(no subject)

[bubosquared]

Latest stop in my meanderings to find a branch of organised Christian religion I want to be part of: Quakers. Points in their favour so far:

1. Emphasis on individual relationships with god directly, rather than through any sort of hierarchical church structure;
2. Not only do they (on their website, at least, I obviously don't know in practice) explicitly state they accept queer people, it's actually right there in their FAQ, instead of me having to dig around the site to find a half-arsed "We don't condemn them, but we still think it's kinda wrong" statement;
3. The first words you see on their website are "Live adventurously."

*does more digging*

Comments

[dantesvendetta.livejournal.com]

I used to work for someone who was a Quaker. They seem pretty cool and laid back.

The only religion I've been seriously tempted by is Buddhism...

[troubleinchina.livejournal.com]

I might have been tempted by Buddhism.

Then I met Harry.

*shoots imaginary self in imaginary head with imaginary gun*

[randominity.livejournal.com]

Quakers are AWESOME. Good luck with the search!

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

They do seem pretty awesome, and I admit, the mere fact that I don't have to go digging around to find what they think of queer people, and that they come right out and say "Hating people is BAD, mkay?" is great.

Also, your icon is so, so true. (I sometimes think I'm not a Christian so much as I am a Jesus fangirl.)

[wibbble]

I think azurelunatic was brought up Quaker...

Oh, and re: this post's tag - I'm wearing my Personal Robot Jesus tshirt today :oD

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

... I want a Robot Jesus!

[wibbble]

It's from the Deisel Sweeties webcomics. They got a C&D from Lucas and had to stop selling them.

...

It's a pixel-art R2-D2!

[cangetmad.livejournal.com]

Have you talked to Yonmei about Quakers and why she is no longer one? Might be interesting. Personally, if I were a theist, I expect that's where I'd be - so many of the people who get involved in actually doing stuff about green or queer stuff are Quakers. And, yeah, they've been doing same-sex partnerships in just the same way as mixed-sex ones for ages, for example.

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

Not yet -- I think I'd need to do some more research first to see if this would be a good fit for me based on their own, er, "propaganda". (Can't think of a better word now, DAMMIT.)

I also quite like their marriage ceremony in and of itself, because there's no "blessing" of the union or anything, just the two people involved declaring their wanting to be together forever.

[rsadelle]

I think it's odd that you talk about the Quakers and neither you nor anyone who's commented yet has mentioned the fact that they are extremely serious about peace and non-violence.

[elfiepike.livejournal.com]

indeed! the older quakers in my area of the world all got sent off to work-camps during WWII because they wouldn't fight--or at least that's how i've heard the story go. (my sister found out that her school growing up was started by quakers who didn't want their kids learning that violence and wars were okay, things like that. interesting stuff.)

[safti]

I've attended a couple of Quaker services on Sunday, and honestly, it was the most peaceful thing I've ever felt. Organized religion usually frightens the living daylights out of me - I don't feel comfortable acknowledging a deity in the company of others when I've gotten to the point where I feel that there's someone/something Out There but that's about all I have. (Plus, churches kind of scare me.)

[eljuno.livejournal.com]

If you have any questions a Birthright Friend can answer, I haven't been to Meeting since, like, the dawn of time, but I was raised Hicksite Quaker...

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

Actually, if you have any recommendations for books, especially ones about/including UK Quakerism, I'd like that. Especially ones that take a critical look.

[tonights.livejournal.com]

Although I am generally antireligion, even I have to admit that Quakers are extremely nonthreatening and peaceful. I think of all the branches of Christianity it's one of the more excellent choices. :)

[much-reality.livejournal.com]

My family are Quaker. I'm an atheist, and that's cool with them, because they value living well and individual conscience more than doctrine. And my cousin's civil partner has actually become a Friend too; she found it a ton more accepting than her own Anglican upbringing.

It's nice, because they think everyone is in God's image and has equal value. They concentrate on violence and hate as sinful - in fact homophobes are sinners on that basis. Seems the right way up to me.

[much-reality.livejournal.com]

Oh, Mum is a visting tutor at Woodbrooke. (http://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/) If you're interested in knowing more, I can give you her email. She's cool. As I say, she's never cared about my atheism, so she'd not be remotely fussed if you felt it wasn't for you.

You should try a Meeting, they're really calming. It's nice to have quiet time to reflect. Lol, it's weird, most people who leave a church hate it, I'm hugely fond of mine. But they're really good people - I just don't believe in God.

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

You should try a Meeting, they're really calming. It's nice to have quiet time to reflect.

That's the impression I got, yeah. I like the idea of church = getting some quiet time with god, rather than the long, ritualistic, guided prayer. I like rituals, mind, but this appeals to me more.

[halfacork.livejournal.com]

I think if I ever went back to religion, that is the way I'd go. They have a meeting house not to far away.

[eliyes.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who joined the Quakers when she was 13 or so, and she's really awesome. She's marrying a lady this March. :3