As a professor at Earlham College, Michael Birkel was known for his dynamic and thoughtful teaching style. As an author, he is known for capturing Quaker theology and practice in an accessible way.

Today, we’ve got this thoughtful Quaker scholar on the show to share his thoughts on mysticism, spiritual reading, and giving the next generation of Quakers room to express their faith.

This episode originally aired on July 17, 2024.

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In the Quaker tradition, waiting worship is never an empty silence; it is a profound, shared, expectant stillness. In this experimental episode, we gathered together for worship at Green St. Meeting in Philadelphia, placed field microphones around the worship space, and created an immersive, stereo audio documentary of communal waiting. You will hear the physical reality of people gathering together, complete with passing cars, the creaking of benches, and the distant coo of a happy infant. We invite you to grab your headphones and use this immersive hour to center down into a deep, worshipful silence wherever and whenever you are.

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Elizabeth Hooton was the fierce and determined matriarch of the early Quaker movement who outmaneuvered magistrates and kings to spread the Gospel of Love.

From her illegal farmhouse congregation in England to the royal courts of an empire, Hooton’s journey reveals a pioneer who refused to remain quiet when the Spirit asked her to speak. She proved that a tender heart can still possess a sharp prophetic edge, and left a blueprint for resistance in our times.

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