In 2020, Tim Whitaker started creating Instagram reels responding to the issues he saw in his religious community. Since then, it has grown into a podcast and Facebook group for thousands of people. In his work, he takes on the hypocrisy he saw in the Evangelical church around such issues as the church’s involvement in politics, sexual abuse, racism, misogyny, and lack of inclusion of LGBTQ+  persons. The questions he asked led to him being invited to leave his church even though it meant losing the outlet for his musical gifts.

Even though he was no longer welcome in that in-person spiritual community, he ended up building another community, a much broader community, one which is helping people deal with the questioning of their religious faith.  

The Plainfield Quaker religious congregation is pleased to provide a space for these in-person spiritual conversations. Beginning on April 23, they will host a series of events on the second and fourth Sundays of the month which will be focused on the big questions of the day, such as who God is, the problem of evil and the inerrancy of the Bible.  A light lunch will be provided, with the program following at 1pm. Tim will be kicking off the first of this series of events, which will focus on the process of questioning your faith. There is no cost to attend, but donations are accepted. 

Quakerism was founded in the 1650s in England following the English Civil Wars, wars fought over religious issues. Quakers began as seekers and developed their own faith based on the idea that God is present in our everyday lives and can be found in the Inner Light inside each person. 

Location:  225 Watchung Ave., Plainfield. For more information, visit PlainfieldQuakers.org. To register, see eventbrite.com/e/wrestling-with-faith-a-forum-for-spiritual-seekers-tickets-532228458647. See ad, page 9.