Why Quakers Can’t Hide Their Light

VALERIE
So one of – I don’t even know if it’s a criticism, but it’s certainly a truism that we hear a lot about Quakers is that we hide our light under a bushel basket. In truisms, there’s, you know, it’s partially true and it’s kind of partially not true.

So on the partially not true side, you know, Quakers have forever been activists, you know, speaking truth to power. That’s part of one of the things that, at least for me, really endears me and draws me into this faith and practice.

The other side of it, there is some truth that we as members of the Religious Society of Friends can take this sense of humility to an almost unnatural place where we are so humble and we are so quiet and we are so, maybe some people would say even devout, we don’t get our message out to the world.

And so that then allows others to come in, other outside groups, other outside forces, and to create their own message about who we are and what we stand for. 

Being able to use our voice in service of we really care about, of compassionate action and justice in the world. This is what we need in today’s world as members of the Religious Society of Friends.