Paul Buckley (2)Critiques

The journal of Elias Hicks. An attempt has been made by the editor to render the journal as close as possible to Hicks' intention. There is a section of notes on the text which includes notes on sources, editorial guidelines and illustrations.

This edition of Penn's most absorbing works renders in clear modern English the thoughts of this theologically acute, well read, and imaginative 17th-century writer.

Thirteen Quakers look at portions of Scripture, describe what they find, and how they found it to encourage every Friend to engage the Bible by entering into a dialogue with this ancient book, exploring assumptions about God, and deepening one's relationship with the divine.

For 175 years, the prevailing image of Elias Hicks has been a false one. His opponents in the Religious Society of Friends have successfully misrepresented him as denying Christ and the scriptures. In his last year of life, Hicks reluctantly penned a reply to these charges, recounting in his journal how God had ordered his life. But the published Journal was edited into a bland portrayal of one of the most dynamic figures in Quaker history. This new edition of The Journal of Elias Hicks from the original manuscripts - most in Hicks' own handwriting - restores more than 100 pages of missing material.

Elias Hicks was a minister, a mystic, a farmer, an environmentalist, an abolitionist, a father and a husband. This book aims to reveal the real Elias Hicks and his understanding of what it means to be a Quaker.

In a pamphlet format, the author presents a phrase-by-phrase study of the meaning of The Lord's Prayer, offering his own re-wording of each phrase to reflect its meaning in his life and providing space for the reader to do the same.

Useful reminders for Quakers today and new understandings of words and ideas used by original Friends. Written from the viewpoint that the Religious Society of Friends is, in fact, a religion that stands for something as opposed to some liberal viewpoints that Quakers believe "anything they want".

Paul Buckley has rendered the Religious Society of Friends an immense service. I once read a book on Hicks written for children which basically said Hicks had been disowned by Orthodox Friends for being tolerant of young people marrying out (marrying non-Quakers). What a disservice to all.

In addition to the many Journal entries and Letter snippets, Buckley oftens adds a paragraph he titles : "Things I Believe But Can't Prove." After having read every archived document and published histories of Hicks, it is not unreasonable the author comes to certain conclusions. I appreciated reading them.

Buckley has attempted to distill all he read into a short, concise--as he put it--essential, compilation of what moved Hicks. Having read this slim volume, I feel prepared to begin Buckley's second gift to us: [Dear Friend: Letters & Essays of Elias Hicks].

In addition to a short biography, Buckley touches on a variety of themes running through Hicks's letters and journals:
Concern for the environment
Mysticism
Scripture
Inward Light
God
Jesus
Salvation
True Christianity
Quakerism
The larger world
Slavery
Orthodox/Hicksites schism

Over the years the memory of Elias Hicks has been lost to stories told about him by his friends and his opponents. Most of what people believe about him is false.This book aims to reveal the truth about Elias Hicks.