Interesting article in Christianity Today.
The gist of it is that a small but growing movement is emerging among US Quakers of those who self identify as Pagans. With it’s emphasis upon subjective religious experience, its non-hierachical structure and it’s lack of creedal confessions of faith Quakerism is proving to be a ready ’second home’ for those who once were Christians, or are sympathetic to the person of Christ but have now become pagan. It is difficult to see how such a ‘blending’ of faiths could continue for long and the Quakers remain in any sense Christian; a tension those quoted in the article acknowledge.
Witnessing about Jesus in Olive’s meeting has become infrequent. “People here come from so many different places, spiritually,” he says. “Meetings can be very quiet, as many people are afraid to voice views that others might not hold to be true. We talk about God, but we don’t really put a name to him or her.”
In an effort to reinforce his connection to Jesus, Olive holds a monthly Christian prayer group at his house after his Quaker meeting.
Morgan-Appel says that such fears are common. She has seen tensions flare between the two groups, from pagan-influenced Quaker weddings to unfair fees charged to use meeting halls for Quaker-pagan gatherings.
“I think there’s a myth that it’s only Christians who feel like it makes people uncomfortable when they talk about Jesus,” she said. “There are definitely times when I see that there are still knee-jerk reactions from people within the Society of Friends who don’t know what paganism is.”
I’d be interested to hear if there is anything similar occurring among the UK’s Quakers.
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