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Hi.
Just rushing through, here's something you could discuss:
Nontheist Society of Friends:
http://www.nontheistfriends.org/article/author/james-riemermann/
Liberal Quakers:
http://www.liberalquakers.org/
The following is quoted off Wikipedia, I'm only quoting parts of it:
“Friends worship in a variety of forms. Some meet for silent worship with no human leader and no fixed programme. Most branches of the Religious Society of Friends are known to the public by testifying to their faith in their actions and the way they live their lives
During the seventeenth century they often referred to themselves as the 'Saints'. Other common names in the early days were 'Children of the Light' and 'Friends of the Truth', reflecting the central importance of Christ as an Inner light that showed individuals' true condition.
George Fox… became convinced that it was possible to have a direct experience of God without the mediation of clergy. He began to spread this message as an itinerant preacher and found several pre-existing groups of like-minded people; he felt called to gather them together, and was arguably the most prominent of the early Society of Friends. In the first few years of the movement, Quakers thought of themselves as part of the restoration of the true Christian church after centuries of apostasy. Generally, Quakerism has had no creed but always had doctrines.
Most Friends believe in continuing revelation, which is the idea that truth is continuously revealed directly to individuals from God without a need for any intermediary, objective logic or systematic theology. Some Friends express this idea of God revealing truth to them directly using the phrase Inner Light, or Inward Light of Christ, whilst others talk of the Holy Spirit or use other phrases. George Fox, an early Friend described it as “Christ has come to teach His people Himself”. Friends often focus on trying to hear God.
Conservative Friends have continued early Friends' rejection of the mainstream Protestant idea of sola scriptura, that the Bible is self-authenticating, clear and its own interpreter; instead, they believed that Christ, instead of the Bible, is the Word of God. Conservative Friends completely reject all forms of religious symbolism and outward sacraments, such as water baptism or the Eucharist.
Liberal Friends decided that it was possible to be led in ways contrary to Scripture, and that in such cases scripture should give way… In nearly all cases, modern liberal Friends believe in the necessity of being continually guided by that of God within us. Like conservative Friends, liberal Friends also reject forms of religious symbolism and sacraments, such as water baptism and the Eucharist.
Quakers try to bear witness or testify to their beliefs in their every day life — an expression of 'spirituality in action', drawing on James' advice that faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead… They may do this in many ways, according to how they are led by God. In the USA, children and Friends school students are often taught the acronym SPICES, which stands for Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Stewardship. In the UK, the acronym STEP or PEST is used, for Peace, Equality, Simplicity and Truth.
It should be stressed that there is no central list or rule of testimony, and each Friend acts simply as he or she is led by God, which may or may not be in the ways listed above.
Friends have also eschewed the traditional church calendar of holy days, not observing religious festivals such as Christmas, Lent, or Easter at particular times of the year, but instead believing that Christ's birth, crucifixion and resurrection should be commemorated every day of the year. Similarly, Friends traditionally are non-Sabbatarians, holding that 'every day is the Lord's day', and that what should be done on a First Day should be done every day of the week.
Quakerism differs from other mystical religions in at least two important ways. For one, Quaker mysticism is primarily group-oriented rather than focused on the individual. The Friends' traditional meeting for worship may be considered an expression of that group mysticism, where all the members of the meeting listen together for the Spirit of God, speaking when that Spirit moves them. Additionally, Quaker mysticism as it has been expressed after the late 19th century includes a strong emphasis on its outwardly directed witness. Rather than seeking withdrawal from the world, the Quaker mystic translates his or her mysticism into action. They believe this action leads to greater spiritual understanding — both by individuals and by the Meeting as a whole.
Unprogrammed worship is the more traditional style of worship among Friends and remains the norm in Britain, Ireland, continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and parts of the United States. During an unprogrammed meeting for worship, Friends gather together in 'expectant waiting' for divine leadings. Sometimes a meeting is entirely silent, sometimes quite a few people speak. Meeting for Worship generally lasts about an hour. When they feel they are led by the spirit a participant will rise and share a message (give 'vocal ministry') with those gathered. Typically, messages, testimonies, ministry, or other speech are not prepared as a “speech”. Speakers are expected to discern the source of their inspiration — whether divine or self. After someone has spoken, it is expected that more than a few moments will pass in silence before further Ministry; there should be no spirit of debate.
Marriage: A meeting for worship for the solemnisation of marriage in an unprogrammed Friends meeting is similar to any other unprogrammed Meeting for Worship. The meeting for worship is conducted exactly as a normal meeting for worship, and the pair marry one another before God and gathered witnesses. After exchanging vows, the meeting returns to open worship and guests are free to speak as they are led. At the rise of meeting all the witnesses, who comprise everyone present at the meeting including the youngest children, are asked to sign the wedding certificate as a record of the event. In Britain, Quakers have their own registrars who keep a separate record of the union and notify the General Register Office.
Memorial Sevices: Traditional Quaker memorial services are also held as a form of worship and are known as memorial meetings. Friends gather for worship and offer remembrances about the person who has died. In some traditions, the coffin or ashes of the deceased are not present, and these memorial meetings are often held many weeks after the death, which can enable wider attendance and can also allow spiritual reflection and celebration of life, rather than emotional grief, to dominate. However in some traditions memorial meetings take place immediately after death and may occur prior to burial or cremation with the coffin present in the meeting for worship.
Business: Business decisions on a local level within unprogrammed meetings are conducted at a monthly meeting for worship which may be variously called a 'Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business', 'meeting for worship for church affairs' or simply 'Business Meeting'. Instead of voting, the Meeting attempts to gain a sense of God's will for the community. Each member of the meeting is expected to listen to that of God within themselves and, if led, to contribute it to the group for reflection and consideration. Many Quakers describe the search for unity as the gathering of believers who 'wait upon the Lord' to discover God's will. When seeking unity, Friends are not attempting to seek a position
with which everyone is willing to live (as is often the case in consensual models) but in determining God's will. It is assumed that if everyone is listening to God's Spirit, the way forward will become clear.There are around 360,000 (Quakers) worldwide.
The various branches have widely divergent beliefs and practices, but the central concept to most Friends is the 'Inner Light' or 'Light of Christ within'. Accordingly, individual Quakers may develop individual religious beliefs arising from their personal conscience and revelation coming from 'God within'.
Quote (shimmer @ Aug. 05 2011,09:19) Accordingly, individual Quakers may develop individual religious beliefs arising from their personal conscience and revelation coming from 'God within'.
So, like many Christians, they can just sort of make up whatever religion they want.Tim
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