Month: February 2011

  • Listening to God

    Being open to the ‘truth’ within the various branches of Quakerism is one way we exemplify the virtue of “listening to God.” When we listen to others, we also allow ourselves to be made subject to them, and in this form of humility we have the hope of hearing God speak through them. This only…

  • A History That Doesn’t Aid Us

    In reviewing some of my writing on philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre in preparation for my exams I am reminded of the importance of writing (and re-writing) history. Much of our moral disagreements in today’s society stem from an inability to recognize where things “went wrong” historically. The tools of analysis, so says MacIntyre, were for the…

  • On Grief (John Wilhelm Rowntree)

    This seems appropriate given the events of today involving a friend and Fuller prof. of mine. Quaker John Wilhelm Rowntree wrote in 1905: Every [one] knows in [their] heart that there is no greater thing in the world than pure unselfish love. Death cannot conquer, nay he teaches ever that love is supreme. Good [people]…

  • Follow-Up Materials From Quaker Heritage Day

    For now, I’d like to share the materials that were requested by those there at the Quaker Heritage Day event in Berkeley, CA this past weekend. A number of folks hoped I’d share the slides, and other documents. You can find those things below. Hopefully these things can aid in jogging memories and help with…

  • I Heard the Words of Fire

    I heard the words of fire spring forth from a child (of God); words that sparked an inferno and swallowed the whole world. It was an unintended outcome, but the devastation surprised no one. Simple words carry with them, the power to pick up, and the power to tear down. But reality, what you and…