2021/09/05

The religions of man (1963 edition) | Open Library

The religions of man (1963 edition) | Open Library

The religions of man

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This edition was published in  by New American Library in [New York].

Written in English

— 336 pages

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Tales of Wonder: Adventures Chasing the Divine, an Autobiography Smith, Huston: Kindle Store

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Tales of Wonder: Adventures Chasing the Divine, an Autobiography Kindle Edition
by Huston Smith (Author) Format: Kindle Edition


4.6 out of 5 stars 70 ratings

“In this delightful autobiography, Smith tells us how he became the dean of world religion experts. Along the way we meet the people who shaped him and shared his journey—a Who’s Who of 20th century spiritual America: the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the Dalai Lama, Aldous Huxley, Timothy Leary, T.S. Eliot, Thomas Merton and Pete Seeger.... A valuable master class on faith and life.”
— San Francisco Chronicle Book Review

As Stephen Hawking is to science; as Peter Drucker is to economics; and as Joseph Campbell is to mythology; so Huston Smith is to religion. Tales of Wonder is the personal story of the author of the classic The World’s Religions, the man who taught a nation about the great faiths of the world, and his fascinating encounters with the people who helped shape the 20th century.

240 pages
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Editorial Reviews

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Smith is America’s best-loved religion tutor.
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Smith's life is a story of uncanny synchronicity. He was there for pivotal moments in human history such as the founding of the United Nations and the student uprising at Tiananmen Square. As he traveled the world he encountered thinkers who shaped the twentieth century, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., and Thomas Merton.

In search of intellectual and spiritual treasures, Smith traveled to India to meet with Mother Teresa, befriended the Dalai Lama, and recorded music with Pete Seger. Most important, he shared the world's religions with the West--writing two bestselling books and serving as the focus of a five-part PBS series by Bill Moyers.

Huston Smith is a national treasure. His life is an extraordinary adventure, and in his amazing Tales of Wonder, he invites you to come along to explore your own vistas of heart, mind, and soul.----Anne Lamott --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001NLL1RQ
Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne; Reprint edition (May 4, 2009)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 4, 2009
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3121 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Best Sellers Rank: #687,156 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
#43 in Houston Texas Travel Books
#84 in Biographies of Islam
#102 in Biographies of Buddhism
Customer Reviews:
4.6 out of 5 stars 70 ratings





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Biography
Huston Cummings Smith (born May 31, 1919) is among the preeminent religious studies scholars in the United States. His work, The Religions of Man (later revised and retitled The World's Religions), is a classic in the field, with over two million copies sold, and it remains a common introduction to comparative religion.

Smith was born in Soochow, China, to Methodist missionaries and spent his first 17 years there. He taught at the Universities of Colorado and Denver from 1944 to 1947, moved to Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, for the next 10 years, and then served as professor of Philosophy at MIT from 1958 to 1973. While at MIT, he participated in some of the experiments with entheogens that professor Timothy Leary conducted at Harvard University. Smith then moved to Syracuse University, where he was Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion and Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Philosophy until his retirement in 1983 and current emeritus status. He now lives in the Berkeley, California, area where he is Visiting Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

During his career, Smith not only studied but also practiced Vedanta Hinduism, Zen Buddhism (under Goto Zuigan), and Sufism for over 10 years each. He is a notable autodidact.

As a young man, of his own volition after suddenly turning to mysticism, Smith set out to meet with then-famous author Gerald Heard. Heard responded to Smith's letter, invited him to Trabuco College (later donated as the Ramakrishna Monastery) in Southern California, and then sent him off to meet the legendary Aldous Huxley. So began Smith's experimentation with meditation and his association with the Vedanta Society in Saint Louis under the auspices of Swami Satprakashananda of the Ramakrishna order.

Via the connection with Heard and Huxley, Smith eventually experimented with Timothy Leary and others at the Center for Personality Research, of which Leary was research professor. The experience and history of that era are captured somewhat in Smith's book Cleansing the Doors of Perception. In this period, Smith joined in on the Harvard Project as well, in an attempt to raise spiritual awareness through entheogenic plants.

He has been a friend of the XIVth Dalai Lama for more than 40 years, and has met and talked to some of the great figures of the century, from Eleanor Roosevelt to Thomas Merton.

Smith developed an interest in the Traditionalist School formulated by Rene Guenon and Ananda Coomaraswamy. This interest has become a continuing thread in all his writings.

In 1996 Bill Moyers devoted a five-part PBS special to Smith's life and work: The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith. Smith has also produced three series for public television: The Religions of Man, The Search for America, and (with Arthur Compton) Science and Human Responsibility.

His films on Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Sufism have all won awards at international film festivals. His latest DVD release is The Roots of Fundamentalism—A Conversation with Huston Smith and Phil Cousineau.
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Read reviews that mention
huston smith world religions tales of wonder major religions many books well written assisted living years ago well worth life well book is written well lived read huston life is a life well-lived life story read a book smith has illuminated my life book on world smith smith autobiography

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DR Mackenzie

3.0 out of 5 stars Huston 30 years lateReviewed in the United States on November 21, 2018
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Before recently reading Phil Goldberg's American Veda, I had never heard of Huston Smith. It turns out that he was the author of the 'go to' textbook at tertiary level for comparative religion - The World's Religions. Goldberg reveals that Smith not only wrote engagingly and with insight about each of the major religions, he actually lived and practised each one of them himself, for around a decade each, forsaking his native Christianity for the duration each time. Now that sounds like an interesting guy, I thought, which is why I bought his autobiography Tales of Wonder.

Unfortunately it failed to live up to my expectation. Smith is obviously a very humble guy, and it seems pretty obvious he's consciously trying to avoid 'blowing his own trumpet'. Unfortunately, if you want to write an interesting autobiography, blowing your own trumpet comes with the territory.

Smith's forays into each of the major religions are given only the most cursory treatment, while domestic and family matters receive far more attention. I would have preferred it the other way round. I bought the book because I wanted to know what he experienced practising zazen in Kyoto for hours and days and weeks and months, and how that compared with his experience as a Sufi or a Hindu, in practical terms.

Smith was introduced to Alan Watts by their mutual friend Aldous Huxley. The occasion elicited what was for me the most interesting sentence in Tales of Wonder, where Huxley described Watts to Smith as a cross between a philosopher and a racetrack operator. Which is quite stunningly (and cuttingly) revealing of both Watts and Huxley.

Alan Watts of course wrote an autobiography called In My Own Way, in which he extravagantly, and without a trace of false modesty, 'blows his own trumpet' from the first page to the last. The contrast between Watts' work and that by Smith couldn't be more stark. It's like comparing a ten-course banquet with egg on toast. There is never a dull moment in In My Own Way, and a few too many in Smith's.

I think a big part of the problem is that Smith was already over 90 and in an assisted living facility when the book was written. Perhaps if he had undertaken to write it 30 years earlier, it might have contained more of the detail I had been expecting when I bought Tales of Wonder.

6 people found this helpful

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K. Bliss

5.0 out of 5 stars An important read on religion and spirituality and living life to its fullest.Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2017
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While there were brief sections I didn’t enjoy much, the balance was deeply informative and at times deeply moving. I am profoundly grateful to the author for sharing his story and learned wisdom with me. And thanks to Bev for introducing me, so to speak, with the indomitable Huston Smith!

2 people found this helpful

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Marina Oppenheimer

4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Interesting LifeReviewed in the United States on July 13, 2017
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Houston Smith's book on his life was a delight to read, not only because a biography allows the reader to peek into a person's intimate life, but because it describes in detail the role of religion in his daily business. Furthermore, the book is written with humour and abounds in deep reflections about existence.

5 people found this helpful

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Jennie Sydney

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Stroryteller with Amazing StoriesReviewed in the United States on September 8, 2013
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Huston Smith has lived an amazing life so far and it's truely wonderful that he has shared these "tales of wonder" with us. From growing up in China to the search for religion in the Middle East, his amazing way with words kept me glued to everyone of them. I finished the book in one sitting because it was so wonderful and enlightening.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to discover the world through a person's life that has not only been well-lived, but lived with passion, inspiration and abandon.

5 people found this helpful

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David W.

5.0 out of 5 stars It is nice to read an autobiography that is not ego-centricReviewed in the United States on May 28, 2018
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This man was as enlightened as one can get. It is nice to read an autobiography that is not ego-centric. I wish I could have met him before he died a couple years ago.

One person found this helpful

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Starving Student

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the WaitReviewed in the United States on July 11, 2009
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In hopes that this is not the last work of Huston Smith, I readily advise any follower of Smith's lifetime of adventures and learning to pick this up. The photos and stories of specific influential individuals is well worth the investment of time and money. A strong picture of his wife emerges, as does his stylish embrace of aging. I close the back cover admiring this man as much, or more, than ever. Charming, impish, fascinatingly brilliant and amazingly open, Smith is one of a kind. We are fortunate to still have him with us as he is a storehouse of knowledge, a friend to icons inaccessible in the new millennium.

8 people found this helpful

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N. Weisman

5.0 out of 5 stars A man with a heart living through the heart of the centuryReviewed in the United States on October 4, 2013
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Huston Smith is an extraordinary man - kind and balanced. A family man, with deep commitments and the wisdom that comes from living them, and an adventurer to India to Thomas Merton, tripping with Timothy Leary. Helps to see the upheavals of the 60's and the (false) hopes of spiritual growth through psychedelics. (Talk about wrong turns.) Dr. Smith is a wonderful guide and companion on this "trip".


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Nicholas Romanek

4.0 out of 5 stars Gentle and Relatable PhilosophyReviewed in the United States on November 6, 2016
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Being raised a Christian has left me with more questions than answers. The more I read about these theologians/philosophers the more I understand about the oneness of all religions, how they are all a means to an end. Some are more suitable for a particular individual but I believe there is wisdom to learn from them all. I've never heard of Huston Smith until I stumbled onto this book, from reading it I've gathered a list of other books that I'd like to do further research on.

On the Trail of Buddhism
Language of the Self - Frithjof Schuon
Understanding Islam
Transcendent Unity of Religions
One nation Under God - Reuben Snake
Black Elk Speaks
The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith (this was a TV show)
Return to the Spirit - Martin Lings

Sorry I don't have the authors for all of these. Those interested in understanding what inspired Huston Smith may find this list of value. Thank you.

8 people found this helpful

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Bodhi Heeren
5.0 out of 5 stars moving and profound autobiographyReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2011
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Having turned 90 this significant scholar of Religion and Philosophy looks back on a rich and eventful life. Growing up in rural China with his missionary paraents. Getting academic succes and meeting the likes of Aldous Huxley, Gerald Heard, Timothy Leary and becoming life long friends with the Dalai Lama.

Like Jung in his famous reminiscenses Huston Smith focuses just as much on his inner life as the outer events. Having practised religion and not just written about it - such a far cry from dominating figures in the field today - he chronicles his adventures and experiences with yoga, sufism, zen and psychedelics.

A rich and rewarding read bout a rich and blessed life. Though not without it shadow sides: a daughter dying from cancer and a granddaughter being killed. And ofc lots of opposition from 'rational' colleges who ould only shake their head at his authentic religious quest.

Very well written as one would expect and full of depth and interesting viewpoints. And though I might not agree with his views on drugs or his deepfelt praise of Christianity this is one of the books I feel grateful came my way.
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Rev. Richard F. Boeke
5.0 out of 5 stars Journeys with Kendra and other MastersReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 8, 2009
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Tales of Wonder: Adventures Chasing the Divine, an Autobiography
Reading TALES OF WONDER by Huston Smith is spending an afternoon with an old friend. A bit like Perry Miller's biography of Jonathan Edwards, the book separates the "externals" of his life from what he calls, THE VERTICAL DIMENSION, LIVING IN SACRED TIME.

The External starts with his childhood in China, coming of age in a Sacred Universe. We go through his education at Chicago, his friendship with Aldous Huxley, and lessons from a Swami in St. Louise that opened the door to teaching THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD (almost 3 million copies sold). Huston was doing Public TV interviews decades before Bill Moyers. Smith's series, THE SEARCH FOR AMERICA is wonderful interviews of the spiritual leaders of America in the middle of the 20th Century. He starts with Eleanor Roosevelt and ends with Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul Tillich.

One of the moving parts of the book is "Family, an Operetta." He confesses to being such a "workaholic" that his wife Kendra said, "You know, I am thinking of leaving you." He suffers the loss of a daughter to cancer,and a granddaughter to probable murder in the South Pacific.

Yes, he becomes a friend of the Dalai Lama. He moves from World Religions to Primal Religions. He goes to Australia to learn the Dreamtime of Aborigines. This is a book of TALES OF WONDER.
Richard Boeke, Vice President, World Congress of Faiths
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Kaif Mahmood
3.0 out of 5 stars A lively but eventually shallow memoir of a fascinating lifeReviewed in India on November 22, 2014
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Although lively and somewhat fascinating to read, this book was disappointing. Having known of Huston Smith's body of work and a bit about his personal ventures into the world's religions, I expected to read a more profound, wise account of a life that was by no means ordinary. What the book offers, however, is a light, skin-deep tour of all the places Smith has been to and all the interesting people he has met. Before the book can take us into the deep wisdom of one episode, it is over and we are on the next adventure.

As a memoir it also lacks intimate accounts of the joys and sufferings that make a life, and that make memoirs so valuable to read. Even though Smith shares some personal moments from his life, there is a certain reserve about exploring them fully.

Perhaps it is not Smith's style to expose his intimate life to public view. Perhaps, in his 90s, Smith does not find it suitable to put in the effort to write something more philosophically inclined. Those are perfectly understandable reasons although they make this book much less than what it could be.

Having said that, Tales of Wonder does live up to its name, evoking a sense of wonder, albeit mild, at the author's explorations of the world's wisdom, not merely through books but through personal experiences the world over. It is a quick and animated experience to read about the life of a man who is ambitious but humble at the same time, who achieves a lot, but instead of appropriating his fame for himself, lets the light shine on the subject he has devoted his life to - the world's religions. Although the book is marked by a certain lack of depth, it shows Smith to be a very endearing human being.

Those interested in Huston Smith may also enjoy the documentary - Death and Transformation: Reflections of Huston Smith by Virginia Gray Henry-Blakemore.
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[Download] Quakerism and other religions. by Brinton, Howard Haines PDF EPUB FB2

[Download] Quakerism and other religions. by Brinton, Howard Haines PDF EPUB FB2

Quakerism and other religions.

Cover of: Quakerism and other religions. | Brinton, Howard Haines

Published  by Pendle Hill in Wallingford, Pa .

Written in English

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Subjects:

  • Society of Friends,
  • Society of Friends -- Relations.

Edition Notes

Book details

SeriesA Pendle Hill pamphlet,, no. 93
Classifications
LC ClassificationsBX7732 .B7237
The Physical Object
Pagination40 p.
Number of Pages40
ID Numbers
Open LibraryOL6224763M
LC Control Number57010748
OCLC/WorldCa1388177

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The NOOK Book (eBook) of the Quakerism and Other Religions by Howard H. Brinton at Barnes & Noble. FREE Shipping on $35 or more. Due to COVID, orders may be : Quakerism and Other Religions [Howard Haines Brinton] on *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Quakerism and Other Religions.

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Additional Physical Format: 

Online version: Brinton, Howard Haines, Quakerism and other religions. Wallingford, Pa., Pendle Hill []. quakerism (friends/quakers) 


This prophetic-mystical movement developed in England around George Fox () and his teaching and preaching. His followers first called themselves children of the light or simply friends based on Jesus’ words to his disciples, You are my friends if you do what I command you (John ) and later corporately.

Quakers, or the Religious Society of Friends, hold beliefs that range from very liberal to conservative, depending on the branch of the Quaker services consist of silent meditation only, while others resemble Protestant : Jack Zavada.

Quakers do not regard any book as being the actual 'word of God'. Most Quakers regard the Bible as a very great inspirational book but they don't see it as the only one, and so they read other. Quakers, or the Religious Society of Friends, was founded in England in the 17th century by George Fox and played a key role in abolition and women’s suffrage.

The Quakers in America is a multifaceted history of the Religious Society of Friends and a fascinating study of its culture and controversies today. Lively vignettes of Conservative, Evangelical, Friends General Conference, and Friends United meetings illuminate basic Quaker theology and reflect the group's diversity while also highlighting the /5(9).

The Religious Society of Friends began as a movement in England in the midth century in s are informally known as Quakers, as they were said "to tremble in the way of the Lord".The movement in its early days faced strong opposition and persecution, but it continued to expand across the British Isles and then in the Americas and Africa.

Of all of the Protestant Christian denominations, that of Quakers is probably set apart the most. Friends, as they call themselves, believe in the Trinity of the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit like other Christians, but the roles that each person plays varies widely among : Cindy Hicks.

On the contrary, the heart of Quakerism is the belief in an Inner Light, a part of God's spirit that dwells in every human soul." 1 Thus all persons have inherent worth, independent of their gender, race, age, nationality, religion, and sexual orientation. The Quakers were set against the restoration of the monarchy in that, whatever its altered form, it would usher in many of the men, ideas and relationships against which they had struggled.

The greatest risk to the return of Charles II was the hostility within the Army and the fear that it. Navigating this web site: Entries are not in alphabetical order but instead age order. New entries are added to the bottom of each section. Use the search function of your browser to locate entries.

Explore Friends Journal, the magazine dedicated to communicating Quaker experience in order to connect and deepen spiritual lives. Watch short videos about Friends at QuakerSpeak. These actions have frequently been taken with other religious groups.

As a result many Quakers have been cooperatively active in settlement houses and other welfare organizations. With the Brethren and Mennonites in a New Call to Peacemaking, Friends take action in support of the traditional testimony on peace of these three religions.

Humphries’ new book, Seeds that Change the World: Essays on Quakerism, Spirituality, Faith and Culture, is part autobiography, part advocacy. In it, she takes on hierarchies, colonization and the role of religion in our culture and spiritual lives. An Introduction to Quakerism, Pink Dandelion pp.

A broad academic look at Quaker history and theology. I've been attending a Quaker Meeting a couple of times a month and was initially attracted by the lack of hierarchy, commitment to social justice, and simplicity as core values/5.

This article argues that histories of 19th century Quakerism are often veiled interdenominational theological arguments among Quakers. It looks at the historiography of the Hicksite Separation and the emergence of the pastoral system to suggest that the branch of Quakerism from which the author originates often plays a critical role in how they narrate : Isaac Barnes May.

The Top Ten Dumbest Religions 10 Quakerism While it is commonly associated with being another Christian spin-off religion, many people who identify as Quakers may also answer to the category of atheist or agnostic, or may also belong to some other religion.

This is a single-volume source of reliable information on the most important alternative religions, covering for each such essentials as history, theology, impact on the culture, and current status.

The chapters of the book were written by experts who study the movements they have written about. The view of Quakers towards the Bible has varied considerably throughout time and throughout various Quaker traditions.

The position of early Quakers, and large groups of Quakers today, including the Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) and to a lesser extent liberal groups, is that the guidance of Christ Within supersedes the written scriptures, which nonetheless serve as a secondary law.

The. Personally, I would go with a modern book, as that will tell you more about modern Quaker practices and beliefs than older texts. As to which would be good, it depends on what religious background you’re coming from.

Liberal Quakers are usually th. The Book of Religions — John Hayward The term Fighting or Wet Quaker is applied to those who retain the Quaker faith, but adopt the manners and costume, of other denominations. The celebrated Nathaniel Greene was one of this character, as were many of the people of Rhode Island, where religious liberty first erected its standard in America.

Judaism is the religion and culture of the Jewish people and the first recorded monotheistic faith. The tenets and history of Judaism constitute the historical foundation of other religions, including Christianity and Islam.

The 3 faiths recognize Abraham as the Patriarch. OCLC Number: Description: vii, pages 23 cm: Contents: Creative worship. --Divine-human societyQuakerism and other Titles: Divine-human.

Please use the links within the charts and other resources to learn more about the topics summarized by the comparison charts. Compare Biblical Accounts of the Resurrection Chart showing the similarities and differences between the accounts of the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians, Mark, Matthew, Luke, Acts, and John.

Society of Friends, also called Friends Church, byname Quakers, Christian group that arose in midth-century England, dedicated to living in accordance with the “ Inward Light,” or direct inward apprehension of God, without creeds, clergy, or other ecclesiastical forms.

As most powerfully expressed by George Fox (–91), Friends felt that their “experimental” discovery of God. Many other Quakers draw spiritual sustenance from various religious traditions, such as Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and the nature religions.

[back to top] It sounds like Quakers can believe anything they like―is that so. Quakers invite the word of God to be written in our hearts, rather than as words on paper—we have no creed.

Hi, Lots of differences, especially from the unprogrammed meetings like the one to which I belong. (Evangelical Friends and Friends United Meeting would have some different answers.) 1.

Q have no paid ministers as we all have access to the Light. Religions9, ; doi they should acknowledge that there are other branches of Quakerism with Professor Kennedy's book chronicles the metamorphosis of the British Society of.

The Library of the Society of Friends, based at Friends House, is a unique resource and is one of the largest Quaker collections in the world. Are you interested in finding out more about how to engage with politics. Would you like to speak out about a current political issue. We sell a wide range of books on Quakerism, Christianity and other.

Anthony Manousos, “Are Quakers Christian, Non‐Christian, or Both?” actually does an excellent presentation of people actually believing in Quakerism, before being aware of its existence. We all have training and personal beliefs. Without being Christian, the ‘salt and light’ can appear in many people around the world.

The Religious Society of Friends is a religious movement whose members are known as Friends or Quakers. The roots of this movement are with some 17th century Christian English dissenters, but today the movement has branched out into many independent organizations, called Yearly Meetings, which, while sharing the same historical origins, have a variety of names, beliefs and practices.

Reviving Quakerism in the New Millennium. often worshipping as strangers to each other. We lack the intimacy that Quakerism requires for deep worship.

The focus of this book is Quakerism and science from the author’s perspective and the history of this approach among Friends.

It begins with a foreword by David Boulton in which suggests that the book is a handbook for Friends seeking reconciliation with and a history of the development of Quaker nontheism.

The text is divided into three. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ by Joseph Smith (23 times) The Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Ralston Martin (9 times) So What's the Difference. by Fritz Ridenour (9 times) Christianity and World Religions - Participant's Book: Wrestling with Questions People Ask by Adam Hamilton (6 times) Man's Religions by John B.

Noss. William Penn () and other Quakers played a major role in the creation of the colonies of West Jersey () and Pennsylvania (). These colonies were noted for their toleration of minority religious groups, like the Jews, Mennonites, Muslims and Quakers.

Neither islam or Quakerism is a tradition there both religions. And as any person knows you can only inhabit one region at any one time. Hence why all legal documents state only one religion. Also Quakerism denounces religions books as all equally valid.

Thus Quakerism does have a tradition, it does have a legacy, and that legacy does include ideas, attitudes, feelings, and practices for the individual to practice as the Quaker way.

But these are not as fully developed as in some other religions. Quakerism; A Religion of Life () eBook: Rufus Matthew Jones: : Kindle Store Rufus Matthew Jones ( – ) was an American religious leader, writer, magazine editor, philosopher, and college professor whose lecture "Quakerism; A Religion of Life" was published in book form in He was instrumental in the establishment of the Haverford Emergency Unit (a precursor to.

This culminates in a book far more interwoven and layered than a typical ‘edited collection.’ Quakerism in Britain Quakerism began as a movement in Britain in the early s and the Quakers were the most successful sect of republican rule.

The first Quakers saw themselves as co-agents with God and confidently predicted. The Quakers, also known as the Religious Society of Friends, was one of many religious groups sparked into existence by the English Puritan Revolution of the midththe Quakers include both liberal and conservative congregations.

Even so, all Quakers believe in fostering peace, finding alternative solutions to problems, and seeking the "inner light" or internal guidance of Author: Jack Zavada. Howard Haines Brinton (–) was an author, professor and director of Pendle Hill (a Quaker center for Study and Contemplation) whose work influenced the Religious Society of Friends movement for much of the 20th century.

His books ranged from Quaker journal anthologies to philosophical and historical dissertations on the faith, establishing him as a prominent commentator on Author: LA Quaker.The view of Quakers towards the Bible has varied considerably throughout time and throughout various Quaker traditions.

The position of early Quakers, and large groups of Quakers today, including the Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) and to a lesser extent liberal groups, is that the guidance of Christ Within supersedes the written scriptures, which nonetheless serve as a secondary law.

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Introductory Booklist | Readings about Quakers and Quakerism

Introductory Booklist | Quaker Information Center



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Introductory Booklist

Submitted by QICadmin on Wed, 2011-06-08 12:41

Readings about Quakers and Quakerism

This is a list of suggested readings for beginners in Quakerism. It is slanted towards the liberal branch of American Friends and reflects the biases of the person who compiled it (Chel Avery). It is a selective, "starter" list of titles to choose from in several categories. There are many other fine Quaker books in print, and if someone suggests another title to you, please don't assume that its absence from this list is necessarily a criticism of it.

All the books listed below are available from the Friends General Conference Bookstore (www.quakerbooks.org or 1-800-966-4556). Most are also available from the Pendle Hill Bookstore (www.pendlehill.org or 800-742-3150 ext. 2).

[For different booklists, 

see the one posted by Friends United Meeting (includes pastoral Friends): www.fum.org/bookstore/short_list.htm or

 the one posted by the Friends General Conference bookstore at www.quakerbooks.org/essentials/basic_quakerism_book_lists.php.]

Overview - who are Quakers?

Hamm, Thomas, Quakers in America. (A concise history of the Religious Society of Friends, an introduction to Quaker beliefs and practices, and a vivid picture of the culture and controversies of Friends today. Freshly published.)

Brinton, Howard, Friends for 350 Years. (A slightly updated version of the classic Friends for 300 Years. Either one is fine. Even the more recent version of this book is a bit dated, but it is still a classic, definitive explanation of who Quakers are and how we function, socially and religiously.)

Guides for entry into the Quaker world:

Birkel, Michael, Silence and Witness: The Quaker Tradition. (Introduction to Quaker thought, practice and spiritual life. Interlaces historic writing and current thought.)

Brinton, Howard, Guide to Quaker Practice. (This booklet provides an overview of how the Friends community works--worship, structure, decision making, testimonies, and more. A bit dated, but still excellent.)

Punshon, John, Encounter With Silence: Reflections from the Quaker Tradition. (A small, rich, and readable book on Quaker worship. The writer speaks personally from his own experience as a Christian Friend.)

Pym, Jim: Listening to the Light: How to Bring Quaker Simplicity and Integrity Into Our Lives. (Summarizes liberal Quaker thought and spiritual practice. Language and descriptions of Quaker structures are British. The writer speaks personally from his own experiences as a universalist Friend.)

Smith, Robert Lawrence: A Quaker Book of Wisdom: Life Lessons in Simplicity, Service and Common Sense.
(Personal reflections by a lifelong Friend who came of age in the World War II generation, looking back on his roots in a Quaker family and community. Easy read.)

Taber, William: Four Doors to Meeting for Worship. (This pamphlet describes the different levels on which we prepare for and experience silent worship. A good guide to deep and authentic worship.)

The Faith and Practice book of your yearly meeting. (These publications, sometimes called "Disciplines," serve as guidebooks for members. See www.quakerinfo.org/quakerism/fandplinks.html for the ones that are available online.)

Inspirational:

Kelly, Thomas, A Testament of Devotion. (A short book of devotional essays written in the mid-twentieth century. Still widely read among Friends.)

Moulton, Phillips, ed. Journal and Major Essays of John Woolman. (Classic American and Quaker literature. An 18th century New Jersey Friend records his efforts to "walk the walk" of his Quaker faith. Other editions by other editors may be found in libraries, and are equally worthy. Also available on audio cassettes.)

 Earlier version available online in digital form at Bartleby.
West, Jessamyn: Quaker Reader. (Selections from writings of well known early Friends.)

Historical:

Bacon, Margaret Hope: The Quiet Rebels. (Lightweight history of American Friends.)
Newman, Daisy, A Procession of Friends. (Quaker history and principles related as a series of short narratives.)
Punshon, John, Portrait in Grey: A Short History. (More scholarly than the other two, but still very readable.)

If you are considering applying for membership in the near future:
Your yearly meeting's Faith and Practice (see above). If you haven't already taken a good look at it, now is the time.

Gates, Tom, Members One of Another. (This pamphlet describes ways that we evolve in our relationship with the meeting community, what we need, and what we have to offer at different points in the process. Highly recommended.)

For children:

The Quaker Way by the Religious Education Committee of Friends General Conference. (A simple guide to Quaker faith and practice for upper elementary and middle school students. Could be read and discussed with a younger elementary child. The essentials in clear and simple language.)

Advanced reading:

The books below are classics (or in one case, will be), but are perhaps better saved until you have gotten your feet wet.

Bownas, Samuel, A Description of the Qualifications Necessary to a Gospel Minister.
(An early Quaker work providing practical and spiritual guidance on how to nurture and deepen spoken ministry in meetings for worship. Slightly revised for modern readers.) - Available online in downloadable pdf format from Google Books.

Journal of George Fox - any edition. (Currently in print is the version edited by John Nickalls-other editions can be found in libraries. Considered by many to be the founder of Quakerism, Fox provides an account in his journal of his experiences during the early years of the movement.) - 1694 version available online in downloadable pdf format from Google Books. Searchable, digital version available online at the Digital Quaker Collection at Earlham School of Religion.

Freiday, Dean, Barclay's Apology in Modern English. (Classic systematic statement of Quaker faith by the first Quaker theologian. Shorter and annotated versions are also available. Or if you're a serious scholar, go to a library and get the original, unaltered version of Robert Barclay's Apology in 17th century English.)

Wilson, Lloyd Lee, Essays on the Quaker Vision of Gospel Order. (Wilson gives the reader both a historical perspective and a contemporary understanding of the deeper meaning of basics like meetings for worship and for business, spiritual gifts, leadings and ministry.)


Quakerism and Other Religions- Kindle edition by Brinton, Howard H..

Quakerism and Other Religions (Pendle Hill Pamphlets Book 93) - Kindle edition by Brinton, Howard H.. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.


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.

GuidetoQuakerPractice.pdf Bibliography

GuidetoQuakerPractice.pdf

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Friends General Conference. Lighting Candles in the Dark (see description above, under Older Elementary).
Jessamyn West. The Friendly Persuasion. 

The classic novel about life for a Quaker family in Indiana during the Civil War, and the basis for the William Wyler film starring Gary Cooper.
Daisy Newman. I Take Thee Serenity. In this novel, young Serenity discovers love and her Friendly heritage.

Daisy Newman. A Procession of Friends. 
Represents not only the events of Quaker history but the growth of Quaker principles, from George Fox’s call in 1640 to the recent past.

Margaret Hope Bacon. The Back Bench.

 It’s 1837. Fourteen-year-old Quaker Myra Harlan’s mother has died, forcing her to leave her home and family in the country to live in Philadelphia. Shocked by the racism she sees all around her and caught in the aftermath of the Orthodox-Hicksite split in the Religious Society of Friends, Myra longs for her mother and struggles to make friends until she finds the Female Anti-Slavery Society, Lucretia Mott, Sarah Douglass, and—ultimately—herself. The ebook version is available in mobi (for Kindle readers) and epub (for all other ereaders).


ADULTS

Rex Ambler. The Quaker Way. 

Although Quakerism is fairly well known, it is not well understood, so the purpose of this book is to explain how it works as a spiritual practice and why it has adopted its particular practices. Primarily for non-Quakers.

Michael Birkel. Silence and Witness. 
This is a meaty and inviting introduction to Quaker thought and spiritual life. His chapter on the inward experience of worship is both an excellent introduction and a seasoned examination of centering techniques.

Howard Brinton. Friends for 350 Years. 
The updated edition of Brinton’s classic overview of basic Quaker understandings, practices, and history. An essential book for every meeting and member.

Vanessa Julye and Donna McDaniel. Fit for Freedom Not for Friendship.
 This study of Quaker history documents the spiritual and practical impacts of discrimination in the Religious Society of Friends in the expectation that understanding the truth of our past is vital to achieving a diverse, inclusive community in the future.
John Punshon. A Portrait in Grey. Revised edition of this comprehensive and thoroughly readable introduction to the history of Quakerism, from its origins in 17th century England to the development of the differing varieties found around the world today.