Comments on: Who Is Persecuted?

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 23:55:31 +0000

That should probably be a values check on any war: are Quakers willing to fight?

By: andante

andante — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 21:49:13 +0000

Our Quaker meeting has a paid minister and structured service – but we’re most definitely NOT evangelical. The meeting down the road would qualify for that, plus several others I could name. Lots of variation amongst meetings, just as in any denomination.

But to the point – I estimate that a good 80% of our male membership over the age of 80 (not many of those left) are WWII vets. We even have a few Korean War vets and a couple who saw service in Viet Nam. They are all good, peaceable Quaker gentlemen who wouldn’t hurt a fly.

But they saw a legitimate need for military service at the time, and answered the call.

To my knowledge – and as I’m the meeting secretary, I should know – we only have one member on active duty or in the reserves at the moment…he’s in the Coast Guard in Minnesota. Apparently, nobody is seeing a legitimate need to put aside their Peace Testimony at this time.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 21:38:17 +0000

I have relatives who are “four walls and a sermon” Christians who are suspicious of crosses as possible idols, genuine iconoclasts in the old Puritan tradition.

There is something about the concept of evangelical Quakers that is dissonant, a “ripple in the Force”.

People forget, Lark, that the second version of the Klan attacked Jews, Catholics, and immigrants, as well as blacks. America hasn’t been majority WASP for some time, but people refuse to accept that reality.

When of the things that is bothering the Religious Reich is the fact that they are not growing with the population. The membership in the Southern Baptist Convention has been flat for a decade.

By: larkohio

larkohio — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 20:05:15 +0000

I am a Catholic Christian, and I have caught heck from the fundies for being Catholic, because you know, Catholics are not really Christian. That’s it. No one has ever told me I could not go to church, or anything else. Much ado about NOTHING.

By: Mustang Bobby

Mustang Bobby — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 19:28:31 +0000

Nixon’s mother was a Quaker, but I don’t recall ever hearing about him attending a meeting when he was in public office. And since he served in WWII, he was not an adherent to the Peace Testimony.

There are several branches of Quakers, including — get this — evangelical Quakers who also have a clergy and spoken service. I think Mrs. Nixon was from that group. They are an off-shoot of the original “orthodox” Quakers from Philadelphia, which is the branch I align with.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 16:21:32 +0000

I know you don’t like to be reminded, but Nixon was reputedly a Quaker and served in WWII. He is probably the best known Quaker veteran.

Van, that’s the problem: some Christians keep complaining about persecution but, most of the world can’t figure out what they mean beyond the fact that they aren’t a government funded organization. They just held a big conference down your way that all kinds of politicians attended to complain about “the war on Christians”.

By: Van

Van — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 15:09:37 +0000

I don’t suppose that you could elaborate on what persecution actually means?

I mean, isn’t there still a Christian majority in this country?

By: Mustang Bobby

Mustang Bobby — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 14:10:20 +0000

I notice there’s nothing there for the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), either. I’m not sure what it would be since the RSOF doesn’t use symbols or icons. Perhaps a pair of shaking hands…? (The hat is out; it’s probably copyrighted by the cereal company.)

And yes, there are plenty of Quaker veterans. Not all of us are Conscientious Objectors, and many served in the armed forces in non-combat or service duties.