Your experience as a Quaker?

[Saturdayblurs]

Through my fledgling involvement with Engaged Buddhism, I have met several Quakers for the first time. I have been quite impressed by them and wondered if there are any Quaker MNers who might like to talk more about what it’s like for them to be a Quaker? For example it was eye-opening that you can be an atheist and be a Quaker. It seems from my limited exposure that they walk the walk, so to speak, in terms of activism. I’m speaking in such broad generalities though, I know. And what is a Quaker meeting like?

Bumping out of curiosity

Just like any walk of life really. Good bad and ugly. No different.

There is an active Quaker community in York if that's is anywhere near you OP?

Some years ago, I went along to my local Quakers meetings a few times. There's not a lot I can say about it really, other than that the people were very nice, and the vast majority of them were older. As a person in my 30's, I was very much the odd one out, as far as I can remember there were only one or two other people who were below about 60. I found the sitting in silence thing for half an hour (or however long it was) a bit strange, and I can't say I really got anything out of it. Sometimes someone would get up and read a bible passage, or say something that came into their mind. The best way I can describe It is as a kind of meditation without any guidance. After that was a social time with tea, coffee and biscuits.

I had been spiritually searching for quite a while when I went there, but it wasn't the answer. That turned out to be going to a wonderful women's church meeting, where God touched me the first time I went, and I've been a Christian ever since. Going to church was the best decision ever, and I can't imagine my life without God in it now. He has helped me through some very tough times, and I'm full of gratitude for the things He's blessed me with - including my lovely home after my relationship broke up, which I knew I wanted as soon as I walked in the door. It truly was an answered prayer.

I'm not trying to tell anyone they should go to church, obviously, I just want other people to find God too. Having a relationship with Him, and feeling His wonderful, loving presence is the most beautiful, comforting thing. Being part of a good church community is a blessing too, especially to those who feel lonely/isolated, but there are huge variations amongst different churches and denominations. It's really a case of trying different ones till you find one that feels right, and that teaches the true gospel.

Sorry for going off on a tangent from your question, but I couldn't leave my experience of coming to faith out of my reply. I hope it might help you or someone else who reads it, who's searching. Good luck in finding what you're looking for, wherever that might be.

So wonderful to hear of how God has touched your life. Thank you for sharing your experience here.

Hello. Quaker here. It is hard to be specific about what we believe because we believe each of us has a personal relationship with “God” whatever “God” means to you. Many of us talk about the light or the light within and we hold people in the light rather than praying for them. We don’t believe in priests or the need for any person to intercede between an individual and their God. As belief is a matter of individual conscience you can indeed be an atheist or a Buddhist and a Quaker but that is unusual. We believe in equality, peace, environmentalism and speaking the truth. We don’t take oaths and we don’t gamble. We have no hierarchy in our organisation. We try to live simply. We meet in silence unless someone feels moved to speak but it’s a ministry, not a therapy session so we have to be sure we’re speaking for the right reason. It’s hard to explain but sometimes it can be very powerful to come together and worship, if that’s the right word, in silence. I used to be an Anglican until I became disenchanted with the undemocratic ways of the CofE, the huge amount of wealth that the church holds and the lack of action (apart from the fact that I don’t believe any of the stuff about virgin birth and miracles). We believe you have to put what you believe into action which is why Quakers were among the first anti slavers, prison reformers and peace activists and now are out in the Middle East. Ask another Quaker and you’d probably get a completely different answer though, just to confuse things.