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Evolution of Quaker Theology
By Evans Lugusa
826 pages
28 hours
Evolution of Quaker Theology
EVANS LUGUSA LISIMBA Published in 2021 by
Posterity Publishers Ltd, Eldoret, Kenya
Description
The book, Evolution of the Quaker Theology, is an attempt to consolidate the vast literature available on Quakerism into one volume.
The Book delves into the deep history of the early period of Quakerism and the gradual evolution of the Quaker Theology into what it is today. Evolution of Quaker Theology is a significant and much needed addition to the African Theology and World Christianity at large, told from an African Perspective. In an easy to read way, one is able to see the global history of the Quaker Movement with simplicity and critical objectivity.
The Book is written with enviable simplicity and honesty about complex historical developments and makes it easy for the reader to visualize events spanning almost four centuries as one complete story.
The book provides a comprehensive account of the early Quakers and enumerates the men and women who shaped the Quaker theology across the globe, especially in Europe and America. Key among them is the founder of the Quaker Movement George Fox and his early converts including Margaret Fell, William Penn, Elizabeth Fry, John Joseph Gurney and Elias Hikes among many other notable Quakers of the early days.
Apart from the overview of the Quaker history, the book gives an account of Quaker Theology.
It captures different traditions of Quakers in the World family of Friends. The book delves into questions like why we have such diverse traditions among the same denomination of the Quaker Church and why the theology of one tradition is so different from that of another.
The book documents the Quaker Faith and Practice. The writer unravels some of the Quaker Traditions and etiquette and captures the core Quaker values or testimonies.
The book also gives insights into topical issues such as Water Baptism, Speaking in tongues, Sacrament and the Gift of the Holy Spirit. More contemporary topics such as the Role of Women among Quakers, Same Sex Relationship, Cremation, Death, Organ Donation, and Euthanasia are also highlighted. The book is a good resource for Theology Students or for the general reader who is interested in the broad brush of Quakerism. As Quakerism continues to evolve, adopting to the ever-changing world, important to note is that the book is anchored in what Quaker Faith holds dear as encapsulated in - Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Service - to all.
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Chapter Three Basic Quaker Theology What are the Basic Quakers Doctrines? Evolution of the Quakers over three Centuries Meetings for Wor- ship The Pastoral or Programmed Meeting The Unprogrammed Meeting The Rise of the Gurneyite and the Conservative Split Formation of Friends World Committee for Consultation Conservative Friends (Quietists) Holiness - Central Yearly Meeting of Friends Liberal Quakers - Friends General Conference Universalist Quaker Fellowship Evangelical Friends The Liberal Quakers Beaconites Nontheistic Quakers
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World Family of Friends International Membership Committee International Friends Organizations Quaker Organizations and Committees Life and development of small fellowship groups The Formation of Auxiliary Groups Membership among the Quakers Practical Quaker Theology Quakers and the Bible World Quaker Population Calendar and Church Holidays Quaker Influence The Rise, Spread and Decline of Quakerism
Chapter Four Quaker Faith and Practice Faith and Practice Some Quaker Statements of Faith and Practice Quaker Testimonies (Core Quaker Values) Basic Quaker Tenets and Testimonies The Seven Approaches of Quaker Peace Testimony
Chapter Four Quaker Faith and Practice Faith and Practice Some Quaker Statements of Faith and Practice Quaker Testimonies (Core Quaker Values) Basic Quaker Tenets and Testimonies The Seven Approaches of Quaker Peace Testimony
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Nontheistic QuakersThe world has been so assimilated into secularism that people
feel just okay to say I am a Quaker, but I am not a Christian. How
can you belong to a Christian organization and yet not subscribe
to the God of that organization? This is why I have problems
understanding the mind of the people who say I am a Quaker but
I am not a Christian. Atheism is a misguided thought or mindset.
The best way to understand God if you have serious doubts
about His existence is to try to take a deep look into science, and
you will realize that, science is backed and anchored on God.
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Santayana, and Josiah Royce. Basically, they resolved to resist the
influence of liberalism in the world. Brinton was the first to
present a systematic Quaker theology for the 20th century
Friends. He tried to address most of the Quaker questions that
have drawn away Friends from other Christians, and often caused
divisions among Friends, which are:
i. Is the Bible the ultimate source of authority, or the inward
light, or both?
ii. What is the difference between conscience and inward
light?
iii. What role does reason play in Quakerism?
iv. Is the light universal? Is there a Christian basis for univ-
ersalism?
v. How do Friends feel about the historical Jesus? What is
the universal Christ?
vi. What is the Quaker view of atonement? How has this
shaped Quaker attitudes and actions?
vii. What did Quakers believe in in ethics of Good and Evil
and human responsibility? What about the fall of man? The
original sin?
viii. What did Quakers believe about human perfectibility?
How do Friends feel about the relation between the Divine
and Human? The questions that Brinton put forward have
lingered in the minds of Quakers for centuries and the an-
swers presented were neither convincing enough nor suffi-
cient to bridge the gap and bring the Quaker movement
into one fold.
Today we have at least five Quaker traditions that, generally in
principle, are separated by the ideological thinking of the propo-
nents. There was an interesting dialogue between two thinkers in
a conference that brought together the various Quaker traditions
where Charles Thomas speaking on behalf of pastoral Friends ar-
gued that there is no reason why the Holy Spirit cannot commu-
nicate through pre-arranged worship, as in a sermon. Brinton re-
sponded that, “while it is possible for the Holy Spirit to commu-
nicate through this means, prepared talks on religion are best
presented before or are after a Quaker meeting for worship.
The distinctive characteristic of Quaker worship is that it offers a
unique opportunity for the Holy Spirit to manifest itself sponta-
neously and without human contrivance. These theologians
would however, agree with the 19th-century Danish religious
philosopher Søren Kierkegaard that “the highest of all is not to
understand the highest but to act upon it.” However, the 21st
century saw the diminishing influence of Quaker theologians on
the scholarly scene, though we have a new crop of scholars of re-
pute among the Quakers today. One man I have read his books
and attended his talk in Nairobi recently is Dr. Richard Forster, a
very deep and insightful man who has written books like ‘Spiritual
Formation’ among others that I know.
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