"Being stuck in the concerns and viewpoint of the 'little-s' self -- a terrible affliction.
Knowing the Self that is the true Life inside us, as embodied in everything there is -- quite a different (and Rumier) way to be."
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Primitive Christianity Revived, Again
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Clem Gerdelmann
- Male
- Chester, PA
- United States
- Blogs (11)
- Discussions (1)
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Clem Gerdelmann's Page
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Stephanie Stuckwisch commented on Clem Gerdelmann's blog post 'Solipsist Quakerism'"At worst we offer "the ability to activliy pursue our own leadings". At best, we offer a community working to discern God's leading for us.
The original publishers of the truth were not following personal agendas."
Clem Gerdelmann commented on Randy Oftedahl's blog post 'What Divides Us and What Unites Us'"Thankyou, Friend, for pointing Quakers back to our roots in the prophetic calling. It's my understanding that the basic prophetic message as found in the Bible can be summed up as 'Humankind's thinking is not God's thinking…"
Clem Gerdelmann commented on Natasha White Marsh's blog post 'Sitting in Café Belen, Reflecting on Poverty, Humility and Shame'"Perhaps the reaction "That's a shame" gets at, humanly as opposed to humanely for "Endangered Species Day", what traditionally has been at stake for Islam's care of and Christianity's preference for the poor?…"
Clem Gerdelmann commented on Clem Gerdelmann's blog post 'Solipsist Quakerism'"What?-ever?!(not always)"
Clem Gerdelmann posted a blog postSolipsist Quakerism
Because I have dared to name the danger facing our society in general and Quakerism in particular, I offer a definition of same. "Solipsism" is the theory that the self can be aware of nothing but its own experiences and states.For society, this translates as David Byrne's "Once In A Lifetime" with people mourning their own situations in light of unrealistic expectations. For Quakerism, founded upon honoring personal experience as a means of continued revelation, the deck is stacked even more…See More
Clem Gerdelmann commented on Kevin Camp's blog post 'Eldering in Practice'"Kevin, I have experienced "nasty nice" as a response to vocal ministry as opening my heart, not speaking my mind, which is what my reading of Quaker history suggests. Unfortunately, my Meeting does not have a…"
Clem Gerdelmann posted a blog postThe Wait of the World
"We are not called to make a sick world well. We are called to act well." These words of Arthur G. Gish, as found in his "The New Left and Christian Radicalism", are intended to help us to get out from under the weight of the world. A weight, it seems, like the cartoon depiction of "Fat Albert" sitting atop an adversary. The more one struggles and squirms, the quicker a depletion of strength. And, of course, resistance stymied outward becomes depression inward. The only calling, then, is to…See More
Clem Gerdelmann commented on Earlham School of Religion's blog post 'Love is my religion'"And none know better of those broken places, here in the U.S.A., than Native Americans like Sioux prophetess, Vine Deloria, who writes, "Religion is for people who are afraid of going to hell. Spirituality is for those who have already been…"
Clem Gerdelmann commented on Doug Bennett's blog post 'The Bible As a Gift'"Maybe all true gifts come without description/instructions, so we can find our(selves and way) in them. The more we attend to them, the more we attend to ourselves; the more we care for them, the more we care for ourselves; the more we offer…"
Clem Gerdelmann posted a blog postThe Gold Mine
OMG - seen and heard, as "Oh my God", ubiquitously these days. I just wonder about the relationship that "my God" implies. Is it profiting from a gold mine("God is mine") or is it hidden treasure that I love, but won't exploit for my own advantage?Yesterday was "Earth Day"; and, for some fossil fuel/raw material enthusiasts, a celebration of profiting from a gold mine(perhaps literally). "The earth is mine" - OMG!Yet, I believe that those who dutifully/truly celebrate yesterday were more of the…See More
Clem Gerdelmann commented on Doug Bennett's blog post 'Gazing At the Bomber With Fear and Fascination'"Along with explaining(defining experientially) violence, Rollo May in his book, "Power And Innocence", shows how modern/post-modern society has lost a sense of evil as such. We have simply replaced(updated visually) evil with fear and…"
Clem Gerdelmann commented on Jim Wilson's blog post 'Finding One's Way in Silence'"Jim, I can not agree with you more - why aren't Meetings offering even the most obvious helps(see my blog, "Pedantry") to benefiting from being "children of Light"? And, of course, addressing our childish(as opposed to…"
Clem Gerdelmann commented on Earlham School of Religion's blog post 'Faith and Doubt'"I sense that, rather than atheist, the "other doubter" is agnostic in the sense given by Vladimir Lossky: "Thought must go beyond itself to approach Him...One cannot fix God with a concept." The doubter has the wisdom to know…"
Clem Gerdelmann commented on Clem Gerdelmann's blog post 'Merge, Don't Blend'"Disclaimer: My "the bomb" reference is my way of showing my age/irrelevance for modern-day real uses/abuses of same. But, of course, Quakers would only lease, never own, a vehicle that is "the bomb" anyway, right? "
Clem Gerdelmann commented on Kevin Camp's blog post 'When We Are All the Rich Young Man'"Kevin, I will now hold you, along with Wash. D.C., in the Light."
Profile Information
- About Me
- I attend Chester Meeting and offer vocal ministry as well as attend to the lending library.
- Website/Blog
- http://www.springfield-pa.patch.com
Clem Gerdelmann's Blog
Solipsist Quakerism
Posted on 5th mo. 2, 2013 at 8:30am 3 Comments 0 Likes
Because I have dared to name the danger facing our society in general and Quakerism in particular, I offer a definition of same. "Solipsism" is the theory that the self can be aware of nothing but its own experiences and states.
For society, this translates as David Byrne's "Once In A Lifetime" with people mourning their own situations in light of unrealistic expectations. For Quakerism, founded upon honoring personal experience as a means of continued revelation, the deck is stacked…
Continue The Wait of the World
Posted on 4th mo. 29, 2013 at 10:01am 0 Comments 0 Likes
"We are not called to make a sick world well. We are called to act well." These words of Arthur G. Gish, as found in his "The New Left and Christian Radicalism", are intended to help us to get out from under the weight of the world. A weight, it seems, like the cartoon depiction of "Fat Albert" sitting atop an adversary. The more one struggles and squirms, the quicker a depletion of strength. And, of course, resistance stymied outward becomes depression inward. The only calling, then, is to…
Continue The Gold Mine
Posted on 4th mo. 23, 2013 at 8:40am 0 Comments 0 Likes
OMG - seen and heard, as "Oh my God", ubiquitously these days. I just wonder about the relationship that "my God" implies. Is it profiting from a gold mine("God is mine") or is it hidden treasure that I love, but won't exploit for my own advantage?
Yesterday was "Earth Day"; and, for some fossil fuel/raw material enthusiasts, a celebration of profiting from a gold mine(perhaps literally). "The earth is mine" - OMG!
Yet, I believe that those who dutifully/truly celebrate…
Continue Pedantry
Posted on 4th mo. 15, 2013 at 11:22am 0 Comments 0 Likes
How easy to say, "I'll pray for you" or "God helps those who help themselves" or even "It must have been God's will" rather than to respond, "I will hold thee in the Light." In fact, most prayer would limit God's will to our own; just as most human endeavor would foreclose or bypass God's will. Even Jesus, before his execution, would have limited and looked for a way to bypass the Will other than his own. No wonder he asked his disciples to respond to his request to stay awake(keep in the…
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Latest Activity
roland heath replied to Susann's discussion 'An Oxford Story'"2 things
at least in the states many have fought , many resisted, some served as medics, some…"
Paula Deming replied to Susann's discussion 'An Oxford Story'"You wrote:
(This sounds confusing, I'm afraid.)
Not at all.
It sounds like you found a lovely…"
Susann replied to Susann's discussion 'An Oxford Story'"So, another sequel (triquel? Quadriquel?) to the story.
I finally went to my local meeting for…"
Susann replied to Susann's discussion 'An Oxford Story'"Dear Mick Henry,
thank you so much, I enjoyed reading about your Tolkien angle (or Quaker angle to…"
Susann replied to Susann's discussion 'An Oxford Story'"Dear Paula, thank you for your encouraging words -
it's always wonderful to realize that…"
Irene Lape posted a blog postDaily Old Testament and Early Christian Writings: Numbers 25-26 and Origen's De Principiis: Preface 9-10
Numbers 25 – Israel is encamped at Shittim (at the foot of the mountains in northeaster part of…See More
Stephanie Stuckwisch commented on N. Jeanne Burns's blog post 'What of God's Law?'"Nearly 20 years ago, my meeting decided to take marriages under our care based on the relationship…"
Stephanie Stuckwisch commented on Randy Oftedahl's blog post 'What Divides Us and What Unites Us'"Very well said...or written."
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