Gloucester Friends Meeting House Photo: Trish Carn
Being a Quaker: a guide for newcomers
Trish Carn reviews the new book by Geoffrey Durham
There is a difference between ‘narrow’ casting and ‘broad’ casting. In the first you are talking to the converted. In the second you assume little and communicate your message in an open, inclusive and engaging manner. If you can do so with humour, humility and a touch of irreverence then all the better. Geoffrey Durham is a ‘broad’ caster. He wants to talk outwardly to the world, to cast his net widely, and he does so very attractively in his new book Being a Quaker: a guide for newcomers. It is extremely informative, although written in a friendly, almost conversational, tone.
The book contains everything you always wanted to know about Quakerism but were afraid to ask. It is an ideal gift to give to newcomers who want to understand what ‘the Quaker way’ is all about.
In thirteen sections, such as: What is a Quaker Meeting?, Worship and words, What do the Children do? and Silence and sacrament, Geoffrey discusses the background to Quaker worship and considers why Friends work the way they do.
Part two discusses some history, illuminating how it has affected the development of the movement, and moves on to the present and to new trends within Quakerism.
Part three begins with Edward Milligan’s question: ‘Do we seek to be the channels of God’s love and caring? Caring matters most.’ Here Geoffrey tackles questions such as: ‘Do Quakers believe in life after death? Do they believe we will be reunited with our loved ones? What is their view of heaven and hell? How about the resurrection?’ In his role as part of the Quaker Quest team, Geoffrey has often been asked these questions. However, he responds that readers will already know the answer: ‘it depends on the individual. Quakers don’t hand down creeds, so they are happy to discover their own views and beliefs about such matters. And, since Quakerism is an experiential faith, most are content to wait patiently until they are able to find out for themselves.’
He continues by looking at each of the four most often quoted testimonies: peace, simplicity, equality and truth. This insight into the testimonies is started, in a very interesting way, by looking at two testimonies that no longer exist: ‘hat honour’, lifting your hat to those of supposedly higher status, and the testimony on the use of the names of days and months – early Friends rejected the names in common usage because they derived from the names of other gods.
By using well-known quotes and then unpacking them Geoffrey illuminates the shadowy corners of Quakerism in a way that is very helpful, even to those who have been attending for quite some time.
The phrase ‘Ask what love requires’ is used as the basis for understanding the many facets of Quakerism. I especially enjoyed the way Geoffrey weaves in his own personal experience and insights into what is an engaging and informative journey. He roots everything in his own experience. The way it should be.
Being a Quaker: a guide for newcomers by Geoffrey Durham, published by Quaker Quest, is available at the Quaker Centre Bookshop at Friends House, London. ISBN: 978 0 9558983 2 7. £6.99 plus £2.75 p&p.
