Abstract
The liberal branch of the Religious Society of Friends today is undoubtedly theologically diverse—for example, in Britain Yearly Meeting, the committee who are revising the book of discipline are explicitly inviting contributions from nontheist as well as universalist and Christian perspectives.1 Some members of the community find this a source of considerable anxiety. In this paper I want to position it, rather, as a source of richness and a form of growth, and also as a potential foundation for other forms of much needed diversity. Britain Yearly Meeting is working on addressing our institutional and sometimes personal racism and classism. We sometimes congratulate ourselves when the theological diversity of our community seems to be working well, but need to keep in mind the many forms of social diversity regarding which we have more work to do before we are as fully welcoming, inclusive, and hospitable as our commitments to justice and equity require of us. I suggest that we are learning lessons from our experiences of theological diversity, which can help us make those changes. For example, building a community strong enough that people can disagree, be challenged, and learn from one another without being excluded is often an important part of the process of holding theological diversity, and if we are to tackle the internalized racism and classism of white, middle-class members of the community like myself we will need to know that those things also can be discussed openly without white fragility leading to sanctions against the prophets we need to hear.
Recommended Citation
Grant, Rhiannon
(2024)
"Theological Diversity as Growth and Foundation,"
Quaker Religious Thought: Vol. 142, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/qrt/vol142/iss1/4