Response

[Guest guest]

On Friday, February 14, 2003, at 12:28 AM, Pixx wrote:

 

*must*?? Given that word, and a liberal Meeting, I would say no.

 

And then you go on to contradict that no, don't you?

 

But unless one felt that *all* are equal, I would think one would feel

it pointless to be there.

 

There's one.

 

The Quakers were integral to the Underground Railroad freeing

many slaves, and to women's rights.

 

I know this.

 

Quakers were the first

primarily Christian organization [and still one of only few] to accept

same sex relationships as being valid.

 

Yes indeed, and admirable. There's two: Christian.

 

Quakers are 'behind the

scenes' every day in areas and situations where people are not

being treated equally.

 

As are Rosicrucians and other esoteric organizations, yes. Good

advertizing for Quakers but not pertinent to the question of dogma.

 

 

What difference than anyone else? To draw on my own

experience....There have been much time when it has been too

great a distance for me to be in a Friends Meeting, and I have

spent time in many different churches and religious circles. I have

been a complete misfit in all of them. I am too open minded for

most christians, and my reverence for nature and animals tends to

'scare' many by thinking I am pagan.

 

Strictly, pagan simply means rural, meaning not in town; it was applied to

non-xtians essentially by Roman slobs and it means unsophisticated rubes

who didn't know any better.

 

pagan circles don't want me

because I am Christian.

 

As you may know, the Gospel of Thomas, expunged from the Roman Catholic

books at the Council of Nicea, gives the directly quoted sayings of Jesus,

and interestingly these sayings are anti-clerical, anti-hierarchical,

anti-church, and decidedly pagan. Constantine had to suppress them in

order to preserve the Roman Caesars through the papal succession. Thus

Ancient Rome lives on in the Vatican.

 

Other's worship in ways and to individuals

that I am uncomfortable with for myself. In Quaker settings all are

equal. No matter who you are or what you believe. That of The

Light in everyone.

 

Rosicrucians and other esoteric groups also speak of the light, and in

fact that's one of hte meanings of the phrase " the Christ " . Trace it back

to Prometheus and Odin / Woden and so on; amazingly parallel myths.

 

I am also drawn to the style of worship. Quiet Contemplation. No

one particular person giving a 20-40 minute sermon. But all

actively participating in what one might describe as a meditative

state. Each speaking their thoughts as he or she is lead.

 

This is appealing but one wonders why they have meeting houses and why the

" quaking " is a standard feature.

 

If I were to say what *should* one believe before considering the

Quaker faith:..........That all are equal.

 

Freedom, Equality, Brotherhood -- the French national motto -- stems

directly from the same basic set of principles that buttress the Quakers

and the Rosicrucians, etc.

 

Interesting stuff; thanks for writing.

 

Gassho.

 

--Gene Stewart

www.genestewart.com

 

Pixx

 

On 13 Feb 2003 at 12:20, The Stewarts wrote:

 

Are there any items of faith one must believe to be a Quaker?

 

If so, what?

 

If not, then what difference between a Quaker and anyone else?

 

 

 

 

“Doubt of the real facts, as I must reveal them, is inevitable; yet if I

suppressed what will seem extravagant and incredible there would be

nothing left.”

—H. P. Lovecraft,

“At the Mountains of Madness”

 

 

 

 

" We are mystics and believers and children to our dying day. "

--Rod Serling in " The Messiah on Mott Street " , a NIGHT GALLERY episode

starring Edward G. Robinson, Yaphet Kotto, and Tony Roberts.