On to Quaker school. I had no idea what a Quaker was, or even that this was a religion. I just knew Katy had gone to school here, and she was my hero. Every morning we had "Meeting" for 10 minutes before general assembly announcements and whatnot. Wednesdays and Fridays, it was "Meeting for Worship" and lasted 30 minutes.
What's Meeting? In 7th and 8th grade, it was the time we all sat in silence while my friends and I used the sign language we were learning in English class to catch up on gossip. In 9th grade, it became a sort of meditation for me, but they had done away with Quaker Studies for some reason just as I was eligible to take it, anything I gained was by sort of eavesdropping and asking questions. The mechanics of the Religious Society of Friends are simple. Sometime in the 1600's in Europe, George Fox became disillusioned with the religion in which he was raised. He tried the alternative. That didn't meet his needs wither. So he tried some other religions, meeting people, talking to them, trying to understand how they felt anything from these religious leaders on the pulpits telling them what to think and do. None of it was satisfying to him; not Judiasm, not Buddhism, nor any other Eastern or Western organized religion. So he created his own.
Over the course of his travels, studies and considerations, he had made friends with other folks as disillusioned as himself. They came to the conclusion that they needed to cut out the middle man - the priest/minister/rabbi/etc didn't touch them, didn't move them, didn't inspire them. They needed a more direct line to God (in whatever form). So this group of people from diverse backgrounds decided to have a Meeting for Worship; They would gather and sit in silence, waiting for the Holy Spirit, in whatever form, to speak directly to them, then they would stand and share the message in the room of silent people. Thus began the Religious Society of Friends. What makes them "Quakers" is something I've experienced myself - when sitting in silence, and getting a message/inspiration, I have actually quaked, or "shaken with religious fervor" as it's been described. It's the most amazing feeling when the thought hits and it's inspiring, and I start to tremble with the excitement of it, and without even knowing it, I am standing up, speaking. It hasn't happened in a long long time, but I know it's real. My first "Quaking" was in 11th grade. No one had ever spoken in Meeting that I knew of, and after I'd spoken, it became more frequent. It was wonderful. People sharing spiritual insights and thoughts. Something had been aware we were listening, and took advantage to touch us.
There are some small central rules or guidelines. 20+ years later, here are the ones I've taken with me and held onto: - Meeting can be anywhere, anytime, with anyone or no one, because; - No one day or time is any more or less "holy" than any other day or time - To me, Meeting is not closed to any God/Goddess/Spirit/Muse. Meeting is about listening and receiving - Meeting is not about power or money or goals or competition
If you go to a Meeting House, the basic rules are: - Be on time or don't enter the Meeting room until the children come out for First Day school (usually 10-15 minutes into Meeting) Once the doors are closed, in order not to disturb those inside, it's just not nice to be going in and out of the Meeting room. I usually eat on my way to Meeting so my tummy doesn't growl, and go potty before I go to the room, and make sure I have tissues handy for sneezes or messages that might cause tears. - At the end of meeting (usually one hour) a designated person will start handshakes and greetings, where people turn to one another and shake hands or hug, say good morning, etc. - Now is time to leave if you want, or stay and be prepared to stand to introduce yourself, then listen to announcements of events, and some version of "Joys and Sorrows". - After Meeting, Fellowship. Coffee and tea and whatever until people drift away. Usually once a month is a big potluck lunch.
So - what is my version of heaven.... do I believe? Well, next post shall tell all....now that you have the history of me and the history of Quakers.
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Part 2 - History of Friends
Date: 2003-08-01 07:20 am (UTC)What's Meeting? In 7th and 8th grade, it was the time we all sat in silence while my friends and I used the sign language we were learning in English class to catch up on gossip. In 9th grade, it became a sort of meditation for me, but they had done away with Quaker Studies for some reason just as I was eligible to take it, anything I gained was by sort of eavesdropping and asking questions. The mechanics of the Religious Society of Friends are simple. Sometime in the 1600's in Europe, George Fox became disillusioned with the religion in which he was raised. He tried the alternative. That didn't meet his needs wither. So he tried some other religions, meeting people, talking to them, trying to understand how they felt anything from these religious leaders on the pulpits telling them what to think and do. None of it was satisfying to him; not Judiasm, not Buddhism, nor any other Eastern or Western organized religion. So he created his own.
Over the course of his travels, studies and considerations, he had made friends with other folks as disillusioned as himself. They came to the conclusion that they needed to cut out the middle man - the priest/minister/rabbi/etc didn't touch them, didn't move them, didn't inspire them. They needed a more direct line to God (in whatever form). So this group of people from diverse backgrounds decided to have a Meeting for Worship; They would gather and sit in silence, waiting for the Holy Spirit, in whatever form, to speak directly to them, then they would stand and share the message in the room of silent people. Thus began the Religious Society of Friends. What makes them "Quakers" is something I've experienced myself - when sitting in silence, and getting a message/inspiration, I have actually quaked, or "shaken with religious fervor" as it's been described. It's the most amazing feeling when the thought hits and it's inspiring, and I start to tremble with the excitement of it, and without even knowing it, I am standing up, speaking. It hasn't happened in a long long time, but I know it's real. My first "Quaking" was in 11th grade. No one had ever spoken in Meeting that I knew of, and after I'd spoken, it became more frequent. It was wonderful. People sharing spiritual insights and thoughts. Something had been aware we were listening, and took advantage to touch us.
There are some small central rules or guidelines. 20+ years later, here are the ones I've taken with me and held onto:
- Meeting can be anywhere, anytime, with anyone or no one, because;
- No one day or time is any more or less "holy" than any other day or time
- To me, Meeting is not closed to any God/Goddess/Spirit/Muse. Meeting is about listening and receiving
- Meeting is not about power or money or goals or competition
If you go to a Meeting House, the basic rules are:
- Be on time or don't enter the Meeting room until the children come out for First Day school (usually 10-15 minutes into Meeting) Once the doors are closed, in order not to disturb those inside, it's just not nice to be going in and out of the Meeting room. I usually eat on my way to Meeting so my tummy doesn't growl, and go potty before I go to the room, and make sure I have tissues handy for sneezes or messages that might cause tears.
- At the end of meeting (usually one hour) a designated person will start handshakes and greetings, where people turn to one another and shake hands or hug, say good morning, etc.
- Now is time to leave if you want, or stay and be prepared to stand to introduce yourself, then listen to announcements of events, and some version of "Joys and Sorrows".
- After Meeting, Fellowship. Coffee and tea and whatever until people drift away. Usually once a month is a big potluck lunch.
So - what is my version of heaven.... do I believe? Well, next post shall tell all....now that you have the history of me and the history of Quakers.