Quaker meetings

[lunarious]

@Rachie Hi, i Believe you when you say you saw light shining down to you, since you attribute it to "Divine Source". Because i've seen a star shine, presumably to me, in a short time. I did miracle prayer then, as we Shia do.

Allah can do anything, including: Virgin Birth of Mary and i think (?) Zacharias recieving a Son while he was old and sterile.

Edit:
‘O Zechariah! Indeed We give you the good news of a son, whose name is ‘‘John.’’ Never before have We made anyone his namesake.’​

 

[RemyZee]

Went to my second Quaker meeting. It seems like a good fit again. I noticed: people weren't making eye contact. And I'm sure it wasn't because of autism, but it seemed like it was the culture of the group not to have eye contact; even when the speaker was talking during the final 15 minutes, during the religious education....people weren't looking at him. It was a genuine relief just to be around people, communing without any force.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

There’s no eye contact during the meeting because people are focusing inward. Even when listening to vocal ministry.

Did your meeting have religious education? How did that work?

 

[RemyZee]

A man talked about Quaker history for around 20 minutes, then we all went our separate ways.

 

[RemyZee]

It's kind of exciting actually--I have tried different communities and grew up a United Methodist, went on over to the United CHurch of Christ and wound up hanging out at the Unitarian church for awhile....Unitarian church was good for a while, but the thing I missed was ritual and liturgy, and at times the social aspect of it has been pretty painful....the "passing of the peace?" for me is anything but peaceful. In fact it's kind of excruciating, and I stopped attending any community because of those kinds of things. Some places, as you said, they actually expect you to hug each other without knowing each other.. I have many qualms with the Christian church, but it is also my history and I want to understand my history. They did talk about the origins of Quakers actually being a revivalist movement, but more evangelical in its origins, but then turning into a justice-oriented movement. There is a LOT to learn.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Quakerism is not something that can be learned or understood even in years. So don't worry. Also, learning, growing and evolving are an important part of the practice.

The most important part of the Quaker origin story is that George Fox thought Christians should return to the very early practice of Christianity. The Bible is important but so is direct communication with God. No intermediary is needed to hear what God has to say to you.

Quakers are the only (I think) religion that practices communal mysticism, meaning that gathering in a group to worship can magnify the presence of God. When this happens, it is said to be a "gathered" meeting.

But if you are looking for ritual, the Quakers do not have much of it. In fact, Quakers see ritual and symbols as "empty" of God. There are no priests, no set prayers, no communion. No incense.

Finally, all Quakers will tell you something a bit different about their understanding of their faith.

 

[RemyZee]

Went to my third meeting-the first one I've been to where people actually stayed afterwards and chatted. There were 10 people. I can see the social things happen already, almost like I am watching myself and watching the process with no way to intervene.

They believe that God speaks directly to people, and most likely I experienced that for the first time recently, at least in that particular way. My aunt died recently, and I could swear I felt her spirit. It was a kind of warmth, and I think that may be what they are talking about.

My belief is that Jesus was a radical and a revolutionary who went around confronting people for their hypocricy and cruelty, who communed with people no one else wanted to be around and drew from people who were outcasts to be his followers; who got himself killed by saying he was a king and publiclly asserting his reign, He led a band of disciples, ate with lepers, hung out with criminals, traveled with prostitutes, and confronted the religious people, telling them they worried too much about being presentable on the outside, and not enough about being a good person. . He was Jewish and drew from Jewish culture, story telling and political ideology, using Jewish parables to teach and its rituals. His group was a political one that operated on socialist principles. There is a small amount of evidence his followers led a violent political revolt. It wasn't unique that he died by crucifixion. Can you tell I went to seminary?

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Went to my third meeting-the first one I've been to where people actually stayed afterwards and chatted. There were 10 people. I can see the social things happen already, almost like I am watching myself and watching the process with no way to intervene.

They believe that God speaks directly to people, and most likely I experienced that for the first time recently, at least in that particular way. My aunt died recently, and I could swear I felt her spirit. It was a kind of warmth, and I think that may be what they are talking about.

My belief is that Jesus was a radical and a revolutionary who went around confronting people for their hypocricy and cruelty, who communed with people no one else wanted to be around and drew from people who were outcasts to be his followers; who got himself killed by saying he was a king and publiclly asserting his reign, He led a band of disciples, ate with lepers, hung out with criminals, traveled with prostitutes, and confronted the religious people, telling them they worried too much about being presentable on the outside, and not enough about being a good person. . He was Jewish and drew from Jewish culture, story telling and political ideology, using Jewish parables to teach and its rituals. His group was a political one that operated on socialist principles. There is a small amount of evidence his followers led a violent political revolt. It wasn't unique that he died by crucifixion. Can you tell I went to seminary?

Just remember that if you have met one Quaker, you have met one Quaker. I found hanging out with Quakers in groups not to be very rewarding. And business meetings and committees, I found, to be mired in the usual politial type games.

I did meet some outstanding individuals.

Your seminary taught some interesting interpretations of Jesus' life. What denomination was your seminary? I'm not saying I disagree. It's more complicated than can be discussed on a forum. In my experience, Quakers do not talk a lot about Jesus. Then again....If you've met one Quaker....

 

[RemyZee]

It was United Methodist--pretty much a standard theology course, starting with learning about archeology. A lot of people had a hard time coming from tiny conservative churches to the school....to learn that there are artifacts out there that call scripture into question was very hard for a lot of students to hear. But, yeah, one of my professors' main arms of research was that Jesus was the head of a political uprising. That's interesting that you didn't find hanging out with Quakers very rewarding. Was it because there is such a limited emphasis on talking and noise?

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

It was United Methodist--pretty much a standard theology course, starting with learning about archeology. A lot of people had a hard time coming from tiny conservative churches to the school....to learn that there are artifacts out there that call scripture into question was very hard for a lot of students to hear. But, yeah, one of my professors' main arms of research was that Jesus was the head of a political uprising. That's interesting that you didn't find hanging out with Quakers very rewarding. Was it because there is such a limited emphasis on talking and noise?

No. I just felt left out of the NT conversations. I made a few friends, but preferred one on one conversations.

Some Quakers are well versed in the Bible. Others not so much.

There’s a monastery in Honduras that arose out of United Medthodist and Quakers.

I took a course on The Historical Jesus taught by Dr. Bart Ehrman. Fascinating.

 

[RemyZee]

So, the whole thing about anyone being able to have a direct experience of God: I am definitely not superstitious, not deeply religious and don't have any predilections to in phantoms. But recently, I may have experienced that for the first time.....the night after my aunt died. I was in my house and then there was this incredible warmth that I can never explain....and it was kind of hanging out there up by the ceiling just emanating this soft warmth. Lasted around 10 minutes. May have been totally imagining things, but at least in my imagination, it was my aunt coming to say goodbye. But it reminds me a little of the early Christian mystics, the female mystics like Julian of Norwich or Thomas Merton they believed you could directly know the love of GOd and that was available to everyone.

 

[Jumpinbare]

the female mystics like Julian of Norwich or Thomas Merton they believed you could directly know the love of GOd and that was available to everyone.

Definitely! I have experienced it directly. Silly as it sounds, people who were at a camp where it had happened to me said it looked like I was glowing when I rejoined them. I figured they were razzing me because they knew I had been doing my devotions, but they insisted they were serious.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

What you are describing certainly sounds to me like a direct connection.

I had several mystical experiences before I was a Quaker. Once it was during a guided meditation and another time was when I was walking in a large nature preserve. I was so overcome with the presence of an all powerful force that had created all the beauty I was witnessing that I spontaneously fell to my knees and threw my hands in the air.

I recently had an experience with a group of travelers in a WaWa station of all places who helped me get the tops off my gas cans. I have not told anyone about the details, because I don't think anyone would believe me, but I did write it all down so I wouldn't forget.

 

[RemyZee]

Definitely! I have experienced it directly. Silly as it sounds, t wScience is both about knowing absolutes...or absolutely wanting to know.

Definitely! I have experienced it directly. Silly as it sounds, people who were at a camp where it had happened to me said it looked like I was glowing when I rejoined them. I figured they were razzing me because they knew I had been doing my devotions, but they insisted they were serious.

MInd if I ask: what happened?

 

[Jumpinbare]

I had been doing devotions away from the group, and had experienced SO much peace and joy in God's presence. Then I went back to join the group