Podcasts about religious society

In this third episode of our season-long exploration of Quakers and Money, Peterson Toscano and Diana Yañez turn toward one of the largest and most difficult questions of the series: How do Friends live with integrity inside capitalism? Last month, we explored relational finance and asked whether taking responsibility for our money and institutional assets can lead to deeper integrity and more equitable power-sharing. This month, Peterson names the friction many Friends feel: the sense of being trapped in a massive economic system built on extraction, inequity, colonialism, and environmental harm. Through conversations with Lisa Graustein, Nathan Kleban, David Watt, and Traci Hjelt Sullivan, this episode examines the spiritual dissonance between Quaker values and capitalist structures. We hear about stolen land, inherited wealth, paternalism in charitable giving, the legacy of slavery in Quaker history, and the denial made possible by class and racial privilege. Rather than offering easy answers, Peterson and Diana ask what it means to stay on a journey with truth. If capitalism harms people and the planet, how might Friends move beyond individual purity or denial and toward mutual aid, community wealth-building, repair, and solidarity? In This Episode The Dissonance: Peterson reflects on the gap between Quaker faith and a global economy built on extraction and inequity. Capitalism and White Supremacy: Lisa Graustein names capitalism and white supremacy as forces that keep the here and now from becoming the realm of God. Stolen Land and Reparative Responsibility: Lisa shares the story of New England Yearly Meeting selling property after repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery and raises questions about what should happen to profits from land acquired through colonization. From Charity to Right Relationship: Nathan Kleban of Right Sharing of World Resources challenges paternalistic models of giving and asks who the economy is actually for. Quaker Wealth and Enslavement: David Watt, professor of Quaker studies at Haverford College, reminds us that some early Quaker wealth in Philadelphia was tied to Barbados, sugar plantations, and the labor of enslaved people. The Wealth of Not Having Debt: Traci Hjelt Sullivan expands the definition of ancestral wealth, naming the opportunities that come from beginning adult life without student debt. The Inner Capitalist: Diana reminds us that the Quaker belief in “that of God in everyone” also extends to capitalists, and to the parts of ourselves that continue to benefit from extractive systems. Our Guests Lisa Graustein Lisa Graustein is a Quaker educator, activist, and writer whose work often explores money, power, race, and reparative justice. In this episode, she reflects on inherited wealth, stewardship, and the responsibility to repair harm caused through the accumulation of resources. Nathan Kleban Nathan Kleban works with Right Sharing of World Resources, a Quaker organization that supports women-led economic projects in the Global South. Nathan brings a relational and community-centered lens to economics, asking how people get their needs met and how communities express their gifts outside extractive systems. David Watt David Watt is the Douglas and Dorothy Steere Professor of Quaker Studies at Haverford College. In this episode, he offers historical context about Quaker wealth, including the connections between early Philadelphia Friends, Barbados, sugar plantations, and slavery. Traci Hjelt Sullivan Traci Hjelt Sullivan is the executive director of Right Sharing of World Resources. She brings decades of nonprofit leadership and international experience to her work. In this episode, she reflects on truth, denial, race, class, debt, and the spiritual work of recognizing our own responsibility. Resources and Recommendations QuakerSpeak: “What If Wall Street Were Honest?” https://quakerspeak.com/video/what-if-wall-street-were-honest/ North Carolina Quaker Mark Hulbert has tracked investment advisors since the early 1980s. In this QuakerSpeak video, he talks about how his Quaker background and commitment to integrity led him to ask whether Wall Street advisors were telling the truth. Spent https://playspent.org/ Diana recommends Spent, a free browser-based survival game that places players inside the poverty trap. You begin with $1,000 and try to survive for 30 days while making impossible choices: pay rent, fix the car, buy medicine, or keep the lights on. It offers one way to better understand how expensive it can be to be poor in the current economic system. Caliban and the Witch by Silvia Federici https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1575 Diana references Federici's work while discussing the relationship between capitalism, labor control, gendered violence, and colonialism. The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374157357/thedawnofeverything/ Diana also points to this book while reflecting on European colonialism, the construction of human hierarchy, and the ideas that shaped the modern world. Organizations Mentioned Right Sharing of World Resources: https://rswr.org/ A Quaker organization that supports women's self-help groups in the Global South through seed grants and relationship-based partnerships. Earth Quaker Action Team: https://eqat.org/ A grassroots Quaker organization that uses nonviolent direct action to challenge systems of economic and environmental injustice. New England Yearly Meeting: https://neym.org/ A regional body of the Religious Society of Friends is mentioned in Lisa Graustein's story about land, reparative responsibility, and the Doctrine of Discovery. Haverford College / David Harrington Watt: https://www.haverford.edu/users/dhwatt David Watt teaches Quaker studies at Haverford College and appears in this episode to discuss Quaker history, wealth, slavery, and capitalism. Listener Voicemails Thank you to John Choe for sharing his reflections and concerns about Quakers, financial discernment, and the role of institutions like Friends Fiduciary. Thank you also to Richard Tindall for his faithful reminder to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning. As summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere, it is a timely invitation to stay hydrated and care for our bodies. Question for Listeners How do you navigate the tension between Quaker values and capitalism? Where do you feel dissonance between your financial life and your spiritual commitments? Share your thoughts: · Voicemail: Call 317-QUAKERS, 317-782-5377 · Email: podcast@friendsjournal.org · Social Media: Respond to us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok Sponsors Friends Fiduciary https://friendsfiduciary.org/ Friends Fiduciary unites Quaker values with expert investing. They serve Friends meetings, churches, schools, and organizations through ethical portfolios, shareholder advocacy, and a commitment to justice and sustainability. American Friends Service Committee https://afsc.org/ The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization working with communities worldwide to challenge injustice, meet urgent community needs, and build conditions for lasting peace. AFSC and the Vanguard S.O.S. / Never Vanguard campaign AFSC announcement: https://afsc.org/newsroom/afsc-joins-vanguard-sos-campaign-fossil-fuel-divestment Never Vanguard pledge: https://eqat.org/never-vanguard/ AFSC has joined with Earth Quaker Action Team in the Vanguard S.O.S. campaign, asking Friends to boycott and divest from Vanguard until it stops funding fossil fuel projects and takes climate justice into account. Disclaimers Quakers Today is a project of Friends Publishing Corporation. This season is sponsored by Friends Fiduciary and the American Friends Service Committee. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice. Listening does not create an advisory relationship. Friends Fiduciary is a sponsor of this podcast. Sponsorship does not constitute an endorsement, and Quakers Today does not receive compensation based on listener investment decisions. Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. Quakers Today and Friends Journal are not a registered entity and are not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See the Natural Investments Disclosures and Disclaimers and Form CRS: https://naturalinvestments.com/disclosures-disclaimers/

John 17:20-26We read The Gospel of John in Greek and sit with Jesus' prayer that believers share a living unity that convinces the world. We trace how words like logos, doxa, and onoma point past outward religion toward inward immersion in the Spirit, then we pivot into John 18 and the roots of the Quaker peace testimony. • Reading and translating John 17:20-26 with attention to Greek grammar • Logos as proclaimed witness that carries spiritual power • Unity as mutual indwelling in the Spirit rather than an outward agreement • Doxa as glory, honor, and the manifested presence of God • “Made perfect” as maturity and completion in spiritual awareness • “Name” as character, essence, and what God is like • Baptism as immersion into God's life, not a debate about water • Quaker rejection of original sin as a later doctrine • Kingdom as an inward state, not a physical realm • John 18's arrest scene and the significance of “I am he” • “Put your sword back” and the historic peace witness of early Christians and Friends • Constantine, just war thinking, and how the church's stance on violence changed The quote in our introduction was taken from parts of George Fox's 56 Epistle.A complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.We will be publishing video interviews with Conservative Friends on YouTube.  See our YouTube channel.  The first interview is with Susan Smith. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

As wars continue in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, voices for peace still try to break through the pessimism. One of the most prominent is the Religious Society of Friends, or the Quakers. They famously won a Nobel Peace Prize after World War II. But how realistic is their vision in 2026? GUEST:Joyce Ajlouny is general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker agency. She was in Australia recently.

One of the so-called ISIS brides appeared in a Melbourne court this week, charged with terrorism related offences. Rayann El Houli is one of six women linked to ISIS, who've returned from Syria in the past fortnight. Most have children who were born in Syria and were living in harsh conditions. But their return is confronting for one religious minority that's found refuge in Australia. Extremism expert Professor JOSH ROOSE of Deakin University has been exploring the dilemma the ISIS brides pose for Australia.Pope Leo's encyclical on the dangers of artificial intelligence includes a red light about the role technology plays in the sexual trafficking of women and children. The International Justice Mission is a faith-based organisation that fights modern slavery. It's one of several human rights groups meeting in the Vatican this week. BRIONY CAMP is the head of campaigns for IJM Australia.As wars continue in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, voices for peace still try to break through the pessimism. One of the most prominent is the Religious Society of Friends, or the Quakers. They famously won a Nobel Peace Prize after World War II. But how realistic is their vision in 2026.  JOYCE AJLOUNY is general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker agency. She was in Australia recently.

John 17:1-19We walk slowly through John 17 and let the Greek sharpen what Jesus is praying for as he speaks about glory, authority, eternal life, and unity. We connect word studies like doxa, exousia, parousia, logos, cosmos, and hagiadzo to Quaker concerns about the presence of Christ, the true church, and being sent into the world without being shaped by it. • Heaven as sky and as spiritual reality in the Greek word ouranos • Glory and glorify as honor and as God's manifested presence linked to shekinah • Eternal life defined as knowing and experiencing the only true God • Authority exousia as right, power, domain, and sphere of rule • Parousia as presence and why translating it as coming can mislead • Christ and the logos in relation to creation and pre-existence • Cosmos as creation, humanity, and worldliness depending on context • name as essence and character, not only a label • unity as Jesus's repeated prayer and a warning against sectarianism • Sanctify hagiadzo as set apart, purified, and made holy in a Hebrew sense • Quaker language of being favored and grace charis as divine favor, not flattery The quote in our introduction was paraphrased from the Eleventh Proposition of Barclay's Apology. A complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

John 16:5-33We read John 16 closely in Greek and wrestle with why Jesus says it is better that he goes away so the Advocate can come. We connect word choices in translation to lived faith, where the Spirit's inward work becomes the deepest source of conviction, clarity, and peace. • Symphero as advantageous, beneficial, profitable, useful • Why Jesus' departure makes room for the Spirit of truth • Belief as trust and confidence in a condemned and crucified man • Miracles in historical context and why inward conviction matters • Sin, righteousness, judgment as hamartia, dikaiosyne, krisis • Elencho as expose, reprove, convict, prove clearly • “A little while” and childbirth as a map from grief to joy • Praying in Jesus' name as sharing his nature, not a magic phrase • Paroimia as veiled sayings and why spiritual language stays fluid • “I have overcome the world” as victory over worldliness and renewed mind A complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

We read John 15 in Greek and sit with Jesus' “order” to love, the move from slaves to friends, and the promise of fruit that lasts. We also wrestle with persecution, conscience, and how translation choices like logos, paraclete, and “no cloak for sin” shape what we think the text is really saying. • Reading John 15:12-17 and the meaning of love as self-giving • “commandment” versus “order” and what obedience implies • Logos as message and reasoning not just “word” • “slave” versus “servant” and why older English can mislead • Why Friends may resonate with “I have called you friends” • John's persecution theme and being in the world not of it • “no excuse” for sin and the role of conscience and refusal to listen • Sowing seeds over time and how people change gradually • Comparing Bible translations including “cloak” “pretext” and amplified notes • Paracletos as comforter helper advocate and how context guides meaning • Trinity language developing later and how creeds reflect later debates • Revelation as encouragement and hope under oppression A complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

John 14:18 - 15:11We slow down over John 14 and the opening of John 15, letting the Greek text sharpen what Jesus means by trust, love, and peace. We also face how translation choices around pronouns and gender can either widen the invitation or allow some people to incorrectly interpret them as being not included.• The plural “you” in Greek and what it implies for communal and individual life in Christ• Pisteuo as trust rather than mere belief and why that matters spiritually• John 14:18-24 on keeping Christ's word and the indwelling presence of God• The intrinsic male/female inclusivity of masculine pronouns in biblical Greek regarding gender• Parakletos as Advocate and Helper, and peace not given like the world gives• Agape compared with other Greek words for love and what kind of love to which the Gospel points us• John 15's vine and branches image, abiding as remaining within, and pruning as purification• Prayer as alignment with God's will rather than “asking for favors”A complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. United States Department of Homeland Security

We finish a reading from Chapter Eight of a history of Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative), tracing how leadership changes and world events push us into a new Quaker era. We follow the Meeting for Sufferings through World War II conscription, conscientious objection, peace education, and the painful reforms that reshape our yearly meeting by 1949. • Older ministers passing away and a new leadership class emerging • Meeting for Sufferings minutes on faith, courage, and removing enmity • Early peace discussion groups and a printed address to local meetings • First formal cooperation with AFSC and other pacifist organizations • Selective Service Act provisions and the rise of Civilian Public Service camps • Financial burdens on COs and Ohio Yearly Meeting fundraising support • Wartime social pressure and alternatives like peace stamps • Visits, letters, and support for CPS workers, prisoners, and military members • Postwar tensions handled with decency, forbearance, and love • Boarding school expansion, modernization, and anxiety about change • Reopening to wider Quaker connections, youth conferences, and representation • 1949 organizational reforms including nominating committee changes and joint sessions A complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

John 14:1–17We walk line by line through John 14:1–17 and hear Jesus calling us to trust God with steady hearts. We focus on what the Greek says about trust, knowing by experience, prayer in Jesus' name, and the Spirit as the one called alongside to help.• John 14 as a promise of access to the Father through Christ • “Believe” as trust and confidence rather than mere assent • Many dwelling places and the meaning of preparing a place • “I Am The Way Truth Life” and how Greek articles shape translation • Ginosko versus oida and knowing as lived experience • Philip's request to see the Father and Jesus' reply • “Greater works” and asking in Jesus' name as alignment not magic • Warning against misuse of sign texts and ego driven power • Paracletos as advocate helper comforter intercessor • Ekklesia as a people called out and church as a body • “I will not leave you orphans” as friendless and without aid A complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

We read a vivid slice of Ohio Yearly Meeting Conservative history where Quaker peace testimony becomes hands-on relief during the Great Depression and grows into wider service through the American Friends Service Committee. We also follow Carl Patterson's outward ministry in Europe and the steady push by younger Friends to open the yearly meeting to new connections and shared leadership. • AFSC relief work in Ohio Yearly Meeting territory during the 1930s • Uneven support for the AFSC and the silence of official records • Launching child feeding near Wheeling and scaling quickly • Kentucky coalfield service bringing food, clothing, hope, and cooperation • AFSC work camps shaped by nonviolence and Gandhi's example • Carl Patterson and Mifflin Hull traveling to Ireland and England • Ending isolationism through renewed contact with other yearly meetings • Younger Friends conferences and new roles for emerging leaders • Discipline changes and gradual modernization across meetings We will finish reading chapter 8 in the next podcast.A complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

John 13:12–38We read John 13:12–38 in Greek and English, tracking how small translation choices shape big theological conclusions. We sit with Jesus' humility in foot washing, the shock of betrayal, and the new commandment to love in ways the world can recognize.• Word study linking whole, heal, wholesome, holy, holiness, sozo, soteria, savior, healer• Foot washing as a pattern of humility rather than a mere ritual• “Lifted his heel against me” and its Psalm background• Why we translate “servant” as slave in this context• Debate over “I am he” versus expanded “I Am Who I Am” readings• “Receive” versus “accept” and what it implies about welcoming Christ• Judas, the beloved disciple, and the social dynamics at the table• Questions about bias toward the Twelve and differences among the Gospels• “Love one another” as an inward bond and an outward witness• Examples of costly love from Le Chambon and righteous Gentiles• Peter's impulsiveness, denial, and the meaning of psyche as life or soulA complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

We trace Ohio Friends from 1930 to 1950 as schools close, a boarding school survives, and peace work grows while war looms. Through debt, drought, and debate, we hold fast to a shared witness for unity and nonviolence.• closures of primary Friends schools and shift to public education• Olney's crisis management, fundraising, and frugality• leadership of Gilbert and Rachel Thomas and alumni energy• opening enrollment beyond conservative meetings• building the gymnasium through volunteer labor• disagreements over plainness, recreation, and youth work• Peace Committee organizing, outreach, and advocacy• statements to governments and efforts against compulsory military training• wider cooperation across the Quaker family amid shrinking Wilburite centersA complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

We trace John 12:27–50 and into 13, where the crowd wrestles with the voice from heaven, Jesus names the judgment of the world, and the meaning of “light” moves from metaphor to a way of life. The basin and towel in John 13 reset leadership around humility, not status.• The voice from heaven and the meaning of “lifted up”• Crowd confusion about the Son of Man• Walking in the light as conduct and trust• Greek terms for light, darkness, and walk• Day of visitation and the danger of hardened hearts• Isaiah's prophecy and free will• Glory as approval versus God's honor• Salvation as healing and being made whole• Prophetic speech as listening and obedience• Foot-washing as the pattern of humble leadership• Inward communion over outward ritualA complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

We trace James Henderson's 1920 ministry across eight countries and the ripple effects that reshaped Ohio Friends toward peace, global fellowship, and practical reforms. Young Friends push for voice and structure while meetings revise discipline, adjust customs, and face decline with care.• Henderson's tested call, funding, and interpreter support• Meetings in Germany and the Balkans during relief work• A moving witness among Bulgarian pastors• Reports from returned COs and AFSC service• Youth pressure for a formal peace committee• Delegations to Washington and legislative advocacy• Discipline revision and limits on disownment• Shifts in gender participation and school customs• Scheduling changes to broaden attendance• School standardization amid shrinking numbers• Pennsville's laying down and community memoryA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

We trace how Ohio Yearly Meeting Conservative met World War I with organized peace witness, pastoral care for draftees, and a growing international outlook. Youth energy, AFSC partnerships, and courageous visits to power reframed what Quaker service could be.• Prewar lobbying and prophetic ministry to national leaders• Formation of a peace and service committee• Guidance for young men facing the draft• Camp visits, CO status, and varied refusals• Documentation of abuse and push for reforms• The Halfway Picnic and youth-led initiatives• Evening meetings that widened outlook and cooperation• Postwar renewal, intergenerational tensions, and unity in worshipA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

John 12:20–36 We read John 12:20–36 as Greeks ask to see Jesus, and we follow the thread through language, glory, obedience, and the summons to walk in the light. A humble king, a troubled prayer, and a heavenly voice reframe power, time, and true life.• Greeks approach through Philip and Andrew• Donkey imagery and humility of the king• Hora, kairos, and the meaning of “hour”• Kurios, phoné, and translation choices• Seed dying, psuché versus zōē aiōnios• Strong call to follow and obey• Heavenly voice, thunder, and discernment• Light versus darkness and urgent belief• Messiah expectations and suffering redeemer• Quaker practice of convincement and repentanceA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

John 12:1–19 We read John 12 with an eye for meaning, moving from Mary's costly anointing to a king on a donkey and the tension between literal history and spiritual truth. We sit with hard questions about Judas, poverty, symbolism, and what counts as essential belief.• Why John's timeline differs from the synoptics• Anointing at Bethany as humility, burial, and honor• Judas, the common purse, and ethics of the poor• Diakonos as service rather than slavery• Litra as possible burial measure and its weight• Plotting against Lazarus as reaction to living proof• Triumphal entry and Zechariah's humble king• Early Friends, James Naylor, and costly witness• Remembering after glory as theology of insight• Discerning essentials: resurrection, birth, and belief• Physical–spiritual continuum and modern lensesA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

In this episode of Quakers Today, co-hosts Sweet Miche (they/them) and Peterson Toscano (he/him) tackle a question that seems simple but is actually quite complex: What do Quakers believe? We explore the wide theological spectrum of the Religious Society of Friends from those who view the Bible as the inerrant word of God to those who may not believe in God at all. A Smorgasbord of Beliefs We hear from Adam Segal-Isaacson, a Friend from Brooklyn Meeting who was raised both Jewish and Quaker. Adam shares how he navigates his dual identity and offers a powerful metaphor about harmony versus monotony in worship. Watch the full QuakerSpeak video: Do All Quakers Hold the Same Beliefs? An Evangelical Friend Among Liberals Peterson sits down with Jasson Arevalo, an Evangelical Quaker from El Salvador and a student at the Earlham School of Religion. Jasson describes the "Programmed" tradition of his upbringing—complete with pastors and music—and his view of Biblical inerrancy. He shares his experience of studying alongside Liberal, Unprogrammed Friends and how curiosity and respect bridge the theological divide. Read Jasson's article, "You Will Be Told What You Must Do," in the December 2025 issue of Friends Journal or at FriendsJournal.org. Convincement and Belonging What makes someone a Quaker? Is it a membership card or an internal shift? We review the new Pendle Hill pamphlet, Awakening the Witness: Convincement and Belonging in Quaker Community by Matt Rosen. The pamphlet explores the distinction between "convincement", the spiritual experience of becoming a Friend, and formal membership. Learn more at PendleHill.org. Recommendation Peterson recommends the Iranian film It Was Just an Accident, directed by Jafar Panahi. It is a darkly comic and morally complicated story about the long-term effects of trauma and the refusal to become like one's oppressors. Listener Responses We asked you: What do you believe now that you didn't believe before becoming a Friend? Jeremy shares how Quaker history helped him understand the "Great Apostasy" as the moment the church merged with political power. Zoe discusses moving from "religion as harm" to religion as a positive force for community. Creative Decorating reflects on the mind-blowing concept of "that of God in everyone." Resources Mentioned: QuakerSpeak Video: Do All Quakers Hold the Same Beliefs? (Featuring Adam Segal-Isaacson): quakerspeak.com/video/do-all-quakers-hold-the-same-beliefs Read Jasson's Article: "You Will Be Told What You Must Do" in Friends Journal: friendsjournal.org/you-will-be-told-what-you-must-do Pendle Hill Pamphlet: Awakening the Witness by Matt Rosen: pendlehill.org/product/awakening-the-witness-convincement-and-belonging-in-quaker-community Next Month's Question We want to hear from you! What is something you learned in school about Native Americans or Indigenous peoples that you've since learned is not true? Leave us a voice memo with your name and town at 317-QUAKERS (317-782-5377). (+1 if outside the U.S.) You can also reply by email at podcast@FriendsJournal.org or on our social media channels. Sponsors Quakers Today is the companion podcast to Friends Journal and other Friends Publishing Corporation content. Season Five of Quakers Today is sponsored by Friends Fiduciary and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). Friends Fiduciary provides professional investment management for Quaker organizations, uniting financial goals with Quaker values. Learn more at FriendsFiduciary.org. AFSC works to challenge injustice and build peace. Their "North Star Vision" calls for transformative alternatives to prisons and policing. Learn more at afsc.org/NorthStar. For a full transcript, visit QuakersToday.org.

Four vivid portraits of conservative Quaker ministry show how conviction, plainness, and silent worship shaped a people under pressure from modern life. We trace their outreach, leadership, and struggles with change as Ohio Friends carry inner continuity toward 1917.• Elwood Conrad's solemn preaching on salvation and conscience• James Henderson's home meetings, missions work, and presidential visits• Cyrus Cooper's rigorous plainness, opposition, and intuitive friendships• Carl Patterson's gentle leadership, clerking, and magnetic presence• Quietism's strengths and limits within a changing economy• The hedge of plainness fading while inner bonds endure• Education, eldering, and the cost of fear of change• Readiness for war-time testing and reconstructionA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

We trace the tension between strict preservation and bold outreach among Ohio Friends from 1874 to 1917. Asa Branson's authority, Hannah Stratton's journeys, and the Fowlers' service reveal how discipline, humility, and risk shaped a quieter but wider ministry.• Asa Branson's plainspoken authority and resistance to sociability and standard time• Deference to elders creating distance from youth and leadership roles tied to plain dress• Reports of renewed ministry and young Friends entrusted with gifts• Hannah Stratton's humility, release to travel, and contested reception in Britain• John and Esther Fowler's service for children in Ohio and Cairo• influence of an unprogrammed meeting in Japan on local Friends• The move from preservation toward outreach without abandoning core testimoniesA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

We trace the character of Ohio Yearly Meeting's “Golden Age” ministry, where quietist discipline met public witness in prisons, schools and streets. Stories of Anne Branson, Elwood Dean and Daniel Mott reveal the cost of obedience, the power of silence and the risks of over-editing holiness.• Quietism shaping tone, restraint and obedience• Prophetic sensitivity alongside activist outreach• Anne Branson's severe integrity and tender counsel• Elwood Dean's musical preaching and human warmth• Daniel Mott's prayerful gentleness and nearness of eternity• Decline of ministers after 1890 and likely causes• A call to keep speech brief, weighty and aliveA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

John 11:1-37We read John 11 with attention to language, source questions, and the inward Light, moving from Lazarus's death to Jesus's tears and the claim “I am the resurrection and the life.” We contrast Martha's presumption with Mary's surrender, and explore how glory means God's manifest presence, not spectacle.• ethical framing against gambling and exploitation• John 11 context, Bethany near Jerusalem• name meanings and linguistic notes in Greek and Hebrew• “glory” as manifested presence of God• light “in” a person vs external light• sleep vs death and Johannine misunderstanding motif• “I am the resurrection and the life” and zoe vs bios• Martha's doctrine vs Mary's inward posture• Johannine community, late dating, and source theories• Jesus's emotions, “deeply moved,” “troubled,” and “Jesus wept”• early heresies: Docetism and the full humanity of Christ• Quaker emphasis on inward life, peace beyond understandingA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

John 11:38–57 We study this part of John with clear attention to Greek terms that reshape belief as trust and signs as pointers beyond miracles. Lazarus's raising, the council's response, and the approach to Passover reveal how language, liberation, and wholehearted faith meet in practice.• Belief as trust and confidence, not mere assent• Christos as title Anointed, not a surname• Names like Yeshua, Iakobos, Ioudas shifting across testaments• Lazarus raised, unbind him as liberation motif• Jesus deeply moved, nuance of Greek verbs• signs pointing beyond miracles to God's glory• Council fear, Caiaphas's unintended prophecy• Children of God, adoption and unity• Passover approaching, Jesus's withdrawal to EphraimA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

We trace how Ohio Wilburite Friends built a “guarded education,” from printed minutes and women's records to a brick-by-brick boarding school culture that survived fire, standardized primary schools, and balanced conviction with modernization. A story of plain speech, strict standards, aid associations, and a networked push for quality.• women's minutes printed and epistles included alongside men's• boarding school built at Barnesville with local bricks and pride• guarded culture of plain dress, thee and thou, strict discipline• bans on baseball and careful curation of reading material• high academics with limited salaries and leadership turnover• aid associations and alumni organizing to raise funds and standards• tuition increases and building upgrades amid cultural unease• 1910 fire, rapid rebuilding, improved safety and infrastructure• primary schools revived, subsidized, and gradually standardized• custom readers published to align texts with Quaker testimonies• education associations set courses, exams, and reporting norms• cross-yearly meeting cooperation to supervise and improve schoolsA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

John 10:1-42 We read John 10 with attention to the gate, the Good Shepherd, and what it means to recognize a voice that leads to life. Greek insights on “amen amen,” voice and calling, and zoe versus bios deepen a conversation about obedience, abundance, and union with the Father.• historical context of shepherding and danger in the fields• the gate as a real threshold for discernment and salvation• voice recognition versus noise and false guides• good shepherd versus hired hand and motive under pressure• free will, temptation, Gethsemane, and chosen obedience• other sheep, one flock, universality without relativism• feast of dedication and the claim “The Father and I are one”• works as witness when belief feels hard• eternal life as zoe, the life of the ages, now• kingdom as divine state, not territory• practical prayer: making space to listen and followA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

A turning point in 1874 becomes a season of rebuilding, wider correspondence, and confident witness among conservative Friends, culminating in shared fundamentals and a stronger print and school culture. We trace how harmony, service, and publishing shaped a subculture that held firm as modern pressures rose.• relocation to Barnesville and renewed harmony• conservative separations forming new yearly meetings• circle of correspondence and tendered epistles• Philadelphia ties in funds, visitors and publications• tract associations, libraries and home reading• Indian concerns and service at Tunesassa• expanding memorials, journals and peace pamphlets• 1911–1913 synopsis of conservative principles• the Great War's pressure on a rural subcultureA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

John 9:1-41We walk through John 9 and watch blame give way to purpose as a blind man sees, confronts power, and becomes a witness. Along the way we unpack signs vs miracles, the Sabbath dispute, Siloam as “sent,” and how spiritual sight grows from trust and humility.• cultural belief in generational sin vs Jesus' reframing toward God's work• “light of the world” as a thread through John 8–9• healing with mud on the Sabbath and social controversy• signs rather than miracles as Johannine theology• fear of synagogue expulsion and late-first-century context• Origen on spiritual truth and narrative arrangement• the healed man's rising testimony against entrenched authority• movement from physical to spiritual blindness and the nature of belief• practical picture of spiritual sight as humility, readiness, and obedienceWe welcome feedback on this or any of our podcast episodes. We can be contacted through our website at Ohio Yearly Meeting.orgA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

The Great Disarmament: Powder & Principles – When Conscience First Spoke As gunpowder redefined the global balance of power, another force quietly emerged—conscience. This episode explores the 1600s to 1800s, when the rise of modern empires was met by the first organized refusals to fight. From the Quaker Peace Testimony and early abolitionist resistance to Enlightenment philosophers imagining peace as policy, we follow the voices who rejected war, empire, and extraction as the price of civilization. We trace the moral origins of nonviolence through: The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and their refusal to bear arms The philosophical foundations of Utopia and early social contract theory William Penn's peaceful treaties and anti-militarist governance The link between war, slavery, and the moral awakening that would influence Tolstoy, Gandhi, and King Through these stories, we ask: When did peace stop being passive? And how did disobedience become a sacred act? This episode is part of The Great Disarmament – The Great Disfarmament, a 14-part podcast series on the deep history of war, agriculture, and the movements to end them.

Callid Keefe-Perry is assistant professor of contextual education and public theology at Boston College's School of Theology and Ministry. A traveling minister within the Religious Society of Friends – the Quakers – he is also the author of two books we discuss today: 2014's Way to Water: A Theopoetics Primer and 2023's Sense of the Possible: An Introduction …

The scorching summer of 1854 became a crucible of division for Ohio Yearly Meeting as Thomas Gould's controversial presence catalyzed a long-brewing theological conflict between Wilburite and Gurneyite Quakers. What began as tension over recognizing a visiting minister culminated in the dramatic establishment of competing clerks and separate meetings that would divide Quaker communities for more than a century.• Thomas Gould represented the "smaller body" of New England Yearly Meeting, seen by Gurneyites as insubordinate and by Wilburites as upholding traditional Quaker principles• The yearly meeting of 1854 took place during extreme heat, drought, and cholera epidemics• Benjamin Hoyle, the clerk, found himself caught between factions while trying to prevent separation• The breaking point came Tuesday when Jabiz Coulson nominated Jonathan Benz as a competing clerk• After Hoyle read a minute of adjournment, the Gurneyites remained behind while Wilburites had to wait outside• The separation caused deep personal grief, as recorded in diaries of Friends like Aaron Frame• The division reflected fundamental differences over Quaker identity, with Wilburites emphasizing plainness and tradition while Gurneyites viewed these as "small matters"• Local meetings throughout Ohio were eventually forced to choose sides, creating painful divisions in communities and familiesA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Dicipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

John 8:21-59We continue our study of John's Gospel, focusing on chapter 8 where Jesus reveals himself as "the light of the world" and offers profound insights about spiritual freedom and his divine nature.• Examining the challenging declaration "I am the light of the world" and how it connects thematically to chapter 9• Understanding Jesus' confrontation with religious leaders who misunderstood his spiritual origin• Exploring the liberating concept that "you shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free"• Analyzing how sin enslaves and Christ liberates, connecting to the Greek concepts of redemption and salvation• Contemplating Jesus' climactic claim "Before Abraham was, I AM" and its implications for understanding Christ's eternal nature• Recognizing the importance of experiencing the inward, transformative power of Christ rather than focusing solely on historical accountsJoin us next time as we continue our journey through the Gospel of John.A complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Dicipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

The painful second great schism of Ohio Yearly Meeting Conservative unfolds through a historical account of dividing tensions between Gurneyite and Wilburite Quakers from 1845-1874. This detailed historical narrative chronicles how theological differences surrounding Joseph John Gurney's theological interpretations of Quakerism fractured a once-united religious community.• Conflict began in 1845 when Ohio received competing epistles from two separate New England yearly meetings• Benjamin Hoyle, Ohio's clerk, openly favored the smaller Wilburite body, creating tensions• Representatives repeatedly failed to agree on new clerks, effectively freezing leadership• Traveling ministers increasingly identified as either Gurneyite or Wilburite, intensifying divisions• Local problems like rejected certificates, withheld ministry minutes, and unrecognized ministers worsened tensions• In 1853, the yearly meeting couldn't conduct business for four days due to objections over visiting Wilburites• The formal separation occurred in 1854, though groups didn't officially disown each other until 1864• Final division came in 1874 when courts granted the Gurneyite branch possession of the Mount Pleasant Boarding SchoolA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Dicipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

 John 7:53 - 8:20This Greek Bible study examines the powerful story of the woman caught in adultery and Jesus's transformative teaching about judgment, sin, and spiritual illumination.• Exploration of John 7:53-8:20, including the authenticity questions surrounding this passage in early manuscripts• Discussion of Jesus writing in the sand—one of the few references to his literacy in the Gospels• Analysis of Jesus' challenge to the woman's accusers about their own sinfulness• Context of how Jesus transforms understanding of sin from external rules to inward reflection• Examination of the Greek word "hamartia" (sin) and its theological implications• Jesus' declaration "I am the light of the world" and its connection to Quaker understanding of inner light• References to 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 about God shining in our hearts• Discussion of biblical support for Quaker beliefs and recommended resources for further studyA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Dicipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

Ohio Yearly Meeting takes another step in our journey through "The Eye of Faith," continuing William P. Taber Jr.'s history with Chapter 3, "Refining the Form: 1828-1845," which examines the theological tensions that nearly split our community.Orthodox Friends consolidated their community after the 1828 Hicksite separation by refining Quaker practices and strengthening biblical foundations. This period of reform would ultimately lead to new tensions between traditional and progressive elements in Ohio Yearly Meeting.• Two committees helped meetings navigate separation issues and coordinate with other Orthodox Yearly Meetings• Increased emphasis on Bible reading in families with committees ensuring every Quaker household owned a Bible• Friends established numerous schools under monthly meeting supervision to provide "guarded education" for youth• Mount Pleasant boarding school opened in 1837 after 23 years of planning• Growing tensions between those following Joseph John Gurney's evangelical approach and John Wilbur's traditional Quakerism• National Road brought economic opportunities and outside influences challenging Quaker insularity• Abolition movement created friction with traditional Quaker approaches to social reform• Leaders like Joseph Edgerton warned against "modified Quakerism" and "lifeless ministry"• Seeds were planted for the second Ohio separation that would occur in 1854A complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Dicipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

 John 7:19 - 7:39We explore the concept of righteous judgment from John 7:24 and examine what it means to judge with Christ's guidance rather than by appearances.• Judging righteously requires consulting Christ within rather than relying on our own understanding• The distinction between worldly judgment that condemns and righteous discernment guided by the Spirit• When human laws contradict divine justice, Christians may need to stand against popular opinion• The challenge of loving enemies while preventing ongoing harm• Understanding the metaphor of "rivers of living water" as the Holy Spirit flowing through believers• The hunger and thirst for righteousness that only God can truly satisfy• The limitations of attempting to establish holiness through external laws alone• How Nicodemus represents someone quietly following Jesus while remaining in established religious structuresA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website. To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Dicipline. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

Ohio Yearly Meeting takes another step in our journey through "The Eye of Faith," continuing William P. Taber Jr.'s history with Chapter 3, "Refining the Form: 1828-1845," which examines the theological tensions that nearly split our community.• Elisha Bates, once a respected Quaker minister from Mount Pleasant, repudiates traditional Quaker views on spiritual inspiration and even receives water baptism• The Meeting for Sufferings responds with essays defending Quaker doctrines of "divine light, inwardly revealed" as the foundation of true religion• Joseph John Gurney's visits to Ohio in 1837 further polarizes Friends into two distinct theological camps• Differences emerge between "Gurneyite" Friends who emphasize the Bible as first rule of faith and "Wilburite" Friends who prioritize the inward Christ• The Gurneyites welcome intellectual study, activism, and cooperation with other Christians, while Wilburites fear any change that weakens Quaker distinctiveness• Joseph Edgerton's journal entries reveal deep concern about "a spirit which is weary of the plainness and simplicity of the truth"• Tensions escalate when Ohio ministers visiting New England are denied returning minutes after associating with John Wilbur• Ohio Yearly Meeting faces a decade of irreconcilable tensions over theological teachings and disciplinary procedures"Art thou in the darkness, mind it not, for if thou dost, it will feed thee more. But stand still and act not, and wait in patience till light arises out of darkness and leads thee." - James Naylor, 1659A complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

John 6:40 - 7:18We explore Jesus' challenging teaching about being "the bread of life" and what it means to eat his flesh and drink his blood, examining the Quaker understanding of spiritual nourishment beyond ritual.• Distinction between the two meanings of "Jews" in John's Gospel—either ethnic Jews or specifically those opposed to Jesus• Jesus' shocking language about eating his flesh and drinking his blood as a spiritual metaphor• The Quaker understanding that inward spiritual feeding matters more than outward rituals• Difference between physical symbols and the spiritual reality they represent• The meaning of "It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless"• How Jesus' teaching relates to communion/eucharist practices• The significance of Jesus' brothers not believing in him initially• The contrast between human language and spiritual realities• The divine drawing that brings people to spiritual understanding"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me." Revelation 3:20A complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

 John 5:29 to 6:40We dive deep into John chapters 5-6 to explore Jesus' teachings about being the source of eternal life and spiritual nourishment.• Jesus models complete submission to God's will as an example for believers• The Greek word "dikaios" means righteous or just in God's eyes, not self-righteous• Jesus invites people to come to him for life, not just study scriptures about him• The story of feeding 5,000 demonstrates Jesus rejecting political kingship• Jesus declares "I am the bread of life" to shift focus from physical to spiritual nourishment• The Greek word for "see" in John 6:40 implies spiritual perception, not just physical sight• Spiritual communion involves perceiving Christ within and dining with him spiritually• Believers must "conquer" worldliness, cravings and addictions through repentance• Jesus repeatedly promises to "raise up" believers on the last day• Friends (Quakers) historically emphasized inward communion over outward ritualsA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups. Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

We examine the multi-layered interpretations of Jesus's parables and teachings, focusing on how true spiritual understanding goes beyond literal meaning to transform hearts and lives.• Three levels of biblical interpretation explored: literal, ethical, and spiritual-allegorical• The parable of the sower reveals how God implants divine seed in all humanity, but receptivity determines its growth• Royal official's healing story demonstrates faith as trust rather than mere belief• Healing at Bethsaida challenges religious conventions while revealing Jesus's compassion• Jesus's relationship with the Father shows divine unity working through him• Spiritual resurrection occurs when the spiritually dead hear Christ's voice within• Important distinction between the New Testament use of the word "Jews" as an ethnic group versus religious authorities opposing JesusA complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Any who might be interested in joining any of the Ohio Yearly Meeting Zoom online studies should check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. All are welcome!We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

John 4:14-45Jesus teaches that our spiritual life requires inward baptism and transformation beyond outward forms of worship.Understanding scripture requires seeking the spiritual sense behind the physical languageJesus breaks social barriers by speaking with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's wellThe woman recognizes Jesus as a prophet when he reveals knowledge of her complicated pastTrue worship happens "in spirit and truth" rather than at specific physical locationsJesus plainly declares "I am he" when the woman mentions the coming MessiahThe Samaritan woman becomes an evangelist, bringing her village to meet JesusBelievers ultimately testify: "We have heard for ourselves and know this is truly the Savior"Jesus teaches that his spiritual food is doing God's willThe fields are already "ripe for harvesting" as people come to believeThe hour is coming and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.A complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Any who might be interested in joining any of the Ohio Yearly Meeting Zoom online studies should check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. All are welcome!We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

The Trump administration has been sued by everyone and their mother, and we're here to cover it all. From the First Amendment violations to the illegal terminations, we've got you covered. Plus, we've got an update in the Eric Adams case. Links: AP v. Budowich  https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69662918/associated-press-v-budowich   Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69580474/philadelphia-yearly-meeting-of-the-religious-society-of-friends-v-us/   Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. v. De Moraes https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69650977/trump-media-technology-group-corp-v-de-moraes/   Mizelle Letter to Judge Srinivasan [via Bloomberg] https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/r0FHd6DtBQwE/v0   Dunne/Pomerantz Feb. 20 amicus https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916/gov.uscourts.nysd.628916.135.0_1.pdf   US v. Adams criminal docket (SDNY) https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69197933/united-states-v-adams/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc   In re Flynn, 973 F.3d 74 (DC Cir. 2020) https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3512121653435918827   Bessent v. Dellinger (Supreme Court Shadow docket) order https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a790_6i79.pdf' Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod  

John 3:31-4:14This episode emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning and the relationship between trust and belief within the context of faith. By examining John Chapter 3, the hosts explore key themes of spiritual truth, the meaning of living water, and how these insights apply to our daily lives as believers.• Discussion on continual education and its role in faith • Reading and examining the Gospel of John, Chapter 3 • The contrast between accepting and believing in Jesus • Exploring the metaphor of living water and its significance • Insights into the cultural context of the Samaritan woman at the well • Examining the active nature of trust in one's faith • Connections between historical narratives and contemporary faith practices • Reflection on the implications of calling Jesus "Lord"A complete list of our podcasts, organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org. Any who might be interested in joining any of the Ohio Yearly Meeting Zoom online studies should check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website. All are welcome!We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes. Contact us through our website.

Everyone knows that Congress has the power of the purse. What this administration presupposes is … maybe they don't??? We'll talk about Trump's decision to steal budgeting power from Congress in violation of both the Constitution and the Impoundment Control Act with Office of Management and Budget Alum Bobby Kogan.    Links:   Bobby Kogan https://www.americanprogress.org/people/bobby-kogan/    Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. Department of Homeland Security https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69580474/philadelphia-yearly-meeting-of-the-religious-society-of-friends-v/   Trump Energy impoundment EO https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/unleashing-american-energy/   Trump EO pausing foreign aid for 90 days: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/reevaluating-and-realigning-united-states-foreign-aid/   Trump OMB “Clarification” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/01/omb-memo-m-25-11/   Kendall v. US ex Rel. Stokes, 37 U.S. 524 (1838) https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/37/524/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod Patreon: patreon.com/LawAndChaosPod

In the five-plus years of the podcast, I'd say that we have spent a LOT of time on various “hot button” issues - I mean, we live quite squarely in the ones that surround race and identity, wouldn't you say? - but one of the facets of identity that we don't often explore is that of religion. Not because we don't want to talk about it, but a lot of times the opportunity doesn't really present itself. That's why we were so excited to talk to one of the authors of Healing Our Way Home, a new book that addresses white supremacy and identity through the lens of Black Buddhist teachings.  What started out as a series of conversations between three practitioners morphed into a whole book, focusing on self-care and Buddhist teachings with the goal of collective liberation in mind, but in a way that's totally different than what we've seen out there thus far.  Can't wait for you all to listen and learn more.   What to listen for: A brief explanation of the Buddhist history and teachings What it was like knowing Zen Master Thich Nhat Han Three powerful questions we should all be asking ourselves, as we work to remain centered in our own selves while experiencing the world in its current poly-crisis state. About the authors:    KAIRA JEWEL LINGO is a Dharma teacher with a lifelong interest in spirituality and social justice. Her work continues the Engaged Buddhism developed by Thich Nhat Hanh, and she draws inspiration from her parents' lives of service and her dad's work with Martin Luther King, Jr. After living as an ordained nun for 15 years in Thich Nhat Hanh's monastic community, Kaira Jewel now teaches internationally in the Zen lineage and the Vipassana tradition, as well as in secular mindfulness, at the intersection of racial, climate and social justice with a focus on activists, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, artists, educators, families, and youth. Based in New York, she offers spiritual mentoring to groups and is the author of We Were Made for These Times: Ten Lessons in Moving through Change, Loss and Disruption and co-author of the forthcoming, Healing Our Way Home: Black Buddhist Teachings on Ancestors, Joy and Liberation (Feb 2024) from Parallax Press. Her teachings and writings can be found at www.kairajewel.com.   VALERIE BROWN, True Sangha Power (pronouns she/her), is a Dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition, ordained in 2018, and a member of Religious Society of Friends. She transformed her twenty-year, high-pressure career as a lawyer-lobbyist into human-scale, social-equity-centered work, guiding leaders and organizations to foster greater understanding, authenticity, compassion, and trust.   MARISELA B. GOMEZ is a co-founder of Village of Love and Resistance in Baltimore Maryland, organizing for power, healing, and the reclamation of land. She is a meditation and Buddhist teacher, physician-scientist, and holistic health practitioner. She lives in the lands previously stewarded by the Piscataway, Lumbi, and other tribes, colonized as Baltimore Maryland in the USA. She is the author of Race, Class, Power, and Organizing in East Baltimore along with other scholarly, political, and spiritual writings. For more information: https://www.parallax.org/product/healing-our-way-home/ 

Today we're continuing our conversations with people who have a lot of wisdom to offer when it comes to leaving rooms and finding new ones. My guest today is a writer, speaker and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality, and social change. He is the founder of the Center for Courage and Renewal and his name is Parker J. Palmer. He's the author of 10 books including one of my favorites, Let Your Life Speak. He's a member of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers, and he lives together with his wife Sharon in Madison Wisconsin. I invited Parker on because his work has had a profound impact on my own personal formation and has helped to shape my own understanding of the human soul. I'm grateful he said yes to sitting in the room with me today. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Center for Courage and Renewal Here are all of Parker Palmers books in one place The Growing Edge with Parker Palmer and Carrie Newcomer Order a How to Walk into a Room Order from your favorite bookseller below (or another one not listed): Barnes and Noble Amazon US Amazon CA Bookshop Books-A-Million Bookmarks (for personalized copies!) Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack Download the transcript

This 2019 episode covers Benjamin Lay, a Quaker and a radical abolitionist who lived in the period between when the Religious Society of Friends began and when it started formally banning slave ownership among its members.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.