Nontheistfriends.org

Presenting the work of Quaker atheists, agnostics, humanists, and others who practice Quakerism without supernatural beliefs


Welcome!

Nontheistfriends.org presents the work of Friends (known as Quakers) who are more concerned with the natural than the supernatural. Some of us understand “God” as a symbol of human values and some of us avoid the concept while accepting it as significant to others. We differ greatly in our religious experience and in the meaning we give religious terms.

We are not a pressure group trying to move Quakerism toward nontheism. We bless what our theist brothers and sisters bring to Quaker meetings and worship. All Friends have much to learn from each other. We hope to strengthen the Quaker tradition of welcoming people of diverse religious experience and to show by example that this can include nontheists.

We are part of meeting communities that include theists and nontheists. Together we worship and love and cooperate, even as we differ on the particulars of our religious experience. Quakerism has been changing ever since George Fox had his first opening on Pendle Hill, becoming deeper and richer. We are all part of this living faith.

On this website we seek to explore our own perspectives and to reflect on the meaning and implications of nontheism in the context of Quakerism. This is also a place where theist Friends may come to understand us better and to join in a deeper conversation. Please submit writings for posting. We also hope you will use the “comments” link at the end of each article to express your views.

Author

3 responses to “Welcome!”

  1. Well done, James. We know what a struggle it has been to keep this site running over the years. James, you are a joy to behold!

  2. Alton C. Thompson Avatar
    Alton C. Thompson

    I have long believed that James 1:27—the only verse in the Bible that specifies what “religion” should mean—should be accepted as a normative definition of “religion.” Because I see it as having an historical basis—in that our forager forebears lived as if they agreed with that definition. Therefore, it’s a natural way of thinking about religion, given that we became “designed” for a life based on foraging (as the late anthropologist Alan Barnard has stated). Belief in a deity is NOT a part of being religious in MY book! I have written several ebooks that are based on that definition—this one being an example: https://www.academia.edu/104370376/What_Are_Churches_For

    1. Alton,
      I agree that the practices of Friends, and other religions, are available to people of all faiths, beliefs and experiences. At least, all faiths that do not prohibit associating with people of other faiths. Similarly, people of all faiths can cooperate in social activism, including faith-based action. It is my view that words about our behavior come after the behavior, to explain and justify and teach it. And we can cooperate in loving one another, as shown again and again in multi-faith families.
      Thank you for your comment.
      Os

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