The following short podcast from Ancestral Findings, a genealogy group, that has a short history of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
Quakerism is simplistic Christianity based upon the idea that a personal and
intimate God desires to reconcile fallen humanity to Him through Jesus Christ.
Through Christ's victory over death on the cross, every person has the choice
to enter into relationship with God. With this reconciliation and relationship
comes a calling to live lives that are based upon the Bible and God's still
voice in our hearts. The early Friends were the first denomination to oppose
slavery as a united body and to allow women and even youths to speak at meeting and preach the Word of Christ as equals. Early Friends in America were slave-owners, but due to the convictions of John Woolman, eventually gave up the practice and worked diligently to end it. They also played a
vital role in establishing values of equality and justice in colonial
America. At one time, the simple life was stressed in dress and speech. Friends addressed each other with the first non-binding pronouns in Thee and Thou. They also went so far as to actively disavow the use of paganist terms of the days of the week and used First Day, Second Day, etc. instead of Monday, Tuesday, etc. These practices faded in the first half of the twentieth century.
Because Friends believe that God is immediately present, they seek to live their lives in such a way that points to Him. The ultimate sign of a Christian life is a life radically committed to God with compassion and conviction. There is a Gospel-centered focus with the early Friends, but what makes them unique is that they treat God as if He is present. Quakers certainly were not perfect, and have gone through society upheavals and schisms as a denomination, even practicing a type of shunning for those marrying outside the faith or who leave the faith. Friends suffered national and international schisms much as other denominations. Those harsh practices are behind us. Today, there exists a progressive side, Friends General Conference, and a Christ-centered side, Friends United Meeting, which respectfully recognize each other. Friends worship is varied according to meeting. Some congregations are "unprogrammed" which mean the congregants come together without advanced schedule in the service, while other meetings are "programmed," and have a pastor who gives a message, hymns, and times of prayer. While in general Friends do not recite creeds, rote prayer, or use traditional sacraments in worship, instead following Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Communion through Open Worship, some Friends congregation practice these things without prejudice.
The Friends get their name from John 15:14 in which Jesus says, "You are
My friends if you do what I command you." The term "Quaker" came
about as an intended slur when an English judge noticed that Friends would
"quake" with religious ecstasy before God and Scriptures.
While there are many Christian traditions that ultimately point to the truth of the saving grace of Christ, Quakerism provides a path for people who seek God as a Presence in their own lives and a faith that grows with them. Because of its humble beginnings, there is an emphasis that all are equal in the Kingdom of Heaven.
We are Christian first and foremost in our expression, but we value the Quaker
path because of its simplicity and conviction. We welcome you to come and
experience the Friends tradition for yourself as well.
You have a friend.
