Facts, history, summary and beliefs (2023)

What did Herbert Hoover and President Richard Nixon have in common? They were both Quakers, a religion that is part of Christianity. Who are the Quakers? Quakers are members of a denomination that is a subgroup of Christianity. They are also called the Religious Society of Friends. Individual members are also referred to as friends.

FIG. 1: Sermon by George Fox.

Facts about the Quakers

Like other religions, Quakers have religious beliefs that set them apart from other sects. The following section explores the ideals that are unique to them.

The Quakers Beliefs

There are two components of Quaker beliefs which form the basis of their beliefs.

They include the direct experience of the divine nature of the universe and the belief in continuous revelation.

The direct experience of the divine nature of the universe

This belief stems from the idea that Quakers, or friends, can independently connect with God. Friends do not need the help of a priest or any other kind of minister. You don't have to do a single ritual. Quakers believe that God or the Spirit will speak to you when he is ready.

When Spirit shares a message with you, you must share it with others.

The revelation continues

Friends believe that God continues to share revelations. Followers must be ready to receive divine communication at any time. When friends gather in religious settings, they sit still. By sitting in silence, they can receive revelations from the Spirit.

Other beliefs

A striking premise of Quaker beliefs is that there is not necessarily one way of worship. Another is that their doctrine does not prescribe the right way to behave or communicate with God. Finally, friends recognize that religious experiences can be personal.

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The two foundational beliefs of the Quaker religion combine to form a personal, internal opportunity for worship.

What does this look like in practice? First, it appears that you are limiting outside distractions. When friends gather to worship, they often do so in silence. There are no clergy. Anyone can share their revelations.

You knew that? The Quakers shocked everyone when they allowed women to speak during meetings.

The History of the Quakers

Who are the Quakers? Quakers are members of a religion that is a branch of Christianity.

Origin

• Quakerism began in the 17th century under the leadership of George Fox. Fox was dissatisfied with his religious experience, had difficulty worshiping under the Church of England, and disliked the teachings of other denominations. The combination of corruption, formal traditions, and hierarchical structure pushed Fox away from traditional religion.

Fox ran away from home as a young man, seeking a solution to his religious struggle. He was not alone in England at the time in seeking religious reform. By listening to preachers, listening to the words of lay people, and reading, he developed some definite ideas about what religion could be.

As Fox developed and shared his ideas, the religious authorities developed an aversion to him. He was sent to prison and later tried. he was offered the chance to join the army, but declined.

Fox claimed to have experienced a religious vision in 1652, which was the beginning of Quakerism. He began preaching to larger and larger groups of people, resulting in larger and larger groups of followers.

Quakers are disliked because they don't swear, pay tithes, bow, or take off their hats when they meet someone. Nevertheless, Quakerism began to grow. The network of Friends extended beyond England.

You knew that? The first Quakers to immigrate to America were two women, Ann Austin and Mary Fisher. Soon after their arrival, they angered the Puritan government. They spent years in prison before being deported. Following this, the Massachusetts government later banned Quakers from settling in the colony.

Afb. 2: George Fox.

The Quaker Colony

Quaker missionaries who settled in North America struggled to find their place. They resisted religious persecution in the colonies, especially where Puritans had settled. American Quakers were even executed in the 1650s and 1660s.

William Penn founded the colony of Pennsylvania in 1682. King Charles II gave Penn a land grant to pay off a significant debt owed to the Penn family.

William Penn was a Quaker and had been imprisoned several times for his beliefs. He wanted to use the colonial land to create a sanctuary for other Quakers. Under his leadership, Pennsylvania became a religious freedom hotspot.

Penn advertised the new colony as a safe place for friends and others of similar beliefs.

In 1682, more than 2,000 settlers came to Pennsylvania. People came from Yorkshire, Wales and beyond. Eventually Irish Quakers and German Mennonites also arrived.

FIG. 3: Portrait of William Penn.

Friends came to Pennsylvania, grateful for a place where they could build a government that reflected their beliefs. When Penn arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682, he called a convention to draft a colonial constitution. The constitution established personal rights, a criminal code, and more. Religious freedom was to be the norm. Women were given more freedom than women in other colonies. Quakers wanted to protect the rights of the natives and viewed slavery with disapproval.

There was generally more freedom for Quakers in Pennsylvania than in other colonies. Quakers built schools and meeting houses. At one point, Quakers made up half the population.

While Quakerism remained the dominant religion, later generations of Quakers developed a more relaxed approach to their faith. This was often disputed by visiting missionaries.

Quakerism and politics were a complex mixture. Government officials had to take public oaths, collect taxes, and support military conflicts. All of these actions were contrary to Quaker beliefs. Some officials abandoned their posts, while others abandoned their religion. By 1750, Quakers no longer made up the majority of Pennsylvania's government.

You knew that? In addition to supporting indigenization and abolition, Quakers were among the earliest advocates of women's suffrage. Lucretia Mott and Alice Paul, famous suffragettes, were Quakers.

Afb. 4: President Herbert Hoover.

Modern Quakers

There are hundreds of thousands of active Quakers in the world today. Many of them are concentrated on the African continent.

Like many religions, Quakerism has evolved and split into subgroups. Some Quakers have continued to worship silently without a priest or pastor, while others have participated in worship.

You knew that? Quakers are often confused with other religious groups such as the Amish and Shakers.

Afb. 5: Richard Nixon.

resume

The Quaker religion emerged in the 17th century under the leadership of George Fox. Fox was an ordinary man who struggled with the prevailing religion in England. He founded the Religious Society of Friends after discovering that others disagreed with the same aspects of mainstream religion that he disagreed with.