What are Quaker meetings like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a Quaker school and can say that in middle school, meetings were rough. No one said anything, except the day we had a special meeting when the space shuttle blew up. But by high school, there were actually some pretty amazing meetings. People talking very thoughtfully about parent's deaths, not getting a job because of their race, really moving stuff.

So dwell? When I interviewed as a sixth grader my interviewer said the middle school meetings were quiet but the high school ones were called "popcorn" meetings becasue so many people spoke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hostility on this thread is offensive. I grew up as a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers was a derogatory nickname which over time has come into use by the community, but most I know Quakers refer to themselves as Friends). A core belief is that there is the light of God in everyone, and no one is closer to God than anyone else. Everyone's relationship is directly with God and should happen without mediation by a priest or minister. The emphasis is on simplicity and stripping out false ornamentation and distractions. It is Christian but quite different than other Christian denominations in the method of practice. Go visit! Visitors are always welcome.

This is not Christian doctrine. Christians do not believe in god as "light," but in the flesh and blood personage of Jesus Christ. Also, I could never understand the statement that no one is closer to God than anyone else. Does this mean that ax murderers are just as close to God as, say, those that follow Christ and truly live out His way?

Not a Quaker but I think it means what PP posted next, that you don't need a minister, priest, rabbi, etc to intercede or interpret for you -- you can talk directly to G-d yourself and don't need rules or laws or rituals to tell you how to worship.

I don't know about the Jesus part though. PP who is a Friend, do the Friends believe Jesus is the son of G-d like other Christian denominations do?

[Anonymous]

You sit in silence and speak if moved to speak about whatever you want. It's peaceful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hostility on this thread is offensive. I grew up as a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers was a derogatory nickname which over time has come into use by the community, but most I know Quakers refer to themselves as Friends). A core belief is that there is the light of God in everyone, and no one is closer to God than anyone else. Everyone's relationship is directly with God and should happen without mediation by a priest or minister. The emphasis is on simplicity and stripping out false ornamentation and distractions. It is Christian but quite different than other Christian denominations in the method of practice. Go visit! Visitors are always welcome.

This is not Christian doctrine. Christians do not believe in god as "light," but in the flesh and blood personage of Jesus Christ. Also, I could never understand the statement that no one is closer to God than anyone else. Does this mean that ax murderers are just as close to God as, say, those that follow Christ and truly live out His way?

This is not YOUR Christian doctrine. Have you not noticed that Christians come is quite a variety? You sound like you think only YOUR kind can be close God. Are not we all God's Children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hostility on this thread is offensive. I grew up as a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers was a derogatory nickname which over time has come into use by the community, but most I know Quakers refer to themselves as Friends). A core belief is that there is the light of God in everyone, and no one is closer to God than anyone else. Everyone's relationship is directly with God and should happen without mediation by a priest or minister. The emphasis is on simplicity and stripping out false ornamentation and distractions. It is Christian but quite different than other Christian denominations in the method of practice. Go visit! Visitors are always welcome.

This is not Christian doctrine. Christians do not believe in god as "light," but in the flesh and blood personage of Jesus Christ. Also, I could never understand the statement that no one is closer to God than anyone else. Does this mean that ax murderers are just as close to God as, say, those that follow Christ and truly live out His way?

Not a Quaker but I think it means what PP posted next, that you don't need a minister, priest, rabbi, etc to intercede or interpret for you -- you can talk directly to G-d yourself and don't need rules or laws or rituals to tell you how to worship.

I don't know about the Jesus part though. PP who is a Friend, do the Friends believe Jesus is the son of G-d like other Christian denominations do?[/quote]

There is a variety of opinion, some do and some don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hostility on this thread is offensive. I grew up as a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers was a derogatory nickname which over time has come into use by the community, but most I know Quakers refer to themselves as Friends). A core belief is that there is the light of God in everyone, and no one is closer to God than anyone else. Everyone's relationship is directly with God and should happen without mediation by a priest or minister. The emphasis is on simplicity and stripping out false ornamentation and distractions. It is Christian but quite different than other Christian denominations in the method of practice. Go visit! Visitors are always welcome.

This is not Christian doctrine. Christians do not believe in god as "light," but in the flesh and blood personage of Jesus Christ. Also, I could never understand the statement that no one is closer to God than anyone else. Does this mean that ax murderers are just as close to God as, say, those that follow Christ and truly live out His way?

This is not YOUR Christian doctrine. Have you not noticed that Christians come is quite a variety? You sound like you think only YOUR kind can be close God. Are not we all God's Children?

How about this, then. It's not Biblical Christian doctrine. Yes, there are a lot of false religions out there.

[Anonymous]

There are not many AA quakers. Most are white social workers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hostility on this thread is offensive. I grew up as a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers was a derogatory nickname which over time has come into use by the community, but most I know Quakers refer to themselves as Friends). A core belief is that there is the light of God in everyone, and no one is closer to God than anyone else. Everyone's relationship is directly with God and should happen without mediation by a priest or minister. The emphasis is on simplicity and stripping out false ornamentation and distractions. It is Christian but quite different than other Christian denominations in the method of practice. Go visit! Visitors are always welcome.

This is not Christian doctrine. Christians do not believe in god as "light," but in the flesh and blood personage of Jesus Christ. Also, I could never understand the statement that no one is closer to God than anyone else. Does this mean that ax murderers are just as close to God as, say, those that follow Christ and truly live out His way?

This is not YOUR Christian doctrine. Have you not noticed that Christians come is quite a variety? You sound like you think only YOUR kind can be close God. Are not we all God's Children?

How about this, then. It's not Biblical Christian doctrine. Yes, there are a lot of false religions out there.

Go back to westboro

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are not many AA quakers. Most are white social workers.

I was never sure if AA means African American or Asian American, but I'm going to assume African American. I would also say that locally most Quakers are white, but there are thousands of Quakers in Africa. But not all Quakers are white. There were black members in the meeting I used to go to.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quakers_in_Africa

[Anonymous]

Yes to 20:11

Maybe thing have changed, but hs kids were very respectful of the service -- you didn't just stand up and heave some bullshit out there. (And of course some kids played hooky too.) I'd say about 90% silence. And of course some of the teachers would stand up to say stuff, but it was again usually thoughtful, and not generic "isn't it horrible what's happening in xxxxxxx." When one senior spoke at some length about a pretty significant personal loss, afer some time a teacher attempted what we later learned was called "eldering" -- basically standing next to someone to give them the hint. I recall we booed the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hostility on this thread is offensive. I grew up as a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers was a derogatory nickname which over time has come into use by the community, but most I know Quakers refer to themselves as Friends). A core belief is that there is the light of God in everyone, and no one is closer to God than anyone else. Everyone's relationship is directly with God and should happen without mediation by a priest or minister. The emphasis is on simplicity and stripping out false ornamentation and distractions. It is Christian but quite different than other Christian denominations in the method of practice. Go visit! Visitors are always welcome.

This is not Christian doctrine. Christians do not believe in god as "light," but in the flesh and blood personage of Jesus Christ. Also, I could never understand the statement that no one is closer to God than anyone else. Does this mean that ax murderers are just as close to God as, say, those that follow Christ and truly live out His way?

This is not YOUR Christian doctrine. Have you not noticed that Christians come is quite a variety? You sound like you think only YOUR kind can be close God. Are not we all God's Children?

How about this, then. It's not Biblical Christian doctrine. Yes, there are a lot of false religions out there.

Go back to westboro

You should go back to the Bible.

[Anonymous]

Op - by all means go and try it. This wiki below should give you an idea of the various branches of Quakerism. But keep in mind only 359,000 Quakers still exist in the entire world. It is a dying religion. The Quakers in Nantucket ended when only one woman and one man showed up for the Meeting and sat in silence, at the end of which they agreed that was the end. And the Quaker Meeting Hall became the community center. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quakers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The hostility on this thread is offensive. I grew up as a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers was a derogatory nickname which over time has come into use by the community, but most I know Quakers refer to themselves as Friends). A core belief is that there is the light of God in everyone, and no one is closer to God than anyone else. Everyone's relationship is directly with God and should happen without mediation by a priest or minister. The emphasis is on simplicity and stripping out false ornamentation and distractions. It is Christian but quite different than other Christian denominations in the method of practice. Go visit! Visitors are always welcome.

This is not Christian doctrine. Christians do not believe in god as "light," but in the flesh and blood personage of Jesus Christ. Also, I could never understand the statement that no one is closer to God than anyone else. Does this mean that ax murderers are just as close to God as, say, those that follow Christ and truly live out His way?

I stand corrected here, and I also correct the PP. From reading, what I have learned is that the Quaker doctrine is that God is in all believers, not God is in everyone as stated here. That is a very crucial difference.

[Anonymous]

"Christians do not believe in god as "light," but in the flesh and blood personage of Jesus Christ."

Last I checked, Christians believe in the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. My understanding of Friends view of the "light" is how the Holy Spirit comes to us, flows through us and is a part of us.