Corporations and Quakers
Sunday, March 5th, 2006 |
I’ve just watched The Corporation. It’s a film about the rise of Corporations in America and the influence (mainly negative) they have Globally. It’s really a must see as it highlights massive injustices which are hidden from our everyday lives. It also tells some stories which are both scary and inspiring!
Mary-Lou and I want to be as pro-social as we can with our lives and purchases and buying fair trade food and shopping locally has never really seemed enough. This film showed me the depth at which Western Corporate greed has infiltrated our lives and mindsets.
Sometimes I feel a hopelessness about it all which, to be honest, simply fades away after a couple of hours. I don\’t know whether this is due to apathy or a deep knowledge of the hope that is in Jesus. I’m pretty sure its the former since I rarely take any action afterwards.
Tony Blair was on Parkinson last night and said that in his 20’s, while at University, he got interested in God and politics at the same time. He suggested that his heightened interest in God naturally compelled him into politics. I have rarely agreed with Tony’s decisions but I admire the fact that his growing relationship with God spurred him into social action.
A group who’s emphasis on social action has really inspired me recently is the Quakers. One of Mary-Lou’s colleagues was saying how she recently went to a quaker funeral and how interesting it was. So Mary-Lou and I started looking into the Quakers and their beliefs and ended up going along to one of their worship meetings last Sunday!
The meeting is basically held in silence unless anyone feels led by the Holy Spirit to share something. I found it very peaceful and fascinating. We went to the Friends Meeting House in the centre of town, and although the hall is very big, there were only around 20 people in there. It turns out that there are less than 250,000 Quakers worldwide, yet, as I have learnt, their impact on World and British history has been tremendous.
One of their main beliefs and values is peace. They are all pacifists and don’t believe violence should be used, even for good. They are also very outward looking and are very socially active.
In the meeting we went to, after the worship silence time, the clerk gives notices etc. He mention a lady who was going to court about taxes and that we should pray for her and her group. Now, I had heard of a group called the Peace Tax Seven ages ago and was inspired by them back then. So I wondered if this lady was involved in them and asked her after the meeting. It turned out she was, so I was really chuffed to be able to chat to her!
The Peace Tax Seven are 7 people who are fighting for the right to not have their taxes fund the army or be invested in arms companies or other companies who are involved in war. Their argument is that if we have a right to be Conscientious Objectors to war and therefore not go to war, we should also have the right to not fund war or the military machine too. So they are proposing a separate fund where they can pay their taxes to which will not fund the army or be invested in dubious companies.
I was also inspired by the history the Quakers have had in shaping and serving Manchester. Have a read here if you’re interested!
I’m pretty sure I won’t becomes a Quaker because my identity is in Christ alone, but I reckon that I’ll go along to many Quaker meetings through my life - just to spend some time in peace listening to God.