J. Brent BillCritiques

"On quick observation, the Quaker lifestyle boasts peace, solitude, and simplicity, qualities that are attractive to any believer of any denomination or religion. Yet living a life of faith is not as simple as it may look. In fact, it's often characterized more by the stumbles than the grace...For anyone who is bad at being good, this is an invitation to a pilgrimage toward a more meaningful and satisfying life . . . one step or stumble at a time."

This book invites all people of faith to consider how our personal and communal faith practices in growing deeper spirituality should bring us to a fresh engagement with the needs of this world. This includes being active in promoting those values that align with our understanding of the gospel and standing against injustice, oppression, and evil inflicted on any of God’s children. Such activism, rooted in deep spirituality, may include being what Quaker civil rights activist Bayard Rustin called “angelic troublemakers.”

I have had this book on my reading list for some time. I finally found the time to finish. I will be returning to Holy Silence frequently as a resource. I have a practical guide to remember to "Be still and know that I am God".

"...is at once simple, accessible and profound. It offers straightforward spiritual insights grounded in Quaker practice on how to live with integrity while seeking...to help heal ourselves and the world around us." (Book cover)

Holy Silence, The Gift of Quaker Spirituality, by J. Brent Bill (Audible audio book). Published 2005. [I’m required to note that I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.] My interest in Holy Science was my attendance at a Quaker meeting over twenty-five years ago, having been invited there by a co-worker (my boss). All I recall about the experience was sitting in a folding chair for about an hour, trying to stay alert and conscious of the activity going on around me. That activity consisted of twenty or so other people also sitting in folding chairs, all of us being silent and lost in our thoughts. At least I was lost: presumably the others knew where they were going. This books explains the concept of non-liturgical worship as practiced by Friends, commonly known as Quakers. Their form of worship is foreign to most of the rest of us, if for no other reason than most of us put much energy into avoiding rather than embracing silence: we wake to music; immediately check our phones when we wake up, often listening to voicemail messages; we fill our mornings talking to family; we pop in ear buds on the way to work; spend our working hours talking with others; listen to music or audiobooks while exercising; and watch television or listen to N.P.R. at night when not watching videos on Facebook or YouTube. In short, we act as if we are afraid of silence beyond a minute or two, or even several seconds. In fact, in meetings, church services, conversations, and informal interactions with others we typically find silence uncomfortable. After a few moments of no one talking we look around to see what’s the problem, and maybe interject something to make sure things are moving along. Silence among the Society of Friends is time for communing with God. It is intentional, and is a form of worship that, arguably, actively engages parishioners more than most others forms of worship. With no one preaching a sermon, no songs to sing, no one reading Bible passages, and no audible prayers, each person is responsible for their own connection with God. During these silent services individuals may talk, sing, read a Bible passage, express an opinion, or otherwise communicate with the group, but each such instance is spontaneous and typically short. And each such break in silence is done if the person feels it’s necessary in the moment. Many meetings are silent from start to finish. As someone who has rejected organized religion, I find this approach refreshing. The Friends’ way is unadorned: shorn of most rituals, costumes, leaders telling us what to think, and other man made rules about how and when to connect with God. This is all explained in the first half of the book, with a focus on the how’s and why’s of silence as used by Friends, including many personal anecdotes and easily understood examples. The second half delves deeply into the overt religious beliefs of Quakers, and is almost a step by step explanation of how to use silence to worship. According to the author, there are many tried and true techniques for maximizing the potential of holy silence, including numerous spiritual questions one can consider. This book is written for fellow believers in the Christian God, but I believe the concept of holy silence is one that can apply to anyone who is searching for a better way to commune with a higher being. At a minimum it’s a peek into a sect of Christianity that few of us know much about.

An abundant life—not an abundance life. There’s a significant difference between the two. Many of us middle-class North Americans are living the abundance life. The author posits that an abundant life is about more than material abundance and is found in four essential ideals. These ideals can guide us into the life we desire if we learn to incorporate them into our daily lives. Those four ideals are beauty, truth, life, and love.

The book offers the writings by contemporary Quaker authors with a brief biography of each. Features work of Daisy Newman, Jessamyn West, Richard J. Foster, Douglas V. Steere, Thomas Mullen, D. Elton Trueblood, Elizabeth Gray Vining, Scott Russell Sanders, Irene Allen, Phil Gulley, James A. Michener, Thomas Kelly, Jan De Hartog, Elfrida Vipont Foulds, and David Yount.

A self-professed non-expert on faith invites readers on a joyful exploration of the faith journey—perfection not required. With whimsy, humor, and wisdom, Bill shows readers how to put faith into practice to achieve a life that is soulfully still yet active, simple yet satisfying, peaceful yet strong. For anyone who is bad at being good, this is an invitation to a pilgrimage toward a more meaningful and satisfying life . . . one step—or stumble—at a time.

J. Brent Bill draws on the quiet beauty of the Quaker path to show how spiritual discernment is more about sensing God's gracious presence than it is about making right decisions.

Invites us to live the Quaker path of learning to see God's light both around and inside us: to see the world with spiritual eyes.

Not every way of finding the Divine Source fits everyone. Having said that, I can joyously claim that Quaker spirituality resonates with me. Bill's book took me more deeply within than have most current books. He stops at appropriate times and guides the reader to experience a deeper sense of the silence. He adds a welcome glossary at the end, along with a list of quite profound queries. Finally, he gives an added gift of an annotated bibliography.

Two quotes that encapsulates the flavor of the book are:
1) "Holy silence gives us a way to be with others, helping them wrestle with the large questions of life--why this, why me, why them, why now, why God?" (51).
2) "The apostle Paul's exhortation 'not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think' also carries the subtle suggestion that we should think RIGHTLY of ourselves....learning to care for ourselves" (56).

A brief overview of the practice of silence in the quaker contemplative tradition. Six chapters, punctuated by 'quietude queries' (short questions to mull over in silence) and discussions of quiet and silence in quaker practice.

Finding our pathway through life by attending to the voice of Spirit within. Including practical examples and exercises. By a significant pastoral Quaker minister, author, and spiritual guide.

Faithful life advice thoughtfully conveyed through personal experience. By a well respected minister and writer within the pastoral tradition, a part of the larger Quaker experience.

First thing you should know is that you don't have to be a Quaker/Friend to use this book. I'm not sure that you even need to be religious to find utility in it... if you are in the mood.

I write the above because the Mr. Bill's book is about inward reflecting. And what he offers is a book that falls into themes, along with questions that you can consider and contemplate. Some of the questions involve God, but if your a non-God person you can either ignore those, or re-write them to be more appropriate for you.

MY TAKE
At first I was put off by Brent Bill's writing style. It's whimsical and happy. At first it seemed to be self-focused BUT after I started the second chapter I realized how intentional his style was. By which I mean that because it was almost goofy it reached through my daily 'fog' and allowed me to get into a space where I could actually focus and think about the questions that he asked. So for me this book is a keeper.

Recommend if you think you'd like his approach.

~ review copy½

Looking at how popular rock music has become and how integrated it is with our current culture, it's hard to think that at one time, people thought rock music controversial.

I read this book first in the 1980s--in fact, I even found tucked within its pages an index card with various Bible verses that a friend's Sunday School teacher planned to use in his "against Christian rock" talk. My goal then was to try to find ways for her to use to refute that talk.

Those looking for Bible verses that say "it's okay to listen to rock music" will not find that in this book. What the author does advocate is making sure to listen selectively to the lyrics of songs you are drawn to to see if the lyrics are providing a Christian message or a message consistent with the Christian life. He suggests listening only to those songs that pass muster.

This book was written so long ago, that I'm not sure the comparison chart at the end of the book would be very useful to most people. Certainly some of the groups, bands and singers are no longer active in the CCM scene (the same being true for some of the secular groups and singers listed).

An interesting collection of writings from a variety of Friends working with religious theory, social concerns, history,and literature.

Interesting review of Quaker spirituality and worship as it compares to the more traditional forms.

This book invites readers to see both their inner and outer lives with spiritual “eyes.” To “mind the light” is a Quaker practice of learning to see God’s light both around and inside us. Depending on its strength, tone, and slant – light changes how we perceive the world and other people. Depending on how we respond to it, illumination can help us grow in appreciation of the soulful things of life. Minding the Light invites readers of all backgrounds to explore the connectedness between inner vision and outer perception, between the life of the soul and the everyday life before us.

This collection is full of information and surprises. Did you know James Michener was a Quaker. Or that some of these pieces were made into movies? With an introduction to Quakers and writing and biographies of each featured author, the book features essays and fiction by the likes of Jessamyn West, James Michener, Scott Russell Sanders, Richard Foster, Thomas Kelly, David Yount, Phil Gulley and more. C. Michael Curtis, senior editor of The Atlantic Monthly says it has, "Readings that offer both food for thought and surprise around every corner."

People of all faiths and backgrounds are drawn to silence. We yearn for it in these busy and difficult times, but often, when silence becomes available, we don't know what to do with it.

For centuries, Quakers have taught that when we are silent, God grants us insights, guidance, and spiritual understanding that is different from what we might realize in our noisy, everyday lives. This book invites readers to discover this and other unique gifts of the Quaker way. It is a satisfying experience and taste of a spiritual tradition unflinching in its dedication to listening for the sounds and voice of God

Reviewed by Diane Reynolds in The Friends Journal, August 2016
https://www.friendsjournal.org/life-lessons-bad-quaker-humble-stumble-toward-sim...

In Life Lessons from a Bad Quaker, Brent Bill takes the reader through the basics of Quaker living, including stillness, peacemaking, simplicity, community, and integrity. He then moves to earthcare and having a sense of humor. His method is to weave together personal anecdotes with stories of other Quakers, some well known and some not. Chapters are interspersed with sayings from famous personages, including Jesus, and with pauses for reflective queries called “Quick Quaker Questions.” The book, written in simple language, is easy to read with frequent section breaks and pull quotes.

As a longtime Quaker, I expected to have to put myself into the skin of a new Quaker, a seeker, or someone curious to know more about Quakers in order to fully appreciate the book. I was surprised, therefore, at how deeply the book touched me.

For those who like homespun humor, Bill has a sure rhythm, keeping the pace as he tells comically self-deprecating tales and pithy, funny stories about Quakers from the past. But this book is more than just a humorous romp through Quakerdom. I found myself going back, skipping the jokes and simply stringing together the sweet, serious prose with its simple advice about living in the Spirit.

On the serious side, I especially appreciated the quotes Bill chose, and the way he examines the complexities of Quaker practices and testimonies. Experienced Friends can sometimes brush over these superficially, especially when we know them so well.

In the section on silence, for instance, Bill encourages people to take five minutes a day for silent worship, then distinguishes between choosing the best time and the most convenient time. I appreciated this parsing and found myself wondering if I pick the moment when listening for the inner voice is most fruitful for spiritual growth or when I can most conveniently fit it into my to-do list. I also resonated with the idea that silent worship is most valuable when it goes on in the midst of the world’s activities. Bill calls this practice of staying connected to the divine source through life’s hubbub “listening through life,” and mentions pastor Doug Pagitt’s advice to his programmed, non-Quaker congregation that they keep their cell phones on during services in order to learn to worship in the midst of the world making its demands.

Bill notices how complicated simplicity can be. Likewise, the not unknown reminder to focus our peacemaking on those closest to us, such as other Quakers, is apt. I found it helpful to be reminded of the ways we all hurt each other without meaning to. Keeping a sense of humor—laughing, being able to joke—is one way to deal with this. Humor is not a traditional Quaker concern. As we know, Quakers are typically associated with soberness. Yet, given the extent to which modern Quakers can take themselves too seriously, the admonishment to relax and have fun is one to heed.

Bill approaches his point from different angles, but always emphasizes that—“bad” Quakers as we all might be—what matters is how we take our Quaker formation out into the world. As Isaac Penington, quoted in Life Lessons, puts it: “Our life is love, and peace, and tenderness; and bearing one with another, and forgiving one another, and not laying accusations one against another; but praying one for another, and helping one another up with a tender hand.”

Life Lessons offers help “with a tender hand” for seasoned Friends as well as those new to Quakerism.
Reynolds, Diane, Friends Journal, August 2016

2nd ed. People of all faiths and backgrounds are drawn to silence. They yearn for it in these busy and difficult times, but often, when silence becomes available, we don't know what to do with it. For centuries, Quakers have taught that when we are silent, God grants us insights, guidance, and spiritual understanding that is different from what we might realize in our noisy, everyday lives.

"J. Brent Bill is recognized as one of the most important communicators of the spirituality of the Quaker tradition today (from the back cover)>"