Thought for the Week: Words

John Lampen reflects on words and understanding

by John Lampen 20th July 2018

Some weeks ago, a correspondent to the Friend suggested that we should stop using the word ‘worship’ on the grounds that it not a good description of what happens in our Quaker silence. She asked: ‘How does this in-language impact on people outside Quaker circles?’ Thinking about this yardstick, I realised that if we are to give up the words that Friends use in a special way, ‘worship’ would not be the only one to go. When we talk about ‘concern’ or ‘discernment’ to non-Quakers, we have to do a good deal of explaining. We might even have to consider giving up the term ‘Friend’, which we use in a very different sense from the common understanding of the word!