Subscribe to RSS 2.0Religion shopping?
Quaker William Penn - invented Pennsylvania
I'm not a religious person, and have in fact been known to say things which upset religious people on occasion* (though not through any wish to distress them), but I have to say that if I were in the market for a religion, I think I'd be taking a long, hard look at being a Quaker. They're peaceful (which I feel Jesus was more than clear about) and tolerant, and egalitarian and non-hierarchical and all in all pretty groovy. What's more, their beliefs fit pretty well with what I thought Christianity was all about when I attended lots of Sunday School: peace, love, acceptance, humility and being a good egg. And check this Wikepedia excerpt out: "many Quakers believe that the depth of [a] loving relationship is more important than [the] genders involved". Now that's some good religion. Not sure about the god aspect, but everything else gets a thumbs-up. They even eschew designer labels. I think Quakers are people I could really respect. Assuming my endorsement counts for anything.
*Though goodness knows you can't avoid upsetting some religious group whatever you believe. Oops, there I go again.
Comments: 6
As well as their testimonies of peace, integrity, equality, simplicity and love, Quakers also think social justice is a priority and were involved in setting up many charities such as Oxfam, Child Poverty Action Group and Amnesty International,to name just three. Elizabeth Fry's work on prison reform is well known, but did you know that early Quakers were key players in the slavery abolition movement, and Quakers in the USA were active in the underground railway, a secret organisation that helped runaway slaves? In 1947, Quakers won the Nobel Peace Prize for their international relief work. Enough.
Posted by: sue hepworth on August 7, 2008 12:16 PM
Aren't they strict in some other weird ways though? I thought I read that once...
Posted by: KatharineC on August 7, 2008 01:28 PM
Ironically,or hypocritically,Quakers were also actively involved in the slave trade - running ships out of Lancaster.
Posted by: haarland phillipps on August 7, 2008 01:28 PM
They aren't strict now, Katharine. I'll have to check out what you say, Haarland.
Posted by: sue hepworth on August 7, 2008 03:09 PM
Sadly, you're right, Haarland. I guess every religion has its hypocrites, even Quakers. That doesn't detract from the noble ideals that the majority try to follow, however.
Posted by: sue hepworth on August 7, 2008 03:13 PM
They also make nice oats.
Posted by: david on August 7, 2008 10:34 PM