10/30/2008
Semi-Controversial Post: Politics and being Quaker
I will be glad to see Election Day come-and none too soon. I just don't like politics and look forward to the last rhetoric and nasty ad and begone. I try to be a responsible person and follow the process, but I can't even stand watching the debates. And I feel guilty. And conflicted. And as a Friend, I'm torn between those Quakers I admire who thrive on political involvement and see it as part of their spiritual calling( or wouldn't call it that but something just as inspired) and the Quietist witness of believing that"speaking truth to power" means to not be a part of that power (i.e. voting) and addressing that power from the outside. It seems for myself to try and be that interested in the political process, I would be crushing something of the Seed inside. I'm hoping there's some light out there that will give me more perspective.
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5 comments:
You might want to investigate what Mennonites have to say about voting. Historically, they have not voted in great numbers, and even progressive Mennonite communities still wrestle with this issue.
Their main philosophy (paraphrased) is that there is the Kingdom of Christ and there is the Rule of Man. The two are separate, and to be faithful servants of Christ and work to bring forth more of that Kingdom, one must remove oneself as much as possible from wordly things.
I sometimes attend a Mennonite Church--mostly professional people, no plain dress--and the issue of voting is very much a concern for them.
cath
I just got back from worshipping at the Mennonite Church I mentioned. I realize now that my previous answer was so simplistic as to no do justice the nuances of the Mennonite history and thought about voting.
I would encourage you to investigate the range of Mennonite attitudes about this--I think it would be helpful to trying to find your own perspective on this as a Friend.
cath
Patrick,
Welcome to the Quaker blogosphere. I had never heard that Thomas Kelly rode a motorcycle. If anyone would know it would be Peggy Senger Parsons over at A Silly Poor Gospel. I love the idea of Thomas Kelly getting a mention in a Bruce Cockburn song.
I don't know much about Mennonite history but Quakers did not shy away from political involvement. At least not at first. They were barred from holding office because they would not take an oath. It wasn't until later that they were allowed the option of making an affirmation rather than swearing an oath. And they did run the colony of Pennsylvania up until the French and Indian War. There have even been two Quaker presidents but, considering that they were Herbert Hoover and Richard Nixon, that might make a case that Quakers should avoid that degree of political involvement.
Where Quaker abolitionists and suffragettes got into trouble was because they were joining organizations that included non-Quakers. Voting was not an issue as far as I know.
The key thing about voting, or any political action, is that our first allegiance should be to the Commonwealth of God and not to the governments of this world. Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans, nor the Greens nor the Libertarians are going to bring about the Commonwealth of God. But that doesn't have to keep us from trying to make our imperfect human institutions better.
Blessings,
Will T
Cath Much appreciation for your suggestions to look deeper into the Mennonite/Anabaptist tradition. It has already been a large influence on my reflections in the past few months- and you hit the nail on the head about that range.
Will T I remembered where I read about TK and motorcycles- Jerry Flora wrote a short bio on Kelly in Spirituality Today Spring 1990. It's linked online from the Wikipedia article on TK. Quoting from Flora-" [Young Kelly] was remembered for his impishness, his practical jokes,his daredevil motorcycle riding..."
Worship today opened my heart to being part of the political process - that it does not seperate one from the Commonwealth of God ( I truly love that term). In the end, it will still be true suffering to endure campaigns- prayer helps. Thank you - your observations went hand in hand with what Light was revealing within during Worship today.
Thanks and later Patrick Ruth
Hi Patrick!
Welcome to the blogosphere! About time. :)
And, yes: What Will T said! Quakers have historically been more involved in politics than Anabaptists. After all, Friends essentially invented lobbying, by waiting outside the halls of Parliament, buttonholing members to get them to stop the persecution of Friends.
Finally, a website called cockburnproject.net reveals who his TK was. (Oh, well.) Still, the other TK is a nice image to ponder.
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