Creating Heaven on Earth: The Radical Vision of Early Friends

This course offers an opportunity to explore the material from the 2020 Salter Seminar.

The Quaker movement emerged during a period of great social, political, and religious turmoil. A strongly embodied sense of divine indwelling convinced the earliest Friends that they were participating in the coming of heaven on earth. This experience seemed to turn the world upside-down and disrupt existing relationships between men and women, between rich and poor, and between different cultures and faiths. However, as persecution increased, and God’s kingdom did not come, Quakers faced a struggle to survive within a hostile world. The movement endured, but lost much of its social, political, and economic radicalism. What can we learn from the experience of our founding mothers and fathers? How can we maintain a radical vision within a hostile world?

This course is based on the recorded Salter Seminar and comprises of four online topics followed over four weeks, with either two 2-hour live sessions via Zoom in the middle and at the end of the course or one whole day in-person at the end of the course. There is also a discussion forum, and learning activities for use individually or in small groups.

  • Topic one: Foundations
  • Topic two: Implications
  • Topic three: A Changing Movement
  • Topic four: Relevance for Today

Category

Woodbrooke Where You Are – History & Theology

Tutor

Stuart Masters

Formats

1. Online

A four week course that includes:

  • Learning Materials – recorded videos (4 hours) and written resources for optional reading (2 hours)
  • Group Activity Materials – optional activities to use in groups on your own (4 hours)
  • 2 x 2-hour live sessions on Zoom

Fee: £600

2. Combined delivery

A four week course that includes:

  • Learning Materials – recorded videos (4 hours) and written resources for optional reading (2 hours)
  • Group Activity Materials – optional activities to use in groups on your own (4 hours)
  • One whole day in-person

Fee: £1,040

Please note that in-person or online refers to the location of the tutor. For this course it is possible to have a combination of online and in-person participants if the meeting is suitably equipped and it is discussed in advance.

It may be possible to take this course over a different time period so please mention this when you enquire.

To arrange this group workshop please fill in the enquiry form below. If you have questions at this stage please either include them on the form or contact us.

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