Synopsis
“Concepts such as “inner light” and “inner voice” are difficult. They are closely related to everyday life. I became more curious about Quakers’ attitudes to real life, than any literal understanding of these concepts. Quakers are trying to accomplish Peace, Simplicity, Equality, Community, Truth, Sustainability and Integrity. These are adaptable to the situation. How do we keep the tradition of living a simple life, in a modern civilization that advocates a complex life with many superfluities?
Taoism values the peaceful, simple, general and ordinary things, a life based on nature. Taoism can supplement and expand Quakerism. Spirituality and mysticism are in the events we meet in everyday life.”
In his 2018 James Backhouse Lecture, Cho-Nyon Kim looks at:
- The general religious life in the Korean society he grew up in;
- Confucianism, Buddhism, the folk religions, and Christianity;
- The key points of Quakerism and Taoism;
- The life and thought of Ham Sok Hon, the early Korean Quaker, advocate of peace and justice; and
- His own life as a Quaker.
