This Blog is built upon the values and practices I treasure most.
So today, I discuss personal faith perspectives. They will come up again and again in our discussions.
The Belief-O-Matic Personality Quiz says that I fit the
Liberal Unprogrammed Quaker Faith.
No surprise to me. It is great having a place to belong.
In The Religious Society of Friends (or Quakers)
I find the same principles that I love. Check them out.
1. We are peacemakers. Actively promoting harmony, peace and non-violence.
2. We cleave to honesty. So we are often not even comfortable making promises or swearing oaths.
3. We hold to simplicity: a socially conscious lifestyle that allows spiritual devotion and service without distraction.
4. We involve ourselves in social action, and humanitarian service, after carefully discerning divine direction. This is done through corporate prayer and listening in silence, rather than through decisions of clergy, or hierarchies.
5. We are radically inclusive, even Universalist. We are all One, regardless, without exception. Perhaps, the most well known Quaker phrase is "There is that of God in everyone." This has led to a deep respect for others, even for those who do not share our views. We hold forth our peculiar perspective without denying the legitimacy of another's journey.
6. We unceasingly promote equality for all people.
7. We emphasize spiritual reality, without any emphasis on outward sacraments or ordinances.
8. We are non-creedal. We understand the Bible as a revelation of God, but not the only revelation, for God continues to reveal truth.
9. We tend to have no salaried ministry, but we do encourage traveling "friends" who visit the meetings. We look to the Divine Light within to guide and direct.
10. Our meetings are open and participatory, often with times of silence until someone is moved to share or contribute.
Lived out, these ideals develop into a radical egalitarian counterculture, a society of friends, powerfully working with divine guidance for the common good, defying oppression, and changing the very fabric of society. This is revolutionary.
Who are you? Take the Belief-O-Matic Quiz for yourself http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html?rnd=28
Discovering my own personal treasure,
URfriend, Dean Johnson
5 comments:
Hi Dean. How do these values inform and direct your political/societal interaction? In what way do world affairs matter to you?
Here were my results. Some of the questions weren't all that clear, so on a different day, the results would vary. Might be interesting to get all your contributors (who feel open enough) to post their results.
-Steve
1. Secular Humanism (100%)
2. Unitarian Universalism (99%)
3. Theravada Buddhism (89%)
4. Liberal Quakers (88%)
5. Neo-Pagan (80%)
6. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (72%)
7. Nontheist (71%)
8. Taoism (64%)
9. Mahayana Buddhism (63%)
10. New Age (59%)
11. Orthodox Quaker (55%)
12. Jainism (53%)
13. Reform Judaism (50%)
14. Sikhism (49%)
15. Bah�'� Faith (47%)
16. Hinduism (43%)
17. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (38%)
18. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (34%)
19. New Thought (33%)
20. Scientology (33%)
21. Seventh Day Adventist (32%)
22. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (28%)
23. Jehovah's Witness (25%)
24. Orthodox Judaism (23%)
25. Eastern Orthodox (20%)
26. Islam (20%)
27. Roman Catholic (20%)
Hi Steve,
For me personally, the chief goal of social action and humanitarian service is to promote equality and reconciliation for those who are alienated or oppressed. Everyone and everything needs to be included and treated with respect. I see, and have hope for a radically different world, operating not on fear and control, but built through healing, trust, love, and cooperation for the common good. A world where peaceful, non-violent, non-coercive strategies help us all get along with each other, and live harmoniously. A world where our essential Oneness is accepted and the friendship between people, God, and all creation is restored.
This is a monumental, but worthwhile task. Everyone has gifts and abilities to contribute to the common good, and to meet the needs around us. I would love to see everyone get involved in a cause they care about. Personally, I would like to add my voice to the growing number who see another way, encouraging those who have little hope, to believe for a better world and to take action.
URfriend, Dean Johnson
Thanks Dean. So how do you propose the world get from here to there? Can you provide any actual concrete actions or issues where this plays itself out? I'm hoping to come down from the "sky high" view of things to see how your strategy moves into practical tactics for groups of people, national policies, etc. The more real examples, the better I'll be able to understand how your big picture and your ultimate goal scales down to actions in today's world.
If Dean Johnson had some kind of direct political power, what actual policies would he propose? What would you do about religious warfare? What would you propose regarding how/whether government should operate? Would you continue to implement/endorse policies that place human interests ahead of other species/environmental interests?
The more examples or details, the better!
Greg,
Great to hear from you. Speaking of "Values To Practice and Cherish", it sounds like your heart is in the right place. Congratulations on being a "Dad". I have heard some say they discover the meaning of their life while holding their child.
May Life will be rich and full,
Dean
Post a Comment