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Permalink Reply by Ashley W on 12th mo. 27, 2009 at 12:58pm

Hi Beth,

I saw you posted this and remembered that there was a thread here before where Friends recommended books for a new Friend: http://www.quakerquaker.org/forum/topics/booksadvice-for-a-new-friend. I think there are a lot of good suggestions there. And don't worry about the clothes or the jewelry, Friends wear all sorts of things!

--Ashley

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie Stuckwisch on 12th mo. 27, 2009 at 5:16pm

Hi Beth

I like to recommend A Living Faith by Wilmer Cooper and Slence and Witness by Michael Birkel. Both are available through FGC Bookstore: http://www.quakerbooks.org.

Don't worry about clothes and jewelry. I have a thing for earrings and no one has eldered me about it.

Stephanie

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Permalink Reply by Beth Anne Wiggins on 12th mo. 27, 2009 at 7:45pm

thanks so much, Ashley! just what i needed to hear! i shall check out the web site also. again, thanks!

Beth

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Permalink Reply by Beth Anne Wiggins on 12th mo. 27, 2009 at 7:47pm

thanks, Stephanie. i really appreciate your response and will check on the books soon!

Beth

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Permalink Reply by Madeleine Cadbury Brown on 12th mo. 31, 2009 at 11:48am

If your jewelry doesn't get between you and God, don't worry. Ditto your unplain dress. Modern Quakers do not look like the Qs of 150 years ago, and few dress that way. (I had an older cousin who did, but he was NOT someone you would like or want to identify with). The most distinctive visual clues I have of other Quakers are the liberal bumper stickers on their cars (which are usually modest and efficient).

I loved Plain and Simple, which was NOT about Quakerism but was a fine fit. It's about a woman from California who is led to live with the Amish. Another book I loved was Living More with Less, by a Mennonite Christian woman.

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Permalink Reply by Alice M Yaxley on 1st mo. 1, 2010 at 3:30am

I love Walter Wink's books. "The powers that be" is a good start, "Jesus and nonviolence" is a superb 100ish-page quick read. The Pendle Hill Pamphlet series are amazing as well, some of them available online.

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Permalink Reply by Beth Anne Wiggins on 1st mo. 1, 2010 at 1:59pm

Madeleine, i so much appreciate your response! your words are very reassuring! i have read Plain and Simple, also A Quaker Summer (by Lisa Samson). both very comforting to me, although i am not of Ms. Samson's same traditional Christian bent. in fact, i have gone on to read 2 more of her novels for the simple reason that they are inspirational and offer an open-minded love of humanity (my personal opinion, anyway). i try not to be biased and to find the "that of God" whenever and wherever possible. i have also read The Friendly Persuasion and Except for Me and Thee twice. Plain Living is still sitting on my nightstand. ?? i read from several inspirational books each morning, including one by Mother Teresa. I shall look for Living More with Less!

i feel i am quite "unsophisticated" in matters of theology and religious tradition, but not in matters of the heart and soul. i am very happy to read what all of you are writing about on this site and very grateful indeed that i found it! so thank you again, Madeleine, and also thanks to Ashley and Stephanie for responding.

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Permalink Reply by Faye M. Chapman on 1st mo. 2, 2010 at 8:09am

Dear Beth,
I think thee has the key to going forward in thy search for understanding Friends' ways. In the first sentence thee calls the practice of Quakerism as a "way". I believe thee. I also believe that it is helpful to read how others have come to practice this "way". It is good to read their testimonies. I am convinced (that word is important) that a lot of reading may delay thy practice of that "way" because thee will gain a second hand version when what thee may be after is thy own way of practicing it. I have found several written accounts of others helpful...not all of them are Friends. One is "Practicing the Presence" by Brother Lawrence...The journal of John Woolman...the book of John in the scriptures...and the small devotional book, "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. It will come to thee that the "way" of Friends is experiential and not understandable very much and, best of all, it is inside thee all ready. I hope this is not too vague. Let me know if these suggestions cloud thy way or open the door. There is no "requirement" about dress, to my thinking...only that nothing stand in the way of thy experience of the living Light within.

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Permalink Reply by Madeleine Cadbury Brown on 1st mo. 2, 2010 at 1:29pm

Living More with Less is by Doris Jantzen Longacre. She also wrote More-with-Less Cookbook.

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Permalink Reply by Beth Anne Wiggins on 1st mo. 2, 2010 at 8:37pm

Dear Faye, i cannot thank you enough for your missive. it feels absolutely right--i should not read too much but need to stay on the path of finding my own way of practicing it, which is already inside me. you must have a touch of spiritual genius to be so in tune! oh, i know a certain amount of facts about various religions and philosophies and such, but it is only within the past few years that i have actively begun to search my own soul for what feels spiritually right and comfortable for me.

again, thank you!

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie Stuckwisch on 1st mo. 2, 2010 at 11:42pm

Beth,

I don't know how I left this one out when I responded earlier. Listening Spirituality: Personal Practices Among Friends and Listening Spirituality:Corporate Spiritual Practice Among Friends, both by Patricia Loring are two of my favorites.

Again, they are available at http://www.quakerbooks.org

Stephanie

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Permalink Reply by Faye M. Chapman on 1st mo. 3, 2010 at 5:18am

Dear Beth,
There is no genius of our own making. I'm pretty old in years (76) so some of spiritual insight may come from practice. I haven't always experienced a lot of "comfort" in my Quakerism practice, but I have felt the "rightness" of it. Also it is of great help to find a community to help on the spiritual path. Others can support and nurture the path within and they need to be nurtured and supported as well. I wish thee well.

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