Quakers believe that the real way that you understand what the Bible has to say to you is to let the words be illuminated. Paul Buckley explains.
Discussion Questions:
- What is your experience of reading the Bible?
- What does Paul mean when he directs us to, “Let that inward Light light up the text that you’re looking at”?
- In what instances have you experienced the voice of God being illuminated underneath the words of scripture?
Further Resources:
Order The Quaker Bible Reader, edited by Paul Buckley and Stephen Angell: QuakerBooks | Amazon
Paul Buckley’s latest book is The Essential Elias Hicks. Order from QuakerBooks | Amazon
Find Quakers near you on QuakerFinder and Friends Journal’s meeting listings
Quaker Voluntary Service has opportunities for young women and men interested in social and personal transformation through service work and living in Quaker community.
Transcript:
How Do Quakers Read the Bible?
Paul Buckley
A lot of Quakers don’t. I actually asked this question of a dozen/fifteen different Quakers from across the spectrum: from evangelical Quaker pastors to a woman who describes herself as a lesbian-feminist bible believing Christian, activists and people who are more theologically based. I asked them exactly that question: how do Quakers read the Bible?
The result is a book. Gotta plug the book.
The Quaker Bible Reader
Each one of them gave a very different answer to the question on some level, but if you looked at all the essays that they produced – as a whole – you find that there is really an answer to that question, how do Quakers read the bible, and that is: Quakers read the Bible under the immediate direction of the holy Spirit.
We may be scholars. We may know a lot about exegesis and the history of biblical criticism or we may not. But in each of the answers that I got – from Evangelical to Liberal – it was very clear that the real way that you understand what the Bible has to say to you as a Quaker, as an individual, is to let the words be illuminated. Let that inward Light light up the text that you’re looking at. Let the holy Spirit speak to you, and to listen for that voice of God underneath the words.
I must admit to reading many different Bibles and being able to see differing meanings in the messages presented in altering ways and over time of inner vision. Reading also creates many questions in trying to find answers. My involvement in the Methodist (mother), Catholic (father), Reform, Lutheran, Mennonite, and other Christian faiths has led me to Quakerism. As a Quaker, it is much easier to accept the religious views and opinions of many people of differing faiths. It has led me to see, we all believe. An inner light may lead each of us to see a little others do not. This may give each of us, in Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islamism, atheism, and many more, a slightly different belief in uncovering the value of life given to us. Quaker Universalist Fellowship provides a base for all to express their views and review what others present, similar to this reply on “How Quakers Read the Bible”
Two quotes are meaningful for me 1) the George Fox song ” Will you swear by the Bible? I will not said he for the truth is more holy than the Book to me” 2) “You have heard this said and that said, what canst thou say” That more or less conforms to the idea that the Bible should be read in the spirit of the Light. Its an important book so I do try to study it. I find Henry Cadbury’s writing helpful.
Hey, you missed a couple of my favorite films with Quakers:
1. The early version of Moby Dick, – screen play by Ray Bradbury.
(the recent version has got to have some reference. Starbuck was Quaker …..
as well as owners of the Piquat sp)
2. Friendly Persuasion (though I haven’t seen it for decades, it was my first intro to Quakers)