I commented long ago that i wished that she would do podcast or something but ah... mrs jessica cant hear herself....... somehow it feels wrong to ask? :' idk
I just really like that the questions "what do quakers believe?" and "what do you believe as an individual?" are both valid questions and not contradictory in your religion! ⭐️
Well, one thing not to convince you one way or another at all just informing you is that you can be an agnostic Quaker in fact there are Atheist Quakers the Atheist Quakers are known as 'Nontheist Quakers'
Careful though, there are different types of common Quakerism depending on where you are. I heard Conservative Quakerism is more common in African countries, certain parts of America, etc.
I went to my first local Quaker Meeting for Worship this week and I had the most lovely experience. Everyone was so welcoming and they showed me books to take home with me to learn more! Enjoying "attending to what love requires" of me :)
Me before watching this video: yeah I'm a Christian sort of but I like have a very particular set of beliefs that dont line up with typical Christianity so I dont really know Me now: Oh. A Quaker. That's what it's called. That's what I am.
“I enjoy having a tree in my house” sums up my lack of religion but enjoyment of some religious festivities This is how I shall identify myself from now on
Yep. I was raised Catholic and never really believed in anything they preached to me. It all just seemed so counterintuitive to me. I identify as atheist now but Quakerism definitely fits a lot of my beliefs. I wish I had known about it when I was younger.
devotedghosts As an agnostic Quaker, boy do I have news for you!! But really, you can be agnostic or atheist and still be a Quaker; it translates as a belief that everyone has good in them rather than a god. My meeting often uses "the light" as a general way of encompassing everyone's beliefs on that matter. ❤︎
Luna Lee I would love to know more! I come from a sort of pagan based belief but we use the term the light too, I don’t suppose your meeting is in Australia? I would love to connect with like minded people
I am an atheist but if a religion was compulsory then I would become a quaker. It seems to come closest with my own beliefs. I had always found it odd that a single person can invent a religion and expect everyone to agree and follow their beliefs. I was brought up Catholic and have soooo many issues with that religion I don’t even know where to begin. ⭐️ 🌟 💫
Celia Roseboom I would love to listen to your issues and questions about Catholicism. Definitely NOT to argue but just to listen and be better educated on what different peoples views are on Catholicism!
meredith walker I don’t have any questions, only issues. As a little kid I thought if you weren’t Catholic were somehow lacking or inadequate and that other religions were wrong or inferior. So of course my first issue is with the egotistical nature of its followers. Not that Catholicism is the only religion to think or believe this way. I have other religious nuts in my family who are not Catholic but believe they are the only religion who will be “saved”. Lets face it, if there was this dude who died on the cross to take away our sins we will all be saved. But yeah, Im pretty sure when we die we die, end of story. I don’t particularly care either way. So if you have questions for me, ask away. Im an open book.
Ive found that there tend to be the same issues throughout organized religious where there is something to be gained by leadership. Be it money, status, power, what have you. I had similar issues with the Lutheran denomination of Christianity (aka Catholic Lite*) Im not a big fan of people telling me I deserve fewer rights because of my gender, or that I’m going to hell for my sexuality. ❤️💜💙
Our family always did what we called “Quaker grace” which was silent as each of us thought our own grace before a meal. Now I think I understand why we were doing it. Thanks.
I love this series of videos Jessica! I'm not Christian but I love learning about other religions and I had never really heard of Quakerism before now, so thank you for being so informative!
Hi! I’m like a year late, but I’m a Quaker from California and this was honestly really touching for me. I’ve often struggled to explain to other Christians, especially Evangelicals, what Quaker faith is and how my relationship with God is. This video is honestly probably the best explanation of my beliefs I’ve found and I will definitely start directing people towards it when they have questions! Thank you so much!
Non-theist Quakers are a thing: the "Inner Light that lives subjectively in every person and which guides us if we are willing to listen" does not need to be understood in terms of God or deity.
The way you experience your religion is so beautiful, and explains a lot about how warm you are. Thank you for explaining so well!! Plus you look PHENOMENAL ❤️
I love how Quakerism is so fluid with its beliefs, and emphasizes personal discovery and individual interpretations, as well as acceptance of others' opinions and conclusions, as everybody's view of the inner light is going to be different. I see in the comments that most viewers are atheist, but as a Wiccan, all of this resonates with me tremendously. We believe very similar things on this specific topic. We do have a 'creed,' The Wiccan Rede, and we do have outlines of what makes a Wiccan and what does not, but they are loose. There is so so much wiggle room for people to follow their own paths and find out what works for them. And of course, we emphasize respect for others, including non-Wiccans. I enjoyed this video, learning about Quakerism and relating it to my own religion. Lovely video! Love ya Jessica! ♡⭐ EDIT: just some spelling errors
I'm not sure I could ever live without debate and arguing, because it feels very core to who I am, but perhaps that part of me isn't as healthy as I have been led to believe. Thank you for presenting an alternative. Thank you, also, for helping describe who you are as a person, because it is informative and useful. I will endeavour to make time to attend a meeting of Friends near where I live (in Cambridge, UK) because I think it will also be good to do so. Thank you for helping me consider this as an alternative view to how I can live my life. ⭐
My late sweetheart was a Quaker who loved to debate, but she differentiated between respecting your experience and debating your conclusion. For example, we had a gay friend who didn't believe in marriage equality and she (late sweety) argued with him all night before he stood up in the big "yearly meeting" gathering and briefly stated that he believed marriage should only be mixed-gender. He meant well but no one else in that gathering of hundreds agreed with him.
As another atheist, I say Amen to this! There’s a lot a harm that comes from faith-based beliefs and the institutions which indoctrinate children to be dependent on believing them, but also I know there’s value to be found in the non-superstitious and non-dogmatic aspects of some religious traditions and community (providing your congregation ignores the parts of their doctrine which mandate you be shamed or excluded.) Quakers are one of the least cult-like and least harmful religious sects I know of. (I’m ex-Catholic but went to a cute Quaker school as a little kid.) I imagine if all religious people were like the Quakers, or the Unitarian Universalists, and respected secular rights and humanistic moral principles, then I bet religion would hardly be a top problem in the world to worry about, and we’d only have polite philosophical discussions to just talk through ⭐️
Because believers in it don't know it . I am christian but not really i believe some things and i don't believe others , it's my religion and the one that seems right .It is similar to multiple other religions but i don't take what the bible says literary and more morally, i don't believe in the devil and personally think that sin does not equal hell. People create their own religion with what they believe and it's unique to them, quakeism is a religion believed by many people which don't know it even exists, it's just their own belief and personality
Chrisrianity is based on morals, now it matters how you take them . For me most stories in the bible are just stories to teach morals, the morals of loving everyone and caring about everyone even if you believe they are wrong
That feeling when Jessica kindly informs you that there's a custom religion that fits all of the beliefs and morals you've been holding as an atheist...
I’m Jewish and I love learning about other faiths. Your faith is fascinating and I love it! We have a lot in common actually! Be well and stay fabulous.
I absolutely love your explanation of Quakers, I don't think I've ever heard such a clear and accurate explanation. As a Quaker myself, I know how hard it is to explain what Quakers are and do. Also it's lovely to find one of my favourite TH-camrs/Instagrammers is a fellow Quaker :) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐️ I am so happy I stumbled across your videos. After a few months of struggling with the thought of continuing to call myself a Baptist, I rediscovered Quakerism through your channel and now I can't stop watching your videos on it. Thank you so much! ⭐️
I was a Baptist as well, we went to a very hyper controlling church that would tell us how to live down to a T and even told the parents where to live or work. Anyways they're kind of ruined for me now, lol 😅😅😅
Thank you for making your Quakerism videos! As a Quaker I often get asked what it is and if I eat oats and no one really takes me seriously when I try to explain what Quakerism is! Next time someone asks I will point them in the direction of your Quakerism videos. Much love from New Jersey⭐️⭐️⭐️
@@Cindy99765 I know this was directed at the original comment you replied to, and I can't speak for New Jersey, but I know for sure there are Quaker Meeting Houses in Pennsylvania. (I attended one a couple of times, when I was a teenager, when I stayed the night at a friend's house who was a Quaker).
Bristol University had an important Quaker - Professor Brown, who worked on the Brown-Peterson Paradigm which I think, is taught in Psychology classes.
As a Quaker I really appreciate your videos! Every Friend is different, and I really enjoy learning about everyone’s different practices and beliefs 😁💕
⭐ I consider myself agnostic/atheist and I love your videos on Quakerism! You're so well-spoken and your compassion for humanity really shines through. I'm so glad Quakers like you exist to be such a positive influence ❤
⭐️even though I’m an atheist (though I’m still very young so that could change someday) I find this religious really intriguing and different in a very positive way.Most religions kinda force rules upon believers while this does the opposite and tries be as non judgmental as possible instead,and that is awesome That being said thank you for all this interesting and educating videos ,keep it up!
agnostic here resonating a lot with much you've said about the practices and beliefs of quakerism. i do think that its core values are quite agreeable with how i would like to live my life. thank you for the educational video jessica! ⭐
Jessie, I love these videos. For the past year or so, I’ve been searching inside of myself for understanding of who I am and what I believe. I truly think that Quakerism is the path that I’ve been led to and have identified as such for a while now. I grew up in the Christian church, but I simply cannot live with the judgement and the shame that it thrown out at me for being a bisexual chronically ill woman. I cannot change who I am and I don’t want to live my life hiding or hating myself for being how I was created. I do believe in God, I believe that he made me as I am and that I shouldn’t have to hide myself to please others. I haven’t been able to go to a Quaker meeting as of yet, simply because I work all day on Sundays. But my spiritual journey is finally sorting itself out and I’m so grateful that I was able to find the guidance I was looking for within your videos.
And frankly, its better that way. I think if Quakerism ever got as large as any popular Christian denominatw, it'll get even more vulnerable of having the bad sorts of people infiltrate it and twist it from the inside. I firmly believe that anything popular are innately destined to get bad.
I’ve literally been thinking about this topic all day. I spoke about you to family at the weekend and today wrote “investigate Quakerism more’ and you go and make a video! Delighted!! 💫 🌈 ⭐️
⭐️🌟I'm a Unitarian Universalist and I'm really enjoying your videos on a liberal religion with Christian roots with similar values expressed in a different religious practice. If you are thinking about doing more videos about Quakerism, I would love to hear more about meetings for business and consensus.
⭐⭐ I'm 16 and I've been watching your videos for almost 4 months and it has helped me understand my sexuality and my beliefs better ! Thank you for being ambitious, clever, funny open-minded, friendly and helpful to me ! Love you! Take care !
Star emoji! In the middle of a quaker research rabbit hole and every piece of information sparks so much joy inside of me. Thank you for adding to it with your excellent videos
I wish your voice and words would come out of my mouth when people ask me about my Quaker faith. You speak to my condition, Friend. Thank you. Also, same on living with disabilities. Love you, Jessica.
🌟 The more you tell us about Quakerism, the more similarities I see to my own Unitarian Universalism, especially regarding the free and responsible search for truth and meaning, the respect for the interdependent web of life of which we are a part, and the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings. I very much would like to sit in and observe a meeting of friends.
It's not about religion. It's about FAITH, about how to be the best person possible, to be like Jesus, pure, strong, careful with everybody and everything. Feel the Holy Spirit.
This was very eye opening to my own personal view points in my own faith. I am Christian, but the way I look at life and how I look at people and want to learn and understand everything about what they believe and think because I believe that that allows me to understand them more as a person and I don't judge them for being them. But also about life and everything has always felt somewhat different, though my family church has similar outlooks as I do, and after watching this, it's a lot like Quakerism. Thank you for making this video. ⭐️
I've been been Quaker-curious for a long, long time, and already knew my beliefs lined up very well with Quaker ideas. 3:38 was very true (This Friend Speaks My Mind). The decision to actually set out on a Quaker path was less about coming to believe what Quakers believe so much as coming to a place where I knew I wanted to be in a community that shared that. I am now attending my local monthly meeting and have reached out to people from our yearly meeting as well ⭐️
I would honestly love to just sit down and talk to you for HOURS. You seem so kind and I feel our brains work similarly when it comes to moral beliefs, but I could also just listen to you voice on loop forever anyway. Love your videos!!
The United Church of Canada has a creed and more “traditional” church structure but seems very similar in outlook to Quakerism. Thanks for the informative video 🌟
I'm new to quakerism and I have always tried to live well and as a pacifist. Watching your videos has helped me understand more about quakerism and my own beliefs Thank you ⭐️⭐️⭐️
i'm a quaker but i often can't go to meeting for worship because of disability so i miss it so much!! and ur videos on quakerism are some of my faves!! ty!! i cried at this one, ur so wonderful!!
I absolutely love learning about Quakerism from you. What a lovely religion. Being on my own journey of spiritual exploration, it's wonderful to get to learn about a faith from a real person. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I mean, to be honest it's just common sense, love and compassion plus spirituality. It's absolutely beautiful and I would honestly rather the whome world believed that, even though I'm an atheist, since it's pretty much what a decent human being who wants the best for everyone would act like, plus some God on the side.
Kelli bell ikr! I was born and raised catholic but known for years that I have serious qualms with some of the morals in the Catholic Church, particularly qualms about how they over-simplify many complex issues, but I still enjoy organized worship/ volunteering/ engaging in discussions about ethics. The first time I saw one of Jessica’s vids on Quakerism, I was kinda mind-blown...... kinda not practicing anything at the moment though
Probably because the nicest religious groups don’t spread as much, because they’re less focused with proselytizing and doing Missions to colonize new minds and build their followings in preparation for Judgement Day, as most Christian and many Islamic sects do. Personally I think all the truly valuable aspects that people can find in religiosity (like a community, *Good morality, charity, self-reflection and peace, wisdom or inspiration, and mainly existential comfort) all can be found in secular sources as well, and often more reliably with less irrational or toxic baggage, if it’s not based on atavistic dogma and doesn’t require us to believe superstitious claims of authorities on faith alone. But, if someone really is set on converting to a theistic religion, I find Quakers to be one of the nicest ones. ⭐️ Also you may want to research Unitarian Universalism as well. They have a very similar attitude, but even more diverse in beliefs. As close to secular spirituality as you’re probably going to find in a congregation.
I live in a city founded by Quakers, and although I am not Quaker myself (I'm a gay religious Jew who believes in universal religious equality and who does not like divisive religious sectionalism), I have always felt a bond and fondness to Quakerism.
Great vlog Jessica. This year I read a book on Quaker's view of God and I ate it up like candy. I have another one I need to read/review of Quakers and your view of money.
⭐ I really love this belief system that evolves along with time. So many other beliefs seem to be rooted in ancient times with not a lot of guidance for today's world.
Thank you so much for speaking out about this, I love researching religious practices and your video is the only one I’ve come across that actually explains Quakerism, and I just love how you primarily explain your journey!
⭐ Quakerism sounds amazing! I'm not personally religious. I wasnt raised in any sort of church, and have found my few experiences in various religious services very uncomfortable, even from a very young age. I find this "let's all get along" and "Its ok to agree to disagree" mindset very appealing!
🌟 I adore listening to you, it's so refreshing hearing logic and tolerance applied to topics! Quaker seems like a wonderful way to be and I am loving learning about it
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I'm new to your videos and I love them! Jessica you are a light both inside and out! I'm a proud African American lesbian who has worked as a Registered Nurse for almost 40 years and in this time of pandemic I need a good healthy dose of positivity and optimism which you seem to have in abundance along with a massive amount of intelligence, humor and good ol' common sense. I'm a Unitarian Universalist and listening to your description of Quakerism there seems to be a lot of similarities which I find interesting. Thanx for this and all your videos! Keep 'em coming! (I always make it to the end! 😉) Your new subscriber from America, Celonia3!
⭐️ thank you for this video! it resonated with me so much. As a person who grew up in a Christian family but struggled a lot with many of the values, I eventually began to feel more of an alignment with Unitarianism. I see a lot of similar values between that and the Quakers. I really loved this explanation and think it's time for me to do a little reading about modern Quakerism.
Hi Jessica⭐ Thank you so much for another video about Quakerism! I was trying to find my way in religion - what I believe, what's right for me - but I couldn't settle on anything. I was really losing hope that I'll ever find a religious practise which I'd identify with. But then I saw your videos about Quakerism and I was like: yeah, that's it! I finally found my people! So I'd like to thank you for spreading the word and helping people to understand or even make them fall in love with the ideas and believes of Friends.😊❤
Hello! Your channel popped up in my feed today. I don't know if it was Sims 4, history, and/or my love for all things vintage, but Madame Google decided to nudge your channel my way. I am so glad she did. I hope you don't find this too forward, but you, kind lady, are an absolute treasure. Thank you for sharing! ⭐ I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you for these wonderful informative videos love them. Its because of you i decided to see if there were any meeting houses in my area and there is one 5 minutes away. Yay! My fathers side of the family has been Quaker since the 1600's so side note if you ever do family research they keep AMAZING records of who attended where and who married who. Sending love from Delaware, USA
Star emoji!! (Yes, I'm writing it out, because even though I'm only 22, I sometimes have the technological abilities of a 70 year old...). I think this is a really great video, and honestly, if more people thought like quakers, I think the world would be a nicer place.
Thank you!, I've always been a seeker, have read so many books on so many religions and can't believe I'm just learning of quakers.....it feels like I'm home. Xo
I went to my first Quaker meeting because of your earlier videos and the other young Quakers I met there also found it thanks to you!! This video is so wonderful and affirming of everything I see in it ♥
A video explaining a religious viewpoint, while acknowledging it is one of many. And that some do not believe in any deity at all. Thankyou for truly inclusive and discussion provoking content.
🌈⭐️ This seems to my atheist heart like religion done incredibly well. Crowd sourcing an ever evolving guide book for how to be kind humans... wow. I think I would find it difficult to be part of an organized community group again - people are people and regardless of how wonderful the intent, and we’re flawed little messes - but for anyone who thrives with having a structured community, this sounds like a pretty solid place for support and growth.
Can we get a Jessica (and maybe Claudia if shes up to it.) political compass please? I love to see and talk politics as im studying it and find other people's political opinions facinating even if I wildly disagree with them. Also:🌟
@@Naptosis No... Our ruling government is the Conservative Party, but it's a coalition government so a really crazy, right wing party from Northern Ireland called the DUP have combined themselves with them to make it a majority.
Thank you so much for this series it's so interesting!! I was raised in an agnostic Quaker family and I would call myself a Quaker now but I'm definitely at the more Christian end of the Quaker belief spectrum, I value the Bible a lot but also value the direct relationship I have with God much more and I would say I refer to Faith & Practice for guidance just as much as I do with the Bible. I find my sources of God in many places! And the most important one for me is directly listening to Him and the best way to do that is in meetings for worship
⭐️ Your videos have been super informational, and has actually made me consider joining 😊 It really kind of describes what I already believe and it seems really cool. It never made sense to me that there could be one single religion that God favors, because every religion seems quite spiritual and loves their religion. Thank you for your videos, they’ve been really helpful
I've watched the whole thing, as well as several of your other videos on quakerism! (A whole year later and probably invisible to the algorithm now, but still a worthy endeavor!) It is fascinating and I'm very curious to learn more. Thank you very much for sharing! 🌟🌟🌟
A very inspiring video: I went to a few Quaker meetings 2 years ago before lockdown without knowing that much about it, but felt that it really suited me, and learning more about it through your personal experience of it gives me the confidence to join the meeting in my new town😊⭐️
This sounds like a wonderful religion. I love researching about different religions; i kinda see it as though if there is something then every religion is just different aspects or perceptions of that. Different ways of perceiving the world. As long as it empowers people to be good or spread happiness then it can be such a special thing ⭐
🌠 These Quaker videos are so interesting! I've learnt so much from them! I'm an atheist & physicalist, with no religion; I am considering reading the Quaker texts just to help me reflect on being the best person I can be. If there's one take away I've got from all your Quaker videos it's that Quakerism = trying to be a lovely person!
⭐️ also thanks for these videos! I find it really interesting to hear about such a unique religion and I haven’t heard it being discussed much before, I was talking about it with my friend today who’s Muslim and we were comparing what she believed and had been taught about Allah to what I remembered hearing you say about Quakerism and the different ceremonies and things those two religions involve and it was a really interesting discussion. Obviously not as a debate or anything to try and find the better religion but just to see and compare the different beliefs people have and how that affects experience
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I could honestly just listen to your voice for hours, it’s so smooth and gracious! Love you!
Sass enach I’ve been pleading that for months. She’d be so wonderful to read for historical novels.
I listen to Jessica’s hair tutorials sometimes when stressed or unable to sleep.
Just a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down!
This was actually why i was hooked years ago
I commented long ago that i wished that she would do podcast or something but ah... mrs jessica cant hear herself....... somehow it feels wrong to ask? :' idk
I just really like that the questions "what do quakers believe?" and "what do you believe as an individual?" are both valid questions and not contradictory in your religion! ⭐️
Though I'm agnostic, Quakerism is probably the most lovely religion I've ever heard of. I always love your videos on the topic.⭐⭐⭐⭐
me twoooo
Same.
⭐ fascinating Jessica, thank you! I'm pagan and see a lot of crossover in what you explain and what I try to follow in my everyday life xx
Well, one thing not to convince you one way or another at all just informing you is that you can be an agnostic Quaker in fact there are Atheist Quakers the Atheist Quakers are known as 'Nontheist Quakers'
Careful though, there are different types of common Quakerism depending on where you are. I heard Conservative Quakerism is more common in African countries, certain parts of America, etc.
I went to my first local Quaker Meeting for Worship this week and I had the most lovely experience. Everyone was so welcoming and they showed me books to take home with me to learn more! Enjoying "attending to what love requires" of me :)
Me before watching this video: yeah I'm a Christian sort of but I like have a very particular set of beliefs that dont line up with typical Christianity so I dont really know
Me now: Oh. A Quaker. That's what it's called. That's what I am.
Brenna Hinshaw that was me with her first Quaker video
You are not alone!
Im having a similar experience but i'm much too angry and argumentative i think hahaha
Me too.
that's exactly what i though too
“I enjoy having a tree in my house” sums up my lack of religion but enjoyment of some religious festivities
This is how I shall identify myself from now on
Same.
As an Atheist I rarely encounter spiritual beliefs that resonate with me, this has been one of those few times and I thank you for that.
🌟 I'm agnostic, however Quakerism fits what I felt and believed when I was younger.
Yep. I was raised Catholic and never really believed in anything they preached to me. It all just seemed so counterintuitive to me. I identify as atheist now but Quakerism definitely fits a lot of my beliefs. I wish I had known about it when I was younger.
devotedghosts As an agnostic Quaker, boy do I have news for you!! But really, you can be agnostic or atheist and still be a Quaker; it translates as a belief that everyone has good in them rather than a god. My meeting often uses "the light" as a general way of encompassing everyone's beliefs on that matter. ❤︎
I’m in the same boat
@@lunalee8174 I always define myself as an Agnostic but Quakerism has really interested me lately.
Luna Lee I would love to know more! I come from a sort of pagan based belief but we use the term the light too, I don’t suppose your meeting is in Australia? I would love to connect with like minded people
I am an atheist but if a religion was compulsory then I would become a quaker. It seems to come closest with my own beliefs. I had always found it odd that a single person can invent a religion and expect everyone to agree and follow their beliefs. I was brought up Catholic and have soooo many issues with that religion I don’t even know where to begin. ⭐️ 🌟 💫
Celia Roseboom I would love to listen to your issues and questions about Catholicism. Definitely NOT to argue but just to listen and be better educated on what different peoples views are on Catholicism!
meredith walker I don’t have any questions, only issues. As a little kid I thought if you weren’t Catholic were somehow lacking or inadequate and that other religions were wrong or inferior. So of course my first issue is with the egotistical nature of its followers. Not that Catholicism is the only religion to think or believe this way. I have other religious nuts in my family who are not Catholic but believe they are the only religion who will be “saved”. Lets face it, if there was this dude who died on the cross to take away our sins we will all be saved. But yeah, Im pretty sure when we die we die, end of story. I don’t particularly care either way. So if you have questions for me, ask away. Im an open book.
Thanks for your feedback! Hope you have a great day
I have the same problem too but y was brought up as evangelical. And I think instead of share love and tolerance they share intolerance, mostly hate
Ive found that there tend to be the same issues throughout organized religious where there is something to be gained by leadership. Be it money, status, power, what have you.
I had similar issues with the Lutheran denomination of Christianity (aka Catholic Lite*)
Im not a big fan of people telling me I deserve fewer rights because of my gender, or that I’m going to hell for my sexuality. ❤️💜💙
Our family always did what we called “Quaker grace” which was silent as each of us thought our own grace before a meal. Now I think I understand why we were doing it. Thanks.
The more I learn about Quakerism from you the more it sounds like it's very much in line with the way I already felt/believed. 💫
Same
I am not religious at all, but I love these informative videos from you about Quakerism ⭐️
Pati Nagy absolutely on board with you! ⭐️
There are plenty of Non-Theist Quakers. Have a think about that one :)
I love this series of videos Jessica! I'm not Christian but I love learning about other religions and I had never really heard of Quakerism before now, so thank you for being so informative!
Quakerism just feels like coming home, like this is what I’ve felt all along but never realised others felt the same way about ⭐️
Hi! I’m like a year late, but I’m a Quaker from California and this was honestly really touching for me. I’ve often struggled to explain to other Christians, especially Evangelicals, what Quaker faith is and how my relationship with God is. This video is honestly probably the best explanation of my beliefs I’ve found and I will definitely start directing people towards it when they have questions! Thank you so much!
⭐️ I'm an atheist, but always enjoy your views on the subject as they come from an open minded place.
Same
same same
Same.
engsig99 same, I lover her morals too
Non-theist Quakers are a thing: the "Inner Light that lives subjectively in every person and which guides us if we are willing to listen" does not need to be understood in terms of God or deity.
There's some sort of four legged cloud in the background of your video. I think it needs scritchies.
The way you experience your religion is so beautiful, and explains a lot about how warm you are. Thank you for explaining so well!!
Plus you look PHENOMENAL ❤️
I love how Quakerism is so fluid with its beliefs, and emphasizes personal discovery and individual interpretations, as well as acceptance of others' opinions and conclusions, as everybody's view of the inner light is going to be different. I see in the comments that most viewers are atheist, but as a Wiccan, all of this resonates with me tremendously. We believe very similar things on this specific topic. We do have a 'creed,' The Wiccan Rede, and we do have outlines of what makes a Wiccan and what does not, but they are loose. There is so so much wiggle room for people to follow their own paths and find out what works for them. And of course, we emphasize respect for others, including non-Wiccans.
I enjoyed this video, learning about Quakerism and relating it to my own religion. Lovely video! Love ya Jessica! ♡⭐
EDIT: just some spelling errors
I'm not sure I could ever live without debate and arguing, because it feels very core to who I am, but perhaps that part of me isn't as healthy as I have been led to believe. Thank you for presenting an alternative.
Thank you, also, for helping describe who you are as a person, because it is informative and useful.
I will endeavour to make time to attend a meeting of Friends near where I live (in Cambridge, UK) because I think it will also be good to do so. Thank you for helping me consider this as an alternative view to how I can live my life.
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My late sweetheart was a Quaker who loved to debate, but she differentiated between respecting your experience and debating your conclusion.
For example, we had a gay friend who didn't believe in marriage equality and she (late sweety) argued with him all night before he stood up in the big "yearly meeting" gathering and briefly stated that he believed marriage should only be mixed-gender. He meant well but no one else in that gathering of hundreds agreed with him.
⭐Honestly as an atheist, love hearing about religions other than the more well-known ones. Also love all your other content💜
As another atheist, I say Amen to this!
There’s a lot a harm that comes from faith-based beliefs and the institutions which indoctrinate children to be dependent on believing them, but also I know there’s value to be found in the non-superstitious and non-dogmatic aspects of some religious traditions and community (providing your congregation ignores the parts of their doctrine which mandate you be shamed or excluded.)
Quakers are one of the least cult-like and least harmful religious sects I know of. (I’m ex-Catholic but went to a cute Quaker school as a little kid.)
I imagine if all religious people were like the Quakers, or the Unitarian Universalists, and respected secular rights and humanistic moral principles, then I bet religion would hardly be a top problem in the world to worry about, and we’d only have polite philosophical discussions to just talk through
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Because believers in it don't know it . I am christian but not really
i believe some things and i don't believe others , it's my religion and the one that seems right .It is similar to multiple other religions but i don't take what the bible says literary and more morally, i don't believe in the devil and personally think that sin does not equal hell. People create their own religion with what they believe and it's unique to them, quakeism is a religion believed by many people which don't know it even exists, it's just their own belief and personality
Chrisrianity is based on morals, now it matters how you take them . For me most stories in the bible are just stories to teach morals, the morals of loving everyone and caring about everyone even if you believe they are wrong
That feeling when Jessica kindly informs you that there's a custom religion that fits all of the beliefs and morals you've been holding as an atheist...
If Woke was a religion...love it
Honestly this was so interesting! I’m here for monumental levels of tolerance ⭐️
The wholesome, wholesome tolerance. 😄💖💖💖
As A Straight Middle Aged Ex Soldier, I Have to say That I Love Your Work! ThankYou for Being You.
I love you so much. You look like you are stuck in the 50's but in a good way.
Edit: she liked my comment!😆😆
If only there were more quackers in the world. Everything would be so much more chill...
There is no c in quakers, you spelled quack, like a duck
yeah ducks r great
@@uh2850 why did you have to say it like that 😭
True, if most Christians were either Unitarian or Quaker we would way less issues right now.
I’m Jewish and I love learning about other faiths. Your faith is fascinating and I love it! We have a lot in common actually! Be well and stay fabulous.
I absolutely love your explanation of Quakers, I don't think I've ever heard such a clear and accurate explanation. As a Quaker myself, I know how hard it is to explain what Quakers are and do. Also it's lovely to find one of my favourite TH-camrs/Instagrammers is a fellow Quaker :) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks! Please keep good work
Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed! ❤️
⭐️ I am so happy I stumbled across your videos. After a few months of struggling with the thought of continuing to call myself a Baptist, I rediscovered Quakerism through your channel and now I can't stop watching your videos on it. Thank you so much! ⭐️
I was a Baptist as well, we went to a very hyper controlling church that would tell us how to live down to a T and even told the parents where to live or work. Anyways they're kind of ruined for me now, lol 😅😅😅
Thank you for making your Quakerism videos! As a Quaker I often get asked what it is and if I eat oats and no one really takes me seriously when I try to explain what Quakerism is! Next time someone asks I will point them in the direction of your Quakerism videos. Much love from New Jersey⭐️⭐️⭐️
That's so interesting! I've been looking into the faith and live in the Northeast. Do you know if there are many Quaker churches in your state?
@@Cindy99765 I know this was directed at the original comment you replied to, and I can't speak for New Jersey, but I know for sure there are Quaker Meeting Houses in Pennsylvania. (I attended one a couple of times, when I was a teenager, when I stayed the night at a friend's house who was a Quaker).
I started going to Quaker meetings here in Bristol after seeing your videos, I've been getting a lot out of it so I wanted to thank you for that!
Bristol University had an important Quaker - Professor Brown, who worked on the Brown-Peterson Paradigm which I think, is taught in Psychology classes.
Thanks!
Thank you Deborah! ❤️
@@jessicaoutofthecloset You are more than welcome ! I enjoy your channel and family life. 🧓🏽🧓🏽
As a Quaker I really appreciate your videos! Every Friend is different, and I really enjoy learning about everyone’s different practices and beliefs 😁💕
What an incredibly eloquent and kindhearted explanation!! I learned something new today :)
⭐ I consider myself agnostic/atheist and I love your videos on Quakerism!
You're so well-spoken and your compassion for humanity really shines through.
I'm so glad Quakers like you exist to be such a positive influence ❤
⭐️even though I’m an atheist (though I’m still very young so that could change someday) I find this religious really intriguing and different in a very positive way.Most religions kinda force rules upon believers while this does the opposite and tries be as non judgmental as possible instead,and that is awesome
That being said thank you for all this interesting and educating videos ,keep it up!
agnostic here resonating a lot with much you've said about the practices and beliefs of quakerism. i do think that its core values are quite agreeable with how i would like to live my life. thank you for the educational video jessica! ⭐
Jessie, I love these videos. For the past year or so, I’ve been searching inside of myself for understanding of who I am and what I believe. I truly think that Quakerism is the path that I’ve been led to and have identified as such for a while now. I grew up in the Christian church, but I simply cannot live with the judgement and the shame that it thrown out at me for being a bisexual chronically ill woman. I cannot change who I am and I don’t want to live my life hiding or hating myself for being how I was created. I do believe in God, I believe that he made me as I am and that I shouldn’t have to hide myself to please others. I haven’t been able to go to a Quaker meeting as of yet, simply because I work all day on Sundays. But my spiritual journey is finally sorting itself out and I’m so grateful that I was able to find the guidance I was looking for within your videos.
Quakerism seems so morally right, I wonder why it isn't very well known...⭐
Because it's specifically opposed to pushing itself on others, everyone needs to join the religion by their own choice.
And frankly, its better that way. I think if Quakerism ever got as large as any popular Christian denominatw, it'll get even more vulnerable of having the bad sorts of people infiltrate it and twist it from the inside.
I firmly believe that anything popular are innately destined to get bad.
I’ve literally been thinking about this topic all day. I spoke about you to family at the weekend and today wrote “investigate Quakerism more’ and you go and make a video! Delighted!! 💫 🌈 ⭐️
We quite like Christmas it’s nice 😂
I like having a tree... in my house 😂💕💕💕
"my conscience is the guide to my conduct, but my doubt in discerning that is a valuable tool for growth."
Valuable thought.
It's always interesting to hear about Quakerism and its intersection with ethics.⭐️
⭐️🌟I'm a Unitarian Universalist and I'm really enjoying your videos on a liberal religion with Christian roots with similar values expressed in a different religious practice. If you are thinking about doing more videos about Quakerism, I would love to hear more about meetings for business and consensus.
⭐⭐ I'm 16 and I've been watching your videos for almost 4 months and it has helped me understand my sexuality and my beliefs better ! Thank you for being ambitious, clever, funny open-minded, friendly and helpful to me ! Love you! Take care !
I’m a pretty staunch Wiccan. This was so very interesting! I’m definitely going to research if and how these two overlap.
Hello fellow Wiccan! 💚💚💚 I feel the same, frienderino
Jay Miles yo same! I actually had to explain Wicca to my health class yesterday
Fellow Wiccans !!
Jay Miles Wicca is such a beautiful religion 💚
From what I've read of quakerism and my journey with wicca, the respect and care for the environment is a big similarity
Star emoji! In the middle of a quaker research rabbit hole and every piece of information sparks so much joy inside of me. Thank you for adding to it with your excellent videos
I wish your voice and words would come out of my mouth when people ask me about my Quaker faith. You speak to my condition, Friend. Thank you. Also, same on living with disabilities. Love you, Jessica.
🌟 The more you tell us about Quakerism, the more similarities I see to my own Unitarian Universalism, especially regarding the free and responsible search for truth and meaning, the respect for the interdependent web of life of which we are a part, and the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings.
I very much would like to sit in and observe a meeting of friends.
⭐️ I love hearing about your experience with Quakerism! I find it so relatable and respectable. Thanks for sharing!
It's not about religion. It's about FAITH, about how to be the best person possible, to be like Jesus, pure, strong, careful with everybody and everything. Feel the Holy Spirit.
This friend speaks their damn mind.
Always love your videos on Quakerism, Jessica! Thank you! ⭐
This was very eye opening to my own personal view points in my own faith. I am Christian, but the way I look at life and how I look at people and want to learn and understand everything about what they believe and think because I believe that that allows me to understand them more as a person and I don't judge them for being them. But also about life and everything has always felt somewhat different, though my family church has similar outlooks as I do, and after watching this, it's a lot like Quakerism. Thank you for making this video. ⭐️
I've been been Quaker-curious for a long, long time, and already knew my beliefs lined up very well with Quaker ideas. 3:38 was very true (This Friend Speaks My Mind). The decision to actually set out on a Quaker path was less about coming to believe what Quakers believe so much as coming to a place where I knew I wanted to be in a community that shared that. I am now attending my local monthly meeting and have reached out to people from our yearly meeting as well ⭐️
I would honestly love to just sit down and talk to you for HOURS. You seem so kind and I feel our brains work similarly when it comes to moral beliefs, but I could also just listen to you voice on loop forever anyway. Love your videos!!
The United Church of Canada has a creed and more “traditional” church structure but seems very similar in outlook to Quakerism. Thanks for the informative video 🌟
I'm new to quakerism and I have always tried to live well and as a pacifist. Watching your videos has helped me understand more about quakerism and my own beliefs
Thank you ⭐️⭐️⭐️
i'm a quaker but i often can't go to meeting for worship because of disability so i miss it so much!! and ur videos on quakerism are some of my faves!! ty!! i cried at this one, ur so wonderful!!
I absolutely love learning about Quakerism from you. What a lovely religion. Being on my own journey of spiritual exploration, it's wonderful to get to learn about a faith from a real person. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I feel like quakerism is pretty similar to my general personal code of ethics ★
same! very interesting to learn about
I mean, to be honest it's just common sense, love and compassion plus spirituality. It's absolutely beautiful and I would honestly rather the whome world believed that, even though I'm an atheist, since it's pretty much what a decent human being who wants the best for everyone would act like, plus some God on the side.
This is the religion I have been looking for. Wow. I'm doing more research and truly looking into this- HOW HAVE I NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE???
Kelli bell ikr! I was born and raised catholic but known for years that I have serious qualms with some of the morals in the Catholic Church, particularly qualms about how they over-simplify many complex issues, but I still enjoy organized worship/ volunteering/ engaging in discussions about ethics. The first time I saw one of Jessica’s vids on Quakerism, I was kinda mind-blown...... kinda not practicing anything at the moment though
Probably because the nicest religious groups don’t spread as much, because they’re less focused with proselytizing and doing Missions to colonize new minds and build their followings in preparation for Judgement Day, as most Christian and many Islamic sects do.
Personally I think all the truly valuable aspects that people can find in religiosity (like a community, *Good morality, charity, self-reflection and peace, wisdom or inspiration, and mainly existential comfort) all can be found in secular sources as well, and often more reliably with less irrational or toxic baggage, if it’s not based on atavistic dogma and doesn’t require us to believe superstitious claims of authorities on faith alone.
But, if someone really is set on converting to a theistic religion, I find Quakers to be one of the nicest ones. ⭐️
Also you may want to research Unitarian Universalism as well.
They have a very similar attitude, but even more diverse in beliefs. As close to secular spirituality as you’re probably going to find in a congregation.
Not from Pennsylvania?
Quakers are a bit niche as religions go, but I am so happy they exist.
⭐️ same! ⭐️
I live in a city founded by Quakers, and although I am not Quaker myself (I'm a gay religious Jew who believes in universal religious equality and who does not like divisive religious sectionalism), I have always felt a bond and fondness to Quakerism.
Great vlog Jessica. This year I read a book on Quaker's view of God and I ate it up like candy. I have another one I need to read/review of Quakers and your view of money.
⭐ I really love this belief system that evolves along with time. So many other beliefs seem to be rooted in ancient times with not a lot of guidance for today's world.
🌟✨I just met a guy who grew up in a Quaker family and I wanted to know more about it!!! And omg I relate soooo much to all of this 🥺
Fellow gay Quaker here! Much love
Thank you so much for speaking out about this, I love researching religious practices and your video is the only one I’ve come across that actually explains Quakerism, and I just love how you primarily explain your journey!
No sarcasm intended ⭐️
⭐ Quakerism sounds amazing! I'm not personally religious. I wasnt raised in any sort of church, and have found my few experiences in various religious services very uncomfortable, even from a very young age. I find this "let's all get along" and "Its ok to agree to disagree" mindset very appealing!
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I adore listening to you, it's so refreshing hearing logic and tolerance applied to topics! Quaker seems like a wonderful way to be and I am loving learning about it
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I'm new to your videos and I love them! Jessica you are a light both inside and out! I'm a proud African American lesbian who has worked as a Registered Nurse for almost 40 years and in this time of pandemic I need a good healthy dose of positivity and optimism which you seem to have in abundance along with a massive amount of intelligence, humor and good ol' common sense. I'm a Unitarian Universalist and listening to your description of Quakerism there seems to be a lot of similarities which I find interesting. Thanx for this and all your videos! Keep 'em coming! (I always make it to the end! 😉)
Your new subscriber from America, Celonia3!
⭐️ thank you for this video! it resonated with me so much. As a person who grew up in a Christian family but struggled a lot with many of the values, I eventually began to feel more of an alignment with Unitarianism. I see a lot of similar values between that and the Quakers. I really loved this explanation and think it's time for me to do a little reading about modern Quakerism.
Hi Jessica⭐ Thank you so much for another video about Quakerism! I was trying to find my way in religion - what I believe, what's right for me - but I couldn't settle on anything. I was really losing hope that I'll ever find a religious practise which I'd identify with. But then I saw your videos about Quakerism and I was like: yeah, that's it! I finally found my people! So I'd like to thank you for spreading the word and helping people to understand or even make them fall in love with the ideas and believes of Friends.😊❤
Hello! Your channel popped up in my feed today. I don't know if it was Sims 4, history, and/or my love for all things vintage, but Madame Google decided to nudge your channel my way. I am so glad she did.
I hope you don't find this too forward, but you, kind lady, are an absolute treasure. Thank you for sharing! ⭐
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you for these wonderful informative videos love them. Its because of you i decided to see if there were any meeting houses in my area and there is one 5 minutes away. Yay!
My fathers side of the family has been Quaker since the 1600's so side note if you ever do family research they keep AMAZING records of who attended where and who married who.
Sending love from Delaware, USA
⭐⭐ This was really interesting and informative, thank you for making it Jessica. ⭐⭐
Star emoji!! (Yes, I'm writing it out, because even though I'm only 22, I sometimes have the technological abilities of a 70 year old...). I think this is a really great video, and honestly, if more people thought like quakers, I think the world would be a nicer place.
Sarah Schmidt - 💯% AGREE!!
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emojipedia.org is a great resource. 😉
Oooh, thanks for that, I'm sure that'll help
Thank you!, I've always been a seeker, have read so many books on so many religions and can't believe I'm just learning of quakers.....it feels like I'm home. Xo
I went to my first Quaker meeting because of your earlier videos and the other young Quakers I met there also found it thanks to you!! This video is so wonderful and affirming of everything I see in it ♥
You look so pretty in this video! Love your shirt. It would be awesome if you designed a line of vintage inspired clothes 😄
I really like learning about Quakers because it's something not really known here in Costa Rica and I feel like that it applies more to my beliefs.
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I believe there are a few Quakers in Costa Rica, - www.quakersintheworld.org/quakers-in-action/257/Quakers-in-Costa-Rica
I really enjoy listening to you explain Quakerism. Educational and informative. ⭐🌟🌠
⭐😊 Amazing, thank you for this! Sounds exactly what I have been looking for - blessings to you and everyone else here! 😊
A video explaining a religious viewpoint, while acknowledging it is one of many. And that some do not believe in any deity at all. Thankyou for truly inclusive and discussion provoking content.
I love how the dog just sneaks in and sleeps. Mood
🌈⭐️ This seems to my atheist heart like religion done incredibly well. Crowd sourcing an ever evolving guide book for how to be kind humans... wow. I think I would find it difficult to be part of an organized community group again - people are people and regardless of how wonderful the intent, and we’re flawed little messes - but for anyone who thrives with having a structured community, this sounds like a pretty solid place for support and growth.
Can we get a Jessica (and maybe Claudia if shes up to it.) political compass please? I love to see and talk politics as im studying it and find other people's political opinions facinating even if I wildly disagree with them.
Also:🌟
I suspect they are left leaning in the UK, so that would equal communist sympathiser in the US, and Conservative loons from an EU perspective.
How did you make that star emoji?
@@Naptosis No... Our ruling government is the Conservative Party, but it's a coalition government so a really crazy, right wing party from Northern Ireland called the DUP have combined themselves with them to make it a majority.
@@shalacarter6658 I just went onto the emoji keyboard on my phone.
Maybe not a good idea.
I'd prefer if they keep that private,...it will attract trolls of a certain description.
I just reached out to a local meeting house to gather more information about the Quakers/Friends in my area. Thank you for sharing your faith with us.
Thank you so much for this series it's so interesting!! I was raised in an agnostic Quaker family and I would call myself a Quaker now but I'm definitely at the more Christian end of the Quaker belief spectrum, I value the Bible a lot but also value the direct relationship I have with God much more and I would say I refer to Faith & Practice for guidance just as much as I do with the Bible. I find my sources of God in many places! And the most important one for me is directly listening to Him and the best way to do that is in meetings for worship
⭐️ Your videos have been super informational, and has actually made me consider joining 😊 It really kind of describes what I already believe and it seems really cool. It never made sense to me that there could be one single religion that God favors, because every religion seems quite spiritual and loves their religion. Thank you for your videos, they’ve been really helpful
As an atheist you're one of the most reasonable religious people I know
⭐️ Very interesting topic! I'm looking forward to hear more about it :)
I've watched the whole thing, as well as several of your other videos on quakerism! (A whole year later and probably invisible to the algorithm now, but still a worthy endeavor!) It is fascinating and I'm very curious to learn more. Thank you very much for sharing! 🌟🌟🌟
A very inspiring video: I went to a few Quaker meetings 2 years ago before lockdown without knowing that much about it, but felt that it really suited me, and learning more about it through your personal experience of it gives me the confidence to join the meeting in my new town😊⭐️
This sounds like a wonderful religion. I love researching about different religions; i kinda see it as though if there is something then every religion is just different aspects or perceptions of that. Different ways of perceiving the world. As long as it empowers people to be good or spread happiness then it can be such a special thing ⭐
As a fellow Quaker this video is wonderful and spoke to my condition. Thank you. ⭐️
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These Quaker videos are so interesting! I've learnt so much from them! I'm an atheist & physicalist, with no religion; I am considering reading the Quaker texts just to help me reflect on being the best person I can be. If there's one take away I've got from all your Quaker videos it's that Quakerism = trying to be a lovely person!
⭐️ also thanks for these videos! I find it really interesting to hear about such a unique religion and I haven’t heard it being discussed much before, I was talking about it with my friend today who’s Muslim and we were comparing what she believed and had been taught about Allah to what I remembered hearing you say about Quakerism and the different ceremonies and things those two religions involve and it was a really interesting discussion. Obviously not as a debate or anything to try and find the better religion but just to see and compare the different beliefs people have and how that affects experience
⭐️ I love her content, it’s educational and often relevant for today’s world, not to mention her voice which could be listened to for hours.