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Even from within the little bounds of the numerically-tiny tradition that underlies my own religious perspective, there have been outstanding examples of those whose religious views have impelled a quite remarkable level of activism in the cause of equality for all humans.
Firstly, and someone who is still grossly disregarded by many histories, is the man who wrote "The principal factors which influenced my life are 1) nonviolent tactics; 2) constitutional means; 3) democratic procedures; 4) respect for human personality; 5) a belief that all people are one.". The man who studies non-violence under the leaders of Ghandhi's movement, who "counseled King to dedicate himself to the principles of non-violence, served as King's main advisor and mentor throughout his early activism, and was the main organizer of the 1963 March on Washington.". The man who, inspiringly, could say, in 1986, "Today, blacks are no longer the litmus paper or the barometer of social change. Blacks are in every segment of society and there are laws that help to protect them from racial discrimination. The new "niggers" are gays. . . . It is in this sense that gay people are the new barometer for social change. . . . The question of social change should be framed with the most vulnerable group in mind: gay people." This man, a known homosexual and Quaker for most of his life, was of course Bayard Rustin.
Then we have one of the founders of Amnesty International, Eric Baker. "It was at Baker's suggestion that the now-famous term 'prisoner of conscience' was adopted and became central to Amnesty International, as did Baker's view that they should support those who were not themselves advocating or condoning violence. Baker subsequently explained his view that AI represented the response of men and women ‘who are tired of the polarized thinking which is the result of the Cold War and similar conflicts but who are deeply concerned with those who are suffering simply because they are suffering." This is, of course, core to the work Amnesty does on behalf of gay people imprisoned or worse by oppressive regimes in the past and continuing today.
Stephen Donaldson (aka Donny the Punk), who played a major role in raising the profile of gay men in the US armed forces, and who kicked off in College. The guy who in August 1965 "had a social worker call the dean's office to ask whether Columbia would register a known homosexual." After a delay of two weeks, the administration responded that he "would be allowed to register, on condition that he undergo psychotherapy and not attempt to seduce other students." Yup, gay himself (though later self-identifying as bisexual), and a Quaker activist for much of his life before turning to other religious traditions.
There are many hundreds - thousands - of others, who have been at the forefront of struggles for equality on whatever the "live" issues were at the time they lived. The Abolition of Slavery, Civil Rights, Universal Suffrage & Equal Rights for Women, Equality for humans regardless of sexual orientation ... Quakers have been (and continue to be) notably outstanding in all of these, precisely because of our central understanding that there is "that of God" in each and every human.
This is not to put down the inspiration that so many other faiths have given to so many other people in the struggle to achieve full acceptance of diversity, of course: simply that it is the religious perspective that I'm most comfortable with and can most clearly see how the essential components of the faith demand a public testimony by action,
(all quotes from / via Wikipedia: OK, I was feeling to lazy to go back to source documents on this!)
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night devoid of stars." Martin Luther King
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And now, someone who doesn't even have a Wikipedia entry. Just an "ordinary" Christian who habitually worked with leading Quakers, and one that I was privileged to know slightly.
An article on him is here http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/evening-post-bristol-uk/mi_8041/is_20100823/charity-begins-homes-andrews/ai_n54890645/ , or he is tangentially mentioned (always personally retiring) in the histories of the charities (and company) about which he was so passionate.
Would CJC have approved of LGBT people? I think he would have been confused by them - he was of his time and place. But I'm damn sure that he would not have colluded in oppression, of any kind whatsoever! And the charitable trust funded by the company of Estate Agents (realtors) he owned was one of the first significant donors to AIDS research, back when it was still seen as a "gay plague".
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night devoid of stars." Martin Luther King
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I'm amazed, NW, that such a story could have completely escaped my attention. CJC sounds a marvellous man and Andrews Estate Agents seem to be carrying on his good work. Their nearest branch is less than five minutes walk from here. I know a bit about Keynsham because daughter Emily worked for the Keynsham branch of the NatWest when she moved west from St Albans.
I'm grateful that you told me about him.
Love,
Anthony
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