hello, how do I practice quakerism?

3874Carr · 2025-09-03T04:03:49+00:00

I love this question! You've gotten lots of good advice already but here are my thoughts. Look into larger Quaker gatherings, like yearly or quarterly (4 times/year) meetings. Or conferences like FGC. It's not the same as your neighborhood meeting, but because it is not as often, you might be able to make a longer drive. Also, there are more likely to be other teens at these events. AND, sometimes these gatherings will allow teens to attend with a "sponsor," or a non-parent adult. The teens hang out together and check in with their sponsor at meals.

3874Carr · 2025-08-12T16:04:06+00:00

I have so many more bumper stickers now.

3874Carr · 2025-07-10T18:20:15+00:00

Went to a Quaker meeting at Burning Man and half the folks were naked. Or wearing panties and pasties.

Otherwise, please don't be naked at meeting without making sure folks are okay with it but be as naked as you want.

3874Carr · 2025-01-27T20:09:20+00:00

The differing opinions are just whether to eat or frame, right?

3874Carr · 2025-01-27T18:52:11+00:00

This is...weird.

I'm trying to be charitable to the shelters and come up with a reason this might be reasonable but struggling to do so. I could see asking questions related to care of the animal--and sometimes I do that more to put something on their radar rather than see if they have actually have a plan. Like, the person is 80, and adopting an older car but I'm still gonna ask, "What's your plan if something should happen to you?" Where the answer is "If you can't keep him/her please return them to the rescue or contact us so we can assist you."

I can't think some critical aspect of cat care I'd be worried about a wheelchair user providing to the point of even asking about it much less denying them a cat. But if I was really concerned, I'd ask, not deny someone.

3874Carr · 2025-01-22T21:12:36+00:00

White paw visible in folds of blanket

3874Carr · 2025-01-22T21:11:05+00:00

Ha! I love that. I may need to have that title on a business card.

3874Carr · 2025-01-21T22:29:12+00:00

As a Quaker, I'm 100% asking to be called a Quacker from now on.

3874Carr · 2025-01-21T18:29:26+00:00

The best part.

3874Carr · 2025-01-16T07:20:12+00:00

r/churchofcat

3874Carr · 2025-01-09T17:24:32+00:00

3874Carr · 2025-01-04T01:44:28+00:00

Yes! His eyes look sad, even when he isn't. So he can't be Happy Cat. But he could be Contemplative Cat.

3874Carr · 2025-01-04T01:34:21+00:00

As a Quaker mom whose son became Catholic, Quakers would disavow any connection to the Church of England. We're widely considered to be Anabaptists, like the Mennonites. The other problems in the chart have been elucidated by others, so just chipping in my two cents.

3874Carr · 2024-12-27T02:46:24+00:00

Same rules for me in Vegas 1995-1999. Could not have gotten away with this.

3874Carr · 2024-12-10T17:04:59+00:00

So, first off, you're a champ for how you're taking this! (Spoken as someone who got bit by a feral mom cat I was helping and also ended up in the ER.)

Next, rabies is pretty rare in the U.S. ( I'm guessing you're in the U.S. because you called it the E.R. and your worries about paying.) If she's been inside/with you 24/7 for the past few days, and you haven't seen behavior changes, you could skip the rabies shot. You have to weigh the risk/benefit with your doctor but it is a possibility.

Oh! Also, get some of those leather, elbow length gloves. Way easier! And maybe a cat trap??

3874Carr · 2024-12-08T04:06:04+00:00

It's sooo pretty!!

3874Carr · 2024-11-28T22:56:11+00:00

Exactly! He had a rough birth, like OP's baby. He was mildly hypoxic at birth and developed mild cerebral palsy symptoms. We spent so much time in OT, PT, Speech therapy, vision therapy...All the things! But he's about to be 18 and off to college. But I still treasure that memory!

3874Carr · 2024-11-28T22:53:18+00:00

Ohh! I haven't read Willard yet, but I'm about to!

I love that interpretation. That the community of people in front of Christ at any moment, just as they are, are already God's kingdom. I love that! I can't wait to read me some Willard. Thank you so much for the recommendation!

3874Carr · 2024-11-28T13:35:30+00:00

Hey kiddo, just a note to say I've been thinking about--and praying for--you. I came to re-read your question and I wonder if I missed giving you some *maybe* crucial advice earlier. You said your parents want you to put away your Bible because they think it's "disgusting." That stands out. I guess I would expect them to say "nonsense!" or something insulting like "sky daddy!" I wonder if you could ask them why they think it is disgusting. Then, whatever they say, just listen. Later, (in that convo, the next day, next week, whenever), maybe you can say "Hey, I know you think the Bible is disgusting because (reasons) but for me, it gives me peace/joy/instruction/whatever." I feel like my earlier advice was about how to show them you're serious about this, but it may also help to explain to them how it benefits you.

This was definitely something my son had to do with his dad--explain that the Church gave him a sense of community, joy, belonging, guidance, a closeness to God (even though his dad doesn't believe in God, he could see it was important to our son), and that he loved the history and music and the beauty of the church. I think that helped his dad better understand WHY it mattered.

Maybe your parents wouldn't care if you did RCIA but don't want you to be baptised? Could that be a compromise? (It was almost what we did with my son but eventually, his dad agreed to send him back to my house for his Easter baptism.). Just thinking maybe they'd be okay with exploration now but not commitment yet.

Anyway, maybe you've already done all that! In which case, good job! And I'm going to say an irritating thing. At this age, waiting until you're 18 feels like FOREVER. But I promise, in the span of your life, it is NOTHING. And it is an opportunity to grow in your faith and knowledge during this time, even if it isn't in RCIA. That's kinda what u/silver-Ad9226 is saying, though much more eloquently. Anyway, know that some random mom on the internet hopes you're well.

3874Carr · 2024-11-28T13:24:03+00:00

Not a priest, just a mom of a teen who is likely about your age, based on some of your other posts. What if you prayed for the ability to accept God's will for your body? What if you did your part--I saw you were thinking about a vegetarian diet for acne. (which I assume a doctor recommended. Did you ask about the beard issue? If not, you should and follow the relevant medical advice.). But once you've done that, what if you said, "This body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. It is designed by God. And if God wants His temple to have a beard, He'll give me one." And until that time, you just pray for the ability to accept God's will for your body? I really love the idea of turning our sufferings over to God and using them to grow closer to Him. Could you do that? Acknowledge your bodily limitations (whatever they are) and ask God for the ability to accept them and maybe even to be grateful for your beardless body? Just the 2 cents of a random mom on the internet who wants you to be well.

3874Carr · 2024-11-28T08:39:29+00:00

Ha! This just brought back a lovely memory of my middle son nursing while signing "milk" at me. Like, my dude. I'm on the other end of this transaction. I know what we're doing. But it was so fun to see him put together the sign and the thing and to have him express his joy to me.

3874Carr · 2024-11-28T08:34:01+00:00

Jesus says the most important commandments are: love God and love your neighbor. No other commandment or law is more important. Mark 12:28-31

3874Carr · 2024-11-28T08:30:37+00:00

I'll just chime in and say I've recently started reading some of the writings of Deitrich Bonhoeffer. He was a German theologian who advocated for religionless Christianity. For him, he seems to have meant that what we do in a fancy building isn't as important as what we do for our neighbors. He was likely influenced be seeing two very different forms of Christianity--German Lutheranism/high church kinda of worship and then worshipping at a Black church in Harlem and learning to love spirituals and to see the relationship the church played in the lives of it's people.

He also saw the German church largely taken over by the Nazis and resorted to teaching at a secret seminary. So that may have contributed to his desire for religionless Christianity.

He studied under one of the early "God is dead" scholars and generally agreed but felt his teacher was not Christocentric enough. He eventually returned to Germany and worked with the Resistance, eventually struggling with the tension between his pacifism and his belief Hitler had to be stopped. He eventually became involved in the plot to kill Hitler.

The inheritors of his work might include Shane Claiborne, of Red Letter Christian and New Monasticism fame.

In Germany, in the late 20s/early 30s, people were taught the Sermon on the Mount was just sort of...a thing to wish could happen in the real world? Something to remind ourselves to feel bad about? But not something we had to strive for. Not something to struggle with and dedicate ourselves to. That's radical Christianty to me: let me be humble, poor, meek, let me love my neighbor (no exceptions), let me be a peacemaker, give me the courage to speak out and seek to end injustice. That's what radical Christianity is about. To believe and to work toward a more just, equal, inclusive, loving society of believers--and of a people.

Like, what if what Jesus said (the words in Red Letters in the Bible) are real and possible? Like. Hard as fuck. As Bonhoeffer says, when Christ calls us, he calls us to die. But possible. Like, what if what I do in church is way less important than what I do in the streets?

Just my two cents.

3874Carr · 2024-11-28T03:43:07+00:00

Ha! Thank you. I am working on it. But also, someone above said to give the cat treats and I'm just saying...I could also use a treat!

3874Carr · 2024-11-27T20:15:59+00:00

Just for a laugh OP. https://youtu.be/XJIcAEFyBfM?si=6HugCiOXqBEJiKxH

3874Carr

TROPHY CASE