I'm a Quaker AMA

[QuakerAMA]

I'm a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). I'm British, so if I say "Quakers believe ...", I'll mean British Quakers. Quakers across the world can be very different, so do bear that in mind if you're in another country.

AMA.

Here's the one I misquoted upthread, which talks a bit more about that of God in everyone.

Do you respect that of God in everyone though it may be expressed in unfamiliar ways or be difficult to discern? Each of us has a particular experience of God and each must find the way to be true to it. When words are strange or disturbing to you, try to sense where they come from and what has nourished the lives of others. Listen patiently and seek the truth which other people’s opinions may contain for you. Avoid hurtful criticism and provocative language. Do not allow the strength of your convictions to betray you into making statements or allegations that are unfair or untrue. Think it possible that you may be mistaken.

And for @DancingWithWillard, here's the one about divorce.

A long-term relationship brings tensions as well as fulfilment. If your relationship with your partner is under strain, seek help in understanding the other’s point of view and in exploring your own feelings, which may be powerful and destructive. Consider the wishes and feelings of any children involved, and remember their enduring need for love and security. Seek God’s guidance. If you undergo the distress of separation or divorce, try to maintain some compassionate communication so that arrangements can be made with the minimum of bitterness.

QuakerAMA You've reminded me of a school friend who was delighted to misquote, "Walk cheerfully over the world, putting the fear of God in everyone"

As PP said, there are Quakers who are openly Buddhist or Pagan or agnostic or even atheist. I do know Quakers who are a bit "I don't understand why you'd be a Quaker if you don't believe in God" (there's a Quaker belief in plain speech which some Quakers interpret a bit ... directly ...) But you would absolutely be accepted as a part of the Meeting.

Are there Jewish or Muslim Quakers?

Very good AMA. We have a friends meeting house and I always wondered what it was all about.

Modern Quakers don't believe in evangelism, because they think it's about finding the right spiritual path for you, which might not be us. This can cause problems because people will find us in later life and be all "Why the hell didn't I know about you before? I've been looking for you my whole life!"

They do have a central Outreach department, and there's Quaker Week and Quaker Quest, which are relatively recent outreach initiatives. I admit that's partly why I wanted to start this thread, because I'm aware that people don't know much about us beyond the Quaker Oat man, and I think that's a shame.

I think this thread is excellent ministry. Thank you. Fascinating and luminous.

This is way more interesting than the"I'm a Former Rock God but won't tell you who I am" one but I just think I might just be awful at these threads. All I want to know is why oats are a thing!

Is there much ethnic diversity in the Quaker movement?

Thanks for doing this op, it's fascinating.

Do Quakers accept homosexuality?

You say some Quakers are also other religions eg Christian. Would a Christian attend Meetings and also a Christian church?

Thanks for this thread. It’s given me the push to actually try out a Quaker meeting once they reopen.

@Dilbertian

As PP said, there are Quakers who are openly Buddhist or Pagan or agnostic or even atheist. I do know Quakers who are a bit "I don't understand why you'd be a Quaker if you don't believe in God" (there's a Quaker belief in plain speech which some Quakers interpret a bit ... directly ...) But you would absolutely be accepted as a part of the Meeting.

Are there Jewish or Muslim Quakers?

I know one Muslim Quaker. I don't think I know any Jewish Quakers personally, but they do exist. Quakers were involved in the kindertransport, so I think some Jews found Quakers through that. We're rooted in Christianity though, so by far the biggest crossover is with Christian churches.

@TomBradysLeftKneecap

This is way more interesting than the"I'm a Former Rock God but won't tell you who I am" one but I just think I might just be awful at these threads. All I want to know is why oats are a thing!

Thanks, everybody, I'm glad you like the thread.

Oats have nothing to do with Quakers! They just picked the name because Quakers were seen as wholesome and honest. I did spend my childhood being asked about oats, though ...

@frocksmock

Is there much ethnic diversity in the Quaker movement?

Worldwide, yes. There are a lot of Quakers in Africa and in North and South America particularly.

In the UK, no. This is one thing we're very bad at. Walk into any Meeting in Britain and it'll be full of white, middle-class, educated Guardian-readers with an average age of about seventy. Which I think is a real loss, and can make Quakers very difficult for people who don't fit into that demographic. (Bursaries etc are often given after events, which is problematic if you don't have that money sitting in your bank account.)

@MaximumDose

Thanks for doing this op, it's fascinating.

Do Quakers accept homosexuality?

You say some Quakers are also other religions eg Christian. Would a Christian attend Meetings and also a Christian church?

British Quakers are generally very welcoming of homosexuality, though I can't promise that every single Quaker in every Meeting will be, as we do get a lot of people coming from other churches, who bring their beliefs with them. In 2009, British Quakers made the corporate decision to campaign for the right to marry gay people in their Meetings (at this point we only had civil partnerships, and they couldn't be religious.) DH was at the Meeting where they made the decision, and he said it was a really careful and respectful and powerful experience. They gave lots of space for gay and lesbian Quakers to talk about their experience, and also a respectful space for people to talk about the issues they had with it.

Some Quakers attend Meeting and another church, often people like the PP who want music and singing in their spiritual life. Some like my mum are just Christians who worship at Meeting.

What is the name of the religion (is it a religion? Or a philosophy?)? Christian/Christianity, Jew/Judaism, Quaker/?

@Dilbertian

What is the name of the religion (is it a religion? Or a philosophy?)? Christian/Christianity, Jew/Judaism, Quaker/?

Quakerism!

And it's a religion.

I've known several Quakers who grew up in actively Quaker families, and without exception they were tolerant, open-minded, interested and interesting people. Pacifists, but far from passive. Some were quite fiery!

I've also known Jews who worked in Quaker establishments, and they felt very comfortable.

What you describe is fascinating, because there is a lot of crossover with Judaism in the ethics, but of course Jews do not accept Jesus.

I have often walked past the Quaker Meeting House in our town and been drawn to explore further. But it feels like that would be nosiness or a museum visit. A person's faith is not there for my entertainment. It would be entirely different if a Quaker were to invite me to attend a Meeting, in the full knowledge that I am secure in my faith, just as when I invited my non-Jewish friends to my children's Bar Mitvahs.

DH has just come in and says he thinks Quakerism is an orthopraxy rather than an orthodoxy. That we don't have a creed, so it isn't so much about what you believe. He thinks it's more similar to something like Buddhism, where it's less about Buddhist cosmology and more about how you practice Buddhist values in your daily life. Or like how many Jews don't necessarily believe in all aspects of Jewish faith, but they do keep kosher and circumcise their children.
You can be a Quaker and not believe in God, but if you started having loud conversations in the middle of Quaker Meeting, that WOULD be a problem.

@Dilbertian I think you would be very welcome in a spirit of enquiry. If you said you were happily Jewish and just wanted to come along and see what it was about, I don't think people would try and convert you.

I'm definitely an orthoprax Jew, rather than an orthodox Jew. Behaviourally, not ritualistically. Fabulous word BTW. A new one for me, and I love it.

I'm not worried about people trying to convert me. Been there. But, as a Jew, I'm very wary of the "Ooh, look at those strange people, let's see what they're up to" attitude. Been there, too. And I would not treat others that way.

I see what you mean. I think perhaps I'm not explaining this very well, but Quakers have always been seekers after truth, so the idea that you might want to find out about other religions and gain insights from how they do things without wanting to join them is a very Quaker concept. At my Meeting we do very often get people who are just coming along to see what we do, and they're always welcomed courteously. Obviously if you came along and giggled and pointed and didn't respect how we did things, that would be different.

This is the relevent bit of Advices and Queries, which might explain it better.

^Take time to learn about other people’s experiences of the Light. Remember the importance of the Bible, the writings of Friends and all writings which reveal the ways of God. As you learn from others, can you in turn give freely from what you have gained? While respecting the experiences and opinions of others, do not be afraid to say what you have found and what you value. Appreciate that doubt and questioning can also lead to spiritual growth and to a greater awareness of the Light that is in us all.
Do you work gladly with other religious groups in the pursuit of common goals? While remaining faithful to Quaker insights, try to enter imaginatively into the life and witness of other communities of faith, creating together the bonds of friendship.^

That is beautiful.

I think I will visit the local Meeting House.

I'm really drawn to everything you have said. It feels a bit like 'home' however I have a background in the military and while I wish it were not so, I do believe we need a military.

How would that fit into the pacifism belief?

Thank you for answering my questions.

Particularly about the wedding. I feel so much is said without thought at more mainstream weddings (more frequent I mean, not that yours was weird). “I’ve loved you from the moment I met you” “I cant live without you” “I’ll remember this day forever” “our princess is so happy”. There not lies as such, more pointless words.

It must be so interesting and refreshing to be in a worship (meeting?) where someone only speaks when they feel they have something to say and people practise thinking and weighing their thoughts before they speak.

Also the history of Quakerism is so interesting, a quiet peaceful religion facing up to the might of the status quo.

So this might be like the oats: is Quaker style furniture/kitchens etc a real thing?