Who are the Quakers?
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- Quaker Values
- Quaker History
- FAQs about Quakers
Quaker Values
concern held by Friends is that one's outward life needs to bear witness to the truth discerned inwardly. Four main inter-connected testimonies are:
EQUALITY. There is that of God in each person and each has opportunities to express that divinity.
INTEGRITY (TRUTH). A person needs to be truly in harmony with oneself and to be whole spiritually one needs to live one's beliefs.
PEACE. The basic testimony shows both a positive concern towards taking away the occasion of all wars and the commitment to non-violence in resolving all matters of conflict.
SIMPLICITY. Simplicity is a commitment to living simply so that others may simply live; avoiding all excess; living intentionally and with restraint; and, living a life true to one's beliefs.
(adapted from "QUAKERISM - a religion meaningful for today's world," Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 1994).
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Quaker History
FAQs about Quakers
Q: What do Quakers believe?
A: Quakers have no set creed or dogma – that
means we do not have any declared statements which you have to
believe to be a Quaker. There are, however, some commonly held views
which unite us. One accepted view is that there is that of God (or
the spirit or divine) in all people and that each human being is of
unique worth. This shared belief leads Quakers to value all people
and to oppose anything that harms or threatens them.
Q: Are all Quakers Christian?
A: Quakerism started in England in the 1650s so
there’s no doubt that Quakerism is rooted in Christianity and many
Quakers centre their faith on Jesus. On the other hand, some Quakers
find that traditional religious language doesn’t describe their
inner experiences, and they look both within Christianity and within
other faiths and philosophies. The Society appears very different
from any other Christian group, without the usual priests or creeds
and with a distinctive worship based on silence.
Q: Are all Quakers Pacifists?
A: In 1660 Quakers said "We utterly deny all
outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any
end or under any pretence whatsoever, and this is our testimony to
the whole world." Not all Quakers call themselves pacifists, though
most do, but we are all trying to live in a more loving, caring and
non-violent way
Q: What Happens in a Meeting for
Worship?
A: Quakers think that everyone can have a direct
relationship or "communion" with God. We find that this communion
can best be experienced if we meet in silence, with nothing
pre-planned. Meeting for Worship couldn’t be simpler: you go in and
sit down in a plain room with other Quakers and settle into silence,
a silence which can become very deep and powerful. After a time,
someone may feel inspired to stand up and speak briefly in their own
words, or pray, or read from the Bible or some other book, before
the meeting settles back into silent waiting. A Meeting for Worship
usually lasts an hour.
Q: What Do Quakers Think About
Homosexuality?
A: Quakers were one of the first churches to talk
openly about sexuality. Since we try to live our lives respecting
"that of God" in everyone we would want to treat all people equally.
We feel that the quality and depth of feeling between two people is
the most important part of a loving relationship, not their gender
or sexual orientation
Q: What Are Quakers Doing To Change The
World?
A: Quakers are active in the fields of peace,
justice, world development, education, homelessness, prison reform
and working to challenge prejudice in whatever form it occurs. In
the past Quakers were involved in founding both Amnesty
International and Oxfam, which have grown into international
campaigning organizations. Today we are involved in "Circles of
support and accountability" which aims to help released sex
offenders not to reoffend and integrate healthily into society and
lobbying of the U.N. on the introduction of a ban on child soldiers.
We hope these projects will, in the future, inspire others into
taking action.