The Quakers

[JockSporran]

They see God as the spirit of the universe (you are free to interpret that in whatever way you wish), not as some big beardie in the sky ready to smite us with a thunderbolt for being naughty.

They see Jesus as a cool dude, a sound bloke, not God in human form.

They don't tell you what you mustn't do. You can smoke, drink, eat red meat or whatever.

They have a liberal attitude to contraception and sexual matters.

They believe in evolution and science.

They support world peace, equality and an end to poverty.

Sounds like the religion for me (atheism didn't work for me). Should I give them a try?

[jackthehat]

Thankyou so much, IAP.

I posted a question on Quakerism very early in my AB membership, and I have given the matter much thought since then...........

Patrick Gale has written a novel - 'Notes from an exhibition' in which the family are Quakers, and this made me consider in greater detail, how Quaker lives are led........

I know where the local 'Friends' meeting house is, but surely I couldn't just roll up to a meeting and observe/participate ? I should feel embarrassed and intrusive...............what would the ettiquette actually be ?

[jackthehat]

IAP - Thankyou for your very helpful answers.

[naomi24]

In A Pickle, your post to Jack has raised a question in my mind. Do wedding and funeral ceremonies take place at the meeting house, and if so, since there are no priests or ministers, who conducts them? Also do you have any sort of dedication ceremony for babies?

[terambulan]

InaPickle...Jordans, not far from Ozzy Osbournes UK place.

http://www.chilternsaonb.org/site_details.asp? siteID=73

[terambulan]

naomi24....regarding jews under Hitler. The Pope/Churchill were told of the jewish plight but none actually believed of such horrors till after the war. With the war at its height operations were diverted from the jewish dilemma.

[naomi24]

I realise that terambulan. I used that simply as an example of a justifiable war. (It's hardly surprising that no one recognised the full horror of the holocaust until after the event, don't you think? Who could imagine that such a terrible thing could ever happen?)..

Thank you, In a Pickle.

[terambulan]

Naomi...it shows the depravity man is able to commit just on the cause of a belief.

Depraved being the operative word for ANY man/woman who kills in the name of religion today.

[naomi24]

Man's inhumanity to man .............. indescribable.

[JockSporran]

Here is an update. I have been back to my Quaker meetings and discussed things. I have learned that you should always try to avoid killing and violence, and I agree with that. In an emergency situation, like where a loved one is going to be killed by somebody, most Quakers say they try not to think about that. But I do.

One Quaker writes that 'seizing power never solved anything'. I disagree. The Jews who escaped from Sobibor death camp could only do so by killing SS guards and, if they didn't do that, they and their loved ones would have been killed.

So I think on, I am reading Quaker literature, I have arranged personal discussions. My journey continues.