AboutDavid Spector Expertise I can answer questions about Quakerism and the Religious Society of Friends from a Universalist (non-Evangelical, unprogrammed) point of view, particularly questions about Quaker religious practice.
Experience I have been a practicing Friend since approximately 1998 and have been active in attending and helping to organize Friends' activities, such as retreats run by our Meeting.
Organizations I belong to I am a member of Friends Meeting at Cambridge (Massachusetts, USA).
Expert: David Spector Date: 4/10/2008 Subject: Religion
Question Who are the Puritans and Quakers?
Answer Boby,
The Quakers arose in Puritan England in the period of 1652-1656. They were a reaction to the perceived stagnation of the established forms of Puritan religion of the day as well as a result of the charismatic influence of their founder, George Fox (1624-1691). He discovered through his own personal Christian spiritual journey that Christ can be found easily inside us, as the Inner Light.
Of course, modern Quakers have embraced a somewhat more Universalist approach, and in addition to 'programmed' Quaker churches throughout the world there now exist many 'unprogrammed' Meetings, especially in England and New England. These Meetings are open to people of many religious understandings. My own Meeting (in Cambridge, Massachusetts) has an active Jewish Quakers group, and welcomes people like me who are Nontheist Quakers.
The first Quakers called themselves "people of God", "children of the Light", "Publishers of Truth", and eventually "Friends", the "Society of Friends", and "The Religious Society of Friends".
There are some great descriptions of Quaker religion and history on the Web, and I would encourage you to do a Web search.
