Quaker Theology

Mysticism

  • “Our Life is Love: The Quaker Spiritual Journey”* A Review

    The review discusses Marcelle Martin’s book *Our Life is Love: The Quaker Spiritual Journey*, which explores ten key elements in Quaker spiritual life, drawing from both historical and contemporary Quaker experiences. The reviewer appreciates the book’s inclusivity and potential to stimulate meaningful discussions but notes its limited treatment of early Friends’ complexities, internal conflicts, and…

  • “To Be Broken and Tender: A Quaker Theology for Today”* A Review

    This review of Margery Post Abbott’s book “To Be Broken and Tender: A Quaker Theology for Today” highlights its engaging and accessible style, blending traditional Quaker spirituality with contemporary and mystical elements. Abbott’s theology is described as progressive and inclusive, drawing on Christian and non-Christian spirituality while emphasizing humility, brokenness, and peacemaking.

  • Beyond Liberalism: Rufus Jones and Thomas Kelly in the History of Liberal Religion

    The article explores the lives and theology of Rufus Jones and Thomas Kelly, highlighting their unique blend of mysticism and social activism in the context of early 20th-century liberal Quakerism. It examines their theological contributions, personal struggles, and their impact on religious liberalism, emphasizing their radical departures from mainstream liberal thought and their deep devotional…

  • Selected Excerpts from, To Be Broken and Tender: A Quaker Theology for Today

    This post explores a deeply personal and mystical Quaker theology centered on divine love, transformation, and the experience of the Eternal Presence. It reflects on themes of suffering, peace, and spirituality, drawing on historical Quaker figures and the vision of the City of God, while emphasizing the ongoing journey toward tenderness and community in faith.…

  • “Seeking Paradise: The Spirit of the Shaker”* Reviewed

    This post reviews “Seeking Paradise: The Spirit of the Shaker,” a book exploring Thomas Merton’s meditations on Shaker life, craftsmanship, and spirituality. It highlights the Shakers’ integration of faith with practical work and their influence on Merton’s understanding of monastic simplicity, paradise consciousness, and the relationship between faith and manual labor. The review also considers…

  • Silence in Heaven: The Revelation to John Woolman

    The post explores John Woolman’s mystical vision and its theological implications, emphasizing his insights into social injustice, the redemptive power of prayer, and the spiritual safety found in inward quietness amid worldly turmoil. It highlights his integration of biblical imagery from Revelation and other scriptures to call Friends to faithful witness and resistance against oppression.…

  • The Psychology of Salvation: Recovering, Reframing, and Reclaiming the Early Quaker Experience

    This extensive essay explores early Quaker theology by interpreting the Quaker experience of salvation through modern psychological concepts, particularly schemas and cognitive dissonance. It emphasizes salvation as a profound inner transformation from self-centeredness to a love-centered orientation, rooted in the dynamic presence of God as life, light, and love within. The article advocates for Quaker…

  • Apocalypse – Later*

    The post discusses Licia Kuenning’s failed prophecy that Farmington, Maine would transform into the New Jerusalem on June 6, 2006. Despite the prophecy not occurring as predicted, Kuenning maintains her sense of divine inspiration while acknowledging possible mistakes in the timing of the prophecy. The article explores the nature of revelation, prophecy, and the interpretation…

  • “Farmington! Farmington!” A Review*

    This review critically examines Licia Kuenning’s prophecy novel “Farmington! Farmington!” which claims Christ dictated the text and foretells a divine transformation of Farmington, Maine in 2006. The reviewer highlights the novel’s universalist theology, its divergence from traditional Quaker beliefs, personal biases of the author, and parallels with historical mediumistic phenomena, concluding skepticism about its prophetic…

  • Friendly Healing in Frampton and the Forest

    The article recounts the author’s family tradition of healing and spiritual practices rooted in the Forest of Dean, blending Quaker beliefs with indigenous wisdom and mystical experiences. It highlights the significance of places like Frampton and Jubilee House as spiritual and healing spaces and reflects on the interconnectedness of nature, spirituality, and Quaker worship. The…

  • Friends’ Theological Heritage: From Seventeenth-Century Quietists to A Guide to True Peace Though Silent Worship

    This article explores the historical and theological connection between Quaker silent worship and the seventeenth-century Catholic Quietist movement, focusing on the influence of mystics Fénelon, Guyon, and Molinos. It highlights how their writings, particularly compiled in “A Guide to True Peace,” shaped Quaker contemplative prayer and spirituality, emphasizing themes such as divine love, inner prayer,…

  • Caroline Emelia Stephen (1834-1909) and Virginia Woolf (1882-1941): A Quaker Influence on Modern English Literature

    This article explores the influence of Quaker theologian Caroline Emelia Stephen on her niece, modern English writer Virginia Woolf. It examines their family backgrounds, Caroline’s spiritual and mystical Quaker beliefs, and how these shaped Woolf’s pacifism, feminism, and literary innovation. The piece also highlights Caroline’s rational mysticism and Woolf’s natural mysticism as key components in…

  • First Thoughts on Sixteenth Century Spanish Mysticism and the First Quakers: Communion with The Light in Early Modernism

    The article explores the connections and divergences between sixteenth-century Spanish mysticism and seventeenth-century Quaker mysticism, focusing on figures like Teresa de Ávila and George Fox. It highlights shared spiritual themes such as communion with the divine and the emphasis on inner experience, while contrasting their poetic and referential expressions. The author argues for a broader,…

  • George Fox Among Christian Mystics

    This article explores George Fox as a Christian mystic in the context of Catholic mystical tradition, comparing his experiences and theology with notable mystics and critiquing him from Catholic and Anglican perspectives. It highlights Fox’s emphasis on the Inner Light, his restlessness as an itinerant preacher, and his tenacity in pursuing a spiritual kingdom grounded…