A religion not even my dad can disagree with

At eleven o'clock on Sunday, the Friends gather in a square room with wooden pews. There is no alter, no podium, and no stained glass. Instead the pews are arranged in a square, such that everyone is facing everyone else. Around the edge of the room there are many large plants and two bookshelves in the corner serve as a library.

When everyone is seated, the Friends proceed to shut up and sit around for an hour in silence. During this hour, anyone who is moved to do so may rise and speak from their heart about whatever they feel. When they have said their piece, they sit down and no one responds. I think I can remember everything I've heard someone say in that room, because the less you say, the more people listen.

A martial artist spoke about perceiving herself as bigger in order to overcome an obstacle in her Aikido practice. She also suggested applying that bigness of self to other obstacles.

A Friend once talked about the trials and dangers of World War II and how Friends dealt with them, while heroically harboring Jews and "speaking truth to power." Which is to say, giving a message of peace to Hitler himself.

The Religious Society of Friends may be better known as Quakers. Confused with Shakers, Amish, the "oat-guy" and who knows what else. But perceptions of Quakers are usually uninformed and foggy.

Quakerism is rooted in Christianity, and could be considered either its own individual branch or a branch of protestantism. There is no explicit creed or written, or spoken affirmation of a specific faith. The Quakers have instead opted to place the responsibility of defining ones faith through all their actions and their own mental elbow grease.

In Faith and Practice, a book explaining the Quakers of the Northern Pacific Yearly Meeting, it says, "we do not place emhasis on the naming of God, instead we encourage eachother in John Woolman's phrase, "to distinguish the language of the pure Spirit which inwardly moves upon the heart."

More explicitly: they believe in Peace, Equality of all people, Sustainability, Living Simply, Doing one's duty and rebellion.

on rebellion:

"Throughout our history friends have testified that our lives are not meant to conform to the ways of the world but that we are meant to contribute to the transformation of the world through the light of truth."

Faith and Practice

Now you know how I feel, ALL THE TIME. This blog is about trying to speak truth to power. The earth needs all of us to sit down, face each other, and shut up.