What Do Quakers Believe?
The links below on this page will connect you with some descriptions of Quaker beliefs as expressed by different branches of the Society of Friends.
It is difficult to write a description of Friends beliefs that would be acceptable to all the Quakers in the world today. Quakers all share common roots in a Christian movement that arose in England in the middle of the 17th Century. Today, it is generally true that Friends still adhere to certain essential principles:
- a belief in the possibility of direct, unmediated communion with the Divine (historically expressed by George Fox in the statement, "Christ is come to teach his people himself"); and
- a commitment to living lives that outwardly attest to this inward experience.
Nonetheless, modern Friends exhibit significant variations in the ways we interpret our traditions and practice our beliefs.
Nowhere are these differences more marked than in the United States which contains four distinct branches of Friends. In worship, some Friends still practice unprogrammed "silent" meetings with no formal minister or liturgy, while other Quakers now have programmed services led by a pastor, similar to many Protestant denominations. In belief, some Friends place most emphasis on the teachings of Christian Scripture, while others give greater emphasis to the importance of the Inward Teacher ("that of God in everyone"), allowing for a wide range of religious perspectives. For more information, see branches.
For many Friends (especially the unprogrammed, "liberal" branch) it is not important that we all have similar beliefs. These Friends would say that is not one's beliefs that make one a Quaker. Rather, it is participation in Friends community, the deep search for Divine Guidance, and the attempt to live faithfully in harmony with that Guidance that make a person a Quaker.
| The lack of a creed or clear description of Quaker beliefs has sometimes led to the misconception that Friends do not have beliefs or that one can believe anything and be a Friend. Most Quakers take the absence of a creed as an invitation and encouragement to exercise an extra measure of personal responsibility for the understanding and articulation of Quaker faith. Rather than rely on priests or professional theologians, each believer is encouraged to take seriously the personal disciplines associated with spiritual growth. Out of lives of reflection, prayer, faithfulness, and service flow the statements of belief, both in word and in deed. --from Pacific Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice |
For some samples of more detailed statements about Quaker beliefs, please look at the following statements which come from a variety of Friends traditions:
Meeting the Spirit: An Introduction to Quaker Beliefs and Practices. Published by Friends World Committee for Consultation, this document gives an overview of Quakerism that attempts to cover all branches of Friends. The perspective is British.
Quaker Beliefs. A short overview from Midlothian Friends Meeting (liberal).
Friendly Answers to Your Questions About Quakers. By Orange County Friends Meeting in Santa Ana, California. Material from Friends World Committee adapted by a liberal Friends meeting. There are many other helpful links at this meeting's website.)
Quakerism: A Religion Meaningful for Today's World. By the Outreach Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, a liberal Friends perspective.
What do Friends Believe? By Ted Hoare, Australia Yearly Meeting (liberal).
What We Believe. From Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative).
You Are Welcome Among Friends. From Friends United Meeting (an organization which affiliates pastoral and unprogrammed Friends in Christ-centered outreach).
Frequently Asked Questions, also from Friends United Meeting.
The Christian Faith of Friends. From Friends United Meeting (see above).
The Richmond Declaration of Faith. An 1887 document that has continued to be of significance to many Friends of the pastoral, Scripture-based tradition.
What Friends Believe from Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends (evangelical).
Statement of Faith of Evangelical Friends Mission.
First Principles for Purposeful Ministry in the Evangelical Friends Church.