|
Showing 1 - 25 of
29 matches in All Departments
In this multi-disciplinary collection we ask the question, 'What
did, and do, Quakers think about good and evil?' There are no
simple or straightforwardly uniform answers to this, but in this
collection, we draw together contributions that for the first time
look at historical and contemporary Quakerdom's approach to the
ethical and theological problem of evil and good. Within Quakerism
can be found Liberal, Conservative, and Evangelical forms. This
book uncovers the complex development of metaethical thought by a
religious group that has evolved with an unusual degree of
diversity. In doing so, it also points beyond the boundaries of the
Religious Society of Friends to engage with the spectrum of
thinking in the wider religious world.
This book explores the inter-relationship between religious groups
and wider society and examines the way religious groups change in
relation to societal norms, potentially to the point of undergoing
processes of 'internal secularisation' within secular and
secularist cultures. Received sociological wisdom suggests that
over time religious groups moderate their claims. This comes with
the potential loss of new adherents, for theorists of
secularisation suggest unique or universal, rather than moderate,
truth claims appear attractive to would-be recruits. At the same
time, religious groups need to appear equivalent, in terms of
harmlessness, to state-sanctioned religious expression in order to
secure rights. Thus, religious organisations face a perpetual
conundrum. Using British Quakers as a case study as they moved from
a counter-cultural group to an accepted and accepting part of
twentieth- and twenty-first-century society, the author builds on
models of religion and non-religion in terms of flows and explores
the consequences of religious assimilation when the process of
constructing both distinctive appeal and 'harmlessness' in pursuit
of rights is played out in a secular culture. A major contribution
to the sociology of religion, The Cultivation of Conformity
presents a new theory of internal secularisation as the ultimate
stage of the cultivation of conformity, and a model of the way
sects and society inter-relate.
The 'death of tragedy' in the modern era has been proposed and
debated in recent years, largely in terms of literature and western
culture in general. Today, any catastrophe or misadventure is
likely to be labeled a 'tragedy', without any inference of a
larger, transcendent horizon or providential design that the word
once conveyed. This book offers new perspectives on the idea of the
'death of tragedy', taking England and the Religious Society of
Friends (Quakers) in particular as a case study. Chapters focus on
the origins of tragedy in ancient Greece, gospel and tragedy, the
beginnings of the Quaker movement in seventeenth-century England,
apocalyptic versus secularized experiences of time, Edwardian
Quaker triumphalism, the search for English identity in
postcolonial Britain, liberal Quakerism at the end of the twentieth
century, and the promise and dilemma of postmodernity. The
different disciplinary perspectives of the contributing authors
bring literature, history, theology and sociology into a creative
and revealing conversation. A Foreword by Richard Fenn introduces
the book with an original and provocative meditation on tragedy and
time.
What is the future of religion given the responses of young people?
What impact do existing religious forms have on youth? What kind of
spirituality and religion are young people creating for themselves?
Religion and Youth presents an accessible guide to the key issues
in the study of youth and religion, including methodological
perspectives. It provides a key teaching text in these areas for
undergraduates, and a book of rigorous scholarship for
postgraduates, academics and practitioners. Offering the first
comprehensive international perspective on the sociology of youth
and religion, this book reveals key geographical and organisational
variables as well as the complexities of the engagement between
youth and religion. The book is divided into six parts organised
around central themes: Generation X and their legacy; The Big
Picture - surveys of belief and practice in the USA, UK and
Australia; Expression - how young people construct and live out
their religion and spirituality; Identity - the role of religion in
shaping young people's sense of self and social belonging;
Transmission - passing on the faith (or not); Researching Youth
Religion - debates, issues and techniques in researching young
people's religion and spirituality. James A. Beckford writes the
Foreword and Linda Woodhead the Epilogue.
What is the future of religion given the responses of young people?
What impact do existing religious forms have on youth? What kind of
spirituality and religion are young people creating for themselves?
Religion and Youth presents an accessible guide to the key issues
in the study of youth and religion, including methodological
perspectives. It provides a key teaching text in these areas for
undergraduates, and a book of rigorous scholarship for
postgraduates, academics and practitioners. Offering the first
comprehensive international perspective on the sociology of youth
and religion, this book reveals key geographical and organisational
variables as well as the complexities of the engagement between
youth and religion. The book is divided into six parts organised
around central themes: Generation X and their legacy; The Big
Picture - surveys of belief and practice in the USA, UK and
Australia; Expression - how young people construct and live out
their religion and spirituality; Identity - the role of religion in
shaping young people's sense of self and social belonging;
Transmission - passing on the faith (or not); Researching Youth
Religion - debates, issues and techniques in researching young
people's religion and spirituality. James A. Beckford writes the
Foreword and Linda Woodhead the Epilogue.
In this multi-disciplinary collection, we ask the question, 'What
did, and do, Quakers think about good and evil?' There are no
simple or straightforwardly uniform answers to this, but in this
collection, we draw together contributions that for the first time
look at historical and contemporary Quakerdom's approach to the
ethical and theological problem of evil and good. Within Quakerism
can be found Liberal, Conservative, and Evangelical forms. This
book uncovers the complex development of metaethical thought by a
religious group that has evolved with an unusual degree of
diversity. In doing so, it also points beyond the boundaries of the
Religious Society of Friends to engage with the spectrum of
thinking in the wider religious world.
The last forty years has witnessed a 'golden age' of Quaker Studies
scholarship, with the bulk of this work into the history and
sociology of Quakerism being undertaken by scholars who are also
Quakers. For the scholars involved, their Quakerism has both
prompted their research interests and affected their lives as
Quakers. This book presents a unique study into Quakerism: it draws
together the key theories of Quaker origins, subsequent history,
and contemporary sociology, into a single volume; and it allows
each of the contributors the opportunity to reflect on what led to
the initial choice of research topic, and how their findings have
in turn affected their Quaker lives. The result is a unique
contribution to Quaker theory as well to the discussion on
insider/outsider research. This book is invaluable to anyone
interested in Quakerism, research into religion, notions of
outsider objectivity within academia, and areas of theology,
religious history and sociology in general.
The Liturgies of Quakerism explores the nature of liturgy within a
form of worship based in silence. Tracing the original seventeenth
century Quakers' understanding of the 'liturgy of silence', and
what for them replaced the outward forms used in other parts of
Christianity, this book explains how early Quaker understandings of
'time', 'history', and 'apocalyptic' led to an inward liturgical
form. The practices and understanding of twenty-first century
Liberal Quakers are explored, showing that these contemporary
Quakers maintain the same kind of liturgical form as their
ancestors and yet understand it in a very different way. Breaking
new ground in the study of Quaker liturgy, this book contrasts the
two periods and looks at some of the consequences for the study of
liturgy in general, and Quakerism in particular. It also explores
evangelical Quaker understandings of liturgy.
The 'death of tragedy' in the modern era has been proposed and
debated in recent years, largely in terms of literature and western
culture in general. Today, any catastrophe or misadventure is
likely to be labeled a 'tragedy', without any inference of a
larger, transcendent horizon or providential design that the word
once conveyed. This book offers new perspectives on the idea of the
'death of tragedy', taking England and the Religious Society of
Friends (Quakers) in particular as a case study. Chapters focus on
the origins of tragedy in ancient Greece, gospel and tragedy, the
beginnings of the Quaker movement in seventeenth-century England,
apocalyptic versus secularized experiences of time, Edwardian
Quaker triumphalism, the search for English identity in
postcolonial Britain, liberal Quakerism at the end of the twentieth
century, and the promise and dilemma of postmodernity. The
different disciplinary perspectives of the contributing authors
bring literature, history, theology and sociology into a creative
and revealing conversation. A Foreword by Richard Fenn introduces
the book with an original and provocative meditation on tragedy and
time.
The last forty years has witnessed a 'golden age' of Quaker Studies
scholarship, with the bulk of this work into the history and
sociology of Quakerism being undertaken by scholars who are also
Quakers. For the scholars involved, their Quakerism has both
prompted their research interests and affected their lives as
Quakers. This book presents a unique study into Quakerism: it draws
together the key theories of Quaker origins, subsequent history,
and contemporary sociology, into a single volume; and it allows
each of the contributors the opportunity to reflect on what led to
the initial choice of research topic, and how their findings have
in turn affected their Quaker lives. The result is a unique
contribution to Quaker theory as well to the discussion on
insider/outsider research. This book is invaluable to anyone
interested in Quakerism, research into religion, notions of
outsider objectivity within academia, and areas of theology,
religious history and sociology in general.
The Cambridge Companion to Quakerism offers a fresh, up-to-date,
and accessible introduction to Quakerism. Quakerism is founded on
radical ideas and its history of constancy and change offers
fascinating insights into the nature of non-conformity. In a series
of eighteen essays written by an international team of scholars,
and commissioned especially for this volume, the Companion covers
the history of Quakerism from its origins to the present day.
Employing a range of methodologies, it features sections on the
history of Quaker faith and practice, expressions of Quaker faith,
regional studies, and emerging spiritualities. It also examines all
branches of Quakerism, including evangelical, liberal, and
conservative, as well as non-theist Quakerism and convergent Quaker
thought. This Companion will serve as an essential resource for all
interested in Quaker thought and practice.
This book provides the most comprehensive theological analysis to
date of the work of early Quaker leaders. Spanning the first
seventy years of the Quaker movement to the beginning of its
formalization, Early Quakers and their Theological Thought examines
in depth the lives and writings of sixteen prominent figures. These
include not only recognized authors such as George Fox, William
Penn, Margaret Fell and Robert Barclay, but also lesser-known ones
who nevertheless played equally important roles in the development
of Quakerism. Each chapter draws out the key theological emphases
of its subject, offering fresh insights into what the early Quakers
were really saying and illustrating the variety and constancy of
the Quaker message in the seventeenth century. This cutting-edge
volume incorporates a wealth of primary sources to fill a
significant gap in the existing literature, and it will benefit
both students and scholars in Quaker studies.
This is the first comprehensive introduction to Quakerism which
balances a history of the theology of the Quakers or Friends with
an overview of present day practice. It charts the growth of the
Quaker movement through the 1650s and 1660s, its different
theological emphasis in the eighteenth century, and the schisms of
the nineteenth century which resulted in the range of Quaker
traditions found around the world today. The book focuses in
particular on notions of 'endtime', 'spiritual intimacy', and what
counts as 'the world' as key areas of theological change. The
second half of the book uses extracts from Quaker texts to
highlight differences in belief and approach between the different
traditions and analyses their future prospects. The book is
generously illustrated and includes numerous diagrams to help the
reader. Undergraduate and graduate students will find this an
essential introduction to the Quaker movement.
This is the first comprehensive introduction to Quakerism which
balances a history of the theology of the Quakers or Friends with
an overview of present day practice. It charts the growth of the
Quaker movement through the 1650s and 1660s, its different
theological emphasis in the eighteenth century, and the schisms of
the nineteenth century which resulted in the range of Quaker
traditions found around the world today. The book focuses in
particular on notions of 'endtime', 'spiritual intimacy', and what
counts as 'the world' as key areas of theological change. The
second half of the book uses extracts from Quaker texts to
highlight differences in belief and approach between the different
traditions and analyses their future prospects. The book is
generously illustrated and includes numerous diagrams to help the
reader. Undergraduate and graduate students will find this an
essential introduction to the Quaker movement.
This book explores the inter-relationship between religious groups
and wider society and examines the way religious groups change in
relation to societal norms, potentially to the point of undergoing
processes of 'internal secularisation' within secular and
secularist cultures. Received sociological wisdom suggests that
over time religious groups moderate their claims. This comes with
the potential loss of new adherents, for theorists of
secularisation suggest unique or universal, rather than moderate,
truth claims appear attractive to would-be recruits. At the same
time, religious groups need to appear equivalent, in terms of
harmlessness, to state-sanctioned religious expression in order to
secure rights. Thus, religious organisations face a perpetual
conundrum. Using British Quakers as a case study as they moved from
a counter-cultural group to an accepted and accepting part of
twentieth- and twenty-first-century society, the author builds on
models of religion and non-religion in terms of flows and explores
the consequences of religious assimilation when the process of
constructing both distinctive appeal and 'harmlessness' in pursuit
of rights is played out in a secular culture. A major contribution
to the sociology of religion, The Cultivation of Conformity
presents a new theory of internal secularisation as the ultimate
stage of the cultivation of conformity, and a model of the way
sects and society inter-relate.
The modern reputation of Friends in the United States and Europe is
grounded in the relief work they have conducted in the presence and
aftermath of war. Friends (also known as Quakers) have coordinated
the feeding and evacuation of children from war zones around the
world. They have helped displaced persons without regard to
politics. They have engaged in the relief of suffering in places as
far-flung as Ireland, France, Germany, Ethiopia, Egypt, China, and
India. Their work was acknowledged with the award of the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1947 to the American Friends Service Committee
(AFSC) and the Friends Service Council of Great Britain. More
often, however, Quakers live, worship, and work quietly, without
seeking public attention for themselves. Now, the Friends are a
truly worldwide body and are recognized by their Christ-centered
message of integrity and simplicity, as well as their nonviolent
stance and affirmation of the belief that all people women as well
as men may be called to the ministry. The expanded second edition
of the Historical Dictionary of the Friends (Quakers) relates the
history of the Friends through a chronology, an introductory essay,
an extensive bibliography, and over 700 cross-referenced dictionary
entries on concepts, significant figures, places, activities, and
periods. This book is an excellent access point for scholars and
students, who will find the overviews and sources for further
research provided by this book to be enormously helpful."
The Cambridge Companion to Quakerism offers a fresh, up-to-date,
and accessible introduction to Quakerism. Quakerism is founded on
radical ideas and its history of constancy and change offers
fascinating insights into the nature of non-conformity. In a series
of eighteen essays written by an international team of scholars,
and commissioned especially for this volume, the Companion covers
the history of Quakerism from its origins to the present day.
Employing a range of methodologies, it features sections on the
history of Quaker faith and practice, expressions of Quaker faith,
regional studies, and emerging spiritualities. It also examines all
branches of Quakerism, including evangelical, liberal, and
conservative, as well as non-theist Quakerism and convergent Quaker
thought. This Companion will serve as an essential resource for all
interested in Quaker thought and practice.
The period from 1830 to 1937 was transformative for modern
Quakerism. Practitioners made significant contributions to world
culture, from their heavy involvement in the abolitionist and
women’s rights movements and creation of thriving communities of
Friends in the Global South to the large-scale post–World War I
humanitarian relief efforts of the American Friends Service
Committee and Friends Service Council in Britain. The Creation of
Modern Quaker Diversity, 1830–1937 explores these developments
and the impact they had on the Quaker religion and on the broader
world. Chapters examine the changes taking place within the
denomination at the time, including separations, particularly in
the United States, that resulted in the establishment of distinct
branches, and a series of all-Quaker conferences in the early
twentieth century that set the agenda for Quakerism. Written by the
leading experts in the field, this engaging narrative and
penetrating analysis is the authoritative account of this period of
Quaker history. It will appeal to scholars and lay Quaker readers
alike and is an essential volume for meeting libraries. In addition
to the editors, the contributors include Joanna Clare Dales,
Richard Kent Evans, Douglas Gwyn, Thomas D. Hamm, Robynne Rogers
Healey, Julie L. Holcomb, Sylvester A. Johnson, Stephanie Midori
Komashin, Emma Jones Lapsansky, Isaac Barnes May, Nicola Sleapwood,
Carole Dale Spencer, and Randall L. Taylor.
Here is the perfect introductory guide to the history and ideas of
the Quakers, one of the world's most fascinating and enigmatic
religious groups. Emerging in England in the 1650s as a radical
sect challenging the status quo, the Quakers are now best known for
their anti-slavery activities, their principled stance against war,
and their pioneering work in penal reform. Famous Quakers include
Thomas Paine, Walt Whitman, Lucretia Mott, Herbert Hoover, James
Dean, Judi Dench, and A.S. Byatt. And while the group still
maintains a distinctive worship method to achieve a direct
encounter with God, which has been at the heart of the movement
since its beginning, Quakers today are highly diverse: some
practice a protestant evangelicalism, others are no longer
Christian. In this generously illustrated book, Pink Dandelion, the
leading expert on Quaker Studies, draws on the latest scholarship
to chart the history of the sect and its present-day diversity
around the world, exploring its unique approach to worship, belief,
theology and language, and ecumenism. It concludes by placing the
Quakers in the wider religious picture and predicting its future.
About the Series: Oxford's Very Short Introductions offers concise
and original introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam
to Sociology, Politics to Classics, and Literary Theory to History.
Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume provides
trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and
complete--discussions of the central issues in a given topic. Every
Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject
in question, demonstrating how it has developed and influenced
society. Whatever the area of study, whatever the topic that
fascinates the reader, the series has a handy and affordable guide
that will likely prove indispensable.
We can travel more than we have ever had the ability to before.
Indeed, travel is now part of everyday life for most of us, whether
to or for work, or on holiday. This book looks at how we enhance
the spiritual dimension of our lives as we constantly head off to
somewhere else. How has the experience of travel changed? What are
our motivations? How do we nurture spirituality as we seek to
overcome the discomforts of mass transit? What have the modern
means of motion done to how we relate to those we travel with and
amongst? How are we to travel? The potential to learn, both in head
and heart ways, from our mobility has never been greater. This book
offers directions we may take to reclaim and rediscover an attitude
to travel that builds community, and through that enhances our
sense of Spirit at work in our lives and in the world.
|
|