An aspect of diversity of belief among British
Quakers, that we discuss less than most others, is the question of
what happens after we die. There are likely several reasons for this,
including that, for some, that belief is very important, and
challenging it strikes deeply at their life and, perhaps, what helps
them to maintain hope.
However, it strikes me that the greatest reason is
a distinction in the Quaker motivation to right action. In rhetoric
at least, many mainstream – especially, but not only evangelical –
Christian churches, it is common to talk about the promise of heaven
as a motivation to right action, or at least avoidance of wrong
action, or at least for full and frank confession. In my time among
Liberal Quakers, I have not seen or heard that used, rhetorically or
conversationally. Rather, we see that we should do what is right,
what the spirit urges, what love requires of us, simply because it is
right – or indeed, that we cannot do otherwise, when the leading is
sufficiently strong. We do it because of our conviction that it will
lead to a better world, and that if all acted as we did, it would be
a wonderful result. We do this because if we will not, who will?
I do not mean by this that we are morally superior
to mainstream Christians. I don't even know what it would mean to be
“morally superior”. It is, however, a difference, and one not
unique to us; there are certainly those among many denominations, and
many other faiths, who see right action in this way, as do many
humanists. It is, however, more consistent among Quakers than any
other faith group I have known.
Thus, the idea of what happens after we die, of
life after death, of eternal reward and punishment, is something we
do not speak of much – simply because it is seldom of relevance to
our decisions and actions.
Written September 2017
