Thank you for this. Quaker witness has been a blessing in my life, even though I belong to another religious tradition. Bayard Rustin has always been an example to me, among many others.
I always try to employ Question #2 from Byron Katie's "The Work" (consisting of 4 questions and a turn-around ) as a process of inquiry and discovering truth. #2 - "Can you really know that it's true?" Or "Can you absolutely know that it's true?" (In many/most cases we cannot "absolutely" know our thoughts to be true.)
Excellent commentary. Thank you. In the US (where I live) we have a thing called the Pledge of Alligiance. I don't know if you Brits have a similar thing. Should I as a Quaker politely refuse to recite this pledge. I don't believe that my country is always right or that I would always follow what all other Americans seem to follow. And to affirm this before God is impossible for me. The term GOD needs clarification. I think I know what my answer would be, but some comment from you would be appreciated.
I believe you can answer your own question. Speak the truth, if your issue is "allegiance to the flag", "under God", or it's origins, say as such. If your objection is that you are a Quaker, say as such. If you are not a Quaker, you shouldn't say you are. Assuming you are in school, there should not be any interference with your decision to participate or not participate in the usually daily ritual of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Watching this brought to mind a Sikh prayer that begins with the line:
"There is One Source of all creation; Truth is His Name." (Translation)
I didn't know I was a Quaker until the day I attended a silent meeting for the first time.
Thank you for this. Quaker witness has been a blessing in my life, even though I belong to another religious tradition. Bayard Rustin has always been an example to me, among many others.
Thanks again for a great video.
I always try to employ Question #2 from Byron Katie's "The Work" (consisting of 4 questions and a turn-around ) as a process of inquiry and discovering truth.
#2 - "Can you really know that it's true?" Or "Can you absolutely know that it's true?"
(In many/most cases we cannot "absolutely" know our thoughts to be true.)
Excellent commentary. Thank you. In the US (where I live) we have a thing called the Pledge of Alligiance. I don't know if you Brits have a similar thing. Should I as a Quaker politely refuse to recite this pledge. I don't believe that my country is always right or that I would always follow what all other Americans seem to follow. And to affirm this before God is impossible for me. The term GOD needs clarification. I think I know what my answer would be, but some comment from you would be appreciated.
I believe you can answer your own question. Speak the truth, if your issue is "allegiance to the flag", "under God", or it's origins, say as such. If your objection is that you are a Quaker, say as such. If you are not a Quaker, you shouldn't say you are. Assuming you are in school, there should not be any interference with your decision to participate or not participate in the usually daily ritual of the Pledge of Allegiance.