Friends debate Quakers’ future
'How “universalist” will the Society of Friends be in, say, 2040?’
‘Is the future of Quakerism universalist?’ asked the Quaker Universalist Group (QUG) at an online meeting held as part of the Yearly Meeting ‘Fringe’.
Over thirty people came to discuss the question in a two-hour debate featuring three short talks by QUG committee members.
Tony Philpott, clerk of QUG, told the Friend: ‘The evening started by describing the foundation of QUG by John Linton and other Friends in 1978. It ended up looking into the future: how “universalist” will the Society of Friends be in, say, 2040?’
According to Tony Philpott, some Friends at the event argued that, by abandoning creeds and the authority of priests in the seventeenth century, Quakerism has to some extent always been universalist: as individual Quakers develop their own spiritual awareness then all the views in the world are open to them. ‘What has happened over the centuries,’ he said, ‘has been a widening of experience, from the predominantly Christian culture of seventeenth-century Britain to the multifaith global culture of our life today. This widening of views will only grow over the coming years and Quakers will have to decide how to respond to this.
‘This will not only be in beliefs, but also in practice. Who do we accept as members? What books will be available for reference in the meeting for worship? What religions or none will be reflected by the revised Quaker faith & practice?’
Comments
There’s something about the term ‘Universalist’. It comes across as an ‘all - encompassing’ term, something that envelopes everything/everyone. I think a better term and one that Quakerism has used and embodied is ‘inclusive’, how inclusive will Quakerism be in 2040? It’s my understanding from the things I have read about Quakerism is that Quakers do not force their views on others, it is up to the individual to discover their own truth, from whatever source that may be, and for the Quaker community to support them in that truth. So I almost feel that there is an intention in universalism, or an expectation of the values to Quakerism to become all - encompassing? Whereas if Quakerism stays true to its values that have welcomed so many in to its Light, then will it be Universal in 2040? Probably not, and we shouldn’t expect it to, but it may welcome many more in their search for ad
By whelesfay on 11th December 2020 - 10:44
There’s something about the term ‘Universalist’. It comes across as an ‘all - encompassing’ term, something that envelopes everything/everyone. I think a better term and one that Quakerism has used and embodied is ‘inclusive’, how inclusive will Quakerism be in 2040? It’s my understanding from the things I have read about Quakerism is that Quakers do not force their views on others, it is up to the individual to discover their own truth, from whatever source that may be, and for the Quaker community to support them in that truth. So I almost feel that there is an intention in universalism, or an expectation of the values to Quakerism to become all - encompassing? Whereas if Quakerism stays true to its values that have welcomed so many in to its Light, then will it be Universal in 2040? Probably not, and we shouldn’t expect it to, but it may welcome many more in their search for advice, guidance and truth.
By whelesfay on 11th December 2020 - 10:45
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