Ozymandias Brennan on #pacifism and how they uphold or fail to uphold the peace testimony of the #Quakers in their daily life
on 02026-06-04Ozymandias Brennan explains their path to the #Quakers through #atheism, following a conversion experience at a Cobra Starship concert. “Obviously, there is no such thing as a giant future space cobra. I drew one of two conclusions. One: ‘I am speaking to the Divine’ is a thing my brain predictably does in certain situations, usually involving singing and mythology and a mindful focus on the present moment. Two: the Divine had, for inscrutable reasons of its own, decided to confirm me in my atheism by appearing to me in the form of a giant future space cobra. Either way, I would go through my life as an atheist.” They elaborate, “You can be a Quaker and an atheist. The Inner Light clearly exists—I’ve experienced it. It’s immaterial to the practice of Quakerism whether there is a supernatural explanation for the Inner Light; I believe there isn’t.” Very relatable despite not being particularly vapid.
on 02026-01-16on #Quakers and #history and #pacifism and #liberalism and #USA #politics
on 02025-11-04