quaker meetings

Cillafan

I have to admit I'm not keen on Quakers, I know they are pacifists, and wouldn't dream of joining our armed forces, or even be conscripted, fair enough, their choice, but when I learned in recent years they were totally against the military, and wouldn't support or respect them (as they deserve to be), then I went right off them all together.

Some Quakers did support the military services with their medical support called the Friends Ambulance Unit ' Worth a read

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friends%27_Ambulance_Unit

"The Friends' Ambulance Unit (FAU) was a volunteer ambulance service, founded by individual members of the British Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), in line with their Peace Testimony. The FAU operated from 1914 to 1919, 1939 to 1946 and 1946 to 1959 in 25 countries. It was independent of the Quakers' organisation and chiefly staffed by registered conscientious objectors."

Caleo

NotSpaghetti

I am guessing that they respect all people but not all institutions Cillafan

So , in line with Not Spaghetti's wise remark, applied pacifism is like we may respect all the Auschwitz guards as our brothers but not the Nazism that has the cruel guards in thrall .

Human nature is either that the germs of atrocity are in every person, or there is that of the good God in every person, or both.
It is obvious that every person may be snared into evil doing .
It's also obvious that some people resist evil with enormous courage and tenacity.
Quakers believe and trust that resistance to evil can be nurtured and rehearsed particularly by allowing communication with the good God during silent meetings.

NotSpaghetti

I am guessing that they respect all people but not all institutions Cillafan

So , in line with Not Spaghetti's wise remark, applied pacifism is like we may respect all the Auschwitz guards as our brothers but not the Nazism that has the cruel guards in thrall .

I am guessing that they respect all people but not all institutions Cillafan

Cillafan

I have to admit I'm not keen on Quakers, I know they are pacifists, and wouldn't dream of joining our armed forces, or even be conscripted, fair enough, their choice, but when I learned in recent years they were totally against the military, and wouldn't support or respect them (as they deserve to be), then I went right off them all together.

For Quakers, no war is just; for international law, a war is only ‘just’ if it’s legal and fought by the rules.”

Magenta8

Caleo I think perhaps you should research Humanism and then The Religious society of Friends and you will find that, though they share some beliefs, they diverge in many others. Humanists do not believe that individuals have God within them neither do all Quakers.

I should point out that Magenta's post is an example of unjustified presupposition.

That's to say , It’s when someone talks like something is true without showing it really is.

I have to admit I'm not keen on Quakers, I know they are pacifists, and wouldn't dream of joining our armed forces, or even be conscripted, fair enough, their choice, but when I learned in recent years they were totally against the military, and wouldn't support or respect them (as they deserve to be), then I went right off them all together.

Magenta8

Caleo I think perhaps you should research Humanism and then The Religious society of Friends and you will find that, though they share some beliefs, they diverge in many others. Humanists do not believe that individuals have God within them neither do all Quakers.

The idea that each individual has a little of God within them facilitates liberal education for all, and also the style of criminal justice that aims to rehabilitate criminals wherever possible.

Quakers have a history of activity in social reform, as have Humanists and Unitarians. Of the God-religions Unitarians and Quakers are the closest to Humanists.

Until I became housebound I was a Humanist for 20 or more years, have chaired Humanist discussions and participated in Humanist events. I have also been a Unitarian for at the same time as I was a Humanist.

Humanism and Unitarianism endorse free thinking. Many Humanists personally dislike religions . I have never met a Humanist who would be unwelcoming to a religionist who attended a Humanist meeting.

I have attended only one Quaker meeting . There is no question but that Quakers trust that no individual is irretrievably a lost soul. Many Humanists believe likewise although they do not use religious language.

Caleo I think perhaps you should research Humanism and then The Religious society of Friends and you will find that, though they share some beliefs, they diverge in many others. Humanists do not believe that individuals have God within them neither do all Quakers.

Earthmother9

I live in an independant living flat, one of our ladies is or was a quaker,, I went down to the coffee morning when I first came here and she told me I was someone who no one wants to be around. I had lost all of my family and I had no one. Kindness would have been appreciated.

Is it possible you may have misunderstood or misheard the woman?Whatever her religion was or is , it seems an irrational thing to say to anyone especially at a coffee morning.

If it happens again that this woman makes herself unpleasant tell her to go away ,or to drop dead.

Quakers believe that every individual has that of God within them; this places the Friends close to Humanism.

Eleothan, don’t let any of these things stop you from attending a Quaker meeting - modern Quakers do not specify belief in a deity or ‘being a Christian’ as being necessary to participate in what is usually referred to as ‘meeting for worship’. Neither are all Quakers vegetarian/vegan, though many are and it is certainly encouraged. If you contact your local meeting, you could explain your concerns and will almost certainly be reassured.

My late second cousin was Trans and was accepted readily by the Quakers.

The Quakers are the only religious organisation that I have any time for. They have been at the forefront of many very important campaigns - and they are not afraid to support unpopular causes such as penal reform.

I would love to go to a Quaker meeting but, though I have great respect for the teachings of Jesus, I do not believe in God and I can't describe myself as a Christian. Also, I believe Quakers are supposed to be be wholly vegetarian and not drink alcohol. However, I think it would be nice to experience the feeling of being in the midst of people who try to banish hatred from their hearts and replace it with love - even in the most challenging circumstances.

red1

thanks for replies, the tenets of quakerism are, truth, equality, simplicity and peace, in this crazy, broken world they don't seem achievable or practical ,that why i used the word, lofty.

Take a look at the immense amount of practical good Quakers do and have achieved in society; you might be very surprised .

thanks for replies, i went to a meeting, the people very welcoming, but i observed they were mostly middle or a higher class, elderly ,female.I am well versed in meditation, but the silence was broken by someone standing and giving ministry, which for me had little relevance to anything for me at least.This put me on edge and i was unable to really settle again. I collected some leaflets to find they had very little centred beliefs.There is the central tenets ,but thats up for debate! Sadly quakerism is not for me.

I went to my first Quaker meeting today and enjoyed it. Very nice accepting bunch of people and it was lovely to sit in contemplative quiet with others. If you’re still hovering over whether or not to go, then just go, it might be right for you.

keepingquiet

They seem eminently achievable to me, and therefore very practical. The problem is some people are not even willing to try...

Wholeheartedly seconded

hallgreenmiss

red1

Im thinking of visiting a quaker meeting anyone have any experience,ive read a brief background in the beliefs but they seem a little lofty? i guess that applies to all religions, but then some say quakerism is not a religion, im confused!

It isn’t in itself a religion it’s a denomination of Christianity; as such it comes under the description nonconformist.

..and to make matters even more confusing (possibly....) though it originated in Christianity and I would say has Christian values and probably many?/most? are Christians - it is nevertheless the case that no-one bothers if you're some other religion or no religion at all (ie might best be described as humanist).

red1

Im thinking of visiting a quaker meeting anyone have any experience,ive read a brief background in the beliefs but they seem a little lofty? i guess that applies to all religions, but then some say quakerism is not a religion, im confused!

It isn’t in itself a religion it’s a denomination of Christianity; as such it comes under the description nonconformist.

Interesting story widgeon.

My dad was a New Zealander, he was also a historian who knew a lot about war. When world war 2 began, he was in England teaching at a boys' boarding school. He immediately joined up with patriotic fervour.
However after training on Salisbury plain for several months he realised he didn't wish to be part of the war machine. He came out as a conscientious objector, risking being ostracised and ridiculed as a coward.
His CO was sympathetic and made excuses for him, but the NZ army were furious. NZ had taken a heavy toll in the first World War. Gallipoli, especially, was carnage.

He spent the war teaching history and sport at the school evacuated to rural England.
Ironically his best friend, a NZer, who joined the RAF and was a war hero lived into old age whereas my dad was killed in a civilian air crash when I was a small child.

I would love to have talked to him about his feelings and views.

My father was not called up until near the end of WWII when he was 'invited' to join the airforce. Luckily the war ended when it did, as he was a conscientious objector and he would have refused to fight.

He did a great deal of war work which included rescuing people and treating casualties during the London Blitzkrieg, assembling gas masks and fire watch on top of the BBC building as well as continuing with his demanding day job.

When my father joined his new school at the age of 13( after his father had been berated for sending his only son to a state school) dad was asked( this was between WW1 and WW2) which branch of the Combined Cadet Force he wished to join
He replied that as he had no wish to learn how to kill anyone ( even Germans) he had no answer Their reply was to suggest he explain his lack of patriotism to the whole school in assembly This he did and was ignored completely by his class mates who thought him treacherous.
However, he was also very athletic and within the year was promoted to being Captain of all sports. His political views no longer counted
All went well until the war came

He was similarly boycotted which my mother found most trying. She could not bring herself to tell me the truth when I asked what he had done during the war aand said his health had been too bad to participate

In fact he joined the AFS and spent the was years firefighting in Manchester
He also joined the Quakers in which he found some consolation. I do not believe my mother ever accompanied him to the Friend's Meeting House.He always remained true to his principles though, which may have afforded him some consolation

I know someone who attended Quaker Meetings for years but never became a member. When asked why she said she didn't think she was good enough .
When it was suggested that perhaps the Quakers were afraid they weren't good enough for her, she did become a member. Others don't take the plunge to join for various reasons. I became a member in my teens and we had a Quaker wedding.

Sorry you had that bad experience Earthmother

In the 1980s a Quaker peace caravan with a drama group was touring Britain acting thought-provoking plays often to Schools.

I asked our local high school if they would host the players.

The headteacher asked a few questions and then said "I lived next door to some Quakers once. They were nice people. Yes you can come to perform to the 6th form"

So it seems a lot rested on the individual experiences.

There are still a number of Friends Meeting Houses all over the country.

Quaker Meetings are usually characterized by their calm and peacefulness

From my own experience on knowing the children of Quakers over the years.

They are very, tolerant, intelligent and modest people who try to do good for the community in general

Hard work and industry, and looking afteer people used to be mark of the Quaker..Think Cadburys. Rowntrees, Fry and Terrys.

We could still. learn a lot from them

Best Regards

😻