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5 Beliefs That Set Quakers Apart From Other Protestant Christians
By Cindy Hicks | Wednesday, 01 April 2015 03:50 PM
Of all of the Protestant Christian denominations, that of Quakers is probably set apart the most. "Friends," as they call themselves, believe in the Trinity of the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit like other Christians, but the roles that each person plays varies widely among Quakers.
Below are five beliefs that set Quakers apart from other Protestant Christians:
1. Meetings: Quaker meetings, or a meeting of friends, may differ considerably, based on whether the individual group is liberal or conservative. Because of this there are basically two types of Quaker meetings.
Meetings of meditation are mostly silent, with expectant waiting for an answer of some sort from the Holy Spirit. Individuals may speak in these meetings if they feel led to do so.
Pastoral meetings can be much like an evangelical Protestant worship service, with prayer, readings from the Bible, hymns, music, and a sermon. Some branches of Quakerism have pastors, others do not.
2. Personal Communication: In order to communicate with each other and with God, Quakers often sit in a circle or square. This allows people to see and be aware of each other, but no single person is raised in status above the others. Some Friends describe their faith as an "Alternative Christianity," which relies heavily on personal communion and revelation from God rather than adherence to a creed and doctrinal beliefs. Early Quakers called their buildings steeple-houses or meeting houses, not churches.
ALERT: When Do You Think Christ Is Returning? Vote Now
3. Continuing Revelation: Most Friends believe in the religious belief that truth is continuously revealed to individuals directly from God. Quakers are taught that Christ comes to teach the people himself. Friends often focus on trying to hear God. Because of this, Quakers reject the idea of priests, believing in the priesthood of all believers.
4. Equality: From its beginning, the Religious Society of Friends taught equality of all persons, including women. Some conservative meetings are divided over the issue of homosexuality.
5. Sacraments: Most Quakers believe that how a person lives their life is a sacrament, and that formal observances are not necessary. Quakers hold that baptism is an inward, not outward, act. And when it comes to communion, instead of the Lord’s Supper, Friends subscribe to the theory of spiritual communion with God, experienced during silent meditation.
SPECIAL: Can Prayer Heal You? Dr. Crandall Discovered the Truth
Related Stories:
Quaker Origins: 5 Things That Led to Development of Protestant Christian Denomination
Quaker Evolution: 6 Key Events for Protestant Christian Denominations Since It Began
Quaker Origins: 5 Things That Led to Development of Protestant Christian Denomination
By Karen Ridder | Tuesday, 03 February 2015 02:17 PM
The Quaker Protestant denomination came out of a tumultuous time in the history of the English Church. The church formally known as the Religious Society of Friends was founded in the middle of the 17th century and is marked by a lack of hierarchical structure.
Here are five things that led to the development of the Quaker Protestant Christian denomination in the country today:
ALERT: When Do You Think Christ Is Returning? Vote Now
1. The ideas of George Fox - George Fox believed that the faithful could have contact directly with the Holy Spirit and did not need the intercession of a priest or church leader. This was a radical idea for the English environment in which he lived, that had been vacillating between the authorities of the Catholic Church in Rome and the Church of England.
2. Becoming outlaws in England - In England, religious practices of Quakers and other small Christian sects were outlawed by Parliament. Quakers were persecuted for not participating in the Church of England.
3. Freedoms available in North America - Many Quakers left England and headed to North America to escape attacks on their faith. The first arrived as early as 1656. They still found persecution in the colonies, most notably Massachusetts.
4. The founding of Pennsylvania - The British Colony of Pennsylvania was founded as a safe haven for Quakers by William Penn. Penn had acquired a land grant from King Charles II. He set up a colony in 1681 with the land that guaranteed religious freedom and safety for all, including Native Americans.
5. The Great Separation - Beginning in a Philadelphia yearly meeting in the 1820's, the Quaker Protestant group was divided into two main groups: those who wanted to stick with an emphasis on the authority of the Bible and those who wanted to focus on the "inner light." Similar splits occurred in several other meetings.
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Quaker Evolution: 6 Key Events for Protestant Christian Denomination Since It Began
By Karen Ridder | Tuesday, 03 February 2015 02:46 PM
The Quaker Protestant denomination has about 350,000 supporters worldwide. The movement, which started during the strife of the 17th century English debates about Christianity and faith practices, is associated with the founding of Pennsylvania as a colony. The group focuses on pacifism, equality and the "light" within each person.
Here are 6 events that have shaped the denomination since it began:
1. George Fox’s vision in 1652 - The Preacher George Fox had been teaching at Puritan meetings in England – telling followers to listen to the voice of Christ that is within every person. It was not until he had a vision at the top of Pendle Hill in 1652, where he believed God told him to proclaim Christ’s power over sin. That became known and the Quaker movement started.
2. The Clarendon Code - In 1662 and 1664, the Clarendon Code resulted in thousands of Quakers facing prison for "illegal assembly" and refusing to take oaths. A statue of Mary Dyer sits today in Boston Common as a testimony to this time. She was hanged during this time for her religious beliefs.
3. The Toleration Act of 1689 - After facing persecution in England and seeking refuge in the American colonies, the English parliament offered some freedoms to the Quakers alongside other dissenting Protestant denominations. The Toleration Act of 1689 allowed "nonconformists," like the Quakers, to openly practice their faith as long as they took a loyalty oath.
4. The Great Awakening - In the 1700's, a movement of revival swept the American colonies affecting the Quaker movement. The Awakening polarized colonists and many turned to Quaker ideas as a more moderate alternative. The ideas also paved the way for a split in the Quaker Protestant movement.
5. The Great Separation - In the 1820's, the Quaker Protestant denomination experienced a split between those who wanted to maintain a connection with the more traditional denominational approach, recognizing biblical authority above all else and those who wanted to focus on the "inward light" which guides the conscience of the believer. The traditional group became known as "Orthodox." The other group became known as "Hicksite."
6. Disputes between Gurney and Wilbur - Joseph John Gurney was a minister from England in the 1800's who emphasized on Quaker teachings that focused on a more mainline view of the importance of the Bible and the acceptance of Jesus for salvation. He advocated total abstinence from alcohol and campaigned against slavery. Those who followed these conservative ideas became known as Gurneyite Quakers. John Wilbur was another minister in the Religious Society of Friends who taught Quakers to focus on the "new light" and was concerned about the changes he saw in early 1800's Quaker practices. He believed in the importance of the Bible, but said that the "inward light" took precedence over scriptural text.
2. Personal Communication: In order to communicate with each other and with God, Quakers often sit in a circle or square. This allows people to see and be aware of each other, but no single person is raised in status above the others. Some Friends describe their faith as an "Alternative Christianity," which relies heavily on personal communion and revelation from God rather than adherence to a creed and doctrinal beliefs. Early Quakers called their buildings steeple-houses or meeting houses, not churches.
ALERT: When Do You Think Christ Is Returning? Vote Now
3. Continuing Revelation: Most Friends believe in the religious belief that truth is continuously revealed to individuals directly from God. Quakers are taught that Christ comes to teach the people himself. Friends often focus on trying to hear God. Because of this, Quakers reject the idea of priests, believing in the priesthood of all believers.
4. Equality: From its beginning, the Religious Society of Friends taught equality of all persons, including women. Some conservative meetings are divided over the issue of homosexuality.
5. Sacraments: Most Quakers believe that how a person lives their life is a sacrament, and that formal observances are not necessary. Quakers hold that baptism is an inward, not outward, act. And when it comes to communion, instead of the Lord’s Supper, Friends subscribe to the theory of spiritual communion with God, experienced during silent meditation.
SPECIAL: Can Prayer Heal You? Dr. Crandall Discovered the Truth
Related Stories:
Quaker Origins: 5 Things That Led to Development of Protestant Christian Denomination
Quaker Evolution: 6 Key Events for Protestant Christian Denominations Since It Began
Quaker Origins: 5 Things That Led to Development of Protestant Christian Denomination
By Karen Ridder | Tuesday, 03 February 2015 02:17 PM
The Quaker Protestant denomination came out of a tumultuous time in the history of the English Church. The church formally known as the Religious Society of Friends was founded in the middle of the 17th century and is marked by a lack of hierarchical structure.
Here are five things that led to the development of the Quaker Protestant Christian denomination in the country today:
ALERT: When Do You Think Christ Is Returning? Vote Now
1. The ideas of George Fox - George Fox believed that the faithful could have contact directly with the Holy Spirit and did not need the intercession of a priest or church leader. This was a radical idea for the English environment in which he lived, that had been vacillating between the authorities of the Catholic Church in Rome and the Church of England.
2. Becoming outlaws in England - In England, religious practices of Quakers and other small Christian sects were outlawed by Parliament. Quakers were persecuted for not participating in the Church of England.
3. Freedoms available in North America - Many Quakers left England and headed to North America to escape attacks on their faith. The first arrived as early as 1656. They still found persecution in the colonies, most notably Massachusetts.
4. The founding of Pennsylvania - The British Colony of Pennsylvania was founded as a safe haven for Quakers by William Penn. Penn had acquired a land grant from King Charles II. He set up a colony in 1681 with the land that guaranteed religious freedom and safety for all, including Native Americans.
5. The Great Separation - Beginning in a Philadelphia yearly meeting in the 1820's, the Quaker Protestant group was divided into two main groups: those who wanted to stick with an emphasis on the authority of the Bible and those who wanted to focus on the "inner light." Similar splits occurred in several other meetings.
=============
Quaker Evolution: 6 Key Events for Protestant Christian Denomination Since It Began
By Karen Ridder | Tuesday, 03 February 2015 02:46 PM
The Quaker Protestant denomination has about 350,000 supporters worldwide. The movement, which started during the strife of the 17th century English debates about Christianity and faith practices, is associated with the founding of Pennsylvania as a colony. The group focuses on pacifism, equality and the "light" within each person.
Here are 6 events that have shaped the denomination since it began:
1. George Fox’s vision in 1652 - The Preacher George Fox had been teaching at Puritan meetings in England – telling followers to listen to the voice of Christ that is within every person. It was not until he had a vision at the top of Pendle Hill in 1652, where he believed God told him to proclaim Christ’s power over sin. That became known and the Quaker movement started.
2. The Clarendon Code - In 1662 and 1664, the Clarendon Code resulted in thousands of Quakers facing prison for "illegal assembly" and refusing to take oaths. A statue of Mary Dyer sits today in Boston Common as a testimony to this time. She was hanged during this time for her religious beliefs.
3. The Toleration Act of 1689 - After facing persecution in England and seeking refuge in the American colonies, the English parliament offered some freedoms to the Quakers alongside other dissenting Protestant denominations. The Toleration Act of 1689 allowed "nonconformists," like the Quakers, to openly practice their faith as long as they took a loyalty oath.
4. The Great Awakening - In the 1700's, a movement of revival swept the American colonies affecting the Quaker movement. The Awakening polarized colonists and many turned to Quaker ideas as a more moderate alternative. The ideas also paved the way for a split in the Quaker Protestant movement.
5. The Great Separation - In the 1820's, the Quaker Protestant denomination experienced a split between those who wanted to maintain a connection with the more traditional denominational approach, recognizing biblical authority above all else and those who wanted to focus on the "inward light" which guides the conscience of the believer. The traditional group became known as "Orthodox." The other group became known as "Hicksite."
6. Disputes between Gurney and Wilbur - Joseph John Gurney was a minister from England in the 1800's who emphasized on Quaker teachings that focused on a more mainline view of the importance of the Bible and the acceptance of Jesus for salvation. He advocated total abstinence from alcohol and campaigned against slavery. Those who followed these conservative ideas became known as Gurneyite Quakers. John Wilbur was another minister in the Religious Society of Friends who taught Quakers to focus on the "new light" and was concerned about the changes he saw in early 1800's Quaker practices. He believed in the importance of the Bible, but said that the "inward light" took precedence over scriptural text.
