As a professor at Earlham College, Michael Birkel was known for his dynamic and thoughtful teaching style. As an author, he is known for capturing Quaker theology and practice in an accessible way. 

Today, we’ve got this thoughtful Quaker scholar on the show to share his thoughts on mysticism, spiritual reading, and giving the next generation of Quakers room to express their faith.

This episode originally aired on July 17, 2024.

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In the Quaker tradition, waiting worship is never an empty silence; it is a profound, shared, expectant stillness. In this experimental episode, we gathered together for worship at Green St. Meeting in Philadelphia, placed field microphones around the worship space, and created an immersive, stereo audio documentary of communal waiting. You will hear the physical reality of people gathering together, complete with passing cars, the creaking of benches, and the distant coo of a happy infant. We invite you to grab your headphones and use this immersive hour to center down into a deep, worshipful silence wherever and whenever you are.

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Elizabeth Hooton was the fierce and determined matriarch of the early Quaker movement who outmaneuvered magistrates and kings to spread the Gospel of Love. 

From her illegal farmhouse congregation in England to the royal courts of an empire, Hooton’s journey reveals a pioneer who refused to remain quiet when the Spirit asked her to speak. She proved that a tender heart can still possess a sharp prophetic edge, and left a blueprint for resistance in our times.

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After fleeing for their lives from Russia to the United States, an asylum-seeking family was met not with sanctuary, but with chains and a rusty detention cell. Just as the faceless deportation machine threatened to swallow them completely, the American Friends Service Committee offered a lifeline. This episode tells the story of what happens when grassroots Quaker love combines with institutional advocacy to bring justice and dignity to the US Immigration system. 

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Chatbots are becoming integrated into everything, AI images and videos are impossible to discern, and the line between real and artificial is starting to blur. What wisdom does Quakerism have to lend to the usage and development of AI? Should Quakers use AI at all? Is there that of God in the algorithm?

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Quaker peace activist George Lakey has been singing freedom songs in the streets since the civil rights movement. Today, George says, as our democracy faces an existential threat, it is important that we look to other countries whose people have resisted autocrats and won. On this week’s podcast episode we talk with George about those cases, and the nonviolent database he has helped to assemble which shows 39 recent cases of countries whose people nonviolently overthrew a dictator.

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We follow two emerging Quaker communities from different traditions to witness the messy, faithful reality of starting a Quaker meeting. There are no formulas here, only the collective wisdom of people who are discerning a call together. It’s an invitation to explore what happens when we stop trying to control the outcome and simply agree to join the work the Spirit is already doing.

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Quakers believe in loving your neighbor, but what is a peace-loving Friend to do when their city is invaded by armed forces intent on violence? For this week’s episode, we bring you a special conversation with four Quakers from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul who have been wrestling with just that. 

Notes:

Three of our guests are active in ISAIAH, a "statewide multiracial group of faith communities, Black barbershops, childcare centers, and more fighting for racial and economic justice in Minnesota". Information about events and resources for faithful resistance can be found at https://www.isaiahmn.org/

ICE Out of Minnesota has toolkits and resources for dismantling the "pillars of power" that our guests talked about. There are two upcoming actions against Target and Enterprise this week - https://www.iceoutnowmn.com/

If this episode has inspired you to learn more about Quaker resistance, then we recommend the following Thee Quaker Podcast episodes

The “Quakers vs. ICE” Lawsuit

39 Ways to (Nonviolently) Overthrow a Dictator with Quaker Activist George Lakey

A Quaker Response to Crisis with Eileen Flanagan 

How Trump Made Me A Quaker: Faithful Resistance with Daniel Hunter

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This week, we take a field trip to Marlborough Meeting in Kennet Square, PA. Step inside a Conservative Quaker meeting with us to witness a commitment to simplicity and integrity that has endured for centuries. Discover why the ancient instruction to 'stand still' might be the exact antidote to our modern exhaustion.

Want to discuss today’s episode? We created a space for connection, not just content, on Discord—a free app for your phone or computer that works like a digital coffee hour. Join us to meet other Friends walking this path, and don't worry, we have a simple step-by-step guide to help you get started.

https://theequaker.org/discord/

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In a world often governed by force, Quakers have stood apart for centuries with a radical commitment to peace. But this isn't just a political stance; it is a spiritual practice that challenges us to see the Divine in everyone—even our enemies. This week, we dive into the history of the Peace Testimony and explore how its living wisdom can guide us through modern conflict.

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