Snowdrops in the garden of Settle Meeting. Photo: David and Louise Tinsley.
Eye - 21 February 2025
Eye hears about 'thunking', sees snowdrops emerge in a peaceful display, and enjoys a trusty readers' lyrics celebrating snores
Snowdrops in Settle
Friends in Yorkshire are enjoying seeing peaceful snowdrops emerge. David and Louise Tinsley, resident Friends of Settle Meeting, sent in this photo of delicate blooms appearing. Do you or your Meeting have seasonal scenes to share?
Creative ‘thunking’
Eye was intrigued when Nick Tyldesley, from Bolton, got in touch to describe ‘thunking’ – a light-hearted way to engage in a philosophical exercise.
He writes: ‘The Philosophy for Schools Movement, founded some thirty years ago, is based on the belief that even young primary pupils can engage with sophisticated questions around ethical issues. This follows in the tradition of the Socratic Dialogue. The process can enhance discussion skills, a sense of curiosity, a respect for alternative views, and teaching an acceptance that there may well be no right answers. It should be a fun activity too. The Book of Thunks, by Ian Gilbert, is an offshoot that provides a range of stimulus questions which can in fact be used by enquirers of all ages.
‘A “thunk” is defined as something that makes your brain go “ouch” – taking you out of your comfort zone and making you come up with unexpected, richer answers to share with others.
‘The context for posing thunks is a friendly circle where a group can listen respectfully, choose to make a contribution and let the discussion move in whatever direction seems appropriate at the time. The topic will finish by mutual consent. Yes, this process does work – I have successfully used thunks with teachers in India… and very bright but disruptive Year Ten pupils…’
Some examples from Ian Gilbert’s book include: ‘Which is more important – being right or nice?’; ‘Is a computer clever?’; ‘How many bricks is a wall?’; and ‘Which is more real: a table, love, air or fire?’
But how would a thunk provoke a discussion? Nick takes the question ‘Do dogs like poetry?’ and elaborates: ‘Simple response – of course not, don’t be silly. But start by considering how you might train your dog to listen to poetry at a regular time slot, add the odd treat, just read a short poem, stroke the dog, try different poems… Write your own poem for a dog. Does your dog react? This raises the issue of conditioning – is the response due to the tone of voice/words? How might a wild dog react? Then you might divert to discuss why do we like poetry in general, the purpose of poems. A general conclusion – would your dog respond with a wagged tail?’
Could thunks geared towards Quakers ‘stimulate discussion in a Meeting, to encourage a climate of creative ideas but without the pressure of coming to a consensus?’
Nick has proposed twelve to get the juices flowing – do you have any to pose? Send them to eye@thefriend.org!
1. How would you recognise a Quaker in the street?
2. Where do thoughts come from?
3. Should we build more houses or rebuild Notre Dame?
4. What colour is heaven?
5. Can a dog become a Quaker?
6. What makes God smile?
7. Is the Bible a dangerous book?
8. What would you want to ask George Fox?
9. What would happen if we all agreed with each other all the time?
10. Is AI-generated ministry proper ministry?
11. Should Quakers wear broad-brimmed hats/bonnets again?
12. Can you still have a war with no fighting?
Meeting moments
After ‘rumblings abdominal’ inspired ear-worm-worthy lyrics (7 February), Eye’s invitation prompted David Hitchin, of Lewes Meeting, to pen his own!
We all sat in the Meeting adoring,
While the rain on the windows was pouring,
And the wind in the rafters was roaring,
But none of this violence
Interrupted the silence
Half as much as the sound of Jim’s snoring.
