Fortnightly Wednesdays 2 to 3pm (see home page calendar)
Being a Quaker is a way of life not a creed, not a social group, nor a political party at prayer. It depends on a developing tradition that goes back 350 years. Much of that development is contained in our "Red Book", Quaker Faith and Practice; sharing the spiritual and active experience of individual Friends and Yearly Meetings. It should be the starting point; for further reading; and for asking ourselves those difficult questions about our beliefs and behaviour. "It is for our Discomfort as well as our Comfort": the passages we find difficult may be more important to our development than the ones with which we instantly agree.
It is the experience of your discussion group that reading these passages together, brings shared insights we would have missed, had we read the book alone; it also helps us to understand each other in the deep things that really matter to us. It builds a sense of community.
It is of course possible to become an excellent Quaker by osmosis, picking up a sense of Quakerism from more experienced Friends. But if you read the Red Book with Friends, and find you disagree with most of it, you would probably be right to spend your time with some other group; and if you love the process, the discipline of "seeking what love demands of you"; or considering "that you might be mistaken"; you are probably a Quaker and should make it the centre of your life.
So, don't hang around in the shallows, but come and join us in the deep issues that really matter. You have nothing to lose but your prejudices. This is precious food for the soul and great fun.
John Myhill
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