Notes from a Free-range Quaker….
A Quaker’s thoughts – Thinking about Spirituality, Quakers, and where the UK is heading? What does the Spiritual but not religious (SNBR) upsurge tell us? Let’s explore…..
Welcome to this exploration of Uk spirituality from one quaker’s point of view. Sixty years ago UK Quakers dropped belief in God as a membership criterion, and thirty years ago they threw the doors wide and welcomed “those of all faiths and none” into meetings and membership. So how much has the spiritual landscape changed?
The Internet Explosion: Wow, has the internet changed things! Sharing ideas and knowledge is easier than ever – something unimaginable when Quakers first opened up to everyone. This openness fits perfectly with Quakerism today, which is really built on core values: Peace, Truth, Simplicity, and Equality.1 If those resonate with you, you’ll likely feel right at home with Quakers.
“Beliefs divide us, Values Unite us” – Rex Ambler
Shifting Beliefs: Sadly for some traditional Christians, passing down specific beliefs is getting harder. Younger generations often see things differently, especially as historical views of texts like the Bible evolve (the Dead Sea Scrolls played a big part here). Many now see these stories as powerful metaphors at best, and some say manipulated falsifications rather than literal history.
The Rise of “Spiritual But Not Religious” (SBNR): Seeing the values (or lack thereof!) shown by politicians, big companies, and sometimes even previous generations, many younger people are searching for something spiritual, but maybe not within traditional religion. That’s where the term SBNR comes in – folks looking for meaning and connection outside established religious structures.
So, where does Pantheism fit in?
What’s that? Basically, it’s the view that the Divine, or ‘God’, isn’t separate from the universe, but is the universe. Physicist Erwin Laszlo talks about an “intelligent, benevolent, non-locational creative principle” underlying everything. Some call this ‘God’. Pantheists often see consciousness as the fundamental force, with matter, time, and space arising from it (something Buddhists have said for ages!). So, when a Pantheist says ‘God’, it’s often shorthand for ‘All-That-Is’, ‘Source’, ‘The Universe’, ‘The Divine’.
Looking across many spiritual paths – Buddhism, Taoism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Wicca, Druidry, even Indigenous beliefs and cutting-edge Quantum Physics – there’s often a shared idea bubbling underneath – Pantheism
“The way you use the word “God” does not show who you mean, but what you mean”. — Ludwig Wittgenstein.
..And why Pantheism fits so well with Quakerism
This site aims to explore the common ground here. How can looking at these different perspectives help Quakerism connect with even more people today and in the future? Quakers started within Christianity but now welcome everyone. So, you’ll find Quakers with Christian roots enjoying Quaker meetings alongside many who identify as SBNR, Buddhist, Universalist non-theist etc. There is plenty of background information in these pages on many related topics, from animism to zoroastrians.
Quakers are united by their values – peace, equality, simplicity and truth. Sustainability is sometimes added, but not universally acknowledged.
How Quaker thinking and Pantheism connect
While there’s no official Quaker group for pantheists, the ideas could appeal to many Friends (that’s what Quakers call each other!). Here’s why:
What is Pantheism?
Pantheism is the idea that God is everything and everywhere – the universe itself is what has been called God. This contrasts with traditional theism, where God is seen as a separate being or character linked to but not fully a part of ‘his’ creation.
Experiencing the Divine in Nature: Quakers often find spiritual connection in nature, seeing it as a manifestation of the divine. This resonates with the pantheistic view of nature as sacred.
Emphasis on Inner Light: Quakers traditionally believe in the “Inner Light,” the presence of the divine Light within each person. This aligns with pantheism’s idea of God being immanent in all things.
Universal Connection: Many Quakers lean towards universalism (the idea everyone connects with the divine eventually). Pantheism’s focus on the interconnectedness of everything fits right in.
No Set Creed: Quakers don’t have a list of beliefs you must sign up to. This leaves room for different ways of understanding the divine, including Pantheism.
In Conclusion
Pantheism offers a way for modern Quakers to understand and articulate their experience of the divine thoough faith or physics, or both. It aligns with core Quaker values and principles, while also offering a fresh perspective on the relationship between God and the universe. However, it’s important to remember that Quakerism is a diverse practice with a wide range of beliefs, and pantheism is just one perspective among many.
“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie – deliberate, contrived, and dishonest – but the myth, persistent, persuasive,and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought” – john F Kennedy
The Pillars of Pantheism
The name “Pantheism” sounds like a religion, but since there is no worship involved, no sacred texts, clergy or bricks and mortar, it is much more a philosophy – a way of approaching life.
If you want to know what the author of this site currently believes, the answer is coming soon
Pantheists come to believe as they do though one or more of these main avenues:
Nature: Pantheists often point to the interconnectedness and interdependence of all things in nature as evidence that everything is part of a single, unified whole. They may also point to the beauty and complexity of the natural world as evidence of the divine.
Mystical experiences: Many pantheists have had mystical experiences in which they felt a sense of oneness with the universe. These experiences are often interpreted as evidence that the Light is immanent in all things.
Science: Some pantheists point to scientific discoveries, such as the Big Bang theory and the theory of evolution, as evidence that the universe is a single, unified entity. They may also point to the theory of Monistic Idealism, amongst other ways.
Philosophy: Some pantheists draw on philosophical arguments, such as the argument from contingency which states that everything that exists must have a cause, and that the ultimate cause of the universe must be a divine intelligence.
Physics, where quantum physics is now pointing towards consciousness being the essence of the universe as we experience it, where previously what we could see, hear and feel physically were considered to be paramount. The basics are here.
Click for a full article on Ethical living, which is becoming more and more important to many people’s lives, especially SNBR people – ‘Spiritual but not Religious’.