Many of us are now spending a lot more time at home and we may be seeking new forms of entertainment to pass the time. Friends may be interested in trying out a cooperative card game developed in 2006 by John Gastil, a Seattle Friend who also happens to be an expert on deliberative group processes. The game, which requires only the use of a regular deck of playing cards and the attached instructions, is full of Quaker culture references. It is called “Friendlier than Thou.” Here’s the description:

The setting is 19th century America, and the 2-4 players in this card game represent a newly formed Monthly Meeting. Your Meeting’s goal is to lead a proper Quaker life and impress your skeptical peers in the larger Yearly Meeting. The members of a sound Monthly Meeting seek a balance among four virtues: community (represented by clubs), clearness (represented by diamonds), love (represented by hearts), and good works (represented by spades). Also, because a Monthly Meeting is only as strong as its weakest links, your new Meeting will be judged based upon the performance of its most dubious member.

You can get the instructions here.

Perhaps some bold modern friends might even figure out how to play the game remotely using an online card deck such as Deck of Cards.