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Tangled roots: personal reflections on the Swarthmore Lecture
Updated 22 May 2026
In the recent Swarthmore lecture, I explored how the complex mix of characteristics visible in the early Quaker movement continue to present us with important challenges and dilemmas today. In doing this, I didn't really talk about my personal response to these issues. However, in the book to accompany the lecture, I offer a number of personal reflections. In this blog, I will touch on some of these observations and share four short passages from the book, in the hope that this will encourage reflection not only about how the lecture relates to the Quaker way generally, but also to our individual experiences as Friends.
Tangled roots: personal reflections on the Swarthmore Lecture
