A Near Sympathy: The Timeless Quaker Wisdom of John Woolman

by Michael L. Birkel

Today's world cries out for lives of integrity, for Christian models that integrate "the inward life of devotion and the outward life of the activist for justice and peace." We can find no better example than eighteenth-century Quaker, John Woolman. Birkel writes of the profound impact Woolman has had on his own life. He invites readers to become acquainted with the spiritual disciplines and resources that nurtered Woolman's empathy with the stranger and empowered him to engage the world as a witness on behalf of the disenfranchised. Includes a group discussion guide.

Genres: Religion

Paperback

First published May 21, 2010

About the author

Michael L. Birkel is a professor of Religion at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, and director of the school's Newlin Center. He holds degrees from Wilmington College, the Earlham School of Religion, and Harvard University. Birkel is the author of numerous books on Christian and Quaker figures, as well as more general studies of religious tradition.

Reviews

[Drick]

This short book gives an excellent introduction to John Woolman, an 18th century Quaker who is largely credited with convincing Quakers to rive up the practice of slavery and become abolitionists. He did this by quietly and persistently expressing his concerns to indivual slave owners and living alife of "near sympathy" for the oppressed of his day, primarily theNative Americans and African slaves. This book gave me a desire to learn more about Woolman, while getting aclear sense of what motivated and drove him.

[Rachel]

It was ok and just that. But it did offer some good insights into Quaker thinking.