Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2000 13:05:42 +0000 (GMT)
From: =?iso-8859-1?q?ninetyone=20andy?= <andy_91_2000-AT-yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: pick a religion with no research on your part!


I came out as a Liberal Quaker. See below. They seem
like quite a rational humane bunch of chaps.

Andy


Belief in Deity: Diverse beliefs, from belief in a
personal God as an incorporeal spirit to questioning
belief in a personal God. 
Incarnations: Beliefs vary from the literal to the
symbolic belief in Jesus Christ as God's incarnation.
Most believe we are all sons and daughters of God with
the main focus on experiencing and listening to God,
the Light within, accessible to all. 
Origin of universe and life: Emphasis is placed on
spiritual truths as revealed to each individual. Many
believe that God created/controls all events/process
that modern scientists are uncovering about origins.
Many believe in scientific accounts alone, or don't
profess to know. 
After death: Few liberal Quakers believe in direct
reward and punishment, heaven and hell, or second
coming of Christ. The primary focus is non-dogmatic --
God is love, love is eternal, and our actions in life
should reflect love for all of humanity. 
Why evil? Beliefs vary, as the focus is not on why,
but how to eliminate wrongs, especially violence. Many
believe that violence against another human is
violence against God. Many Quakers believe that lack
of awareness of God's divine light within all may
result in wrongdoing. Many believe that evil is simply
an unfortunate part of human nature that we all must
work to eliminate. 
Salvation: Diverse beliefs as there is a de-emphasis
on dogma. Most believe that all will be saved as God
is good and forgiving, and the divine light of God is
available to all. Good works, especially social work
and peace efforts, are viewed as integral to the
salvation of humanity, regardless of belief or
non-belief in an afterlife. 
Undeserved Suffering: Liberal Quakers do not believe
that Satan causes suffering. Some believe suffering is
part of God's plan, will, or design even if we don't
immediately understand it. Some don't believe in any
spiritual reasons for suffering. Quakers focus on
reducing human suffering, especially that caused by
social injustice or violence. 
Contemporary Issues: Views vary, some maintaining that
abortion violates Quaker commitment to nonviolence,
but some view the right to choose abortion as an
aspect of equal rights for women, and/or as a personal
matter between the woman and God. The American Friends
Service Committee (an independent Quaker organization
with participants of many faiths that provides
international programs for economic and social
justice, peace, humanitarian aid) supports the woman’s
right to choose abortion per her own conscience. 

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