Issue 03-02-2017
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Thought for the Week: Faith and scepticism
Faith and scepticism – we need both – faith without scepticism is like trying to walk with one leg only – but, as I omitted to say, one has to have some impression, opinion or belief for scepticism to act on – scepticism is the leg that cannot exist on its own. William Le...
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The Chertkov archives
During 2016 the Quaker way once again converged with the life and work of Leo Tolstoy, when Friends House Moscow (FHM) provided a grant to assist Irina Gordeeva, of the Russian State University for the Humanities, to preserve in electronic form the deteriorating paper records of the Chertkov archives in the...
Newark Meeting
Many Friends will have driven past Newark-on-Trent as they travel north or south along the A1. Newark though, as far as we can tell, has never had a regular Quaker Meeting. In the 1650s and 60s the villages to the north of Newark along the River Trent were hotbeds of...
Becoming Quaker
I could have said being Quaker, being Christ, being fully human, but being, is fairly static. Life is flowing, forever changing. In each moment we are becoming: becoming angry, becoming happy, becoming worried, or becoming something else. So, what does becoming Quaker mean?
Quakerism and spiritual awakening
Now thou must die in the silence, to the fleshly wisdom, knowledge, reason, and understanding; so thou comest to feel that which brings thee to wait upon God; (thou must die from the other) that brings thee to feel the power of an endless life, and come to possess...
Out of the silence
There is a light that shines from Terry Waite’s new book Out of the Silence. It is the light of hope – a light that sustained him throughout his prolonged period of captivity between 1987 and 1992. He was in solitary confinement for four of these years, often chained, beaten and blindfolded,...
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Building trust at climate talks
Faith and science communities met earlier this week at Friends House in London as Quakers set out to build communication and support between them. Two interfaith luncheons were held, hosted by Quakers in Britain and the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Record suicides in prisons
A record number of people, 119, killed themselves in prisons in England and Wales last year, according to official data published by the Ministry of Justice.
Trident peace activists found guilty
Five peace activists were found guilty on 26 January in Reading Magistrates’ Court of wilful obstruction of the highway.
Quaker arrested on peace protest
A London Friend was arrested at a BAE site in Lancashire on 29 January.
UN Summer School
This year’s Quaker United Nations Summer School will take place in Geneva from 2-14 July.
Day of action against drones
Campaigning organisation Fly Kites not Drones is asking Friends in Britain to take part in a day of action against armed drones on 19 March.
Eye - 3 February 2017
Meeting under the sky The history of a group of eager Friends appears in Tiny Churches by Dixe Wills. The Friends Meeting House at Dolobran, in Powys, is believed to be the oldest Quaker Meeting house in Wales.
Letters - 3 February 2017
Letters to prisoners I must affirm what Mark Humphries has written regarding letters in prison (20 January). They are a lifeline that is critical to coping inside. Whatever a person’s crimes, it can all too often lead to a loss of their support network, leaving them feeling isolated and alone....