Category Archives: Quaker Practices

Swearing, Seriously

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Doug Bennett

Address given as the 2024 Adams Society Lecture at First Parish Church, Brunswick, Maine. [This is a fuller version of the message I gave at Durham Friends Meeting on February 18, 2024, Swearing an Oath.   +++ I appreciate this opportunity … Continue reading →

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Swearing an Oath

Posted on February 18, 2024 by Doug Bennett

Message given at Durham Friends Meeting, February 18, 2024 “He swore an oath.”  What does that mean and why does anyone do it? “He swore an oath.”   That’s what’s on my mind this morning.  Notice that “he swore an oath” could … Continue reading →

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“We Enter Singing, Then Fall Silent Before the Lord”

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Doug Bennett

Message given at Durham Friends Meeting, January 21, 2024 “Make a joyful noise.”  “Come into his presence with singing.” In recent weeks Craig has gotten us talking about prayers.  Today I want to talk about singing.  One of the things … Continue reading →

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In Praise of Tolerance, a Second-Best Solution 

Posted on November 12, 2023 by Doug Bennett

[Or, We’re Slipping Again into a Time of Religious War] Message given at Durham Friends Meeting, November 12, 2023 It is tolerance that is on my mind this morning.  Tolerance isn’t one of the Testimonies of Friends, and perhaps it … Continue reading →

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Why Are We Here? And Why So Few?    

Posted on March 12, 2023 by Doug Bennett

Message given at Durham Friends Meeting, March 12, 2023 Why are we here at Meeting? I’ve found myself wondering.  And if it seems so important that we’re here, why are there so few of us?  Even  more I’ve been wondering … Continue reading →

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Dis-Union at Brooklyn Friends

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Doug Bennett

[Posted 9/4/20; expanded 9/5/20] This morning’s New York Times has an article about Brooklyn Friends School (BFS) titled A Quaker School Promoted Liberal Values. Then Its Teachers Unionized. (The print version is headlined “Quaker Values Tested As Teachers Unionize At … Continue reading →

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Do We Leave Politics at the Door of the Meeting Room?

Posted on March 8, 2020 by Doug Bennett

Message given at Durham Friends Meeting, March 8, 2020 When I first attended Meeting at Haverford College in the fall of 1964, I encountered non-stop talk – in Meeting — about the Vietnam War.  Most of it against, a little … Continue reading →

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Beyond Me

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Doug Bennett

Message at Durham Friends Meeting, October 27, 2019 When I think about God, or about Spirit, or the Light I quickly realize I don’t know very much.  I know that many questions – important questions – are beyond me.  Beyond … Continue reading →

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Holding in the Light

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Doug Bennett

I want to talk more about the Light today.  We Quakers talk often of “the Light.”  It’s one of our ways of talking about Jesus or God or divinity.  There is a particular phrase that’s especially on my mind this … Continue reading →

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Hearing Leadings

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Doug Bennett

Message at Durham Friends Meeting, February 3, 2019 What is God asking of me today?  Where is God leading me? These days, such questions are very much on my mind.  Especially these days, because it seems we live in such … Continue reading →

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