IP is a key source of titles published by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia.
IP distributes This We Can Say and Advices and Queries, two key Quaker publications. We also assist in the publication and distribution of the James Backhouse Series, an annual lecture Series that focuses on the work of important Quaker thinkers across a variety of disciples.
All of these titles are available in print and eBook formats through the IP Store and from our global partners.
The Quakers
The Quakers are famous, despite having no formal “leaders” and minimal theology, for their involvement in working for good in local communities and the world, through pacifism, environmental conservation, and social justice issues.
The Australia Yearly Meeting is part of the grand tradition of the Quaker movement.
Around a thousand Australian Quakers contributed to this work over the course of nearly ten years.
Our purpose is to introduce the reader to our faith: what inspires us; our images of God; our ways of conducting our work and worship in community, in unity.
Quaker practices revolve around the importance of meeting quietly together in worship, while waiting for the guidance of the Spirit within each one of us. Sometimes we feel prompted to share how we experience the Spirit working in and through us. This leads Quakers everywhere to strive to live by the principles of equality, truthfulness, integrity, simplicity and peace.
In Australia we are inspired and challenged in special ways by this ancient land and our varied heritages. We sense there is still much to learn, much that will change us.
These writings come together as rays of light from a great variety of individuals. We hope they inspire you to seek the stillness within you, from which loving words and actions grow.
Key Titles
This We Can Say
ISBN 9780975157909 (HB); 9780975157916 (PB). 9780992385743 (eBook)
This We Can Say: Australian Quaker Life, Faith and Thought serves as the “Faith and Practice” book for the Australia Yearly Meeting, acting as a foundational text that captures the spiritual experience and shared wisdom of the Quaker community in Australia.
Advices and Queries
ISBN 9780975157954 (PB); 9780975157961 (eBook)
This essential text provides a concise collection of spiritual guidance and soul-searching questions. Unlike a fixed creed, the “advices” offer communal wisdom on living ethically, while the “queries” prompt deep personal reflection on faith, social justice, and integrity, encouraging Friends to align their daily actions with their spiritual values.
James Backhouse Lectures
These annual lectures, established in 1964, address contemporary issues from a spiritual and social perspective
The Seed is in all: a journey through the Quaker world (2025)
•. ISBN 9781923435087 (PB); 9781923435094 (eBook)
• Author: Tim Gee
• Description: Exploring the rich diversity of global Quakerism, Tim Gee reflects on his travels across the world to show how the “seed” of Quaker faith connects different traditions—from the silent worship of the Global North to the programmed, scripture-based meetings common in Africa and the Americas.
God’s Ways, Not Our Ways: A Dissident Quaker Response to Disability (2024)
- Author: Jackie Leach Scully
- ISBN: 978-1923238121 (PB); 9781922830777 (eBook)
- Description: This lecture explores the intersection of faith and disability through both personal and professional lenses. Scully challenges traditional theological views, using Quaker testimonies to advocate for a more inclusive world. She shares “dissident thinking” to help the community better understand and embrace all forms of human diversity and impairment.
Quakers, the Internet, and What’s Next (2023)
- Author: Jon Watts
- ISBN: 978-1922830388 (PB); 9781922830630 (eBook)
- Description: Watts examines the parallels between early Quakers’ use of the printing press and the modern digital landscape. He challenges Friends to embrace social media and the internet as tools for vocal ministry, arguing that these technologies offer vital opportunities for spiritual encounter and the communication of faith today.
Seeking Union with Spirit: Experiences of Spiritual Journeys (2020)
- Author: Fiona Gardner
- ISBN: 978-1922332240 (PB); 9781922332240 (eBook)
- Description: Gardner reflects on the internal process of connecting with the Divine. Drawing from her 20-year involvement with the Meeting for Learning, she suggests that living in union with the Spirit provides an eternal anchor, offering deep insights into personal spiritual growth and the communal Quaker journey.
An Encounter between Quaker Mysticism and Taoism in Everyday Life
- Author: Cho-Nyon Kim
- ISBN (Paperback): 978-1921869686
- ISBN (eBook): 978-1921869693
Description: Cho-Nyon Kim reflects on his spiritual journey within the Korean “religious milieu,” where Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism coexist with Christianity. Inspired by Korean Quaker Ham Sok Hon, Kim examines how Taoist concepts of “doing nothing” and natural simplicity align with Quaker mysticism. He challenges readers to find spiritual liberation and “positive passivity” while maintaining a simple, peaceful life amidst the complexities of modern civilization.
Everyday Prophets
- Author: Margery Post Abbott
- ISBN (Paperback): 978-0992385767
- ISBN (eBook): 978-0992385774
Description: Margery Post Abbott explores the interplay between faith and action, arguing that prophetic voice is not reserved for biblical figures but is a calling for everyone. She examines how Quakers can listen deeply to the Spirit to act for justice and peace without succumbing to burnout, pride, or the tangles of power.
This We Can Do: Quaker faith in action through the Alternatives to Violence Project
ISBN 978192531144 (PB); 9781925231151 (eBook)
This lecture explores the intersection of Quaker spirituality and the practical work of the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP). Sally Herzfeld details how the program empowers individuals—particularly those in prison systems—to manage conflict through nonviolence, empathy, and community building. It serves as both a history of AVP and a personal testimony on how the Quaker belief in “that of God in everyone” can be applied to modern social justice and peace-building.
Our Life is Love, and Peace, and Tenderness (2014)
- Author: Tracy Bourne
- ISBN: 978-0992385705
- Description: Bourne addresses the vital role of children within the Quaker community. Inspired by young leaders in Quaker history, she explores how to nurture children’s spiritual development without infringing on their freedom. The lecture argues that empowering young people is essential for energizing the faith for future challenges.
A Quaker Astronomer Reflects (2013)
- Author: Jocelyn Bell Burnell
- ISBN: 978-0646592398
- Description: World-renowned astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell explores the compatibility of scientific inquiry and religious belief. She discusses the “big issues” confronting scientists with a spiritual foundation, offering a unique perspective on how the vastness of the universe can deepen, rather than diminish, one’s sense of Quaker faith.
From the Inside Out: Observations on Quaker Work at the United Nations (2012)
- Author: David Atwood
- ISBN: 978-1921869877 (Paperback) | 978-1921869884 (eBook)
- Description: David Atwood reflects on his nearly twenty years of experience at the Quaker United Nations Office in Geneva. He provides a unique “insider-outsider” perspective on international diplomacy, exploring how Quaker values like peace and reconciliation can practically influence global politics and the ongoing work of the United Nations.
A Demanding and Uncertain Adventure: Exploration of a Concern for Earth Restoration (2011)
- Author: Rosemary Morrow
- ISBN: 978-0980325874 (Paperback) | 978-0980325898 (eBook)
- Description: Renowned permaculture teacher Rosemary Morrow addresses the urgent need for environmental restoration. She frames the climate crisis as a spiritual challenge, calling on Quakers to adopt “living adventurously” through sustainable practices and permaculture. The lecture emphasizes our ethical responsibility to restore the Earth for future generations through humble, direct action.
Finding Our Voice: Our Truth, Community and Journey as Australian Young Friends (2010)
- Author: Australian Young Friends (Collective)
- ISBN: 978-0980325867 (Paperback) | 978-0980325881 (eBook)
- Description: This unique collective effort provides a raw and honest look at the experiences of younger Quakers in Australia. It explores how youth navigate spiritual discovery, build inclusive communities, and maintain their Quaker identity in a modern, secular world. The lecture serves as both a testimony and an invitation to deeper intergenerational bonding.
The Quaking Meeting: Transforming Our Selves, Our Meetings and the More-Than-Human World (2009)
- Author: Helen Gould
- ISBN: 978-0980325843 (Paperback) | 978-0980325829 (eBook)
- Description: Gould explores the transformative power of the “gathered meeting,” where the early Quaker experience of “quaking” signaled a deep connection to divine energy. She examines how modern Friends can open themselves to this spiritual intensity to foster personal healing, revitalize their meetings, and extend compassion toward the entire ecological world.
Faith, Hope & Doubt in Times of Uncertainty: Combining the Realms of Scientific and Spiritual Inquiry (2008)
- Author: George Ellis
- ISBN: 978-0980325812 (Paperback) | 978-0980325836 (eBook)
- Description: Renowned cosmologist George Ellis addresses the perceived conflict between science and religion. He argues that true spirituality and scientific inquiry can coexist, providing intellectual resources to sustain faith amidst doubt. The lecture explores morality, transcendence, and how a scientific worldview can still embrace the mystery of the divine.
