Comments on: What is a Quaker? Reflections on What We Might Become http://gatheringinlight.com/2009/01/19/what-is-a-quaker-reflections-on-what-we-might-become/ Current Blog Project: Six Months With a Quaker Preacher Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:46:36 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: C. Wess daniels http://gatheringinlight.com/2009/01/19/what-is-a-quaker-reflections-on-what-we-might-become/comment-page-1/#comment-71965 C. Wess daniels Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:42:43 +0000 http://gatheringinlight.com/?p=1621#comment-71965 Katy thanks for your kind remarks and comments. Hope is alive among our young Friends. Katy thanks for your kind remarks and comments. Hope is alive among our young Friends.

]]> By: Katy Palmer http://gatheringinlight.com/2009/01/19/what-is-a-quaker-reflections-on-what-we-might-become/comment-page-1/#comment-71964 Katy Palmer Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:15:38 +0000 http://gatheringinlight.com/?p=1621#comment-71964 Wess, it was so great having you at our retreat! I think you hit the nail on the head by saying "Because we ask the question, 'What is a Quaker?' we are alerted to the fact that the Quaker tradition is in crisis." As I come across more and more young people in the Quaker circles I'm in, I've found this to be oh so true. Quakerism is being defined by the younger generations I meet, as a group of people who are constantly in conflict, which prohibits them from doing ministry and finding a way to be relevant in our culture because of our own ambiguity and confusion. We need a new definition or we’re going to keep losing our young people! To the King! To the Restoration! Katy Palmer WYM Christian Ed. Director Wess, it was so great having you at our retreat! I think you hit the nail on the head by saying "Because we ask the question, 'What is a Quaker?' we are alerted to the fact that the Quaker tradition is in crisis." As I come across more and more young people in the Quaker circles I'm in, I've found this to be oh so true. Quakerism is being defined by the younger generations I meet, as a group of people who are constantly in conflict, which prohibits them from doing ministry and finding a way to be relevant in our culture because of our own ambiguity and confusion. We need a new definition or we’re going to keep losing our young people!

To the King! To the Restoration!
Katy Palmer
WYM Christian Ed. Director

]]> By: C. Wess daniels http://gatheringinlight.com/2009/01/19/what-is-a-quaker-reflections-on-what-we-might-become/comment-page-1/#comment-71963 C. Wess daniels Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:15:50 +0000 http://gatheringinlight.com/?p=1621#comment-71963 Great! That is really helpful Great! That is really helpful

]]> By: Liz Opp http://gatheringinlight.com/2009/01/19/what-is-a-quaker-reflections-on-what-we-might-become/comment-page-1/#comment-71962 Liz Opp Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:33:21 +0000 http://gatheringinlight.com/?p=1621#comment-71962 Wess, I'm not sure why I missed this post when you first put it up. ...I like to answer this sort of question--What is a Quaker?--by talking about what it looks like from an outsider's perspective and what it looks like from an insider's perspective: Outsider's view--A Quaker is someone who works for peace and justice; worships (and/or dresses) in an unconventional way; seems to be an "early adapter" of certain causes and movements. Insider's view--A Quaker is someone who regularly seeks God's guidance; opens oneself to the Light of the Inward Teacher; engages in spiritual discernment through prayer and community support; has a deep understanding of and has come under the weight of the traditions and manners of Friends (e.g. worship, ministry, the Testimonies and their root, conducting business, etc.) .....It's always good to take stock and reflect on some basic questions... Blessings, Liz Opp, <a href="http://thegoodraisedup.blogspot.com" target="_blank">The Good Raised Up</a> Wess, I'm not sure why I missed this post when you first put it up. …I like to answer this sort of question–What is a Quaker?–by talking about what it looks like from an outsider's perspective and what it looks like from an insider's perspective: Outsider's view–A Quaker is someone who works for peace and justice; worships (and/or dresses) in an unconventional way; seems to be an "early adapter" of certain causes and movements. Insider's view–A Quaker is someone who regularly seeks God's guidance; opens oneself to the Light of the Inward Teacher; engages in spiritual discernment through prayer and community support; has a deep understanding of and has come under the weight of the traditions and manners of Friends (e.g. worship, ministry, the Testimonies and their root, conducting business, etc.) …..It's always good to take stock and reflect on some basic questions…

Blessings,
Liz Opp, The Good Raised Up

]]> By: C. Wess daniels http://gatheringinlight.com/2009/01/19/what-is-a-quaker-reflections-on-what-we-might-become/comment-page-1/#comment-71951 C. Wess daniels Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:15:43 +0000 http://gatheringinlight.com/?p=1621#comment-71951 Adam, Great question. Maybe I should do another survey?! I'm not really sure to be honest. I know of Friends who think this way, or would agree on some of these points but maybe not all. It seems to me that those who consider themselves "convergent" would be the closest to this assessment, though there is certainly diversity there as well. Adam, Great question. Maybe I should do another survey?! I'm not really sure to be honest. I know of Friends who think this way, or would agree on some of these points but maybe not all. It seems to me that those who consider themselves "convergent" would be the closest to this assessment, though there is certainly diversity there as well.

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