When the Goddess Kicks You in the Butt

RantWoman is still busy digesting the Pacific NorthWest Quaker Womens Theology Conference

In connection with a presentation about the conference at her Meeting, RantWoman is sitting with the following queries from a certain much-discussed problematic mentor figure who is the clerk of the Adult Religious Education Committee sponsoring the presentation:

+ Why a THEOLOGICAL conference? What does that mean to you and how did the conference develop it in a Quakerly or meaningful way?

+ How does this differ from other Quaker conferences (e.g.: FWCC, NPYM AS, FGC...)? What is the effect of 1/3 - 1/2 evangelical women present? Why does that matter to you? + What have you learned about your understanding of God and your relationship to the Divine because of this conference or its theme? Has anything changed or opened up for you?

Okay, RantWoman is sitting with the queries and offereing only short piquant observations. Comments would be welcome!

Anyway, Problematic Mentor Figure is just the sort to send out such queries and then make excuses about Quaker commitments elsewhere and not even show up to hear riffs, more likely from the following thoughts:

From the website home page:

We strive to articulate that which has been meaningful in the expression and development of our faith. We are open to God’s leadings and willing to make a commitment to prepare, to risk, and to be open to learning from one another.

Our purposes in coming together are:
To grow in the knowledge and love
of God, trusting that the Inward Teacher, the Christ within, the Inner Light, the Holy Spirit will be present to guide us;

To create a place where it is possible to talk openly from different perspectives with love and honesty, and without rancor or tempering to accommodate perceptions of what might be acceptable;

To use narrative theology, that is, our stories of faith, as a means of integrating our experiences and our understanding;

To encourage articulation of experience in beliefs, both verbally and in writing, expecting that we will bring what we learn back into our home faith communities

RantWoman is still smiling about the Friend who brought us the plenary on Spiritual Friendships. RantWoman is smiling first of all trying to imagine Friend, much younger, describing herself as an introvert. Friend spoke of specifically making efforts to widen her circles of friendships after her children grew up. To RantWoman's surprise, this was the Friend who most clearly brought messages of widening circles of connection, of seeing Christ in everyone, Friend or not.

RantWoman assumes her readers will predict that RantWoman is going to find whole new ways to go off about Jesus, lots and lots of Jesus in the transported masses and unending flocks of novice bus drivers in her daily life. RantWoman also found herself thinking that perhaps her Meeting did not bring along enough Buddhist Quakers or Goddess Quakers, but she still was touched about seeing Jesus in everyone.


RantWoman hereby devotes a small amount of brain space to reflecting on which of the following is likely to make George Fox spin faster in his grave:

--Consider: A Friend has a ministry about Paganism with full backing of her Monthly Meeting in a large west coast city. The Monthly Meeting definitely subscribes to the "talking about movements of the Spirit is more important that what the Spirit is called" school of Friends and theology. Friend from this Meeting gives vocal ministry such as "When the Goddess Kicks you in the Butt, ..."

RantWoman was grateful about the public sides of how the "When the Goddess Kicks You in The Butt" thread was handled though she thinks there are still details to debrief about at some point. RantWoman specifically admires GoddessKicks You in the Butt Friend because she is both so articulate and so generous and open-hearted about engaging with Friends who use different language to talk about their spiritual experiences.

--Consider: A little old lady from a Friends Church in a certain inland western state whose residents are well-known for, um, interesting views. Friend attends the Gathering only in anonymous passing; she also packs heat in her pocketbook.

RantWoman is thinking of a certain "Cows With Guns" food animals rise up song from an NPYM Annual Session family night a few years ago. RantWoman wonders whether any other part of the country has so many Friends of any tradition so willing to speak of firearms. RantWoman does NOT feel called to think too long about the question.