Quakers and the Society of Friends: Who Are They?

The movement was founded in England by George Fox (1624-1691), a nonconformist religious reformer. At the age of 19, he left home searching for answers to questions that had troubled him since his childhood. He looked for guidance from a variety of the country's spiritual leaders, but gradually became disillusioned with those leaders and the existing Christian denominations. He believed that an element of God's spirit is implanted within every person's soul. He decided that the following was logical based on that belief:
- that every man and woman has direct access to God; no churches are needed
- that every person - male or female, slave or free is of equal worth
- that there is no need in one's religious life for elaborate ceremonies, rituals, gowns, etc
- following the inward light would lead to spiritual development and towards individual perfection.

The first Quakers to arrive in America were viewed as heretics in many of the colonies. Many were imprisoned or hung. They found safety in the Rhode Island colony, which had been founded on the principle of religious tolerance. William Penn (1644-1718) and other Quakers played a major role in the creation of the colonies of West Jersey (1675) and Pennsylvania (1682). These colonies were noted for their toleration of minority religious groups.

Other Names for the Quakers
Children of the light
Friends
Friends of the Truth
Religious Society of Friends
Saints
Seekers
Society of Friends
Friends among friends
Publishers of Truth

Beliefs
Quakers can be liberal or conservative so their beliefs vary. Liberal Quakers are what I will be talking about.

The concept of the Inner Light is central to Quaker beliefs
Quakers recognize that there is the potential for good and evil in all of us.
The four main testimonies deal with peace, equality, simplicity and truth. Women are seen as equals of men, homosexuality is not a sin, luxerious possesions are unessacery, violence is always wrong, etc.

Worship

According to wikipedia.com, unprogrammed worship is the more traditional style of worship among Friends and remains the norm in Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and parts of the United States and Canada. During an unprogrammed meeting for worship, Friends gather together in "expectant waiting" for divine leadings. Sometimes a meeting is entirely silent, sometimes quite a few people speak. Meeting for Worship generally lasts about an hour.

Children's Books
The Adventures of Obadiah
Obadiah the Bold
Rachel and Obadiah
Thy Friend, Obadiah

Interesting Fact:
In recent years Friends in Australia, Britain and some meetings in North America have celebrated weddings between members of the same sex.