"I believe my take on "creeds" and similar items came to me many years ago when I came to believe that "Quaker Institution" was an oxymoron. There is either "Quaker" or "Institution." Obviously many…"
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Tom Smith
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Tom Smith commented on Doug Bennett's blog post 'Prescribing Versus Seeking: Reader Comments on Creeds'Tom Smith replied to Anne E Wright's discussion 'What we mean by what we say'"My experience in Meeting for Business would support the statement in F & P (of which YM?) "It is Quaker custom, too, for persons who have once expressed their views clearly and adequately not to address the meeting again."
However, my…"
Virtual Friends School?
The beginnings of a discussion to develop a resource center for home-schoolers and others interested in Friends Education but are unable to send their children to a "Real" Friends School.
Tom Smith replied to Barbara Smith's discussion 'Liberal? Conservative? How about other names?' in the group Conservative Friends"I can in no way speak for other Friends but for me Liberal is somewhat related to Liberation in that freeing the oppressed, doing for the least of these, etc. is very much a part of my belief system. It also in my mind is somewhat similar to…"
Tom Smith commented on Jim Wilson's blog post 'Quaker Communion'"And remember what God had said just before that: "How long can you tread water?"
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Tom Smith commented on Jim Wilson's blog post 'Quaker Communion'"I agree with Bill Samuel in that most, almost all, of the Christian church has used the communion form and that there is nothing "wrong" with that usage given the spiritual understanding. However, I do have a concern with Friends losing…"
Tom Smith commented on Jim Wilson's blog post 'Quaker Communion'"I wonder if the following might be applied to the concept of Quaker communion. I recalled this from an earlier comment by Jim Wilson."My sense is that when Quakers abandon modes of dress, modes of speech, etc., they become…"
Margaret Banford replied to Tom Smith's discussion 'A Friends School as a Community' in the group Friends Schools & Education"I like this!"
Tom Smith commented on Patricia Barber's blog post 'The Odd Man at the Dinner Party'"I will not spend much time or words on the topic, but just wanted to interject that exclusionary practices are alive and well even at the Yearly Meeting level. 6 churches withdrew from Western Yearly Meeting in the last couple of years (in VERY…"
Tom Smith replied to Mary Lindsey's discussion 'Contemplative Quaker' in the group Liberal Quakers"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…"
Anne Laurie commented on Tom Smith's blog post 'Myth of Midwestern Quakerism'"Ah, the remoteness. I have experienced that in some Meetings, but my own seems to attract people who are already active in working directly with houseless people, hungry people, and others. Missoula has its full complement of agencies who administer…"
Tom Smith replied to Caroline Whitbeck's discussion '"Primitive Christianity", What Did Original Friends Mean by it?'"I have been looking quite a bit at what is going on in Indiana and Western Yearly Meetings with the essential "dissolving" of these Yearly Meetings and possible major realignments. Some believe they are the "true" QUAKERquakers…"
Tom Smith replied to Kathy Summers's discussion 'Willy sees "that of God in everyone."'"Only if he is dyslexic.
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Tom Smith replied to Caroline Whitbeck's discussion '"Primitive Christianity", What Did Original Friends Mean by it?'"To me "primitive Christianity" and the "long night of apostasy" refer to the "community" of "believers" in which they believed Christ was present in ALL his "offices" and thus no other prophet,…"
Tom Smith commented on Tom Smith's group 'Virtual Friends School?'"I don't think there is much different about the "academic" (3 R's) curriculum but that there is a MAJOR component of the curriculum that lies in the classroom. Maybe adding a few R's might "fit?" Respect,…"
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Tom Smith's Blog
To Whom Do We Listen?
Posted on 2nd mo. 10, 2011 at 8:57pm 4 Comments 0 Likes
To Whom Do We Listen? by Tom Smith Quaker Life, March 1979, p.19
You have heard that it has been said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you that you resist not evil, but whosoever shall build up their nuclear weapons, take down all your defensive weapons. And if any man will sue you at the law to obtain open housing, offer your help in buying him a house in your neighborhood. And whosoever shall compel you to work eight hours a day, work for him… Continue
You have heard that it has been said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you that you resist not evil, but whosoever shall build up their nuclear weapons, take down all your defensive weapons. And if any man will sue you at the law to obtain open housing, offer your help in buying him a house in your neighborhood. And whosoever shall compel you to work eight hours a day, work for him… Continue
Myth of Midwestern Quakerism
Posted on 5th mo. 15, 2010 at 6:16pm 3 Comments 0 Likes
I have uncovered some older writings that I will post on the blog "Seeker of Truth and Reality" occasionally as a "track record" of my own search.
This was written and read in 1969, at the age of 25, when I was Clerk of West Branch Quarterly Meeting in Indiana Yearly Meeting. IYM was reorganizing from Quarterly to Regional Meetings and this was the last Meeting of West Branch QM. Most of my current views are remarkably similar 40 years later. This… Continue
Comment Wall (2 comments)
- At 9:54am on 7th mo. 1, 2010,
Pastor Samuel Muderhwa said… - Dear Tom
thanks for the good works you are doing
Samuel
- At 2:05pm on 5th mo. 4, 2010,
Rosemary Gould said… - Thanks for telling me about yourself, Tom! I'm a homeschooling mom with 3 kids. I'd like to learn more about your virtual school. I was raised Catholic in a mixed catholic/jewish household where neither of my parents were actually believers. I went back to the church as an adult and became converted then. About 7 years ago I felt commanded ("led" is really too weak a word) to leave and try the local Friends Meeting, which is unprogrammed and liberal. I love my meeting and I'm also very interested in learning more about and participating in this convergent movement.
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Latest Activity
Irene Lape posted a blog postDaily Old Testament and Early Christian Writings: Numbers 23-24 and Origen's De Principiis: Preface 7-8
Numbers 23 – Balaam tells King Balak of Moab to build seven altars and to prepare seven bulls and…See More
Doug Bennett: More on Evangelicalism and Rachel Held Evans
Quakers should care about this because, among evangelical Friends, and in an unreflective way,… See More
Micah Bales: Do You Believe?
For many of us, this begs the question: What is the point of having shared beliefs at all? If the… See More
Jez Smith: Fall in number of Quakers in Britain
The double fall in members and attenders comes despite Quakers having had high profile media… See More
LizOpp: Social justice and getting off the Quaker porch
As Friends, we often tell ourselves--and one another--that we must wait to be led by the Spirit… See More
Randy Oftedahl: What Divides Us and What Unites Us
If we Trust in God, isn’t it enough to know that we will be led on the path, however long and… See More
Howard Brod replied to Howard Brod's discussion 'Let's Get Real' in the group Liberal Quakers"Interesting points, Jim.
You made me think of a small pamphlet that my meeting provides…"
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