(This is a part of my “Top Ten things that drive me crazy about Quakers” list.)
3. The separation of Jesus and social action
I know that the identity wars among Quakers in the early 20th century were painful and rooted in the deep convictions of Friends who disagreed. But I honestly don’t understand how or why [...]

Posted in quaker, top ten 5 Comments »

(This is a part of my “Top Ten things that drive me crazy about Quakers” list.)
4. Why aren’t U.S. Quakers exploding in growth?

Our combination of inward, deep spirituality with outward, passionate social activism is one that a postmodern world is crying out for. It drives me crazy that we aren’t catching on like a contagion. [...]

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(This is a part of my “Top Ten things that drive me crazy about Quakers” list.)
5. Our “Just Say No” attitude toward anything charismatic

We believe God speaks to us all, but hush the prophetic voice. We want to yield completely to God’s Holy Spirit, but know the Spirit would never lead us to speak in [...]

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Just in case anybody ELSE is wondering, I won’t be keeping this theme very long. I was playing around with some new themes, and my daughter (the one with a lime green room and a lime green pillow and a lime green pencil holder) LOVED this one. INSISTED I use it. So I’m using it.
But [...]

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(This is a part of my “Top Ten things that drive me crazy about Quakers” list.)
6. Our lack of humility in wider Christian circles

There are Nazarenes who earnestly want to hear from God. There are Baptists who long for God’s justice to roll down like the mighty waters. There are many who take communion or [...]

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(This is a part of my “Top Ten things that drive me crazy about Quakers” list.)
7. Individualistic, self-defined faith

George Fox famously described the power of a real encounter with God in his journal:
“When all my hopes…in all men were gone, so that I had nothing outwardly to help me…then, oh then, I heard a [...]

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(This is a part of my “Top Ten things that drive me crazy about Quakers” list.)

8. Pride in our peculiarities

While we often give lip service to our frustration at being a marginalized minority, we can also take a quixotic pride in our uniqueness. We seem to like being different a little too much. Our distinctives [...]

Posted in quaker, top ten 12 Comments »

(This is a part of my “Top Ten things that drive me crazy about Quakers” list.)
9. Our jargon
“Are you FGC or EFI?” “Are all hearts clear?” “Is that an FUM or EFM field?” “That of God in each person.” NWYM, AFSC, YAF, FWCC. “The Light Within.” Acronyms. Phrases. Insider code. If we were TRYING to [...]

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(This is a part of my “Top Ten things that drive me crazy about Quakers” list.)

10. That oatmeal guy

Yes, that cherub-faced grandfather figure on the Quaker Oatmeal container is ubiquitous, but please…I’m tired of hearing people use the Quaker Oats guy as a hook. No more discussions about Quakers that begin with oatmeal! Or Quaker [...]

Posted in quaker, top ten 13 Comments »

When I finished my “Top Ten Reasons Why I’m a Quaker” list, I caught myself mentally making another, quite different list. I want to be clear: I’m completely committed to being a Quaker. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. But that doesn’t mean we are perfect; and the list my mind was making was [...]

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