Seeds That Change The World: Essays on Quakerism, Spirituality, Faith, and Culture

Seeds that Change the World: Essays on Quakerism, Spirituality, Faith, and Culture

The Quaker tradition at its best is a practice-based religious path that embodies the ability to hold paradoxical truths with deep love and a minimum of hierarchy.  Each of these elements is an important capability, that the world as a whole needs today. These capacities are developed through regular exercise of both individual and corporate spiritual practices, that can be taught and strengthened. The ongoing divisions and separations among us speak to our failure to live up to our potential. As stewards of this tradition, we need to better embody the truths of the Quaker tradition.

With a foreword by Diane Randall, Humphries’ book helps readers do just that by exploring Soul Time, Our Hope for a New Life, Four Pillars of Meeting for Business, Embracing Wholeness in the World, Exploring the Unwritten Rules of Waiting Worship, Why the World Needs Quakerism and more.

Of Seeds that Change the World, Lloyd Lee Wilson says “In these essays, Humphries enters the long-standing debate among Quakers as to whether Friends have anything distinctive to offer the contemporary world. Her conclusion: Yes!”

“Part spiritual autobiography, part critique of the white middle class, this collection of essays offers deep insights into the unique constellation of gifts of Quaker faith and practice, and pleads for Friends to better understand and embrace our radical tradition,” writes Marty Grundy.

Debbie Humphries came to Quakerism in the early 1990s after growing up Mormon. Debbie has travelled in the ministry among Quakers since 2004 under the care of Hartford Monthly Meeting, carrying a concern for the spiritual health and vitality of the Religious Society of Friends.

Click here to read an interview with Debbie about her book.

Praise for Seeds that Change the World:

“With the insight and sensitivity that comes from being a religious refugee, Debbie L. Humphries encourages and challenges Quakers to a deeper spiritual life. These essays pull back the curtain to what often seems mysterious about Quaker practice and ministry but does so while maintaining a sense of wonder about Quaker process.” — Peterson Toscano, writer and performer of Transfigurations: Transgressing Gender in the Bible

“Both a compelling spiritual biography and a meaningful comment on the role of religion in contemporary society, this book answers questions yet helpfully provokes us to re-assess the now-accepted idea of faith without community.” — James Golden, British historian

“Debbie Humphries offers us a twenty-first century realization of the Quaker journal in its classic form. It combines personal journey and introspective insight with sustained engagement with the collective processes of Quaker faith and practice, while grappling with some of the largest social problems of our time. Not only Friends but a variety of readers will find their own journeys and challenges evoked by the chapters of this book.” — Doug Gwyn, author of A Sustainable Life: Quaker Faith and Practice in the Renewal of Creation

“What if you trusted the Holy presence is only revealed in respectful and honest community? What if you knew embraced insecurity reaps freedom and growth is only possible outside your comfort zone? Through these pages you are invited to walk with prophetic Debbie Humphries on the wild side of engaged and hopeful revelation, working on solutions for our deepest problems. Follow her process with your heart; you will be changed forever.” — Cruger Johnson Phillips, LPC, Spiritual Director

“Debbie Humphries uses her own life experience, as well as learnings from Friends past and present, to show readers (both those new to Quaker faith and practice, as well as those seasoned in the life of Quaker discipleship) that Listening for the Still, Small Voice is only the first step in a life journey of living and bearing witness to God’s Love.” — Deborah Fisch, retreat leader and former Associate Secretary of Traveling Ministries of Friends General Conference

“In a variety of personal and inspiring essays Debbie Humphries offers seeds of hope in practices of the Quaker tradition that could transform our world.” — Eleanor Godway, emeritus professor of philosophy, Central Connecticut State University

“Part spiritual autobiography, part critique of the white middle class, this collection of essays offers deep insights into the unique constellation of gifts of Quaker faith and practice, and pleads for Friends to better understand and embrace our radical tradition.” — Marty Grundy, author of Tall Poppies: Supporting Gifts of Ministry & Eldering in the Monthly Meeting

“In these essays, Humphries enters the long-standing debate among Quakers as to whether Friends have anything distinctive to offer the contemporary world. Her conclusion: Yes!” — Lloyd Lee Wilson, author of Essays on the Quaker Vision of Gospel Order