When Horace Alexander discussed with Gandhi a concern for bringing together Christians, Hindus and adherents of other faiths in “heart unity” which might find expression through unprogrammed common worship, Gandhi said that he thought the Quakers were better fitted than others to achieve this.
Lin Yutang in writing about the religion of the Chinese in his book My Country and My People says: (p. 103) “if they are to be converted they should all become Quakers for that is the only sort of Christianity that the Chinese can understand.”
When Friends in Japan were seeking for a place to hold a conference they asked the Abbot of Enkakuji to permit them to use for this purpose one of the buildings of his ancient and beautiful Buddhist temple near Kamakura. He replied that he would gladly grant their request, adding that the Quakers were the only Christians whom he felt free to invite on his own authority.
These three examples from three great cultures of the Far East indicate that Quakerism bears to non-Christian religions a relationship not possessed by other forms of Christianity. What is the unique relationship? This essay attempts to answer that question. In describing this relationship it is not assumed that Quakerism is therefore superior to other forms of Christianity.
Lin Yutang in writing about the religion of the Chinese in his book My Country and My People says: (p. 103) “if they are to be converted they should all become Quakers for that is the only sort of Christianity that the Chinese can understand.”
When Friends in Japan were seeking for a place to hold a conference they asked the Abbot of Enkakuji to permit them to use for this purpose one of the buildings of his ancient and beautiful Buddhist temple near Kamakura. He replied that he would gladly grant their request, adding that the Quakers were the only Christians whom he felt free to invite on his own authority.
These three examples from three great cultures of the Far East indicate that Quakerism bears to non-Christian religions a relationship not possessed by other forms of Christianity. What is the unique relationship? This essay attempts to answer that question. In describing this relationship it is not assumed that Quakerism is therefore superior to other forms of Christianity.
