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I’m off to the FWCC World Triennial in Dublin later today. Even though I’m only away for just over ten days, I’ve had lots of things to tidy up at work. Add a few last-minute things to the list, a few nights out, and packing, and I find I’ve had a really busy week. Let’s hope my energy levels have a little fillip before I get to Dublin!

I’ll be running the official blog, which you can read at fwccworld.blogspot.com. The basic idea of the Triennial is to gather around three hundred Quakers from around the world, and explore a theme together and learn about each other’s different Quaker experience and practices. There are also business sessions where we decide policy, approve budgets and so on, also workshops on specific issues such as peacemaking or prison work.

I found this in a discussion on the Times online about whether we need religion:

Socrates said “the unexamined life is not worth living”. Perhaps the unexamined faith is not worth having?    

In the midst of a lot of hackneyed and poorly argued comments for and against religion, this seemed a really valuable thought. Something that Quakers aim for is an ‘examined faith’, both at an individual and corporate level (See Advice No.5 in Quaker Faith & Practice). It ties in with a well-worn Quaker phrase, ‘What canst thou say?’I try to do this from time to time in my blog, but perhaps not often enough. Aidan McCartney has this as his main purpose in his blog though- I look forward to reading more! 

This two-part post is what I had been planning to share with Quaker Quest tonight (I was prevented by a complicated and tiring train journey).Hopefully it’ll be of some use here…

How and when do I encounter God?

I have no doubt that I can experience God on a daily basis. I have many recollections of experiencing God in a direct way. That’s not to say I’m always open to God!

Many Quakers would say that God is universally accessible, and not confined to ‘holy’ places. I certainly agree with this- but not to the extent of pantheism or universalism, which I think go too far in reducing God to ‘part of life’. I feel that God is a real, distinct and living presence.

I often encounter God in a very direct way through other people- when they say challenging or inspirational things, for example. I sometimes see God shining through someone’s courage or generosity.

I encounter God when I worship God in a Quaker meeting- both in the quiet and through the ministry of others. Often, encountering God in the quiet happens only fleetingly, but even a few seconds of that ‘deep encounter’ can centre and transform me for the week. A bit hard to describe exactly what this encounter is like, but very clear when I’m having it. Much much more than feeling simply ‘tranquil’.

Some of my most profound encounters with God have come at moments of crisis or dilemma- where my human, finite faculties have been stretched or exhausted. At these times, God is a new source of energy and guidance.

(I’m currently encountering God in an unexpectedly complicated train journey to London, which may prevent me from sharing these thoughts at Quaker Quest).

It can be much harder to find God in suffering or injustice. Where is the loving and transforming power in these situations?I could fill an entire talk or blog post with this challenge to faith. For the moment, I’ll say that God can be and is alongside us when we suffer. It may be that He can’t wave a magic wand and alter our human-perceived physical world, but He can be a great source of spiritual strength and transformation.

In times of fear (such as living with the fear of an armed robbery while working at a 24 hour shop in Belfast), I have encountered God through a sense of being ‘held’ and looked after- not because of a physical sense of protection, but a sense of God being with me.

The corollary to this is occasions when I have felt fortunate and blessed by God. On my wedding day, the clear sense of a blessed direction and the blessing of those around me, for me were part of an encounter with God.

What does this mean for the way I live my life?

Because I encounter God in Quaker worship, I value that time and get to meeting when I can. I should say, however, that I’m not a faultless attender! This is something I need to work on.

Knowing that I can encounter God in Quaker worship encourages me to approach it with an open heart and mind. Looking for God in others’ ministry helps me avoid the problem of responding badly to ministry which doesn’t speak to my condition.

Times when I have encountered God in my daily life and through other people give me the hope that I’ll do so again. I try as much as I can to be open to God’s loving, teaching and transforming power in my life. As with worship, I’m sure that if I was more practised at this I’d find I encountered God more often!

I think the fact that I encounter God at both the ‘high’ and the ‘low’ points in life helps preserve me from the dangers of unmitigated triumph or despair. The thankfulness and faith I feel remind me that I’m not alone.

A key phrase for me is ‘deus volens’ (God willing). I don’t use this as a cop out, trying to evade responsibility for my life. It’s more about having a sense that I should be ready to be surprised by the gifts and challenges that God puts in my way.

I have the clear sense that more encounters with God would improve my life! I also have the sense that these encounters don’t need to happen in a special ‘holy’ place. (Though prayer and quiet waiting are very valuable).

I know that encounters with God can be challenging and life-changing. I pray for the courage to truly open myself to these encounters too.

Knowing that I have had personal encounters with a real and loving God helps me to relate to Him in a personal and loving way- not as an abstract ‘giver of laws’, or ‘life force’, but as a real and present spiritual guide and support.

In a comment piece in the Daily Telegraph, AC Grayling* says that the reason he has a problem with faith is because:

“…faiths are mutually exclusive and indeed mutually blaspheming, and that the
history of their relationship is one of bloodshed…”

I think Grayling’s blanket condemnation is wide of the mark. Quakers (myself included) have certainly never advocated bloodshed towards anyone, and indeed are highly unlikely to accuse other faiths of ‘blaspheming’. In fact, Advices & Queries 6 and 7 are pretty clear on the benefits of learning from other faiths. (See here for background to Quaker Advices & Queries).

The problem is that the ‘faith’ which makes it into the media these days is ‘faith’ which impels people towards extreme views, and, even worse, extreme actions. Faith which doesn’t intrude on others probably falls into the category of ‘mostly harmless’ and so of no interest to the public. I’d rather be harmless than sensational though.

*Interestingly, AC Grayling is a Professor at Birkbeck. His philosophy lectures are really good.