What did the president's Herbert Hoover and Richard Nixon have in common? They were both Quakers, a religion that is a subset of Christianity. Who are the Quakers? The Quakers are members of a denomination that is a subset of Christianity. They are also known as the Religious Society of Friends. Individual members are sometimes known as Friends.
Fig. 1: George Fox Preaching.
Facts About the Quakers
Like other religions, the Quakers have religious beliefs that set them apart from other sects. The section below will explore the ideals that are unique to them.
Quaker
A member of a subset of Christianity.
The Quakers Beliefs
There are two components of the Quaker's beliefs, which are the foundation of their faith.
They include the direct experience of the divine nature of the universe and the belief in continued revelation.
Some other beliefs include:
- the importance of wearing modest clothing
- avoid taking an oath
- condemnation of slavery
- abstain from alcohol
The Direct Experience of the Divine Nature of the Universe
This belief comes from the idea that Quakers, or Friends, can connect with God independently. Friends do not need the assistance of a priest or any other type of clergyman. One does not need to perform a ritual, either. Quakers believe God or the Spirit will speak to you when he is ready.
If Spirit shares a message with you, you should share it with others.
Continued Revelation
Friends believe that God continues to share revelations. Followers should be prepared to receive divine communication at any time. When Friends congregate with one another in religious settings, they sit silently. Sitting in silence allows them to receive revelations from the Spirit.
Other Beliefs
One standout tenet of Quaker beliefs is that there isn't necessarily one way to worship. Another is that their doctrine does not stipulate the correct way to behave or to communicate with God. Lastly, Friends recognize that religious experiences can be personal.
Worship
The two foundational beliefs of the Quaker religion combine to make a personal, inward opportunity for worship.
What does this look like in practice? Well, for one thing, it seems like limiting external distractions. When friends come together to worship, they often do so in silence. There are no clergy members. Anyone can share their revelations.
Did you know? The Quakers shocked everyone when they allowed women to speak during meeting times.
The Quaker History
Who are the Quakers? The Quakers are members of a religion that is a branch of Christianity.
Origins
- Quakerism began in the 17th century under the leadership of George Fox. Fox had been dissatisfied with his religious experience, struggling to worship under the Church of England and disliking the teachings of other denominations. The combination of corruption, formal traditions, and hierarchical structure pushed Fox away from traditional religion.
Fox left home as a young man, looking for a solution to his religious struggles. He was not the only person looking for religious reform in England at the time. Through listening to preachers, attending to the words of laypeople, and reading, he developed some specific ideas about what religion could be.
From this, Fox developed the belief that anyone could communicate like God. He thought God was present in all people, and if you waited long enough for an opening, God would speak to you. He shared his ideas with others, and those who followed him were known as Friends of Truth.
As Fox developed and shared his ideas, religious authorities developed a distaste for him. He was sent to jail and later to trial; he was offered the opportunity to participate in the army but refused.
Fox claimed to experience a religious vision in 1652, which was the beginning of Quakerism. He began preaching to larger and larger groups of people, developing bigger groups of supporters.
Quakers were disliked because they would not swear an oath, pay a tithe, bow, or remove their hat when meeting someone. Despite this, Quakerism began to grow. The network of Friends extended outside of England.
Did you know? The first Quakers to immigrate to America were two women, Ann Austin and Mary Fisher. Shortly after their arrival, they angered the Puritan government. They were jailed for several years before being deported. Afterward, the Massachusetts government later banned Quakers from settling in the colony.
Fig. 2: George Fox.
The Quakers Colony
Quaker missionaries who settled in North America struggled to find their place. They withstood religious persecution in the colonies, primarily 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 substantial debt owed to the Penn family.
William Penn was a Quaker and had been jailed for his beliefs multiple times. He had wanted to use the colonial land to create a haven for other Quakers. It was under his guidance that Pennsylvania became a hotspot of religious freedom.
Penn advertised the new colony as a safe place for Friends and others with similar beliefs.
More than 2000 settlers came to Pennsylvania in 1682. People came from Yorkshire, Wales, and beyond. Eventually, Irish Quakers and German Mennonites came too.
Fig. 3: Portrait of William Penn.
Friends came to Pennsylvania, thankful for a place where they could build a government that reflected their beliefs. When Penn arrived in Pennsylvania in 1682, he called for an assembly to establish a colonial constitution. The constitution laid out personal rights, a criminal code, and more. Religious freedom was to be the norm. Women were allowed more freedom than women in other colonies. The Quakers wanted to protect the rights of indigenous people and frowned upon slavery.
There was generally more freedom for the Quakers in Pennsylvania than in other colonies. Quakers built schools and meeting houses. At one point, Quakers made up half of the population.
While Quakerism continued to be the dominant religion, later generations of Quakers developed a more laid-back approach to their faith. This was often challenged by visiting missionaries.
Quakerism and politics were a complex mix. Public officials were supposed to take public oaths, collect taxes, and support military conflicts. All of these actions went against Quaker's beliefs. Some officials left office, while others left their religion. By 1750, Quakers no longer made up most of the Pennsylvanian government.
Did you know? In addition to supporting indigenous people and abolition, the Quakers were early supporters of women's suffrage. Lucretia Mott and Alice Paul, famous suffragettes, were Quakers.
Fig. 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 worshipping in silence without a priest or pastor, while others have participated in worship services.
Did you know? The Quakers are often confused with other religious groups, such as the Amish and the Shakers.
Fig. 5: Richard Nixon.
Summary
The Quaker religion originated in the 17th century under the leadership of George Fox. Fox was a regular man who struggled with mainstream religion in England. He founded the Religious Society of Friends after finding that others also disagreed with the same aspects of mainstream religion with which he also disagreed.
Fox and his early followers experienced religious persecution. Others agreed with their ideas. As Fox developed and shared his ideas, religious authorities developed a distaste for him. Fox claimed to experience a spiritual vision in 1652, which was the beginning of Quakerism. He began preaching to larger and larger groups of people, developing bigger groups of supporters.
Quakers were disliked because they would not swear an oath, pay a tithe, bow, or remove their hat when meeting someone. Despite this, Quakerism began to grow. The network of Friends extended outside of England.
Some ideas of the Quaker religion include
- God is present in every person
- People do not need a priest to communicate with God
- Religious ceremonies could act as a distraction
- Men and women were spiritually equal
- Importance of pacifism
- The avoidance of honorific titles
The Quaker religion spread with Friends located in a variety of places.
This included the United States, where the first Quakers arrived in the mid-1650s.
The original Quaker missionaries struggled to find their place and were persecuted in the colonies the same way they were persecuted in their countries of origin.
William Penn founded the colony of Pennsylvania in 1682. He was a Quaker who wanted to create a safe place for other Quakers. Penn advertised the new colony as a safe place for Friends and others with similar beliefs. There they built a government that represented them and their beliefs.
Did you know? More than 2000 settlers came to Pennsylvania in 1682.
While Quakers enjoyed the religious freedom that they experienced, they struggled to find their way in government. Public officials were often asked to participate in activities that conflicted with their religious beliefs. In response, Quakers either left the government or their religion.
Quakerism has continued to spread and evolve.
Did you know? Many famous figures have participated in the Quaker religion. This includes Herbert Hoover, Richard Nixon, James Dean, and Judi Dench.
The Quakers - Key takeaways
- The Quakers are a subset of Christianity.
- Quakerism was developed by George Fox, who struggled with the role of mainstream religion.
- Quakers were presecuted by many religious groups.
- Many Quakers settled in William Penn's colony.
- Quakers believe that God is present in every person. People can connect with God on their own, without the influence of a priest or pastor. They view men and women as spiritually equal.
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