What Do Quakers Believe?

Quakers all share common roots in a Christian movement that arose in England in the middle of the 17th Century.   Quakerism is at once a persona lfaith and a shared faith in that we seek for and respect the Divine spark (the "inner light" )  that is within each person and at the same time participate in that search as a community of seekers.  Today, it is generally true that Friends 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");
• a belief in continuing revelation, that the Divine spirit lives with us, calls us into relationship with the spirit and each other and continues to reveal new truths to us;

• 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.   In belief, some Friends place 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.    In corporate worship, many Friends practice unprogrammed  or "silent" meetings with no formal minister or liturgy, while other Quakers hold programmed services led by a pastor, similar to many Protestant denominations. 

The lack of a formal creed statement 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.   That is not the case.   Most Quakers take the absence of a formal creed as an invitation and encouragement to exercise personal responsibility for developing, understanding and articulating 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 our statements of belief in both word and deed.

For many Friends it is not significant that all adhere to the same beliefs.  In fact, it is our diversity of beliefs that enables continuing revelation to occur.  Friends would say that is not one's beliefs that make one a Quaker.  Rather, it is participation in Friends community in mutual search for Divine guidance, and the attempt to live faithfully in harmony with that guidance that make a person a Quaker.

Meetings comprising Philadelphia Yearly Meeting are generally considered "unprogrammed" meetings in that our corporate worship is held with no formal minister or liturgy.   Weekly meetings for worship begin in silence as we settle into expectant waiting.  Sometimes one or more Friends may rise to offer verbal ministry during our worship; other times the entire meeting for worship may be held in silence alone.   But whether the meeting is held in silence or not, we gather to share our experience of worshiping together in communion with each other and the Divine.

Additional information is offered in these further readings:

• Friends Spiritual Message, by Howard Brinton
• An Interpretation of Quakerism, by Rufus Jones
• Quaker Worship, by Douglas Steere

For even more information, please see our Pamphlets.