Letters - 15 September 2017
From Quaker Week to a thoughtful approach
Quaker Week
As Quaker Week approaches the call goes out again for the need to attract new members, accompanied by hand-wringing about the present composition of members and attenders. I am haunted by the question of what exactly these potential joiners are being asked to join. I no longer know, so perhaps someone would kindly enlighten me.
I know of its class/ethnic/gender makeup (sixty-two per cent women), its liberal approach to sexuality, the misuse of words and phrases inherited from historic seventeenth Quakerism such as ‘Quaker’, ‘Religious’, ‘the Light’, ‘Worship’, ‘Friends’ (of the truth, Christ?) and the mantra ‘seeing that of God’ (now transposed to seeing good with poor old God airbrushed out) – some of which, for an unknown number, have no meaning.
Testimonies, too, appear optional, in particular equality. People with contrary views, using their hard-earned democratic right to vote, are vilified as being uneducated, racist and unfit to do so.
We are told that those from less comfortable and well educated backgrounds are more likely to feel safe and be drawn in by simple, unequivocal messages… fervent singing. Fervent singing aside, they sound like early Quakers. Equality in the sight and love of God/good?
We are told that Quakers do have doctrine. This is confusing as there is a multiplicity of doctrines which, it would appear, can be selected or invented at will.
So, if being comfortable, equivocal and well-educated is a benchmark for potential members, it is more of the same, then. Is it?
Molly Braithwaite
Testify to the truth
The article by Jamie Wrench (1 September) struck a chord with me. Yes, we are faced with an appalling level of greed, selfishness and mindless short-termism, and often it does seem that all is lost. I agree that this makes no difference to our commitment to life building here and now, something we are capable of achieving too in smaller or larger measure.
Nevertheless, we have no choice but to testify to the truth and the only means of changing the world – ‘living the Gospel’ – is by also proclaiming this to others in whatever way we can. Unfortunately, we often deceive ourselves in thinking that we can achieve change through activism alone, forgetting what it is that drives us to action. We need to nourish our Meetings, to ‘keep them’, encourage and support one another better and hear the message of hope and joy that is to be found in deeply listening in truly gathered, silent worship. It is only there that we can restore ourselves, regain the courage to go forth and declare the same message of hope and joy to others. If we have truly encountered the Light and experienced something of God’s power it would be an act of betrayal to remain silent. Throughout our history Friends have never been afraid to stand up and speak. The challenge is to find modern, effective ways of getting our message across.
Peter D Leeming
Jamie Wrench’s eloquent article certainly provoked thought, but I am not convinced that we should turn away from ‘speaking truth to power’.
As well as those who choose to engage actively in politics, those who work in humanitarian aid, campaign for human rights, or undertake conflict resolution cannot avoid contact and engagement with power holders, whether enabling or obstructive.
Many Quakers, among a growing number of others, are involved in all these activities. Injustice and discrimination have to be named if they are to be transformed. This often requires great courage and sacrifice. It also requires great care. I have read recently that the effectiveness of speaking truth to power depends on when, how and to whom the truth is spoken. The victims of injustice may not have the freedom to express their suffering and therefore need others (for example Amnesty International) to speak for them.
I am grateful to Jamie Wrench, not least for his moving penultimate paragraph. We need to do all he says there but we can do more. We cannot ignore power holders and this will, at times, involve challenging injustice and abuse directly. We still have a lot to learn about how to do this skilfully and how to cooperate with others in so doing. I believe developing these skills will be essential for humanity’s future, even one as dark as that which Jamie Wrench describes.
Kit Welchman
Kathleen Drew Baker
I was interested to read Michael Hennessey’s article about the Baker family (1 September). Kathleen Drew Baker taught me (and others) during part of the autumn term of 1948 when we were studying algae. She specialised in red algae, seaweeds which have very complex lifecycles. Their haploid (gametophyte) and diploid (sporophyte) generations are often quite dissimilar, and were often placed in different genera.
Her husband, Henry Wright Baker, a professor of mechanical engineering, created a special tank with artificial tides in which she could grow them in the laboratory. She cultivated them and was able work out their lifecycles.
She showed that the Japanese edible seaweed ‘nori’ (Porphyra laciniata) was the same as the alternative phase in its lifecycle (Conchocelis rosea). Her knowledge enabled the development of ‘seeding’ techniques and this, as Michael Hennessey wrote, resulted in the revival of the Japanese industry.
In 1963, six years after her death, grateful Japanese fishermen erected a memorial and dedicated it to her as ‘The Mother of the Sea’.
Brian Hopkins
Antisocial behaviour
Norwich Meeting has deferred until October a decision whether to install CCTV cameras. Goat Lane Meeting House is a Grade II* listed building.
There are historical concerns about antisocial behaviour from drug users, the homeless and alcohol users. There also concerns about vandalism, and the property has been used as a public toilet and needle dump. Attending members of the Local Meeting will consider installation of CCTV cameras as a deterrent, for security and for possible evidence.
Duty of care towards our volunteer wardens, and the individuals and groups who use the premises, are reasons cited for this controversial proposal. Crossing a line, creating a ‘fortress’ mentality, compromising what is Quakerism, and discriminatory beliefs and practices, are reasons not to install the cameras.
The local car park had alterations in part to prevent the Meeting House garden from being used by drug dealers.
There have been attempts to manage the antisocial behaviour. Are there other Meetings who have been or who are faced with similar antisocial behaviour and who have discovered successful solutions?
Steven Walton
Prayer for peace
To all who live in the light and have love in their hearts: In this current situation, with two heads of state threatening war power, Iit is time for each of us to be strong in power with prayer that is passionate for peace.
Joanna Creed
Actions and words
I do not think that the real division is between theists and nontheists. After all, the Bible includes nontheistic descriptions of God as Light, Spirit, Peace and Life. In my view, the division is between those who believe in life after death, heaven and hell, salvation and a soul and those influenced by scientific knowledge who do not. If there is intellectual doubt, the latter tend to concentrate on the ethical teaching and example of Jesus with the hope that it will lead to better people in a better world. Jesus emphasises ethical action rather than belief – ‘By their fruits you shall know them’.
Quakers tend to share the same ethics and have been wise enough to decide that theology should be private and personal. As Saint Paul writes (2 Timothy 2:14), we should stop disputing about mere words. It does no good and only ruins those who listen. We should follow justice, faith, love and peace.
Only our actions give words a real meaning.
John Gwatkin
A thoughtful approach
I was very interested to read Sarah Bell’s ‘Thought for the Week’ (1 September), and to know that there are still some classes where people are encouraged to ponder, ask questions, be thoughtful and to seek answers for themselves. In my opinion, this is true education.
It brought to mind some work I saw in a village school, which also encouraged a thoughtful approach to considering what God might like. The teacher used art as a way in. Examples of what of the children, aged eight to ten, wrote include: ‘The person in my picture is saying: “Who is God?” I believe that God is in our hearts.’
Another child wrote: ‘All the hands in my picture are reaching up to God. They don’t realise that He is actually all around them. The purple ribbon is God weaving among them and looking after everyone.’
A third child wrote: ‘The earth is like a pumping heart beating. God’s heart is soft and warm in the middle.’
Mary Stone
