Living Fountain, The: Remembrances of Quaker Christianity

Contemporary Quakers are divided over theology, religious belonging, and the status of Friends' Christian past. Benjamin Wood argues that a selective return to Quakerism's seventeenth-century roots can restore a shared story capable of deepening spiritual life and worship-practice. The Living Fountain: Remembrances of Quaker Christianity explores God, Jesus, and the language of salvation, emphasizing universal healing, reconciliation, and the crossing of religious and cultural boundaries.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 26 May 2023
Publisher: John Hunt Publishing

In the second decade of the twenty-first century, Quakers are increasingly divided over matters of theology, religious belonging, and the status of Friends' Christian past. Recent controversies over Theism, Non-Theism, and Universalism have highlighted deep-rooted transformations of Quaker self-understanding. In contrast to earlier decades, many contemporary Quakers hanker after an intensely inclusive community, unhampered by the particulars of Christian theology. Many British Friends no longer see the Quaker movement as an expression of the Gospel or a manifestation of the Universal Church. What might Friends be missing by re-imagining Quakerism in these resolutely post-Christian terms? Author Benjamin Wood argues that, far from limiting the bounds of Quaker identity, a selective return to Quakerisms seventeenth-century roots can restore to modern Liberal Friends a shared story capable of deepening their spiritual life and worship-practice. Based neither on doctrinal agreement nor inflexible religious borders, the Quaker narrative recovered in The Living Fountain: Remembrances of Quaker Christianity is drawn together by sacred experiments in mutual love and enduring hope. Through a series of extended reflections on God, Jesus, and the language of salvation, Wood seeks to uncover a dynamic faith ncommitted to universal healing, reconciliation, and the crossing of religious and cultural boundaries. At the centre of this retrieval is the insistence that the God revealed in Quaker worship cherishes our differences and delights in our diversity.

In the vibrant tapestry of the twenty-first century, Quakers find themselves traversing a landscape of profound theological, religious, and historical divisions. The second decade witnesses a growing chasm within the Quaker community, fueled by disagreements over matters of theology, religious identity, and the legacy of Friends' Christian past. These controversies, particularly in the realm of Theism, Non-Theism, and Universalism, have shed light on the intricate shifts in Quaker self-understanding. While earlier generations may have viewed the Quaker movement as an embodiment of the Gospel or a manifestation of the Universal Church, many contemporary Quakers yearn for an inclusive community that transcends the confines of Christian theology. This shift is evident in the longing of many British Friends for a Quakerism that is not solely tied to theological dogmas or rigid religious boundaries.

In this context, author Benjamin Wood emerges as a thought-provoking voice. He argues that a deliberate return to the seventeenth-century roots of Quakerism can offer modern Liberal Friends a shared narrative that fosters spiritual growth and enhances worship practices. Wood's perspective is rooted in the belief that a selective revival of Quakerism's essence can breathe new life into the spiritual lives of Liberal Friends. He challenges the notion that a return to historical roots would limit the boundaries of Quaker identity. Instead, he proposes that a selective embrace of Quakerism's seventeenth-century roots can provide a shared story that deepens the spiritual connections among Friends. This narrative, woven together through sacred experiments in mutual love and enduring hope, transcends doctrinal agreements and rigid religious boundaries.

The Living Fountain: Remembrances of Quaker Christianity, penned by Wood, serves as a testament to this transformative journey. Through a series of extended reflections on God, Jesus, and the language of salvation, Wood invites readers to explore the rich tapestry of Quaker spirituality. He seeks to uncover a dynamic faith that is committed to universal healing, reconciliation, and the crossing of religious and cultural boundaries. At the heart of this retrieval lies the insistence that the God revealed in Quaker worship cherishes our differences and delights in our diversity. Wood's profound insights challenge Friends to reimagine Quakerism in post-Christian terms, offering a fresh perspective that fosters spiritual growth and deepens the connections among Friends.

In conclusion, the second decade of the twenty-first century witnesses a profound divide within Quakers, driven by theological, religious, and historical disagreements. Author Benjamin Wood's argument for a selective return to Quakerisms seventeenth-century roots offers a transformative path forward. By embracing a shared narrative that transcends doctrinal agreements and rigid religious boundaries, Quakers can deepen their spiritual life and worship practices. The Living Fountain: Remembrances of Quaker Christianity provides a valuable resource for Friends on this journey, offering insights and perspectives that challenge the boundaries of Quaker identity and foster a sense of unity and inclusivity.

Weight: 246g
Dimension: 140 x 216 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803412337