Today I went to a quaker meeting for the first time.

[kaz33]

Have had a bit of spirtual awakening though still have issues with organised religion and "God".

The meeting was lovely and I found the hour of silence very uplifting and it flew by.

The only sad thing was that I was the youngest there by about 20 years, the average age must have been about 65. It is a real pity as I think that this is something that I could do, but would have loved it to been more child friendly and have a childrens meeting.

Are there any quakers on mumsnet??

I was brought up in a Quaker family, did you take your DC's with you? How did they find it?

I went on my own this time to check it out. It was a very small meeting of 7 and lots of retired people, not really set up for kids.

There is another meeting quite local to me that advertises a childrens meeting so might check it out next week.

I am interested, do you not go to quaker meetings anymore? What was it like as a child in a quaker family?

What do Quakers believe?

As far as I can tell they are christians and they do believe in jesus christ BUT they seem to fudge the issue and there is no set textbook of belief. Instead they have "queries" which are more a suggested textbook of living, which very much deals with our place within ourselves and the wider community.

One man I spoke today, said that most of them had different ideas and confessed to not being sure whether he is an aethiest or not . I think that is a place in which I could operate.

Why don't I go anymore? I got bored just sitting around!

You'd be suprised how long children can sit quietly. When I was litle we had no children's meeting, so I grew up being able to sit quietly for an hour. I don't think I "got" the spiritual side of it, but still belive in the values I was brought up with.

I was raised as a Quaker but stopped going when I was about 15 because I used to really struggle to think "godly" thoughts in the silence and just started wondering what to have for lunch. Maybe I'll go back to it at some point - I do think it's a very nice religion - no wars would be started in the name of Quakerism!

Oh and I used to go to children's meetings - they were run by volunteers from the meeting house. They were ok as I remember - not really religious more about appreciating nice things in the world.

MaloryTowers - I read that book too and it got me really interested in the Quakers.

I have done some looking into it and am mulling it over. I am in a religous quandry and their lack of dogma appeals hugely - as does their very calm nature.

I stayed in a Quaker hotel (really) recently, and read their book, which was left in the bedside drawer. I really liked it. Sadly I don't have a spiritual bone in my body, but in terms of attitide and approach to life, I think the Quakers are great. Best of luck with finding a meeting that suits you.

malory - I was reading this thread the other night, and got the Patrick Gale book yesterday -it's really really good, and I will get some more of his. Sorry to confuse OP, excellent book recomendation though