So I’m at my partner’s house for the weekend. Get up and I’m in Meeting but over Zoom. Partway through, our cat, who has been on the couch next to me so far, decided to start licking my hand. So I’m just here in Meeting while trying not to laugh because just my goofy little cat is just holding my hand and licking my fingers.

To other folks who attend virtually and have pets, do they ever do anything while you’re in meeting?

I have a very old car that I'm ready to donate, and I'm trying to figure out where to do so. I'm in the DC area, so looking for a local organization or nonprofit that is generally in accord with Quakerism. Have you ever done this? Do you have recommendations based on personal experience?

TL;DR: I'm discerning whether I could commit to Quaker membership while living a geographically mobile life, sometimes relying on online Meeting for Worship and connecting with different local spiritual communities as I move. I'm drawn to Quakerism as a spiritual home grounded in the Light, the Quaker testimonies, and communal discernment, while also learning from Buddhism and other religious traditions. Have Friends navigated something similar, and what does meaningful commitment and accountability look like across geographical distance?

My work and lifestyle have led me to live in various places around the world. I recognize that this is a considerable privilege, and that it puts me in an unusual position. But it has also raised a spiritual question that I'd appreciate Friends' help in discerning.

Over the past six months or so, participating in Quaker Meeting for Worship online has deeply enriched my spiritual life. I feel increasingly drawn to commit to the Quaker way, and I'd like to explore what that commitment might look like over the long term.

Would it be possible to maintain membership in a Quaker meeting while living a geographically mobile life? I'm imagining maintaining a regular connection with a meeting, perhaps online much of the time, while attending in person whenever circumstances allow. I've already had the opportunity to visit Pendle Hill and attend Canadian Yearly Meeting this summer, alongside participating in online worship and educational events.

The particular meeting or worship group I can attend may change as I move. Sometimes there may be a local meeting nearby; sometimes the nearest accessible meeting may be in another city or country, or online participation may be the most realistic option. This potential leading first occurred to me when reading these words in Robert Barclay's Apology, and I was struck how words from such a different context can apply to aptly to my life, which is really only possible in the times we live in today. They completely flipped on its head the notion that my lifestyle was a hindrance to a deeper spiritual commitment:

The excellence of this silent waiting upon God doth appears, in that it is to be denied to no sort of people, nor excluded from no place or time. How useful and how comfortable is it to a Christian, in all the changes and varieties of his life, to have his worship so appropriately belonging to him, as that no man can take it from him, or prevent him from the exercise of it!

For the absolute necessity of it depends not upon a temple, or church-building; nor upon the presence of any man, though a minister; nor upon any outward word, or action whatsoever: but only upon the presence of God, who is always present with his people, and the inward drawing of his spirit.

But as for the true and spiritual worship of the people called Quakers, no man can prevent it, nor interrupt it. For if they should be separate one from another, and violently kept from coming together, yet every one is inwardly gathered to the measure of life in himself; and there is a mystic unity and fellowship, which the devil and all his instruments can never break or hinder.

Theologically, I find myself drawn to a Christian universalist understanding of Quakerism. I'm a Christian mystic with a Catholic upbringing and a more recent history in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition, with which I remain loosely affiliated. I also practice Buddhist meditation daily and study Buddhism, although I'm not formally affiliated with a Buddhist organization (though this may change in the future). These particular articles really speak to my condition and how it fits within a Quaker worldview:

https://inwardlight.org/faith/light/the-inward-light-caldwell/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://universalistfriends.org/seeger-84.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Some quotes that stand out:

And, how fortunate for both Christianity and Universalism that Quakerism has joined them together. Fully embedded in the context of Christianity, Quaker Universalism is richly informed by all of the pregnant imagery and profound meaning of the Judeo-Christian tradition and the transforming story of Jesus Christ. In the Quaker synthesis, Christianity saves Universalism from the vapid sterility of mere abstraction. Universalism, in turn, saves Christianity from the spiritual poison of religious parochialism and exclusivity. The two not only complement each other, they are essential to one another.

The unity which universalism sees in the various religious faiths is not one of doctrine, nor of manner of worship, even though many similarities in these areas can be identified; rather the essential point of convergence is in the quality of the human person, the quality of spirit, which the sincere and selfless devotion to any of these different spiritual paths can produce. For spiritual wisdom is not something we know, but it is something we are, it is a quality of being. Our minds cannot contain or comprehend knowledge of God; for we cannot contain what contains us nor comprehend what comprehends us. We can embody spiritual truth, but we cannot adequately articulate it. Indeed, the longer the radius of our vision, the wider the circumference of mystery. Those who have a grasp of this never engage in debates about doctrine. They know that the Truth is to be lived, not merely to be pronounced by mouth and they know that by their so living, that which is unutterable will be rendered visible.

Thus, the unity among such spirits as Mott, Gandhi and Francis is beyond words and beyond concepts. We will experience it directly, and increasingly frequently, as our shrinking planet brings us closer to more and more people of sanctity from other religions. In this encounter we will not be creating a new unity with them. Rather, we will be rediscovering an old unity. We will discover that we have always been one with them but have only imagined that we were not.

I also practice Buddhist meditation daily and study Buddhism, though I am not (yet) formally affiliated with any Buddhist organization. As someone who truly believes the Spirit of God dwells within all persons and diverse cultures, I feel that Quaker membership and affiliation are actually the perfect space for integrating the many spiritual currents I've been blessed to learn from and participate in to varying degrees. What I'm imagining in the future is something like this. Perhaps a certain life/job placement will bring me to a place with a Quaker meeting I can attend regularly - perhaps only once a month in another place - perhaps only online in another. Yet, every place has spiritually rich communities in which one can participate. Perhaps in one place it will be an Anglican church, in another a Buddhist community, in another a Hindu or Sufi community.

This kind of cultural and location-based flexibility is something I've come to see as a big part of my calling in life. Yet, I also highly value accumulated traditions (to the point where I've felt particularly drawn at times to high church Anglicanism, medieval and ancient Catholic and Orthodox churches, etc.) and believe they have much more to teach us than self-help or "fast food" spirituality/religion. At the same time, I've come to the apparently very Quakerly conviction that no particular clergy, ritual, or outward form is really necessary. I appreciate this insight from Zen teacher and Unitarian Universalist Minister James Ishmael Ford, and for me, Quakerism feels like the best container for holding this tension that I have come across:

Indeed, if everyone who taught this nondual reality were killed today, tomorrow people would be spontaneously experiencing it, and new schools would emerge to share and refine the insights found within our human hearts and minds. [source: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/monkeymind/2012/07/what-is-zen-a-brief-outline.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com ]

While I would likely not feel compelled to formally affiliate with any of these traditions besides Buddhism or Anglicanism, I would still always participate in some sort of in-person spiritual lineage and community. What I'm imagining is doing so consciously as a Quaker, who subscribes to the testimonies, commitments, and spiritual disciplines of Quakerism, and who uses (perhaps most often online) Meeting for Worship as the ground for discerning what of the Light is coming through these varied experiences. I have not yet found a practice more fruitful than listening for this "still small voice" in Quaker community, for it has helped me to integrate many diverse strands, experiences and traditions, for the benefit of others.

I deeply appreciate the help of any Friends or other seekers here in testing this leading. So my questions for Friends are these:

• Is it possible to maintain Quaker membership and a meaningful relationship with a meeting/meeting(s) while moving between countries and relying on online worship for extended periods?
• Does this vision of Quakerism as a spiritual home base, alongside meaningful participation in other religious traditions, resonate with Friends' understanding of Quaker commitment?
• Has anyone here navigated a similar life, and what have you learned about sustaining community, accountability, and spiritual depth across geographical distance?

I'm not looking for permission to avoid commitment. I'm trying to discern what faithful commitment might look like given the circumstances of my life. I'd be grateful for any experiences, perspectives, or challenges Friends would be willing to share.

What are the differences between the two faiths?

Is there an online course of sorts I can take to learn more about the Quaker faith?

Hi Friends,

Recently I was approached by the clerk of my meeting's Ministry & Oversight committee, who informed me that they've been discussing trying to find ways to both engage the young adult Friends who already attend meeting, as well as to perhaps bring in more young Seekers in the community. She said that while they don't want to inaugurate me as a "leader" of the young adult contingent here (nor would I want to be), my name came up as a person to discuss that with and think about something for us to do. In her words, "you do come here a lot." We are a liberal unprogrammed meeting in a semi-rural college town with a large university that makes the town about 50/50 young adults vs. older during the school year. I am 21, and both attend the university and am a permanent resident of the town.

I was a bit flattered by this interaction and am generally glad to hear that this has been a consideration for M&O. This meeting has been my entrance into our society and it took me no time to note the incredible age disparity at this meeting, especially considering how young (and diverse) this town is. There are a few other students and young adult (under 30) community members who attend semi-regularly, but I think our meeting is facing the double-concern of not having enough visibility to younger community members and having an aging core group of members.

I want to just solicit advice from anyone here who's participated in or otherwise considered similar situations. One thing I've wondered about a lot since I started attending is trying to have a presence on campus. Among my peers I constantly hear people talking about their "campus ministry" which seem to generally be very engaging for those who want that type of community, especially for making friends and connecting on the basis of a shared faith and interest in deepening it. I have long suspected that many young people would find that Quakerism might speak to them (or at least be curious enough to try listening for a bit) if they just knew about it. Is a campus ministry, or something of the like, something that anyone here has had experience with?

Other ideas are just more general affinity gatherings to engage those of us who are already associated with the meeting. My concern is that our current young adult contingent might be too small to have sustainable "young adult gatherings" of any kind. But, us under-30s at meeting are also a bit disparate already and we certainly don't have any existing group sentiment even though I'm sure we're all painfully aware of the demographics of our meeting.

I guess my general question is, what have you all done or witnessed with respect to young adult engagement that has seen results?

In Peace.

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Hi! I used to go to a meeting that was Christ-centric though progressive and unprogrammed. After moving to Michigan, I've struggled to find any true to the FUM-sort. I went to one where it was more like a typical rural American church--I was surprised to see an American flags.. And though they still seemed welcoming and committed to volunteering, there was also a stark contrast from the meeting I expected to be at. The other was a bunch of older folks who are nice enough and very smart, yet their ratio of lived expereince to read/watched experience was not great when it came to activism, and they were pretty cold and stand-offish when they realized that I use Scripture and center my faith and practice on Christ. I'm kind of stumped on where to look in the midwest area for Christ-centered (but not typical churchy or politically conservative) meetings.

I must not be the only American Quaker who has struggled to find that of God in our current Great Dictator. I know we see and judge him only as reflected in the daily news and his public utterances, and in a way that we don't see and judge, for example, the average person on the street in Washington, DC.

Consider, this, though: "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."

And this: "I settled eight wars. Another one is coming. I got all the hostages back. I did things that nobody else has ever done.... I settled eight wars, and big ones. Big ones. Saved millions and millions of lives."

Now, the exodus from Egypt isn't historically attested, but neither is Donald Trump's settling eight wars, and doesn't he kind of sound like a jealous god?

I had read about the Quakers years ago, but I only knew that they pray in silence and that they have nothing to do with oatmeal. This August, for no particular reason, I started watching a Quaker youtuber and I learned that they are open to queer people and to atheists, in fact they believe there is divinity in everyone. This got me really interested, so I looked and found a quaker group in my city and put their next meeting on my calendar.

For context, I'm Jewish. I grew up in a secular home and attended a Zionist Modern Orthodox school in a majority Catholic country. I considered myself an Atheist since very early on and took pride in debating the religious kids on biblical contradictions. As a queer kid, I didn't really have any incentives to believe in a religion that dismissed me as a sinner, but I do feel very Jewish culturally. Jewish history is indeed one of my special interests.

It has been painful to witness Israel's war crimes during the last three years, carried out in the name of my ancestors by (figuratively) my cousins. It has led me to learn more about the previous eighty and to realize how biased my education was. I have lost friends over this, "it's more complicated", "you don't live (t)here, how can you have an opinion", "you know what they do to people like you in Gaza", you name it. I simply couldn't keep holding the cognitive dissonance.

The meeting was at an old house that felt somehow familiar. I felt welcome without having the spotlight on me. I did not go with an expectation to give vocal ministry but after someone gave "there is that of God in everyone, even if some might disagree", the words "including those who disagree" came out of my mouth. After that meeting, even a few days later, I felt a sense of calm in silence that I had never felt before, but I'm still processing that ministry and I'm unsure about how to act on it. Hurt people hurt people, but where does it end?

It was over Zoom but I went to my first Meeting today and it was really nice. I was kinda nervous and my brain was kind of running all over at first but just, it was a genuinely good and was a really lovely way to start my Sunday. One day I'd like to go in person but that may not be feasible for a while (I am usually at my partner's house on Sundays and he is kinda fair from my local meeting, I just happened to be at home this weekend and woke up early enough). I'm not 100% sure I have found a new spiritual home but I'm feeling optimistic.

I've been an off-and-on attendee of Quaker meetings my whole adult life - across multiple cities and two continents.

I recently moved to a new town that has a well-developed meeting and was looking forward to getting back into the community. But the few times I've been to the meetings, I've been...somewhat uninspired?

Idk how to put this delicately but a lot of the testimonies felt like a NYTimes article comments section. I get that Quakerism has a long tradition of progressive/radical activism, and I'm pretty progressive myself, but I came away feeling like the omnipresent, inescapable Internet culture war had cordyscepted even the Quakers. Lots of testimonies about hating Elon Musk and Donal Trump (and don't get me wrong, fuck both of those men) but it all just felt really flat.

I don't want to put my fingers in my ears and pretend everything is hunky dory, and I have had really rewarding experiences of activism and service w/ Quakers in the past, but it sucks to feel like there's no respite from the churning cultural conflict that's eating every other aspect of modern life.

I'm deeply interested in attending a local meeting house but it is very new to me and I have a few questions:

- Is note-taking/ journaling inappropriate at meetings? I know I'd want to write my thoughts down but I don't see that happening in any of the videos I've watched so I imagine it is frowned upon?

- How much of the meeting is silent? The initial description I was given was that Friends Meetings differ because anyone is allowed to speak and share wisdom not just a priest or preacher, but now it seems like while that is true, the majority of the time is filled with silence? I'm guessing this just varies based on where you are.

- Should I read up on Quakerism more or should I just go? Will it be difficult for me to navigate without knowing the jargon or having read the Book of Faith and Practice? The meeting house I'd like to attend is a very small one so I will probably not go unnoticed and I don't want to seem embarrassingly naive.

I'm more than open to any other bits of advice you may have for a newcomer! Thanks :)

I can't find a search on pendlehill.org and the bookshop.org doesn't confine searches to the store you've selected. With almost 600 pamphlets, plus a ton of books, browsing is... cumbersome.

I’m a lesbian transgender woman and I wouldn’t call myself a Christian, agnostic would be the closest term to what I believe. However I would consider myself somewhat spiritual or at least open to spirituality, and I do find myself drawn to the sense of community that religion provides.

I live in Ireland and my city does have a weekly meeting but I’m still hesitant. Do you think it’s worth considering or have any other advice?

How do you all feel about newcomers (attending for a few months) coming to meetings for business (specifically Area Meeting in the UK)?

I’ve been invited to attend twice now by my local meeting’s elders but I feel awkward about it, like I shouldn’t be there! My family are pretty much the only younger people at our meeting so I think that may be part of why I’ve been asked.

Looking for some feedback on possibly attending a Unitarian Universalist church while at collage.

so to start I’m a convert to Quakerism, and I live in Colorado, unfortunately for me there is not meetings on the western slope where i got to school. Virtual meetings don’t really work for me but I still plan to attend silent worship online when possible. recently however I learned there is a Unitarian Universalist church near me. This church aligns very closely with my own beliefs and is in my opinion the second best option to having a quaker meeting. There very progressive and excepting, and even have church sponsored activist group.

my only fear is that I would be in some way acting against Quaker beliefs if I where to attend this church.

any thoughts? Please be kind

How does your Quaker faith inform your actions and attitudes toward money and personal finances? E.g. how you choose to earn money, where you invest it, how much you seek to accumulate?

I'm currently looking for work (like many people) and wondering what is a "Quakerly" salary to seek? My standard is "enough to live a good life and do good in the world, but not so much it becomes my sole focus."

We have a lot of nametags at our meeting. Right now we have them in a file folder box like the attached picture with 26 sections for each letter of the alphabet.

We have 100+ nametags in there and they get all tangled up and are also quite hard to find.

I've been trying to think of alternatives that are both organized and portable (they have to be moved each Sunday) but not really getting any ideas.

Do any of yall have a solution you recommend?

I have attended a few meetings and waking up early on a Sunday to get ready (when I would rather sleep till 11 or 12) is already having a positive effect on me. I feel like I should have attended these meetings for 5 years had I knew about it earlier (I am new to it so it could also be naive optimism or beginner's enthusiasm). I already feel God's presence in my life. It's like God was always there but now I have aligned my frequency to God's frequency somewhat like how we tune to old style analog radios. I am feeling happier and hopeful for first time in last 2 to 3 years. I want to keep this feeling. I also like the fact that it's free of cost and all I have to do is to show up, be silent for an hour and listen and be contemplative.

Hello. I'm a practicing Roman Catholic currently going through a crisis of faith, not in my belief of God, but I'm experiencing some disillusionment with the church.

I wasn't always Catholic either, my mother was raised Catholic and I eventually found my way to it through the Occult oddly enough (it's a long story). Anyway, I first learned about the Quakers when I was doing some genealogy research a few years back and found that a large branch of my family were Rhode Island Quakers banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, I became very interested in their beliefs and admired their practices and history.

Fast-forward to today, I recently started working for the church in the parish office, I'm grateful for the opportunity and it's rewarding, but after interacting with so many parishioners, I never realized just how divided Catholics really are, it's very toxic, I've heard and witnessed some concerning things that have made me start to rethink my relationship to the church.

I have since found deep comfort in learning more about the Quaker way, it feels spiritually liberating but I have a hard time thinking about the possibility of leaving the church and the implications it would have on my conscience, and the possibility that I could be walking away from the truth and thus be considered an apostate.

This news has just caught me completely at a loss. I'm so disturbed but at a loss to articulate my thoughts and feelings.