tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post6488880558426405476..comments2024-01-07T09:34:44.086-05:00Comments on What Canst Thou Say?: Walkin' on the Fightin' Side of MeRobin M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336915224193704866noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post-36195440516742827902008-06-20T16:26:00.000-04:002008-06-20T16:26:00.000-04:00Yes, if you know you want to be Quaker, you have t...Yes, if you know you want to be Quaker, you have to work with them. <BR/><BR/>The truth is I don't want to be Quaker. I should've trusted my gut all along, that I am not a candidate for organized religion. Then, suddenly, I get this sigh of relief. It's not you, it's me. I guess I'm breaking up with Quakerism.Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03583539336418817798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post-90446111293000724402008-06-20T14:45:00.000-04:002008-06-20T14:45:00.000-04:00On the other hand, when I was a fairly new attende...On the other hand, <BR/><BR/>when I was a fairly new attender in New York, a co-worker was listening to my bewilderment about the issues that bedeviled the local Quaker meeting. My co-worker asked, if they're so difficult, why do you go? I pointed out that they're the only Quaker meeting here. If I want to be a Quaker, I have to work with them. It's not like the Catholics that have a different congregation on every corner. <BR/><BR/>It's more like family that way - you don't get to choose who's in it, you have the opportunity to learn to live with who you're given. And like family, sometimes it's better not to talk about their difficulties in public, because you have to live with them in private. The analogy isn't perfect, but there's some truth in it.Robin M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10336915224193704866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post-39958191325240497202008-06-20T13:10:00.000-04:002008-06-20T13:10:00.000-04:00"If you don't love it, leave it."Interesting. And..."If you don't love it, leave it."<BR/><BR/>Interesting. And so simple. Is it really that simple? Maybe it is.<BR/><BR/>~AllisonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post-42052375486173929102008-06-18T14:41:00.000-04:002008-06-18T14:41:00.000-04:00Oh, I know this is an indefensible position to tak...Oh, I know this is an indefensible position to take. It's not a good Christian attitude. It's not healthy. I'm not proud of it. It's more an honest admission of why I react so badly. <BR/><BR/>It is kind of like talking about my children. I'm always happy to hear how much someone likes them. And I can be honest about their faults, but it's a delicate conversation. <BR/><BR/>And sometimes, for me, this defensive feeling generalizes to the whole Religious Society of Friends. I think the Quaker blogosphere is so heavily populated by people who don't much like their local meetings that it may be hard for most folks to understand how this is for me. <BR/><BR/>And I may just be wrong. Sigh.Robin M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10336915224193704866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13642801.post-74951451162038965672008-06-18T14:22:00.000-04:002008-06-18T14:22:00.000-04:00OK, I won't. But couldn't you just....no, ulp, bit...OK, I won't. But couldn't you just....no, ulp, bitin' my tongue!!<BR/><BR/>:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com