Letters - 18 November 2016
From simplicity to poppies
Simplicity
I suspect that when early Quakers referred to simplicity they used it to mean the opposite of duplicity rather than complexity. In later centuries it came to mean the opposite of complexity and/or extravagance and as such is still an attractive concept. It can also mean naivety or even stupidity, which is less attractive.
In her recent articles on simplicity Anne de Gruchy shared her exploration of what modern Quakers understood by simplicity. This revealed a breadth of interpretation but very little focus. I suppose this is also true of our other core testimonies – peace, truth, equality and sustainability – but simplicity is certainly the most elusive now. Quakers have used it for simple living but sustainability has now encompassed that.
The seventeenth century examples of simplicity were variously to do with plain speech, plain dress, refusing oaths and so on, but they all bear witness to what we would now call integrity. This was and is the heart of Quaker practice; that we put into action in our lives the principles we advocate in our faith and that we do so in the particulars of our life. Integrity is probably the most characteristic feature of Quaker behaviour still, often recognised by the world outside.
Now that we have sustainability firmly on our agenda, I think it is time we reclaimed the testimony to simplicity but used the modern word for it: integrity.
Barney Smith
Paranoid
Thank you, Mic Morgan (4 November), Paranoid has indeed created a delightful wave of interest with new people asking for information packs about Quakers. We watched, with some trepidation, hoping that the Quaker character would not turn out to be the ‘baddie’!
Hopefully, the recent programme on the two Cadbury brothers will also encourage enquiries. As ever, it is down to Local Meetings to provide a warm welcome once enquirers take the next step and visit a Meeting for Worship. Time for more chocolate biscuits?
Gill Sewell
Outreach development officer, Quaker Life
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