Category Archives: Non-theism

AGM, General Quaker interest, MfW+Creative Conversation, NFN Events, Non-theism

Quaker meeting + Creative conversation Thursday 8th January

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Dear Friends,

Please join us on Thursday, January 8  at 7PM UK/2PM EDT for our next conversation.
David Parlett will be talking about Samuel Butler (1835-1902*) as “a nontheist before his time.”

*I’m assuming this is the Samuel Butler (cf. Erewhon) David means. If he means Samuel Butler (1613-1680) or some other Samuel Butler then we might be in for a 17th century or other surprise.

David has now offered Butler exerpt(pdf) from Samuel Butler’s Erewhon revisited to read in advance.

We look forward to a lively conversation and hope that you will come and add your voice.

If you have not already registered,
Please email clerk@nontheist-quakers.org.uk to register.

We are still looking for someone who would be willing to share their spiritual journey to nontheism at a creative conversation in the spring.

We would also like to have a creative conversation about how nontheist Quakers utilize the silence.  Is that something that you might like to explore with us?

We welcome your thoughts about how to make these conversations more meaningful.  Address your comments to the working group at nontheistfriend@gmail.com.

The evening’s plan is as follows:
• Zoom Room opens at 6:45PM (UK time), please arrive early.
• 7PM: Welcome and Quaker Meeting (~20 minutes): Sharing silence with one another for quietly gathering ourselves and connecting.
• Creative Conversation and Discussion (~1 hour): Concern introduced; followed by interactive discussions.
• Conclusion: Thoughts and a few moments to share silence.
• After Announcements the Zoom Room will remain open for friendly chats and community.
• Duration:1hr:30m-2hr:00m
NOTE: You may unregister/unsubscribe from our monthly Meetings or NFN communication at any time by replying to either of the email addresses given above..
Yours,
NonTheist Friends Network Quarterly Meeting Steering Committee
Creative Conversations Working Group

(The QM+CC Working group 2026 is Al Palmer, William Purser, Gisela Creed, Jim Cain and  Tim Regan. Steering Group to be confirmed or appointed at AGM in  February)

General Quaker interest, NFN Events, Non-theism

Disagreement among Friends – The future of British Quakerism is up for debate

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And possibly, if you’re up early in the UK, on Radio 4 tomorrow morning 7 December on BBC Sunday at 7.10-7.54pm UK time (unlikely to be near beginning of programme) p see further note at bottom below.

“Disagreement among Friends

The future of British Quakerism is up for debate, as the movement updates its most important text. The biggest question: keep or dilute God?”

News from ‘Quake!’ (BYM 30 October)
Quake! bills this as ” • Prospect Magazine – Quakers discuss faith and practice” under Quakers in the media with no further comment.
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/71397/disagreement-among-friends-why-quakers-are-questioning-god

Whilst it is a discussion (by one author with numerous quotes or references) and does deal at some length with ‘Book of discipline revision’, it also talks about same sex relationships, Quaker history,  god language and nontheism with references to one of NFN’s founders (Miriam Yagud), and cites NFN’s aims.

It is quite a searching account of ‘The biggest question: keep or dilute God?’ and quotes Paul Parker (BYM Recording clerk), Ben Pink Dandelion (Quaker theologian and Woodbrooke tutor) and Ben Wood (Quaker theologian and blogger that I’m doing a Woodbrooke online course with tomorrow night – Halloween – on ‘Quakers and the supernatural’). (written on 30 October)

NFN is further cited in “a report by the Nontheist Friends Network suggested that for some Quakers, a “religious vocabulary” centring on God is “problematic”. It hoped that the new book would reflect that “we are no longer an exclusively Christian church but an inclusive religious Society, a society of active seekers rather than satisfied finders.” ”

There is also an interesting closing section on ‘A new cohort of young people – looking for a definitively religious community’.

The author is Grace Spencer who must be (or have been?) a member of BYM, although I have not come across her before.

I will try and get this on the NFN website asap with a more carefully thought out comment and will also bring it to the attention of further NTF Friends in America through the google group and by email. – not more carefully thought out, sorry, but maybe timely?

It is an article well worth reading for all Friends and especially nontheists.

As a result of this article, Tim has been contacted by BBC Radio 4 for a possible interview which MIGHT  be broadcast on BBC Sunday at 7.10 am tomorrow morning 7 December. It may be possible to hear it later on ‘catchup’ on BBC Sounds app (or BBC News app internationally).
Trevor

General Quaker interest, MfW+Creative Conversation, NFN Events, Non-theism

Quaker meeting and Creative conversation Thursday 6th November – “Hope and expectation in the life of a nontheist.”

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Dear Friends,

Please join us on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 7PM BST/2PM EDT for our next conversation.  We will be exploring the question, “Hope and expectation in the life of a nontheist.”  We look forward to a lively conversation and hope that you will come and add your voice.

We welcome your thoughts about how to make these conversations more meaningful.  Address your comments to the working group at nontheistfriend@gmail.com.

Please email clerk@nontheist-quakers.org.uk to register if you have not already done so.
You may unregister/unsubscribe from our monthly Meetings or NFN communication at any time by replying to this email address:  nontheistfriend@gmail.com

The evening’s plan is as follows:
• Zoom Room opens at 6:45PM (UK time), please arrive early.
• 7PM: Welcome and Quaker Meeting (~20 minutes): Sharing silence with one another for quietly gathering ourselves and connecting.
• Creative Conversation and Discussion (~1 hour): Concern introduced; followed by interactive discussions.
• Conclusion: Thoughts and a few moments to share silence.
• After Announcements the Zoom Room will remain open for friendly chats and community.
• Duration:1hr:30m-2hr:00m

In Friendship,
The QM+CC Working group (Gisela Creed, John Senior, William Purser, Al Palmer, and Kiera Faber)
Nontheist Friends Network, UK

General Quaker interest, MfW+Creative Conversation, NFN Events, Non-theism

QM + Creative conversation Thursday 4 September – Are nontheists irrelevant?

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Dear Friends,

Welcome back to our Creative Conversations. We hope summer treated you well!

Please join us on Thursday 4 September at 7PM BST/2PM EDT for our next QM+CC.  Tim Regan and Al Palmer will share their thoughts on, “Are nontheists irrelevant?”

NOTE: Please use the new Zoom link for this season of our QM+CC. As a friendly reminder, we will resend the Zoom link to registered participants only, the day of the Meeting.

Please email clerk@nontheist-quakers.org.uk to register if you have not already done so.
You may unregister/unsubscribe from our monthly Meetings or NFN communication at any time by replying to this email address:  nontheistfriend@gmail.com

The evening’s plan is as follows:
• Zoom Room opens at 6:45PM (UK time), please arrive early.
• 7PM: Welcome and Quaker Meeting (~20 minutes): Sharing silence with one another for quietly gathering ourselves and connecting.
• Creative Conversation and Discussion (~1 hour): Concern introduced; followed by interactive discussions.
• Conclusion: Thoughts and a few moments to share silence.
• After Announcements the Zoom Room will remain open for friendly chats and community.
• Duration:1hr:30m-2hr:00m

We look forward to seeing you soon!

In Friendship,
The QM+CC Working group (Gisela Creed, John Senior, William Purser, Al Palmer, and Kiera Faber)
Nontheist Friends Network, UK

AGM, Conferences, General Quaker interest, MfW+Creative Conversation, NFN Events, NFN website, Non-theism, Publications

Nontheist religious experience and updates to this NFN website.

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I apolgise for my delay in updating.

Jim Cain has kindly shared texts with 3 slightly different versions of his presentation of 5 June on Nontheist religious experience in PDF, Word and powerpoint formats.

By scrolling through our Events page, and following links there, it is possible to find details of our past events for some years (2017-2025) and in some cases texts for earlier talks or audio recordings of the first 11 talks in 2021-22. There is still a gap in this record between Nov 2023 and Sept 2024 and I will try to get this filled in in coming weeks.

Our Articles and Newsletters page takes you back to NFN events as far as 2012.

Trevor

General Quaker interest, MfW+Creative Conversation, NFN Events, Non-theism

QM + Creative conversation Thursday 5 June 2025 – Nontheist Religious Experience

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A friendly reminder!

-your QM+CC WG

We welcome you to join us on Thursday 5 June at 7PM BST/2PM EDT for our next QM+CC.  Jim Cain will share his thoughts on “The Nontheist Religious Experience”.

Jim has kindly shared texts with 3 slightly different versions of his presentation in PDF, Word and powerpoint formats.

The evening’s plan is as follows:
• Zoom Room opens at 6:45PM (UK time), please arrive early.
• 7PM: Welcome and Quaker Meeting (~20 minutes): Sharing silence with one another for quietly gathering ourselves and connecting.
• Creative Conversation and Discussion (~1 hour): Concern introduced; followed by interactive discussions.
• Conclusion: Thoughts and a few moments to share silence.
• After Announcements the Zoom Room will remain open for friendly chats and community.
• Duration:1hr:30m-2hr:00m
You may unregister/unsubscribe from our monthly Meetings or NFN communication at any time by replying to nontheist friend <nontheistfriend@gmail.com>

General Quaker interest, MfW+Creative Conversation, NFN Events, Non-theism

QM+Creative Conversation Thursday 1 May 2025 – 7 Types of Atheism

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Dear Friends,
Many thanks to William Purser for sharing his thoughts on HOPE and inspiring our creative conversation in April.

We welcome you to join us on Thursday 1 May at 7PM BST/2PM EDT for our next QM+CC.  Catherine Carr will share her thoughts on Seven Types of Atheism.
 
Please note this will be our last QM+CC for the season as we do not have a speaker for June and we take a summer holiday for July and August.  We will resume on 4 September.
 As a friendly reminder, we will resend the Zoom to registered participants only, the day of the Meeting.
You may unregister/unsubscribe from our monthly Meetings or NFN communication at any time by replying to this email address.

The evening’s plan is as follows:
• Zoom Room opens at 6:45PM (UK time), please arrive early.
• 7PM: Welcome and Quaker Meeting (~20 minutes): Sharing silence with one another for quietly gathering ourselves and connecting.
• Creative Conversation and Discussion (~1 hour): Concern introduced; followed by interactive discussions.
• Conclusion: Thoughts and a few moments to share silence.
• After Announcements the Zoom Room will remain open for friendly chats and community.
• Duration:1hr:30m-2hr:00m

We look forward to seeing you soon!
In Friendship,
The QM+CC Working group (Gisela Creed, John Senior, William Purser, Al Palmer, and Kiera Faber)
Nontheist Friends Network, UK
General Quaker interest, MfW+Creative Conversation, NFN Events, Non-theism

Text for MfW 2 January 2025 (Mattias Karlsson’s talk on nontheism)

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We have now added the text Mattias has sent us for his talk to the website here: nontheism-mattias

Thank-you Mattias for a very interesting presentation with so many definitions and interpretations of nontheism to consider which prompted so much sharing by a very well attended meeting.

General Quaker interest, MfW+Creative Conversation, NFN Events, Non-theism

MfW +Creative Conversation – Thursday 2nd January 2025

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Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Geoff Tansey for sharing about his extensive work and dedication to peace and specifically to the Quaker Peace Studies Trust.  This encouraged deep reflection and searching amongst participants.

We welcome you to join us on Thursday 2 January at 7PM GMT/2PM EST for our next QM+CC with presenter Mattias Karlsson. He will share his thoughts on nontheism.
A text for Mattias’ presentation (pdf) can be found here: nontheism-mattias.
 
NOTE: We are experimenting with a reoccurring Zoom link.  Please save the Zoom link sent to you as it will work for this season’s QM+CC through June 2025.
As a friendly reminder, we will resend the Zoom to registered participants only, the day of the Meeting.
You may unregister/unsubscribe from our monthly Meetings or NFN communication at any time by replying to this email address.

(We don’t publish the zoom link on the website. If you have not previously registered, Please email clerk@nontheist-quakers.org.uk to register.)

The evening’s plan is as follows:
• Zoom Room opens at 6:45PM (UK time), please arrive early.
• 7PM: Welcome and Quaker Meeting (~20 minutes): Sharing silence with one another for quietly gathering ourselves and connecting.
• Creative Conversation and Discussion (~1 hour): Concern introduced; followed by interactive discussions.
• Conclusion: Thoughts and a few moments to share silence.
• After Announcements the Zoom Room will remain open for friendly chats and community.
• Duration:1hr:30m-2hr:00m

We look forward to seeing you soon!
In Friendship,
The QM+CC Working group (Gisela Creed, John Senior, William Purser, Al Palmer, and Kiera Faber)
Nontheist Friends Network, UK
General Quaker interest, MfW+Creative Conversation, NFN Events, Non-theism

QM + creative conversation – All Truth is a Shadow – Thur 3rd October with Jan Arriens

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Dear Friends,

Many thanks to the 65 or so participants who joined us for our first Quaker Meeting and Creative Conversation of this season on 5th September.  It was lovely to see new and familiar faces!
We welcome you to join us on Thursday 3 October at 7PM BST/2PM EDT for our next QM+CC with presenter, Jan Arriens who will share his thoughts on All Truth is a Shadow. 
 
NOTE: We are experimenting with a reoccurring Zoom link.  Please save the Zoom link received as it will work for this season’s QM+CC through June 2025.
As a friendly reminder, we will resend the Zoom to registered participants only, the day of the Meeting.
You may unregister/unsubscribe from our monthly Meetings or NFN communication at any time by replying to this email address.

(We don’t publish the zoom link on the website. If you have not previously registered, Please email clerk@nontheist-quakers.org.uk to register.)

The evening’s plan is as follows:
• Zoom Room opens at 6:45PM (UK time), please arrive early.
• 7PM: Welcome and Quaker Meeting (~20 minutes): Sharing silence with one another for quietly gathering ourselves and connecting.
• Creative Conversation and Discussion (~1 hour): Concern introduced; followed by interactive discussions.
• Conclusion: Thoughts and a few moments to share silence.
• After Announcements the Zoom Room will remain open for friendly chats and community.
• Duration:1hr:30m-2hr:00m
We look forward to seeing you soon!

In Friendship,
The QM+CC Working group (Gisela Creed, John Senior, William Purser, and Kiera Faber)
Nontheist Friends Network, UK