tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856893156680873562.post8406784216478328576..comments2023-10-10T06:47:21.655-07:00Comments on Quaker Explorers: What Does A "New Kind of Quaker" Look Like?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856893156680873562.post-32354400376292584972009-10-03T13:44:28.616-07:002009-10-03T13:44:28.616-07:00The old kind of Quaker believed he knew the truth,...The old kind of Quaker believed he knew the truth, which is why he went out trying to convince others to become Quakers. The new kind of Quaker doesn't believe he knows the truth, which is why he is eager to commune with people whose beliefs conflict with his own.Weourohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15069104780648357256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856893156680873562.post-25474245252330573362008-11-25T20:18:00.000-08:002008-11-25T20:18:00.000-08:00I have a slightly different take on number 3. The...I have a slightly different take on number 3. The old kind of Quaker works very hard to keep the institutions of Quakerism going as an end in itself. The new kind of Quaker sees Quaker institutions as vessels that help hold our communities while we are being transformed.<BR/><BR/>Attending monthly meetings and yearly meetings are important for a variety of reasons. One of them is that they are places where you will encounter people who have different views than you do and you cannot ignore them. Working on the FUM General Board is like that as well, but even more so. But working through conflicts provides all sorts of opportunities for God to get in past our defenses and start changing us.<BR/><BR/>Will T.Will Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903171659222213813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856893156680873562.post-91670674388483058712008-11-24T09:41:00.000-08:002008-11-24T09:41:00.000-08:00Yes Rich. So let's just be Quakers.Unless that is ...Yes Rich. So let's just be Quakers.<BR/><BR/>Unless that is dividing the world into Quakers and not Quakers. In which case let's just be people, let everybody be people.<BR/><BR/>Some people will be Quakers and be happy to be known as such, but won't be in a box labelled 'Quaker'. The aim being to see people as people (all of whom have 'that of God' within them), rather than seeing the 'boxes' they may or may not fit in.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04594021198345697575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856893156680873562.post-9692457497581329772008-11-24T09:10:00.000-08:002008-11-24T09:10:00.000-08:00But I can't help thinking: "The old kind of Quaker...But I can't help thinking: "The old kind of Quaker always has to figure out what 'kind' of Quaker a Quaker is and the new kind of Quaker is not a 'kind' of Quaker, just a Quaker."<BR/><BR/>Or as another old paradox has it: there are two kinds of people in the world - those who divide the world into two kinds of people and those who don't.<BR/><BR/>- - Rich Accetta-EvansRich in Brooklynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589780733691616974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856893156680873562.post-31604249641409334792008-11-23T07:01:00.000-08:002008-11-23T07:01:00.000-08:00Thank you Friend Scott!I particularly like numbers...Thank you Friend Scott!<BR/>I particularly like numbers 3-4.<BR/>3) The old kind of Quaker works very hard at making sure the institutional form of Quakerism keeps going and stays propped up because if the "central agencies" and "committee structures" and "central offices" cease to exist then Quakerism as we know it would cease to exist.<BR/><BR/>The new kind of Quaker is not as focused on the "institution of Quakerism" as they are the "spirit of Quakerism" and they realize that the Quaker vision and calling can be lived out whether or not you have buildings, committees, a central office, or even a menu or programs.<BR/><BR/><BR/>4) The old kind of Quaker tends to focus on the past and seeks to replicate the past as a way to bring life to the present and the future.<BR/>The new kind of Quaker appreciates the past but seeks to live in the present because the Living Christ is in the present and is providing leadings, direction, and guidance as to who we are to become in the future.<BR/>"appreciates the past but seeks to live in the present because the Living Christ is in the present"<BR/>Amen PaulPaulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05358173724119092004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856893156680873562.post-49264615081054154182008-11-23T05:04:00.000-08:002008-11-23T05:04:00.000-08:00Thank you for this Scott -- in putting this list i...Thank you for this Scott -- in putting this list in writing you have issued a challenge of sorts to us, to grow and expand beyond the limits of our comfortable faith, to a new and expanding experience of the Light that is within and around us all.Linda J Wilkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04307531394723506106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856893156680873562.post-75118382023599650422008-11-22T09:05:00.000-08:002008-11-22T09:05:00.000-08:00I liked this. I've been studying early Quakers rec...I liked this. I've been studying early Quakers recently, it seems to me that this 'new kind of Quaker' has more in common with the Quakers of Fox's day than the 'old kind of Quaker' has. While at the same time the 'new kind of Quaker' is clearly living in the present. I see signs here in Britain that Quakers are moving towards a 'new kind of Quaker' that looks something like what you are describing.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04594021198345697575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856893156680873562.post-42253967648666748432008-11-22T06:19:00.000-08:002008-11-22T06:19:00.000-08:00I'm happy to say I finished #9 and moved to #10 I ...I'm happy to say I finished #9 and moved to #10 I wasn't ticked off. Great list! I think you hit a lot of these right on!Martin Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06999620933648327663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856893156680873562.post-79079364353240439622008-11-21T18:57:00.000-08:002008-11-21T18:57:00.000-08:00Good addition Deborah...I like that...maybe we can...Good addition Deborah...I like that...maybe we can make this a running list.Scott Wagonerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14227254178680641378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856893156680873562.post-48027214781366810142008-11-21T14:58:00.000-08:002008-11-21T14:58:00.000-08:00Great top ten - David Letterman here we come!I wou...Great top ten - David Letterman here we come!<BR/>I would add that a new kind of Quakerism is less suspicious of hanging out ecumenically and more open to receiving the gifts from the wider body of Christ.Deborah Suesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02925817684491001387noreply@blogger.com