10. Quakerism in a Wider Religious World
Explores Quaker encounters with other religious traditions, cultures, and forms of Christianity around the world, including interfaith dialogue, comparative theology, ecumenism, missionary encounters, religious pluralism, and the development of distinctive Quaker communities beyond the traditional Anglo-American setting.
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From “The Church, the Draft Board, and Me” by George Amoss, Jr.
This article recounts George Amoss Jr.’s journey from his early years as a Catholic seminarian faced with moral and institutional failures to his evolving pacifist stance during the Vietnam War draft. It culminates in his transition to Quakerism, where he finds a faith centered on direct spiritual experience, love, and social witness without reliance on…
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“Quiet Heroes: A Century of American Quakers’ Love and Help for the Japanese and Japanese-American”* A Review
The article reviews “Quiet Heroes,” a book highlighting the century-long efforts of American Quakers who ministered to and advocated for Japanese and Japanese-Americans, particularly those interned during World War II. It details key figures like Herbert Nicholson and Esther Rhoads, Quaker missionaries and activists who provided support during internment, and explores the broader history of…
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“Ham Sok Hon: Voice of the People and Pioneer of Religious Pluralism in Twentieth Century Korea; Biography of a Korean Quaker”* A Review
This article reviews a biography of Ham Sok Hon, a Korean Quaker known for his spiritual quest and opposition to multiple oppressive regimes in twentieth-century Korea. Despite personal hardships and political imprisonments, Ham’s work emphasized religious pluralism, spiritual freedom, and a universalist approach to faith, combining elements from Christianity, Taoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. His life…
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Context/Content/Community: Teaching Interfaith Dialogue as a Quaker
This article explores teaching interfaith dialogue through a Quaker lens, emphasizing practices such as peace testimony, lived experience, universal grace, and the use of silence for discernment. It discusses challenges faced in interfaith engagement and how Quaker principles foster respectful understanding, empathy, and community among diverse religious traditions. The article highlights the importance of “paying…
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Response: Forgiveness and Letting-Go: An Inter-Religious and Internal Dialogue Sallie B. King
This article explores forgiveness and letting-go through the lens of Buddhism, Christianity, and Judaism, especially in the context of mass trauma such as the Cambodian Holocaust. It highlights differing religious responses, including Buddhist “letting go,” Christian forgiveness, and the Jewish principle of “never forget,” while also discussing trauma healing practices informed by modern psychology and…
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A Letter re: Kenya Quakers & Homosexuality
This article discusses the complex and controversial issue of homosexuality within the Quaker community in Kenya, highlighting cultural, gender, and leadership dynamics that influence acceptance and policy. It emphasizes the tension between official church stances and grassroots opinions, noting opportunities for dialogue and the importance of supportive engagement rather than missionary approaches.
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“Quakers & Homosexuality Press Statement,” from Friends Church Kenya
The article centers on the 2012 press statement by Friends Church Kenya (FCK) condemning homosexuality as sinful and contrary to Quaker and Biblical teachings. It presents extensive background on the legal and social context of anti-LGBT laws and attitudes in Kenya and much of Africa, including influences of U.S. conservative Christian groups. The article also…
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The Quest for an Authentic French Quakerism: A Conversation with Jeanne-Henriette Louis
This article is an in-depth conversation with Jeanne-Henriette Louis about her academic journey and her discovery of Quakerism, particularly within the French context. It explores the history of French Quakers, their connections to Protestant pacifism, and the challenges and hopes for establishing an authentic and indigenous French Quakerism today.
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Howard Brinton and the World Council of Churches: The Theological Impact of Ecumenism on Friends
This article explores Howard Brinton’s involvement in the ecumenical movement and the World Council of Churches, emphasizing its theological impact on Friends. It highlights Brinton’s challenges in engaging with broader Christian theological trends, his efforts to advocate Quaker perspectives on pacifism and sacraments, and the ongoing relevance of theological dialogue for Quakers.
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The Spiritual Similarities of Quaker Silence and Pentecostal Glossolalia in Worship
This article explores the spiritual similarities between Quaker silence and Pentecostal glossolalia as distinct means of worship both aiming for direct experience and guidance from the Spirit. It highlights four key shared aspects: direct divine experience, the sovereignty of the Spirit in worship, mutual edification of self and others, and the limitations and challenges of…
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A Quaker Perspective on the Qur’an and the Bible
This article explores Quaker perspectives on the Bible and the Qur’an, highlighting their shared Abrahamic heritage and the importance of scriptural literacy for fostering interfaith dialogue and peace. It examines differing Quaker views on scripture and other religions, controversies about the composition and canonization of these texts, and the complex role of scripture in justifying…
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Historical and Theological Origins of Assemblies of God Pacifism
This article explores the historical and theological roots of pacifism in the Assemblies of God, highlighting the significant influence of Quaker principles and figures such as Arthur Sidney Booth-Clibborn and Hannah Whitall Smith. It traces the evolution from early absolute pacifism, rooted in a restorationist and radical Christian ethic, to a later shift allowing freedom…
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“America’s Providential History, Including Biblical Principles of Education, Government, Politics, Economics, and Family Life,”* A Review
This article is a critical review of the book “America’s Providential History,” which presents a conservative Christian interpretation of American history grounded in biblical providence. The reviewer highlights numerous factual inaccuracies, ideological biases, and poor scholarship within the book, noting its distortion of historical events, misuse of quotes, and one-sided political agenda. The work is…
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The Journeyman – The Making of a Muslim Quaker
This article recounts Brent Miller-White’s spiritual journey from liberal Protestant Christianity through Quakerism to Islam, highlighting his evolving understanding and appreciation of Jesus and peace across faiths. It explores his experiences in the Middle East, the influence of Sufism, and his integration of Quaker and Muslim practices, emphasizing universal spirituality and coexistence. The narrative also…
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The Church: Called, Gathered, and Faithful
This article is a detailed response from Friends United Meeting to the World Council of Churches’ 1998 study on the nature and purpose of the Church, emphasizing Quaker theological perspectives. It discusses key differences Quakers have with traditional Christian practices such as water baptism, sacraments, and ordained ministry while affirming the central role of the…
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Review: “A Catholic’s Journey through Quakerism*
This article reviews Irene Lape’s book, “Leadings: A Catholic’s Journey through Quakerism,” which explores her spiritual pilgrimage from Catholicism through Quakerism and back to a renewed appreciation of both traditions. It discusses her integration of Quaker spirituality, Scripture, and continuing revelation with Catholic sacramentality and tradition, highlighting her critique of contemporary Quakerism and her grounding…
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The Making of “The Tree Of Life” in Indigenous Mexican Beliefs
The article recounts the author’s journey of making a film about the Totonac indigenous Mexican ritual known as the Voladores dance, its deep symbolic meaning rooted in Mesoamerican beliefs, and the connections to Quaker spirituality and intuition. The author reflects on the interplay between indigenous cosmology, Christian influences, and personal spiritual experiences, highlighting the transformative…
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From Reason to Truth to Mystery: An Odyssey to Orthodoxy
The article traces the author’s spiritual journey from a Presbyterian, reason-based faith through Evangelical Quakerism’s commitment to truth, culminating in a conversion to Eastern Orthodox Christianity that embraces mystery, incarnation, and liturgical worship. The author reflects on the challenges modern technology poses to ethics and peace, arguing for a sacred vision of all life that…
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Herrymon Maurer and the Tao of Quakerism
The article explores Herrymon Maurer’s unique contribution to Quaker thought through his translation and commentary on the Tao Te Ching, connecting Taoism with Quaker prophetic traditions. It details his life, struggles with alcoholism, and the spiritual insights that emphasized universal truth, non-violence, and liberation from ego. Herrymon’s work offers a profound synthesis of Eastern and…
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Ham Sok Hon: “Voice of the People and Pioneer of Religious Pluralism in Twentieth Century Korea;” Biography of a Korean Quaker.*
This article reviews the biography of Ham Sok Hon, a Korean Quaker and religious pluralist who resisted various oppressive regimes throughout twentieth-century Korea. Ham’s life was marked by repeated imprisonment due to his spiritual quest for inner freedom and his advocacy for Korean identity and democracy, leaving a lasting influence on Korean dissidents and society.…
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Crossroads of Western Quakerism in Africa
The article explores the historical and theological journey of Western Quakerism’s introduction to East Africa, highlighting the complexities of missionary efforts led by Arthur Chilson and his colleagues. It contrasts African indigenous spirituality, rich with Trinitarian concepts, with Western missionary theology, noting the cultural and religious transformations imposed on African communities. The lasting impact of…
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A review of “Anabaptist Theology in Face of Postmodernity: A Proposal for the Third Millennium”*
This article reviews J. Denny Weaver’s book on Anabaptist theology in the context of postmodernity, focusing on the development of a peace church theology grounded in Jesus’ life and teachings rather than traditional creeds. The review explores Weaver’s critique of historic Christian creeds and his proposal that believers’ churches, including Mennonites and Quakers, should reconstruct…
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Growing Up Plain, Conservative Quakerism
This post reviews Wilmer Cooper’s memoir, “Growing Up Plain,” which reflects on his childhood experience within the declining Wilburite Conservative Quaker tradition. It highlights the culture of strictness, anti-intellectualism, and austere lifestyle that led Cooper to leave this insular community in pursuit of education and broader engagement with the world. The post contrasts Wilburite decline…
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Excerpts from The Devotional Heart: Pietism and the Renewal of American Unitarian Universalism, by John C. Morgan. Boston: Skinner House Books, 1995.
This post explores the Pietist heritage of American Universalism and its influence on Unitarian Universalism, emphasizing the need for spiritual renewal rooted in this tradition. It highlights the historical development of Pietism, its impact in early America—particularly Pennsylvania—and the decline of its influence in the 20th century, alongside the ongoing spiritual ferment within Unitarian Universalism.…