
You sound like a Quaker to me. If you believe that you are searching for the truth, that we are all searching, that is very Quaker. |
Unitarian worked for me too. |
OP, no answers for you but thank you for posting. My DH and I literally just had this conversation on Easter and we're struggling how to handle it. She's only 22 months, so we have lots of time to figure this out, but as a catholic disillusioned with the church and a non-practicing Jew, we're not sure where to go. There have been some great responses here, except of course for mean the big fat mean person who thinks religion is work. |
Sounds like you're not doing the work. Or at least not getting the message. Golden Rule, anyone? |
come on OP! take the quiz and tell us what you get! We are curious! |
The number of people who are saying Quaker really surprise me. If you've ever been around genuinely practicing, staunch Quakers who believe in their faith, they are INTENSELY Christian people. This is not just some hippy-dippy zen buddhist way of life. |
the ones at adelphi friends meeting are not intensely christian. some are even atheist. it varies meeting by meeting. |
No matter what kind of Quaker you are, if you want to be a bona fide Quaker, you have to convert, and it's not a simple process. Not like signing the book at the UU congregation. |
You don't have to convert to attend. There are lots of attenders who are not actually members. (of quaker meetings) |
No PP's one of those uniquely American Christians who can be as much of a dick as they want, so long as the accept Jesus Christ into their heart. Then whatever nasty impulses strike you, you can chalk it up to Jesus speaking to you directly. USA! USA! |
I'm in a similar place. I was raised Catholic, DH was raised Conservative Christian. We are both pretty liberal in regards to religious and social stances and have tried a few churches. Most recently we have went to a nondenominational Christian church. It is okay, I'm not in love.
I don't want to go to a church in which the kids are shipped off to a Sunday School room - which I have found most churches tend to do. I don't want to be judged or so engulfed by the presence that I run up to the alter with hands in the air. I hope no one takes offense if you are comfortable in those situations. My husband doesn't want to have more than one money donation basket shoved in his face, nor does he want the preacher to mention money. Not that we are cheap, but really, we give what we can, when we can. I took the quiz and my top three were - 1) Liberal Christian Protestants 2) Orthodox Quaker 3. Liberal Quaker Catholic came in at #8. Though I still have some deeply Catholism believes (Virgin Mary, Saints, etc), I also have a lot of issues with the church. Honestly I'm not all the sure of what the Quaker religion is about. I naively thought Quakers were simily the pilgrims (coming to escape religious persecution). I have no idea about anything after that. |
None of the quakers I know are very material-focussed about their faith. If all you got so far is "the bunny holiday" and some prezzies on the 25th... doesn't sound like Quaker to me.
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Quakers did come here to avoid religious persecution, but they are not like the Pilgrims. William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, was a Quaker (although Richard Nixon was one, too). Quakers were also featured in the famous book "Moby Dick", as most of the residents of Nantucket were Quakers at that time (Ahab was a Quaker). Modern Quakers are quite varied. Some have "programmed meetings" and even pastors, like Christian protestant denominations. Some have unprogrammed meetings and no paid staff, and the members sit together in silence and wait for the "spirit" to lead them to speak. Quakers don't believe in war, and will only serve in the military in roles like ambulance driver.
The Quakers I know today are mostly non-Christian. Some are, however. My son was taught that the Quaker values are simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, stewartship. They do celebrate traditional Christian holidays, although in a simple manner (the ones I know. it varies a lot). But they do believe that truth is still being revealed. That the spirit continues to reveal truths to all of us, if we listen. The ones I know are very welcoming to people, no matter the state of their spiritual journey, and understand the need for fellowship that you are describing with your longing for shared spiritual holidays. (they also tend to be liberal and vegans, the ones I know locally here in the DC area, but I've only been to Adelphi Friends Meeting in MD) |
16:31 here again. Thanks PP. I looked up some information on Quakers. I found it very interesting. I align with most of their beliefs, except we are a military family, so I'm not sure if that alone would keep me out of the Quaker realm? |