tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999498679388588575.post5162584214082394869..comments2023-10-25T01:18:05.828-07:00Comments on R. Scot Miller: A (very lengthy) Response to David Britton's "Knowing Experimentally" 10/09 Friends JournalScot, Jenn, and the whole Hee Haw ganghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03623979069242890052noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999498679388588575.post-71633975867330711702009-12-05T06:44:14.492-08:002009-12-05T06:44:14.492-08:00Scot,
I found a lot to agree with in your post: Qu...Scot,<br />I found a lot to agree with in your post: Quakerism as a practice of following Christ's example, rather than depending on belief (if that is what you are saying).<br />You are emphasizing that this is the practice of a community, rather than just the individual, which is a wonderful theme of early Christianity, and early Friends.<br /><br />Most of the time I am skeptical of the supernatural aspects of the New Testament stories (not all the time: sometimes the stories make more sense to me spiritually if the supernatural parts really happened), but I am always drawn to the example of Christ's life.<br />I find the idea of our friendship with God very moving, a part of Quakerism I didn't connect with for a long time.<br /><br />I have to disagree with you about Friends' peace testimony being tied only to Christian practice. I think you are right about the history, but many Friends are pacifist without being Christian. It is not as though Christianity has a monopoly on pacifism in world religion: Jains are pacifist, as are many Buddhists, and of course Gandhi's nonviolence (itself informed by Hindu ahimsa, Tolstoy, Thoreau, and Christ) is a huge example for many Friends.<br /><br />I'm sorry for the intolerance you've experienced from non Christ centered Friends (I'm a universalist Friend myself, and fit all the other categories you lump us into: higher education, semi(sigh)-affluent. I don't know what you are referring to as ballot box coercion.)<br /><br />Your last sentence is disrespectful: if "refugee" Friends just wanted a refuge from sermons, etc. they would be staying home watching TV on First Days instead of going (sometimes driving long distances) to Meeting.Rudyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04691715150100698476noreply@blogger.com