What is quaker?

[Sarah Wilson]

Hi I am just curious if anyone knows anything about Quakers and what they believe, esp. if they are really Christians etc.

[Sing4Him]

[edit] Experiencing God:tsk
George Fox and the other early Quakers believed that direct experience of God was available to all people, without mediation (e.g. through hired clergy, or through outward sacraments). Fox described this by writing that "Christ has come to teach His people Himself." [8]

Modern Friends often express this belief in many ways, including the attitude of trying to see "that of God in everyone"; finding and relating to "the Inner light", "the inward Christ", or "the spirit of Christ within.":tsk Early Friends more often used terms such as "Truth", "the Seed", and "the Pure Principle", from the principle that each person would be transformed as Christ formed and grew in them. The ability to "see the light" or see "that of God in everyone" enables Quakers to cast aside more superficial differences and focus on the spiritual elements which connect all people.

Since Friends believe that each contains God, :tskmuch of the Quaker perspective is based on trying to hear God and to allow God's Spirit free action in the heart. Isaac Penington wrote in 1670: "It is not enough to hear of Christ, or read of Christ, but this is the thing - to feel him my root, my life, my foundation..."[9]:tsk


[edit] Mysticism:fear
Quakerism is often termed a mystical religion because of its emphasis on the personal experience of God. But at first glance it differs from other mystical religions in at least two important ways:

First, Quaker mysticism is primarily group-oriented rather than focused on the individual. The Friends' traditional meeting for worship (see Unprogrammed worship below) may be considered an expression of that group mysticism, where all the members of the meeting listen together for the Spirit of God, speaking when that Spirit moves them. On the other hand it is also possible to consider the Quakers as a special kind of religious order (like the Franciscans, who also practise group mysticism), living the mystic and monastic tradition in their own way. For example this idea is represented by the Anglican minister and Quaker, Paul Oestreicher, who gave the Cary Lecture at Germany Yearly Meeting in 1991.

Second, Quaker mysticism as it has been expressed after the late 19th century includes a strong emphasis on its outwardly-directed witness. Rather than seeking withdrawal from the world, the Quaker mystic translates his or her mysticism into action. They believe this action leads to greater spiritual understanding - both by individuals and by the Meeting as a whole. On the other side it´s also possible to consider the Quakers as a kind of humanistic religion in the sense of Erich Fromm. In this view mysticism includes social and political activities. For instance the German quaker Heinz Röhr, who held the Cary Lecture in 1992, saw himself as a Friend between Marx and mysticism.


[edit] The Bible
Early Friends rejected the mainstream Protestant idea of sola scriptura, that the Bible is God's written word and therefore self-authenticating, clear and its own interpreter; instead, they believed that Christ, instead of the Bible, is the Word of God. Robert Barclay wrote in his Apology that the scriptures "are only a declaration of the fountain, and not the fountain itself, therefore they are not to be esteemed the principal ground of all Truth and knowledge, nor yet the adequate primary rule of faith and manners".[10] Similarly, George Fox recounted an incident in his Journal in which a minister claimed that the scriptures were authoritative, Fox "...was commanded to tell them God did not dwell in temples made with hands. But I told them what it was, namely, the Holy Spirit, by which the holy men of God gave forth the scriptures, whereby opinions, religions and judgements were to be tried; for it led into all Truth, and so gave the knowledge of all Truth".[11]

Early Friends believed that Christ would never lead them in ways that contradicted the Bible; this belief prevented conflicts between Friends' leadings and their understanding of the Bible.

As time passed, conflicts between what the Bible appeared to teach and how many Friends believed they were being led by the Spirit began to arise. Some Friends decided that in these cases the Bible should be authoritative. Today Evangelical Friends believe the Bible is authoritative, for the Bible was inspired by God's Spirit and this belief is affirmed in the Richmond Declaration.

Other Friends, partly under the influence of movements such as liberal Protestantism, decided that it was possible to be truly led in ways contrary to scripture, and that in such cases scripture should give way. Still other Friends rejected (or neglected) the Bible altogether; hence in many liberal Friends meetings one might encounter non-Christian Friends or those who question some or all of the traditional doctrines of Christianity. In nearly all cases, modern Friends believe in the necessity of being continually guided by God. Divine revelation is therefore not restricted to the Bible, but rather continues even today; this doctrine is known as continuing revelation.:tsk

A common set of practices emerged which spoke of key principles and beliefs held by Friends. These are "Testimonies", for Friends believe these important principles and practices should be expressed (testified as truth) among Friends as well as to others, in both words and deeds. (see Testimonies for a list and description of several testimonies.) Rooted in the immediate experience of the community of Friends, for many Friends these values are verified by the Bible, especially in the life and teachings of Jesus.


[edit] Creeds
Generally, Quakerism has had no creed. George Fox dismissed theologians as "notionists", and modern Quakers are generally little concerned with theology, and are more concerned with acting in accord with the leading of the Spirit. Quakers have historically expressed a preference for understanding coming from God's Spirit over the knowledge derived from objective logic or systematic theology.[12] Eschewing notions of "authoritative" doctrines, diverse statements of "Faith and Practice" and diverse understandings of the "leading of the spirit" have always existed among Friends. The leading to lay down all sense of authoritative theology (notions thereof) results in broad tolerance within the Society for earnest expressions of "the light within".

Most Friends believe a formal creed would be an obstacle - both to authentic listening and to the recognition of new insight. On the other hand, some Friends have enumerated and subscribed to a set of doctrines, such as the Richmond Declaration or the "Beliefs of Friends" stated by Evangelical Friends International, which are comparable to mainstream Protestant confessions of faith.

Robert Griswold's pamphlet on this subject expounds Friends' historic witness against creeds - not just as a principle of individual religious integrity, but as an implied statement that Friends, having encountered and experienced God, found creeds not just pernicious, but irrelevant.[13] Doctrinal statements which seek to objectify deity fail to communicate the essence of the "holy spirit", "inner light", or "that of God within us", that "speaks to us" and can also compel "witness".:tsk

As a public statement of faith, many Yearly Meetings publish their own version of a book often called Quaker Faith and Practice which expresses their sense of truth and purpose; these documents are generally revised every few years.


[edit] Sacraments
Early Friends did not believe in the reliance upon practice of the outward rites and sacraments, believing that holiness can exist in all the activities of one's life - all of life is sacred. They experienced baptism by the Holy Spirit as an inward, transforming experience and knew communion with Christ in the midst of gathered worship in the expectant silence. Thus they did not perform baptism as a rite of membership. These Friends also believed that any meal with others could be a form of communion.

At various times some individuals or small groups of Friends have published corrective cautions against adopting the prohibition of some rite as itself being creedal. The focus should be upon God as Present Teacher, rather than on some human ritual, or the absence of a ritual. Most Friends therefore do not prohibit rites or ceremonies, but they do counsel against allowing these human inventions to take the place of direct experience and leading by God.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker




Religious Society of Friends. More commonly known as Quakers, they are considered a Christian sect or cult depending on the branch. The three branches are Conservative Friends (sect), Evangelical Friends (sect), and Liberal Friends (Christian cult). Actual ratings for the different branches vary. See the individual listings for more information on the differences. It is generally accepted that the Religious Society of Friends was founded in 1652 by George Fox. Members are strongly opposed to violence. Meetings for worship are characterised by extended periods of complete silence - sometimes with whole meetings in silence. Perhaps ironically George Fox was imprisoned in 1649 for interrupting a church service. Apparently if he had waited until the end everything would have been fine. He was in prison again in 1651 (under a 1648 blasphemy law), and from 1664 to 1666. (He was imprisoned a total of eight times, most often for refusing to join the army.) Quaker classic literature (that most modern Quakers haven't read) includes No Cross, No Crown by William Penn, The Apology by Robert Barclay, and The Inward Journey by Isaac Penington.http://www.cults.co.nz/r.php#quakers





Richard Foster :tsk and Quaker Inner Light-->http://www.apprising.org/archives/2006/09/richard_foster_2.html

http://www.seekgod.ca/quakers.htm

Protestant No More:Willow Creek Infiltrated by a Mystic Quaker Movement Called Renovare-->http://www.cephas-library.com/renovare_willow_creek.html




Contemplative Spirituality.

I would consider this to be a cult.

[UNeverEverNo]

During the formation of the U.S. Colonies, the Quakers were one of the main groups of settlers in eastern Pennsylvania (including Philadelphia).

[BornAgain123]

Richard Nixon came from a Quaker family-does anyone know which sect he came from?

Of course, he was close with Billy Graham.

[Kamatu]

S4H, do you consider all Quakers a cult of contemplative spirituality or just some branches of them?

[lisaann]

We have friends who are Quaker and I see very little Spiritual Fruit from any of them.

[Sing4Him]

S4H, do you consider all Quakers a cult of contemplative spirituality or just some branches of them?

:nod

[Sing4Him]

If it's not scripturally based, it's not o.k. with God or believers.

[Kamatu]

:nod

Thanks, I skipped over to the wiki entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker) and you are correct for the most part, to the extent that I'd be very leery of any of them. The historical (pre-1800) Quakers appear to be no worse than heterodox and I hadn't referenced them in my studies any later than that. Interesting the series of splits in the mid-1800s and beyond into more and more universalist teachings. Typically, the authority of Scripture seems to be the basis of most of the splits.

It appears to be entirely possible to find Quakers who would not be heretical, but you would have to check each individual meeting (or person) and I don't think it is likely from the skim I gave it.


The name "Quaker" was first used in 1650, when George Fox was brought before Justice Bennet of Derby on a charge of blasphemy. According to Fox's journal, Bennet "called us Quakers because we bid them tremble at the word of God"[22], a scriptural reference (e.g., Isaiah 66:2, Ezra 9:4). Therefore, what began apparently as a way to make fun of Fox's admonition by those outside the Society of Friends became a nickname that even Friends use for themselves.

The "Inner Light" thing was always there, but early on as a reference to the idea of the indwelling Spirit of each believer. Yes, "Inner Light" is a New Age type of term, but the New Age is nothing new, it is simply the theft of a whole bunch of old stuff and slapping it together. Interesting reference:

Clearness
a process undergone to discern the true leading of the Spirit of God, especially in ambiguous or complicated situations. Friends often work with clearness committees when struggling with a difficult issue.

Heh, how much do you want to bet that L Ron was familiar with that?

[Spud]

Quaker: Old looking fellow on an oatmeal box