12/7/09

Society of Friends

The Society of Friends is a religious movement with roots with some 17th century
Christian English dissenters. Today the movement has branched out into many
independent national and regional organizations. The most familiar name used for
the movement is Quaker, but various groups go by many other names:


Children of the Light
Friends
Friends Among Friends
Friends of the Truth
Quiet Helpers
Religious Society of Friends
Saints
Seekers of Truth


The name "Quaker" was first used in 1650, when George Fox was brought before
Justice Bennet of Derby on a charge of blasphemy. According to Fox's journal,
Bennet "called us Quakers because we bid them tremble at the word of God", a
scriptural reference (e.g., Isaiah 66:2, Ezra 9:4). Therefore, what began
apparently as a way to make fun of Fox's admonition by those outside the Society
of Friends became a nickname that even Friends use for themselves.


The names "Children of the Light" and "Friends of the Truth", reflecting the
central importance in early Quaker theology of Christ as an Inner light that
shows you your true condition.


George Fox and the other early Quakers believed that direct experience of God
was available to all people, without mediation (e.g., through hired clergy, or
through outward sacraments). Fox described this by writing that "Christ has come
to teach His people Himself."


Since Friends believe that each contains God, much of the Quaker perspective is
based on trying to hear God and to allow God's Spirit free action in the heart.
Isaac Penington wrote in 1670: "It is not enough to hear of Christ, or read of
Christ, but this is the thing — to feel him my root, my life, my foundation..."


Quakers try to bear witness or testify to their beliefs in their every day life
- an expression of "spirituality in action". These ways in which they testify
are often known as Quaker testimonies or Friends' testimonies - these are not a
formal, static set of words, but rather a shared view or attitude of how many
Quakers relate to God and the world. This leads to each Quaker having a
different understanding of what the testimonies are, and while the ideologies
remain quite similar for all Quakers, they go by different names, and different
values are included throughout the Religious Society of Friends. The Testimonies
are interrelated and can be seen as a coherent philosophical system, even
outside Christian theology. The testimonies have not always been consistent, but
throughout their history they have challenged Friends and provided them
guidance.


Source: Wikipedia


Testimony of Peace


Friends' peace testimony is largely derived from beliefs arising from the
teachings of Jesus to love one's enemies and Friends' belief in the inner light.
Quakers believe that nonviolent confrontation of evil and peaceful
reconciliation are always superior to violent measures. Peace testimony does not
mean that Quakers engage only in passive resignation; in fact, they often
practice passionate activism.


Testimony of Equality


Friends believe that all people are created equal in the eyes of God. Since all
people embody the same divine spark all people deserve equal treatment. Friends
were some of the first to value women as important ministers and to campaign for
women's rights; they became leaders in the anti-slavery movement, and were among
the first to pioneer humane treatment for individuals with mental disorders, and
for prisoners.


Testimony of Integrity


Early Friends believed that an important part of Jesus' message was how we treat
our fellow human beings. They felt that honest dealing with others meant more
than avoiding direct lies. Friends continue to believe that it is important not
to mislead others, even if the words used are all technically truthful. Early
Friends refused to swear oaths, even in courtrooms, believing that one must
speak truth at all times, and the act of swearing to it implied different
standards of truth with and without oaths; this doctrine is attributed to Jesus
in the Sermon on the Mount (specifically Matthew 5:34-37).


The essence of testimony to integrity is placing God at the center of one's
life. Quakers believe that the Spirit is in everyone. Integrity means focusing
and spending time listening to the small voice of the Spirit and being open to
being led by it - whether the Spirit is speaking within oneself or through
another.


Giving testimony to truth and integrity also means refusing to place things
other than God at the center of one's life - whether it be one's own self,
possessions, the regard of others, belief in principles (such as rationality,
progress or justice) or something else. It is the understanding that even good
things are no longer good when they supplant God as one's center.


Testimony of Simplicity


Simplicity to Friends has generally been a reference to material possessions.
Friends have often limited their possessions to what they need to live their
lives, rather than accumulating luxuries. The testimony is not just about the
nature of one's material possessions, but rather also about one's attitude
towards these material goods. Many Friends who have been considered exemplary
have also been wealthy; their commitment to the testimony, however, led them to
use their wealth for spiritual purposes, including aid to the poor and
oppressed. On the other hand, some Friends, such as John Woolman, gave up much
of their wealth and economic position when they felt it to be a spiritual
burden.[1] In recent decades Friends have given the Testimony an ecological
dimension: that Friends should not use more than their fair share of the Earth's
limited resources.


Additional:






Metaphysics and The Illusion
The following was written in a letter to Friends from Fox:
 All along ye may see, by faith the mountains were subdued; and the rage of the wicked, with his fiery darts, was quenched. Though the waves and storms be high, yet your faith will keep you, so as to swim above them; for they are but for a time, and the Truth is without time. Therefore keep on the mountain of holiness, ye who are led to it by the Light.
 Do not think that anything will outlast the Truth. For the Truth standeth sure; and is over that which is out of the Truth. For the good will overcome the evil; the light, darkness; the life, death; virtue, vice; and righteousness, unrighteousness. The false prophet cannot overcome the true; but the true prophet, Christ, will overcome all the false. (Here and below, Ch. XVII, "At The Work of Organizing, 1667-1670," quoted from a letter from Fox to Friends)
Here Fox speaks of time vs. eternity. He exhorts us to "keep on the mountain of holiness" or to stay in our right mind connected with Holy Spirit, so that we stay true to our eternal selves and not be tempted by the temporal. The false prophet is what ACIM calls ego. Like ACIM, Fox focuses Friends on the truth of their eternal spirit, rather than investing in what they see in this world of time and ego illusion.
Regarding his vision of the New Jerusalem he wrote:
 …I saw the beauty and glory of it, the length, the breadth, and the height thereof, all in complete proportion. I saw that all who are within the Light of Christ, and in His faith, of which He is the author; and in the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, which Christ and the holy prophets and apostles were in; and within the grace, and truth, and power of God, which are the walls of the city; — I saw that such are within the city, are members of it, and have right to eat of the Tree of Life...
Here he is stating that these members are not only within the city but are the spirit, the faith, and therefore the walls. Thus, they must be one with the city _ they are part of this New Jerusalem or, as ACIM calls it, "heaven" or "the real world." In ACIM, when we reach the real world it will be when we are living on earth as one. We will know that we are truly dependent on one another, not in a co-dependent way but because we are truly one. Our minds, thoughts and energy affect the consciousness of the planet, so we need to realize our interdependence and that we `go together or not at all' since we are all part of the one son of God. According to ACIM until we all understand this, and are united, we cannot return to heaven.

from: www.universalistfriends.org - The Teachings of George Fox and A Course In Miracles - By Jean Weston, author of Course Koans

www.quaker.org



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Tom Fox
Louisville, Kentucky


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