Good friends, there's more spirit in a quake than a shake

Here’s a fantastic newspaper article by Melbourne columnist Catherine Deveny of The Age, describing in a wonderful, humorous way her experience of visiting a Quaker meeting last Sunday. Her reflections are even more striking when compared to her experience and previous article about a mega-church youth event she attended.

This article helped me realise why I'm feeling more and more at home with the Quakers, those 'Selfish, power-hungry bastards'. Have a read and please do laugh!

AS I was leaving for the Quakers’ meeting, my mate said: "You need to get there 10 minutes early for the Unveiling Of The Relic".

"What happens then?" I asked.

"Well, the men with the beards, wearing the hoods, shave, brand and sacrifice the newest member, known as The Unclean, before they perform acts in the Circle Of Darkness on The Goat of Truth."

"So who quakes?" I asked.

"Everyone," he said. "Wear clean undies. Trust me."

A discussion then followed about what Quakers were, that, typically, ended up more about what they weren’t. "Aren’t they the ones with the big hats and buckles?" No, they’re the Pilgrims. "Aren’t they the ones who make furniture?" No, they’re the Shakers. "Well, are they the ones with the horses and buggies, Abe Lincoln beards and Little House On the Prairie outfits, who raise barns?" No, they’re the Amish.

Eventually, and after a mention of Uncle Toby (as in the oats), I was off for some red-hot Quaker action. And I was excited. In a grey carpet, fluorescent lights, lots of pamphlets, instant coffee kind of way.

And I wasn’t disappointed. There was indeed grey carpet, fluorescent lights, lots of pamphlets, instant coffee … and 20 chairs in a circle.

If you like sitting in a circle staring into space, you’re gonna love the Quakers. They’re the Claytons religion. The religion you have when you don’t have a religion. Because they’re not a religion. They’re a ‘‘religious society of friends’’. You don’t even have to believe in God to be a Quaker. You don’t even need to be a Quaker to be a Quaker. You can sign up and become a member, or just be an ‘‘attender’’. Jesus! Would it kill you to give me something to be scared of? I’m an escaped Catholic.

They don’t have a church. Or clergy. Or parishioners. Or a doctrine. Just friends, a room, and an ethos of truth, equality, peace and simplicity. Selfish, power-hungry bastards.

"Our worship follows no ritual or order of service. We gather together in a silent meeting, for an hour."

And so we did. Sitting round a coffee table covered in pamphlets with a pot plant in the middle, we mostly sat in silence. Part meditation, part group therapy, part sitting in a doctor’s waiting room.

Every now and then someone would say something about faith, journeys, occasionally even God. One woman talked about a Quaker meeting as a place you come to have your answers questioned. The idea is the spirit connects us all and anyone moved by the spirit can speak.

I was more moved by a dozen people sitting in silence than I was last week by a thousand or so being force-fed mumbo jumbo between power anthems at Planetshakers. I felt more connected to the man asleep next to me at the Quakers than the Planetshaker who spoke in tongues through a song about Opening Your Legs For Jesus, or something.

At the end of the meeting we all held hands and had coffee. I chatted with some Quaker friends who were lovely, despite their belief in an imaginary friend in the sky. They talked about how Quakers are about working it out yourself. DIY spirituality. And how the nature of people being attracted to spiritual anarchy made it difficult to get decisions made and stuff done at times. "God loved the world so much she didn’t send a committee," one joked.

I couldn’t help thinking there’d never be a Quaker terrorist cell. Their inherent non-conformity would make it impossible for them to be extremist about anything. I relate with them. The only thing I believe in is nihilism.

Quakers are mavericks. God, no God. Member, no member. Turn up, don’t. They encourage people to explore other religions. "Quakers do not have a fixed creed, but believe that each individual must find their own understanding of God, and is guided by their conscience in finding the way to live."

It’s hard to be cynical about the Quakers, but that’s not going to stop me. I kept thinking about comedian Bill Hicks talking about the anti-marketing dollar being a good market.

Despite the sensible shoes, serviceable clothes and no-nonsense haircuts, the Quakers know how to have a good time. They’re holding a ’50s night next month called Quake, Rattle and Roll. You gotta laugh. Or not.

What a fantastic column, and sense of humour! Catherine has a new fan!

doubtful intelligence

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt."

-- Bertrand Russel

I love this quote. Seems to be true of most progressive people (and faiths) that I know. A big struggle within Quakers is that there is no emphasis on telling people what Quakers believe (because you can only find it out for yourself/there is 'that of God' within you) yet many of the young members' frsutration with the Society comes from the lack of explicit teaching of Quaker principles and values. How do you teach your truth humbly, with the knowledge that there may well be other 'right' ways, and the aim that people think for themselves?

Russel seems to be pretty sure of his intelligent opinions though!

At Ease?

At Ease

Too lazy to be ambitious,
I let the world take care of itself.
Ten days' worth of rice in my bag;
a bundle of twigs by the fireplace.
Why chatter about delusion and enlightenment?
Listening to the night rain on my roof,
I sit comfortably, with both legs stretched out.

Ryokan, The Enlightened Heart, an Anthology of Sacred Poetry

Hmmm... what an enticing picture. Reminds me of the 'perfect plan' that Gus constructs in David James Duncan's The River Why - living in his self-sufficient little hermit cottage in the woods fishing for 8 hours a day. I often wish I was less driven and 'responsible' and ambitious and could just 'be'. Let the world take care of itself.
Some wise fellow at Quaker meeting in Canberra last week said this:

"The most dangerous people in the world are those who claim to know what is wrong with the world and how to fix it".

Hmm. I'm challenged by how to balance Ryokan and this wise Quakers' thoughts with the calling I seem to have that encourages me to change/save/enlighten myself/society/the world.
E B White seems to capture my struggle:

If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) the world and a desire to enjoy (or savor) the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.

E B White, Planning the Day, Notes and Comment, the New Yorker

Quakerisms - Intro #1

As promised, here’s an excerpt from the “Who are the Quakers” booklet of the Central and Southern Africa Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. It’s only a little booklet, and not nearly conclusive or final, but I found the info helpful. The statement below draws together statements made by the Lesotho Allowed Meeting and the Johannesburg Monthly Meeting (ie congregation).

I love the lack of generalisations, the use of ‘most’ or ‘many’ instead of ‘all Quakers’, and the guiding principles of love and truthfulness. Some of the ‘divine light’ sounds a bit too esoteric and/or Gnostic for me, but I’m sure their pneumatology is in line with that of the New Testament and most mystics. The inter-faith and multi-faith space is also telling.
So, without further commentary, here is intro excerpt #1:

What do Quakers Believe?

There is a Divine Seed in everyone. We each have a direct, unique relationship with God.

We have in each of us, a degree of the same Spirit as was evident in Jesus of Nazareth. We try to be conscious of this Spirit, also called Inner Light, Inner Guide, Christ Within, “that of God”, the Divine Light, the Holy Spirit.

Many Quakers find God fully revealed in the teaching, example and sacrificial life of Jesus of Nazareth.

Love is the basis of our life. Quakers believe that they are required to love that of God in everyone, therefore most Quakers seek to find alternatives to war and violence.

Truthfulness is also at the root of Quaker faith and practice. This is one of the reasons why we have no formal creed, as to do so may encourage people to make statements that they do not truly believe.

We Quakers do not express our faith in set words because we find that the experience and knowledge of God lies beyond words. It must be lived and demonstrated throughout the whole of life.

We have no priests as intermediaries.

We experience the Christian sacraments inwardly, without the use of outward symbols.

All persons must seek individual guidance and must follow the light found within. Each will be helped by the developing interpretations of God in the Bible and the ideas of the great spiritual leaders of all faiths.

The Quaker focus on the Spirit encourages us to be inclusive and gentle, because in relating to one another we are relating to God. This respect for one another allows everyone to grow confidently in relation to God and the Creation.


nice hey? not an approach that one hears much here in churchland unfortunately.

Once upon a time ... a church quest.

When Julie moved down to Cape Town a couple of years back, she set out on a quest. A ‘God quest’ to be precise - trying to find a faith community. Together with Natalie, a mutual friend of ours, she visited many Methodist, Presby and other churches in Cape Town trying to find a place to belong. Alas, none was to be found. Whether the churches were too conservative or mono-cultural or old, nothing really grabbed these two pilgrims. To be fair, for Natalie, nothing really rivals Alan Storey's sermons and the work at Calvary Methodist in Midrand, and Julie wasn’t up to returning to the NCMI headspace or fold. They almost gave up the search, relishing the notion of a Sunday lie-in, when Natalie suggested they try the Quakers in Mowbray.

And they did. And liked it. And stayed.

And there they are to this day, happily ever after!

I’ve joined Jules at Quakers (or Friends, or Religious Society of Friends) a bunch of times, and really enjoy the way they ‘do church’ - or rather ‘don’t do church’. This specific community are silent worshippers, and ‘meeting for worship’ comprises an hour of silence, with everyone listening to what the Spirit may be saying to them at that time. For someone who used to be comfortable with 20 minutes of centering prayer on my prayer bench, trying to focus for an hour is tough. After a while of waiting/listening, members who feel so moved may stand up and say/sing/read/pray something. After the ‘ministry’ you have welcomes, notices and tea. I’d try to embellish, but in a sense you have to experience if for yourself. Sundays at 9:30, Quaker House, 2 Rye Road, Mowbray.

The community is fabulous - full of former anti-apartheid activists, an ex-deputy-minister of health, a world-famous mathematician and cosmologist, and a smattering of international Quakers visiting the city for a while. The work of the Quaker Peace Centre is worthwhile, and their witness to peace, non-violence, equality and inclusivity most inspiring. In fact, I’m wondering whether there are any ideas I can translate into a Presbyterian setting if/when I find myself in such a place. It also seems to me that a lot of the language they use, and the lack of creeds or ‘absolutes’, echoes the intentions of some of the emergent conversation I hear. Their ability to overcome bias and differences yet keep a fervent faith is also a crucial skill needed in today’s multicultural and pluralist world. Not to mention their powerful social justice work. Oxfam, Greenpeace and Amnesty International were all founded by Quakers. Most, most interesting!

Yesterday I picked up a little booklet at Quaker house that outlines what Quakers stand for etc. When I get the time, I’ll type some of the salient points up and post them here as an intro to this wonderfully open group of believers. I really like the space, openness with which they explain their beliefs.
So... stay tuned!