Beyond Majority Rule: Voteless Decisions in the Religious Society of Friends [Paperback]

Michael J. Sheeran (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 153 pages
• Publisher: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Religious Society of Friends; New edition edition (December 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941308049
• ISBN-13: 978-0941308045
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #606,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Consensus decision-making processes - Quakers, January 12, 2004

By 

Scott MacLeod (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Majority Rule: Voteless Decisions in the Religious Society of Friends (Paperback)

Well-written examination of how and why consensus works among the Society of Friends (Quakers) in Meeting for Business, both historically and in the present. Applicable to many other groups and institutions. A fascinating read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not quite consensus..., May 30, 2005

By 

Quaker Annie "reader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Majority Rule: Voteless Decisions in the Religious Society of Friends (Paperback)

This book is about Quaker decision-making, but the use of the secularly familiar word "consensus" in the previous review may be misleading. Sheeran examines and explores in great depth how Friends come to make decisions.

Both simple and complicated, the process comes out of a history and practice based on spirit-led decision making.

The book can explain far better than I what the process is, how it can work amazingly well, how it may sometimes fail. The decision-making process among Friends is what 'hooked' me to keep coming to meetings, especially decision-making meetings (Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business). When it works it is an awe-filled experience. When it doesn't, the results of the decision often crumble.

An excellent book for new clerks and newcomers, as well as a reminder to Friends who may be tempted to fall back on the corporate or secular world's way of finding consensus.