{"product_id":"the-truth-of-our-life-the-quaker-vision","title":"The Truth of Our Life: The Quaker Vision - PRE-ORDER for 10\/20\/26 release","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Truth of Our Life\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003e- The Quaker Vision\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;\"\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Truth of Our Life\u003c\/i\u003e, acclaimed Quaker scholar Rex Ambler argues that both traditional Christianity and modern secular culture have lost touch with the most important truth of all: authentic lives grow from the truth revealed through direct experience. The truth for each person is unique and untraceable, a wonder . .  like the path of a sailing ship at sea. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;\"\u003eReturning to the revolutionary insights of George Fox and the first Friends, Ambler shows how the Quaker experiment offers a challenging but practical path toward community, discernment, justice, and spiritual freedom. It invites readers not simply to learn about Quakerism but to undertake the experiment for themselves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;\"\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eThe Truth of Our Life\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right: -.5in; text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003e     This is Rex Ambler’s most ambitious and wide-ranging work to date, a lifetime of spiritual inquiry distilled into a single, coherent argument. Drawing on decades of scholarship, personal meditation, deep spiritual exploration, and his close reading of George Fox, Rex asks what the early Quakers’ vision of “truth” can offer a world still grappling with the wreckage of modernity and the fragmentation of religious life.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003e The book is remarkable is its scope. It moves with equal confidence through the 17\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e century roots of Quakerism, the crisis of Christian authority, the limits of Enlightenment reason, and surprising encounters with Freud and Gandhi, finding in each a common thread: the possibility of a truth that is lived rather than merely believed. Rex writes not as a historian cataloguing the past, but as a searcher who has tried the practice himself. -\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFrancisco J. Burgos, Executive Director of Pendle Hill\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"Default\" style=\"line-height: normal; mso-hyphenate: none; margin: 0in -.5in .0001pt 0in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; background: white;\"\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Truth of Our Life\u003c\/i\u003e, one of the sharpest Quaker thinkers of the past half-century reflects on decades of study. In an overview that extends over two millennia and ranges from the Apostle Paul to Gandhi, Rex Ambler offers a compelling understanding of what Quakerism can and should be.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background: white;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"Default\" style=\"line-height: normal; mso-hyphenate: none; margin: 0in -.5in .0001pt 0in;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; background: white;\"\u003e- Thomas Hamm, emeritus Professor of History, Quaker Scholar in Residence at\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background: white;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'; background: white;\"\u003eEarlham College\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #1d2228; letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right: -.5in; background: white;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right: -.5in; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #1d2228; letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;\"\u003eThis recovery of the [Quaker] experiment anew for our fractured world calls us again to be provocateurs of love. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #1d2228; letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e - \u003c\/span\u003eWindy Cooler, Convener, Friends Incubator for Public Ministry\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right: -.5in; text-align: justify;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003eWhat makes \u003ci\u003eThe Truth of Our Life \u003c\/i\u003estrikingly distinctive is that it’s readable and practical. Ambler skillfully leads Quakerism into non-combative conversations with Freud and psychoanalysis, Derrida and postmodernism, Habermas and critical Marxism. How can Quakerism engage current intellectual, personal and spiritual voices with confidence and humility? It’s a wonderful addition not only to comparative spirituality, but perhaps even more significantly, comparative models of personal and communal discernment. A must-have source book for reflective Quakers and others. \u003cstrong\u003e- \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003eJoe McHugh, author of \u003ci\u003eStartled by God: Wisdom from Unexpected Places\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right: -.5in; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #1a1918; letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;\"\u003eHow do we make sense of life? This exploration of Quakerism offers keen insight into that Reality.    - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003eMax Carter, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #474747; background: white; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;\"\u003eQuaker Studies at Guilford College, retired\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right: -.5in; text-align: justify; background: white;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #1d2228; letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;\"\u003eAmbler’s work focuses on the history of the empire and the ways in which imperial power has shaped Christianity. He argues that this influence has led to the prioritization of wealth and authority over the well-being and interests of ordinary people. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #1d2228; letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAs a foundational element of Christianity’s spiritual tradition, Ambler explores how biblical teachings have consistently emphasized a genuine search for truth as central to the practice of faith. Ambler highlights a pivotal moment in history when Christianity became closely aligned with the Roman Empire in 312 CE, following Constantine’s conversion. This alliance established a significant turning point, as the priorities and values of the empire began to influence the direction and focus of Christianity. The book also considers the impact of scientific discovery, philosophical enlightenment, human self-assertion, and the French Revolution in shaping modern understandings of truth and Christianity.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #1d2228; letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;\"\u003eAmbler discusses Quakers’ search for truth and our inability to fully embrace the traditional Christianity that had been shaped by imperial influence. Quakerism continues to challenge both empire and church by encouraging people to seek truth independently, without reliance on external authority or interpretation.  - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #1d2228; letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;\"\u003eVanessa Julye, co-author of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-size-large\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #0f1111;\"\u003eFit for Freedom, Not for Friendship: Quakers, African\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-size-large\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #0f1111;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-size-large\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #0f1111;\"\u003eAmericans, and the Myth of Racial Justice\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-size-large\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #0f1111;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-right: -.5in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; letter-spacing: -.25pt; background: white; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;\"\u003eAmbler argues that post-truth societies create an illusion of hyper-individualism and separation. Quaker faith and practice are more urgently needed than ever before. - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"background: white;\"\u003eBarbara Birch, author of \u003ci\u003eLectio Divina: Revelation and Prophecy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthor: Rex Ambler\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublisher: QuakerPress of FGC (2026)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eISBN: 9781733412698\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaperback, 458 pages\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"QuakerBooks of FGC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57297413079206,"sku":"9781733412698","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0796\/4175\/files\/TheTruthofourLife_cover_6x9_FINAL.jpg?v=1788975273","url":"https:\/\/quakerbooks.org\/products\/the-truth-of-our-life-the-quaker-vision","provider":"QuakerBooks of FGC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}