"Friend Jim   We are in agreement except that I see the activism as a very close second rather than distant.   Blessings to you."

"Friend Ray:   I think I understand your point.  It is something I have thought about myself.  Your point that one does not have to be a Quaker in order to be an activist is, I think, crucial.  It appears to me that many Quakers…"

"The difference for me is that I can be an activist for all the issues I care about without being a Quaker.   I do not need Quakerism to be concerned about issues and to act upon those concerns. I did so as Nazarene/ Holiness (Wesleyan)…"

"I believe that core Quaker is that activism rises out of contemplation, of inner listening and waiting.  Does Quaker have a word or description for ego?  I think there is a big difference between activism that rises from ego versus being…"

"To me the issue is not an either - or. As I read Friends history, as well as the Gospels, the "activists" who seemed to be most "successful" were often those who were quite contemplative. Jesus, who was clearly an activist at…"

"I agree with Ray's statement, I think.  I'm not really sure.   For me the difference between a contemplative Quaker and an activist Quaker has to do with how they think of silent worship.  It's a matter of…"

"Loved your  "lol....ok" Ray!  Welcome back! I agree with everything that you have written.  I think that acting in the world from a place of inner-listening may be constantly or more readily available for some, and therefore…"

"lol ... ok   As I practice it Quakerism is contemplative. Our activity in the world extends out of the contemplation (& listening) of MfW.   Perosnally, I see Contemplation as my 'religion' and Quakerism as my practice of…"

"Ray,  Please come back and also please re-post your comment.  I experienced the same concern when I started this thread and then discovered, or so I  thought, that  this site was for "convergent friends" which I am…"

"Ray,  Please come back and also please re-post you comment.  I experienced the same concern when I started this thread and then discovered, or so I  thought, that  this site was for "convergent friends" which I am…"

"Ray, come back here! This is a thread for all Quakers. And your comment was very good. Please stay with us. "

"As I practice it Quakerism is contemplative. Our activity in the world extends out of the contemplation (& listening) of MfW.   Perosnally, I see Contemplation as my 'religion' and Quakerism as my practice of Contemplation which…"

"Forrest wrote:  "In substance, I feel that what most upset most members was the violation of their expectation that the customary rules should always be observed: that Meeting must not disturbed by people verbally disagreeing with one…"

"Thank you so much Paula for your clarification!  Very helpful and  I am most grateful.  Yours in the Light, Mary"