Imagine, so soon after Santa-mania, that you were not able to enjoy the hype of the holiday. Imagine being left with only yourself, as you could not get out of a funk. That's the way it is, year-round, for those who suffer from depression and anxiety disorders. God, as it were, unwilling to allow you to enter into the fun and festivity of "giving".

More specifically, a form of insanity that lives up to its name, and its relentless endeavor to keep you in-strictly-essential-sanity. The…

Intro.: The Court of Quaker Opinion will grant that psychology has become the means of understanding the inner life of human beings.

Conv.: We are convinced that understanding the inner life has more to do with conversion than with introspection - more about turning around than turning inward.

Intro.: But getting in touch with your feelings and hidden impulses leads you to see who you are and what you want from life.

Conv.: Turning around from who you feel you are and…

Cultural: May it please the Court of Quaker Opinion to know that our Christmas Social will focus on Bible-based songs and stories.

Spiritual: You mean those that glorify the experience of refugees and mix biblical metaphors?

Cultural: Why shouldn't the Feeding Miracle in the Gospels be compared to the Giving/Sharing of Christmas?

Spiritual: Because it justifies commercialism at the expense of the spiritual hunger that was meant to be satisfied.

Cultural: Would you…

Henry Becque noted, "The defect of equality is that we only desire it with our superiors". I would maintain that this same defect led early Friends to reject a push to the witness of equality promoted by Levellers for the pull towards the witness of inequality experienced by women.

To substantiate this claim, I refer to The Kindlers'(UK) pamphlet entitled "This I Warn You In Love: witness of some early Quaker women". In particular, "...to be seen as virtuous, she must accept the…

R.O.: May it please the Court of Quaker Opinion that we have not lost regard for our charismatic founder, nor the discipline that marks us as his offspring.

G.O.: Dear Friends, we are found(ed) by the Spirit of God and claimed by and for God's purpose. Along with the rest of humanity, we have always been children of God who now see the Light.

R.O.: We have a refuge from the world where we find freedom from dangerous diversions.

G.O.: There is no refuge from the Lamb's…

P. of M.: With due respect for the Court of Quaker Opinion, we have the presence of mind to be directed by the highest faculty of humanity.

P. of S.: The Age of Reason proved itself to be no more enlightened, but yet more barbaric, than the so-called Dark Ages. Indeed, individuals found good arguments and nations promoted good reasons for self-interested policies that swiftly and mercilessly acted against anyone who stood in their way.

P. of M.: Science has established the need…

Ultra Vires: We come before the Court of Quaker Opinion with the transcendent authority which strengthens the Meeting in Gospel Order.

Ultra Virus: We welcome any authority that we can question and ultimately undermine from within its established function.

Ultra Vires: The power and life is beyond sabotage except for the Meeting without operational safeguards.

Ultra Virus: Your weighty/gifted leaders are no more an impediment to our purposes than unsupported…