"A Quiet life in the City"

 

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Please check out my new post on my "Brooklyn Quaker" blog.

 

http://brooklynquaker.blogspot.com/2011/02/advices-in-active-voice-meat-and.html

Many watched . . . as Jesus and the other two men were hanging on their crosses.

Many watched . . . wanting Jesus to come down off the cross with his power . . . to show everyone who was right and who was wrong.

Others watched . . . with the intent of proving their decisions were correct about Jesus.

Some watched . . . without any feelings.


If you were alive at that time? What would have been going on in your mind?

http://kens-hot-dogs.blogspot.com

My family went to Egypt and saw the violence of extreme poverty for ourselves. Dr Sharp's 198 non violent methods to challenge tyrannies  helped to bring down Mubarak. They are the best way to challenge oppression across the world, wherever we encounter it.

 

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“There are nontheist Friends... Friends who might be called agnostics, atheists, sceptics, but would nevertheless describe themselves as reverent seekers.”   So began the report of the first formal workshop for nontheist Friends, held in New York State in 1976. A generation later, nontheist Friends are a widely accepted strand in the multi-coloured fabric of theologically…

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Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu

Buddhist, sufi, or zen. Not any religion



or cultural system. I am not from the East

or the West, not out of the ocean or up



from the ground, not natural or ethereal, not

composed of elements at all. I do not exist,



am not an entity in this world or in the next,

did not descend from Adam and Eve or any



origin story. My place is placeless, a trace

of the traceless. Neither body or…

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For the first time, I found myself asked to explain my faith and practiice to coworkers. Not due to any spiritual revival, but because a cable TV program has a Quaker character. Unfortunately, it was not Fox’s compelling and revolutionary insights that fascinated them. Instead they were stuck on one point - “You sit for an hour and do nothing?”



I explained that we pray, we meditate, but most important, we listen.



“So, you really don’t do anything for an hour.”



I spoke… Continue

Since the RELIGIOUS (emphasis mine) Society of Friends now welcomes "non-thesist" members, will it also open up to military quakers, or hedonistic quakers or to any other group of people who want to join without changing anything about their lifestyle or beliefs? I'm  not trying to offend anyone, but I cant really understand the point of joining the RELIGIOUS Society of Friends, if you are irreligious. Surley joining the humanist society, or something similar would be more appropriate?…

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http://kens-hot-dogs.blogspot.com

That original isolated Quaker called George Fox had learned plently about Christ before he knew him 'experimentally'...

"Now clearly Quakers must generally believe in some form of God, otherwise it ceases to be a 'religious society'"

This is a common statement said in response to hearing that some Quakers do not believe in god. I read this on QQ.

I think it a misreading of what religion…

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Given that Friends reject much of the descisions of the early Church councils (Nicea etc.). Why then do we agree to the scriptures decided upon by the Church councils. What about those expressions of the early church the Shepard of Hermas and the Gospel of Thomas? What about the Peshitta (the Arimaic bible) used in the Indian and Syriac churches?It is said to be far older than the Greek bible we have in the west, and it does NOT include Revelation (thank goodness i hear you cry!) or John… Continue

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

For the last 6 months, I have had the unexpected pleasure of many interesting conversations with more than 60 Friends who identify as theists, nontheists and other explorers. These conversations were part of organising the Nontheist Friends conference to be held at Woodbrooke, 18^th – 20^th February. The cumulative effect of these exchanges has led me to conclude that we British are so very unexplored and silent…

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If I were to truly live in the moment attentive, centered in the presence and obedient, other thoughts and images only clutter the landscape.

It is good that Friends shortened their name from the older "Friends of Truth" because true friends of Truth are by no means restricted to one society. Many are walking around loose, unaffiliated.

As I look at my window and see the fresh fallen snow, I can't help but see the beauty in it. The ground is covered in at least 2 feet of snow and more is on it's way. I don't mind the snow,it gives me comfort. The fireplace roars to keep the house warm. This beauty is a gift.

Car goes by, white purity turns to filth.

 

http://quakerslife.blogspot.com/

The news media today seems  insanely  driven  in its efforts to overturn the current governments in power in the Arab world.   The US media does not understand Arab culture, or Islam.   Every time a revolt happens countless numbers of innocent  humans are slaughtered in the name of change.  Just look at the history of Afghanistan for instance.

 

Anyone with common sense is flabbergasted at the destruction of some of the national treasures of Egypt.  What drives a person to…

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