Expert: David Spector - 12/1/2004

Question
My name is Alyson and I'm a freshman at college this year. I have been doing quite alot of research on the Quaker religion for my research paper. I am very interested in the Quaker society and their views, but I need a little help clearing up a few things. I have been comparing the Quaker society to a utopian society and so far I have come up with a few ideas.
1. Quaker belief in equality
2. Quaker Peacefulness
3. Plain dress and speech
The only problem I am having is understanding the Quaker religion practices and beliefs. Since they are a noncredal denomination and have no official beliefs, what do their rules fall under? I would call their plain dress and speech a rule that they must all follow, or another example of not allowing slavery? I am focusing my research project mainly on Quaker History, not so much with Quaker today. Thank you so much for your help!

Answer
Alyson , Thank you for your question.

Since you ask such a general, open-ended question, I will give you a general answer. Feel free to resubmit with further, more specific questions.

Quakerism started with George Fox in England in 1647, but did not get formally established until 1652. The latter date is generally accepted as the founding date of the movement that would become the Religious Society of Friends and the current Religious Society of Friends. In 1652 it was known as the Friends of the Truth.

Fox's preaching included the centrality of the Bible and Jesus Christ, but viewed these in a very different way. He preached the revolutionary idea that each person can enter into communion with God without needing any intermediary. This was to be an experience, not a contemplation or intellectualization.

This new religion was generally hated and feared, and there were many Quaker martyrs.

Quakerism has changed much since those early days, and now there is much less emphasis on discipline and the role of Jesus Christ.

In some Quaker Meetings (churches) the minister is paid to preach, but is not considered the central authority. That role is always held by the Meeting as a whole. In many Quaker Meetings there is no minister at all; these are called Unprogrammed Meetings, and are distinctive to Quakerism.

In a Meeting For Worship people sit in silence for about an hour. They open themselves for religious experience, in the expectation that God will overtake their individuality. If anyone feels a leading from God to speak, they stand and speak. The Meeting For Worship ends with everyone shaking hands with their neighbors (fellowship is an important element of Quaker life).

Unprogrammed Meetings can be very accepting of different spiritual paths. In my Meeting, for example, there is an active Jewish Quakers group that supports Jewish religious thought and celebrates its holidays. There are also subgroups of Buddhists and Nontheists. Minorities such as African-Americans and Gays and Lesbians are welcome and are an integral part of our community. This openness is quite different from the churches of the Christian sects.

There are almost as many sets of Quaker religious beliefs as there are Quakers. This is different from most other religions and results from the Quaker emphasis on direct experience of God and following God's leadings. There is no book, not even the Bible, that tells a Quaker what to do or how to live; these things come from the Spirit.

However, there are some beliefs (testimonies) that are considered universal among Quakers. These include:

* Simplicity
* Honesty, integrity, not taking oaths
* Peace, justice, and civil rights
* Fellowship and community

David Spector