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furlyslantern.bsky.social
Microblogging the ineffable. One Friend's exploration of the Quaker tradition of experiential mysticism. The account is named after early Quaker Benjamin Furly's circle of contacts in Rotterdam. My name's Evan, he/him, member of Australia Yearly Meeting.
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"Now, Friends, deal plainly with yourselves, and let the eternal Light search you, and try you, for the good of your souls. For this will deal plainly with you. It will rip you up, and lay you open, and make all manifest which lodges in you..."

submitted 6 days ago • 4 comments

Dear Christian leaders of Aotearoa NZ. Where is your condemnation of the hateful bullying & intimidation from Destiny. Your voices speaking out would send a powerful message. Currently your silence is speaking loudly of your hypocrisy. Come on! Stand up for loving our vulnerable communities.

submitted 10 days ago • 1 comment

It cannot be forced. It cannot be conjured up by thinking or learning. It can only be found by waiting. In infinite patience we find our motivation to act.

submitted 11 days ago • 1 comment

“Truth doth flourish as the rose, and the lilies do grow among the thorns…”—early Quaker, George Fox, offered this comfort during a time he described as a “thick night of Darkness that may be felt”. No one seeks out the thick night of darkness, but when it comes the light shines out brighter.

submitted 16 days ago • 1 comment

'Our life is love, and peace, and tenderness; and bearing one with another, and forgiving one another, and not laying accusations one against another; but praying one for another, and helping one another up with a tender hand' Isaac Penington 1667 Quaker Faith & Practice 10.1 #Quaker

submitted 97 days ago • 0 comments

Just putting this out there: Quakers vote in elections, at least as much as anyone else. As the much loved quote from William Penn goes, “True religion does not draw men out of the world but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it”.

submitted 22 days ago • 0 comments

A well-timed video from @quakeitup.bsky.social

submitted 22 days ago • 0 comments

I see a lot of posts on social media of people proud of their Quaker ancestors, especially lately. But, being Quakers, I imagine that most of these ancestors would probably respond: it doesn’t matter what thy ancestors were, it matters what thee does today.

submitted 23 days ago • 1 comment

Don't know who needs to hear this, but you can't executive order away the reality and validity of millions of trans and/or nonbinary lives 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 (For real, though, the LGBTQ+ community has always been here and will always be here, and AFM will always celebrate and welcome them.)

submitted 24 days ago • 0 comments

Jocelyn Bell, astrophysicienne, découvre les pulsars en 1967. Quaker, elle est clerk du comité exécutif du Friends World Commitee for Consultation (2008-2012). En 2018, elle est à l'origine d'une bourse pour les étudiant(e)s de groupes sous-représentés en physique. Une femme remarquable, inspirante!

submitted 33 days ago • 1 comment

I'm seeing lots of love for Quakers here, particularly in relation to what's going on in the US, which is great, but I'm prompted to remind Quakers to resist wallowing in a good reputation we don't individually deserve. 1/

submitted 26 days ago • 2 comments

The language may be old-fashioned, but Isaac Penington's description of Quaker waiting worship from 1680 is pretty clear. Turn towards God, still your mind from reasoning and inward chatter, bring the self to 'nothingness', let go of everything you think you know and can do, and enter into the life.

submitted 27 days ago • 1 comment

I keep hearing denials recently that Quakerism is, or ever was, a mystical (i.e. experimental) tradition. Apparently Rufus Jones made this up. But as someone who has read very little Rufus Jones and a lot of early Friends, I’m deeply confused. If anything, Jones was embarrassed by their mysticism.

submitted 31 days ago • 2 comments

Our Quaker faith has so often led us to reject society’s expectation that we are defined by our biology. The light within us all is beyond such nonsense. Trans women, I am your sister. Trans men, I am your brother. Non-binary people, I am you sibling. Sending love to you wherever you are struggling.

submitted 36 days ago • 0 comments

And keep out of the restless, discontented, disquieted spirit of the world about the government: for you know it has been always our way to seek the good of all, and to live peaceably under the government, and to seek their eternal good, peace, and happiness in the Lord Jesus Christ… -GF

submitted 38 days ago • 0 comments

Get thee to a nunnery ✝️

submitted 39 days ago • 74 comments

The latest Let’s Talk Religion video about Pseudo-Dionysius is fascinating. While this founder of Christian mysticism is apparently less renowned among protestants, I hear a lot of echoes in Quaker mysticism. Thanks @itsfilipholm.bsky.social https://youtu.be/CRz7Q5JycX0

submitted 38 days ago • 0 comments

Candle-lit vigil for imprisoned Quaker climate activist www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

submitted 43 days ago • 0 comments

'If words are too gross to express the refined thoughts of mortal men, how much less then can they be in truth said to be the ineffable Word of the eternal God?' From the Light Upon the Candlestick (1662), translated and widely reprinted by #Quakers over the following century.

submitted 46 days ago • 0 comments

Four London Quakers and their ties to slavery

submitted 48 days ago • 0 comments

In 1663, early Quaker Isaac Penington asked: ‘What is love? What shall I say of it, or how shall I in words express its nature?’ I find his answer, which follows, deeply moving.

submitted 48 days ago • 1 comment

Steven Davison on Quaker plain speech: "Plain speech was a rhetorical tool for convincement. With the practice of plain speech, they sought to “arouse the Spirit of God in those who witnessed it, provided they were ready to receive the Light..." #Quakers

submitted 52 days ago • 0 comments

Paul Cuffee was an African American Quaker, abolitionist, shipowner, and advocate for African resettlement. youtube.com/shorts/y16C3...

submitted 55 days ago • 0 comments

It's a joy to begin again. Day 1 #Quaker #reading #meditation Thomas Kelly says it so well: "Life is meant to be lived from the Center, a divine Center." Unhurried, fresh, positive this Way yields infinite power, peace & serenity. A Heart, a Life speaks in us, through us to the World.

submitted 57 days ago • 0 comments

Doesn't this look like an inviting place to worship? Central Coast Worshipping Group in New South Wales, Australia meets in Kariong Eco Garden. The community garden provides habitat for wildlife, harvests rainwater, and grows organic food. All are welcome to worship on 2nd and 4th Sundays at 10am.

submitted 59 days ago • 1 comment

Early Quaker minister, Elizabeth Bathurst, argues against the principle of Sola scriptura in her tract 'Truth Vindicated' (1679)

submitted 59 days ago • 1 comment

What calls us into a Religious Society? Do we grow together in faithfulness? — New England Yearly Meeting Queries #11

submitted 61 days ago • 0 comments