In the last few months, I have become increasingly involved in diversity and inclusion work within the Quaker community. Although challenging and emotionally demanding, this work is bringing lots of really important questions to the fore. One cluster of questions that has emerged is: Is Christianity by its very nature exclusive? Is a universalist Quakerism … Continue reading Does Jesus exclude?
Author: Mark Russ
Answering That of God in Everyone?
I recently helped organise and co-facilitate a British Quaker diversity and inclusion national gathering at the Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre. It was challenging and rewarding in equal measure, and I've put together some thoughts on the event for the Woodbrooke blog, which you can read here.
Thank you to my readers in 2018
Dear readers and followers of Jolly Quaker, 2018 has been a quieter year on the blog than I'd anticipated, and I haven't produced the bumper crop of posts I'd hoped for, but in many ways this has been a good year for the blog behind the scenes. I'm still operating on the principle that when … Continue reading Thank you to my readers in 2018
Advice and Query 12: Building a living temple together
This is a series of short, c.500-word posts looking at the underlying theology of the Advices and Queries – forty-two pithy statements that collectively capture the British Quaker faith. When you are preoccupied and distracted in meeting let wayward and disturbing thoughts give way quietly to your awareness of God’s presence among us and in the world. … Continue reading Advice and Query 12: Building a living temple together
Do Quakers have souls? (Threshings #1)
This is the first in a short series of theological 'threshings'. In the Quaker tradition, threshing is a lively process of getting to the heart of an issue, separating the wheat from the chaff. When a theological problem bugs me, I want to thresh it out! I may not come up with an answer, but … Continue reading Do Quakers have souls? (Threshings #1)
Advice and Query 11: The tightrope of hope
This is a series of short, c.500-word posts looking at the underlying theology of the Advices and Queries – forty-two pithy statements that collectively capture the British Quaker faith. Be honest with yourself. What unpalatable truths might you be evading? When you recognise your shortcomings, do not let that discourage you. In worship together we can find … Continue reading Advice and Query 11: The tightrope of hope
Living Adventurously in a Dangerous World
I've written a piece for the Woodbrooke Learning Blog on how religion at its best teaches us to live adventurously in a dangerous world. You can find it here. The Woodbrooke blog unfortunately has no comments facility, so feel free to comment on it here. Enjoy!
