by surprise, but I found it unmistakable. I mean by the inner light the presence in people of the capacity for love, kindness, caring, compassion; even in those people where it might seem to be obliterated one can sense an ember of its presence. This experience was not interpretable in terms of my Buddhist background and studies and it sent me on a journey to attempt to comprehend this more clearly. This took a lot of years and I won't go into all the details. But it moved me from being a non-theist to being a theist; from someone who did not believe in a soul ("anatman") to someone who does believe in the soul.

My contact with the Liberal Quaker tradition affirmed that experience and was open enough in terms of vocabulary and doctrine that I could access this understanding even given my background. I have regularly found and felt that presence at Meeting for Worship in silence, in the form of this tradition.

I hope this is of some assistance.

Best wishes,

Jim

P.S. I don't agree that Liberal Quakers "retreat" from belief. I don't look at it that way. It is more like a cup that can hold a variety of nourishing and refreshing beverages. If one fills the cup with coffee I don't think that is a "retreat" from tea; it's just using the cup in another way and for another purpose. The same cup can later be used to serve tea, or milk. Just my take.

Permalink Reply by kevin roberts on 4th mo. 12, 2010 at 10:47pm

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary defines the KJV's term "liberal things" in this way:

H5081
נדיב
nâdı̂yb
naw-deeb'
From H5068; properly voluntary, that is, generous; hence, magnanimous; as noun, a grandee (sometimes a tyrant): - free, liberal (things), noble, prince, willing ([hearted]).

Permalink Reply by John Michael Wine on 4th mo. 13, 2010 at 8:31am

Thanks. That could make the name of this group The Generous and Noble Friends! Maybe we should try on those synonyms?

Permalink Reply by Forrest Curo on 4th mo. 13, 2010 at 2:04pm

'Practice' doesn't make that great a 'defining characteristic' either. You might say that pushing the 'power' button on your tv was a defining characteristic of 'watching tv'; but first of all you'd need to be sure that the nasty machine in question was plugged in, worked via battery etc-- was connected to something. The brand name on the power source (ie 'belief-system') wouldn't matter as long as the voltage etc was compatible with the device... but without connection to actual electricity nothing happens.

Practice comes down to having what some Christians call 'sacraments', or to what's called 'a yoga' in Hindu religions, something that God has made available for people to do in search of divine connection. No number of cookies, no number of blessings on a biscuit, no number of asanas will do the trick in the absence of devotion, ripeness, willingness to have it happen.

And no number of hours in Meeting guarantees anything either. There was a response, eventually, to my first Meeting, years ago... I was an atheist then, but my best friend in high school had invited me, while giving God a chance to speak for Godself seemed like a great alternative to listening to human beings putting words in God's mouth-- but I was still an atheist at the end of that Meeting, and so I didn't return to Friends until years later. The response came outside Meeting, as I met more people with actual knowledge of God, and found Divine Fingers at work stirring up my life.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Eames Roebling on 6th mo. 29, 2010 at 8:45pm

My experience has been that the more spiritually grounded a person is, the less the path which was taken to reach that Spirit Centered place matters.

There are people who are plugged into the Spirit of God... whether they are Mormon or Moslem or Jewish or Evangelical... or Liberal Quakers... and the deeper their connection, the more open and loving they are.

When there is contention over ISSUES and the sound starts coming out like
YOU OUGHT
YOU MUST
YOU SHOULD

then I assume that the group .. or person ..,, is not very well grounded spiritually,

For me.. the core of Quakerism is that we all have access to the Divine,

From that, I assume that your Inner Guide will tell you what is right for you to do.

I have confidence in that process.

I will meet with you and sit and thresh and mirror and query to help you reach your own Guidance.. but that it between you and God.

I respect that each of us is our own spiritual authority.

We had occassion to deny membership to one seeker. Sadly, I had to meet privately with some of the elders to express my objections because the person was not honest in his dealings with the community,

I said that as a Meeting I thought that we had two corporate responsibilities.. Membership and Marriage.

That if I accepted this man as a Member, I would be saying to all other Friends, everywhere in the world that I personally vouched for his integrity, that they could leave their children, and their possessions in his care and he would be honorable. I could not do that for this particular person.

I know that much of our division as Friends has been over the LGBT issue and it saddens me.

For me, the issue is simply none of our business.

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