At all times insightful, engaging, this dutifully constructed book - and one brought forth by himself a gay Christian Quaker - not only invites, nay challenges us to delve deeper into what it means to be a Quaker, but shines a beautifully fundamental light on that fact that, in the main, life is good, and that an essential clue to its real nature is to be glimpsed in the love that people have for one another. ~ Anne Carlini - Exclusive Magazine , Full Review - https://annecarlini.com/ex_books.php?id=732

Although Mark Russ wrote the chapters of The Spirit of Freedom over a period of more than ten years, the book has a natural flow. It's coherent and compelling. His voice is always empowering, never shaming. He honors his own central query for doing theological work: "Does our God-talk help us to flourish, or does it diminish us?" I believe this book will help us flourish—and it makes the hard work that this will require seem very worthwhile. ~ Johan Maurer (Reviewer), https://blog.canyoubelieve.me/2024/11/the-spirit-of-freedom.html

Mark Russ’s engaging and idiosyncratic blog has become a book, and it's a delight to revisit these pieces again. They cohere perfectly into a Quaker handbook that has as much to offer newcomers as it has to seasoned Friends. Original, insightful, and beautifully written, this book has all the hallmarks of an instant classic. ~ Geoffrey Durham, author of What Do Quakers Believe?, Being a Quaker and The Spirit of the Quakers

'The Spirit of Freedom' is a rich and stimulating book that expresses the best of the Quaker spirit: a listening spirit, open to difference and to change. In this book Mark Russ offers an extraordinarily wide-ranging exploration of key Quaker, Christian and human concepts. He brings fresh, and refreshing, insights to some of the much-loved Quaker ‘Advices and Queries’ and talks of the need to ask better questions; of God as relationship; of the different kinds of silence; of evil. Wearing his learning lightly, Mark uses Biblical and historical references, but the strength of the book is its reliance on his own experience and insights. His very personal approach, as a gay Christian Quaker, invites and challenges each of us as unique human beings to allow the Light to shine on our own failings, find our own ministry, and express it in our worship and daily life. ~ Jennifer Kavanagh, author of Practical Mystics, The World is our Cloister, A Little Book of Unknowing etc.

In 'The Spirit of Freedom' Mark Russ invites readers on a profound theological journey that blends Quaker wisdom with a modern and diverse perspective. His insightful essays, collected from years of thoughtful blogging, explore the essence of Quakerism rooted in Christianity, drawing inspiration from the life and teachings of Jesus. Through engaging reflections, Mark challenges and inspires readers to embrace love in action, obedience to God, and a deeper understanding of our Quaker heritage. This remarkable work promises to enrich the Quaker community and beyond. ~ Peterson Toscano, Queer, Quaker Bible Scholar, Activist, and host of Quakers Today podcast

‘What helps nourish us as a people of the Light? What helps us bear witness to the reign of the Spirit of Freedom?’ In this fascinating book, Mark Russ offers us insightful explorations into Quaker theological ideas. He tenderly unpicks much-quoted Quaker writings and ‘beliefs’, nudging us to take them further. Is our understanding as clear as it could be? Is there more that could help us on our spiritual way? Here is an inspiring must-read for all those who want to delve into what it means to be a Quaker today and it is sure to prompt many challenging, deep and enjoyable discussions, both between individuals and within the self. In this process we can ‘… become aware of God … to find our rightful place in the cosmos, allowing ourselves to be led further and further into Love.’ ~ Joanna Godfrey Wood, author of Travelling in the Light, In STEP with Testimony, In Search of Stillness, and In Search of Hope

‘The Spirit of Freedom’ is an exciting collection of ‘unsystematic theology,’ perfect for daily readings, weekly devotional reflections, or joyful group discussion. With this complimentary volume to his superb ‘Quaker-shaped Christianity,’ Mark has enacted a great service to those wishing to explore or to deepen their Quaker faith. ~ Ben Pink Dandelion, Professor of Quaker Studies at the University of Birmingham, author of Open for Transformation

Mark Russ is an authentic Quaker teacher and prophet. He reveals the best of our religious tradition, reshaped by the collision with the urgent challenges of our times. This is a book to be meditated on and wrestled with. Thoughtful, moving and provocative, The Spirit of Freedom presents a radical, inclusive vision of the Christian Quaker Way. ~ Craig Barnett, author of The Guided Life

In this fascinating little book, Mark Russ models a way of doing Quaker-shaped Christian theology that succeeds in being both scholarly and accessible. Whether unpacking the theology implicit within Advices and Queries, gently challenging Friends about their ways, or grappling with issues of oppression and liberation, he demonstrates that thinking theologically about such matters can help rather than hinder us in acting with justice and compassion. ~ Stuart Masters, Programme Coordinator (History and Theology) at Woodbrooke, and author of The Rule of Christ: Themes in the Theology of James Nayler.