Quakers live our faith with integrity. In religious education, community events, or study groups, with young and old alike, listen with your 'child's mind' to embody Quaker practice, curious to see what will happen. Consider Quaker roles of minister, steward, and witness; experiences of convincement and conviction; experimenting with the Living Spirit in our lives; and engaging in an ecology of essential Quaker practices: worship, spiritual companions, Monthly Meeting, meetings of ministers, stewards, or witnesses, Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice, and bearing witness.

This book and video series encourages Friends to move beyond a cognitive faith into an experiential, everyday, in-every-way kind of Quaker faith--walking in this world as a Friend. Beth Collea

Amazing work capturing the true essence of Quakerism in words that speak across various experiences--radical, unsettling, real. I like the insistence that talking about it is not the same as experiencing it. Marty Grundy

This is profound, brilliant work. Sita Diehl

Wisdom and Humor from the Front Porch

Master storyteller Philip Gulley shares tender and hilarious real-life moments that capture the important truths of everyday life.

When Philip Gulley began writing newsletter essays for the twelve members of his Quaker meeting in Indiana, he had no idea one of them would find its way to radio commentator Paul Harvey Jr. and be read on the air to 24 million people. Fourteen books later, with more than a million books in print, Gulley still entertains as well as inspires from his small-town front porch.

Rex Ambler's collection of passages from the writings of George Fox (1624-1691) is intended to make available his clearest and most profound writings from the whole range of his works, and to display them in such a way as to show the connections between them. It should therefore be possible, reading the text through, to gain a picture of Fox's whole vision. The anthology is presented in parallel with a translation into modern English, a glossary and a concluding essay 'Making sense of Fox'. This edition has some minor revisions.

Here is the perfect introductory guide to the history and ideas of the Quakers, one of the world's most fascinating and enigmatic religious groups. Emerging in England in the 1650s as a radical sect challenging the status quo, the Quakers are now best known for their anti-slavery activities, their principled stance against war, and their pioneering work in penal reform. Famous Quakers include Thomas Paine, Walt Whitman, Lucretia Mott, Herbert Hoover, James Dean, Judi Dench, and A.S. Byatt. And while the group still maintains a distinctive worship method to achieve a direct encounter with God, which has been at the heart of the movement since its beginning, Quakers today are highly diverse: some practice a protestant evangelicalism, others are no longer Christian. In this generously illustrated book, Pink Dandelion, the leading expert on Quaker Studies, draws on the latest scholarship to chart the history of the sect and its present-day diversity around the world, exploring its unique approach to worship, belief, theology and language, and ecumenism. It concludes by placing the Quakers in the wider religious picture and predicting its future.

About the Series: Oxford's Very Short Introductions offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, and Literary Theory to History. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume provides trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and complete--discussions of the central issues in a given topic. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject in question, demonstrating how it has developed and influenced society. Whatever the area of study, whatever the topic that fascinates the reader, the series has a handy and affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.

With the same biblical lens employed by the founders of the Quaker movement, Paul Anderson explores what it looks like to be the body of Christ. He describes in practical terms a journey that is Christian rather than denominational. And he lovingly, humbly invites you to follow Jesus.

The Complete Gnostic Gospel (Apocryphal) is a riveting exploration into the heart of the Christian tradition's lesser-known scriptures. This comprehensive collection brings together the lost books of Philip, Judas, Thomas, Mary Magdalene, and the Apocalypse of the Great Power, among others, offering readers a unique and profound insight into the early Christian Gnostic tradition.

This book is not just a compilation; it is a journey into the depths of faith, spirituality, and the quest for divine knowledge. It includes the

• Sophia of Jesus Christ, a text that reveals the divine wisdom imparted by Christ
• Gospel of Truth, a poetic sermon that reinterprets the canonical gospels in a new light.
• The Greatest Human Evil is Forgetfulness of God, a poignant reminder of the importance of spiritual remembrance.
• The Secret Book According to St John I, II & III unveils the mysteries of the divine,
• Apocalypse of the Great Power provides a glimpse into the end times as envisioned by the early Gnostics.

And that's not all. The book contains many more sacred gospels, each one a treasure trove of ancient wisdom and spiritual enlightenment. These texts, once lost to history, are now brought together in one volume, meticulously translated and annotated for modern readers.

The Complete Gnostic Gospel (Apocryphal) is more than a book; it's a gateway to understanding the rich knowledge of early Christian thought and the spiritual heritage of the Gnostic tradition. It invites you to step into a world of divine wisdom, spiritual insight, and historical intrigue.

Grab your copy of The Complete Gnostic Gospel (Apocryphal) today and dive into the fascinating world of the Gnostic gospels. Your journey into the depths of spiritual wisdom begins here.

The Eternal Promise: A contemporary Quaker classic and a sequel to A Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelly with foreword by Howard Macy

The Eternal Promise includes two of Thomas Kelly's classic essays, The Gathered Meeting and Hasten unto God. Published in this edition is an essay, Have you Ever Seen a Miracle?
of which Douglas Steere writes, It is Thomas Kelly at his absolute best and will pierce the hearts of ever so many readers.

This First Edition of Northern Yearly Meeting's Faith and Practice supplies our statement of faith and descriptions of Quaker practice as we aspire to live our faith in the upper Midwest of the United States. The faith section includes perspectives on the Religious Society of Friends' historically rooted Testimonies (Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, Care for the Earth), and this is followed by sections covering Quaker practice and history. The practice of Quakerism guides meetings in celebration of life events that welcome children, join people in marriage. Chapters also address moments of indecision and loss by touching on decision making through clearness process, as well as the elements of memorial services for those who have passed away. A brief history of Northern Yearly Meeting's first 30 years is presented, and a summary of Quaker history back to its founding. The book is available in paperback, hardcover, and ePub.

Filled with a cast of lovable, quirky characters, punctuated with simple wonders, the everyday truths found in this book offer much needed clarity to our own befuddled world. No matter where you live, no matter what your season, come along for the journey.

When Philip Gulley began writing newsletter essays for the twelve members of his Quaker meeting in Indiana, he had no idea one of them would find its way to radio commentator Paul Harvey Jr. and be read on the air to 24 million people. Fourteen books later, with more than a million books in print, Gulley still entertains as well as inspires from his small-town front porch.

Quaker Process for Friends on the Benches is the most thorough survey to date of the nuances of Quaker process and practice. This book provides historical context to how Quaker process has evolved, shares common practices and variations used by contemporary Friends, and gives real-life examples of model Quaker process in action.Readers will find answers to such questions as What does it mean to serve on a committee? and How should new technologies be used in our Quaker business? Readers will learn best practices from a range of perspectives on topics like discernment, leadings, and the mechanics of interrelated Quaker bodies. Both accessible and comprehensive, this richly researched handbook deserves a place in the library of every Friends meeting and every Quaker member or attender who seeks to find joy in the spiritual practice of Quaker process. A glossary, index, and annotated bibliography will give readers years of practical service and well-lit paths into a deeper study of the Quaker faith. Mathilda Navias has written a remarkable book that is tender toward all varieties of Friends. Every page reflects not just wide study, but also deep experience and clear wisdom. -Tom Hamm, historian and author of The Quakers in America

Much of what was controversial more than 300 years ago when Robert Barclay wrote An Apology for the True Christian Divinity still exists in contemporary religious debate. This Quaker theologian confronts with boldness issues of individual concern such as the dynamics of redemption, the Bible and authority, and eternal security. He also addresses crucial matters for the corporate life such as the nature of the church, its ministry and sacraments, gathered worship, and the relationship between church and state. As Barclay develops these issues, a Christianity emerges in which Christ's revelation through the Spirit is central to each aspect. It is a faith that challenges shallower concepts and is enhanced by the drama of intense opposition that Barclay encountered.

The Apology has always been the classic systematic statement of the Quaker faith. But the lucid prose of the original text suffered the same hardening of the linguistic arteries that overtook the King James Version of the Bible. Obscure words and sentence structure have been eliminated in this edition, and the addition of annotations enhances the text.

Whether you are an ecumenist trying to understand beliefs that were significant to Methodism, challenging to Calvinism, and frequently in rapport with Catholicism; or a Quaker seeking a better understanding of your own faith; you will find Barclay's Apology enlightening.

An illuminating collection of work by members of the Religious Society of Friends.

Covering nearly three centuries of religious development, this comprehensive anthology brings together writings from prominent Friends that illustrate the development of Quakerism, show the nature of Quaker spiritual life, discuss Quaker contributions to European and American civilization, and introduce the diverse community of Friends, some of whom are little remembered even among Quakers today. It gives a balanced overview of Quaker history, spanning the globe from its origins to missionary work, and explores daily life, beliefs, perspectives, movements within the community, and activism throughout the world. It is an exceptional contribution to contemporary understanding of religious thought.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

The Religious Society of Friends arose as a passionate missionary movement in the 1650s and suffered through decades of persecution before gaining legal toleration in 1689. The new religious sect questioned the fundamental values and underlying principles of English society, pointedly challenging the social, political, and religious status quo. From its inception, members of the Society felt divinely called to model a God-centered alternative to the surrounding culture. Outwardly, this was manifested by such things as distinctive ways of dressing and unique forms of speech. Inwardly, Friends were characterized by their faithful dependence on the immediate direction of the Inward Light of Christ in all aspects of their lives. As the years passed, the outward forms dropped away and the peculiarities of the Quaker way of life gradually disappeared. While in some ways Friends today continue to resist the world's ways, they have largely accommodated themselves to the forms, customs, and standards of the peoples they live among.

Primitive Quakerism Revived challenges contemporary Friends in each of the Society's branches to reexamine their fundamental beliefs and practices, to identify the changes and additions that have been made in the past three and a half centuries, and to acknowledge which of those are unacceptable compromises that need to be abandoned. This book is a plea to reclaim the essential Quaker principles and mission by modeling a joyfully faithful community of God.

A well-known Quaker historian explores the qualities of Quaker faith and practice that contribute to living sustainably in the world today. He explores such paradoxes as equality and community, unity and differentiation, integrity and personal discernment, and other aspects of life that Quakers have worked to bring into balance through their 350-year history. How have Quakers learned to create the kind of individual and community life that can prepare us to live fully and responsibly into a time of social and planetary change?

Physicist and astronomer Arthur Eddington tested Einstein's Theory of Relativity at an eclipse in 1919. A lifelong Quaker, his 1929 Swarthmore Lecture explores how science and religion define and look at reality. 'You will understand the true spirit neither of science nor of religion unless seeking is placed in the forefront.' 'He puts a strong line against simplistic reductionism in relation to our minds . He emphasizes that when we ask the question, What are we to think of it all? What is it all about?, the answer must embrace but not be limited to the scientific answer. His lecture explores this in a delightful way, that remains fully relevant today.' - Prof. George Ellis 'The attitude of the scientist, here so admirably explained, is the attitude, also, of the mystic. Experience, to both, is what matters most.'- The Sufi Quarterly, 1929.

Speaking from the traditional Quaker claim of inward knowledge of Christ the Light, the author shows her accord with early Friends' writings and the Scriptures they affirmed. Promptings arising from daily readings and personal interactions provide the starting point for many of the book's essays. Other genres, including interviews and dialogues, also present a perspective that largely has been lost to modern-day forms of the faith. Though not allowing authoritative texts to displace the prerogative of Spirit, the author often cites both Scriptures and seventeenth-century Friends to support her themes with their good sense and authority, and thus she demonstrates the unity of the faith from century to century, from millennium to millennium.

In the 17th century, a young man named George Fox was dissatisfied with the Church of England and its Nonconformists. The Church was dictatorial and considered anyone who went against it a heretic. It often followed that with punishment that sometimes involved getting burnt at the stake.

Tired of the Church's ways and seeking a direct spiritual experience for himself, Fox concluded that the presence of God could be found within people rather than in churches, and that's the belief the Quaker religion is built on. Like any Nonconformists religion that defied the sovereignty of the Catholic Church, The Quakers didn't go unpunished. Yet, they have thrived to this day, have two US presidents under their belt, and were known as early abolitionist and champions of women's suffrage.

In this book, Rufus Jones details the faith, practice and history of The Quakers, and it's one that will leave you inspired.

Created for Quaker children and their First Day School teachers, First Day Stories with Lessons for Friends' Children consists of 12 illustrated stories to read to 3- to 5-year-olds, along with two lessons per story about contemporary Friends' practices and community in unprogrammed meetings. The stories portray a Quaker family at home and in Meeting-for example, shaking hands after Meeting, holding others in the Light, comforting a sad Friend, and aiding persons without homes. The lessons at the back of the book may be used without additional materials and without extensive teacher preparation.