After a personal crisis shook his confidence in himself, Ben Pink Dandelion considered seriously the spiritual meaning of “confidence” (literally, to live and act “with faith”). His reflections led him to delve more deeply into early Friends’ understandings about spiritual growth and religious development, and to apply those principles to the community of Friends as we practice our faith today. His insights are especially meaningful for liberal Friends, individually and as a society, as we look toward the future.

After a personal crisis shook his confidence in himself, the author considered seriously the spiritual meaning of "confidence" (literally, to live and act "with faith"). His reflections led him to delve more deeply into early Friends' understandings about spiritual growth and religious development, and to apply those principles to the community of Friends as we practice our faith today. His insights are especially meaningful for liberal Friends, individually and as a society, as we look toward the future.

Based on the 2009 FGC plenary, "Quaking with Confidence"

This is an important pamphlet for all Friends of the "liberal Quaker" variety, and for other Friends who wish to understand them better. B. Pink Dandelion, a British Friend, presents a picture of Liberal Quakerism as a faith-full, spiritually alive, and confident religion that can serve and challenge us in our own age. It is a spirituality based on the early Quaker experience of the process of convincement, from transformation to community and ministry and mission, on the framework put forward by the Quaker renewers J. W. Rowntree and Rufus Jones at the turn of the 20th century, and on our experience of the 20th century and the challenges we perceive in the present. He spells out the promise and the challenges of Liberal Quakerism, with some wise advice. His message is that the experience of early Quakers,a faith of vibrancy and excitement, is there for us if we are prepared to fully open ourselves to it, to take and live and communicate it, with passion and joy, in confidence, faith, and integrity.
This pamphlet is based on his presentation to Friends General Conference in 2009. It is well written and interesting. ( )

Dandelion pursues his own failings in not being completely forthcoming to the community at large over the issue of his gay/bisexual orientation. But this pamphlet is about much more than that. How are we, each of us, authentically ourselves in talking to others. Are we not only open to that of God we perceive within ourselves, but also to that of God we encounter in others? Where do we hide our faces? Do we not know that no matter where we hide, God is there? Finding joy in our spiritual experience will be more authentically experienced the more we are willing to share more and more of ourselves. ( )