Thought for the Week: When non means yes!

David Boulton argues that our 'nons' can be expressed as positive affirmations

by David Boulton 13th April 2012

We Friends are often perceived as a negative lot. Asked what we believe, we tend to reply with a string of negatives. We are against credal formulations, against doctrinal dogmas as conditions of membership, against priestly hierarchy, against a professional ministry (at least here in Britain), against specific sacraments, against decorating our Meeting houses with icons, crosses and stained glass windows. We do not normally sing hymns, recite set prayers or read the Bible as the infallible word of God. We are among the most nonconformist of nonconformists.