I spent many years in an Evangelical Quaker church (since that's what we had around here) but I never really bought into the narrowness of it. I stayed until they discounted me. I have come to think of God as the energy of the universe.
This has touched me in a deep place at a time when I need to find some fixed places in my shifting thought processes. Yes, you put your finger exactly on the central, not paradox but, truth; We recognise the light in all of us. I am definately not a Christian (I am not saying I push away the gospel but, see Jesus as a prophet as many others do and look to the word and the understanding rather than the religeous mantras) but, recognise the spiritual and found it in meeting. What is the nature of that spiritual light, all people see this from a different perspective depending on their cultures. My thinking is far more abstract than most and ignores the external and focuses on this central truth ; we are all touched by the light, which St Paul reminds us, we see through a glass darkly. Myself i see it is a dark mirror which reflects the spirit amongst us. That will do me for now and is a good place to start in my travels along the path. Thank you for your words ;-)
I feel the same Vici I am considering going along to a meeting ...I trust your spirit will continue to draw you to the brightest space of grace and beauty
@@annjenkinson7988 MY FIRST QUAKER MEETING Chaos and turmoil; all paths were despair. The streets cold and empty, my mind choked with fear. It was a long time coming, it had to be near. I knew I was falling, the loss hard to bear. Suddenly I found it, a path missed before. A gate swinging open, I stood in the door. A handshake, a smile, I sat at the back. My mind seethed in turmoil, the options all black. Then everything focused, the silence, solid, near. A friend stood and ministered, her message to me clear. The risk must be taken, there was nothing to fear. The light drew me in, the future was clear. Vici Martynov 19/07/2008 re-worked 26/05/2019 (For Maggie and Helen)
@@RL-ck8zk They are Godless fools. They worship man (or humans as they would not doubt say). When the world was called to fight the pagan Nazis they Quakers ran and hid. A religion for fools, cowards and perverts.
First, the word “Christ” means “messiah” not the divine son of God-as taught by Paul and others, not Jesus. Second, Jesus did not use the term “belief” or “faith” when referring to dogma. Dogma divides, and he knew that. Third, in the Gospel of Thomas Jesus said, “When you should know yourselves, they will know you, and you will know that you are the son of the Father.” So, his understanding is that we are all divine at our core and to some degree fail to live that out. Thus, no paradox.
uhmmm...why does it seem as a paradox...? if both are the reality...? why wouldn't G.O.D./The Generating Omnipotent-scient-present Designer/Determiner not speak to the children, regardless of their unique relationship with the parent...? the finite/flesh/human parent finds a way to relate to each child at the child's level... child a may hv common interests with the parent; child b may seem the opposite personality of the parent & etc. the eldest child may be the one most like the parent & the 1 who is left in charge in the parent's absence...some of the younger children may accept & submit to the authority the parent gvs to the eldest child & some of the younger siblings may not...the parent still, communicates/interacts with all of the children on some level...perhaps, intimacy with the parent is based upon the parent's wisdom/discretion...?
Dogma, such an a derogative word, might be just the right way to bestow, like a crown of thorns, a set of tried and tested beliefs. It is a friend of tradition, but a stubborn friend, an awkward friend, often adverse to change and to criticism. As an outsider, but a Friend, one assumes Quakerism's initial vibrancy has been lost. Much of contemporary Quaker ethical stances are widely shared values of the liberal new middle class subculture. If a once radical nonconformist sect's ethics overlap with the mainstream, what can it offer those seeking a sincere spiritual transformation ?
That is not true. Look up George Fox's Declaration to the Governor of Barbados. Conservative Quakers are absolutely rooted in the Word of God. Jesus is Head of the Church, and all prayers are directed through Him. He is Lord and Savior.
It's why they attract me. I can't follow a book were a supposedly all knowing all seeing being screws up to the point that they have to drown every single man, woman, child, infant and pregnant woman. Then he supposedly spared the best, and we are no better off. I mean really? He tortures ALL women for ALL eternity just because the first women that HE CREATED wanted an education? Can't he get ANYTHING right? Then God sacrifices God to God to save God's creations FROM God, but he only pardons ADAM'S sin, and STILL tortures women. HOW CRAZY IS THAT? And you want to follow that sh!t? Wow.. Just wow.
Theodicy addresses a question that snuck in from Zoroastrianism, but I found it easy to answer: Just because God did something Everybody should marvel at, doesn't mean God should think less of the rest of us. If Quakers wish to be Friends of God, shouldn't we help others to appreciate the Marvel?
You're unconscious postmodernists. I want to do it. Well, I've been doing it for years. In my mind. With a little tweaking. You would be postmodernists. You're a hairs breath away. You're a nascent form of postmodernism. However, I had a completely modernist stereotype of "Quakers". And I've been binge watching your videos for 3 days now. But there are no friends in Jersey City, NJ.
@Kestrel I'll give you an example. When someone asks, "What is your religion?". The modernists assumption or ideology is that a person can only have one religion. But Quakers essentially encompass all religious traditions and even atheist spiritualism. Quakers have escaped modernism and gone to a more advanced form of religious comprehension. However, Richard Nixon was clearly just a "professor" as they say. Therefore, their outlook is still unconscious of their breakthrough. "Judge the tree by it's fruit" And all that. But there are no Quaker meeting houses in Jersey City. 🙄
@Kestrel there's a contradiction in your view of postmodernism. It's well known that modernism is the assumption that people can only have one religion. However, you admit yourself that Quakers encompass many religious traditions. In other words, they have more than one religion. When atheists are thrown in the mix as well. They certainly are postmodernist.
@@meenki347 Richard Nixon grew up in the Quaker faith. And though the religion may well have been thrust upon him in childhood, I saw very little evidence of Quaker teachings in what he said, what he wrote, or what he did as an adult.
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This sounds like the most chill religion in the world
Very nuanced. Thank you for sharing about your story and speaking about listening and having a conversation.
I spent many years in an Evangelical Quaker church (since that's what we had around here) but I never really bought into the narrowness of it. I stayed until they discounted me. I have come to think of God as the energy of the universe.
"I have come to think of God as the energy of the universe." That's a beautiful way of saying it.
Firmly believing in peace elevates our peace of mind.
This has touched me in a deep place at a time when I need to find some fixed places in my shifting thought processes. Yes, you put your finger exactly on the central, not paradox but, truth; We recognise the light in all of us. I am definately not a Christian (I am not saying I push away the gospel but, see Jesus as a prophet as many others do and look to the word and the understanding rather than the religeous mantras) but, recognise the spiritual and found it in meeting. What is the nature of that spiritual light, all people see this from a different perspective depending on their cultures. My thinking is far more abstract than most and ignores the external and focuses on this central truth ; we are all touched by the light, which St Paul reminds us, we see through a glass darkly. Myself i see it is a dark mirror which reflects the spirit amongst us. That will do me for now and is a good place to start in my travels along the path. Thank you for your words ;-)
I feel the same Vici I am considering going along to a meeting ...I trust your spirit will continue to draw you to the brightest space of grace and beauty
@@annjenkinson7988 MY FIRST QUAKER MEETING
Chaos and turmoil;
all paths were despair.
The streets cold and empty,
my mind choked with fear.
It was a long time coming,
it had to be near.
I knew I was falling,
the loss hard to bear.
Suddenly I found it,
a path missed before.
A gate swinging open,
I stood in the door.
A handshake, a smile,
I sat at the back.
My mind seethed in turmoil,
the options all black.
Then everything focused,
the silence, solid, near.
A friend stood and ministered,
her message to me clear.
The risk must be taken,
there was nothing to fear.
The light drew me in,
the future was clear.
Vici Martynov 19/07/2008 re-worked 26/05/2019
(For Maggie and Helen)
Paradox: something that isn't real yet has real implications. Spot on!
Loved this video! Perfect explanation of Quaker spirituality!
Quaker stupidity surely. All Quakers are heading for hell. Burn baby Burn.
@@georgeash4008 Explain please.
@@RL-ck8zk They are Godless fools. They worship man (or humans as they would not doubt say). When the world was called to fight the pagan Nazis they Quakers ran and hid. A religion for fools, cowards and perverts.
@@georgeash4008 I'm surprised you aren't a Quaker then.
I ❤️ all the “..,ah….” Exactly!
First, the word “Christ” means “messiah” not the divine son of God-as taught by Paul and others, not Jesus. Second, Jesus did not use the term “belief” or “faith” when referring to dogma. Dogma divides, and he knew that. Third, in the Gospel of Thomas Jesus said, “When you should know yourselves, they will know you, and you will know that you are the son of the Father.” So, his understanding is that we are all divine at our core and to some degree fail to live that out. Thus, no paradox.
I’m connected to the White family from Perquimans, NC, also connected to the Winslows.
uhmmm...why does it seem as a paradox...? if both are the reality...?
why wouldn't G.O.D./The Generating Omnipotent-scient-present Designer/Determiner not speak to the children, regardless of their unique relationship with the parent...?
the finite/flesh/human parent finds a way to relate to each child at the child's level...
child a may hv common interests with the parent; child b may seem the opposite personality of the parent & etc.
the eldest child may be the one most like the parent & the 1 who is left in charge in the parent's absence...some of the younger children may accept & submit to the authority the parent gvs to the eldest child & some of the younger siblings may not...the parent still, communicates/interacts with all of the children on some level...perhaps, intimacy with the parent is based upon the parent's wisdom/discretion...?
❤
Dogma, such an a derogative word, might be just the right way to bestow, like a crown of thorns, a set of tried and tested beliefs. It is a friend of tradition, but a stubborn friend, an awkward friend, often adverse to change and to criticism. As an outsider, but a Friend, one assumes Quakerism's initial vibrancy has been lost. Much of contemporary Quaker ethical stances are widely shared values of the liberal new middle class subculture. If a once radical nonconformist sect's ethics overlap with the mainstream, what can it offer those seeking a sincere spiritual transformation ?
They don't have to believe in the bible?!? Ok I can cross Quakers off my list, let's move on to the next denomination
That is not true. Look up George Fox's Declaration to the Governor of Barbados. Conservative Quakers are absolutely rooted in the Word of God. Jesus is Head of the Church, and all prayers are directed through Him. He is Lord and Savior.
It's why they attract me. I can't follow a book were a supposedly all knowing all seeing being screws up to the point that they have to drown every single man, woman, child, infant and pregnant woman. Then he supposedly spared the best, and we are no better off. I mean really? He tortures ALL women for ALL eternity just because the first women that HE CREATED wanted an education? Can't he get ANYTHING right? Then God sacrifices God to God to save God's creations FROM God, but he only pardons ADAM'S sin, and STILL tortures women. HOW CRAZY IS THAT? And you want to follow that sh!t? Wow.. Just wow.
How is this a paradox? They are one and the same.
Sounds like ecumenism
Liberalism.
A Quaker Minister?
This sounds so confused and lost.
Theodicy addresses a question that snuck in from Zoroastrianism, but I found it easy to answer: Just because God did something Everybody should marvel at, doesn't mean God should think less of the rest of us. If Quakers wish to be Friends of God, shouldn't we help others to appreciate the Marvel?
Wtf you talking ‘bout Willis ?
Not sure why this is so controversial.
It's literally what most Christians believe
"We are filled with the Holy Spirit"
Inner light - Holy Spirit
I know a Quaker that I heard mocking a homeless drug addict.Really was awful.
You're unconscious postmodernists. I want to do it. Well, I've been doing it for years. In my mind. With a little tweaking. You would be postmodernists. You're a hairs breath away. You're a nascent form of postmodernism. However, I had a completely modernist stereotype of "Quakers". And I've been binge watching your videos for 3 days now. But there are no friends in Jersey City, NJ.
@Kestrel I'll give you an example. When someone asks, "What is your religion?". The modernists assumption or ideology is that a person can only have one religion. But Quakers essentially encompass all religious traditions and even atheist spiritualism. Quakers have escaped modernism and gone to a more advanced form of religious comprehension. However, Richard Nixon was clearly just a "professor" as they say. Therefore, their outlook is still unconscious of their breakthrough. "Judge the tree by it's fruit" And all that. But there are no Quaker meeting houses in Jersey City. 🙄
@Kestrel Because Richard Nixon was a Quaker
@Kestrel the idea that postmodernis means that everything is subjective" is poststrualist.
@Kestrel there's a contradiction in your view of postmodernism. It's well known that modernism is the assumption that people can only have one religion. However, you admit yourself that Quakers encompass many religious traditions. In other words, they have more than one religion. When atheists are thrown in the mix as well. They certainly are postmodernist.
@@meenki347 Richard Nixon grew up in the Quaker faith. And though the religion may well have been thrust upon him in childhood, I saw very little evidence of Quaker teachings in what he said, what he wrote, or what he did as an adult.