What do you think?
Rate this book
Seeds that Change the World: Essays on Quakerism, Spirituality, Faith and Culture
The Quaker tradition at its best is a practice-based religious path that embodies the ability to hold paradoxical truths with deep love and a minimum of hierarchy. Each of these three elements is an important capability, that the world as a whole needs today. These capacities are developed through regular exercise of both individual and corporate spiritual practices, that can be taught and strengthened. The ongoing divisions and separations among us speak to our failure to live up to our potential. As stewards of this tradition, we need to better embody the truths of the Quaker tradition.
158 pages, Paperback
Published December 28, 2017
1 person is currently reading
17 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 30, 2019
This is my second read this year as a part of my burgeoning interest in Quakerism, and I appreciated it in very different ways than the first, which I couldn't help but compare it to (Living the Quaker Way: Timeless Wisdom For a Better Life Today). Humphries writes from a much more personal place, sharing details from her own spiritual practices and the insights she's gained from them. For the most part, this works well and allows for a spaciousness towards some of her more unique phrasing and articulation, however there were points where the writing felt so hyper-specific that it seemed to clutter her point (e.g. the chapter detailing each of her retreats and the prevalence of names in the book of people she knew). Her perspective as a former Mormon who became a Quaker in her mid-20s was really intriguing, and I respected her ability to find value in her former faith expression rather than castigating it outright; the chapter exploring her spiritual roots and journey into Quakerism was a highlight of the book for me.
Beyond that one, I also felt that the final three essays were significantly more compelling and moving than those before. It was fascinating to read her analysis on the "Unwritten Rules of Waiting Worship," which felt to me like her most candid writing in the book, and the most useful to meetings. "The Lies I Live" was an equally moving confession around the presence of colonization in her life and the decolonizing praxis she's committed to, however I found it striking and deeply frustrating that she failed to explicitly connect colonization with some of what she'd just discussed in the prior chapter around Quaker norms. It seems to me that much of what she felt tension with (the inclination towards "eldering" newcomers and informing them of unspoken Quaker rules like only sharing once per meeting) are markedly steeped in ideologies of colonization and white supremacy, and rather than address that head on (in a book about Quakerism, no less) she instead focused at an individual level about other spheres of her life. And the final chapter, "Why The World Needs Quakerism" is certainly the most passionate and compelling essay in the book, arguing for the unique combination of qualities to Quakerism that make it a gift to the world at large: 1. That it's a faith community that allows for community across dividing lines of belief and creates room for uncertainty and paradox 2. That it's a faith community rooted primarily in the actions of love rather than the uniformity of beliefs and 3. That it's a largely un-hierarchical faith community that trusts in the Holy Spirit more than institutional and human authority. Unfortunately, while those essays are all particularly excellent, others fell short. I would say the book at large had a slightly "unpolished" aspect to it, with many essays featuring uneven writing quality and coming to rather abrupt ends, often without letting the central argument climax (in my opinion). Still, even for the ones I highlighted here alone, I'm grateful to have read it and am struck by Humphries deep wisdom, attentiveness to the Spirit, and wholehearted passion for the vitality of the Society of Friends.
Beyond that one, I also felt that the final three essays were significantly more compelling and moving than those before. It was fascinating to read her analysis on the "Unwritten Rules of Waiting Worship," which felt to me like her most candid writing in the book, and the most useful to meetings. "The Lies I Live" was an equally moving confession around the presence of colonization in her life and the decolonizing praxis she's committed to, however I found it striking and deeply frustrating that she failed to explicitly connect colonization with some of what she'd just discussed in the prior chapter around Quaker norms. It seems to me that much of what she felt tension with (the inclination towards "eldering" newcomers and informing them of unspoken Quaker rules like only sharing once per meeting) are markedly steeped in ideologies of colonization and white supremacy, and rather than address that head on (in a book about Quakerism, no less) she instead focused at an individual level about other spheres of her life. And the final chapter, "Why The World Needs Quakerism" is certainly the most passionate and compelling essay in the book, arguing for the unique combination of qualities to Quakerism that make it a gift to the world at large: 1. That it's a faith community that allows for community across dividing lines of belief and creates room for uncertainty and paradox 2. That it's a faith community rooted primarily in the actions of love rather than the uniformity of beliefs and 3. That it's a largely un-hierarchical faith community that trusts in the Holy Spirit more than institutional and human authority. Unfortunately, while those essays are all particularly excellent, others fell short. I would say the book at large had a slightly "unpolished" aspect to it, with many essays featuring uneven writing quality and coming to rather abrupt ends, often without letting the central argument climax (in my opinion). Still, even for the ones I highlighted here alone, I'm grateful to have read it and am struck by Humphries deep wisdom, attentiveness to the Spirit, and wholehearted passion for the vitality of the Society of Friends.
November 16, 2018
What an amazing set of essays - I love that I can pick this up, open to an essay and read it, put it down and pick it up later. I find these filled with truth and experience, and they touch my hope.
August 29, 2018
Great book, especially for those who have some experience with Quaker practice. Although the book itself is not that long (136 pgs), it was natural for me to pause in between essays to reflect on the ideas presented. There are certainly some thoughts from this book that I am continuing to "walk with" and others that have found more immediate implementation in my life. Others were a confirmation of practices I had already begun to implement on my own, making me appreciative of the timing of having this book recommended to me.
Of note, Debbie Humphries makes a few references to her Mormon upbringing. Coming from a Mormon background myself, I thought they were made in an understanding light and fair to both religious traditions. Her book is specifically about deepening Quaker spiritual practices, and references to Mormon theology and practices are made to support that main focus, not as an exploration of both traditions or the transition from one to another.
Of note, Debbie Humphries makes a few references to her Mormon upbringing. Coming from a Mormon background myself, I thought they were made in an understanding light and fair to both religious traditions. Her book is specifically about deepening Quaker spiritual practices, and references to Mormon theology and practices are made to support that main focus, not as an exploration of both traditions or the transition from one to another.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews