I Am a Quaker
I was raised as a Methodist. Though I loved the faith, it never felt like it quite fit.
Thus, over a period of several years, I attended services of many religions. Midway through my first Quaker meeting I knew that I had found my spiritual home. I have been a Quaker since that day some 25 years ago.
In addition to feeling a deep spiritual connection to Quakerism, I love the fact that it is non-credal. Quakers do not rotely quote lines written by others as an expression of their faith. Also there is a vast acceptance of other's beliefs - and thus you will find Christo-centric Quakers (myself) and non-Christo-centric Quakers. Each is accepted by the others as Quakers.
Quakers attempt to live their lives according to testimonies. These spell out SPICES - Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship.
Quakers discern these testimonies for themselves. Because of the Peace testimony, many refer to Quakers as pacifists, but the truth is more complicated than that. During World War II, some Quakers took conscientious objector status, some Quakers refused to take CO status because they felt it freed someone up else with a gun to go and kill, and some Quakers enlisted because they felt eliminating Hitler and Nazism was the most peaceful action they could take. And, when John Brown attacked the armory at Harpers Ferry prior to the Civil War (though civil war is by definition an oxymoron), there were two Quaker brothers - with guns - with him because they believed that eliminating slavery was the most peaceful thing they could do. All of these were true Quakers.
After I became a Quaker, I attended meeting whenever I could. The closest meeting to where I live is about 100 miles away, so I don't attend there often. Whenever, I know I will be away on a Sunday, I check quakerfinder.org to find the nearest meeting. In this manner, I have attended about 23 meetings coast to coast, as well as one in London.
Finally, after becoming a Quaker, I learned that those born to the faith are called Birthright Quakers while those who join later in life are called Convinced Quakers.
I don't like the term "Convinced" to describe my path to my Quaker beliefs. It makes it sound that someone, through dint of argument convinced me to accept the Quaker faith. Instead of changing my basic beliefs to fit the faith, I found the faith that fit my beliefs. Thus, I believe a new term is needed to express that reality.
Peace to all!
Quakertrucker
Thus, over a period of several years, I attended services of many religions. Midway through my first Quaker meeting I knew that I had found my spiritual home. I have been a Quaker since that day some 25 years ago.
In addition to feeling a deep spiritual connection to Quakerism, I love the fact that it is non-credal. Quakers do not rotely quote lines written by others as an expression of their faith. Also there is a vast acceptance of other's beliefs - and thus you will find Christo-centric Quakers (myself) and non-Christo-centric Quakers. Each is accepted by the others as Quakers.
Quakers attempt to live their lives according to testimonies. These spell out SPICES - Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship.
Quakers discern these testimonies for themselves. Because of the Peace testimony, many refer to Quakers as pacifists, but the truth is more complicated than that. During World War II, some Quakers took conscientious objector status, some Quakers refused to take CO status because they felt it freed someone up else with a gun to go and kill, and some Quakers enlisted because they felt eliminating Hitler and Nazism was the most peaceful action they could take. And, when John Brown attacked the armory at Harpers Ferry prior to the Civil War (though civil war is by definition an oxymoron), there were two Quaker brothers - with guns - with him because they believed that eliminating slavery was the most peaceful thing they could do. All of these were true Quakers.
After I became a Quaker, I attended meeting whenever I could. The closest meeting to where I live is about 100 miles away, so I don't attend there often. Whenever, I know I will be away on a Sunday, I check quakerfinder.org to find the nearest meeting. In this manner, I have attended about 23 meetings coast to coast, as well as one in London.
Finally, after becoming a Quaker, I learned that those born to the faith are called Birthright Quakers while those who join later in life are called Convinced Quakers.
I don't like the term "Convinced" to describe my path to my Quaker beliefs. It makes it sound that someone, through dint of argument convinced me to accept the Quaker faith. Instead of changing my basic beliefs to fit the faith, I found the faith that fit my beliefs. Thus, I believe a new term is needed to express that reality.
Peace to all!
Quakertrucker
70-79, M
