It’s one of the most asked questions about the faith: “Do Quakers read the Bible?”. The answer is complicated, as this single book has been used as both a brutal weapon and a profound source of liberation. This episode dives into that paradox, examining a faith that places a living Spirit above the written word. This distinction gives people permission to wrestle with the text, to question its authority, and even to find faith in walking away.

Sarah Ruden: https://sarahruden.com/

Ashley Wilcox: https://www.womenslectionary.com/

Peterson Toscano: https://www.petersontoscano.com/about-peterson

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Monteverde, Costa Rica -- January 15-20, 2026

A Quaker-Led, Interfaith Spiritual Retreat

Amid the mist and quiet beauty of a mountaintop cloud forest, Earth & Ember invites spiritual seekers and contemplatives to explore how our lives can be rooted in compassion and peace--while still engaging with a world marked by injustice, greed, and cruelty. Each day offers centering practices, meaningful participation in our rainforest community, rich spiritual conversation, and the wisdom of local scientists, artists, and peacemakers.

Learn more at www.earthnember.com

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What does it mean to “conspire for goodness” in a fractured world? We visit the historic Valley Mills Friends Meeting to talk with pastor Rachel Doll O’Mahoney about the power of a community built on deep, authentic care. Then, we hear her surprising sermon that reclaims the word “conspiracy” as a radical invitation to breathe together for a more hopeful purpose.

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The Quaker experiment at Eastern State Penitentiary was meant to be a sanctuary for the soul, a place to reform criminals through silence and reflection. Instead, it accidentally engineered a form of psychological torture: solitary confinement. This episode uncovers the complicated history of this "Great Experiment" and then journeys to the offices of AFSC Prison Watch, where a new generation of Quaker activists are confronting this legacy by listening to the raw, firsthand accounts of people who have survived the modern system. 

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Westtown School, a leading Quaker day school for Pre-K to 12th grade is hosting Open Houses this Fall. 

Upper School, Saturday, October 25th, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Middle School, Thursday, October 30th, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Lower School, Wednesday, November 5th, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Learn more at www.westtown.edu/fall.

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Using both the pulpit and the page, Quaker pastor Philip Gulley has been a bold voice that challenges the church’s stance on heaven and hell, LGBTQ issues, and more. As he’s seen greater censorship in the publishing world, Phil has moved to an online newsletter where he examines the rise of Donald Trump and calls on Christians to be more active in the pursuit of truth and justice.

In this interview, Jon speaks with Phil about Christian nationalism, his focus post-election, and much more.

This episode was originally released on February 12, 2025. Check out our full archives for more stories of spiritual courage.

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Despair doesn't serve the world, but neither does cheap hope. So what's the alternative? Join Quaker musician and author David LaMotte on a journey from smoky bar gigs to the silence of a Quaker meeting to discover a powerful vision of "grounded hope" that confronts the myth of powerlessness. Stick around for profound insights and two live song performances that will leave you feeling a little less alone and a lot more capable of changing the world.

https://www.davidlamotte.com/

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Quakers have a long tradition of worshipping in silence, but what really happens when the room gets quiet? In this episode of Thee Quaker Podcast we visit a silent Quaker Meeting for worship and find out for ourselves about this challenging, powerful, and ultimately freeing experience of trying to listen for the divine in a noisy world.

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This week, we take you to New Garden Friends Meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina where pastor Brenda Esch delivers a deeply personal message about the fear and promise of new beginnings. 

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A group of Quakers embark on a grueling 300-mile walk from New York to Washington D.C. to deliver a powerful message to a government that doesn’t want to hear it. Their journey, inspired by a nearly 400-year-old act of solidarity, is unexpectedly thrust into the national spotlight when their quiet walk goes viral. This is a story about exhaustion, reluctant celebrity, and what happens when the end of the road is just the beginning of the real work.

Watch the video of the walk here: https://www.quakervideos.com/the-quaker-walk-to-washington/

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World Quaker Day is on Sunday, October 5th, 2025, and this year’s theme is “Love your neighbor.” Friends World Committee for Consultation would like to invite you to take that message to heart and live it out in your own local community. Find an event near you at worldquakerday.org.

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Sarah and Angelina Grimke were unapologetically anti-slavery and pro-women’s rights. Their convictions were driven by their faith in God, yet it got them booted from Quakerism, made their name a curse among their Southern peers, and even caused controversy among fellow abolitionists. 

The Grimke sisters made history, yet their names have largely been forgotten. Today, we introduce you to these unlikely abolitionists.

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Want to contribute to an upcoming episode?

Leave us a voicemail and tell us what silent worship means to you and what tips you would give to someone who was trying it for the first time: Call us at 215-278-9411 or email a voice memo to [email protected] 

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Todd Drake is a Quaker graffiti artist and printmaker who uses the street name "Quaker pirate". In this episode, Todd teaches the finer points of graffiti etiquette, explains the provocative inspiration for his new portrait of Benjamin Lay, and shares his philosophy of doing good without asking permission.

See his work here: https://quakerpirate.format.com/

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