Quakers
- Quakers are also known as the religious society of friends, members referring to each other simply as 'friends'.
- The group was founded in England in 1652 by a guy named George Fox who was unimpressed with the Puritans and other Christian groups who were popular at the time.
- Other famous Quakers include William Penn. In 1681, King Charles II owed William's dad a huge debt and repaid him with a large piece of North American land. Will decided to use it to establish a colony that guaranteed religious freedom to all those who lived there. He called it Pennsylvania.
- The group was founded in England in 1652 by a guy named George Fox who was unimpressed with the Puritans and other Christian groups who were popular at the time.
- Other famous Quakers include William Penn. In 1681, King Charles II owed William's dad a huge debt and repaid him with a large piece of North American land. Will decided to use it to establish a colony that guaranteed religious freedom to all those who lived there. He called it Pennsylvania.
- These old school colonial Quakers were very good to the Native Americans and tried to live among them in peace, a statement which unfortunately can't be said for all early settlers.
- Many of the early suffragist movement leaders in America were Quakers.
- They were very anti-slavery and had a huge part in the formation of the underground railroad.
- They believe everyone has an 'inner light' which is the pressence of God in each of us. Therefore we all have direct access to God. Soul- searching is a very important part of the faith.
- Because of this direct access, the Quakers reasoned that there was no need for dogma or even a church in traditional terms. Quakers don't declare any creed or participate in any set rituals. They are one of the least ritualized religions, and like to keep it between them and God.
- What they usually do is gather in a 'meeting house' rather than a church where everybody sits in silence until someone is inspired to say something, receives a message from God, or sings a hymn but nothing is planned per say. These meetings to seek and experience God are essential to the Quaker faith and anyone can attend them.
- Many of the early suffragist movement leaders in America were Quakers.
- They were very anti-slavery and had a huge part in the formation of the underground railroad.
- They believe everyone has an 'inner light' which is the pressence of God in each of us. Therefore we all have direct access to God. Soul- searching is a very important part of the faith.
- Because of this direct access, the Quakers reasoned that there was no need for dogma or even a church in traditional terms. Quakers don't declare any creed or participate in any set rituals. They are one of the least ritualized religions, and like to keep it between them and God.
- What they usually do is gather in a 'meeting house' rather than a church where everybody sits in silence until someone is inspired to say something, receives a message from God, or sings a hymn but nothing is planned per say. These meetings to seek and experience God are essential to the Quaker faith and anyone can attend them.
- They wear simple clothing and in the old days used terms like thee and thou.
- Quakers have always had an intense concern for other people and did work to end poverty and slavery, as well as improve conditions of mental health asylums and prisons. In 1947 they were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
- They refuse to take oaths. There is no need because they never lie.
- Very few believe in hell. Life is sacred and they often make no distinction between daily life and religious life, everything is spiritual to them.
- Believe in the "Inward baptism of the Holy Spirit", so traditional Baptism in the usual sense isn't practiced.
- Quakers have always had an intense concern for other people and did work to end poverty and slavery, as well as improve conditions of mental health asylums and prisons. In 1947 they were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
- They refuse to take oaths. There is no need because they never lie.
- Very few believe in hell. Life is sacred and they often make no distinction between daily life and religious life, everything is spiritual to them.
- Believe in the "Inward baptism of the Holy Spirit", so traditional Baptism in the usual sense isn't practiced.