From: harwood@umiacs.umd.edu (David Harwood)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.quaker
Subject: Re: Inner Light
Date: 22 Jan 93 22:01:48 GMT
Organization: UMIACS, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742

In article <1993Jan21.181306.16983@engage.pko.dec.com> noonan@tolkin.enet.dec.com (Enoperiod) writes:
>
>In article <63375@mimsy.umd.edu>, harwood@umiacs.umd.edu (David Harwood) writes...
>> 
|>>But as much as I might agree with Mike intellectually, I do not recognize
|>>the spirit of what he says: he seems to consider the testimony of the
|>>Gospels, and Paul and all the other apostles, and of all the early and
|>>modern Friends, among other Christians, concerning Jesus and the Light
|>>of Christ to be a misinformed and dogmatic "superimposition" on his 
|>>own preferred notion of true religion, modern 'enlightened' Quakerism, 
|>>which is to take the name from early Friends who were all faithful 
|>>followers of Christ and of the Gospels.
>
>> 
|>>(I tell you why I think it is important to have faith in Christ: in my
|>>experience, it is those who have faith and profound love of Christ, who
|>>are most committed to give their lives as missionaries of all kinds for
|>>others. It is their love and faith and hope (as Paul says so well) which
|>>motivates them. This is not to say that other intellectual and conscientious
|>>persons cannot be charitable, but I have known very many people of all
|>>kinds (from all over the world; and not only my academic associates), and
|>>the most extraordinary in helping others, not occasionally, but throughout
|>>every day of their lives, are faithful Christians, very largely. And they
|>>inspire others because of their great love, which they have in Christ.
|>>No one's love is motivated by religious intellectualism cum meditation,
|>>liberal social criticism and political agendas (not that these are all wrong).)
|>> 
|>>D.H.
|>> 
>
>         I must tell you, I find this sort of amusing.  In a sad way. 
>         Knowing Mike V. as I do, I have always found him to be one of
>         the people most dedicated to the teachings of Jesus.  I know
>         he believes strongly in the Sermon on the Mount, and tries
>         hard to live his life according to it.  
>
>         When I met him, he was giving up much of his spare time
>         volunteering at a food bank, and working with other such
>         organizations.
>
>         He is constanly working to lead people to non-violence, and I
>         know of at least one person who has stated that Mike's
>         discourse on this subject swayed him to a belief in
>         non-violence.
>
>         To me, these are qualities of the true Friend.  I don't
>         believe that a belief in the Trinity is necessary to believe
>         in the importance of living one's life in accordance with the
>         teachings of Jesus.
>
>         Oh, and I *do* believe in the Trinity, and that Jesus Christ
>         is a manifestation of God.
>
>         noonan@tolkin.ENET.DEC.COM
\\\\\\\\\

I said nothing about the Trinity, but about Friends who disavow
faith in Christ, which was that of early Friends (unanimously: is there
one spirit or not?)

But I have briefly corresponded with Mike, to apologize for my personal
attacks, and I believe what you say about him, and thank you for your
testimony for your friend.
David H.