Theism and Non-Theism

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Resource material to go with Journeys in the Spirit Youth Edition issue 16 Theism and non-theism Theism and non-theism Non-theist Quakers The “lie” is not God, but the simplistic, literalist notion of God: the notion that “he” or “she” or “it” exists independently of our human consciousness encoded in human language. What is so dangerous about such literalism is that it relieves us humans from final responsibility for the way we shape our destiny,…..when in Quaker business meetings, we seek the leadings of the Spirit, I do not suppose that we are awaiting instruction from the creator of the universe, or that we are in some kind of mystical communication with the holy ghost of Jesus. But I do believe that the wholly human spirit of “mercy, pity, peace and love” demands a hearing, and that we are not unwise to heed it.’ David Boulton, 2006 Godless for God’s Sake? I am a non-theist. Though I am not a member of the Religious Society of Friends, I am a deep believer in the values of Quakerism. I would not say that I am not religious. I hold spiritual values that do not centre on a God figure, but rather a fundamental driving force in nature. I don’t have a word for this force, but I would define it loosely as a guiding ideal that was created with the universe but did not create it. I would also define it, even more loosely, as peaceful and benevolent. When we go against these ideals of peacefulness and benevolence we go against this force of nature. It is one of those things that no human, no matter how advanced, can ever rise above. But the idea of it as an omnipotent, omniscient entity…no, that I can’t believe.’ Lincoln Alpern. Theist Quakers The theologian Mary Daly has written, ‘Why indeed must “god” be a noun? Why not a verb the most active and dynamic of all?’ I agree with that. I can live with the term God as energy, force, direction, rather than a thing or a person.’ Twelve Quakers and God, P.15 – 5 People ask, “If God is an all-powerful force, then why can’t it stop pain and suffering, fear and war?” If God is the energy, then it is trying to stop these things. And if God is in us, then we must be part of the effort to stop them….I am on a journey, a path that winds around a mountain; I see the same thing from different perspectives all the time. But I know there is a path, that it leads somewhere, and that there is a force that is moving me along it.’ Twelve Quakers and God, P.16, 5 .

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