tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222101907210941253.post4756919171208140540..comments2023-09-06T09:41:32.189-04:00Comments on Meeting Jesus / Finding Peace: Who Are We? (Preparing for Western Yearly Meeting - 2010)Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17063175711541546350noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222101907210941253.post-65276120395314896572010-07-02T16:27:24.288-04:002010-07-02T16:27:24.288-04:00I don't believe Yearly Meetings have any busin...I don't believe Yearly Meetings have any business defining theology for their members. They are intended to be a body of Friends in a geographical region.<br /><br />I think it would also help note that while Quakers are historically Christian they are not historically Protestant. Defining our Christianity and what that means based on Protestant doctrine is folly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222101907210941253.post-26553402592573155872010-07-02T14:54:24.379-04:002010-07-02T14:54:24.379-04:00Why the "essential truths?" Three reaso...Why the "essential truths?" Three reasons:<br /><br />-It is a concrete statement that has shaped who we are today. It is a good place to start the discussion. It is part of our history, part of our beliefs, and also reflects on our structure. <br />-Understanding the revivalist / modernist tensions that produced the "essential truths" is vital to understanding where we are today. It is a great picture of the interplay of history and belief and how those shape a group.<br />-I also think the "essential truths" are a great description of how God has revealed truth in our world.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17063175711541546350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5222101907210941253.post-19936631497409076132010-07-02T11:34:41.826-04:002010-07-02T11:34:41.826-04:00A thoughtful post, as expected. Good thoughts her...A thoughtful post, as expected. Good thoughts here, Bill.<br /><br />My only nit-to-pick is about Essential Truths, etc. Why do we have to go back to these historical documents as arbiters of what Friends believe/practice today? Both this (written largely by Rufus Jones in 1922) and the Richmond Declaration (1887) were assembled to address issues Friends were wrestling with at their time. <br /><br />Instead of pointing back, why don't we dare to trust the Holy Spirit to lead us into crafting a statement(s) for today? Dare we trust that God is still working -- or was the canon closed after 1922?Brent Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01351957537347562545noreply@blogger.com