What do Quakers believe?

Question

I am Baptist, and applied for a position as youth pastor to a church. I wasn't sure what denomination it was, but figured they would let me know. I wrote what my doctrinal stance was. They called and said they were Quakers BUT didn't have a big problem with what I belive. The question is, would I.

Please only answer if you know about this...NOT just because you're fishing for points. Thank you.

Answer 1

Here's some info on the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

http://www.quaker.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Society_of_Friends
http://www.religioustolerance.org/quaker.htm

Answer 2

Depends whether you have a problem with people who in some cases may completely disagree with your beliefs all together - but wont care that that is the case.

I dint know how a youth pastor at a friends house would work as I have only been to adult services. Funny thing is i was experiencing the quaking in an average church before I even attended a Friends meeting. However in the adult meeting everyone sits in silence meditating or listening for the inner light. You wouldn't like me or my practices as i wouldn't consider myself christian but i enjoy the community I lost when i stopped going to church and the spiritual connection i have when listening and speaking. Some people that attend are also pagan, Hindu, Buddhist or agnostic.If you could deal with that then you will be fine.

I should note however that the Quaker movement did go through a fundamentalist phase and some sects of this still exist in America and each house is very different so you would nee to check out the actual specifics of the house you would be working for.

Answer 3

I'm thinking that YOU may have a problem with the Quaker views. Each Quaker is free to interpret the Bible his own way. When I attended a few meetings, the congregation would sit in silence until anybody who wanted to would stand and speak. There are few guidelines on what to speak about. Quakers are very anti-war, often pro-choice, and tend to be liberal. The fact that Quaker doctrine is so fuzzy is one thing that might clash with the Baptist view, although the Baptists have traditionally been in support of the separation of church and state.

Answer 4

Quakers believe that those who have the holy spirit will tremble/quake together with tonge speaking during their prayers.

I'm not surprised they claim they don't have a big problem with your stance because a quaker's objective is always to try and save you into their fold. But you would likely have a problem if you don't manifest those traits I have mentioned. AT least at the beginning of your association with them.

Well, I doubt very much that you will assimilate well as their youth pastor because they look very much for physical manifestations of your faith and not just what you claim you have.

Answer 5

Quakers have beliefs, but not creeds or dogma. To Quakers (or Friends) the primary source of spiritual inspiration, and the central belief, is that each individual is endowed with a measure of the divine, called the 'Inner Light', or 'that of God'. Quakers hold that each person can experience the Inner Light in their daily lives without the need for formal creeds, theologies, or doctrines. Seeking this measure of the divine is at the heart of Quaker worship and life.

The concept of the Inner Light, or 'that of God', is central to Quaker beliefs. This measure of the divine is part of an individual's soul or inner being, and was inspired in part by the Biblical passage (John 1:9) referring to the "true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world". What individuals do with this Inner Light is in large part left to their free will and choice. Quakers recognize that there is the potential for good and evil in all of us, but believe that we can turn to this light, choosing to become 'children of God' or 'children of the Light'.

Believing in the possibility of a direct experience with the divine is not unique to Quakers, but Quakers are unique among Christian religions in the importance they place on the importance and availability of this experience. Quakers hold this direct experience as the primary source of religion, de-emphasizing other sources such as books, set prayers, and rituals, which are considered 'empty forms' of religion. Although Friends believe in the value of the Christian bible as a source of inspiration and a guide, they do not believe it should have the final say, or that it is infallible.
"You will say Christ say this, and the apostles say this, but what canst thou say? Are thou a child of Light and hast thou walked in the Light, and what thou speakest is it inwardly from God?"

- George Fox,
early Quaker


Quaker Beliefs | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
These are some of the questions people ask of us:

Q. Why are you called Quakers?

A. Early members of the Religious Society of Friends called themselves children of the light or friends of the truth. The nickname Quakers was given us by others, who said that Friends sometimes trembled or quaked with religious zeal. In fact, a good sign for whether or not friends are really moved to deliver a spoken message during meeting for worship is whether or not the suppressing of that message would cause minor physical trembling, i.e. quaking.

The formal name of the Quakers is now "The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)".


Q. How do you react to the suicide attacks of September 11 against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?

A. Midlothian Friends has drafted a public statement in response to the events of September 11.


Q. Aren't Quakers pacifists? Would Quakers defend themselves if attacked?

A. The word pacifist implies inaction and inactivity, which are not part of Quaker beliefs. We believe that we can be active in promoting truth, peace, and love to all peoples. We also believe that the Christian commandment that "thou shalt not kill" means just that, and that we should avoid, to the highest degree we can, killing or maiming our fellow human beings.


Q. What do Quakers believe in?

A. Quakers believe in many things, but the primary belief is that there is 'that of God in everyone'. This is an expression that means that Quakers believe that there is a measure of the divine in each human being, a spark or inner voice that we can attend to. Our mode of silent worship is based on listening for that inner voice to manifest itself, and thus lead and guide our lives.

Answer 6

Their doctrinal teachings are posted- do a search.
Actually I was not aware there were still Quakers around.

Answer 7

Oats, it's the right thing to do.
Quakers are pacifistic and meek, and may have a different version of the Bible, seeing that they are a non-conformist branch of English Churches.
Their beliefs include the value of hard work, and the notion that modern things are superficial, and that fellowship, and simplicity are important.

Answer 8

You're on the Internet, look it up - it is a good question, but would you not have found that out at first if you thought you might not fit in.

Answer 9

I think that all your questions can be answered best, by visiting this site :::

http://www.quaker.org/

May God's Blessings be on you :)

Answer 10

That oatmeal is very,very good for you.