Letters - 03 March 2023
From Unpeeling an onion to Review the process?
Unpeeling an onion
I would like to make a very affirmative response to Joanna Dales’ letter (10 February) in response to Abigail Maxwell (27 January).
Discovering one’s ‘true self’ is like unpeeling an onion, but unlike onions, this is not finite, but a lifetime’s task.
When I made the decision, on Boxing Day 2015, to set out for Calais, I had a hazy idea what I was up to, and relied on two books, one of them by Stefan Zweig, Beware of Pity. Here he asks one to question why one is doing something that apparently is a generous gesture. His book shows the folly of activity based upon knee-jerk pity, with no thought to the consequences. This book has continued to have importance in my life, along with many other times of quiet retreat, reflection, and wise words from better people than myself, and has helped me understand that as soon as I have reached one level of understanding, it has been discarded for a deeper one. It would be so easy to ‘look in the mirror’ – as quoted by Joanna – and become complacent, but a willingness to continue the onion-unpeeling process leads to a deeper commitment to activity, not less. It also leads to a discarding of irrelevant preoccupations, and a honing down of what really matters in this short life – genuine compassion.
A well-intentioned Friend asked me why I continue to be as active as I am. His question made me revisit my Zweig. The answer is somewhat like asking mountaineers why they climb mountains – because they are there. If, like me, one is blessed with excellent health, one is fortunate in being able to follow through what is essentially necessary against the many dark forces around. Uncovering layers brings one in touch with both the good and evil all around, and I found there is truly an open of goodness being harnessed against forces of repression. Evil flourishes when good people stand by.
Evil, too, has its layers. Continuing to go to Calais I discover more unkindness and malice that constitutes the ‘hostile environment’ across the waters. Discovering these is a spur to returning, to continue to offer my tiny contribution to support the humane counter-culture there.
However, there are a few howevers. Sometimes the standers-by are active in other ways because they are prevented by good reasons for doing more. In these days of alarming price rises fewer people can be active via travel.
Nonetheless many who seem passive have found, within their own quiet times of meditation, prayer, poetry or Bible reading, a generosity of spirit which encourages the actives. This is so sustaining.
Anne M Jones
Equal marriage
I feel the Religious Society of Friends would be misrepresented if the marriage declaration was altered along the lines suggested in the Friend of 10 February in order to accommodate non-theism, unless we wish to abandon our traditional view that marriage is a ‘religious commitment’ as set out in Quaker faith & practice (1.02, 23).
The declaration not only reflects the couple’s view of marriage but also the view of the Religious Society of Friends as a corporate body.
In my opinion the way in which we define commitments such as marriage and membership reflects how we see ourselves as a faith community. If we wish to remain a religious society, why would it be right for us to define either in non-religious terms?
Richard Pashley
The Peace Testimony
Peter Leeming states in his letter in the Friend (17 February) that the attack against Ukraine was ‘unprovoked’. Not everyone would agree with that statement. The investigative journalist John Pilger calls this war ‘a war of propaganda’.
The western media has taken sides and presents ‘news’ that fits with our political agenda (in other words that vilifies Vladimir Putin), and does not provide all the information that we need to make a judgement about this.
I feel that as Quakers we should be cautious about taking sides and be aware that we do not know the whole story. While I believe that violence is wrong, the situation in Ukraine is not as simple as Peter would have us believe.
Anne Macarthur
Online worship calendar
The global online worship calendar is going from strength to strength. Quaker Groups Online has details of hundreds of Meetings and are adding new groups every day. The newest entries are from Bavaria/Austria district and the Asia West Pacific Section in New Zealand.
The calendar is free, non-commercial and you can simply click on a Meeting to worship now, with Friends everywhere.
The link is https://teamup.com/ksd7ipf5a18toomo54.
We have also added a link on bit.ly, which is a little easier to remember, bit.ly/3YtEV2H.
International Meetings are embracing this new technology but the UK seems very shy. I would love to know why!
Bill Martin
Truth and integrity
I note that Quakers have approved a Truth & Integrity Group, which will be issuing an award (among other activities). We would all support the promotion of truth and integrity, but I am left feeling uneasy about such a group.
Is the issuing of awards for ‘goodness’ in accord with Quaker tradition? Which truths will they approve of and who will assess integrity?
My impression is that this concern began to arise following the Brexit referendum when some Quakers argued the referendum campaign lacked truth and integrity. The argument was made that the result was thus invalid and should be rerun since the outcome was not that desired by many Quakers. Some time later, a similar argument was put forward by Donald Trump since he did not like the outcome of an election either. I detect that many Quakers still believe there is only one truth regarding membership of the European Union.
In a different forum, Quakers have sought to identify themselves as Christian and adopt a leadership role, although my experience of Quaker activity and worship shows very little evidence of modern Quakers being Christian. Quakers are willing to present themselves as a Christian organisation if they see themselves deriving some kudos from that: hardly a truthful position.
We live in a secular society which seeks to promote ideals of behaviour by the use of monitoring groups. My understanding of the Bible suggests that Jesus indicated we should pay more attention to our own behaviour and motives and not seek to point the finger or assess the behaviour and motives of others, since these things are only known to God.
Perhaps truth and integrity might be best served by teaching the importance of this to the young and this understanding might then promote greater integrity in adult life.
Roger Hill
Review the process?
In his letter to the Friend of 27 January, in which he helpfully clarifies the position of Britain Yearly Meeting as regards Israel/Palestine, Oliver Robertson gives his job title as ‘head of witness and worship’.
In my Area Meeting we have four witness groups: Social Justice Group, Environment Group, Racial Justice Group and Peace Promotion Group. In what way is Oliver Robertson ‘head’ of our Quaker witness?
We have five Meetings for Worship: Central Manchester, Eccles, Sale, South Manchester and Warrington. In what way is Oliver Robertson ‘head’ of our worship, whether as Meetings or as individuals? Would it not be more appropriate to have a job title that reflects his role as a servant, helping and enabling rather than leading?
Naming was also a problem when the main Meeting room at Friends House was called ‘The Light’, perhaps the main metaphor that Friends use for God, and have done since the beginnings of Quakerism. Inevitably this caused unease and upset.
Who decides on these names? How are they decided on? Does the process need to be reviewed?
Elizabeth Coleman
Comments
Equal marriage - Richard Pashley
I’m not sure what a non-theist ‘gets’ from a Quaker marriage, based as it is on George Fox’s revelation:
“For the right joining in marriage is the work of the Lord only, and not the priests’ or magistrates’; for it is God’s ordinance and not man’s; and therefore Friends cannot consent that they should join them together: for we marry none; it is the Lord’s work, and we are but witnesses.” QF&P 16.01
By Ol Rappaport on 2nd March 2023 - 17:30
Thank you for your comments.
By Richard Pashley on 3rd March 2023 - 16:55
Richard Pashley: Equal marriage
Equating being “non-theist” with being “non-religious” is something of an error. Many non-theist have a deeply spiritual and reverential attitudes towards life and towards relationships. That is not lessened for them by the absence of a purported intangible.
The “Lord’s work” could be interpreted in many ways, one of which is that there is something such that it is “the Lord” which is the object carrying out the work: this reduces human-beings to puppets. Another is to interpret it as the de facto operation of reality, which is to recognise and celebrate the agency of the couple involved. Here, the “Lord’s work” is something which operates within, through, and because of them.
By D.Lockyer on 6th March 2023 - 13:02
Thank you for your comments.
If one reads the writings of early Friends it is very clear what they meant when they used the phrase “the Lord’s work”.
It seems to me that non-theism includes; Atheism, Humanism, Agnosticism, Buddhism and the view that religion is solely a human creation. These are all very credible perspectives. They can all be held with integrity.
I am not clear how any of them relate to Quakerism which is based on the belief that we can recognise the will of God through the discipline of silent waiting, and that this belief distinguishes our decision making processes from the secular idea of consensus (Quaker faith and practice, 3.02).
What is the non-theist understanding of the Quaker business method?
By Richard Pashley on 7th March 2023 - 11:47
Re:Elizabeth Coleman’s letter about Oliver Robertson wonderful letter clarifying difficulties in campaigning for justice for the people of Palestine, and Oliver Robertson’s work promoting witness (witness = a person that affords evidence leading to justice and reconciliation) - Elizabeth Coleman’s letter highlights the wonderful situation of Quakers as a faith group, as a faith group without creed. The professionals at Friend’s house promote and support Quakers in Britain without control - they offer advice, behave by example, so that Elizebeth Coleman’s witness groups can flourish whilst being totally in control of themselves. Friend’s house professionals do not bully or stonewall individuals in Quakers in Britain. They have my high praise. Oliver Robertson’s title is a title for administrative purposes. Oliver is “head” of a particular brief at Friends House. Oliver’s letter is another example of his wonderful thoughtful work for Quakers in Britain. I am very grateful to him. Witness is very difficult to describe or to project. To witness is brave. Elizabeth Coleman need have no worries, Oliver is at Friends House working hard to support Elizabeth’s witness with Social Justice Group, Environment Group, Racial Justice Group and Peace Promotion Group. These groups are in a much better place regionally and nationally thanks to Oliver’s own witness and speaking out. Thank you Oliver Robertson best wishes David Fish rugby Quaker meeting.
By davidfishcf@msn.com on 8th March 2023 - 8:07
Please login to add a comment
