Useful theology from a Quaker-shaped Christian
For the last two years I’ve been experimenting with a hybrid spirituality. I’ve taken the Quakerism that has formed me so strongly over the past two decades and added in some new-monasticism, “Celtic Christianity” and neo-Druidry. I’ve called this a “patchwork” and “queer” approach to faith. Now, having read Adrian Thatcher’s Vile Bodies (2023), I’m wondering if “dirty” is another appropriate word.
I've been interviewed on The God Cast with Fr Alex Frost. We talked about Quakerism, Quaker theology, my spiritual journey, and my new book "The Spirit of Freedom."
I'm pleased to announce that my review of R. Melvin Keiser's Seeds of Silence: Essays in Quaker Spirituality and Philosophical Theology has been published in the journal Modern Believing, volume 65, issue 3. Sadly, the journal isn't open access, so is only available if you or your institution have a subscription. The review can be… Continue reading Book Review published in Modern Believing 65.3
I want to talk about sin. Depending on what type of Quaker you are, this may seem a very un-Quakerly thing to do. The Quakers I know in Britain hardly talk about sin at all, and the first Quakers of 17th century England were very wary of anyone putting too much emphasis on sin, like the Puritans. Quakers accused Puritan ministers of “preaching up sin,” weighing people down rather than directing them to the liberating Light of Christ. I’m not a Puritan, but in this post I write about sin, and about how deeply it dwells in our flesh, so deep that escape in this life is very unlikely. I hope my Quaker forebears can forgive me.
I believe that God can bring good out of evil. God can take the worst things and grow something good from that soil. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with us finding meaning and hope in our suffering. But that’s a different thing entirely to saying that God requires evil and suffering in order to bring about good. That isn’t the God I worship. The God of Jesus Christ wants us to have abundant life and wipe away every tear from our eyes. This God doesn’t hurt us and tell us it’s for our own good.
Come and learn about Quaker theology and whiteness with me online. From 3 June to 8 July I'm leading a 6-week online course, with live sessions every Monday at 19:00-20:30 (UK time). If you've enjoyed my writing on Quakers, whiteness and race in the past, then you'll love this course.
November 26, 2024. My author-copies arrived in the post today, and it's thrilling to finally hold it in my hand.
In the small corner of the world that is jollyquaker.com, it’s been a good year. When I look back at my writing in 2023, I see myself both exploring a queer Jesus-centred spirituality that embraces and goes beyond Quakerism, and growing in confidence as an academic theologian. Thank you for accompanying me on this journey by reading the blog. Here’s my summary of the year as a reader and writer.
My new book has a beautiful, beautiful cover. "The Spirit of Freedom: Quaker-shaped Christian theology" will be published in 2024 by Christian Alternative Books. It's a collection of my best writing from the last decade, and I'm really proud of it. I can't wait for you to read it. A publication date is yet to… Continue reading My new book “The Spirit of Freedom” cover reveal
I was delighted to take part in the Quaker Theological Discussion Group panel on Saturday 2 December, alongside Emma Condori, Rhiannon Grant, and Robert J. Wafula. I presented a paper titled "Whiteness and the Quaker Universalist Discourse in Britain," and you can watch it here.
Jolly Quaker 