Through a glass darkly
Ian Kirk-Smith reviews a new book by David Boulton
In 2015 Derek Guiton published a book entitled A Man that Looks on Glass. It highlighted what he felt was ‘a crisis in British Quakerism’ – a ‘growing secularisation’ within the Religious Society of Friends. There were two movements and they represented competing and ‘incompatible belief systems’. A group of nonthesists were challenging the very basis of the Society – unchecked, their activities could tip it over.
Quakers procrastinated too long – time to call a spade a spade. Ideology was replacing faith and Friends should oppose this secular rationalism. They had ‘nothing to fear from theological and philosophical debate if we are firmly rooted in our God-centred and deeply inspiring mystical tradition’.
David Boulton, a writer and commentator who has been a consistent advocate of a nontheist position, was singled out as a leader of this ‘Trojan horse’ group. In Through a glass darkly: A defence of Quaker nontheism he has responded with an ‘open letter’ to Derek Guiton. His book is a lucid, robust, sharp and thoughtful riposte.
A spark is certainly ignited when passionate, articulate people take their gloves off. Through a Glass Darkly is a very good read. It is a book about language, identity, ownership and belonging and, all round, are sinister and important shadows. They are questions. What kind of language will be used in a future revision of the Book of Discipline? Can any common ground be found? Who will really make the final decision?
David Boulton’s ‘open letter’ begins with the words: ‘Dear Friend Derek’. However, the author believes mud has been unfairly thrown. He has no intention of taking public criticism lying down and this gives his book an engaging, personal, edge.
Initially, the author charts the development of nontheism in liberal Quakerism. He argues that he is part of a movement and no leader. Derek Guiton’s presentation of his beliefs is ‘built on factual errors, misunderstandings and misrepresentations’.
He goes on, citing examples, to counter these criticisms, often illuminating the broader ‘context’ of a quotation used against him.
Derek Guiton has been highly selective in taking what he wants from David Boulton’s writing and, indeed, in the comments he makes on other sources he believes are part of a change and decay in the Society. Opinion is not fact.
Friends need to live in the twenty first century, David Boulton writes, and use the language of today. ‘Our modern liberal Religious Society,’ he argues, ‘is not trapped in first century or seventeenth century modes of thinking and behaviour’. The author pays little attention to ninety per cent of Quakers in the world, who might, I would humbly suggest, argue there is a distinction between ‘truths’ and ‘the Truth’.
David Boulton writes skillfully and with conviction. He presents a different, and more attractive, version of his beliefs than that re-presented by Derek Guiton. What emerges is a nuanced, thoughtful book that is very worth reading even if, like me, you may disagree with aspects of it. The author argues that the growth of nontheism is a ‘widespread and complex phenomenon’. He regrets the ‘polarizing shorthand’ of theism and nontheism that has emerged and argues that it is possible to find a way forward. This reaching out is part of his mission and his sincerity is clear. However, he consistently presents his position using words such as tolerant, inclusive and progressive. Are those who oppose his position, by definition, therefore intolerant, exclusive and backward?
David Boulton is blunt: ‘I want a Religious Society of Friends that includes us both. You want one that excludes some of us who can’t share your particular theology of transcendence.’
He acknowledges the huge diversity of personal interpretation there is within the Society on ‘what God means’. It is difficult, however, when the three-letter word is used in the book, not to feel that the image presented is a version of Father Christmas in the sky pulling strings and listening to pleas and prayers.
In Ireland this debate does not seem to have the traction it has in Britain. Many Friends there still centre their faith on the words ‘there is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy condition’.
Should Friends be more concerned with following Christ and less with debates about God? It is one of many questions prompted by this interesting book.
Through a glass darkly: A defence of Quaker non-theism by David Bolton is published by Dales Historical Monographs at £7. ISBN:97800995556706.
