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Original FIVE Cornerstones: Divine Within Equality Truth Personal Responsibility Continuing Revelation The Light Within IS LOVE
The Nature of Quaker Faith & Practice as Perceived by One Seeker Cornerstones of the Religious Society of Friends 1. DIVINE PRESENCE 2. EQUALITY of DIFFERENCES
3. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
4. TRUTH 5. A PROCESS OF CONTINUING REVELATION
6. STAGE or CONDITION
7. FAITH
8. A PROCESS of SEEKING
9. RECEIVING LEADINGS
10. A PROCESS OF GIVING WITNESS
11. A PROCESS OF DEFINING / LIVING /
HONORING TESTIMONIES 12. FAMILY 13. COMMUNITY 14. UNITY & UNIVERSALITY
15. REVERENCE 16. SELF- DISCIPLINE
The Light Within IS LOVE Our belief, our faith is in ourselves and the power that exists within each person to recognize and acknowledge the Inner Light and the Truth that is contained within us. Our Truth comes to us as Leadings either internally generated or from others without and are given Witness to through open, verbal expression before ourselves and our community, both of Quakers and of others as to our Way of Life and which are expressed in forms of action that lead to the improvement of ourselves and of the human condition or of the world we inhabit. Testimonies are the general agreement amongst Friends, called Quakers, as to our common understanding and acceptance of our beliefs. These essential features of belief become the standards by which we present ourselves to other Friends and to others throughout the world. This Collective Corporate Witness include but are not limited to Peace Active, Non-violent Resistence to Evil Intent and/or Action; Simplicity and Plain Living in Practice and Action; Universal, Comprehensive, Open and Thoughtful Education: Perceptive Analytical Enlightened; Governance by a need and desire to seek corporate accord and accept the Sense of the Meeting; Sufferings and an unaltering commitment to supporting humane treatment of all in a society no matter their condition and requiring the provision of Social Services to those in need as well as Prison and Health Institution standards that support human dignity; the Support of Human Rights and Social Justice under law, the Protection of Innocents; Ethical Behavior, Integrity and Fairness in all Thoughts and Dealings. It is essential to understand that Friends hold fervently to the belief that an ongoing process of Continuing Revelation is an essential element of Quaker religious experience, so that there is no single document, statement or historical event that can be considered sacrosanct over time, and that the continued Seeking and Leadings and Witness and Testimonies of Friends will change as discernment takes place over time. As well, it is recognized that each individual Friend is at a different Stage of the journey toward enlightenment and that which speaks to the Condition of one Friend may be more or less or not at all enlightening or helpful or important to another. There is recognized an Equality of Differences and that race, creed, sex, national origin, ethnic identity, cultural background, sexual orientation, economic and social status or condition as perceived differences or hierarchies are not valid measures of the worth of any individual Friends find common ground from which to build Unity and a unified approach to all issues and celebrate the Inclusivity of All Diversity in seeking universal spiritual insight and understanding. Friends openly express Reverence for the Principles, Values & Processes of all Seekers after Truth, and value the Experiences, Feelings & Beliefs of All Believers; Friends revere Religious Exercise and Intellectual Thought & Process and the Oral and Written Traditions of our Forbears and for Internalized Worship Process and Expression. Friends hold firmly to the Divine Nature of Self and the Body we Inhabit, for Life and for the Earth that Sustains Us and the Natural & Physical Universe that Encompasses Us as we Seek the Divine within each of us that makes us special. Finally, Friends recognise the need to have the personal commitment exercise the self-discipline necessary to achieve the balance and stature of a life lived in the Light, with the recognition that none are perfect and the effort to improve the self is a life-long quest. The Self-guided Ministry of Quakers recognizes no clerical hierarchy nor authority beyond our persons and as a voluntary association as a Member of the community of our voluntary local corporate body known as our Monthly Meeting of Friends. We engage in an Unprogrammed Prayer in a Service of Worship that begins and ends in silence, with occasional messages from those so compelled to speak in Meeting. Quakers are known by an absence of Liturgy, Creed or Swearing of Oaths, a self-Discipline & Control of and over ourselves and the denial of fear as a motivation for belief, and for Honesty & Integrity in All Dealings with Self and Others. Friends, known as Quakers, have a Compelling Need and
Ability to Seek, Hear & Respond to the Voice Within March 2010 |
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