Paul Christiansen (3)
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The author calls Quakers to account for how well we face the seeds of war within our own lives. His strong condemnation of our tendency to rest too much in the comfort of our First World War privileges is answered by an his inspiring message about why we should have hope and courage as a people who can light the way to peace in our world. Discussion questions included.
The author calls Quakers to account for how well we face the seeds of war within our own lives. His strong condemnation of our tendency to rest too much in the comfort of our First World privileges is answered by his inspiring message about why we should have hope and courage as a people who can light the way to peace in our world
This is an eloquent prophetic message from a young Quaker that challenges us to live in integrity. He is speaking truth to power, the power that most of us have (but so often deny) as educated middle-class Americans or first-worlders (even if we earn "not much"). Since our present wealth has depended and continues to depend on military and police power to enforce injustices of slavery, stolen land, cheap oil, cheap labor, how can we find the courage and faith to rid ourselves of the seeds of more war and violence? The challenge is profound. It is also perennial. It seems to come to us again in every generation, thank the Spirit. (See for example PHP 326, 1996, Liberation Theology for Quakers by Alice and Stoughton Lynd, and PHP 145, 1966, What Doth the Lord Require of Thee? by Mildred Binns Young.)… (mer)
Statistik
- Verk
- 1
- Medlemmar
- 33
- Popularitet
- #421,955
- Betyg
- 5.0
- Recensioner
- 4
- ISBN
- 6
- Språk
- 1
Paul Christiansen was raised in Eastside Meeting (Bellevue). The pamphlet is blunt and makes a clear, sharp case for the idea that Friends are not living up to our testimonies.
He first focuses on the question of why war is so seductive. People in a combative state, he says, have altered brain chemistry in ways that are addictive and intoxicating.
He then takes issue with liberal, unprogrammed Friends who approach political and ideological opponents with a sense of righteous anger, thinking of themselves as more loving and more holy. Friends, he says, must do more than “token acts,” such as monthly contributions, holding a protest sign, or buying a hybrid car. He shares advice from his mother: “There is deep comfort in the spirit; but we should be comforted, not comfortable.”
He calls upon Friends to lean into the Quaker testimony of integrity. “The impossible is what we stand on,” he says. “We choose to make ourselves patterns and examples.”
Friends found Paul Christiansen’s essay to be provocative without laying blame. The group discussed how people can feel judged by this sort of strident tone, which can lead to a feeling of discomfort that is then often projected on others. Audiences can feel this even when the author did not intend that effect.… (mer)