In this book edited by British Friend and author David Boulton, 27 Quakers from 4 countries and 13 yearly meetings tell how they combine active and committed membership in the Religious Society of Friends with rejection of traditional belief in the existence of a transcendent, personal and supernatural God.

For some, God is no more (but no less) than a symbol of the wholly human values of “mercy, pity, peace and love”. For others, the very idea of God has become an archaism.

Readers who seek a faith free of supernaturalism, whether they are Friends, members of other religious traditions or drop-outs from old-time religion, will find good company among those whose search for an authentic 21st century understanding of religion and spirituality has led them to declare themselves “Godless – for God’s Sake”.

Contents

Preface: In the Beginning…

1. For God’s Sake? An Introduction

David Boulton

2. What’s a Nice Nontheist Like You Doing Here?

Robin Alpern

3. Something to Declare

Philip Gross

4. It’s All in the Numbers

Joan D Lucas

5. Chanticleer’s Call: Religion as a Naturalist Views It

Os Cresson

6. Mystery: It’s What we Don’t Know

James T Dooley Riemermann

7. Living the Questions

Sandy Parker

8. Listening to the Kingdom

Bowen Alpern

9. The Making of a Quaker Nontheist Tradition

David Boulton and Os Cresson

10. Facts and Figures

David Rush

11. This is my Story, This is my Song…

Beth Wray

Carolyn Nicholson Terrell

Tim Miles

Anne Filiaci

David B Lawrence

Joanna Dales

Jo Schlesinger

Kitty Rush

Miriam Branson

Gudde (Gudrun) Moller

Hubert J Morel-Seytoux

Jeanne Warren

Marian Kaplun Shapiro

Wilmer Stratton

David E Drake

David Rush

Anita Bower

Lincoln Alpern

Elaine Ruscetta

Ordering Info

Links to forms for ordering online will be provided here as soon as they are available. In the meantime, contact the organizations listed below, using the book details at the bottom of this page.

QuakerBooks of Friends General Conference (formerly FGC Bookstore) 1216 Arch St., Ste 2B Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-561-1700 fax 215-561-0759 http://www.quakerbooks.org/get/333011 (this is the “Universalism” section of Quakerbooks, where the book is currently located)

(this is the “Universalism” section of Quakerbooks, where the book is currently located)

or

The Quaker Bookshop 173 Euston Rd London NW1 2BJ 020 7663 1030, fax 020 7663 1008 bookshop@quaker.org.uk

Those outside the United Kingdom and United States should be able to order through a local bookshop, quoting the publishing details below – particularly the ISBN number. In case of difficulty, the book can be ordered direct from the publisher’s address below.