Call for Authors: October – December Topics by Mike Shell

Many of us have come to Quakerism as a safe refuge and home in which we can give voice to those heart-deep truths we reclaim from our birth religions, without needing to draw boundaries defining “right doctrine.”

Many others have come to trust Quakerism as a safe space in which to explore leadings from beyond their own familiar religious and secular faith traditions.

To enrich discussion of such experiences, we invite readers and others to contribute blog posts on the following topics:

October — Judaism and Quakerism

November — Buddhism and Quakerism

December — Observing the Winter Solstice.

Contact us at blog@universalistfriends.org if you would like to write on one of these topics.

October — Judaism & Quakerism

How do different people experience the convergence of Jewish and Quaker leadings?

Some who identify as Jewish Quakers may not practice both traditions overtly. Others may describe themselves as cultural Jews and Quaker attenders, with Jewishness permeating their sense of morality and ethics. Others still may have a faith and practice which merges both traditions organically.

For October, we are not concerned with drawing boundaries but with learning more of the “insider’s view” of being a Jewish Quaker.

We will also welcome posts on the broader topics of Judaism and universalism or of the relations between Jews and Quakers.

Here are some earlier explorations of this topic:

The Friend: Quakers and Jews, by Harvey Gillman (11/25/2009)
Quaker Universalist Conversations: Quakerism and Judaism: A Universalist Perspective, by Anthony Manousos (1/13/2011)
Western Friend: Quakerism & Judaism: Jesus the Jew, the Meshiach and the Inner Christ, by Pablo Stanfield (March 2011 issue).

November — Buddhism and Quakerism

Many folks have, in various ways, recognized and embraced the resonances between the Buddhist and Quaker approaches to contemplative faith and practice.

For November, we again ask contributors to share the “insider’s view,” giving witness to what can arise from the Buddhist/Quaker convergences.

Some earlier posts on the topic:

Welcome to a budding Buddhist Quaker… (3/21/2011), by Anthony Manousos
Welcome to Quaker Buddhists!, by John Marsh (3/22/2011):
Triangle of Faiths: Quakerism, Buddhism, and Judaism, by Rhoda Gilman (1/19/2011).

December — Observing the Winter Solstice

Sacred and secular festivals are a challenge for many modern Quakers.

Friends have a historical testimony against the celebration of special days, because “one day is no more holy than another, as all days are the gift of the most High” [see Friends (Quakers) and Christmas, by Bill Samuel 12/1/1998)].

However, the “return of the light” at Winter Solstice is celebrated by cultures around the world, and many Friends come from families and communities in which winter festivals carry valued personal significance.

For December, we invite contributors to tell us about their personal experiences of Quakerism and the Holidays, as well as about how they understand and ackknowledge the cultural importance of this time of year.