2023/03/18

Non-Theist Quakers | on god language.

Non-Theist Quakers | Facebook
I've just attended a meeting organised by the Non Theist Friends Network with members of Britain Yearly Meeting's Committee for revising Quaker Faith and Practice (UK). We had a really interesting discussion on god language. When reading Advices and Queries or other texts do you like the word God or find it problematic? Do you replace it with something more meaningful to you? If so, what do you use? Thanks Xx
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  • Betsy Dean Vanasse
    I find it problematic but easily replace it with different words depending on context. Often Light
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  • Amanda Boughton
    When I first joined Friends I found God language so hard to deal with and it was very jarring. Over time as I have been in the society, on my own spiritual path and had insights from others I find it much easier now and I can connect to something that speaks to me about it beyond most language used.
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  • Andrea Henley Heyn
    I find that I've been doing this kind of "translation" all of my adult life. I've never found it easy or satisfying.
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  • Rhiannon Grant
    It's really useful to read your comments here, Friends, thank you for sharing. If you would like to send ideas to the Revision Committee - for example, if you can suggest passages written by Quakers which speak to your experience without needing any words replacing - you can find out how to submit them here: www.quaker.org.uk/rqfp
    Revising Quaker faith & practice
    QUAKER.ORG.UK
    Revising Quaker faith & practice
    Revising Quaker faith & practice
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    • 14 h
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  • Helen Gilbert
    Author
    Admin
    I usually translate 'god' as 'love' which works quite well for much of Advices and Queries for me, or 'light' or spirit of compassion. I asked the revision committee to use a wide variety of words to embrace our diversity and be inclusive.
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  • Quinn Parks
    I find it repetitive.
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  • Kathleen Robertson
    Sometimes god language bothers me, depends .. "that which is" or "thou art that" or even just an empty space in my head are good substitutions for me.
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  • Doug Hamilton
    Admin
    Like others here I quickly translate in my mind the god language. Substituting capitalized 'Nature' often works real well whether as the written word, spoken or sung. - For instance, this one from George Fox : "When I appealed to that of Nature in their consciences, That light of Christ Jesus in them, they could not bear to hear of it. To that of Nature in your consciences I speak; let that of Nature in all consciences answer." -Fox
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  • Bryan Osborne
    I changed the whole wording in Advices and Queries to remove the inference of a God deity but keeping 100% the advice. Working in the Veteran community it works it is still a relevant advice to those who pray/worship their God. The Quaker path is open to all with Faith or None and we must embrace this visibly in our communication written and otherwise and strongly or we are just appearing to "tolerate" non Christian.
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    • 13 h
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  • Jo Weedon
    I think I find it more accessible for me when it’s part of an older piece of writing - maybe one of the classic texts from early Friends. Even then I find it speaks to me more when it’s part of a strong, often visual analogy. I’m thinking now of the text about recognising one another though we wear different liveries. Or 27.13 about how it’s more pleasing to me if someone walks in their proper way than if they walk “just in that track wherein I walk”
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  • Ray White
    I find I get increasingly uncomfortable with "god language"...such language reeks of proselytizing to me.
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  • Nicky Moulton
    It’s a problem so I left
  • Carolyn Hilles
    We talk of this often in our Faith and Practice Revision work ongoing in New England Yearly Meeting. We frequently evoke ‘The Spirit’ as well as The Light and other language.
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    • 6 h
  • Ralph Henn
    Late, beloved Elizabeth and George Watson, members of the Meeting I attend (Minneapolis), told me they thought of "god" as a "creative force in the universe." I liked that.
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    • 22 h
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