QuakerSpeak | Fitting into "God's Big Tent" @Quakerspeak | Uploaded August 2022 | Updated October 2024, 3 hours ago.
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Filming and Editing by Rebecca Hamilton-Levi
Music: Ghost Byzantine by Blue Dot Sessions
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Transcript:
I would say that the Quaker idea of integrity and encouragement to be honest has been, in a way, a source of conflict with some of the social group aspects of our religious society, because I am different. And I've just become maybe more open about that difference and there's sometimes been a tension. I've often thought of quitting and yet I'm still oriented towards Quakerism as a way to God.
Fitting into "God's Big Tent"
My name is John Spears. I live in three different places - Naples, FL; Hopewell, NJ; and the place we're in right now, which is a newly constructed house in New Hope, PA. I'm a member of the Princeton Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in Princeton, NJ, and I've been a member there for over 40 years.
My first introduction to Quakerism, again going back roughly 40 years ago, was my wife suggested it to me, and I was just sort of blown away by it. The very first time I felt an energy, and it was just kind of a love at first sight, just a great experience the first time. I still appreciate the freedom of it, the direct dial to God, so. And you know, also there are a number of people that just socially I like. We may have lots of other things not in common but... [Laughs] There aren't that many of us!
Valuing Different Perspectives Among Friends?
The value of different perspectives, different orientations in our religious society? Yes, I think it's very valuable. Now I don't think it necessarily exists all the time. Certainly at my meeting, Princeton Meeting, I think that out of-- I don't know how many members there are-- I think that maybe one or two of us (I know I'm one, there might be another) who is a republican, and I just think there could be room for different perspectives on these political topics. I kinda go, oh. It's just not a republican point of view; it's kind of a left-wing point of view and that's fine but I think that the idea of Quakerism, it should be a welcoming idea. Christ is a welcoming idea.
"God's Big Quaker Tent"
I think that God's Big Quaker Tent, at its heart it has a Christian spirit. Jesus I think of as opening his arms to all different types of people. But I just, I like that idea. I think it's a loving idea. If it was my tent I'd say, "Come on in! Have a beer!"
___
The views expressed in this video are of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Friends Journal or its collaborators.
QuakerSpeak is a bi-weekly video series. New video every other THURSDAY!
SUBSCRIBE for a new video every other week! http://fdsj.nl/QS-Subscribe
WATCH all our videos: http://fdsj.nl/qs-all-videos
___
Support QuakerSpeak and Friends Journal as a sustaining member:
friendsjournal.org/subscribe
Filming and Editing by Rebecca Hamilton-Levi
Music: Ghost Byzantine by Blue Dot Sessions
___
Transcript:
I would say that the Quaker idea of integrity and encouragement to be honest has been, in a way, a source of conflict with some of the social group aspects of our religious society, because I am different. And I've just become maybe more open about that difference and there's sometimes been a tension. I've often thought of quitting and yet I'm still oriented towards Quakerism as a way to God.
Fitting into "God's Big Tent"
My name is John Spears. I live in three different places - Naples, FL; Hopewell, NJ; and the place we're in right now, which is a newly constructed house in New Hope, PA. I'm a member of the Princeton Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in Princeton, NJ, and I've been a member there for over 40 years.
My first introduction to Quakerism, again going back roughly 40 years ago, was my wife suggested it to me, and I was just sort of blown away by it. The very first time I felt an energy, and it was just kind of a love at first sight, just a great experience the first time. I still appreciate the freedom of it, the direct dial to God, so. And you know, also there are a number of people that just socially I like. We may have lots of other things not in common but... [Laughs] There aren't that many of us!
Valuing Different Perspectives Among Friends?
The value of different perspectives, different orientations in our religious society? Yes, I think it's very valuable. Now I don't think it necessarily exists all the time. Certainly at my meeting, Princeton Meeting, I think that out of-- I don't know how many members there are-- I think that maybe one or two of us (I know I'm one, there might be another) who is a republican, and I just think there could be room for different perspectives on these political topics. I kinda go, oh. It's just not a republican point of view; it's kind of a left-wing point of view and that's fine but I think that the idea of Quakerism, it should be a welcoming idea. Christ is a welcoming idea.
"God's Big Quaker Tent"
I think that God's Big Quaker Tent, at its heart it has a Christian spirit. Jesus I think of as opening his arms to all different types of people. But I just, I like that idea. I think it's a loving idea. If it was my tent I'd say, "Come on in! Have a beer!"
___
The views expressed in this video are of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Friends Journal or its collaborators.
