My Experience as a Quaker Since the early Nineties, I have been a member of Strawberry Creek Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. I didn't start out as a Friend, and there is more about my being raised Catholic on another page. As far as my own belief in God, I consider myself a Quaker Agnostic. Is there a God? I don't know. I am open to the possibility of a realty beyond what I am experiencing now. I like the concept of Maya. Is God/Spirit the ultimate dreamer? Is She unaware of her dreaming as I am unaware when I am asleep? I am thankful to Alan Watts for introducing me to this concept with The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are. Do I call myself a Christian? As with other Friends of the universalist/unprogrammed tradition, I have become more comfortable with that term. Does it mean I believe Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God? Or was Jesus really telling us we are all the children of God? For me, Jesus was the wise teacher. In Eastern spirituality, he is an ascended master. He set a standard that is not easy to measure up to, but worth trying. It is a challenge to love those who oppose me. Even more difficult is giving up all my possessions to the poor. If I can't give up my possessions entirely, I can at least share them wisely. I can develop a more healthy relationship with the things I own and live as simply as I can. Another word I get hung up on is prayer. Do I believe in prayer? If so, whom am I praying to and what am I praying for? If I am praying for anything it is for guidance. How can I help? How should I respond? What is the best course to take? In prayer, I focus and direct my intentions. How can I achieve being the person I would like to be? How can I treat others the way I wish to be treated? I love silent worship and the community that Quakers create.I especially
love the political activism and the commitment to create a world of peace
and equality. After three years, I have finished my job as Newsletter
Editor, but I am still actively involved with the meeting newsletter.
With my limited Dreamweaver skills, I have done some work to update the
Strawberry Creek web
site.Thankfully, a more talented person has taken on that work to
redesign the site.
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