The Quaker Voices in the Twenty-first Century project seems to have caught imaginations across Australia Yearly Meeting. Friends want to begin because there is excitement about discovering our potential today.
All sorts of people want to contribute to the vision that has widened to include many processes of story-telling, listening and discerning. It will reach, potentially, everyone who comes to Meetings around Australia.
Evolutionary Context
In order to work towards the future we will need to look together at some very important questions, many of which are being asked across the Quaker world. We will need to share perspectives, which will inform us about our history of responsiveness and adaptation to place, time and culture1.
Early Friends were deeply influenced by their experience of civil war and government, innovations in publishing and developments in law.2 Later they were stimulated by opportunities in ‘The New World’, by scientific discoveries, engineering, machines and international trade.In the twentieth century Friends opened to religious Truth from many sources. We chose to work in professions, established service work and pursued non-violent opposition to war and conscription. Perhaps we also became seduced by individualism, the growth economy and consumerism. We tried to use our minds as well as our spiritual practices to integrate new information and ask what our Testimonies require of us.
We are challenged by issues of the new century:
- global economics
- climate change
- electronic communication
- new understandings of past and future
- competition for land, water, fuel, food
New people to the Society tell us they have trouble finding where Quakers stand today and what are our practices in these so-called post-Christian times. Religious fundamentalism and synchretism challenge our liberal and Christocentric roots.3 We look for growing points and unity within our stories.
Our Plans
The group of Canberra Friends at the hub of this project, for 2007, is planning to distribute resources to inform and stimulate discussion and growth. We hope everyone will reach out to many topics from which we can learn and worship, because these will affect our future.We want to encourage all people to recognise the mysterious transforming Spirit.
There is a group of Spiritual Nurturers, and technical Friends who are supporting this project very closely.
We hope that all Friends will find a way to read the material, and discuss the references and questions in small groups.Find people in your area who can help give extra insights.Consider videoing any special talks or discussions so they can be shared with all Australian QuakersSend feedback back to us in Canberra katepnl [at ] alphalink.com.au.
See this as part of an ongoing and deepening exploration of the treasures we have and a visioning of what is possible.
Opening the Issues through Questions
We are devising material which appeals to all ways of learning; visual, aural and kinaesthetic; seeing hearing and sensing. It will appear on the Net www.quakers.org.au, in the Secretary’s Newsletter, Quaker Forum and be sent to clerks and correspondents of Meetings.
There are background readings in this package, relating to the following questions, which are intended to stimulate discussion and writing, sharing and worship.
- The Quaker Voices in the 21st Century project seems to be firing imaginations. What questions are rising in us?
- Australian Quakerism developed from the Liberal tradition in England.4 Some say Liberalism is already dead.5 How do we understand this statement? What secular and theological developmentsare affecting your Meeting?6 What further ones can we expect?
- Quaker group practice encourages deep listening and speaking to our own truth. In Hindu terms these indicate a strong throat chakra.7 How can we optimise this gift? What attention do we give to developing spiritual practices for our own use? What insights do we gain from other faiths and denominations? Where can we search for new insights?
- ‘Quakerism is more a method than a religion’.8 What does this imply about our practice and discipline? How do our worshipping groups nurture our spiritual lives?
- What place is there for ecstasy, mystical experiences, prophetic utterances, corporate Quaker discipline, eldership training, ‘recognised ministers’ and Bible study as were early practices.
- Kenneth Boulding valued our intellectual gifts and scientific pioneering, readiness to test our knowledge and admit our mistakes.9 There is a tendency to dismiss ‘head stuff’ in our Meetings. What do we mean by this and what do we lose?
- September 11, 2001 is said to have changed the world. How has your world changed since 2000? 1990?
1 ‘The Evolutionary Potential of Quakerism’ 1964 Boulding (pdf)2 Margaret Hope Bacon, Short History of Quakers3 Lloyd Geering—God and me4 Margaret Hope Bacon, Short History of Quakers5 Lloyd Geering—God and me6 John Dear, ABC Radio National Religion Report, 28 February 20077 Info about chakras8 ‘The Evolutionary Potential of Quakerism’ 1964 Boulding (pdf)9 ‘The Evolutionary Potential of Quakerism’ 1964 Boulding (pdf)