Comment by Howard Brod on 2nd mo. 15, 2013 at 8:27am

A wonderful post. You speak my mind.

Comment by Aaron J Levitt on 2nd mo. 15, 2013 at 3:01pm

Mine as well; thank you.

We all might be well-served to use small letters for just about everything: quakerism, christianity, judaism, aaron, united states, etc. Reserve the capital only for God and, even then, take care that this one last big-letter word doesn't become an idol between us and the inexpressible.

Comment by Aaron J Levitt on 2nd mo. 15, 2013 at 3:51pm

I almost forgot to add bible and scripture.

Comment by Randy Oftedahl on 2nd mo. 16, 2013 at 1:35am

Friend Aaron;

What a wonderful idea!  I would keep the capital in people's name, though, to honour that of God in all.  Thank you!

Comment by Stephanie Stuckwisch on 2nd mo. 16, 2013 at 11:51pm

I think we do fall into idolatry. Our testimonies have become a golden calf. We forget that they are the fruit and not the vine.

Comment by Aaron J Levitt on 2nd mo. 17, 2013 at 3:04pm

I think you're right about names, Randy, but maybe "i" could be a small letter (especially considering that "you", "we", and even "thee" already are).

Comment by Sharon Annis on 2nd mo. 18, 2013 at 1:06am

Stephanie speaks my mind and i appreciate the post.

Comment by Paula Deming on 2nd mo. 18, 2013 at 12:25pm

Proud to be a humble Quaker, thee says??

Comment by Christopher Hatton on 2nd mo. 22, 2013 at 3:12am

Thank you Friend Randy, and Friend Stephanie also speaks my mind.

Although I would add that it is because of the "testimonies to truth and peace" that initially attracted me to Friends back in the summer of 1999. It was not until sometime in late 2008- early 2009 I began to see them as fruits of the vine and not as separate pillars of our religious society.

I agree some (many?) of us (myself included) do have a sectarian / denominational ways of thinking. I wonder if that has its roots in our past as a "peculiar people". We were (still are??) very much a 2nd Comming Church, as opposed to other denominations that are/were primarily 1st Coming centred.

Is that changing in the wider apostolic Church and amongst Friends? There are many many Friends today (but hopefully not yet majority worldwide), that struggle with the term "the risen Christ has come to teach us himself". I must confess I am not sure where our Friends in Evangelical Friends Church International (EFCI)stand, but I have often missed this distinctive q/Quaker term amongst other denominations. A Lutheran lay preacher that occasionally attends our meeting for worship, tells me it is no longer so uncommon to hear amongst Lutherans and Pentecostals that Christ is risen and has come to teach us himself, so that we will be ready for his actual physical coming.

Amongst my experiences of many Liberal Yearly and Monthly Meetings in Europe, I perceive a drift into a post-Christian multi-faith based umbrella peace orientated organisation with something like "Quakerism: a religion without dogma".

Our Christianity I believe was always based on a Universalism of Christ, to those of all faiths and to those of none. I hope that when I try badly/humbly to live in the spirit of Christ, the way will open. However, I have noticed that when I am amongst a majority of people that can expectantly wait for Christ to come amongst as we gather in the silence, I feel that mystical presence more often, and will quake and be moved to minister.

It is this way, this truth, this life giving light that sustains me (purposely paraphrased Jesus's words from Gospel of John).

There are many dwellings in the house of The Lord, we Friends just happen to be in our little corner trying to live simply, peacefully, truthfully whilst working to build Gods faithful Community that is based on justice and equality.

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