Catholic Quakerism (Quakolicism?)

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Hi.

I have a friend who says he believes in the infallibilty of the Pope and Magestirium, but also holds quaker views. Is this possible?
 
fireproofpoodle said:
Hi.

I have a friend who says he believes in the infallibilty of the Pope and Magestirium, but also holds quaker views. Is this possible?
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In his mind it could be. I mix Buddhism with Catholicism. We’re both unique lol. Good question though!
 
fireproofpoodle said:
Hi.

I have a friend who says he believes in the infallibilty of the Pope and Magestirium, but also holds quaker views. Is this possible?
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In the Meeting I attend we do have some Friends from the Catholic tradition. They have not applied for membership among Friends…but they attend on and off. Perhaps your friend is saying they appreciate Quaker practice and worship. Attending a Friends meeting would not violate any Catholic tenet as long as they took care of the own Sunday obligation IMO…but Catholics would be better versed at what and what does not “conflict” with you tenets worshipping among Friends.
 
I went to a traditional (unprogrammed I think is the correct term) Quaker wedding once. It was one of the most striking ceremonies I’ve ever seen. I admire the simplicity of it and of their faith tradition.
 
fireproofpoodle said:
Hi.

I have a friend who says he believes in the infallibilty of the Pope and Magestirium, but also holds quaker views. Is this possible?
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What views are those? Many Quaker views/beliefs are incompatible with the Catholic Church, others may not be.

Whether or not he could hold such views would depend upon whether or not they were matters of faith and morals-- doctrine-- and whether they contradicted Catholic teaching.
 
I’m another Catholic who thinks of himself as a Catholic Quaker. I was raised in the Quaker faith, my father was a minister. Many of the Quaker values I learned are equally true and edifying to me as a Catholic as they were when I was a Quaker. Of course my understanding of some things has changed now, as I’ve learned much about my new faith. Quaker ideas now have to be examined with the additional light provided by the Catholic Church.

Quaker teachings I love:
The Peace Testimony - Non-violence
God is near every human, and will lead us if we will but listen
Plain speech
Plain living
Selfless service, letting Christ minister through your actions before words
The Bible should not be taken as the final revelation of God, it must be understood with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit (as a Catholic I go a step further and accept magisterial guidance as also essential)
Silent worship/waiting on the Holy Spirit
Equality before God

Pretty much all of these same teachings can be found in Catholic and Orthodox teachings, devotions, and religious orders.

Just thought I’d chime in on this interesting topic!

peace,
MyzTek
 
Is the Quaker lifestyle, (I’m not sure if Lifesytle is the right word) and the Plain Catholics lifestyle about the same? Or should I say this instead, that they live Plainly, dress Plainly, (sort of like the Amish dress) yet they have telephones, (some might have the internet) I’m not sure about T.V. they have power, gas or wood heat, gas or wood cooking stoves, that kind of thing. Not very many “material type” things.

Or are the Catholic Quakers the same as Plain Catholics and I’m just confused as to the “name”?

Thanks to anyone who can explain what I’m trying to ask.
 
adelore said:
Is the Quaker lifestyle, (I’m not sure if Lifesytle is the right word) and the Plain Catholics lifestyle about the same? Or should I say this instead, that they live Plainly, dress Plainly, (sort of like the Amish dress) yet they have telephones, (some might have the internet) I’m not sure about T.V. they have power, gas or wood heat, gas or wood cooking stoves, that kind of thing. Not very many “material type” things.

Or are the Catholic Quakers the same as Plain Catholics and I’m just confused as to the “name”?

Thanks to anyone who can explain what I’m trying to ask.
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Except for a small group of “Conservative Friends”, today’s Quakers do not utilize “plain clothes” (ie: Quaker grey and black), but dress plainly. Friends should dress in such a way that no attention would be drawn to them in a crowd by dressing too “down” or too “up”.

An acquaintence of mine tells of when she went to a Yearly Meeting as representative of her Monthly Meeting. She was playing tennis one afternoon with some Friends. She got into the elevator clothed in her “tennis outfit” when an Amish couple also got onto her car on the next floor. They got off one floor below. The other passsengers were smiling and commenting…“Did you see the Quaker couple and how they were dressed?” The comments continued to the ground floor…just before the door opened the young Quaker woman said in a quiet voice from the back of the car…“They weren’t Quakers…they were Amish…but I’m a Quaker.”…she excused herself and left the car…turned to look at the shocked expressions on the other passenger’s faces and holding the short white skirt of her “tennis outfit” out and courtsied.

Friends are called to live simply…but each Friend must make the decision for themself what “simply” means.

Friends do not use “plain language” when speaking except when among one another and usually in Meeting or when speaking to an older Friend…“plain speech” is being revived among younger Friends but the need to use the less formal “thee” instead of “you” no longer applies in English. At one time when one spoke English, one used the formal “you” when speaking to one’s “betters” and “thee” when speaking to those of the same class station…it was a Friend’s testimony to use the less formal “thee” and “thou” instead of the more formal “you” and “your”, much like “tu” vs “usted” in Spanish, to make the point that ALL are equal to one another…Friends also at one time refused to give “hat honor”, by not removing their hats before kings and magistrates and their “social betters”. Friends only removed their hats when praying.

Friend’s believe that God is accessible to all without aid of “priest” or “minister” or “sacramental ritual and rites”. Friends beleive that each of us carries within us the “Seed of God”…the “Light Within”…“that of God in each of us” and each of us has direct and unrestrained access to God through Christ…Christ is “truly present”…our “Teacher is among us to teach us Himself” without any intermediary required to perform a ritual or rite in or on our behalf. There is no 'in persona christi" (sp) for a Friend as each Friend has access to the Light and shares in the Priesthood of Christ already.

Each Friend is priest and minister…at one time…and still among some Friends…“ministers” were not “ordained”…but “recorded”…a Friend, both men and women, who displayed the gift of ministry and service was “recorded” a minister among Friends as Friends as a whole recongnized the calling they had among them to act as a minister of God…since it was God who “ordained” them to this office…Friends could only “record” that ordination that had taken place by the Hand and Will of God.
 
many Quaker values and principles are very worthy and admirable.

but the theology of Quakerism, at its core, is in many ways incompatible with Traditonal Christian theology.

to say that all have access to God in the same way, whether or not they know and belong to Christ, is simply incorrect Biblically. to say that personal spiritual revelation can be taken to heart as equal to or even of greater value than the Word of God is also incorect.

God can and does speak to and guide us, but we should always measure our feelings and understanding in light of what He has revealed to us in His Word. if it contradicts the Bible, it is not from God, period.

the Quaker values of simplicity, respect for others, pacifism, and leading a humble, purposeful life of service and peace are all excellent and wholly Christian virtues.

on the other hand, many Quakers i have met have told me plainly that they don’t see a need to “go through” Christ or believe anything truly specific about Him, as all humans already have the “seed of Christ” within them. this is basically confusing our innate human worth, soul, or conscious with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and with life in Christ Jesus, the historical and eternal Son of God, and Saviour.

Quakers are really cool, and devoted people. but while a lot of the virtures of Quakerism can compliment a Christian’s life in Christ and be learned from, the theology of Quakerism is in many ways un-Biblical, and heterodox.
 
grace_singh said:
many Quaker values and principles are very worthy and admirable.

but the theology of Quakerism, at its core, is in many ways incompatible with Traditonal Christian theology.

to say that all have access to God in the same way, whether or not they know and belong to Christ, is simply incorrect Biblically. to say that personal spiritual revelation can be taken to heart as equal to or even of greater value than the Word of God is also incorect.

**A Quaker values the written word…it has been said that if the Bible had been destroyed it could be recreated through the writings of George Fox and early Friends…so heavily were they influenced and moved to read and study scripture…Friends are called to study scripture and learn from it…in the Queries it is asked…“Do you make time for meditation, prayer and worship? Do you read the Bible, the writings of Friends, and other inspirational works, seeking new light? Do you regularly seek God’s guidance? Are you open to guidance and support and do you give thanks for them? Do you share your spiritual insights with others and willingly receive from them in turn?”

…but personal revelation is also highly valued…“Which is greater…the inspired or the Inspirer?” is how one Friend responded. While Friends do not hold to “sola scriptura”, the Bible is very important to our spiritual lives…and while we may not share with many Christians that all the astounding events and miracles actually took place, we certainly look toward scripture guided by the Light Within to discern it’s ethical and moral principles in our lives.**

God can and does speak to and guide us, but we should always measure our feelings and understanding in light of what He has revealed to us in His Word. if it contradicts the Bible, it is not from God, period.

While I agree with the above…usually what is meant is that one should hold to the tenets and doctrine of one’s chosen faith tradition when it comes to understanding scripture…Friend’s do this too of course…but each of us “interprets” scripture in the light of our own preconceived theological leanings…we each hope to understand scripture though the Light of the Holy Spirit…and and in as much as our lives reflect the life of Christ lived in our world through our lives…that is the measurement Friends would accord to scripture…if scripture does not impact our lives and change us to “do good” out of our love for God…scripture is just another book of pious writings…void of any power and meaning.

the Quaker values of simplicity, respect for others, pacifism, and leading a humble, purposeful life of service and peace are all excellent and wholly Christian virtues.

on the other hand, many Quakers i have met have told me plainly that they don’t see a need to “go through” Christ or believe anything truly specific about Him, as all humans already have the “seed of Christ” within them. this is basically confusing our innate human worth, soul, or conscious with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and with life in Christ Jesus, the historical and eternal Son of God, and Saviour.

God is known through Christ according to Quaker belief…it is not a rejection of Christ that these Friends speak of…but the “preconceived” notional beliefs some Christians demand that must be held of Christ to be “Christian”. Friends accept the idea that God in His great mercy and Love strives with humanity to become known to them…and does not cast off any who come to Him in faith and trust…no matter how imperfectly we may understand Him. Friends historically have beleived that the Light of God entered our humanity in the man Jesus…and all we would know about God is found revealed in Christ…the “Seed of God”…the Light…“which enligtens every man”…that “preveinient grace” of the Holy Spirit works in each of us…“that of God” strives to make Him known…and sometimes even if the mortal name “Jesus” is not known…the Risen Christ through His Holy Spirit still can work within us to bring us to Himself…God works in us sometimes in spite of our own short comings and ignorance to perfect a work He Himself begins…and the fruit of that work is ALWAYS manifested through our lives changed to conform to the life of Christ as we obey the Light…no matter whether we are ignorant of this “Unknown God” who works within us.

Quakers are really cool, and devoted people. but while a lot of the virtures of Quakerism can compliment a Christian’s life in Christ and be learned from, the theology of Quakerism is in many ways un-Biblical, and heterodox.

**Which is something we share all “Christians” when our beliefs are being explained by another of a different faith tradition…Catholics are “heterodox” according to Presbyterians…Methodists are “heterodox” according to Nazarenes…Nazarenes are “heterodox” according to staunch Catholics…each of us bears the burden of “heretic” from some religious tradition…we all have that failing it would seem. Christ works within us through His Light…sometimes we get in the way…but he is faithful to any open heart seeking Truth./**QUOTE]
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