Nontheist Friends

The goal of this workshop is to provide a safe, loving and inspiring space for exploring the concerns of nontheistic Friends. (Nontheists do not believe in a personal transcendent deity. Some may prefer terms such as atheist, agnostic, skeptic, secular humanist, pantheist, or other.) While all seekers, nontheist or otherwise, are welcome, we will not be discussing whether or not God exists, or whether or not one can be a Quaker and a nontheist. We will examine our past and current theology, and challenge ourselves to take responsibility for our present spiritual path. We intend to support participants in becoming clearer about their relationship to the Religious Society of Friends. We intend also to empower workshop attenders to take action toward creating greater unity and understanding among theologically diverse Quakers.

Monday, after any needed administrative work, we will begin with ice-breaker exercises to create the workshop as a safe space. The rest of the day's session will be devoted to in-depth 5-7 minute introductions by each participant. We will ask what specific qualities of the Religious Society of Friends attract nontheistic Friends. We will share our personal connection to Quakerism, our understanding of traditional theology, and why we came to believe what we do. In past workshops, Friends have found this session to be deeply moving and connecting, as we share the richness of our various journeys.

Tuesday, we will broaden our outlook by briefly considering historical roots of nontheism in the Religious Society of Friends with a visiting Friend who has been involved in the growth of nontheist affinities within the international community of Friends. We will identify several of the various strains of nontheist thinking, such as scientific materialism, panentheism, humanism and complex emergence.

We will then introduce a number of topics for exploration over the next three days, including Quaker religious language, history, traditions and practices, and our translations and interpretations of these, such as Meeting for Worship, discerning God's will, "that of God" in everyone, Jesus, the testimonies, and our understanding of the writings of early Friends. Other topics may include the role of spiritual experience in our lives, and religious foundations for the roots of morality, comfort and joy in our lives, and support for those who wish to discern whether to apply for membership in the Religious Society of Friends. Participants will be encouraged to contribute topics of concern or interest to them. We will use this collection of topics as the foundation for deeper discussions over the next three days as the workshop becomes a place to explore what you believe and hear what others think, discerning our selection of specific topics from the sense of the group.

During the latter part of Tuesday, and all day on Wednesday and Thursday, we will divide and recombine into smaller and larger subgroups and also meet in our group as a whole, enabling us to shift our focus between intimate deep discussion and wide sharing about our personal individual concerns and the broader concerns of our religious community, within the topics we have collectively chosen. We will use dyadic, role-playing and fishbowl techniques as well as traditional worship-sharing; we will draw on real life experiences, including being tested in theological dialog with theist and Christocentric Friends, seeking to act gracefully, gently and with integrity. The workshop leaders will participate in these activities to lead by example and to provide a sense of safety for the group.

Friday we will collectively address the challenges and opportunities for growth nontheist Friends face within our Religious Society. What gifts does theism offer nontheists? What gifts do nontheists bring to Quakerism? What are our next steps, as individuals and as members of our faith community?

Friends considering this workshop may want to read Os Cresson's essay at
http://www.nontheistfriends.org/article/roots-and-flowers-of-quaker-
nontheism/
for a thorough and thoughtful historical review of nontheism among Friends.